History: CBSE Sample Question Paper (2022-23) | CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 Humanities - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

 Page 1


 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 
Time: 3 hrs  Total Marks: 80 
 
General Instructions:  
? Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each 
question.  
? Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part-A Question Nos. 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 
words each. 
? Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part-B Section-I Question Nos. 4 to 9) should not 
exceed 100 words each. Attempt any 5 questions from this part. (Part-B Section-II Question 
No. 10) is a value-based question which is a compulsory question. 
? Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part-C Question Nos. 11 to 14) should not exceed 350 
words each. Attempt any 3 questions from this part. 
? Answers to questions carrying 7 marks (Part-D, Source-based questions [No internal choice] 
Question Nos. 15 to 17) 
? Attach map with the answer sheet (Part E). 
 
 
PART-A 
Answer all the questions given below:  2 × 3 = 6  
        
1. Give two important ways used by archaeologists to track socioeconomic differences 
in Harappan society. 
 (2) 
2. Discuss any four pillars of Islam. 
 (2)  
3. Give any two problems faced during the census operation in India. (2) 
 
Part-B (Section-I) 
 4 × 5 = 20 
Answer any five of the following questions: 
4. What was the divine order? Discuss the right occupation as prescribed by the 
Dharmashastras. (4) 
 
5. Discuss the important ideas of Jainism and Buddhism. (4) 
 
6. What were the problems faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian social and 
Brahmanical practices? Mention any two sources which provided him support. (4) 
 
7. What was the status of women in agrarian society? (4) 
 
8. Discuss four important challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly while drafting 
the Constitution of India.  (4) 
Page 2


 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 
Time: 3 hrs  Total Marks: 80 
 
General Instructions:  
? Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each 
question.  
? Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part-A Question Nos. 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 
words each. 
? Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part-B Section-I Question Nos. 4 to 9) should not 
exceed 100 words each. Attempt any 5 questions from this part. (Part-B Section-II Question 
No. 10) is a value-based question which is a compulsory question. 
? Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part-C Question Nos. 11 to 14) should not exceed 350 
words each. Attempt any 3 questions from this part. 
? Answers to questions carrying 7 marks (Part-D, Source-based questions [No internal choice] 
Question Nos. 15 to 17) 
? Attach map with the answer sheet (Part E). 
 
 
PART-A 
Answer all the questions given below:  2 × 3 = 6  
        
1. Give two important ways used by archaeologists to track socioeconomic differences 
in Harappan society. 
 (2) 
2. Discuss any four pillars of Islam. 
 (2)  
3. Give any two problems faced during the census operation in India. (2) 
 
Part-B (Section-I) 
 4 × 5 = 20 
Answer any five of the following questions: 
4. What was the divine order? Discuss the right occupation as prescribed by the 
Dharmashastras. (4) 
 
5. Discuss the important ideas of Jainism and Buddhism. (4) 
 
6. What were the problems faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian social and 
Brahmanical practices? Mention any two sources which provided him support. (4) 
 
7. What was the status of women in agrarian society? (4) 
 
8. Discuss four important challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly while drafting 
the Constitution of India.  (4) 
 
9. Explain how Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada. (4) 
 
                                                                                   SECTION-II                                                             4 × 1 = 4                                                                                                                                                
                                                     Value-Based Question (Compulsory) 
 
10. Read the following passage and answer the question which follows: (4) 
For the success of democracy, one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In 
most democracies, one must only care less about the country and its people as a 
whole and very less for himself.  
How is self-discipline related to democracy and the overall development of the 
country? 
 
PART-C                                        8 × 3 = 24       
                                                                 Long Answer Questions 
 
11. What was the two-nation theory? Discuss partition as a holocaust for India. (8) 
Or 
‘Oral testimonies are an informative source to study the Partition of India’. 
Elaborate.  
 
 
12. What was the land revenue system as started by the Mughals?  (8) 
Or 
Discuss the role of Zamindars in handling agrarian relations in the Mughal Empire. 
 
13. How do we study about colonial cities? Explain in detail. (8)  
Or 
    Mahatma Gandhi was an unchallenged leader who drove India to its Independence. 
How do we gather information about Mahatma Gandhi? 
 
