Lesson 3.3.1.2

3.3.1.2 Conservatism Quiz: AQA Politics, Unit 3

20 questions

Written by Revision Ninja · Last reviewed 11 October 2026

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Lesson 3.3.1.2, Conservatism: 20 multiple choice questions for the AQA Politics (7152), Unit 3: Political ideas, written with Revision Ninja.

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The 20 questions

  1. What core conservative concept refers to longstanding institutions carrying accumulated wisdom?

    • Empiricism
    • Paternalism
    • Pragmatism
    • Tradition

  2. How do traditional conservatives view human nature and conduct?

    • Fully rational
    • Imperfect and fallible
    • Perfectible
    • Naturally good

  3. Which concept is a core emphasis of New Right conservatism?

    • State intervention
    • Paternalistic welfare
    • Free market economics
    • Collectivism

  4. Which concept distinguishes traditional conservatism from New Right conservatism?

    • Deregulation
    • Free markets
    • Atomism
    • Paternalism

  5. Which thinker described life in the state of nature as 'nasty, brutish, and short'?

    • Edmund Burke
    • Michael Oakeshott
    • Thomas Hobbes
    • Robert Nozick

  6. According to Thomas Hobbes, what is the main purpose of an absolute sovereign?

    • Promoting social equality
    • Maintaining social order
    • Maximising economic growth
    • Protecting natural rights

  7. Which book by Edmund Burke criticised the principles of the French Revolution?

    • Two Treatises
    • Reflections on Revolution
    • On Liberty
    • The Social Contract

  8. Which phrase describes Burke's view of society connecting past, present, and future?

    • Social contract
    • Rational construct
    • Intergenerational partnership
    • Class struggle

  9. What style of politics did Oakeshott contrast with the 'politics of scepticism'?

    • Politics of consensus
    • Politics of rage
    • Politics of compromise
    • Politics of faith

  10. What did Michael Oakeshott criticise for ignoring practical experience in politics?

    • Empiricism
    • Rationalism
    • Paternalism
    • Pragmatism

  11. Which New Right thinker defended rational egoism and rejected collectivism?

    • Michael Oakeshott
    • Edmund Burke
    • Thomas Hobbes
    • Ayn Rand

  12. How did Ayn Rand describe the pursuit of rational self-interest?

    • A psychological defect
    • A moral virtue
    • A social failing
    • A necessary evil

  13. Which philosopher argued for a minimal state and justified contract-based inequality?

    • Thomas Hobbes
    • Edmund Burke
    • Robert Nozick
    • Michael Oakeshott

  14. According to Robert Nozick, wealth distribution is just if derived from which process?

    • Voluntary exchange
    • Need-based welfare
    • State redistribution
    • Equal allocation

  15. How do traditional conservatives view authority within society?

    • Purely optional
    • Inherently oppressive
    • Essential for order
    • Temporarily necessary

  16. How do traditional conservatives typically react to rapid constitutional reform?

    • Support radical redesign
    • Welcome total abolition
    • Prefer gradual change
    • Demand immediate revolution

  17. What do conservatives believe private property promotes in individuals?

    • State dependence
    • Absolute equality
    • Personal responsibility
    • Class mobility

  18. Which strand of conservatism is most associated with privatisation and reduced welfare spending?

    • One Nation conservatism
    • Traditional conservatism
    • The New Right
    • Christian democracy

  19. Which core conservative concept emphasises the importance of established institutions like family and religion?

    • Rationalism
    • Tradition
    • Atomism
    • Egalitarianism

  20. What main criticism do opponents often make against the conservative emphasis on tradition?

    • Lack of authority
    • Rejection of property
    • Excessive state control
    • Resistance to reform

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