Class X

Subject: Social Science

Mid Term Examination(2023-24)
Time: 3 Hrs Max Marks: 80
Code: BBPSLDH/MT/A

General Instructions:
i. Question paper comprises Six Sections – A, B, C, D, E and F. There are 34 questions in the
question paper. All questions are compulsory.
ii. Section A – From question 1 to 16 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
iii. Section B – Question no. 17 to 20 are Very Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 2 marks
each.
iv. Section C contains Q.21to Q.25 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each.
v. Section D – Question no. 26 to 29 are long answer type questions, carrying 5 marks each.
vi. Section-E - Questions no from 30 to 33 are case based questions with three sub questions and
are of 4 marks each
vii. Section F – Question no. 34 is map based, carrying 5 marks with two parts, 34a from History
(2 marks) and 34b from Geography (3 marks).
viii. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been
provided in a few questions. Only one of the choices in such questions have to be attempted.

Section A(Multiple Choice Questions: 1x 16=16)

Sr No. Question Marks

The cover of a German almanac was designed by this renowned journalist in 1798.
A. Marco Polo
1. 1
B. Andreas Rebmann
C. Thomas Paine
D. Johann Gutenberg
2. The All India Congress Committee endorsed the resolution which called for a non-violent
mass struggle on the widest possible scale throughout the country. When and where was
this resolution adopted? 1
A. 8 August 1942, Bombay
B. 18 August 1942, Bombay
C. 8 August 1942, Kolkata
D. 8 August 1943, Kolkata .
3. “Smallpox signalled God’s blessing for the colonists”. Which of the following is correct
in this regard?
A. The natives were near all dead of small pox, so as the Lord had cleared our title to 1
what we possess.
B. Small pox was a strategy against imperialism that helped colonies to rule.
C. Germs and diseases helped the people from the Americas to retain their possessions
D. Small pox preserved whole communities, paving the way for conquest.
4. Identify the type of forests with the help of clues given below:
 These are a part of Permanent Forest Estates.
 It is almost one-third of the total forest area 1
 Bihar, Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Rajasthan have a bulk of
it .
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 A. Reserved Forests
B. Protected Forests
C. Unclassed Forests
D. Both A and B
5. Which of the following is the first state in India which has made roof top rainwater
harvesting structure compulsory to all the houses across the state?
A. Punjab
B. Rajasthan
C. Tamil Nadu 1
D. Andhra Pradesh
6. There are certain items where substitutes are being used instead of minerals. These
substitutes are obtained from varied sources.
Complete the following table: 1
Mineral Item Substitute Source
Metallic Jewellery Plastic a. ?
Aluminium Foils b. ? Plants

A. Plants, Paper
B. Chemical, Paper
C. Chemical, Plastic
D. Plants, Plastic
7. Observe the given image and choose the correct option with regard to the information
represented in the map:

A. Road Network in Sri Lanka

B. Agro- Ecological Map of Sri Lanka
C. Administrative Divisions in Belgium
D. Administrative Divisions in Sri Lanka

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8. In 2005, some new laws were made in Russia giving more powers to its president. During
the same time, the US president visited Russia. What, according to this cartoon, is the
relationship between democracy and concentration of power?

A. The very idea of democracy is against the concept of concentration of power.

B. There is a fair distribution of power in this democracy
C. Powers are divided between the President of USA and Russia
D. One party democracy is more dominant and powerful
9. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as
per the options given below.
(A) The boundaries of several old States of India were changed in order to create new 1
States.
(R) This was done to ensure that people who spoke the same language lived in the same
State.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
10. Observe the image carefully and answer the question that follows:

Q: Which of the following is the BEST measure to reduce the disparities

among the two countries as shown in the cartoon?

A. Per Capita Income and Literacy rate

B. Average Income and Population growth rate
C. National Income and Human Development indicators
D. Per Capita Income and Human Development indicators

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11. This poster uses the poem by Faiz Ahmed Faiz. Identify the issue raised in this poster.