 
PART-D 
                                                         Source-based Questions                               7 × 3 = 21          
      
14. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
The Divine Order  
To justify their claims, Brahmans often cited a verse from a hymn in the Rig Veda 
known as the Purusha sukta, describing the sacrifice of Purusha, the primaeval man. 
All the elements of the Universe, including the four social categories, were supposed 
to have emanated from his body: The Brahman was his mouth, of his arms was 
made the Kshatriya. His thighs became the Vaishya, of his feet the Shudra was born. 
 
a. What was the hierarchical order in which society was divided?                        (2)        
b. Discuss the right occupation according to the divine order.                                     (3)          
c. What was gotra? What were its two important components?                             (3)                      
 
Page 3


 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 
Time: 3 hrs  Total Marks: 80 
 
General Instructions:  
? Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each 
question.  
? Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part-A Question Nos. 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 
words each. 
? Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part-B Section-I Question Nos. 4 to 9) should not 
exceed 100 words each. Attempt any 5 questions from this part. (Part-B Section-II Question 
No. 10) is a value-based question which is a compulsory question. 
? Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part-C Question Nos. 11 to 14) should not exceed 350 
words each. Attempt any 3 questions from this part. 
? Answers to questions carrying 7 marks (Part-D, Source-based questions [No internal choice] 
Question Nos. 15 to 17) 
? Attach map with the answer sheet (Part E). 
 
 
PART-A 
Answer all the questions given below:  2 × 3 = 6  
        
1. Give two important ways used by archaeologists to track socioeconomic differences 
in Harappan society. 
 (2) 
2. Discuss any four pillars of Islam. 
 (2)  
3. Give any two problems faced during the census operation in India. (2) 
 
Part-B (Section-I) 
 4 × 5 = 20 
Answer any five of the following questions: 
4. What was the divine order? Discuss the right occupation as prescribed by the 
Dharmashastras. (4) 
 
5. Discuss the important ideas of Jainism and Buddhism. (4) 
 
6. What were the problems faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian social and 
Brahmanical practices? Mention any two sources which provided him support. (4) 
 
7. What was the status of women in agrarian society? (4) 
 
8. Discuss four important challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly while drafting 
the Constitution of India.  (4) 
 
9. Explain how Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada. (4) 
 
                                                                                   SECTION-II                                                             4 × 1 = 4                                                                                                                                                
                                                     Value-Based Question (Compulsory) 
 
10. Read the following passage and answer the question which follows: (4) 
For the success of democracy, one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In 
most democracies, one must only care less about the country and its people as a 
whole and very less for himself.  
How is self-discipline related to democracy and the overall development of the 
country? 
 
PART-C                                        8 × 3 = 24       
                                                                 Long Answer Questions 
 
11. What was the two-nation theory? Discuss partition as a holocaust for India. (8) 
Or 
‘Oral testimonies are an informative source to study the Partition of India’. 
Elaborate.  
 
 
12. What was the land revenue system as started by the Mughals?  (8) 
Or 
Discuss the role of Zamindars in handling agrarian relations in the Mughal Empire. 
 
13. How do we study about colonial cities? Explain in detail. (8)  
Or 
    Mahatma Gandhi was an unchallenged leader who drove India to its Independence. 
How do we gather information about Mahatma Gandhi? 
 
 
PART-D 
                                                         Source-based Questions                               7 × 3 = 21          
      
14. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
The Divine Order  
To justify their claims, Brahmans often cited a verse from a hymn in the Rig Veda 
known as the Purusha sukta, describing the sacrifice of Purusha, the primaeval man. 
All the elements of the Universe, including the four social categories, were supposed 
to have emanated from his body: The Brahman was his mouth, of his arms was 
made the Kshatriya. His thighs became the Vaishya, of his feet the Shudra was born. 
 
a. What was the hierarchical order in which society was divided?                        (2)        
b. Discuss the right occupation according to the divine order.                                     (3)          
c. What was gotra? What were its two important components?                             (3)                      
 
15. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
How artefacts are identified  
 
