History: CBSE Sample Question Paper with Solutions - 4 | Sample Papers for Class 11 Humanities - Humanities/Arts PDF Download

Q.1. Multiple Choice Questions
(i) The earliest cities developed in Mesopotamia around
(a) 5500 BCE
(b) 7000 BCE
(c) 5000 BCE
(d) 6000 BCE

Correct Answer is option a.

(ii) Mongols and other central Asian nomads traded and bartered with:
(a) Nepal
(b) Korea
(c) Singapore
(d) China

Correct Answer is option a.

(iii) Timur claimed descent from
(a) Ogodei
(b) Jochi
(c) Toluy
(d) Chaghatai

Correct Answer is option d.

(iv) Who were the early European/British settlers in Australia?
(a) Convicts who had been deported from Africa
(b) Convicts who had been deported from England
(c) The Australian tribal
(d) All of the above

Correct Answer is option b.

(v) Japan is also known as:
(a) Land of Five Rivers
(b) Land of Thousand Lakes
(c) Land of Rising Sun
(d) Land of Midnight Sun

Correct Answer is option c.

(vi) What constituted the heart of the Roman Empire?
(a) Rhine
(b) Sahara Desert
(c) The Mediterranean Sea
(d) Agriculture

Correct Answer is option c.

(vii) The study of contemporary ethnic groups is known as
(a) Ethnography
(b) Archaeology
(c) Anthropology
(d) Sociology

Correct Answer is option a.

(viii) What is the meaning of Mesopotamia?
(a) Land between two poles
(b) None of these
(c) The land between two bridges
(d) The Land between two rivers

Correct Answer is option d.

(ix) Fortification built by China is called:
(a) Fort of China
(b) Great wall of China
(c) Doors of Chin
(d) Wall of China

Correct Answer is option a.

(x) Which of these scientific discoveries made long journeys across oceans possible?
(a) Mathematical Tables
(b) Astronomical compass
(c) Telescope
(d) The art of mapping

Correct Answer is option d.

Q.2. Fill in the blanks.
(i) The Aborigine make up ________ percent of Australia’s population in 2005.
(ii) __________ were native tribes who live near California.
(iii) The temples of Mesopotamia were known as ________.
(iv) Most of the England was connected by the rails by __________.
(v) Expansion of ___________ was a cause of urbanisation in Mesopotamia.

(i) 2.4
(ii) Hopis
(iii) Ziggurats
(iv) 185
(v) trade

Q.3.  State whether true or false.
(i) A course on social values was a compulsory course in Japan.
(ii) Feudalism continued under the Meiji’s rule
(iii) Cathedral were small churches built in France during the 12th century.
(iv)  ‘The Pieta’ by Michelangelo depicts Mary holding the body of Jesus.
(v) Protestant Reformation is the movement that began in the 15th century to reform the Christian religion.

(i) False
(ii) False
(iii) False
(iv) True
(v) True

Q.4. What steps were taken to prepare the clay tablets for writing?
The process of making clay tablets involved several steps. Firstly, a scribe would wet the clay and shape it into a size that could be easily held in one hand. Next, the surfaces of the clay were smoothed out with care. Using a reed with a sharp, obliquely cut end, the scribe would then press wedge-shaped letters, also known as cuneiform, onto the surface of the moist clay tablet. Once this was done, the tablet was left to dry in the sun, which made it extremely durable. Finally, when the information on the tablet was no longer useful, it would be discarded.

Q.5. What impact did the Crusades have on Europe and Asia?

(a) The Christian Muslim relations were significantly impacted by the Crusades for a long time.
(b) Muslim states adopted more severe attitudes towards their Christian subjects.
(c) Religious conflicts intensified in areas where Muslim, Jewish, and Christian populations coexisted.
(d) Even after Muslim power was restored, Italian mercantile communities from Pisa, Genoa, and Venice continued to have a strong influence on trade between the East and West.
(e) In the first Crusade, Antioch in Syria was captured by soldiers from France and Italy, who also claimed Jerusalem, resulting in the slaughter of Muslims and Jews.
(f) The Crusades strengthened the power of the Church in Europe and increased its ability to initiate wars and inflict violence on the general populace.

Q.6. Discuss the role of iron and foreign trade in the development of African civilization.

The discovery and utilization of iron played a significant role in the advancement of agriculture and weapon-making in Africa, enabling them to expand their empires. Approximately two millennia ago, African communities developed the knowledge to extract iron, with East Africa becoming renowned for its iron ore mines. Traders transported African iron to India, where it was utilized to forge swords, and in exchange, Africa received gold. Moreover, the utilization of iron in shipbuilding facilitated the development of trade in the region.

