Which one of the following statements best reflects the crux of the passage given above?
Answer & explanation
Answer: (b) Any form of government tends to deteriorate by excess of its basic principle.
Plato shows aristocracy, oligarchy and democracy each ruining itself by overdoing the very principle that defines it — democracy 'by excess of democracy'. That shared pattern is the crux, option (b).
- ✗ (a) True in general but not the point; the passage explains how each form destroys itself.
- ✓ (b) Aristocracy narrows power too far, oligarchy scrambles for wealth, and democracy 'ruins itself by excess of democracy' — each through excess of its own principle.
- ✗ (c) The passage blames poor education for democracy's failure but never claims education 'ensures' a perfect democracy.
- ✗ (d) 'Necessary evil' is not stated; tyranny arises from excess, not as something inherent in every government.
Remember · When a passage runs parallel examples, the crux is the pattern they share, not any single example.
Question and answer: UPSC's official GS Paper II (2021, Series A) — paper ↗ · answer key ↗. Explanation: Minimalist IAS, checked 30 Sept 2026 (how we verify). ·