Class 10 Social Science: CBSE Sample Question Paper (2019-20) - 1 | CBSE Sample Papers For Class 10 PDF Download

Social Science (Code 087)
Class X – Session 2019-20
Sample Question Paper

Time Allowed: 3 Hours
Maximum Marks: 80

General Instructions:
(i) The question paper has 35 questions in all.
(ii) Marks are indicated against each question.
(iii) Questions from serial number 1 to 20 are objective type questions. Each question carries one mark. Answer them as instructed.
(iv) Questions from serial number 21 to 28 are 3 marks questions. Answer of these questions should not exceed 80 words each.
(v) Questions from serial number 29 to 34 are 5 marks questions. Answer of these questions should not exceed 120 words each.
(vi) Question number 35 is a map question of 6 marks with two parts - 35 a. from History (2 marks) and 35b. from Geography (4 marks).

Very Short Answer Questions

Q.1. India’s bauxite deposits are mainly found in which of the following regions?    (1 Mark)
(a) Maikal hills region
(b) Bilaspur-Katni belt
(c) Amarkantak plateau
(d) All of these
Ans. (d) All of these
Bauxite Deposits in IndiaQ.2. Which of the following Acts did not permit plantation workers to leave the tea garden without permission?    (1 Mark)
(a) Indian Independence Act
(b) Inland Emigration Act of 1859
(c) Impaired Legislature Council Act
(d) Inland Immigration Act
Ans. (b) Inland Emigration Act of 1859

Q.3. Which of the following minerals is a metallic mineral?    (1 Mark)
(a) Copper
(b) Mica
(c) Salt
(d) Coal
Ans. (a) Copper

Q.4. _________ was a pioneer of mass production.    (1 Mark)
(a) Henry Ford
(b) Abraham Lincoln
(c) Hitler
(d) Gutenberg
OR
Who, among the following, improved the steam engine produced by Newcomen?
(a) Mathew Boulton
(b) James Watt
(c) Henry Ford
(d ) Grahm Bel
Ans. (a) Or (b)

Q.5. Why do political parties create social division?    (1 Mark)
Ans. Democracy involves competition, which tends to divide any society. Due to competition, political parties create social division.

Q.6. Complete the following table with correct information with regard to the cultivation of maize:    (1 Mark)
Ans.
(A) Kharif
(B) 21°C - 27°C

Q.7. The government has set up Indian Business Zones to attract foreign investment. [True/False]    (1 Mark)
Ans. False

• In recent years, the central and state governments in India are taking special steps to attract foreign companies to invest in India. Industrial zones, called Special Economic Zones (SEZs), are being set up. 

Q.8. Resources which are surveyed and their quantity and quality have been determined for utilisation are known as________.    (1 Mark)
Ans. Developed Resources

Q.9. Study the picture and answer the question that follows    (1 Mark)

Which of the following aspect best signifies the shaded part of the map of Belgium?
(a) Brussels-Capital region
(b) Walloon (French-Speaking) region
(c) Flemish (Dutch-Speaking) region
(d) German-Speaking region
Ans. (d) German-Speaking region

Q.10.
Which of the following options best signifies this cartoon?    (1 Mark)
(a) Political leaders treat people belonging to a caste as Vote banks'.
(b) In elections, political parties give tickets to the candidates on the basis of caste.
(c) Candidates in elections make appeals to caste sentiment to muster support.
(d) None of the above.
Ans. (a) Political leaders treat people belonging to a caste as Vote banks.

Q.11. Road density in kerala is _________ as on 31 March 2011.    (1 Mark)
Ans. 517.77 km

Q.12. Categorise the following minerals as ferrous or non-ferrous minerals-cobalt, bauxite.    (1 Mark)
Ans: 

• Ferrous — Cobalt
• Non-ferrous — Bauxite.
  
  

Q.13. Complete the following table with correct information with regard to sectors of economy.    (1 Mark)

Ans. 

A. Primary Activity/Sector
B. Tertiary Activity/Sector

Q.14.  What is the advantage of per capita income? Mention any one.    (1 Mark)
Ans. It is the most appropriate criterion for measuring the development of any country.

