(A) Concept and Aims of Education, Methods of Teaching and Role of Teachers in the light of Idealism, Naturalism, Pragmatism, and Marxism)
Set 1: Idealism
- According to Idealism, the ultimate aim of education is to:
a) Develop physical strength
b) Prepare for economic productivity
c) Realize spiritual and moral values
d) Promote vocational efficiency
Ans: c - Idealism emphasizes:
a) Experimental learning
b) Material progress
c) Sensory experience
d) The development of intellect and character
Ans: d - In Idealistic education, the teacher is considered as a:
a) Facilitator
b) Guide and philosopher
c) Demonstrator
d) Observer
Ans: b - Which of the following is the most suitable method of teaching in Idealism?
a) Heuristic method
b) Project method
c) Lecture and discussion method
d) Role play method
Ans: c - Idealism gives more importance to:
a) Material world
b) Mind and ideas
c) Physical development
d) Vocational training
Ans: b
Set 2: Naturalism
- Naturalism in education emphasizes:
a) Spiritual development
b) Social engineering
c) Learning through nature and experience
d) Rote learning
Ans: c - According to Naturalism, education should be:
a) Rigid and uniform
b) Controlled by religious authorities
c) Child-centered and experiential
d) Book-centered
Ans: c - In Naturalistic teaching, the teacher is seen as a:
a) Dictator
b) Passive observer
c) Guide and co-learner
d) Disciplinarian
Ans: c - The most appropriate method of teaching according to Naturalism is:
a) Lecture
b) Punishment
c) Learning by doing
d) Memorization
Ans: c - Which educational philosopher is most closely associated with Naturalism?
a) Hegel
b) Rousseau
c) Plato
d) Marx
Ans: b
Set 3: Pragmatism
- Pragmatism holds that:
a) Knowledge is eternal
b) Experience is the basis of reality
c) Truth is subjective
d) Ideas precede actions
Ans: b - The primary aim of education in Pragmatism is:
a) To develop moral values
b) To acquire eternal truth
c) To prepare for democratic citizenship and problem-solving
d) To preserve tradition
Ans: c - Who is a major proponent of Pragmatism in education?
a) John Dewey
b) J.J. Rousseau
c) Hegel
d) Mahatma Gandhi
Ans: a - Pragmatism advocates which of the following methods of teaching?
a) Memorization
b) Dialogue
c) Lecture
d) Project and experiential methods
Ans: d - The teacher’s role in a pragmatic classroom is to:
a) Be the center of authority
b) Transmit fixed knowledge
c) Facilitate problem-solving and experimentation
d) Enforce discipline
Ans: c
Set 4: Marxism
- Marxism considers education as a means of:
a) Developing individual talents
b) Promoting capitalist values
c) Creating class consciousness and societal transformation
d) Personal salvation
Ans: c - According to Marxist thought, the school system primarily serves:
a) Neutral goals
b) The working class
c) The ruling ideology of the dominant class
d) Cultural development
Ans: c - Which of the following aligns with Marxist educational theory?
a) Individualistic approach
b) Class-neutral curriculum
c) Critical pedagogy and social equity
d) Religious instruction
Ans: c - Marxist education emphasizes:
a) Memorization of texts
b) Emancipation through critical awareness
c) Obedience to authority
d) Market-oriented learning
Ans: b - In Marxist theory, curriculum should:
a) Be religious in nature
b) Ignore economic issues
c) Expose inequalities and promote collective action
d) Focus on professional skill training only
Ans: c
(B) Philosophical and Psychological Bases of Curriculum. Principles of Curriculum Construction. Evaluation of Madhyamik and H.S. Curriculum of W.B. in the light of the principles. Co-curricular Activities. Freedom and Discipline)
Set 5: Philosophical and Psychological Bases of Curriculum
- A curriculum based on Idealism emphasizes:
a) Scientific and technical skills
b) Sensory experience
c) Cultural and moral development
d) Economic utility
Ans: c - Pragmatism influences curriculum to focus on:
a) Rote learning
b) Real-life problem-solving and activities
c) Scriptural study
d) Teacher-dominated instruction
Ans: b - The psychological base of curriculum development emphasizes:
a) Logical sequencing of content only
b) Learner’s interests, needs, and stages of development
c) National traditions
d) Administrative convenience
Ans: b - Curriculum construction on psychological grounds aims to:
a) Impose uniform knowledge
b) Focus on exam-oriented teaching
c) Cater to developmental stages and learning styles
d) Avoid learner autonomy
Ans: c - According to behaviorist psychology, curriculum should:
a) Promote spiritual values
b) Emphasize reinforcement and observable learning outcomes
c) Encourage intuition
d) Focus on abstract thinking
Ans: b - Cognitive psychology supports curriculum that:
a) Trains muscle memory
b) Reinforces repetitive tasks
c) Promotes critical thinking and concept building
d) Encourages obedience
Ans: c - Affective domain in curriculum focuses on:
a) Knowledge acquisition
b) Skill mastery
c) Attitudes, values, and emotions
d) Language fluency
Ans: c - Which theory supports a learner-centered curriculum?
