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:
The words “auto,” “cracy,” and “dem” are derived from Greek and Latin roots that convey specific meanings:
- Auto means “self.”
- Crat/cracy means “rule” or “government.”
- Dem means “people.”
Given these root meanings:
- Autocracy refers to a system of government where one individual holds absolute power or authority over the state. It’s a “self-rule” in the sense that a single person (the ruler) holds complete control, without checks from other branches or the people. This aligns with the sentence: “Since the leader consolidated all the power for his own use, the country is now essentially an autocracy.” In this sentence, the word autocracy is used correctly because it describes a situation where one individual (the leader) holds all the power, reflecting a government system where one person rules over others.
- Democracy, on the other hand, is derived from “demos” (people) and “cracy” (rule), meaning “rule by the people.” In this type of system, power is vested in the people either directly or through elected representatives. It implies a government that is accountable to the populace and operates with their consent.
Why the other options are incorrect:
- “As the sole decision maker, the CEO considered himself the democratic leader of his company.”
This is incorrect because the word democratic refers to leadership by the people, which contradicts the CEO being the “sole decision maker.” If the CEO has absolute power, they are not leading democratically. - “The solitary queen ruled the democracy with an iron fist and allowed no interference with her decisions.”
This is incorrect because democracy denotes a system of government based on the participation and rights of the people, and it does not align with the description of an “iron fist” rule, which implies autocratic control. - “The autocratic government was particularly popular for its habit of implementing citizens’ suggestions.”
This is also incorrect because autocracy is a system of government where power is centralized in one ruler, not one that is particularly open to the suggestions of the people, as implied here.
Thus, the second sentence is the correct use of autocracy.