Processing of food required grinding equipment as well as vessels for mixing, 
blending and cooking. These were made of stone, metal and terracotta. This is an 
excerpt from one of the earliest reports on excavations at Mohenjo-Daro, the best-
known Harappan site: Saddle querns … are found in considerable numbers … and 
they seem to have been the only means in use for grinding cereals. As a rule, they 
were roughly made of hard, gritty, igneous rock or sandstone and mostly show signs 
of hard usage. As their bases are usually convex, they must have been set in the 
earth or in mud to prevent their rocking. Two main types have been found: those on 
which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro, and others with which 
a second stone was used as a pounder, eventually making a large cavity in the 
nether stone. Querns of the former type were probably used solely for grain; the 
second type possibly only for pounding herbs and spices for making curries. In fact, 
stones of this latter type are dubbed ‘curry stones’ by our workmen, and our cook 
asked for the loan of one from the museum for use in the kitchen. 
 
a. What was required for processing food?                                                              (2)  
b. What were vessels made of? Give any four raw materials.                              (2)       
c. ‘Chanudaro was an important centre for craft production’. Discuss.                     (3) 
        
 
16. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
What ‘recovering ’ women meant  
 
Here is the experience of a couple, recounted by Prakash Tandon in his Punjabi 
Century, an autobiographical social history of colonial Punjab:  
In one instance, a Sikh youth who had run amuck during the Partition persuaded a 
massacring crowd to let him take away a young, beautiful Muslim girl. They got 
married, and slowly fell in love with each other. Gradually memories of her parents, 
who had been killed, and her former life faded. They were happy together, and a 
little boy was born. Soon, however, social workers and the police, labouring 
assiduously to recover abducted women, began to track down the couple. They 
made inquiries in the Sikh’s home-district of Jalandhar; he got scent of it and the 
family ran away to Calcutta. The social workers reached Calcutta. Meanwhile, the 
couple’s friends tried to obtain a stay-order from the court, but the law was taking 
its ponderous course. From Calcutta the couple escaped to some obscure Punjab 
village, hoping that the police would fail to shadow them. But the police caught up 
with them and began to question them. His wife was expecting again and now 
nearing her time. The Sikh sent the little boy to his mother and took his wife to a 
sugarcane field. He made her as comfortable as he could in a pit while he lay with a 
gun, waiting for the police, determined not to lose her while he was alive. In the pit 
he delivered her with his own hands. The next day she ran high fever, and in three 
days, she was dead. He had not dared to take her to the hospital. He was so afraid 
the social workers and the police would take her away. 
 
Page 4


 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 
Time: 3 hrs  Total Marks: 80 
 
General Instructions:  
? Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each 
question.  
? Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part-A Question Nos. 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 
words each. 
? Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part-B Section-I Question Nos. 4 to 9) should not 
exceed 100 words each. Attempt any 5 questions from this part. (Part-B Section-II Question 
No. 10) is a value-based question which is a compulsory question. 
? Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part-C Question Nos. 11 to 14) should not exceed 350 
words each. Attempt any 3 questions from this part. 
? Answers to questions carrying 7 marks (Part-D, Source-based questions [No internal choice] 
Question Nos. 15 to 17) 
? Attach map with the answer sheet (Part E). 
 
 
PART-A 
Answer all the questions given below:  2 × 3 = 6  
        
1. Give two important ways used by archaeologists to track socioeconomic differences 
in Harappan society. 
 (2) 
2. Discuss any four pillars of Islam. 
 (2)  
3. Give any two problems faced during the census operation in India. (2) 
 
Part-B (Section-I) 
 4 × 5 = 20 
Answer any five of the following questions: 
4. What was the divine order? Discuss the right occupation as prescribed by the 
Dharmashastras. (4) 
 
5. Discuss the important ideas of Jainism and Buddhism. (4) 
 
6. What were the problems faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian social and 
Brahmanical practices? Mention any two sources which provided him support. (4) 
 
7. What was the status of women in agrarian society? (4) 
 
8. Discuss four important challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly while drafting 
the Constitution of India.  (4) 
 
9. Explain how Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada. (4) 
 
                                                                                   SECTION-II                                                             4 × 1 = 4                                                                                                                                                
                                                     Value-Based Question (Compulsory) 
 
10. Read the following passage and answer the question which follows: (4) 
For the success of democracy, one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In 
most democracies, one must only care less about the country and its people as a 
whole and very less for himself.  
How is self-discipline related to democracy and the overall development of the 
country? 
 
PART-C                                        8 × 3 = 24       
                                                                 Long Answer Questions 
 
11. What was the two-nation theory? Discuss partition as a holocaust for India. (8) 
Or 
‘Oral testimonies are an informative source to study the Partition of India’. 
Elaborate.  
 
