🌍 Social Science Question Papers (EM) 10th Standard Latest Syllabus Solutions, Official Question Papers, Answer Key, First Mid Term Exam Original Question Paper (Tirunelveli District) | Mr. M Sivakumar

Social Science Mid Term Test (2019) - Solved Paper | Standard X

Solved Paper: Social Science First Mid Term Test

Standard X | July 2019 | Thirunelveli District

Original Question Paper

Part I: Choose the correct answer 10 x 1 = 10 Marks

1. To which country did the first Secretary General of the League of Nations belong?

  1. Britain
  2. France
  3. Dutch
  4. USA

2. Which part of the world disliked dollar imperialism?

  1. Europe
  2. Latin America
  3. India
  4. China

3. Where is the headquarters of the International Court of Justice located?

  1. New York
  2. Chicago
  3. London
  4. The Hague

4. _______ river is known as "Sorrow of Bihar".

  1. Narmada
  2. Godavari
  3. Kosi
  4. Damodar

5. The monsoon forests are otherwise called as _______.

  1. Tropical evergreen forest
  2. Deciduous forest
  3. Mangrove forest
  4. Mountain forest

6. Find the odd one out.

  1. Right to Equality
  2. Right against Exploitation
  3. Right to Property
  4. Cultural and Educational Rights

7. What is the minimum age laid down for a candidate to seek election to the Lok Sabha?

  1. 18 years
  2. 21 years
  3. 25 years
  4. 30 years

8. The primary sector consists of _______.

  1. Agriculture
  2. Automobiles
  3. Trade
  4. Banking

9. Assertion (A): The first European attempts to carve out colonies in Africa resulted in bloody battles.
Reason (R): There was stiff resistance from the native population.

  1. Both A and R are correct
  2. A is right but R is not the correct reason
  3. Both A and R are wrong
  4. R is right but it has no relevance to A

10. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth fundamental human rights in _______ articles.

Part II: Match the following 4 x 1 = 4 Marks

11. Match the following:

a) Kamal Pasha– Gold
b) Transvaal– Highest Peak in India
c) Tsangpo– Turkey
d) Mt. Godwin Austin (K₂)– River Brahmaputra in Tibet
Section II: Short Answers 6 x 2 = 12 Marks

Part I (History)

  1. Highlight the global influence of the Russian Revolution.
  2. What do you know of trench warfare?
  3. How did the Great Depression impact Indian agriculture?
  4. What are the objectives of the IMF?

Part II (Civics)

  1. What are the classical languages in India?
  2. How is the President of India elected?

Part III (Geography)

  1. Name the Neighbouring countries of India.
  2. Write a short note on the Deccan Plateau.
  3. What are Jet streams?
  4. What is "burst of monsoon"?
Section III: Answer from Caption 1 x 4 = 4 Marks

24. Balkan wars:

  1. Why was the Balkan League formed?
  2. What was the outcome of the first Balkan war?
  3. Who was defeated in this war?
  4. What was the name of the treaty signed at the end of this second Balkan war?
OR

25. General Assembly and Security Council:

  1. List the permanent member countries of the Security Council.
  2. What is the Holocaust?
  3. Who was the chairperson of the UN Commission on Human Rights?
  4. What is meant by veto?
Section IV: Detailed Answers 4 x 5 = 20 Marks

Part I: Choose One (History)

  1. Discuss the main causes of the first world war.
  2. Describe the rise and growth of nationalist politics in South Africa.
  3. Analyse the effects of the world war II.

Part II: Choose One (Geography)

  1. Explain the Divisions of Northern mountains and their importance to India.
  2. Write about the southwest monsoon.
  3. Describe the forests of India.

Part III: Choose One (Civics)

  1. Point out the fundamental rights.
  2. Describe the power and functions of the president of India.
  3. List out the functions of the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.

Part IV: Choose One (Economics)

  1. Briefly explain various terms associated with measuring National Income.
  2. What are the methods of calculating Gross Domestic Product? Explain them.
  3. Write the differences between growth and development.