a) Structuralism
b) Constructivism
c) Behaviorism
d) Empiricism
Ans: b - The ‘spiral curriculum’ is associated with:
a) Jerome Bruner
b) B.F. Skinner
c) Paulo Freire
d) J.S. Mill
Ans: a - Curriculum should be psychologically sound in order to:
a) Meet government targets
b) Encourage uniformity
c) Suit learners’ capacity and interest
d) Emphasize facts and dates
Ans: c
Set 6: Principles of Curriculum Construction
- Which of the following is NOT a principle of curriculum construction?
a) Principle of continuity
b) Principle of isolation
c) Principle of utility
d) Principle of flexibility
Ans: b - Curriculum construction should be:
a) Teacher-centered
b) Memory-focused
c) Dynamic and progressive
d) Rigid and traditional
Ans: c - The principle of correlation implies:
a) Teaching each subject in isolation
b) Emphasizing unrelated facts
c) Establishing relationships between different subjects
d) Avoiding interdisciplinary learning
Ans: c - The principle of integration refers to:
a) Keeping practical activities separate
b) Combining various learning experiences
c) Ignoring learner interest
d) Following only a single discipline
Ans: b - Which of these is a core factor in curriculum development?
a) Teacher’s interest
b) Learner’s ability and environment
c) Political ideologies
d) Book availability
Ans: b - A balanced curriculum ensures:
a) Focus only on academics
b) Equal emphasis on cognitive, affective and psychomotor domains
c) Repetition of topics
d) Sole dependence on textbooks
Ans: b - Local relevance in curriculum construction promotes:
a) International uniformity
b) Detachment from community
c) Socio-cultural connectivity
d) Universal application only
Ans: c - Flexibility in curriculum allows:
a) Uniform syllabus for all
b) Rigid time scheduling
c) Teacher autonomy and learner adaptation
d) Avoidance of reform
Ans: c - A democratic principle of curriculum ensures:
a) Totalitarian values
b) Suppression of free thought
c) Equal opportunity for learning
d) Disciplinary strictness
Ans: c - Vocational bias in curriculum emphasizes:
a) Religious training
b) Emotional development only
c) Job-oriented skills
d) Artistic learning only
Ans: c
Set 7: Evaluation of Madhyamik and H.S. Curriculum (W.B.)
- Madhyamik curriculum in West Bengal is framed by:
a) WBCSSC
b) West Bengal Board of Secondary Education
c) NCTE
d) AICTE
Ans: b - Evaluation of W.B. Higher Secondary Curriculum should follow:
a) Spiritual parameters
b) Teacher’s assumptions
c) Curriculum construction principles
d) Public opinion
Ans: c - The current HS curriculum in West Bengal emphasizes:
a) Rote memorization
b) Multidisciplinary and holistic education
c) Single-subject focus
d) Teacher-centered approaches
Ans: b - Co-curricular components in W.B. curriculum aim to:
a) Support textbook learning only
b) Develop personality, creativity, and social awareness
c) Increase exam pressure
d) Promote isolation
Ans: b - Which body recommends periodic evaluation of W.B. curricula?
