At a school in Pune, twelve students run an eco club. Ananya keeps the attendance register, Farhan collects the fees and Riya designs the posters. Class 12 members chair the meetings, and the juniors usually go along with what the seniors decide. When Farhan fell ill last month, no fees came in and the tree-planting drive was put off for everyone. At the annual function, hundreds of parents sat in the school hall to watch the club's play. They clapped at the same moments, and most of them left as soon as the play ended.
Which of the following best explains why the eco club is a group while the parents in the hall are not?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 1
The correct answer is Option (1) → The club members depend on one another and have roles, status and expectations from each other
Option (1) The club members depend on one another and have roles, status and expectations from each other — Correct. The club members depend on one another: when Farhan fell ill, the drive was put off for all. They also hold set jobs, have seniors and juniors, and expect things of each other. These features set a group apart from people who are only at one place.
Option (2) The parents are present by chance, with no structure and irrational behaviour, as in a crowd — Incorrect. A crowd is a collection of people who are at a place by chance, with no structure and irrational behaviour. The parents came on purpose and sat calmly through the play, so they are not a crowd; they are only a collection of people without group features.
Option (3) The club members interact face to face, whereas the parents interact with each other only indirectly — Incorrect. A group may interact directly or indirectly, so indirect contact does not stop people from being a group. The parents are not a group because they do not depend on one another.
Option (4) The club has a small number of members, whereas the parents form a very large gathering — Incorrect. Size is not the test. A group needs only two or more members, and a large number of people can still form one. What the parents lack is interdependence and defined roles.
NCERT (2026-27): “What is a Group? |