UPSC Prelims 2021 · CSAT

Question 34: Reading Comprehension

Passage beginning “Aristocratic government ruins itself by limiting…” — Passage – 4 · as printed by UPSC

Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above ?

aHuman societies experiment with different forms of governments.

bAny form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle.

cEducation of all citizens ensures a perfect, functional and sustainable democracy.

dHaving a government is a necessary evil because tyranny is inherent in any form of government.

AnswerUPSC’s answer is (b).

The passage, attributed to Plato, says each form of government ruins itself by excess of its own principle: aristocracy by narrowing power too much, oligarchy by greed for quick wealth, and democracy by giving equal rights to hold office and set policy to people not educated to choose well, which ends in tyranny. The central idea is that any form of government declines when its principle is taken to excess. Remember: the crux must cover all the examples given, not one of them, and should not add conclusions such as 'education ensures perfection'.

Why each option is right or wrong

(a) Societies experimenting with governments is not the point; this misses the central idea of self-destruction by excess.
(b) Right: aristocracy, oligarchy and democracy each decay by pushing their own principle too far.
(c) The passage says lack of education ruins democracy; it does not say education makes democracy perfect.
(d) Government as a necessary evil is not suggested; the tyranny point applies only to excessive democracy.

Answer: UPSC’s key. Explanation: written by UPSC Grade, not by UPSC.

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Source: UPSC, Civil Services (Preliminary) Examination 2021, General Studies Paper II (CSAT), Series A. The paper on upsc.gov.in.