Class 10 Social Science Pre-Board Sample Paper | CBSE Board Exam Practice

1. Match the following and choose the correct option:

Options:

1. A-4, B-1, C-2, D-3
2. A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
3. A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3
4. A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2

2. Identify the nationalist leader in the image who played a significant role in the Non-Cooperation Movement.

1. Bal Gangadhar Tilak
2. Lala Lajpat Rai
3. Bipin Chandra Pal
4. Gopal Krishna Gokhale

3. Which of the following was a primary reason for the formation of the Swaraj Party by C.R. Das and Motilal Nehru?

1. To demand “Purna Swaraj” or complete independence for Indians.
2. To argue for a return to council politics after the Non-Cooperation Movement was called off.
3. To lead the peasant movement in Awadh.
4. To protest against the arrival of the Simon Commission.

4. The novelist Louise-Sebastien Mercier proclaimed, ‘Tremble, therefore, tyrants of the world! Tremble before the virtual writer!’ Who are the ‘tyrants’ being referred to in this context?

1. The newly educated middle class who challenged social norms.
2. Corrupt publishers and booksellers who exploited writers.
3. The common people who were gaining literacy and political awareness.
4. Despots and authoritarian institutions like the monarchy and the Church, whose power was threatened by print.

5. A. Explain the role of Baba Ramchandra in the peasant movement of Awadh.

B. Why was the Khilafat issue taken up by Mahatma Gandhi in the Non-Cooperation Movement?

6. A. Why did the Non-Cooperation Movement gradually slow down in the cities? Give three reasons.

B. How did plantation workers in Assam have their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj? Explain with three points.

7. A. Explain the reasons for the limited participation of Dalits and Muslim political organisations in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

B. ‘The sense of collective belonging came partly through the experience of united struggles, but also through a variety of cultural processes.’ Explain with five examples from the Indian national movement.

8. Read the source given below and answer the questions that follow.

1. Who led the peasant movement in Awadh, and what were their primary demands?

2. Who was the leader of the Gudem Hills rebellion, and how was his vision of swaraj different from that of Mahatma Gandhi?

3. Compare the methods of struggle of the peasants in Awadh with those of the rebels in the Gudem Hills.

9. MAP SKILL-BASED QUESTION (2 MARKS)

Two places (A) and (B) have been marked on the given outline map of India. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them.

(A) Indian National Congress Session was held at this place in 1927.

(B) The place where the movement of Indigo Planters started.

[Political Map of India with two locations A and B marked.]

10. Which of the following is a major socio-economic disadvantage of constructing large multi-purpose river valley projects?

1. They generate clean, hydro-electric power.
2. They lead to the large-scale displacement of local communities.
3. They help in controlling floods in the river basin.
4. They provide water for irrigating large areas of land.

11. Identify the appropriate options to fill in the empty boxes regarding different soil types and their characteristics.

Soil Type — Key Characteristic

? = Known for its capacity to hold moisture; ideal for growing cotton.

Laterite Soil = ?

1. Red Soil, Rich in kankar nodules
2. Black Soil, Formed as a result of intense leaching due to heavy rain
3. Alluvial Soil, Found in arid regions
4. Arid Soil, Made of lava flows

12. The Government of India has introduced schemes like the Kisan Credit Card (KCC) and has promoted the establishment of Grameen banks and cooperative societies to provide loans to farmers at lower interest rates. What major problem in Indian agriculture is this policy aimed at solving?

1. The fragmentation of land holdings due to the right of inheritance.
2. The heavy dependence of farmers on the monsoon for irrigation.
3. The problem of farmer indebtedness and their dependence on informal credit sources like moneylenders.
4. The low productivity of land due to a lack of modern inputs.

13. Which among the following sentences is incorrect?

1. Geographers study much minerals as part of the Earth’s crust for better understanding of landforms.
2. Cartographer is interested in the formation of minerals, their age and physical and chemical composition.
3. Life processes cannot occur without minerals.
4. Minerals are usually found in ores.

14. What is the name for the soil type that is ideal for growing cotton, is made up of fine clayey material with a high capacity to hold moisture, and is also known as ‘Regur soil’?

1. Alluvial Soil
2. Laterite Soil
3. Black Soil
4. Arid Soil

15. Which of the following statements best evaluates the primary purpose of the ‘Joint Forest Management (JFM) programme?

1. To completely transfer the ownership of forests from the government to local communities.
2. To create a partnership between local communities and the Forest Department to manage and restore degraded forests.
3. To clear degraded forest lands for industrial use.
4. To declare all degraded forests as wildlife sanctuaries.

16. Coal is a bulky, weight-losing raw material. Using your understanding of industrial location, explain two reasons why heavy industries are located near coalfields.

