Social Science · Sample Paper 1

General instructions

Section A · Objective

1. Question 11 mark

   The storming of the Bastille, which marked the beginning of the French Revolution, took place on

   1. A.14 July 1789
   2. B.4 August 1789
   3. C.20 June 1789
   4. D.21 January 1793
2. Question 21 mark

   Which of the following groups was NOT a part of the Third Estate in eighteenth-century France?

   1. A.Peasants
   2. B.Merchants
   3. C.Clergy
   4. D.Lawyers
3. Question 31 mark

   The October Revolution of 1917 in Russia was led by the

   1. A.Mensheviks
   2. B.Bolsheviks
   3. C.Socialist Revolutionaries
   4. D.Liberals
4. Question 41 mark

   Hitler became the Chancellor of Germany in

   1. A.1919
   2. B.1929
   3. C.1933
   4. D.1939
5. Question 51 mark

   The Kalangs of Java were skilled

   1. A.forest cutters and shifting cultivators
   2. B.fishermen
   3. C.pastoralists
   4. D.weavers
6. Question 61 mark

   The Maasai are a pastoral community of

   1. A.West Asia
   2. B.East Africa
   3. C.Central Asia
   4. D.South America
7. Question 71 mark

   The Tropic of Cancer does NOT pass through which of these states?

   1. A.Rajasthan
   2. B.Gujarat
   3. C.Odisha
   4. D.West Bengal
8. Question 81 mark

   The Standard Meridian of India is

   1. A.68°7′E
   2. B.82°30′E
   3. C.97°25′E
   4. D.23°30′N
9. Question 91 mark

   The northernmost range of the Himalayas is called the

   1. A.Shiwaliks
   2. B.Himachal
   3. C.Himadri
   4. D.Purvachal
10. Question 101 mark

    The largest freshwater lake in India is

    1. A.Chilika Lake
    2. B.Wular Lake
    3. C.Dal Lake
    4. D.Sambhar Lake
11. Question 111 mark

    The south-west monsoon normally reaches the southern tip of Kerala around

    1. A.1 March
    2. B.1 June
    3. C.15 July
    4. D.1 September
12. Question 121 mark

    Sundari trees are found in

    1. A.tropical evergreen forests
    2. B.mangrove (tidal) forests
    3. C.thorn forests
    4. D.montane forests
13. Question 131 mark

    Sex ratio in India is defined as the number of

    1. A.females per 1000 males
    2. B.males per 1000 females
    3. C.females per 100 males
    4. D.children per 1000 adults
14. Question 141 mark

    Which of the following is an essential feature of a democracy?

    1. A.Rule by a hereditary monarch
    2. B.Free and fair elections
    3. C.Rule by the army
    4. D.One party allowed to contest
15. Question 151 mark

    Who was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee of the Indian Constitution?

    1. A.Jawaharlal Nehru
    2. B.Dr Rajendra Prasad
    3. C.Dr B. R. Ambedkar
    4. D.Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel
16. Question 161 mark

    The minimum age to vote in elections in India is

    1. A.16 years
    2. B.18 years
    3. C.21 years
    4. D.25 years
17. Question 171 mark

    The Prime Minister of India is appointed by the

    1. A.Chief Justice of India
    2. B.Speaker of the Lok Sabha
    3. C.President
    4. D.Election Commission
18. Question 181 mark

    Dr Ambedkar called which Fundamental Right the 'heart and soul' of the Constitution?

    1. A.Right to Equality
    2. B.Right to Freedom
    3. C.Right against Exploitation
    4. D.Right to Constitutional Remedies
19. Question 191 mark

    Which of the following is an example of working capital?

    1. A.Tools
    2. B.Machines
    3. C.Raw materials
    4. D.Buildings
20. Question 201 mark

    Assertion (A): Investment in human capital yields returns in the future.

    Reason (R): Education, training and health care make people more productive.

    1. A.Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
    2. B.Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
    3. C.Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
    4. D.Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.

Section B · Very short answer

1. Question 212 marks

   Explain any two causes of the French Revolution related to the condition of the Third Estate.

2. OR

   Question 212 marks

   State two differences between liberals and radicals in nineteenth-century Europe.

3. Question 222 marks

   Why does the Thar Desert receive very little rainfall?