Solutions to the Question Paper

Part I: Choose the correct answer

1. To which country did the first Secretary General of the League of Nations belong?

Answer:

a) Britain. Sir Eric Drummond, a British diplomat, was the first Secretary-General of the League of Nations.

2. Which part of the world disliked dollar imperialism?

Answer:

b) Latin America. Many Latin American countries felt that the USA's economic influence, termed "dollar imperialism," was a form of control that undermined their sovereignty.

3. Where is the headquarters of the International Court of Justice located?

Answer:

d) The Hague. The ICJ, the principal judicial organ of the UN, is based at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands.

4. _______ river is known as "Sorrow of Bihar".

Answer:

c) Kosi. The Kosi river is notorious for its frequent and devastating floods in the state of Bihar, earning it this name.

5. The monsoon forests are otherwise called as _______.

Answer:

b) Deciduous forest. Monsoon forests are also known as Tropical Deciduous Forests because trees in these forests shed their leaves during the dry season.

6. Find the odd one out.

Answer:

c) Right to Property. The Right to Property was removed from the list of Fundamental Rights by the 44th Amendment Act of 1978. It is now a legal right under Article 300-A. The other three are still Fundamental Rights.

7. What is the minimum age laid down for a candidate to seek election to the Lok Sabha?

Answer:

c) 25 years. According to the Indian Constitution, a person must be at least 25 years old to be a member of the Lok Sabha.

8. The primary sector consists of _______.

Answer:

a) Agriculture. The primary sector of the economy involves the extraction and harvesting of natural products from the earth, such as agriculture, fishing, and mining. Automobiles, trade, and banking belong to the secondary and tertiary sectors.

9. Assertion (A) and Reason (R)

Answer:

a) Both A and R are correct. The European colonization of Africa was met with strong resistance from local populations, leading to violent conflicts and battles. The assertion is true, and the reason correctly explains why these attempts resulted in battles.

10. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights sets forth fundamental human rights in _______ articles.

Answer:

The correct answer is 30. The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) consists of a preamble and 30 articles.

Part II: Match the following

11. Match the following:

Correct Matches:
  • a) Kamal Pasha → Turkey (Mustafa Kamal Atatürk, or Kamal Pasha, was the founder and first President of the Republic of Turkey).
  • b) Transvaal → Gold (The Transvaal region in South Africa is historically famous for its vast gold deposits).
  • c) Tsangpo → River Brahmaputra in Tibet (The Brahmaputra River is known as the Yarlung Tsangpo in Tibet).
  • d) Mt. Godwin Austin (K₂) → Highest Peak in India (K2 is the highest peak in the Karakoram range, located in the part of Kashmir administered by Pakistan but claimed by India).
Section II: Short Answers

12. Highlight the global influence of the Russian Revolution.

Answer:

The Russian Revolution of 1917 had a profound global influence:

  • Spread of Communism: It was the first successful communist revolution, inspiring the formation of communist parties and movements worldwide.
  • Inspiration for Anti-Colonial Movements: It encouraged nationalist movements in colonies, as it championed the right of peoples to self-determination.
  • Formation of the USSR: It led to the creation of the Soviet Union, which became a global superpower and a rival to the capitalist West, leading to the Cold War.
  • Social Welfare: Ideas of economic planning and state-led social welfare (like healthcare and education) gained traction in many countries.

13. What do you know of trench warfare?

Answer:

Trench warfare is a type of land warfare using occupied fighting lines consisting largely of military trenches, in which troops are well-protected from the enemy's small arms fire and are substantially sheltered from artillery.

  • It was the dominant form of warfare on the Western Front during World War I.
  • Life in the trenches was horrific, with soldiers facing mud, disease, rats, and the constant threat of attack.
  • The area between opposing trenches was known as "no man's land," a deadly, open space crossed only during attacks.

