Tenkasi District
Common First Mid-Term Test - 2024
Standard 10 - SOCIAL SCIENCE
PART - I
7 x 1 = 7Choose the correct answer.
- Who said "Imperialism is the highest stage of capitalism"?
- Which part of the world disliked dollar imperialism?
- Who initiated the formation of the League of Nations?
- Pulicat Lake is located between the states of __________.
- The longest dam in the world is __________.
- Under which Article can a financial emergency be proclaimed?
- Who granted the English the "Golden Farman" in 1632?
PART - II
5 x 2 = 10Answer any five questions. Question No. 15 is compulsory.
- Name the countries in the Triple Entente.
- Describe the Pearl Harbour incident.
- Name the neighbouring countries of India.
- Name the four distinct seasons of India.
- What are the classical languages in India?
- How is the President of India elected?
- Write any two positive impacts of Globalization.
- What is per capita income?
PART - III
5 x 5 = 25Answer any five questions. Question No. 22 is compulsory.
- Highlight the provisions of the Treaty of Versailles relating to Germany.
- Write about the South West Monsoon.
- Distinguish:
Explain the reason: Agriculture is the backbone of India. - Explain the salient features of the Constitution of India.
- Briefly explain various terms associated with measuring National Income.
- Draw a timeline for the following:
Write any five important events between 1910 and 1940.
- Mark the following places on the Map of the World:
[An outline Map of the World will be provided here for marking.]
PART - IV
1 x 8 = 8Answer any one of the following in detail.
- Assess the structure and the activities of the UN. (OR)
- Write the challenges of Globalization.
PART - V
1 x 8 = 8Mark the places on the given map of India. Answer any one of the following options.
- Mark the following places on the Map of India: (OR)
- Mark the following places on the Map of India:
Complete Solutions
PART - I: Solutions
a) Lenin
Explanation: Vladimir Lenin, in his pamphlet "Imperialism, the Highest Stage of Capitalism" (1917), argued that capitalism's need for new markets and resources inevitably leads to imperialism.b) Latin America
Explanation: The United States exercised its economic power, known as "dollar imperialism," to dominate Latin American economies, which led to significant resentment in the region.c) Woodrow Wilson
Explanation: U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was a key advocate for the League of Nations as part of his "Fourteen Points" peace plan after World War I, believing it would prevent future conflicts.d) Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh
Explanation: Pulicat Lake, India's second-largest brackish water lagoon, straddles the border of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu.c) Hirakud dam
Explanation: Built across the Mahanadi River in Odisha, the Hirakud Dam is one of the longest man-made dams in the world, with its main section stretching over 4.8 km.c) Article 360
Explanation: Article 360 of the Indian Constitution empowers the President to proclaim a financial emergency if a situation arises that threatens the financial stability or credit of India.b) Sultan of Golconda
Explanation: In 1632, the Sultan of Golconda issued a "Golden Farman" (charter) to the English East India Company, granting them the right to trade freely in the ports of the Golconda kingdom for a fixed annual payment.
PART - II: Solutions
The Triple Entente was a military alliance formed before World War I. The member countries were:
- Great Britain
- France
- Russia
The Pearl Harbour incident was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States naval base at Pearl Harbour, Hawaii.
- Date: December 7, 1941.
- Event: Japan launched the attack to prevent the U.S. Pacific Fleet from interfering with its planned military actions in Southeast Asia.
- Consequence: The attack was the immediate cause for the United States' formal entry into World War II the next day.
India shares its borders with nine countries. They are:
- Land Neighbours: Pakistan, Afghanistan, China, Nepal, Bhutan, Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
- Sea Neighbours: Sri Lanka and Maldives.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), India has the following four distinct seasons:
- Winter Season: January - February
- Summer Season: March - May
- South-West Monsoon (Rainy) Season: June - September
- Retreating Monsoon Season (or North-East Monsoon): October - December
The Government of India has recognized six languages as "Classical Languages" based on their ancient heritage and independent literary tradition. They are:
- Tamil (declared in 2004)
- Sanskrit (declared in 2005)
- Telugu (declared in 2008)
- Kannada (declared in 2008)
- Malayalam (declared in 2013)
- Odia (declared in 2014)
The President of India is elected not directly by the people but by the method of indirect election. The process is as follows:
- He is elected by an electoral college.
