Fundamentals of Community Development Exam Questions and Answers

Sample Questions and Answers

What is the primary goal of community development?

Economic growth
B. Community empowerment
C. Infrastructure development
D. Political advocacy
Answer: B. Community empowerment

Which of the following is a key principle of community development?

Top-down planning
B. Sustainability
C. Centralized decision-making
D. Privatization
Answer: B. Sustainability

What is the purpose of a community needs assessment?

To identify community resources
B. To evaluate government policies
C. To determine the needs and priorities of the community
D. To develop a business plan
Answer: C. To determine the needs and priorities of the community

Which approach focuses on building on a community’s existing strengths and assets?

Problem-based approach
B. Asset-based community development (ABCD)
C. Needs-based approach
D. Deficit model
Answer: B. Asset-based community development (ABCD)

Which of the following is NOT a key stakeholder in community development?

Government agencies
B. Nonprofit organizations
C. Community members
D. Foreign corporations
Answer: D. Foreign corporations

Participatory planning emphasizes which of the following?

Expert-driven decision-making
B. Community involvement
C. Rapid implementation
D. Outsourcing of planning
Answer: B. Community involvement

What is social capital in the context of community development?

Physical infrastructure in a community
B. Financial investment in social projects
C. The networks, relationships, and trust within a community
D. Government funding for social programs
Answer: C. The networks, relationships, and trust within a community

Which type of community development focuses on economic growth through local businesses?

Environmental development
B. Social development
C. Economic development
D. Cultural development
Answer: C. Economic development

What is capacity building in community development?

Training community members to take on leadership roles
B. Constructing new facilities
C. Increasing government funding
D. Outsourcing technical expertise
Answer: A. Training community members to take on leadership roles

What is a common barrier to successful community development?

High levels of social capital
B. Lack of community participation
C. Overfunding from external sources
D. Strong community networks
Answer: B. Lack of community participation

The concept of “empowerment” in community development means:

Increasing reliance on external resources
B. Building confidence and skills in the community
C. Removing community responsibilities
D. Centralizing power in government agencies
Answer: B. Building confidence and skills in the community

Which is a key component of sustainable community development?

Environmental protection
B. Short-term economic gain
C. Top-down decision-making
D. Decreased local participation
Answer: A. Environmental protection

What does the term “resilience” refer to in a community context?

The ability to recover from challenges or crises
B. The level of community income
C. The number of local businesses
D. The quality of infrastructure
Answer: A. The ability to recover from challenges or crises

What role do local leaders play in community development?

Enforce government regulations
B. Represent community interests and mobilize resources
C. Replace government functions
D. Develop independent policies
Answer: B. Represent community interests and mobilize resources

Which of the following is a participatory method often used in community development?

Focus group discussions
B. Financial auditing
C. Legal consultations
D. Corporate management techniques
Answer: A. Focus group discussions

The concept of “local ownership” in community development means:

Communities rely on external funding
B. Communities take responsibility for planning and implementation
C. Communities are managed by external consultants
D. Projects are owned by government agencies
Answer: B. Communities take responsibility for planning and implementation

What is the role of a facilitator in community development?

To impose solutions
B. To guide and support community discussions
C. To provide financial resources
D. To replace local leadership
Answer: B. To guide and support community discussions

What is the significance of partnerships in community development?

Reducing the need for local input
B. Increasing competition among stakeholders
C. Pooling resources and expertise for common goals
D. Delegating responsibility to external organizations
Answer: C. Pooling resources and expertise for common goals

A “vision statement” in a community development plan outlines:

Specific funding requirements
B. Long-term goals and aspirations of the community
C. Detailed technical designs
D. Government regulations
Answer: B. Long-term goals and aspirations of the community

What is the primary focus of environmental sustainability in community development?

Rapid industrialization
B. Balancing economic growth with ecological protection
C. Maximizing resource extraction
D. Expanding urban areas
Answer: B. Balancing economic growth with ecological protection

Community mobilization is the process of:

Engaging community members to take collective action
B. Hiring external consultants for planning
C. Centralizing decision-making in government
D. Establishing private businesses
Answer: A. Engaging community members to take collective action

How can technology support community development?

By replacing traditional practices
B. By enabling communication, data collection, and resource sharing
C. By reducing community participation
D. By centralizing control in urban areas
Answer: B. By enabling communication, data collection, and resource sharing

What does “cultural competence” mean in the context of community development?

Ignoring cultural differences
B. Adapting to and respecting the cultural context of a community
C. Imposing external cultural practices
D. Promoting a single dominant culture
Answer: B. Adapting to and respecting the cultural context of a community

Which is an example of inclusive community development?

Consulting only local leaders
B. Engaging marginalized groups in decision-making
C. Prioritizing wealthy stakeholders
D. Focusing only on urban areas
Answer: B. Engaging marginalized groups in decision-making

Monitoring and evaluation in community development are important for:

Identifying failures after project completion
B. Tracking progress and ensuring accountability
C. Limiting stakeholder involvement
D. Avoiding feedback from the community
Answer: B. Tracking progress and ensuring accountability

What does “capacity assessment” involve?

Evaluating a community’s skills, resources, and potential
B. Identifying external funding sources
C. Analyzing government policies
D. Creating infrastructure plans
Answer: A. Evaluating a community’s skills, resources, and potential

Which principle guides gender-inclusive community development?

Equal participation and benefits for all genders
B. Focus on men’s economic roles
C. Ignoring gender differences
D. Prioritizing external interventions
Answer: A. Equal participation and benefits for all genders

The process of decentralization in community development refers to:

Shifting decision-making to local levels
B. Increasing government control
C. Outsourcing responsibilities to corporations
D. Reducing community participation
Answer: A. Shifting decision-making to local levels

What is an outcome of successful community development?

Increased dependence on external aid
B. Self-sufficient and empowered communities
C. Reduced local engagement
D. Exclusive economic growth
Answer: B. Self-sufficient and empowered communities

Which is an example of a community development initiative?

Building a shopping mall without consulting residents
B. Establishing a community garden with local input
C. Imposing strict government regulations
D. Relocating residents for infrastructure projects
Answer: B. Establishing a community garden with local input

 

What is the role of advocacy in community development?

To implement projects without community input
B. To promote and support community interests and needs
C. To manage financial resources
D. To conduct technical assessments
Answer: B. To promote and support community interests and needs

Which of the following best describes a “baseline survey”?

A survey conducted after project completion
B. A preliminary survey to collect initial data before implementing a project
C. A financial audit of a community organization
D. A survey focused solely on environmental factors
Answer: B. A preliminary survey to collect initial data before implementing a project

What is a key characteristic of a community-based organization (CBO)?

It is always government-funded
B. It operates independently of the community it serves
C. It is typically led and managed by community members
D. It focuses exclusively on profit generation
Answer: C. It is typically led and managed by community members

Which theory emphasizes the importance of individuals working together to solve common problems in community development?

Conflict theory
B. Systems theory
C. Social capital theory
D. Empowerment theory
Answer: D. Empowerment theory

In community development, what does the term “stakeholder” refer to?

Only government officials involved in a project
B. Any individual or group with an interest or concern in a project
C. External consultants hired for a project
D. Financial investors in community projects
Answer: B. Any individual or group with an interest or concern in a project