Diversity and Discrimination Class 6 Important Questions with Answers

Class 6 Civics Chapter 2 Diversity and Discrimination Important Questions and answers cover all the topics and help students to understand the concepts better. Students can solve these for practice. They may come across some of these questions in the final exam.

Students can clear their doubts from the chapter by solving these CBSE Class 6 Civics Important Questions and prepare well for the board exams. The links to download the PDF version of these questions are given in a link to this article.

Class 6 Civics Chapter 2 Diversity and Discrimination Important Questions

1. Fill in the blanks.

(i) There are _______ major religions in the world.

(ii) The upper castes acted in ways, which did not give the so-called ________ the same rights as they enjoyed.

(iii) People form certain attitudes and opinions about others who are not _______ them.

(iv) We have more than _______ languages that are people’s mother tongues.

Answer:
(i) eight 
(ii) untouchables
(iii) like 
(iv) 1600

2. State True/False

(i) Dr Ambedkar had also fought for the rights of the Dalits. 

(ii) There are more than a thousand dance forms. 

(iii) We feel safe and secure with people who look, talk, dress and think like us. 

(iv) Government jobs are open to all people.

Answer:
(i) True
(ii) False
(iii) True
(iv) True

Answer the following questions

1. Write an example of gender stereotypes.

Answer: “Don’t cry. You are a boy. Boys are brave, they don’t cry.”

2. How many major religions are there in the world?

Answer: There are eight major religions in the world.

3. What is the quality that is generally associated with boys and men?

Answer: They are brave and they don’t cry.

4. What prejudice mean?

Answer: Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as inferior.

5. What is seen as a key value that unites us all as Indians?

Answer: Equality of all persons is seen as a key value that unites us all as IndiAnswer:

6. Write the name used by government for Dalits.

Answer: The government refers to this group of people as Scheduled Castes (SC).

7. How do you think a person who is discriminated against might feel?

Answer: A person who is discriminated against might feel insulted, humiliated and hurtful.

8. What is Mahar?

Answer: Mahar is one of the communities which were treated as untouchables in the Bombay Presidency.

9. Who are untouchables?

Answer: The groups who were placed at the bottom of the ladder were seen as unworthy and called “untouchables”.

10. What do you mean by stereotype?

Answer: Stereotype means fixing something into an image that society creates around us.

11. Who was the first person from Dalit community to go to England for higher education?

Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the first person from Dalit community to go to England for higher education.

12. What is discrimination?

Answer: Discrimination is making a distinction in favor of or against, a person based on the group, class, or category.

13. Why diversity is not always celebrated?

Answer: Diversity is not always celebrated because we feel safe and secure with people who look, talk, dress and think like us.

14. What does the first page of our constitution states?

Answer: The first page of the Constitution clearly states that all Indians are entitled to equality of status and opportunity.

15. Who was the chairman of Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly?

Answer: Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the chairman of Drafting Committee of the Constituent Assembly.

16. Why Muslim girls do not attend school or drop out from school after a few years?

Answer: Poverty amongst Muslims is an important reason why Muslim girls do not attend school or drop out from school after a few years.

17. How do you think Dr Ambedkar felt as a child, when he saw the stationmaster’s reaction to his statement that they were Mahars?

Answer: He was a little boy. He must have felt disheartened when he saw the stationmaster’s reaction to his statement that they were Mahars.

18. What stop people from looking at each person as a unique individual?

Answer: Stereotypes stop people from looking at each person as a unique individual with his or her own special qualities and skills that are different from others.

19. Who are seen as dirty or impure?

Answer: Activities like cleaning, washing, cutting hair, picking garbage are seen as tasks that are of less value and people who do this work are seen as dirty or impure.

20. Write one disadvantage of stereotypes?

Answer: Stereotypes fit large numbers of people into only one pattern or type. Stereotypes affect all of us as they prevent us from doing certain things that we might otherwise be good at.

21. Why does discrimination occur?

Answer: Discrimination can take place because of several reasons. Diversity such as different language, culture, status, economic background, religion etc. can also be a source of discrimination.

22. India is a secular country. What does it means?

Answer: India is a secular country where people of different religions and faiths have the freedom to practice and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination. This is seen as an important element of our unity – that we all live together and respect one other.

23. Give an example of prejudice.

Answer: For example, if we think English is the best language and other languages are not important, we are judging these other languages negatively. As a result, we might not respect people who speak languages other than English.

24. Write a short note on Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar?

Answer: Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar (1891-1956) is considered the father of the Indian Constitution and is also the best known leader of the Dalits. Dr Ambedkar fought for the rights of the Dalit community. He was born into the Mahar caste, which was considered untouchable.

25. What are Dalits?

Answer: Dalit is a term that people belonging to so called lower castes use to address themselves. They prefer this word to ‘untouchable’. Dalit means those who have been ‘broken’. The government refers to this group of people as Scheduled Castes (SC).

26. “Some people may experience both kinds of discrimination.” Explain the statement.

Answer: Some people may experience both kinds of discrimination. They are poor and they belong to groups whose culture is not valued. Tribals, some religious groups and even particular regions, are discriminated against for one or more of these reasons.