4. Question 232 marks

   Why do we need elections in a democracy? Give two reasons.

5. OR

   Question 232 marks

   State any two powers of the Prime Minister of India.

6. Question 242 marks

   State two major causes of widespread poverty in India.

Section C · Short answer

1. Question 253 marks

   How did Hitler destroy democracy in Germany after becoming Chancellor? Explain three steps.

2. OR

   Question 253 marks

   Explain any three ways in which colonial rule changed the forests and the lives of forest dwellers in India.

3. Question 263 marks

   Distinguish between the Himalayan rivers and the Peninsular rivers. Give three points.

4. Question 273 marks

   What is the Preamble to the Constitution? Explain the meaning of any two of these terms in it: sovereign, secular, republic.

5. OR

   Question 273 marks

   Explain any three Fundamental Rights given to Indian citizens.

6. Question 283 marks

   How does a population become an asset ('human capital') for an economy? Explain three ways.

7. Question 293 marks

   What are the three main processes of change of population? Explain each briefly.

Section D · Long answer

1. Question 305 marks

   Explain the role of philosophers in the French Revolution.

2. OR

   Question 305 marks

   Describe the main events of the February Revolution of 1917 in Russia.

3. Question 315 marks

   Describe any five major physiographic divisions of India.

4. OR

   Question 315 marks

   Explain the mechanism of the Indian monsoon.

5. Question 325 marks

   Explain any five functions or powers of the Parliament of India.

6. Question 335 marks

   What is food security? Explain the role of the buffer stock and the Public Distribution System in ensuring food security in India.

7. OR

   Question 335 marks

   Explain the four factors of production with examples from the village of Palampur.

Section E · Case-based

1. Question 344 marks

   Case study — Seasonal movement of pastoralists. In the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir, the Gujjar Bakarwals move with their herds of goats and sheep. In winter, when the high mountains are covered with snow, they live with their herds in the low hills of the Siwalik range. By the end of April they begin their northern march for their summer grazing grounds, moving in groups called kafila. Under colonial rule, many pastoral communities found that their old routes and pastures were closed off by new forest and grazing laws.

   (i) Who are the Gujjar Bakarwals? (1 mark)

   (ii) Why do they spend the winter in the Siwalik hills? (1 mark)

   (iii) Explain two ways in which the colonial Forest Acts affected pastoralists. (2 marks)

   OR

   (iii) Explain two advantages of seasonal movement for pastoralists. (2 marks)

2. Question 354 marks

   Case study — Rivers in danger. Rivers have been the lifelines of Indian towns and cities, supplying water for drinking, irrigation and industry. But growing towns dump untreated sewage and industrial waste into them, and much of their water is drawn off for irrigation. As a result, stretches of rivers such as the Ganga and Yamuna have become heavily polluted, harming aquatic life and people's health. The government has launched action plans to clean these rivers.

   (i) State one reason why rivers are important to the economy. (1 mark)

   (ii) Name one river mentioned in the passage that is heavily polluted. (1 mark)

   (iii) Suggest two measures to reduce river pollution. (2 marks)

   OR

   (iii) Explain two ways in which river pollution harms people. (2 marks)

3. Question 364 marks

   Case study — The Election Commission. In India, elections are conducted by an independent and very powerful Election Commission. The Chief Election Commissioner is appointed by the President, but once appointed, is not answerable to the President or the government. During elections, the Commission enforces a Model Code of Conduct, and government officers on election duty work under its control rather than under the government.

   (i) Who appoints the Chief Election Commissioner? (1 mark)

   (ii) What is the Model Code of Conduct? (1 mark)

   (iii) Explain any two powers of the Election Commission. (2 marks)

   OR

   (iii) Why is it important for the Election Commission to be independent? Give two reasons. (2 marks)

Section F · Map skills

1. Question 375 marks

   Map skills (text based). In the printed board paper you would mark these on an outline map. Here, name each place.

   (a) History — 2 marks

   (i) The city in which the Bastille fortress stood.

   (ii) The country in which the Bolsheviks seized power in October 1917.

   (b) Geography — 3 marks

   (iii) The southernmost point of the Indian mainland.

   (iv) The river that rises near Mahabaleshwar in the Western Ghats.

   (v) The state with the highest population density in India according to the 2011 Census.