 
12. What was the land revenue system as started by the Mughals?  (8) 
Or 
Discuss the role of Zamindars in handling agrarian relations in the Mughal Empire. 
 
13. How do we study about colonial cities? Explain in detail. (8)  
Or 
    Mahatma Gandhi was an unchallenged leader who drove India to its Independence. 
How do we gather information about Mahatma Gandhi? 
 
 
PART-D 
                                                         Source-based Questions                               7 × 3 = 21          
      
14. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
The Divine Order  
To justify their claims, Brahmans often cited a verse from a hymn in the Rig Veda 
known as the Purusha sukta, describing the sacrifice of Purusha, the primaeval man. 
All the elements of the Universe, including the four social categories, were supposed 
to have emanated from his body: The Brahman was his mouth, of his arms was 
made the Kshatriya. His thighs became the Vaishya, of his feet the Shudra was born. 
 
a. What was the hierarchical order in which society was divided?                        (2)        
b. Discuss the right occupation according to the divine order.                                     (3)          
c. What was gotra? What were its two important components?                             (3)                      
 
15. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
How artefacts are identified  
 
Processing of food required grinding equipment as well as vessels for mixing, 
blending and cooking. These were made of stone, metal and terracotta. This is an 
excerpt from one of the earliest reports on excavations at Mohenjo-Daro, the best-
known Harappan site: Saddle querns … are found in considerable numbers … and 
they seem to have been the only means in use for grinding cereals. As a rule, they 
were roughly made of hard, gritty, igneous rock or sandstone and mostly show signs 
of hard usage. As their bases are usually convex, they must have been set in the 
earth or in mud to prevent their rocking. Two main types have been found: those on 
which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro, and others with which 
a second stone was used as a pounder, eventually making a large cavity in the 
nether stone. Querns of the former type were probably used solely for grain; the 
second type possibly only for pounding herbs and spices for making curries. In fact, 
stones of this latter type are dubbed ‘curry stones’ by our workmen, and our cook 
asked for the loan of one from the museum for use in the kitchen. 
 
a. What was required for processing food?                                                              (2)  
b. What were vessels made of? Give any four raw materials.                              (2)       
c. ‘Chanudaro was an important centre for craft production’. Discuss.                     (3) 
        
 
16. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
What ‘recovering ’ women meant  
 
Here is the experience of a couple, recounted by Prakash Tandon in his Punjabi 
Century, an autobiographical social history of colonial Punjab:  
In one instance, a Sikh youth who had run amuck during the Partition persuaded a 
massacring crowd to let him take away a young, beautiful Muslim girl. They got 
married, and slowly fell in love with each other. Gradually memories of her parents, 
who had been killed, and her former life faded. They were happy together, and a 
little boy was born. Soon, however, social workers and the police, labouring 
assiduously to recover abducted women, began to track down the couple. They 
made inquiries in the Sikh’s home-district of Jalandhar; he got scent of it and the 
family ran away to Calcutta. The social workers reached Calcutta. Meanwhile, the 
couple’s friends tried to obtain a stay-order from the court, but the law was taking 
its ponderous course. From Calcutta the couple escaped to some obscure Punjab 
village, hoping that the police would fail to shadow them. But the police caught up 
with them and began to question them. His wife was expecting again and now 
nearing her time. The Sikh sent the little boy to his mother and took his wife to a 
sugarcane field. He made her as comfortable as he could in a pit while he lay with a 
gun, waiting for the police, determined not to lose her while he was alive. In the pit 
he delivered her with his own hands. The next day she ran high fever, and in three 
days, she was dead. He had not dared to take her to the hospital. He was so afraid 
the social workers and the police would take her away. 
 
 
a. What were the bases of the Partition of India?                                       (2) 
b. Why was the Partition often regarded as a nightmare?     (2) 
c. Women on both sides of the border were the most critical. Explain               (3) 
 
Map Work  
      
17.1 On the given political map of India, mark and label the following:                 (2) 
                      
a. Kot Diji 
b. Taxila 
 
17.2 On the same map, three important centres of the revolt of 1857 have been 
marked as 1, 2 and 3. Identify them and write their names on the lines drawn near 
them.                         (3) 
 
 
 
 
Page 5


 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 
Time: 3 hrs  Total Marks: 80 
 
