What is Case Study Question / Paragraph Based Question?
A case study is a scenario in a particular academic / professional context which students are expected to analyse and respond to, guided by specific questions posed concerning the situation. In many cases, the scenario or case study involves a number of issues or problems that must be dealt with in a academic / professional workplace.
Why Case Study Questions are included in academics?
Case study assignments usually require students to identify problems and issues in a scenario, to demonstrate their developing knowledge of theories and academic / professional policies and to make decisions and recommendations based on these to either prevent or solve some of the issues in that scenario.
How to solve Case Study Questions?
There are several steps to writing an answer to a case study assignment:
STEP 1: Read the case study and questions carefully.
- Read the case and associated questions carefully.
- Highlight the main points of the case and any issues that you can identify.
- Read the questions closely and analyse what they are requiring you to do.
- Read the case again, linking the information that is relevant to each question you have been asked.
STEP 2: Identify the issues in the case study.
Case studies describe a situation which may arise in a particular profession or social context. They often involve a number of people in a complex situation. They will often describe a situation which is problematic, possibly in how it is dealt with, or in its complexity. An important part of your answer is to analyse the situation and to identify the issues/actions described in the case which may be problematic. The following questions may help you to do this:
- What actions were taken in the case?
- Were these actions the most appropriate and why?
- Were there any consequences of the actions taken?
- Was anything omitted or not considered?
- Were actions/procedures in line with existing codes of practice, policy or theories?
STEP 3: Link theory to practice.
Use your knowledge of existing codes of practice, theories and/or other academic / professional documents and behaviours to decide what was done appropriately and what was not.
STEP 4: Plan your answer.
It can be useful to use the questions you have been set as headings and to answer each part in turn, reducing the chance of omitting set questions. You can always take out the headings before you submit if you wish. Lecturers usually set questions in a logical order, so answer in the order they are written in your question.
STEP 5: Start writing your case study answer (for theory only)
Like any assignment, you will need an introduction, body sections in which you answer the questions put to you regarding the case study, and a conclusion.
STEP 6: Edit and proofread.
Read through your paper yourself to detect and correct other errors and omissions.
Check you have answered all questions and backed up your answer with relevant passage.
Types of Case Study Questions / Paragraph Based Questions
Case Study Questions / Paragraph Based Questions can be broadly classified into two types:
- MCQs type: In this type, student has to tick the correct option from various options.
- Theory type: In this type, student has to write proper solution / answer in cotext to the case study.
Case Study/ Passage Based Questions Chapter 2 Sectors of the Indian Economy
Type 1: MCQ type
Case Study Question 01
Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow:
There are many activities that are undertaken by directly using natural resources. When we produced a good by exploiting natural resources, it is an activity of the primary sector. Why primary? This is because it forms the base for all other products that we subsequently make. Since most of the natural products we get are from agricultural, dairy, fishing, forestry, this sector is also called agriculture and related sector. The secondary sector covers activities in which natural products are changed into other forms through ways of manufacturing that we associate with industrial activity. It is the next step after primary. The product is not produced by nature but has to be made and therefore some process of manufacturing is essential. This could be in a factory, a workshop or at home. Since this sector gradually became associated with the different kinds of industries that came up, it is also called as industrial sector. After primary and secondary, there is a third category of activities that falls under tertiary sector and is different from the above two. These are activities that help in the development of the primary and secondary sectors. These activities, by themselves, do not produce a good but they are an aid or a support for the productions process. For example, goods that are produced in the primary or secondary sector would need to be transported by trucks or trains and then sold in wholesale and retails shops. At times, it may be necessary to store these in godowns. We also may need to talk to other over telephone or send letter (communication) or borrow money from banks (banking) to help production and trade.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question.1. The goods that are derived by exploiting natural resources are referred to as the goods of __________.
(a) primary sector
(b) modern sector
(c) secondary sector
(d) tertiary sector
Question.2. Which of the following is another name for primary sector?