Q.15. What were the main features of economic liberalism, which came up in Europe in the nineteenth century?    (1 Mark)
Ans. In the economic sphere, liberalism stood for freedom of markets and abolition of state-imposed restrictions on the movement of goods and capital.
Or 
Who were junkers in Prussia?
Ans. Junkers were large landowners in Prussia.

Q.16. Assertion (A): Democratic government may take more time to take decisions.
Reason (R): It has to follow norms and procedures Options: (1 Mark)
(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 correct but R is wrong.
(d) A is wrong but R is correct.
Ans. (a)

Q.17. Arrange the following in the correct sequence (land degradation by %).    (1 Mark)
(i) Forest degraded area
(ii) Water eroded area
(iii) Wind eroded area Options
(iv) Saline and alkaline deposits
Options:
(a) (i), (iii), (iv), (ii)
(b) (ii) , (i), (iii), (iv)
(c) (i), (ii), (iv), (iii)
(d) (ii), (iii), (iv), (i)
Ans. (b)- (ii), (i), (iii), (iv)

Q.18. Arrange the following in the correct sequence:    (1 Mark)
(i) Sale of biscuits in the market.
(ii) Grinding of the flour in mills.
(iii) Making the biscuits in biscuit companies.
(iv) Production of wheat in fields.
Options:
(a) iv —iii —ii — i
(b) i — ii — iii — iv
(c) iv — ii — iii — i
(d) iii — i — ii — iv
Ans. (c)- (iv) — (ii) — (iii) — (i)

Q.19. Distinguish between ‘Primary’ and ‘Secondary’ sectors.    (1 Mark)
Ans. 

• When we produce a good by exploiting natural resources, it is an activity of the primary sector. 
• On the other hand, the secondary sector covers activities in which natural products are changed into other forms.

Q.20. Distinguish between investment and foreign investment.    (1 Mark)
OR
Define liberalisation.
Ans.
Investment is money spent to buy assets by the citizens of the nation whereas foreign investment in the money spent by other citizens.
or
Removing unwanted barriers or restrictions set by the government from trade and industry is known as liberalisation.

Short Answer Questions

Q.21. What were the causes of the ethnic conflict in Belgium?    (3 Mark)

OR

What were the causes for strained relations between the Sinhala and Tamil communities in Sri Lanka?

Ans.

The causes of the ethnic conflict in Belgium were as follows:

(i) The minority French-speaking community was relatively rich and powerful. This was resented by the Dutch-speaking community.

(ii) The Dutch-speaking community got the benefit of economic development and education much later than the French-speaking community. This led to conflict between the Dutch-speaking and French-speaking communities during the 1950s and 1960s.

(iii) There was a great social disparity between Dutch and French-speaking communities during the lybus and 1960s.

OR

• Sri Lanka emerged as an independent country in 1948. 
• There were several reasons for strained relations between the Sinhala and Tamil Communities. 
• Some of these were as follows:
  (i) The Sri Lankan government had taken several measures that ignored the Tamil community.
  (ii) Government policies denied the Tamil community equal political rights.
  (iii) Government discriminated against the Tamil community in giving these jobs and other opportunities and also ignored its interests.

Q.22. Mention any three effects of the British Governments decision for the abolition of the Corn Laws.    (3 Mark)
OR
What is meant by proto - industrialisation? Why was it successful in the countryside in England in the 17th century?
Ans.

• Food could be imported into Britain at a much cheaper rate than it would be produced within the country.
• British agriculture was unable to compete with imports. Vast areas of land were left uncultivated and people started migrating to cities or other countries.
• As food prices fell, consumption in Britain rose. Faster industrial growth in Britain also led to higher incomes and therefore, more food imports.
• Around the world—in Eastern Europe, Russia, America and Australia-lands were cleared and food production expanded to meet the British demand.
  

OR

Proto-industrialisation was the early phase of industrialization in Europe and England when there was large scale industrial production for an international market. This was not based on factories.
It was successful in the countryside in England due to the following reasons:
(i) The peasants had been shut out of village commons due to enclosure movement.
(ii) They now looked for the alternative source of income.

Q.23. What are the various stages of Resource planning?    (3 Mark)
Ans.