General Instructions:  
? Answer all the questions. Some questions have choice. Marks are indicated against each 
question.  
? Answers to questions carrying 2 marks (Part-A Question Nos. 1 to 3) should not exceed 30 
words each. 
? Answers to questions carrying 4 marks (Part-B Section-I Question Nos. 4 to 9) should not 
exceed 100 words each. Attempt any 5 questions from this part. (Part-B Section-II Question 
No. 10) is a value-based question which is a compulsory question. 
? Answers to questions carrying 8 marks (Part-C Question Nos. 11 to 14) should not exceed 350 
words each. Attempt any 3 questions from this part. 
? Answers to questions carrying 7 marks (Part-D, Source-based questions [No internal choice] 
Question Nos. 15 to 17) 
? Attach map with the answer sheet (Part E). 
 
 
PART-A 
Answer all the questions given below:  2 × 3 = 6  
        
1. Give two important ways used by archaeologists to track socioeconomic differences 
in Harappan society. 
 (2) 
2. Discuss any four pillars of Islam. 
 (2)  
3. Give any two problems faced during the census operation in India. (2) 
 
Part-B (Section-I) 
 4 × 5 = 20 
Answer any five of the following questions: 
4. What was the divine order? Discuss the right occupation as prescribed by the 
Dharmashastras. (4) 
 
5. Discuss the important ideas of Jainism and Buddhism. (4) 
 
6. What were the problems faced by Al-Biruni in understanding Indian social and 
Brahmanical practices? Mention any two sources which provided him support. (4) 
 
7. What was the status of women in agrarian society? (4) 
 
8. Discuss four important challenges faced by the Constituent Assembly while drafting 
the Constitution of India.  (4) 
 
9. Explain how Magadha emerged as the most powerful Mahajanapada. (4) 
 
                                                                                   SECTION-II                                                             4 × 1 = 4                                                                                                                                                
                                                     Value-Based Question (Compulsory) 
 
10. Read the following passage and answer the question which follows: (4) 
For the success of democracy, one must train himself in the art of self-discipline. In 
most democracies, one must only care less about the country and its people as a 
whole and very less for himself.  
How is self-discipline related to democracy and the overall development of the 
country? 
 
PART-C                                        8 × 3 = 24       
                                                                 Long Answer Questions 
 
11. What was the two-nation theory? Discuss partition as a holocaust for India. (8) 
Or 
‘Oral testimonies are an informative source to study the Partition of India’. 
Elaborate.  
 
 
12. What was the land revenue system as started by the Mughals?  (8) 
Or 
Discuss the role of Zamindars in handling agrarian relations in the Mughal Empire. 
 
13. How do we study about colonial cities? Explain in detail. (8)  
Or 
    Mahatma Gandhi was an unchallenged leader who drove India to its Independence. 
How do we gather information about Mahatma Gandhi? 
 
 
PART-D 
                                                         Source-based Questions                               7 × 3 = 21          
      
14. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
The Divine Order  
To justify their claims, Brahmans often cited a verse from a hymn in the Rig Veda 
known as the Purusha sukta, describing the sacrifice of Purusha, the primaeval man. 
All the elements of the Universe, including the four social categories, were supposed 
to have emanated from his body: The Brahman was his mouth, of his arms was 
made the Kshatriya. His thighs became the Vaishya, of his feet the Shudra was born. 
 
a. What was the hierarchical order in which society was divided?                        (2)        
b. Discuss the right occupation according to the divine order.                                     (3)          
c. What was gotra? What were its two important components?                             (3)                      
 
15. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
How artefacts are identified  
 
Processing of food required grinding equipment as well as vessels for mixing, 
blending and cooking. These were made of stone, metal and terracotta. This is an 
excerpt from one of the earliest reports on excavations at Mohenjo-Daro, the best-
known Harappan site: Saddle querns … are found in considerable numbers … and 
they seem to have been the only means in use for grinding cereals. As a rule, they 
were roughly made of hard, gritty, igneous rock or sandstone and mostly show signs 
of hard usage. As their bases are usually convex, they must have been set in the 
earth or in mud to prevent their rocking. Two main types have been found: those on 
which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro, and others with which 
a second stone was used as a pounder, eventually making a large cavity in the 
nether stone. Querns of the former type were probably used solely for grain; the 
second type possibly only for pounding herbs and spices for making curries. In fact, 
stones of this latter type are dubbed ‘curry stones’ by our workmen, and our cook 
asked for the loan of one from the museum for use in the kitchen. 
 
