A set of values leading people to lose the ability to look after themselves so they become dependent, for example, on welfare benefits.

• A. Dependency culture
• B. Welfare state
• C. Meritocracy
• D. Income

Answer: (A)

Dependency culture refers to a set of values and norms that encourage people to rely on welfare rather than looking after themselves, which can erode self-reliance and create ongoing dependence on benefits. This makes it the best fit for the description, because the statement is about a cultural pattern that promotes reliance on welfare rather than personal effort. The welfare state is the system that provides those benefits, meritocracy describes the idea that rewards come from merit, and income is simply money earned or received.