Q.7. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The traditional religious culture of the classical world, both Greek and Roman, had been a polytheist. That is, it involved a multiplicity of cults that included both Roman/Italian gods like Jupiter, Juno, Minerva and Mars, as well as numerous Greek and eastern deities worshipped in thousands of temples, shrines and sanctuaries throughout the empire. Polytheists had no common name or label to describe themselves. The other great religious tradition in the empire was Judaism. But Judaism was not a monolith either, and there was a great deal of diversity within the Jewish communities of late antiquity. Thus, the ‘Christianisation’ of the empire in the fourth and fifth centuries was a gradual and complex process. Polytheism did not disappear overnight, especially in the western provinces, where the Christian bishops waged a running battle against beliefs and practices they condemned more than the Christian laity did. The boundaries between religious communities were much more fluid in the fourth century than they would become thanks to the repeated efforts of religious leaders, the powerful bishops who now led the Church, to rein in their followers and enforce a more rigid set of beliefs and practices.
(i) List the names of the Roman gods who were worshipped across the empire.

The Romans practiced various religions that involved worshipping a diverse range of deities, including those of Roman/Italian origin like Jupiter, Juno, Minerva, and Mars, in addition to numerous Greek and Eastern gods revered in thousands of sanctuaries, shrines, and temples scattered across the empire.

(ii) What was the primary function of the Christian bishops?

Christian bishops engaged in an unceasing struggle against the doctrines and customs that they disapproved of.

(iii) Explain what Judaism means.

The religious tradition practiced in the Roman Empire is not Judaism, but rather it encompasses a multitude of beliefs and practices.

Q.8. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow.
‘In Benedictine monasteries, there was a manuscript with 73 chapters of rules which were followed by monks for many centuries. Here are some of the rules they had to follow:
Chapter 6: Permission to speak should rarely be granted to monks.
Chapter 7: Humility means obedience.
Chapter 33: No monk should own private property.
Chapter 47: Idleness is the enemy of the soul, so friars and sisters should be occupied at certain times in manual labour, and at fixed hours in sacred reading.
Chapter 48: The monastery should be laid out in such a way that all necessities be found within its bounds: water, mill, garden, workshops.
(i) What exactly does humility imply?

Humility means having a modest or low view of oneself and one's own importance.

(ii) What is contained in Chapter 47?

According to Chapter 47, being idle is detrimental to the soul. Therefore, it is recommended that friars and sisters engage in manual labor at specific times and devote fixed hours to sacred reading.

(iii) What values does this chapter represent?

The concepts of humaneness, honesty, and the significance of labor.

Q.9. Read the passage carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Olduvai Gorge was first 'discovered' in the early twentieth century by a German butterfly collector. However, Olduvai has come to be identified with Mary and Louis leakey, who worked here for over 40 years. It was mary Leakey who directed archaeological excavations at Olduvai and Laetoli and she made some of the most exciting discoveries. This is what Louis leakey wrote about one of their most remarkable finds: 'That morning I woke with a headache and a slight fever. Reluctantly, I agreed to spend the say in camp. With one of us out of commission, it was even more vital for the other to continue the work, for our precarious seven-week season was running out. So Mary departed for the diggings with Sally and Toots [two of their dogs] in the Land-Rover [a jeep-like vehicle], and I settled back to a restless day off. Some time later - perhaps I dozed of - I heard the Land-Rover coming up fast to camp. I had a momentary vision of Mary stung by one of our hundreds of resident scorpions or bitten by a snake that had slipped past the dogs. The Land-Rover rattled to a stop, and I heard Mary's voice calling over and over: "I ve got him! i've got him! I 've got him!' Still groggy from the headache, I couldn't make her out. "Got what? Are  you  hurt?"  I  asked.  "Him,  the  man!  Our  man,"  Mary  said.  "The  one  we've  been  looking  for  23  years.  Come  quick, i've found his teeth!"
(i) Give four distinctions between the genus and modern humans.

The disparities between genus and modern humans are as follows:
(a) They possessed a relatively smaller brain size than modern humans.
(b) Their teeth were larger and darker in color.
(c) Their manual dexterity was restricted.
(d) Due to spending extended periods in trees, genus had elongated forelimbs, curved hands, foot bones, and flexible joints.

(ii) Who is associated with the discovery of the Olduvai Gorge?

The discovery of the Olduvai Gorge is linked to Mary and Louis Leakay.

(iii) What is the origin of the genus' name?

The term Australopithecus is a combination of Latin and Greek words. 'Austral' translates to southern, while 'pithekos' translates to ape. This name was given to the earliest form of humans as they still retained several characteristics of apes.

Q.10. What impact did the Renaissance/Humanism have on Christianity? Discuss with a focus on the Protestant Reformation.