a. What was required for processing food?                                                              (2)  
b. What were vessels made of? Give any four raw materials.                              (2)       
c. ‘Chanudaro was an important centre for craft production’. Discuss.                     (3) 
        
 
16. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions which follow: 
 
What ‘recovering ’ women meant  
 
Here is the experience of a couple, recounted by Prakash Tandon in his Punjabi 
Century, an autobiographical social history of colonial Punjab:  
In one instance, a Sikh youth who had run amuck during the Partition persuaded a 
massacring crowd to let him take away a young, beautiful Muslim girl. They got 
married, and slowly fell in love with each other. Gradually memories of her parents, 
who had been killed, and her former life faded. They were happy together, and a 
little boy was born. Soon, however, social workers and the police, labouring 
assiduously to recover abducted women, began to track down the couple. They 
made inquiries in the Sikh’s home-district of Jalandhar; he got scent of it and the 
family ran away to Calcutta. The social workers reached Calcutta. Meanwhile, the 
couple’s friends tried to obtain a stay-order from the court, but the law was taking 
its ponderous course. From Calcutta the couple escaped to some obscure Punjab 
village, hoping that the police would fail to shadow them. But the police caught up 
with them and began to question them. His wife was expecting again and now 
nearing her time. The Sikh sent the little boy to his mother and took his wife to a 
sugarcane field. He made her as comfortable as he could in a pit while he lay with a 
gun, waiting for the police, determined not to lose her while he was alive. In the pit 
he delivered her with his own hands. The next day she ran high fever, and in three 
days, she was dead. He had not dared to take her to the hospital. He was so afraid 
the social workers and the police would take her away. 
 
 
a. What were the bases of the Partition of India?                                       (2) 
b. Why was the Partition often regarded as a nightmare?     (2) 
c. Women on both sides of the border were the most critical. Explain               (3) 
 
Map Work  
      
17.1 On the given political map of India, mark and label the following:                 (2) 
                      
a. Kot Diji 
b. Taxila 
 
17.2 On the same map, three important centres of the revolt of 1857 have been 
marked as 1, 2 and 3. Identify them and write their names on the lines drawn near 
them.                         (3) 
 
 
 
 
CBSE 
Class XII History 
Sample Paper – 1 Solution 
 
 
PART-A 
 
Answer 1 
Archaeological finds at Harappa are suggestive of socioeconomic differences in 
society. The following sources indicate this difference:  
a. Studying Burials: Harappans believed in burying the dead in pits. Often the dead 
were buried with ornaments and pottery perhaps believing they could be used 
in the afterlife. Burials therefore help in the study of differences in society.  
b. Luxuries: Archaeologists have classified artefacts as utilitarian and luxuries. The 
former includes items of daily use which could be made easily using clay or 
stone. Luxury goods are things which have been rarely found. 
 
Answer 2 
The four important pillars of Islam are  
? Shahada: There is only one god (Allah) and Prophet Mohammad is his 
messenger.  
? Namaz: Offering prayer five times a day 
? Sawm: Fasting during Ramzan 
? Hajj: Pilgrimage to Mecca  
? Zakat: Paying alms 
 
Answer 3 
Problems faced during census operation:  
a. Categories devised by the commission for classifying the population 
failed to capture the overlapping identities of the people.  
b. Often people refused to provide answers to the questions asked by 
government officials.  
 
PART-B 
SECTION-I 
Answer 4 
To justify the claims in society, the Brahmans often quoted a verse from a hymn in 
the Rig Veda known as Purusha Sukta. Every element of the Universe including the 
four social categories or Varnas is assumed to have been derived from this 
primaeval man, Purusha. 
a. Brahmans came from the head of the man. Hence, the occupation 
prescribed to them was of reading and writing the Vedas, performing 
rituals and teaching the Vedas to society.  
b. Kshatriyas came from the hands of Purusha. The right occupation for them 
was to engage in warfare, study the Vedas, protect the people and 
administer justice in the kingdom.  
c. Vaishyas came from the thighs. They were expected to be engaged in 
agriculture and trade.