17. A. A farmer in Punjab has been noticing a decline in his farm’s productivity over the years, with the soil becoming increasingly saline. He is advised that his farming practices are the primary cause of this land degradation. Based on this, analyze the most likely reason for the situation.

B. “India has witnessed a significant shift from subsistence to commercial farming.” Justify this statement by evaluating five key characteristics of commercial farming.

18. Read the given text and answer the following questions:

1. Where and when was the first successful textile mill established in India?

2. Mention any two factors that contributed to the initial concentration of the cotton textile industry in Maharashtra and Gujarat.

3. “The textile industry is the only industry in the country which is self-reliant and complete in the value chain.” Analyse this statement.

19. MAP SKILL-BASED QUESTION (3 MARKS)

On an outline political map of India, locate and label the following with suitable symbols:

I. A major rice-producing state in North India.

The Sardar Sarovar Dam.

II. Any two of the following:

1. Singrauli Thermal Power Plant
2. A Major Seaport in Kerala
3. An International Airport in Punjab

20. Which of the following statement(s) are true regarding the distribution of legislative powers in India?

I. Subjects like Defence and Banking are on the Union List.

II. Subjects like Police and Agriculture are on the State List.

III. Subjects like Education and Forests are on the Concurrent List.

IV. ‘Residuary’ subjects like cyber law fall under the jurisdiction of the State Governments.

Choose the correct option:

1. I and II only
2. I, II and III
3. II, III and IV
4. All of the above

21. The bilingual street sign shown in the image is a reflection of the Belgian government’s approach to its linguistic diversity. What is this approach called?

1. Majoritarianism
2. Accommodation
3. Unitary government
4. Secularism

22. Consider the following case and choose the correct option—

A country is ruled by a government that was not elected by the people. The government does not allow for open public debate, and citizens have no right to question its decisions. Which expected outcome of democracy is clearly missing in this country?

1. Economic development
2. A government that is accountable and legitimate
3. A society free of all conflicts
4. Quick and efficient decision-making

23. Two statements are given below as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the most appropriate option.

1. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
2. Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
3. A is true but R is false.
4. A is false but R is true.

24. Highlight the dual objectives of a federal system.

25. ‘The rise of coalition governments at the Centre after 1990 has led to a new culture of power-sharing.’ Highlight any two ways this trend has strengthened federalism in practice.

26. Democracy is better than other forms of government because it enhances the dignity of the individual.’ Support this statement with suitable arguments.

27. A. ‘Several efforts and suggestions have been made to reform political parties in India.’ Explain any five such measures.

B. ‘The story of Belgium is a stark contrast to the story of Sri Lanka in how they have dealt with the question of power-sharing.’ Analyse the statement.

28. Read the given text and answer the following questions:

1. What is meant by the statement that “caste gets politicised”?

2. How do caste groups try to become bigger in the political arena?

3. Explain how the politicisation of caste has helped people from Dalit and OBC castes.

29. The sector of the economy that generates services like transport, banking and communication is known as the:

1. Primary Sector
2. Secondary Sector
3. Tertiary Sector
4. Organized Sector

30. Which of the following measures the proportion of literate population in the seven and above age group?

1. Net Attendance Ratio
2. Enrollment Rate
3. Literacy Rate
4. Drop out Ratio

31. Which of the following examples best demonstrates the use of collateral in a loan agreement?

1. A farmer promises to sell his crop to the trader who gave him a loan.
2. A person submits their salary records to the bank to get a loan.
3. A person submits the papers of their new house to the bank for a housing loan.
4. A worker promises to work for the employer in return for a loan.

32. According to recent evidence, which renewable resource is under a serious threat of overuse in many parts of India?

1. Solar Energy
2. Wind Energy
3. Forests
4. Groundwater

33. An engineering graduate files an application under the RTI Act to know the reason for a delay in her appointment. Which of the following justifies her action?

1. It was her right to get the job immediately after the interview.
2. It was her right to know the result in a reasonable time so she could plan her future.
3. It was her right to question the qualifications of other candidates.
4. It was her right to demand a higher salary.

34. Recognize and choose the option that correctly matches the term with its description.

Choose the correct option:

1. 1-iv, 2-iii, 3-i, 4-ii
2. 1-iii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-ii
3. 1-ii, 2-iv, 3-i, 4-iii
4. 1-iv, 2-ii, 3-iii, 4-i

35. Evaluate the utility of the primary sector for an economy.

36. ‘Lenders require collateral as a crucial form of security against loans.’ Justify this statement.

37. Highlight three significant non-material goals that people seek for development, besides income.

38. A. The formal and informal sectors of credit have vastly different features and impacts. On the basis of this, analyze the key differences between the formal and informal credit sectors in India.

B. ‘Self-Help Groups (SHGs) are a vital tool for improving the financial condition of the rural poor.’ Support this statement with arguments explaining how SHGs function and benefit their members.