A. Polarisation on grounds of gender

B. Polarisation on grounds of caste communities
C. Polarisation on grounds of linguistic identity
D. Polarisation on grounds of religious identity
12. In Tamil Nadu, 90 per cent of the people living in rural areas use a ration shop, whereas in
West Bengal only 35 per cent of rural people do so. Where would people be better off and
Why?
A. In West Bengal, food grains are available at a price lower than the market price
B. In Tamil Nadu, food grains are available at a price lower than the market price 1
C. In West Bengal, collective provision of goods and services is cheaper than individual
provision.
D. In Tamil Nadu, collective provision of goods and services is cheaper than individual
provision.
13. In India, the mammoth task of measuring GDP is undertaken by -
A. Stae Government Ministry
B. Rural Local Self Government 1
C. Central Government Ministry
D. Ministry of Education
14. Pick the odd one out.
A. A factory worker going to work in a big factory
B. A doctor in a hospital treating a patient 1
C. A teacher taking classes in a school
D. A handloom weaver working in her house
15. There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Mark your answer as
per the options given below.
(A) Banks mediate between those who have surplus funds and those who are in need of
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 these funds 1
(R) Banks charge a higher interest rate on loans than what they offer on deposits.
A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
B. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
16. Given below are few statements. Choose the most appropriate option that follows.
P: Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country’s development.
Q: It is necessary that banks and cooperatives increase their lending particularly in the
urban areas
R: The Reserve Bank of India supervises the functioning of formal sources of loans
S: The poor households are availing cheap credit from formal lenders whereas the rich
households have to pay a large amount for borrowing 1

Options:
A. Only P
B. P,Q and R
C. P and R
D. Q, R and S.
Section B(Very Short Answer Questions: 2 x 4=8)

17. ‘Bhoodan-Gramdan movement initiated by Vinoba Bhave is also known as the Blood-less 2
Revolution’. Justify
18. Australia became a nation on 1 January 1901, when the British Parliament passed
legislation enabling the six Australian colonies to collectively govern in their own right as
the Commonwealth of Australia. It was a remarkable political accomplishment that had 2
taken many years and several referenda to achieve.
18.1 From this, we can infer that Australia is an example of a __________ federation.
18.2 Highlight the main point of difference between Holding Together and Coming
Together Federations.
19. It is not politics that gets caste-ridden, it is the caste that gets politicised. Elaborate. 2

20. “We have not inherited the world from our forefathers, we have borrowed it from our 2
children.” Justify the statement.
Section C(Short Answer Questions: 3 x 5=15)

21. ‘Nationalism aligned with imperialism, led Europe to disaster in 1914’. Give three 3
reasons.
22. What were the circumstances that led to calling off of Civil Disobedience Movement in 3
1931?
Or
When the Simon Commission arrived in India in 1928, it was greeted with the slogan ‘Go
back Simon’. Elaborate stating the reasons.
23. Nature worship is an age old tribal belief based on the premise that all creations of 3
nature have to be protected. Justify with the help of examples.
24. A major step towards decentralisation was taken in 1992.Highlight three provisions of the 3
constitutional amendments in this regard.
Or
The local government structure goes right up to the district level. Explain this hierarchical
set up.

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25. Give examples to compare the terms of credit for a small farmer, a medium farmer and a 3
landless agricultural worker.

Section D(Long Answer Questions: 5 x 4=20)

26. ‘The Portuguese and Spanish conquest and colonisation of America was decisively under
way by the mid-sixteenth century’. Enumerate.
Or 5
.Describe the Irish Potato Famine and its implications.
27. Differentiate between Primitive Subsistence and Intensive Subsistence Farming.
Or
Write a detailed note on ‘Jhumming’. 5

28. ‘Gender division is not based on biology but on social expectations and stereotypes.’
Support the statement.
Or 5
Highlight the need for women’s reservation in the political scenario and the steps taken in
this regard.
29. ‘The tertiary sector has emerged as the largest producing sector in India replacing the
primary sector’. Why is the tertiary sector becoming so important in India?
Or 5
‘Underemployment is hidden in contrast to someone who does not have a job and is
clearly visible as unemployed’. Explain.
Section E(Case Based Questions: 4 x 4=16)

30. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Giuseppe Garibaldi (1807-82) is perhaps the most celebrated of Italian freedom fighters.
He came from a family engaged in coastal trade and was a sailor in the merchant navy.
In 1833 he met Mazzini, joined the Young Italy movement and participated in a
republican uprising in Piedmont in 1834. The uprising was suppressed and Garibaldi had
to flee to South America, where he lived in exile till 1848. In 1854, he supported Victor
Emmanuel II in his efforts to unify the Italian states. In 1860, Garibaldi led the famous
Expedition of the Thousand to South Italy. Fresh volunteers kept joining through the
course of the campaign, till their numbers grew to about 30,000. They were popularly
known as Red Shirts. In 1867, Garibaldi led an army of volunteers to Rome to fight the
last obstacle to the unification of Italy, the Papal States where a French garrison was
stationed. The Red Shirts proved to be no match for the combined French and Papal
troops. It was only in 1870 when, during the war with Prussia, France withdrew its
troops from Rome that the Papal States were finally joined to Italy.
30.1 Name the first region to become a part of unified Italy. Which was the last 1
region to join?
30.2 In 1860, Garibaldi and his troops marched into South Italy. What was his target
here?. 1
30.3 Observe the English caricature of 1859 showing Garibaldi and Victor Emmanuel II. 2
What is this caricature trying to depict?

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31. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Dams were traditionally built to impound rivers and rainwater that could be used later to
irrigate agricultural fields. Today, dams are built not just for irrigation but for electricity
generation, water supply for domestic and industrial uses, flood control, recreation,
inland navigation and fish breeding. Hence, dams are now referred to as multi-purpose
projects where the many uses of the impounded water are integrated with one another.
For example, in the Sutluj-Beas river basin, the Bhakra – Nangal project water is being
used both for hydel power production and irrigation. Similarly, the Hirakud project in the
Mahanadi basin integrates conservation of water with flood control.
31.1 Multi-purpose projects and large dams have also been the cause of many new 1
environmental movements. Name any two movements.
31.2 Archaeological and historical records show that from ancient times we have been 1
constructing sophisticated hydraulic structures. Give one example.
31.3 Define dams. Why are they referred to as multi-purpose river valley projects? 2

32. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Belgian leaders took a different path. They recognised the existence of regional
differences and cultural diversities. Between 1970 and 1993, they amended their
constitution four times so as to work out an arrangement that would enable everyone to
live together within the same country. The arrangement they worked out is different from
any other country and is very innovative. In Belgium, the leaders have realised that the
unity of the country is possible only by respecting the feelings and interests of different
communities and regions. Such a realisation resulted in mutually acceptable
arrangements for sharing power.
1
32.1 ‘The Belgian leaders worked out an arrangement that would enable everyone to live
together within the same country’. What is this arrangement commonly known as? 1
32.2 Give one example each for the two ways of maintaining peaceful behaviour in the
context of power sharing arrangement in Belgium. 2
32.3 The Mayor of Merchtem, a town near Brussels in Belgium, has defended a ban on
speaking French in the town’s schools. He said that the ban would help all non-Dutch
speakers integrate into this Flemish town.Do you think that this measure is in keeping
with the spirit of Belgium’s power-sharing arrangements? Give two reasons.

33. Read the extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
Most of the important decisions regarding the savings and loan activities are taken by the
group members. The group decides as regards the loans to be granted — the purpose,
amount, interest to be charged, repayment schedule etc. Also, it is the group which is
responsible for the repayment of the loan. Any case of non repayment of loan by any one
member is followed up seriously by other members in the group. The members can get
timely loans for a variety of purposes and at a reasonable interest rate. Not only does it
help women to become financially self-reliant, the regular meetings of the group provide
a platform to discuss and act on a variety of social issues such as health, nutrition,
domestic violence, etc.
1
33.1 Name the group that is being talked about in the above passage. 1
33.2 ‘In recent years, people have tried out some newer ways of providing loans to the
poor’. What is the basic idea behind it?
33.3 In whose name do the banks sanction loans? Give any two examples of the purposes
for which the loan is usually sanctioned in such a case. 2

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 Section F(Map Skill Based Questions: 2 + 3=5)

34a. Two places A and B have been marked on the given map of India. Identify them & write
their correct names on the lines drawn near them.
2
A. The place where the Indian national congress session was held in December 1927
B. Place associated with Jallianwala Bagh Incident

34b. On the same map, locate and label any THREE of the following with suitable symbols:
1. Largest Sugarcane producing State
2. Talcher Coal Field
3. Salal Dam
4. Kudremukh Iron Ore Mine 3

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Student Name________________________ Class & Section____________________

Admission No._______________________ Invigilator’s Sign__________________

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