- This electoral college consists of:
- The elected members of both Houses of Parliament (Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha).
- The elected members of the Legislative Assemblies of the States and Union Territories (Delhi and Puducherry).
- The election is held in accordance with the system of proportional representation by means of a single transferable vote.
Two positive impacts of Globalization are:
- Increased Access to Markets: Globalization allows businesses to sell their products and services to a much larger international customer base, leading to increased revenue and economic growth.
- Technology Transfer and Innovation: It facilitates the rapid spread of technology, knowledge, and skills across borders. Developing countries can benefit from advanced technologies developed elsewhere, boosting their own industrial and economic progress.
Per Capita Income (PCI) is a measure of the average income earned per person in a specific country or region in a given year. It is a key indicator of a country's standard of living.
It is calculated by dividing the country's total National Income by its total population.
The formula is:
$Per \, Capita \, Income = \frac{National \, Income}{Total \, Population}$
PART - III: Solutions
Provisions of the Treaty of Versailles Relating to Germany
The Treaty of Versailles, signed in 1919, imposed harsh terms on Germany. The key provisions were:
- War Guilt Clause (Article 231): Germany was forced to accept complete and sole responsibility for causing World War I. This was a major source of humiliation.
- War Reparations: Germany was required to pay enormous financial reparations to the Allied Powers for the damage caused by the war. The amount was fixed at £6.6 billion.
- Military Restrictions:
- Its army was limited to just 100,000 soldiers.
- The navy was restricted to a few small ships, and submarines were banned.
- It was forbidden from having an air force.
- The Rhineland region was demilitarized, meaning no German troops were allowed there.
- Territorial Losses:
- Germany lost about 13% of its European territory.
- Alsace-Lorraine was returned to France.
- The Saar coalfields were given to France for 15 years.
- Large areas of land were given to the newly created Poland (the "Polish Corridor").
- All of its overseas colonies in Africa and Asia were confiscated and became 'mandates' governed by the Allied Powers.
The South-West Monsoon
The South-West Monsoon is the primary rainy season for most of India, accounting for about 75% of the country's annual rainfall. It typically lasts from June to September.
Mechanism and Onset
In summer, the intense heating of the Indian subcontinent creates a strong low-pressure area over the northern plains and the Tibetan plateau. At the same time, a high-pressure area develops over the cooler Indian Ocean. This pressure difference causes moisture-laden winds to blow from the sea to the land, which are known as the South-West Monsoon winds.
Two Branches
As these winds approach the Indian peninsula, they are divided into two branches by its triangular shape:
- The Arabian Sea Branch:
- This branch strikes the Western Ghats first, usually around the first week of June in Kerala.
- It causes extremely heavy rainfall on the windward side of the Western Ghats.
- The part of the branch that moves north brings rain to Mumbai and the Gujarat coast.
- The Bay of Bengal Branch:
- This branch moves towards northeast India and Myanmar.
- It is obstructed by the Arakan Hills in Myanmar, causing it to deflect towards the Indian subcontinent.
- It brings heavy rain to the Garo, Khasi, and Jaintia Hills of Meghalaya (Mawsynram and Cherrapunji).
- The branch then turns west and moves up the Gangetic plains, bringing rain to West Bengal, Bihar, and Uttar Pradesh.
Significance
The South-West Monsoon is vital for India's economy as it is crucial for the cultivation of Kharif crops like rice, cotton, and soybean.
Distinctions and Explanation
i. Alluvial Soil vs. Red Soil
| Feature | Alluvial Soil | Red Soil |
|---|---|---|
| Formation | Formed by the deposition of sediments by rivers. | Formed by the weathering of ancient crystalline and metamorphic rocks. |
| Fertility | Highly fertile, rich in potash, phosphoric acid, and lime. | Less fertile, deficient in nitrogen, phosphorus, and humus. Becomes fertile with irrigation. |
| Location | Found in the Northern Plains (Punjab, UP, Bihar) and river deltas. | Found on the Deccan Plateau, parts of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Odisha. |
ii. Weather vs. Climate
| Feature | Weather | Climate |
|---|---|---|
| Definition | The day-to-day condition of the atmosphere at a particular place. | The average weather conditions of a large area over a long period (typically 30-35 years). |
| Time Scale | Short-term (hours, days). | Long-term (decades, centuries). |
| Variability | Changes frequently and can be unpredictable. | More stable and changes very slowly over long periods. |
Reason: Agriculture is the backbone of India
Agriculture is considered the backbone of the Indian economy for several crucial reasons:
- Livelihood and Employment: It is the primary source of livelihood for about 58% of India’s population, making it the largest employment sector in the country.
