We generally talk about democracy but when it comes to any particular thing, we prefer a belonging to our caste or community or religion. So long as we have this kind of temptation, our democracy will remain a phoney kind of democracy. We must be in a position to respect a man as a man and to extend opportunities for development to those who deserve them and not to those who happen to belong to our community or race. This fact of favouritism has been responsible for much discontent and ill-will in our country.

Which one of the following statements best sums up the above passage?

The correct answer is True democracy could be established by providing equal opportunities to all.

Step-by-step Explanation:

1. Analyze the passage: The author highlights a key flaw in how democracy is currently practiced: instead of treating individuals on their own merit, people tend to favor those belonging to their own caste, community, or religion. The passage states that as long as this temptation to favor one's own community persists, our democracy will remain "a phoney kind of democracy."

2. Identify the solution proposed by the author: To move away from a "phoney" democracy and establish a genuine one, the author suggests a specific course of action: "We must be in a position to respect a man as a man and to extend opportunities for development to those who deserve them and not to those who happen to belong to our community or race." This directly means that opportunities should be granted based on merit and deserts rather than identity, ensuring fairness and equality for everyone.

3. Connect to the correct option: The statement "True democracy could be established by providing equal opportunities to all" perfectly summarizes the central thesis of the passage. It encapsulates both the remedy for the "phoney" democracy (treating individuals with respect and providing opportunities based on merit, which translates to equal opportunity for all) and the ultimate goal (establishing a true, non-phoney democracy).

4. Why other options are incorrect:
- The first option merely states a fact about diversity, which is not the main argument or lesson of the passage.
- The third option is too extreme; the passage argues that our practice is flawed due to temptation and favoritism, not that absolutely no one understands democracy.
- The fourth option is overly pessimistic and defeatist; the passage suggests what we "must" do to fix the system, implying that improvement is possible rather than declaring it impossible.