a) UNESCO
b) NCERT
c) West Bengal Council of Higher Secondary Education
d) AIU
Ans: c - The curriculum reform in W.B. is guided by:
a) Religious leaders
b) Global market policies
c) National Curriculum Framework
d) Teacher associations
Ans: c - One of the main criticisms of W.B. Madhyamik curriculum is:
a) Excess focus on global affairs
b) Lack of regional context
c) Inflexibility and exam-centric design
d) Excessive practical exposure
Ans: c - Integration of ICT in the curriculum aims to:
a) Replace textbooks
b) Isolate students
c) Enhance access to resources and interactive learning
d) Reduce classroom time
Ans: c - Continuous and Comprehensive Evaluation (CCE) is practiced to:
a) Emphasize final exam results
b) Promote fear of failure
c) Assess all-round development
d) Focus on homework
Ans: c - Life skills are included in HS curriculum to:
a) Replace academic knowledge
b) Address real-world competencies
c) Avoid discipline
d) Emphasize competition
Ans: b
Set 8: Co-curricular Activities
- Co-curricular activities are:
a) Irrelevant to education
b) Parallel and complementary to curricular activities
c) Time-pass programs
d) Compulsory religious rituals
Ans: b - Debates, dramatics and exhibitions are examples of:
a) Academic assessment
b) Examination techniques
c) Co-curricular activities
d) Cognitive activities
Ans: c - The purpose of co-curricular activities is to:
a) Improve discipline only
b) Reduce teaching time
c) Develop emotional, social, and aesthetic abilities
d) Promote exam fear
Ans: c - Co-curricular activities contribute to:
a) Only theoretical knowledge
b) Total personality development
c) Loss of academic time
d) Memorization
Ans: b - Participation in sports fosters:
a) Physical laziness
b) Teamwork, health, and discipline
c) Academic detachment
d) Political awareness
Ans: b - Co-curricular activities are best organized:
a) Only during summer vacation
b) Outside of school hours only
c) As part of structured school programs
d) Randomly by students
Ans: c - Music, arts and crafts develop:
a) Intellectual quotient
b) Aesthetic and creative sensibility
c) Mathematical aptitude
d) Critical reading
Ans: b - Morning assembly is a form of:
a) Compulsory punishment
b) Curriculum
c) Co-curricular activity
d) Political event
Ans: c - Which is a psychological benefit of co-curricular activities?
a) Emotional suppression
b) Identity development and self-confidence
c) Academic failure
d) Language loss
Ans: b - NCC and Scouts-Guides teach:
a) Technical skills
b) Teamwork, discipline, and leadership
c) Abstract knowledge
d) Exam tricks
Ans: b
Set 9: Freedom and Discipline in Education
- Discipline in education is aimed at:
a) Punishment
b) Fear and control
c) Developing self-regulation and responsibility
d) Suppression of creativity
Ans: c - Freedom in education implies:
a) Doing anything without restriction
b) License to ignore rules
c) Responsibility with autonomy
d) Avoidance of accountability
Ans: c - The best educational environment is one where:
a) There is rigid control
b) Students act without purpose
c) Freedom and discipline are balanced
d) Fear is used as a motivator
Ans: c - Self-discipline is:
a) Imposed from outside
b) Irrelevant to learning
c) A desirable trait cultivated through education
d) Based on peer pressure
Ans: c - Freedom should be given to students:
a) Without any guidance
b) Within responsible limits
c) Only to adults
d) In all situations
Ans: b - Which of the following is an example of discipline in education?
a) Forcing silence
b) Promoting questioning and respect for others’ views
c) Obedience without understanding
d) Memory-based answers
Ans: b - Who said, “True discipline comes through liberty”?
a) Rousseau
b) Maria Montessori
c) B.F. Skinner
d) John Dewey
Ans: b - Disciplinary measures should:
a) Be harsh and punitive
b) Encourage compliance without understanding
c) Be developmental and educative in nature
d) Suppress divergent views
Ans: c - The best way to ensure discipline is:
a) Constant monitoring
b) Physical punishment
c) Building a democratic classroom culture
d) Enforcing rules strictly
Ans: c - Reward and punishment are considered:
a) Outdated techniques
b) Irrelevant in school
c) Behavior management tools
d) Opposed to learning
Ans: c
Set 10: Integrated Questions – Revision and Conceptual Mix
Idealism, Naturalism, Pragmatism, Marxism
- Who among the following emphasized that education is the dynamic side of philosophy?
a) John Dewey
b) Bertrand Russell
c) Radhakrishnan
d) J.S. Ross
Ans: d - Idealism holds that reality is primarily:
a) Material
b) Biological
c) Mental or spiritual
d) Social
Ans: c - Which philosophy emphasizes “Education according to nature”?
a) Idealism
b) Pragmatism
c) Naturalism
d) Marxism
Ans: c - Marxist education encourages students to:
a) Be passive receivers
b) Conform to status quo
c) Critically examine social inequalities
d) Reject political awareness
Ans: c - Pragmatism supports:
a) Theoretical learning
b) Fixed curriculum
c) Experimental and problem-solving learning
d) Authoritarian control
Ans: c
Curriculum Principles and Evaluation
- Which principle demands that curriculum be adaptable to social and technological change?