- Contribution to National Income: Although its share in the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) has decreased over the years, it still contributes significantly to the national income.
- Food Security: Indian agriculture is responsible for feeding the country's vast population of over 1.3 billion people. Self-sufficiency in food grains is a major achievement.
- Source of Raw Materials: Many industries, such as cotton textiles, sugar, and food processing, depend on agriculture for their raw materials.
- Foreign Exchange Earnings: India exports several agricultural products like tea, spices, rice, and cotton, which are significant sources of foreign exchange.
Salient Features of the Constitution of India
The Constitution of India is a unique document with several prominent features:
- Lengthiest Written Constitution: It is the most detailed and longest written constitution in the world, originally containing 395 articles in 22 parts and 8 schedules.
- Drawn from Various Sources: The framers of the Constitution borrowed many features from the constitutions of other countries (e.g., parliamentary system from the UK, Fundamental Rights from the USA, and Directive Principles from Ireland).
- Blend of Rigidity and Flexibility: The Constitution is neither too rigid nor too flexible. Some provisions can be amended by a simple majority, while others require a special majority of the Parliament.
- Federal System with Unitary Bias: It establishes a federal structure with a division of powers between the Centre and the States. However, the Centre is made stronger than the states, giving it a unitary bias, especially during emergencies.
- Parliamentary Form of Government: India has a parliamentary system where the executive (Council of Ministers headed by the Prime Minister) is responsible to the legislature (Parliament).
- Fundamental Rights: Part III of the Constitution guarantees six fundamental rights to all citizens, which are justifiable in a court of law.
- Secular State: The Constitution establishes a secular state. It means the state does not have an official religion and treats all religions equally.
- Universal Adult Franchise: It grants the right to vote to all citizens above the age of 18 without any discrimination based on caste, creed, religion, gender, etc.
Terms Associated with Measuring National Income
Several terms are used to measure the economic activity and national income of a country. The main ones are:
- Gross Domestic Product (GDP): This is the total market value of all final goods and services produced within the geographical boundaries of a country during a specific period (usually a year). It focuses on where the production occurs.
- Gross National Product (GNP): This is the total market value of all final goods and services produced by the nationals of a country, regardless of where they are located (inside or outside the country). It is calculated as:
GNP = GDP + Net Factor Income from Abroad (NFIA) - Net National Product (NNP): NNP is considered a truer measure of national income. It is derived by subtracting depreciation (the wear and tear of capital goods like machinery) from GNP.
NNP = GNP - Depreciation - National Income (NI): In simple terms, NNP at factor cost is referred to as National Income. It represents the total income earned by the factors of production (land, labour, capital, enterprise).
- Per Capita Income (PCI): This is the average income of a person in the country. It is a useful indicator of the standard of living.
PCI = National Income / Total Population - Disposable Income (DI): This is the income that households and individuals have available for spending and saving after paying their direct taxes (like income tax).
DI = Personal Income - Direct Taxes
Timeline of Important Events (1910 - 1940)
1914: Outbreak of World War I - The assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand triggered the start of the Great War, involving the Central Powers and the Allied Powers.
1917: Russian Revolution - The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overthrew the Tsarist autocracy, leading to the establishment of the world's first communist state, the Soviet Union.
1919: Treaty of Versailles Signed - The peace treaty that officially ended World War I, imposing heavy penalties on Germany.
1929: The Great Depression Begins - The stock market crash on Wall Street (USA) triggered a severe worldwide economic depression that lasted throughout the 1930s.
1939: Outbreak of World War II - Germany's invasion of Poland prompted Britain and France to declare war on Germany, beginning the deadliest conflict in human history.
World Map Solution
The following places should be marked on an outline map of the world:
- England: An island country, part of the United Kingdom, located in North-West Europe.
- Japan: An island nation in East Asia, located in the Pacific Ocean.
- India: A large country in South Asia.
- France: A country in Western Europe.
- Pacific Ocean: The largest and deepest of the world's oceans, located between Asia/Australia and the Americas.
