auto = “self” crat/cracy = “rule” dem = “people” Which sentence uses the underlined word correctly? As the sole decision maker, the CEO considered himself the democratic leader of his company. Since the leader consolidated all the power for his own use, the country is now essentially an autocracy. The solitary queen ruled the democracy with an iron fist and allowed no interference with her decisions. The autocratic government was particularly popular for its habit of implementing citizens’ suggestions.
The Correct Answer and Explanation is:
The correct answer is: “Since the leader consolidated all the power for his own use, the country is now essentially an autocracy.”
Explanation:
To correctly understand the use of the underlined words, let’s break down the meanings:
- Autocracy: Derived from “auto” meaning “self” and “cracy” meaning “rule,” autocracy refers to a system of government in which one person holds all the power. It suggests that the leader or ruler has absolute control, with little or no input from other governing bodies or the people.
- Democracy: From “dem” meaning “people” and “cracy” meaning “rule,” democracy is a system of government where power is vested in the people, either directly or through elected representatives. In a democracy, decisions are generally made by the majority or with considerable public input.
Breakdown of Each Sentence:
- “As the sole decision maker, the CEO considered himself the democratic leader of his company.”
- Here, democratic is used incorrectly. While the CEO may allow employees some input, the word “democratic” refers to the idea of power being shared or influenced by the people. In a typical company, the CEO has centralized power, making “democratic” an inappropriate description unless the company actively engages in a system of decision-making that reflects collective input.
- “Since the leader consolidated all the power for his own use, the country is now essentially an autocracy.”
- This sentence is correct. Autocracy fits perfectly here because the leader has centralized power, meaning there is no shared governance or checks on authority, which is characteristic of an autocracy.
- “The solitary queen ruled the democracy with an iron fist and allowed no interference with her decisions.”
- The use of democracy here is incorrect. The word “democracy” implies a government in which people participate in decision-making, but the queen is described as ruling without interference, which would be more appropriate in an autocracy or dictatorship, not a democracy.
- “The autocratic government was particularly popular for its habit of implementing citizens’ suggestions.”
- While this sentence uses autocratic correctly to describe a government where power is centralized, the second part of the sentence contradicts the nature of an autocracy. Autocratic governments typically do not prioritize implementing citizens’ suggestions, as the leader holds all power. This creates a contradiction in the sentence, making it incorrect.
Thus, the sentence “Since the leader consolidated all the power for his own use, the country is now essentially an autocracy” is the correct choice, as it accurately reflects the meaning of autocracy as a government with centralized power in one individual.