Vardaan Learning Institute - Mock Paper SST Class 10

General Instructions:

There are 38 questions in the Question paper. All questions are compulsory.
The question paper has Four Sections – A (History), B (Geography), C (Political Science), and D (Economics).
Each Section is of 20 Marks.
Very Short Answer Type Questions (VSA) carry 2 marks each. Answers should not exceed 40 words.
Short Answer Type Questions (SA) carry 3 marks each. Answers should not exceed 60 words.
Long Answer Type Questions (LA) carry 5 marks each. Answers should not exceed 120 words.
Case Based Questions (CBQ) carry 4 marks each and have three sub-questions. Answers should not exceed 100 words.
Map-based questions carry 5 marks (History 2 marks + Geography 3 marks).
There is no overall choice. However, an internal choice has been provided in few questions. Only one of the choices in such questions must be attempted.

SECTION A : HISTORY (20 Marks)

1. Match the following and choose the correct option:

Column I	Column II
A. Giuseppe Mazzini	1. Hosted the Congress of Vienna
B. Duke Metternich	2. Chief Minister of Prussia
C. Otto Von Bismarck	3. Young Italy
D. Kaiser William I	4. Proclaimed German Emperor

(a) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
(b) A-1, B-3, C-4, D-2
(c) A-4, B-2, C-3, D-1
(d) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3

2. Identify the personality represented in the caricature given below:

(a) Giuseppe Mazzini
(b) Napoleon Bonaparte
(c) Duke Metternich
(d) Louis Philippe

Note for Visually Impaired Candidates: Who remarked, "When France sneezes, the rest of Europe catches cold"?
(a) Giuseppe Mazzini (b) Duke Metternich (c) Louis Philippe (d) Johann Gottfried Herder

3. Arrange the following events related to the Non-Cooperation Movement in chronological order:

I. Chauri Chaura incident
II. Khilafat Committee formed in Bombay
III. Gandhiji returns from South Africa
IV. Adoption of the Non-Cooperation program at Nagpur Session

(a) III, II, IV, I
(b) I, II, III, IV
(c) II, III, I, IV
(d) III, IV, II, I

4. "Not all for the rich, but for the poor too." Who among the following brought this change in the printing culture by selling penny chapbooks?

(a) Martin Luther
(b) Menocchio
(c) Peddlers in France (Bibliotheque Bleue)
(d) Johannes Gutenberg

5A. "The decade of 1830s had brought great economic hardship in Europe." Support the statement with two arguments.

5B. How did the Treaty of Vienna (1815) change the map of Europe? Give two points.

6A. Explain the role of women in the Civil Disobedience Movement.

6B. "The plantation workers in Assam had their own understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and the notion of Swaraj." Support the statement.

7A. "Print culture created the conditions within which French Revolution occurred." Analyze the statement with suitable arguments.

7B. "The pre-modern world shrank greatly in the 16th century." Justify this statement with reference to the role of technology and trade.

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

“Satyagraha is not physical force. A satyagrahi does not inflict pain on the adversary; he does not seek his destruction… In the use of satyagraha, there is no ill-will whatever. Satyagraha is pure soul-force. Truth is the very substance of the soul. That is why this force is called satyagraha. The soul is informed with knowledge. In it burns the flame of love. … Non-violence is the supreme dharma...”
(Source: Mahatma Gandhi)

8.1. What is the fundamental principle of Satyagraha according to Gandhiji? (1)
8.2. How does a Satyagrahi differ from a passive resister? (1)
8.3. "Satyagraha is pure soul-force." Explain the significance of this statement in the context of India's freedom struggle. (2)

9. Map Skill Based Question:

Two places A and B have been marked on the given outline map of India. Identify them and write their correct names:
A. The place where the Jallianwala Bagh massacre took place.
B. The place where Gandhiji organized a Satyagraha for cotton mill workers.

SECTION B : GEOGRAPHY (20 Marks)

10. Which one of the following is the main cause of land degradation in Punjab?

(a) Intensive cultivation
(b) Deforestation
(c) Over-irrigation
(d) Overgrazing

11. Match the crop with its description:

Column I (Crop)	Column II (Description)
A. Tea	1. Equatorial crop, requires high humidity
B. Rubber	2. Beverage crop, labor intensive
C. Millets	3. Known as coarse grains
D. Maize	4. Used as both food and fodder

(a) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(b) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
(c) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
(d) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1

12. Which of the following statements about 'Minerals' is correct?

(a) Minerals are renewable resources.
(b) Ore is a mineral mixed with other elements.
(c) Placer deposits contain minerals like coal and iron.
(d) Magnesium is derived from Ocean water.

13. In which of the following states is the Corbett National Park located?

(a) Assam
(b) Uttarakhand
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Kerala

14. Which mode of transportation reduces trans-shipment losses and delays?

(a) Railways
(b) Roadways
(c) Pipelines
(d) Waterways

15. Identify the soil with the help of the following features:

• Found in the Deccan trap (Basalt) region.
• Made up of extremely fine clayey material.
• Well-known for its capacity to hold moisture.

