Freedom — GK Questions with Answers

1. "Freedom" by G. B. Shaw was originally —
   1. a magazine essay
   2. a radio broadcast talk
   3. a preface to a play
   4. a parliamentary speech
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   Answer: (B) a radio broadcast talk

   It was written to be spoken aloud on the radio, which shapes its direct, simple style.

2. According to Shaw, a perfectly free person is one who —
   1. owns property
   2. can do exactly what he pleases at all times
   3. has the right to vote
   4. belongs to no country
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   Answer: (B) can do exactly what he pleases at all times

   He begins with this definition in order to show that nobody can meet it.

3. What does Shaw call the compulsion imposed by eating, sleeping and washing?
   1. Artificial slavery
   2. Natural slavery
   3. Political slavery
   4. Economic slavery
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   Answer: (B) Natural slavery

   Natural slavery — imposed by nature, and inescapable for everyone.

4. Roughly how much of the day does Shaw say nature takes from us?
   1. One hour
   2. A quarter
   3. About half
   4. All of it
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   Answer: (C) About half

   About half of every day goes in serving the needs of the body.

5. Shaw equates freedom with —
   1. wealth
   2. leisure
   3. education
   4. citizenship
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   Answer: (B) leisure

   Freedom can exist only in the hours left after necessity — so freedom is leisure.

6. What does Shaw call the slavery imposed by other human beings?
   1. Natural slavery
   2. Unnatural or artificial slavery
   3. Voluntary slavery
   4. Spiritual slavery
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   Answer: (B) Unnatural or artificial slavery

   Unlike natural slavery, this kind is man-made and can be abolished.

7. According to Shaw, if some people live without working —
   1. the economy grows
   2. others must work extra to support them
   3. nature provides for them
   4. wages rise for everyone
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   Answer: (B) others must work extra to support them

   Idleness at one end of society is paid for by extra labour at the other.

8. What does Shaw say is the cheapest way to keep people enslaved?
   1. Armed guards
   2. Persuading them that they are free
   3. High wages
   4. Strict laws
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   Answer: (B) Persuading them that they are free

   Force is expensive; belief costs nothing and works better.

9. Shaw criticises patriotic songs about never being slaves because they —
   1. are badly written
   2. stop people examining their real condition
   3. insult other nations
   4. are too old-fashioned
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   Answer: (B) stop people examining their real condition

   A people who sing that they are free will not ask whether they are.

10. Why does Shaw say freedom of the press may be hollow?
    1. Because people cannot read
    2. Because the press is owned by the rich
    3. Because printing is expensive
    4. Because news is always false
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    Answer: (B) Because the press is owned by the rich

    The right to speak means little without the means of being heard.

11. Shaw’s proposed remedy is that —
    1. everyone should stop working
    2. everyone should do a fair share of the necessary work
    3. the state should abolish leisure
    4. workers should emigrate
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    Answer: (B) everyone should do a fair share of the necessary work

    Share the burden fairly and the leisure left over belongs to all.

12. Shaw belonged to which socialist society?
    1. The Fabian Society
    2. The Bloomsbury Group
    3. The Royal Society
    4. The Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood
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    Answer: (A) The Fabian Society

    The Fabian Society argued for socialism by gradual reform.

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