27. Despite the children offering money the cartmen refused them. Why?

Answer: Children belonged to the mahar community, which was treated as untouchables in the Bombay Presidency. Though children were offering money but the cartmen refused to carry them because not one of cartmen was prepared to suffer being polluted and to demean himself carrying passengers of the untouchable classes.

28. Differentiate between inequality and discrimination.

Answer: Difference between inequality and discrimination

Inequality	Discrimination
Inequality is the difference in social status, wealth, or opportunity between people or groups.	Discrimination means treating or considering, or making a distinction in favor of or against, a person or thing based on the group, class, or category to which that person or thing belongs rather than on individual merit.

29. Discuss the ways in which persons with special needs might be subject to discrimination.

Answer: Ways in which persons with special needs are discriminated are:

• They are discriminated at work, and when providing goods, facilities and services.
• Children with disability are harassed by making jokes about their disability.
• They are treated less favourably in many spheres of life because of their disability. 

30. How does discrimination happen?

Answer: Discrimination happens when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes. If we do something to put other people down, if we stop them from taking part in certain activities and taking up jobs, or stop them from living in certain neighbourhoods, prevent them from taking water from the same well or hand pump, or not allow them to drink tea in the same cups or glasses as others, we are discriminating against them.

31. How did people at the station discriminate against Dr Ambedkar and his brothers?

Answer: The stationmaster was quite sure they were Brahmin children and was extremely touched at the plight in which he found them. But when he blurted out that they were Mahars, stationmaster was stunned and his face underwent a sudden change. As soon as he heard his reply, he went away to his room and they stood where they were. There were many bullock-carts plying for hire. But his reply to the station master that they were Mahars had gone round among the cart men and not one of them was prepared to suffer being polluted and to demean himself carrying passengers of the untouchable classes.

32. In addition to the lower castes being discriminated against, there are also various other communities that are subject to discrimination. Can you think of a few other examples of discrimination?

Answer: Tribals, some religious groups and even particular regions, are discriminated against for one or more of these reasons.

Few other examples of discrimination:

• They are not allowed to enter the homes of the upper castes.
• They are not allowed to take water from the village well
• They are not supposed to enter temples.
• Their children could not sit next to children of other castes in school.

33. What is the difference between discrimination and stereotypes?

Answer: Difference between discrimination and stereotypes

Discrimination	Stereotypes
1. Discrimination happens when people act on their prejudices or stereotypes.	1. When we fix people into one image we create a stereotype.
2. Example: If people do something to put other people down, if they stop them from taking part in certain activities and taking up jobs, or stop them from living in certain neighbourhoods, they are discriminating against them.	2. Example: When people say that those who belong to a particular country, religion, sex, race or economic background are “stingy,” “lazy,” “criminal” or “dumb,” they are using stereotypes.
3. Discrimination can take place because of several reasons such as different religions, different language and different economic backgrounds.	3. Stereotypes stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual with his or her own special qualities and skills that are different from others.

34. What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?

Answer: With regard to equality, Constitution said that

• Untouchability is seen as a crime and has been legally abolished by law.
• People are free to choose the kind of work they wish to do.
• Government jobs are open to all people.

In addition, the Constitution also placed responsibility on the government to take specific steps to realise this right to equality for poor and other such marginal communities.

It is important for all people to be equal so that they can follow their religion, speak their language, celebrate their festivals and express themselves freely.

35. How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.

Answer: While the male children are considered an asset to the family, the female children are considered a burden to the parents.

This stereotype affects the life a daughter in the following way:

• Many girls are not even allowed to go to school.
• Those who get chance to study may not concentrate on their studies as they are being discouraged.
• They are deprived of their parents’ attention even when they fall sick.
• Since their childhood to their marriage, they are considered as a temporary member of the family.
• Even after marriage they are subject to exploitation.

Practice Paper

1. What is prejudice?

2. Can you list some of the prejudices that you have noticed around you. How do they affect the ways in which people treat each other?

3. What is the difference between discrimination and stereotypes?

4. How do you think a person who is discriminated against might feel?

5. Who are the Dalits?

6. Who was Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar? Write a short note about him.

7. In addition to the lower castes being discriminated against, there are also various other communities that are subject to discrimination. Can you think of a few other examples of discrimination?

8. Discuss the ways in which persons with special needs might be subject to discrimination.

9. How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least five different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.

10. What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?

11. Define the key values that unites us all as Indians.

12. What do the first page of our constitution state?

13. Define Mahar.

14. Do you think children with special needs should be a part of regular schools or study in a separate school? Give reasons for your answer.

15. What is a common stereotype against Muslims?

16. What was Dr. Ambedar’s first experience of caste-based discrimination, which took place in 1901?

17. Who fought for the rights of the Dalit community?

18. The struggle for freedom from British rule also included within it the struggle of large groups of people who not only fought against the British but also fought to be treated more equally. True or False?

19. Respect for diversity was a significant element in ensuring_______

20. Government must treat all religions equally. Do you agree?