Use of English

Active Citizens

In a healthy democracy, citizens are not simply (0) PASSIVE observers of political life. They are expected to stay informed, express their opinions and take part in public debate. When people feel that their voices are not being heard, they may lose faith in the system and become less willing to (1) .......... in elections or community meetings. Citizen participation can take many forms, (2) .......... from voting and attending protests to joining local campaigns or contacting elected representatives. These activities allow ordinary people to have a direct (3) .......... on decisions that affect their daily lives. In addition, public discussion can (4) .......... about greater transparency and encourage leaders to act responsibly. However, participation is not always easy. Some people feel that politics is too complicated, while others are put (5) .......... by rude behaviour online or a lack of trust in institutions. For this reason, schools and community groups should help young people (6) .......... an interest in civic life from an early age. If more citizens are willing to get involved, democracy is more likely to (7) .......... well and respond to the needs of society. In the end, democracy depends (8) .......... people believing that their actions can make a difference.