The impact of humanism on Christianity was significant, with different regions being influenced in varying ways. In Italy, the Renaissance, which placed emphasis on classical Greco-Roman texts, led to individualism and scholars questioning religious dogmas. This approach attracted many members of the church in Northern Europe, who called on Christians to practice religion in the way it was laid down in the ancient texts, discarding rituals and returning to the earlier pure form. A radical new view of human beings as free and rational beings emerged, challenging traditional notions.
Christian humanists such as Thomas More in England and Erasmus in Holland objected to the luxurious life led by those associated with the Church. They also criticized the sale of letters of indulgences, which allowed the rich to absolve themselves of the sins they committed. The Church’s focus on Latin excluded the common man who could not read or write, but the spread of education and the printing press allowed the Bible to be translated into vernacular languages and religious teachings to reach the common man. As a result, the authority of the church began to be questioned, with peasants rebelling against the taxes and extortions of the church, and princes finding the church's interference cumbersome.
Humanists argued that the ‘Donation of Constantine,’ which was the basis of clergy’s claim to judicial and fiscal powers, was fabricated, and this encouraged princes to question the church's authority. The strongest attack on the Catholic Church and papacy came from Martin Luther of Germany. Luther argued that a person did not need priests to establish contact with God, and he urged his followers to have complete faith in God alone, which could guide them to the right life and entry to heaven. This movement, known as the Protestant Reformation, led to churches in Germany and Switzerland breaking their connection with the Pope and the Catholic Church. In France, Protestantism and radicalism merged, with people claiming the right to overthrow an oppressive ruler and choose a person of their own liking. In England, the rulers ended their connection with the Catholic Church and assumed leadership of the church as well.

Q.11. Mention some facts about Ur, one of the first cities to be excavated.

Ur, which was excavated in the 1930s, revealed various features such as narrow winding streets that indicate the absence of town planning and the inability of wheeled carts to reach houses. The lack of street drains and the presence of clay drains and pipes in the inner courtyards of houses suggest that rainwater was channeled into sumps to prevent the streets from becoming slushy. People used to sweep their household refuse into the streets, causing street levels to rise over time, and the thresholds of houses had to be raised to prevent mud from flowing in. Houses had doors that opened into courtyards for light, but no windows were present. Additionally, the cemetery at Ur contained graves of both royalty and commoners, with some individuals buried under the floors of ordinary houses.

Q.12. Discuss the methods used by the Mongols to gain control of their vast empire.

The Mongols, under the leadership of Genghis Khan, managed to establish and maintain control over a vast empire that stretched from China to Europe. There were several methods adopted by the Mongols that facilitated their control over the empire. These methods are discussed below:
Military strategy: The Mongols had a powerful military force that was highly organized and disciplined. They used a combination of archers on horseback, heavily armored cavalry, and infantry to conquer and maintain control over the empire. They also used siege engines, such as trebuchets, to capture fortified cities.
Diplomacy: The Mongols used diplomacy to maintain control over conquered territories. They appointed local leaders who were loyal to the Mongol Empire and allowed them to rule under the supervision of Mongol officials. They also formed alliances with neighboring kingdoms and used marriages to cement these alliances.
Religious tolerance: The Mongols were religiously tolerant and did not force their religion on the conquered people. They allowed religious freedom and even patronized different religions. This policy helped to prevent religious unrest and facilitated the integration of diverse populations into the empire.
Efficient communication system: The Mongols had a well-developed communication system that allowed for the efficient transmission of messages across the empire. They used a relay system of riders and horses to carry messages across long distances. This system allowed for quick communication between the Mongol leaders and their officials in distant territories.
System of taxation: The Mongols implemented a system of taxation that was efficient and fair. They collected taxes in the form of goods, such as silk and grain, which were then used to support the empire. The Mongols also allowed local rulers to collect taxes in their territories, which helped to maintain the loyalty of these rulers to the Mongol Empire.
In conclusion, the Mongols used a combination of military strength, diplomacy, religious tolerance, an efficient communication system, and a fair system of taxation to establish and maintain control over their vast empire. These methods ensured that the conquered territories were integrated into the Mongol Empire and contributed to its growth and prosperity.

Q.13. Did Japan's rapid industrialization policy result in wars with its neighbours and environmental destruction?

Japan's policy of rapid industrialization did contribute to wars with its neighbors, but it is not the sole cause of such conflicts. The aggressive expansionist policies of the Japanese government, the rise of Japanese militarism, and geopolitical tensions in the region also played a significant role in triggering conflicts.
Japan's rapid industrialization during the Meiji period (1868-1912) was aimed at catching up with Western industrial powers and strengthening the country's economic and military power. The government implemented policies to promote industrial growth, such as investing in infrastructure, education, and technology, and protecting domestic industries from foreign competition. This led to the growth of key industries such as steel, shipbuilding, and textiles, and Japan became a major exporter of these goods.
However, the pursuit of industrialization also had negative consequences for the environment. The heavy use of natural resources, such as coal and timber, led to deforestation and pollution of air and water. The industrialization also resulted in the expansion of urban areas, which led to overcrowding and poor living conditions.
In terms of foreign policy, Japan's aggressive expansionist policies led to conflicts with its neighbors. Japan's invasion of China in 1937 and its subsequent occupation of territories in Southeast Asia and the Pacific led to World War II and widespread destruction in the region. The war resulted in significant environmental damage, such as deforestation, pollution, and damage to infrastructure.
In conclusion, Japan's policy of rapid industrialization contributed to the country's economic growth and military power but had negative consequences for the environment. The pursuit of expansionist policies by the Japanese government resulted in conflicts with its neighbors and led to significant destruction and environmental damage in the region.

Q.14. On the given map, identify the parts (1), (2), (3), and (4).