(a) Service sector
(b) Agriculture and related sector
(c) IT Sector
(d) Industrial sector
Question.3. Which of the following is a benefit of a tertiary sector?
(a) The activities of tertiary sector help in the development of primary and secondary sector.
(b) The tertiary sector helps in the production of goods by directly using natural resources.
(c) The individuals involved in tertiary sector use better quality seeds and manure to produce agricultural goods.
(d) The individuals involved in tertiary sector buys raw materials directly from farmers to convert them into final goods.
Question.4. Which of the following best defines the gross domestic product (GDP) of a country?
(a) It is the decrease in the value of assets over a given period of time.
(b) It is the value of final goods and services produced within the domestic territory of a country.
(c) It is the difference between value of goods imported and the value of goods exported.
(d) It is the value of all final goods and services produced by the citizens of a country within and outside the country.
Ans.1. (a) primary sector.
Ans.2. (b) Agriculture and related sector.
Ans.3. (a) The activities of tertiary sector help in the development of primary and secondary sector.
Ans.4. (b) It is the value of final goods and services produced within the domestic territory of a country.
Case Study Question 02
Read the extract given below and answer the questions that follow:
Take the case of Laxmi with her two-hectare plot of unirrigated land. The government can spend some money or banks can provide a loan, to construct a well for her family to irrigate the land. Laxmi will then be able to irrigate her land and take a second crop, wheat, during the rabi season. Let us suppose that one hectare of wheat can provide employment to two people for 50 days (including sowing, watering, fertiliser application and harvesting). So, two more members of the family can be employed in her own field. Now suppose a new dam is constructed and canals are dug to irrigate many such farms. This could lead to a lot of employment generation within the agricultural sector itself reducing the problem of underemployment.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question.1. The passage given above relates to which of the following options?
(a) Seasonal unemployment
(b) Creating more employment opportunities
(c) Importance of agricultural sector
(d) Importance of girl child.
Question.2. According to the given passage, irrigation helps in increasing agricultural employment based on which of the following options?
(a) The government can spend some money
(b) One hectare of wheat can provide employment to two people for 50 days
(c) Banks can provide a loan
(d) Laxmi will then be able to irrigate her land and take a second crop
Question.3. By setting up a dam, which part of agricultural activities will be impacted?
(a) Sowing
(b) Watering
(c) Fertiliser application
(d) Harvesting
Question.4. To accommodate more family members, Laxmi needs to:
(a) Take loan from bank
(b) Irrigate her land and grow rabi crops
(c) Look for a canal system
(d) All of the above
Ans.1. (b) Creating more employment opportunities.
Ans.2. (d) Laxmi will then be able to irrigate her land and take a second crop.
Ans.3. (b) Watering.
Ans.4. (b) Irrigate her land and grow rabi crops.
Case Study Question 03
Read the source given below and answer the following questions:
Another way of classifying economic activities into sectors could be on the basis of who owns assets and is responsible for the delivery of services. In the public sector, the government owns most of the assets and provides all the services. In the private sector, ownership of assets and delivery of services is in the hands of privateindividuals or companies. Railways or post office is an example of the public sector whereas companies like Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO) or Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) are privately owned.
Answer the following MCQs by choosing the most appropriate option:
Question.1. The passage given above relates to which of the following options?
(a) Sectors in term of ownership
(b) Role of private sector
(c) Public sector does people welfare
(d) Private sector has an edge over public sector
Question.2. According to the given passage, TISCO falls under private sector because-
(a) It is the biggest iron producing company.
(b) It is operated by Government of India.
(c) It is jointly owned by government and private organisations.
(d) It is fully owned by private organisation.
Question.3. Private organisations these days provide better services than public organisations because:
(a) They have better management
(b) They use resources judiciously
(c) To maximise their profit they satisfy their customers
(d) All of the above
Question.4. Basic services like health, education and infrastructure usually come under public sector. The reason is:
(a) These are profit earning areas
(b) Require equal and quality distribution
(c) Need better management
(d) Require timely updation
Ans.1. (a) Sectors in term of ownership.
