Q.1 What is the central idea of socialism?
Private ownership of resources
Wealth concentrated in few hands
Collective ownership of resources
Complete absence of government
Explanation - Socialism emphasizes collective or state ownership of resources to promote equality and reduce class differences.
Correct answer is: Collective ownership of resources
Q.2 Who is considered the father of scientific socialism?
Karl Marx
John Locke
Adam Smith
Thomas Hobbes
Explanation - Karl Marx is considered the father of scientific socialism because he developed a systematic theory of socialism through historical materialism.
Correct answer is: Karl Marx
Q.3 Which of the following is most associated with socialism?
Economic equality
Unlimited profit
Individual liberty only
Laissez-faire policies
Explanation - Socialism focuses on reducing inequality by redistributing wealth and ensuring fair access to resources.
Correct answer is: Economic equality
Q.4 Which document by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels laid the foundation of socialism?
The Wealth of Nations
Das Kapital
The Communist Manifesto
Leviathan
Explanation - The Communist Manifesto (1848) outlined class struggle and called for workers’ revolution, shaping socialist thought.
Correct answer is: The Communist Manifesto
Q.5 What does socialism oppose?
Private ownership of all means of production
State intervention in economy
Economic planning
Public services
Explanation - Socialism rejects private ownership of major industries and supports collective or state control to prevent exploitation.
Correct answer is: Private ownership of all means of production
Q.6 In socialism, the government generally plays a role in:
Regulating and planning the economy
Completely ignoring the economy
Supporting only monopolies
Eliminating public welfare
Explanation - Socialist governments regulate and plan the economy to ensure fair distribution and avoid exploitation.
Correct answer is: Regulating and planning the economy
Q.7 Which country was the first to establish a socialist state?
China
Soviet Union
Cuba
North Korea
Explanation - After the Russian Revolution in 1917, the Soviet Union became the world’s first socialist state.
Correct answer is: Soviet Union
Q.8 Which class did Karl Marx believe would lead the socialist revolution?
Aristocracy
Proletariat
Bourgeoisie
Clergy
Explanation - Marx argued that the proletariat (working class) would overthrow the bourgeoisie (capitalist class) to establish socialism.
Correct answer is: Proletariat
Q.9 Which of the following best defines democratic socialism?
Dictatorship with planning
Socialism with democratic governance
Capitalism with no restrictions
Absolute monarchy with welfare
Explanation - Democratic socialism combines socialism’s economic planning with democratic political systems.
Correct answer is: Socialism with democratic governance
Q.10 Who wrote 'Das Kapital'?
Karl Marx
Vladimir Lenin
Joseph Stalin
Friedrich Engels
Explanation - Karl Marx wrote 'Das Kapital', which analyzed capitalism and laid a theoretical basis for socialism.
Correct answer is: Karl Marx
Q.11 What is the main goal of socialism?
Maximum profits
Classless society
Expansion of private industries
Free competition
Explanation - Socialism aims to remove class distinctions and promote equality through collective ownership.
Correct answer is: Classless society
Q.12 Which ideology is socialism mainly opposed to?
Capitalism
Secularism
Federalism
Nationalism
Explanation - Socialism opposes capitalism’s private ownership and profit-driven system, favoring collective welfare.
Correct answer is: Capitalism
Q.13 Which of the following thinkers was NOT a socialist?
Karl Marx
Friedrich Engels
Adam Smith
Vladimir Lenin
Explanation - Adam Smith was a classical liberal economist, not a socialist. He supported free-market capitalism.
Correct answer is: Adam Smith
Q.14 What does 'means of production' refer to in socialism?
Tools, factories, and resources used for production
Government officials
Markets and shops
Consumer goods
Explanation - The term means of production refers to facilities and resources for producing goods, which socialism seeks to own collectively.
Correct answer is: Tools, factories, and resources used for production
Q.15 Which socialist leader established the theory of 'dictatorship of the proletariat'?
Karl Marx
Lenin
Stalin
Mao Zedong
Explanation - Karl Marx introduced the idea that after revolution, the working class would hold power as a 'dictatorship of the proletariat' before reaching communism.
Correct answer is: Karl Marx
Q.16 Which branch of socialism believes in gradual reforms through democracy rather than revolution?
Revolutionary socialism
Utopian socialism
Democratic socialism
Marxism-Leninism
Explanation - Democratic socialism supports gradual reforms within democratic systems to achieve socialist goals.
Correct answer is: Democratic socialism
Q.17 The phrase 'From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs' is associated with:
Karl Marx
Adam Smith
John Stuart Mill
Max Weber
Explanation - Karl Marx emphasized distribution based on needs, not profit, in a socialist society.
Correct answer is: Karl Marx
Q.18 Which type of economy does socialism promote?
Mixed economy
Planned economy
Laissez-faire economy
Traditional economy
Explanation - Socialism generally favors a planned economy where the state controls production and distribution.
Correct answer is: Planned economy
Q.19 Which of these is an example of a socialist principle in modern welfare states?
Free healthcare
Private monopolies
Unregulated banking
No taxation
Explanation - Welfare states adopt socialist principles like free healthcare to ensure equality and social justice.
Correct answer is: Free healthcare
Q.20 Who co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Karl Marx?
Joseph Stalin
Friedrich Engels
Vladimir Lenin
Leon Trotsky
Explanation - Engels co-authored 'The Communist Manifesto' with Marx, contributing significantly to socialist theory.
Correct answer is: Friedrich Engels
Q.21 What was the main criticism of utopian socialism?
It was too revolutionary
It ignored democracy
It was impractical and idealistic
It relied too much on science
Explanation - Utopian socialism was criticized for lacking a scientific basis and relying on ideal visions rather than practical solutions.
Correct answer is: It was impractical and idealistic
Q.22 Which of the following is NOT a feature of socialism?
Collective ownership
Classless society
Economic planning
Absolute monarchy
Explanation - Absolute monarchy is a political system of hereditary rule, not a feature of socialism.
Correct answer is: Absolute monarchy
Q.23 In socialism, who usually benefits most from public ownership?
Only the wealthy
All members of society
Only government officials
Foreign investors
Explanation - Public ownership in socialism is intended to serve the collective interest of all members of society equally.
Correct answer is: All members of society
Q.24 Which ideology directly influenced socialist thought by highlighting workers’ struggles?
Nationalism
Industrial capitalism
Romanticism
Colonialism
Explanation - The harsh conditions under industrial capitalism inspired socialist thinkers to develop theories of equality and workers’ rights.
Correct answer is: Industrial capitalism
Q.25 Which international organization was formed in 1864 to promote socialism?
League of Nations
First International
United Nations
NATO
Explanation - The International Workingmen’s Association (First International) was established in 1864 to promote socialist ideas worldwide.
Correct answer is: First International