a) Principle of integration
b) Principle of continuity
c) Principle of dynamism
d) Principle of correlation
Ans: c - The “child-centered” curriculum is aligned with:
a) Behaviorism
b) Idealism
c) Naturalism and Progressivism
d) Structuralism
Ans: c - Evaluation in curriculum should be:
a) Sporadic
b) Summative only
c) Continuous and diagnostic
d) Based on punishment
Ans: c - Which of the following helps in curriculum evaluation in W.B. schools?
a) Final exam marks only
b) External feedback alone
c) Comprehensive and continuous school-based assessment
d) Public pressure
Ans: c - A good curriculum should reflect:
a) Abstract knowledge
b) Historical accuracy
c) Learners’ needs and social relevance
d) Rigid academic control
Ans: c
Set 11: Co-curricular Activities and Discipline
- Which of the following is NOT a co-curricular activity?
a) Essay competition
b) Quiz
c) Morning prayer
d) End-semester examination
Ans: d - Role of teachers in co-curricular planning is to:
a) Supervise only
b) Dictate terms
c) Facilitate and coordinate student involvement
d) Leave it to student unions
Ans: c - Active participation in co-curricular activities helps in:
a) Subject expertise only
b) One-dimensional development
c) All-round development
d) Ignoring diversity
Ans: c - Discipline in modern pedagogy is linked with:
a) Military-style obedience
b) Self-regulation and cooperative learning
c) Harsh punishments
d) Memorization
Ans: b - Reward system in discipline promotes:
a) External dependency
b) Positive reinforcement and motivation
c) Blind conformity
d) Fear-based learning
Ans: b
Set 12: Curriculum Structure in West Bengal
- West Bengal Madhyamik Curriculum aligns with:
a) Central Board (CBSE) only
b) British system
c) National Curriculum Framework (NCF) principles
d) International Baccalaureate
Ans: c - The subject “Education” in W.B. Higher Secondary is offered as:
a) A core science subject
b) A compulsory vocational paper
c) An elective subject in Humanities
d) Part of Physical Education
Ans: c - Evaluation reform in W.B. schools is targeted to:
a) Increase student burden
b) Align with entrance exams
c) Foster holistic development
d) Avoid academic challenges
Ans: c - Which organization provides guidelines for curriculum and textbooks in W.B. schools?
a) NTA
b) NCERT
c) WBBSE and WBCHSE
d) AICTE
Ans: c - One of the innovations in the latest W.B. school curriculum is:
a) Single subject focus
b) Elimination of all co-curriculars
c) Integration of ICT and Life Skills
d) Removal of practicals
Ans: c
Set 13: Pedagogical Integration
- Curriculum must reflect:
a) Religious dogmas
b) Social reality and learner diversity
c) Historical pride alone
d) Global uniformity
Ans: b - Which is a component of psychomotor development in curriculum?
a) Memorization
b) Essay writing
c) Painting and physical activity
d) Reading comprehension
Ans: c - Balanced curriculum includes:
a) Only textbooks
b) Cognitive, affective, and psychomotor learning
c) Teacher preferences
d) Repetition of prior syllabi
Ans: b - National Curriculum Framework (2005) recommends:
a) Text-centered curriculum
b) Exam-oriented teaching
c) Activity-based and constructivist learning
d) Authoritarian classroom control
Ans: c - Practical work in curriculum supports:
a) Lecture methods only
b) Conceptual understanding and skill-building
c) Ignoring real-life applications
d) Reducing student voice
Ans: b
Set 14: Conceptual Wrap-up
- True education, as per Idealism, means:
a) Acquisition of facts
b) Personal development through values and ideals
c) Training for jobs only
d) Physical training
Ans: b - Curriculum in pragmatist philosophy is:
a) Fixed and universal
b) Designed to be flexible and experience-based
c) Traditional and exam-focused
d) Religious in nature
Ans: b - Which curriculum approach views students as passive recipients?
a) Progressive
b) Constructivist
c) Subject-centered
d) Activity-based
Ans: c - Freedom in education should be:
a) Absolute
b) Controlled and destructive
c) Balanced with responsibility
d) Avoided in school systems
Ans: c - Modern Indian education policy supports:
a) Segregated disciplines
b) Rigid curriculum structure
c) Integration, flexibility and equity
d) Exam-oriented rote learning
Ans: c