Ans.2. (d) It is fully owned by private organisation.
Ans.3. (d) All of the above.
Ans.4. (b) Require equal and quality distribution.
Type 2: Theory Type
Case Study Question 04
Read the sources given below and answer the questions that follows:
Source A-Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005
The central government in India made a law implementing the Right to Work in about 625 districts of India. It is called Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005 (MGNREGA 2005). Under MGNREGA 2005, all those who are able to, and are in need of, work in rural areas are guaranteed 100 days of employment in a year by the government.
Source B-Value of final goods
The value of final goods and services produced in each sector during a particular year provides the total production of the sector for that year. And the sum of production in the three sectors gives what is called the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country. It is the value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a particular year.
Source C-Sector in terms of ownership
Another way of classifying economic activities into sectors could be on the basis of who owns assets and is responsible for the delivery of services. In the public sector, the government owns most of the assets and provides all the services. In the private sector, ownership of assets and delivery of services is in the hands of private individuals or companies. Railways or post office is an example of the public sector whereas companies like Tata Iron and Steel Company Limited (TISCO) or Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) are privately owned.
Source A-Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005
Question.1. How many days of employment in a year are guaranteed by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005?
Source B-Value of final goods
Question.2. What does the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shows?
Source C-Sector in terms of ownership
Question.3. Which sector of economies managed by the individual or company?
Ans.1. 100 days of employment in a year are guaranteed by the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act 2005.
Ans.2. The Gross Domestic Product (GDP) shows how small or big economy is.
Ans.3. In the private sector, ownership of assets and delivery of services is in the hands of private individuals or companies.
Case Study Question 05
Read the extract and answer the questions that follows:
There are many activities that are undertaken by directly using natural resources. Take, for example, the cultivation of cotton. It takes place within a crop season. For the growth of the cotton plant, we depend mainly, but not entirely, on natural factors like rainfall, sunshine and climate. The product of this activity, cotton, is a natural product. Similarly, in the case of an activity like dairy, we are dependent on the biological process of the animals and availability of fodder etc. The product here, milk, also is a natural product. Similarly, minerals and ores are also natural products. When weproduce a good by exploiting natural resources, it is an activity of the primary sector. This is because it forms the base for all other products that we subsequently make. Since most of the natural products we get are from agriculture, dairy, fishing, forestry, this sector is also called agriculture and related sector. The secondary sector covers activities in which natural products are changed into other forms through ways of manufacturing that we associate with industrial activity. It is the next step after primary sector activities if the product is not produced by nature but has to be made and therefore some process of manufacturing is essential. After primary and secondary sector activities there is a third category of activities that falls under tertiary sector and is different from the above two. These are activities that help in the development of the primary and secondary sectors. These activities, by themselves, do not produce a good but they are an aid or a support for the production process. For example, goods that are produced in the primary or secondary sector would need to be transported by trucks or trains and then sold in wholesale and retail shops.
Question.1. What do you understand by primary sector? What is the other name of primary sector?
Question.2. What do you understand by secondary activities?
Question.3. What do you understand by tertiary activities? What is the other name for tertiary sector?
Ans.1. When we produce a good by exploiting natural resources, then it is called the primary sector. Primary sector is also known as agriculture sector.
Ans.2. When the natural products are changed into other forms by ways of manufacturing then it is called as secondary activities.
Ans.3. The activities that help in the development of the primary and secondary sectors is called as a tertiary activities. The other name for the tertiary sector is service sector.
Case Study Question 06
Read the extract and answer the questions that follows:
Study the following table and answer the following questions:
Question.1. What is the combined value(in crores) in primary sector activities in 2000 and 2013?
Question.2. Which of the following sectors has the highest monetary gain?
Ans.1. The total value of the primary sector activities in 2000 and 2013 are:
(52,000 + 8,00,500) = (8,52,500) crores.
Ans.2. The highest monetary gain is made by the tertiary sector. From the income of ₹ 1,33,500 crores in 2000 it increased to ₹ 38,68,000 crores in 2013.