(a) Alluvial Soil
(b) Laterite Soil
(c) Black Soil
(d) Arid Soil

16. "India is rich in certain types of resources but deficient in some other resources." Support this statement with two examples.

17A. "Manufacturing sector is considered the backbone of development." Analyze this statement with reference to the economic growth of India.

17B. "Agriculture and industry are not exclusive of each other. They move hand in hand." Justify the statement with examples.

18. Read the given text and answer the questions that follow:

“Water scarcity is possibly to happen in cases where water is sufficient or even abundant... many of our cities are excellent examples. Thus, water scarcity may be an outcome of large and growing population and consequent greater demands for water, and unequal access to it. A large population requires more water not only for domestic use but also to produce more food. Hence, to facilitate higher food-grain production, water resources are being over-exploited to expand irrigated areas for dry-season agriculture.”

18.1. Mention one reason for water scarcity in cities despite abundance. (1)
18.2. How does over-exploitation of water for agriculture impact groundwater levels? (1)
18.3. Suggest two methods to conserve water in urban areas. (2)

19. Map Skill Based Question:

On the same outline map of India, locate and label the following with suitable symbols:
(a) Salal Dam
(b) A major Tea producing state in North-East India.
(c) OR Mumbai High (Oil Field)

SECTION C : POLITICAL SCIENCE (20 Marks)

20. Which of the following countries has a 'Coming Together Federation'?

(a) India
(b) Spain
(c) USA
(d) Belgium

21. Identify the correct statement regarding the 'Third Tier' of democracy in India.

(a) It was constitutionally mandated in 1950.
(b) Women have no reservation in local bodies.
(c) State Election Commission conducts these elections.
(d) It is directly controlled by the Central Government.

22. Which one of the following is NOT a function of political parties?

(a) To contest elections
(b) To shape public opinion
(c) To adjudicate disputes between citizens
(d) To form and run the government

23. Assertion (A): Democracy is not simply a rule by majority opinion.
Reason (R): The majority always needs to work with the minority so that governments function to represent the general view.

(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 true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

24. "Power sharing is the very spirit of democracy." Validate this statement with two points.

25. Mention any two constitutional provisions that make India a secular state.

26. "Democracies accommodate social diversity." Support the statement with three arguments.

27A. Explain the five major challenges faced by political parties in India.

27B. "Political parties are a necessary condition for a democracy." Analyze the statement.

28. Read the given text and answer the questions that follow:

“In Belgium, the Dutch-speaking community could take advantage of its numeric majority and force its will on the French and German-speaking population. This would push the conflict among communities further... In Sri Lanka, the Sinhala community enjoyed an even bigger majority and could impose its will on the entire country... The democratic government in Sri Lanka adopted a series of Majoritarian measures to establish Sinhala supremacy.”

28.1. What was the core cause of tension in Belgium? (1)
28.2. How did the approach of the Belgian leaders differ from that of the Sri Lankan leaders? (1)
28.3. Explain two consequences of the majoritarian policies adopted in Sri Lanka. (2)

SECTION D : ECONOMICS (20 Marks)

29. Which of the following sectors contributes the most to the GDP of India but employs fewer people compared to the Primary sector?

(a) Secondary Sector
(b) Tertiary Sector
(c) Public Sector
(d) Unorganized Sector

30. In a Self-Help Group (SHG), who decides on the savings and loan activities?

(a) The Bank Manager
(b) The Members of the Group
(c) The Village Sarpanch
(d) A Non-Governmental Organization (NGO)

31. Which of the following is a barrier on foreign trade?

(a) Sales Tax
(b) Quality Control
(c) Tax on Imports
(d) Local Trade Union

32. Find the incorrect option:

(a) BMI stands for Body Mass Index.
(b) HDI stands for Human Development Index.
(c) PDS stands for Public Distribution System.
(d) UNDP stands for Union National Development Plan.

33. The process of rapid integration or interconnection between countries is known as:

(a) Privatization
(b) Globalization
(c) Liberalization
(d) Socialization

34. Money acts as an intermediate in the exchange process, it is called:

(a) Medium of Exchange
(b) Store of Value
(c) Unit of Account
(d) Standard of Deferred Payment

35. "The problem of underemployment is not confined to agriculture alone." Explain this statement with examples from urban areas.

36. Explain the role of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in supervising the formal sector of loans.

37. "Cheap and affordable credit is crucial for the country's development." Justify the statement with three arguments.

38A. "Globalization has been advantageous to consumers as well as to producers." Analyze the statement.

38B. "Terrorism, unfair trade practices, and dominance of developed countries are challenges to the WTO." Explain the role of the World Trade Organization (WTO) in this context.