Name__________________________________________Date___________________________
Reading Comprehension
Volume 3, Number 18, January 20, 1998
www.rhlschool.com
Note: Vocabulary for this page is introduced at http://www.rhlschool.com/ref3n18.htm.
xxxxDemocracy is the right of the people to choose
their own government. In its purest form, people of every community
from small villages to the whole nation would discuss and vote on every
proposed law. This is rarely practical in today's busy world. In most
democracies, citizens choose, or elect, representatives.
Representatives are lawmakers who represent, or work for, all the
people who elected them. Voters also choose the officials who will
administer, or carry out, the laws.
xxxxIn a
democracy, if the people are unhappy with the job their representatives
are doing, they can replace them with new ones. For this reason,
elected officials who want to keep their jobs tend to pay attention to
what the citizens want.
xxxxSometimes,
even in a representative democracy, citizens do vote directly on a
proposed law. These proposals get to the ballot when enough people sign
petitions requiring a vote. Sometimes the elected representatives must
present certain proposed laws to the voters for a yes or no vote.
xxxxAs you study
history, you'll find that many people have not been fortunate enough to
have the benefit of democracy. Throughout recorded history, most people
have been ruled by kings and other dictators. Even today, millions of
people are forced to live without democracy.
xxxxDemocracy is
not a system, or method, of government. In fact, there are many
different forms of democratic governments in the world. Democracy is a
basic human right. It is the idea that people own their government
instead of being owned by it.
Based on the above essay, would the author consider the following statements to be true or false? If the essay seems to take no position on the matter, the answer is false.
1. Representatives are smarter
than the people who elect them.
2. Government should serve the people, not
rule them.
3. Representatives who want to keep their
jobs will try to keep the voters happy.
4. Many people don't have the time to
discuss and vote on every single proposed law.
5. Throughout history, most people have had
the right to choose their leaders.
6. Democracy is the best system, or method,
of government.
7. It would be a good thing if all
governments were chosen by the people.
8. Democracy is a human right.
Copyright 1998 RHL