(i) Identification and inventory of resources across the regions of the country. This involves surveying mapping and qualitative and quantitative estimation and measurement of the resources.
(ii) Evolving a planning structure endowed with appropriate technology, skill and institutional setup.
(iii) Matching the resource development plans with overall natural development plans.

Q.24. “Tourism industry played an important role in the economic and cultural development of India.” Support the statement with examples.    (3 Mark)
Ans. 

• Tourism Helps in earning foreign exchange.
• It provides direct as well as indirect employment to the people.
• It promotes national integration.

Q.25. Why do you think that money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to live well? Justify.    (3 Mark)
OR 
Which documents are required to be submitted to the bank for taking a home loan?
Ans.
Due to the following reasons, I think that money cannot buy all the goods and services that one needs to live well:

• Apart from money, the infrastructure and facility like health and education are required to live well. You cannot buy all services and goods by money until the facilities are available at a particular place and time.
• The reason behind undernourishment of 40% people of India is poverty and unavailability of resources and not money only.
• The other reason is the distribution of food. The food distribution system is not good in most of the rural parts of country, due to which most of the people remain undernourished.
  

OR

Following documents are required by bank for giving a house loan:
(i) Employment record of the borrower.
(ii) Ownership/purchase documents of the new home.
(iii) Salary slip of the borrower.

Q.26. "The Government of India gives holidays for the festivals of most of the religions." Why is it so? Give your viewpoint.    (3 Mark)
Ans.
It is so because:

• India is a secular state, there is no official religion in our country.
• The Constitution provides freedom to all to profess, practice and propagate any religion or not to follow any.
• The Constitution prohibits discrimination on the ground of religion.

Q.27. How do we include various goods and services for calculating Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country?    (3 Mark)
Ans.

• The value of final goods and services produced in each sector during a particular year provides the total production of the sector for that year.
• And the sum of production in the three sectors gives what is called the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of a country.
• It is the value of all final goods and services produced within a country during a particular year. GDP shows how big the economy is.
• In India, the mammoth task of measuring GDP is undertaken by a central government ministry.
• This ministry with the help of various government departments of all the 
• Indian states and union territories collect information relating to the total volume of goods and services and their prices and then estimates the GDP.

Q.28. How is it possible to create more employment in rural areas? Explain with examples.

OR
How does public sector contribute to the economic development of the nation? Explain.    (3 Mark)
Ans.

(i) Diversification of Agriculture

• More than 60 per cent of our workers are employed in agriculture. But our farmers are producing only limited crops.
• There is need to diversify agriculture. Farmers should be encouraged to adopt pisciculture, horticulture, animal rearing, etc., along with cultivation of crops.
  

(ii) Cheap Credit

• Most of the farmers depend on informal sources of credit, i.e., moneylenders, relatives, traders, etc., who charge a very high rate of interest. 
• The government should encourage commercial banks to provide loans to the farmers at cheaper rates.

(iii) Provision of Basic Facilities

• Our rural areas lack basic facilities like roads, transportation, banking, warehouses, markets, etc. 
• The government should invest some money in these sectors so that the Indian villages can be linked to other markets.
• This activity can provide productive employment to not just farmers, but also to others, such as those in services like transport or trade.
  

OR

(i) Development of Infrastructure: The pace of industrial development cannot be accelerated without infrastructure establishment. Its development requires huge capital investment, which cannot be mobilised by the private sector. Moreover, these projects do not promise high profits.
(ii) Development of Backward Areas: The goal of achieving a reduction in economic inequality between regions becomes easy to reach if industries are set up in backward areas. But the profit-seeking private industrialists often are not enthusiastic enough, to set up industry in the backward regions. The government, therefore, finds it necessary to start industrial production in these areas on its own.
(iii) Basic Facilities

• There are a large number of activities which are the primary responsibility of the government.
• The government must spend on these.
• Providing health, quality education, particularly elementary education, is the duty of the government.
• India’s size of illiterate population is one of the largest in the world.

Long Answer Questions

Q.29. Describe the cause of the Silesian Weavers uprising. Comment on the viewpoint of the journalist.    (5 Mark)
Ans.