PART - IV: Solutions
The Structure and Activities of the United Nations (UN)
Introduction: The United Nations (UN) was established on 24 October 1945, after World War II, with the primary objective of maintaining international peace and security, fostering friendly relations among nations, and promoting social progress, better living standards, and human rights.
Structure of the UN
The UN functions through its six principal organs:
- The General Assembly: This is the main deliberative body of the UN. All member states are represented, and each has one vote. It discusses and makes recommendations on global issues like peace, security, and budget.
- The Security Council: Its primary responsibility is maintaining international peace and security. It has 15 members: 5 permanent members (China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA) with veto power, and 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.
- The Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC): This council coordinates the economic, social, and environmental work of the UN and its specialized agencies. It focuses on sustainable development, and issues like health and education.
- The International Court of Justice (ICJ): Located in The Hague, Netherlands, it is the UN's principal judicial organ. It settles legal disputes between states and gives advisory opinions on legal questions.
- The Secretariat: Headed by the Secretary-General, the Secretariat carries out the day-to-day administrative work of the UN. Its staff are international civil servants.
- The Trusteeship Council: It was established to supervise the administration of Trust Territories as they transitioned to self-government or independence. It suspended its operations in 1994, as all trust territories had attained this goal.
Activities of the UN
- Peacekeeping and Security: The UN deploys peacekeeping missions to conflict zones to monitor ceasefires, protect civilians, and support peace processes.
- Humanitarian Assistance: Through agencies like the World Food Programme (WFP), UNICEF, and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the UN provides food, shelter, and medical aid to people affected by famine, war, and natural disasters.
- Promotion of Human Rights: The UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948 and works to promote and protect human rights globally through various treaties and bodies.
- Sustainable Development: The UN is at the forefront of efforts to achieve sustainable development through its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which address global challenges like poverty, hunger, inequality, and climate change.
The Challenges of Globalization
Introduction: Globalization, the process of interaction and integration among people, companies, and governments worldwide, has brought many benefits. However, it also poses significant challenges that affect economies, societies, and the environment.
Key Challenges of Globalization
- Increased Inequality: While globalization has lifted many out of poverty, it has also widened the gap between the rich and the poor. The benefits are often concentrated in the hands of a few, while unskilled workers and marginalized communities may be left behind.
- Environmental Degradation: The increase in global production and consumption leads to greater resource depletion, pollution, and greenhouse gas emissions. The long-distance transport of goods contributes significantly to climate change.
- Loss of National Sovereignty: The power of multinational corporations (MNCs) and international organizations like the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) can sometimes undermine the ability of national governments to make their own economic and social policies.
- Job Insecurity and Outsourcing: Companies often move their manufacturing and service operations to countries with lower labor costs to maximize profits. This practice, known as outsourcing, can lead to job losses and wage stagnation in developed countries.
- Cultural Homogenization: The dominance of global brands and Western media can lead to the erosion of local cultures, languages, and traditions. This is often seen as a form of cultural imperialism.
- Spread of Global Crises: The interconnectedness of the global economy means that a crisis in one country can spread rapidly to others. The 2008 financial crisis and the COVID-19 pandemic are prime examples of how financial and health crises can have worldwide repercussions.
- Unfair Trade Practices: Developing countries often argue that the rules of global trade are skewed in favor of developed nations, making it difficult for them to compete fairly in international markets.
PART - V: Solutions
India Map Solution (Option a)
The following places should be marked on an outline map of India:
- Ganga Plains: The vast, fertile plain covering most of Northern and Eastern India, including the states of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal.
- Andaman & Nicobar Islands: A group of islands in the Bay of Bengal.
- Mountain Soil: Found in the Himalayan region of Jammu & Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim, and Arunachal Pradesh.
- Deccan Plateau: A large triangular plateau in Southern India, covering parts of Maharashtra, Karnataka, Telangana, and Andhra Pradesh.
India Map Solution (Option b)
The following places and features should be marked on an outline map of India:
- Thar Desert: Also known as the Great Indian Desert, located in North-Western India, primarily in Rajasthan.
- Western Ghats: A mountain range that runs parallel to the western coast of the Indian peninsula.
- South West Monsoon (direction): Shown with arrows originating from the Arabian Sea and the Bay of Bengal, moving towards the Indian mainland from the southwest.
- Lakshadweep Islands: A group of islands in the Arabian Sea, to the west of Kerala.