14. How did the Great Depression impact Indian agriculture?

Answer:

The Great Depression (1929) severely impacted Indian agriculture:

  • Crash in Prices: Prices of agricultural commodities like wheat and jute fell drastically, by 50% or more.
  • Increased Peasant Debt: While their income from produce fell, peasants still had to pay the same fixed land revenue to the colonial government and rent to landlords. This pushed them deeper into debt.
  • Decline in Exports: India's agricultural exports plummeted, further reducing farmers' income. The rural economy was devastated.

15. What are the objectives of the IMF?

Answer:

The main objectives of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are:

  • To promote international monetary cooperation.
  • To facilitate the expansion and balanced growth of international trade.
  • To promote exchange rate stability and avoid competitive currency devaluations.
  • To provide financial assistance to member countries with balance of payments problems.
  • To help reduce global poverty.

16. What are the classical languages in India?

Answer:

The Government of India has recognized six languages as "Classical Languages" based on their antiquity and rich, independent literary tradition. They are:

  1. Tamil (declared in 2004)
  2. Sanskrit (declared in 2005)
  3. Telugu (declared in 2008)
  4. Kannada (declared in 2008)
  5. Malayalam (declared in 2013)
  6. Odia (declared in 2014)

17. How is the President of India elected?

Answer:

The President of India is elected indirectly, not by a direct popular vote. The election is conducted by an Electoral College using the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote. The Electoral College consists of:

  • Elected members of the Lok Sabha (House of the People).
  • Elected members of the Rajya Sabha (Council of States).
  • Elected members of the Legislative Assemblies (Vidhan Sabhas) of all States and the Union Territories of Delhi and Puducherry.

18. Name the Neighbouring countries of India.

Answer:

India shares its land borders with seven countries and sea borders with two.

  • Land Neighbours: Pakistan, Afghanistan (shares a small border in the north), China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
  • Sea Neighbours: Sri Lanka (separated by the Palk Strait) and Maldives.

19. Write a short note on the Deccan Plateau.

Answer:

The Deccan Plateau is a large triangular plateau in southern India. It covers most of the southern part of the country.

  • Location: It is located between the Western Ghats and the Eastern Ghats.
  • Formation: It is made up of hard, crystalline igneous and metamorphic rocks. The northwestern part is composed of lava flows or igneous rocks known as the Deccan Traps.
  • Features: It is rich in minerals and is one of the oldest landmasses in India. Several major rivers like the Godavari, Krishna, and Kaveri flow eastward across the plateau.

20. What are Jet streams?

Answer:

Jet streams are narrow bands of strong, fast-flowing winds found in the upper levels of the atmosphere, typically at altitudes of 9-12 km.

  • They flow from west to east and can reach speeds of over 400 km/h.
  • They play a crucial role in influencing weather patterns around the world. In India, the subtropical westerly jet stream and the tropical easterly jet stream are significant for influencing the monsoons.

21. What is "burst of monsoon"?

Answer:

The "burst of monsoon" refers to the sudden and dramatic onset of the monsoon rains in a region, which marks a significant change from the hot and dry pre-monsoon season to the rainy season. It is characterized by:

  • A sudden increase in rainfall, often accompanied by violent thunder and lightning.
  • The first spell of rain is heavy and continues for several days.
  • This event typically occurs in the first week of June on the Malabar Coast (Kerala) and gradually moves across the country.
Section III: Answer from Caption

24. Balkan wars:

Answer:
  1. Why was the Balkan League formed?
    The Balkan League, an alliance of Greece, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Montenegro, was formed in 1912. Its primary objective was to drive the Ottoman Empire out of the Balkans and liberate the remaining European territories under its control.
  2. What was the outcome of the first Balkan war?
    The outcome was a decisive victory for the Balkan League. The Ottoman Empire was defeated and lost almost all of its territory in Europe, which was then partitioned among the victorious allies.
  3. Who was defeated in this war?
    In the First Balkan War (1912-1913), the Ottoman Empire was defeated by the Balkan League. In the Second Balkan War (1913), Bulgaria was defeated by its former allies (Serbia, Greece, and Montenegro) along with Romania and the Ottoman Empire.
  4. What was the name of the treaty signed at the end of this second Balkan war?
    The Second Balkan War was concluded by the Treaty of Bucharest, signed on August 10, 1913.
Section IV: Detailed Answers

26. Discuss the main causes of the First World War.

Answer:

The main causes of the First World War (1914-1918) can be summarized by the acronym M.A.I.N.: Militarism, Alliances, Imperialism, and Nationalism. The immediate trigger was an assassination.