• The cause of the ‘Silesian Weavers’ uprising was due to the cheating of the weavers by the contractors.
• In 1845, the weavers raised a revolt against the contractors as the contractors drastically reduced their payments.
• The viewpoint of the journalist Wilhelm Wolff for this uprising was a large crowd of weavers reached the house of the contractor and demanded higher wages.
• They were not treated well, so a group of the crowd entered the contractor’s house forcibly and destroyed the furniture, window panes and plundered it.
• The contractor fled with his family to a neighbouring village but did not get shelter.
• After 24 hours, he returned back with army and 11 weavers were shot dead.
• This shows that the viewpoint of the journalist was biased against the weavers and in favour of the contractor. Fie did not understand the misery of the weavers properly.

Q.30. Read the extract and answer the questions that follows: 

The distribution pattern of the Railway network in the country has been largely influenced by physiographic, economic and administrative factors. The northern plains with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provided the most favourable condition for their growth. However, a large number of rivers requiring construction of bridges across their wide beds posed some obstacles. In the hilly terrains of the peninsular region, railway tracts are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels. The Himalayan mountainous regions too are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities. Likewise, it was difficult to lay railway lines on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. The contiguous stretch of Sahyadri could be crossed only through gaps or passes (Ghats). In recent times, the development of the Konkan railway along the west coast has facilitated the movement of passengers and goods in this most important economic region of India. It has also faced a number of problems such as sinking of track in some stretches and landslides.
(a) Which is the most convenient mode of transportation in India?
(b) Analyse the physiographic factors that have influenced the distribution pattern of the railways in our country.
(c) Which economic factors have largely influenced the distribution pattern of the railways in India?    (5 Mark)
Ans.
(a) Rail transport is the most convenient mode of transportation in India.
(b) Physiographic Factors

• The Northern Plains with their vast level land, high population density and rich agricultural resources provide the most favourable condition for the growth of railway networks.
• The uneven terrain like hills, mountains, rivers with wide beds has posed a severe obstacle in the infrastructural development of railways like laying tracks, construction of bridges and so on.
• In the hilly terrain of the peninsular region, railway tracks are laid through low hills, gaps or tunnels.
• The Himalayan mountainous regions too are unfavourable for the construction of railway lines due to high relief, sparse population and lack of economic opportunities.
• It is equally difficult on the sandy plain of western Rajasthan, swamps of Gujarat, forested tracks of Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Odisha and Jharkhand. (Any two)

(c) Economic Factors

• There are several economic factors that affect the distribution of railways. State funding plays a vital role in the development of railways across the nations.
• The state with flexible laws supports the growth of railways. 
• Along with this, the places that are highly industrialised attract the development of railways. 
• Since the growth of both is complementary to each other.
  Example: Recently railways network is enhancing along the industrial corridors.

Q.31. Compare the situation of Belgium and Sri Lanka considering their location, size and cultural aspects.    (5 Mark)
Ans.

OR

How has the idea of power-sharing emerged? Explain different forms that have common arrangements of power-sharing.
Ans.

(a) 

• The idea of power-sharing has emerged in opposition to the notions of undivided political power.
• In a democracy, people rule themselves through institutions of self-government.
• So there should be power-sharing among different institutions.

(b) Different forms of power-sharing are as given below:
(i) Power-sharing among different organs of government such as the legislature, executive and judiciary.
(ii) It is called horizontal distribution of power. In it Parliament enacts laws, the executive executes and the judiciary checks the functioning of others.
(iii) Power-sharing among governments at different levels:

• There are governments at the National, State and Local levels.
• Powers are divided among these governments. For example, in India, there is a division of powers between Centre and the States.

(c) Power-sharing among different social groups: 

• Sometimes religious and linguistic groups too share power as is the case in Belgium where there is a “community government” which is elected by people belonging to one language community no matter where they live.

(d) Power-sharing among political parties, pressure groups and movements: 

• In a democracy, political parties, pressure groups and movements control or influence those in power. 
• Sometimes power is shared by different political parties having different ideologies.

Q.32. What is the need to have political parties? Explain. 
OR
“Dynastic succession is the major challenge for political parties.” Explain.    (5 Mark)
Ans. 

(i) Parties Contest Elections

• Political parties are the axis of the government. 
• In most democracies, elections are fought mainly among the candidates put up by political parties.

