UPSC Prelims 2017 CSAT Paper II · Q67 of 79 Comprehension easy

Passage

Really I think that the poorest he that is in England has a life to live, as the greatest he, and therefore truly, I think it is clear that every man that is to live under a government ought first by his own consent to put himself under the government, and I do think that the poorest man in England is not at all bound in a strict sense to that government that he has not had a voice to put himself under.

The above statement argues for

  1. (a) distribution of wealth equally to all
  2. (b) rule according to the consent of the governed ✓ UPSC's answer
  3. (c) rule of the poor
  4. (d) expropriation of the rich

Why the answer is (b)

• The passage explicitly states that every man living under a government must first give his own consent to be subject to it.

• It argues that the poorest man is not bound by a government in which he has no voice or representation.

• This logic establishes that legitimate political authority derives from the agreement of the people, not from wealth or status.

• Therefore, the statement advocates for the principle that government rule must be based on the consent of the governed.

Why the other options are wrong

(a) distribution of wealth equally to all
The text focuses on political consent and representation, not on the economic redistribution of wealth.
(c) rule of the poor
The argument is for universal consent and voice for all, not specifically for political rule by the poor class.
(d) expropriation of the rich
The passage does not mention taking property from the rich, but rather the right to political participation.

Asked in the CSAT Paper II of the UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2017, held on 18 June 2017. Question and answer key: Union Public Service Commission. Explanation: UPSC Answer Check.

Reading the answer is not the same as getting it right under a clock. Practise this question with UPSC's negative marking, and anything you miss goes into an error notebook until you get it right twice.

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