1. Militarism: This was the policy of building up a strong military to prepare for war. European nations engaged in a massive arms race in the early 20th century. Germany, in particular, expanded its navy to rival Britain's, leading to high tensions. The belief was that a strong military guaranteed national security and power.

2. Alliances: A complex system of military alliances divided Europe into two hostile camps.

  • The Triple Alliance (Central Powers): Germany, Austria-Hungary, and Italy.
  • The Triple Entente (Allied Powers): France, Russia, and Great Britain.
These alliances created a "domino effect"; an attack on one nation could trigger a war involving all of Europe.

3. Imperialism: European powers competed for colonies in Africa and Asia to secure raw materials and markets. This competition led to frequent clashes and rivalries, such as the Moroccan Crises between France and Germany, which heightened tensions.

4. Nationalism: Intense nationalism, or pride in one's country, fueled the desire for dominance and glory. In the Balkan region ("the powder keg of Europe"), Slavic peoples, supported by Russia, sought independence from Austria-Hungary, creating an unstable and explosive situation.

Immediate Cause: Assassination in Sarajevo
The immediate trigger for the war was the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, the heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, by a Serbian nationalist named Gavrilo Princip on June 28, 1914, in Sarajevo. Austria-Hungary, with Germany's backing, declared war on Serbia. This activated the alliance system: Russia mobilized to support Serbia, Germany declared war on Russia and France, and Britain declared war on Germany after it invaded neutral Belgium. Thus, a regional conflict escalated into a world war.

29. Explain the Divisions of Northern mountains and their importance to India.

Answer:

The Northern Mountains of India, dominated by the Himalayas, are a formidable physical feature. They can be divided into three main parallel ranges:

Divisions of the Northern Mountains:

  1. The Trans-Himalayas: Also known as the Tibetan Himalayas, they lie to the north of the Great Himalayan range. The major ranges are the Karakoram, Ladakh, and Zaskar. Mt. Godwin Austin (K2), the highest peak in India, is in the Karakoram range.
  2. The Himalayas: This is the main mountain system, consisting of three parallel ranges:
    • The Greater Himalayas (Himadri): The northernmost and highest range, with an average height of 6,000 meters. It contains the world's highest peaks, including Mt. Everest and Kanchenjunga.
    • The Lesser Himalayas (Himachal): Located south of the Himadri, with an average height of 3,700 to 4,500 meters. It includes famous hill stations like Shimla, Mussoorie, and Nainital.
    • The Outer Himalayas (Siwaliks): The southernmost range, with an average height of 900 to 1,100 meters. These are discontinuous ranges and are prone to landslides.
  3. The Purvanchal Hills (Eastern Himalayas): These are the northeastern extension of the Himalayas. They run along the India-Myanmar border and include hills like Patkai Bum, Naga Hills, and Mizo Hills.

Importance to India:

  • Climatic Barrier: The Himalayas act as a massive barrier, protecting India from the cold winds of Central Asia and forcing the monsoon winds to shed their moisture over the subcontinent.
  • Source of Perennial Rivers: They are the source of major perennial rivers like the Indus, Ganga, and Brahmaputra, which provide water for irrigation, drinking, and hydroelectricity.
  • Fertile Plains: The rivers originating from the Himalayas deposit fertile alluvial soil, forming the vast and agriculturally rich Northern Plains of India.
  • Biodiversity Hotspot: The Himalayan region is rich in flora and fauna, hosting a wide variety of plant and animal species.
  • Tourism and Pilgrimage: The scenic beauty and pleasant climate attract tourists from all over the world. It is also home to numerous important pilgrimage sites.
  • Natural Defence: They have historically served as a natural defence barrier for India against foreign invasions from the north.