(ii) Formation of Policies

• It is very difficult to imagine democracy without political parties because, without political parties, every candidate in the elections will be independent. 
• So no one will be able to make any promise to the people about any major policy changes and new policies.

(iii) Uncertain Government 

• The government may be formed, but its life will remain ever uncertain. 
• Elected representatives will be accountable to their constituency for what they did to the locality.
• But no one will be responsible as to how the country will run.
  

(iv) Representative democracy

• The rise of political parties is directly linked to the emergence of representative democracies. 
• Large-scale societies need a representative democracy.

(v) To gather public opinion 

• As societies became large and complex, they also needed some agency to gather different views on various issues, and to present these to the government. 
• This is fulfilled by the political parties.
  OR

(i) Since most political parties do not practice open and transparent procedures for their functioning, there are very few ways for an ordinary worker to rise to the top in a party.
(ii) Those, who happen to be the leaders, are in a position of unfair advantage to favour people close to them or even their family members. In many parties, the top positions are always controlled by members of one family. This is unfair to other members of that party.
(iii) Dynastic succession does not allow the grass-root level workers to reach the top.
Example: If one looks at the database of all the MPs in the Parliament, one can find that less than 50% of the MPs come into politics from the grass root levels, while most of the women MPs entered the politics through family connections.
(iv) Dynastic succession is the major factor responsible for lack of internal democracy in a political party. Due to lack of internal democracy, some leaders assume greater power to make decisions in the name of the party.
(v) Due to dynastic succession, many parties are unable to hold regular elections for the top leader.

Q.33. Read the extract and answer the questions that follows:    (5 Mark)
Manufacturing industries not only help in modernising agriculture, which forms the backbone of our economy, they also reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income by providing them jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors.
Industrial development is a precondition for eradication of unemployment and poverty from our country. This was the main philosophy behind pubic sector industries and joint sector ventures in India. It was also aimed at bringing down regional disparities by establishing industries in tribal and backward areas.
Export of manufactured goods expands trade and commerce and brings in much needed foreign exchange.

Questions:
(a) How do manufacturing industries help people?
(b) Why is industrial development considered important for tribal and backward areas?
(c) Why are exports of manufacturing goods important for our economy?
Ans.

(a) 

• Manufacturing industries create new jobs in secondary and tertiary sectors. 
• Thus, reduce the heavy dependence of people on agricultural income. 
• These also improve the livelihood of people.

(b) The industrial development is considered important for tribal and backward areas due to the following reasons:

• Industrial development helps to reduce regional disparities.
• Due to Industrial development, many industries are set up in tribal and backward regions of the country.
• The handmade and manufactured goods made by tribal people are being exported all over the country through exhibitions and markets.
• Tribal areas are making a lot of progress because of manufacturing products. Thus, their livelihood is continuously improving.
• Exports of manufactured goods are important for our economy due to following reasons:
  (i) The more a country exports, the more domestic economic activities occur.
  (ii) More exports mean more production, jobs and revenue.
  (iii) If a country is a net exporter, it's Gross Domestic Product (GDP) increases, which is the total value of the finished goods and services it produces in a given period of time. In other words, net exports increase the wealth of a country.

Q.34. How far it to correct to say that money in your pocket cannot buy the basic needs to live well?    (5 Mark)
Ans.

• Income by itself is not a completely adequate indicator.
• Money can not buy you a pollution-free environment.
• Money may also not be able to protect you from infectious diseases.
  Therefore, the whole community needs to take preventive steps:
  (i)  Collective security for the whole society.
  (ii) Public facilities such as schools.
  (iii) Public distribution system in some states. All this can only be done collectively and not individually.

Map Skill Based Question

Q.35. (a) On the given political map of India, mark and locate the following:    (2 Mark)
(i) A place associated with salt law violation by Gandhiji. 
(ii) The place where the Indian National Congress Session in 1927 took place. 

(b) On the same outline map of India identify any four of the following features and write their names on the marked lines: (Choose any four features)    (4 Mark)
(i) A thermal power plant 
(ii) A major oil field 
(iii) Cotton textile industry 
(iv) Adam 
(v) Major rice-producing state.
(vi) An international airport.

Ans:
The answer map is given below :