32. Point out the fundamental rights.

Answer:

The Fundamental Rights are enshrined in Part III (Articles 12-35) of the Constitution of India. They are justiciable, meaning they are enforceable by the courts. There are currently six categories of Fundamental Rights:

  1. Right to Equality (Articles 14–18):
    • Guarantees equality before the law and equal protection of the laws.
    • Prohibits discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex, or place of birth.
    • Ensures equality of opportunity in public employment.
    • Abolishes untouchability and titles.
  2. Right to Freedom (Articles 19–22):
    • Guarantees six fundamental freedoms: freedom of speech and expression, assembly, association, movement, residence, and profession.
    • Provides protection in respect of conviction for offenses (Article 20).
    • Protects life and personal liberty (Article 21).
    • Provides protection against arrest and detention in certain cases (Article 22).
  3. Right against Exploitation (Articles 23–24):
    • Prohibits all forms of forced labour, human trafficking, and similar practices.
    • Prohibits the employment of children under the age of 14 in factories, mines, or other hazardous occupations.
  4. Right to Freedom of Religion (Articles 25–28):
    • Guarantees freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion.
    • Provides freedom to manage religious affairs.
    • Ensures freedom from paying taxes for the promotion of any particular religion.
  5. Cultural and Educational Rights (Articles 29–30):
    • Protects the interests of minorities by allowing them to conserve their distinct language, script, and culture.
    • Grants minorities the right to establish and administer educational institutions of their choice.
  6. Right to Constitutional Remedies (Article 32):
    • Guarantees the right to move the Supreme Court for the enforcement of Fundamental Rights. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar called this article the "heart and soul" of the Constitution. The court can issue writs like Habeas Corpus, Mandamus, Prohibition, Certiorari, and Quo Warranto.

36. What are the methods of calculating Gross Domestic Product? Explain them.

Answer:

Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is the total monetary value of all final goods and services produced within a country's borders in a specific time period. There are three main methods to calculate it, which should ideally yield the same result.

1. The Expenditure Method:

This method measures the total spending on all final goods and services produced in the economy. It adds up all the money spent by different groups.

The formula is: GDP = C + I + G + (X - M)

  • C (Consumption): Total spending by households on goods (durable and non-durable) and services.
  • I (Investment): Total spending by businesses on capital goods (like machinery and buildings), and changes in inventories.
  • G (Government Spending): Total spending by the government on goods and services (e.g., defense, infrastructure, salaries of government employees). It does not include transfer payments like pensions.
  • (X - M) (Net Exports): The value of exports (X) minus the value of imports (M). Exports are goods produced domestically and sold abroad, while imports are foreign goods purchased domestically.

2. The Income Method:

This method measures the total income generated from the production of goods and services within the country. It sums up all the factor incomes earned by the factors of production (land, labour, capital, and entrepreneurship).

The formula is: GDP = W + R + I + P

  • W (Wages and Salaries): Income earned by labour.
  • R (Rent): Income earned from land and property.
  • I (Interest): Income earned from capital.
  • P (Profits): Income earned by entrepreneurs (including corporate profits and dividends).

This method essentially calculates the National Income, and adjustments are then made for depreciation and net indirect taxes to arrive at GDP at market price.

3. The Value-Added (or Production) Method:

This method calculates the total value of all final goods and services by summing up the "value added" at each stage of production. Value added is the difference between the value of a firm's output and the value of the intermediate goods it purchased from other firms.

Example: A farmer sells wheat for ₹100. A miller buys it, grinds it into flour, and sells the flour for ₹150 (Value added = ₹50). A baker buys the flour, bakes bread, and sells it for ₹250 (Value added = ₹100).
The total GDP contribution is the sum of the value added at each stage: ₹100 (farmer) + ₹50 (miller) + ₹100 (baker) = ₹250. This is equal to the final price of the bread, thus avoiding the problem of double-counting intermediate goods.