Credence High School,

Dubai
Social Science (Code-
087)
Grade IX
REVISION QUESTIONS
HISTORY
Chapter- 1 The French Revolution

I. Choose the correct option:

1. The National Assembly framed a Constitution in 1791 to limit the powers of the
(a) monarch (b) wealth (c) businessmen (d) press

2. Who wrote an influential pamphlet 'What is the third Estate’?

(a) Mirabeau (b) Abbe Sieyes (c) Jean-Paul Marat (d) Olympe de Gouges.

3. Which group of people did not join the Jacobin club?

(a) Artisans (b) Shopkeepers (c) Daily-wage workers (d) Men with property

4. French women demanded the right:

(a) to vote (b) to be elected to the assembly
(c) to hold political office (d) all of the above

5. A triangular slave trade took place between Europe, the Americas and:
(a) Africa (b) Asia (c) Australia (d) none of the above

6. Upon becoming free, the slave wore:

(a) blue cap (b) white cap (c) red cap (d) green cap

7. Who were not considered ‘passive citizens’?

(a) Women (b) children (c) Non-propertied men (d) wealthy people

8. Who ascended the throne in France in 1774?

(a) King Louis XVI (b)Tsar Nicholas II (c)King William IV (d)King Napolean

9. The National Assembly completed the draft of the constitution in 1791, and its main object was .
(a)Power should be concentrated in the hands of one person.
(b)To limit the powers of the monarch.
(c)To give power to all the people of the country.
(d)All the above

10. Which of the following statements is untrue about the Third Estate
(a) The Third Estate was made of the poor only
(b) Within the Third Estate some were rich and some were poor
(c) Richer members of the Third Estate owned lands
(d) Peasants were obliged to serve in the army, or build roads
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11. In the meeting of the Estates General, the members of the Third Estate demanded that
(a) All the three Estates should have one vote altogether
(c) Each Estate should have one vote
(b) Each member of the three Estates should have one vote
(d) None of the above

II. Assertion and Reasons.

Direction: In the following questions, a statement of assertion is followed by a statement

of reason. Mark the correct choice as –
(a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion. (c) If Assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If Both assertion and reasons are false.

1. Assertion (A): The period from 1793 to 1794 is referred to as the Reign of Terror.
Reason [R]: Robespierre followed a policy of severe control and punishment.
Ans: (a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.

2. Assertion (A): In June, the tax-paying citizens of France assembled in the hall of an indoor tennis
court.
Reason (R): They vowed to limit the powers of the monarch.
Ans: (a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.

3. Assertion (A): The subsistence crisis occurred frequently during the Old Regime.
Reason (R): In the Old Regime, the monarch did not have the power to impose taxes.
Ans: (c) If Assertion is true but reason is false.

4. Assertion (A): Bastille was hated by all and the revolutionaries attacked the Bastille prison. Reason
(R): It was seen as a symbol of the despotic power of the king.
Ans: If Assertion is true but reason is false.

5. Assertion (A): Louis XVI had to recognise the National Assembly and its constitution.
Reason (R): It would ease the burden of the monarch by assisting and checking its power. Ans:
If Assertion is true but reason is false.

III. Answer the following Questions

1. How can you say that Louis XVI and the taxation policy were responsible for the French
Revolution?
Ans: Louis XVI
(i) In 1774, he became the king of France at the age of 20. At that time, he was quite unaware of the
problems of the common masses.
(ii) Upon his accession, the royal treasury was empty. Instead of curtailing his extravagant lifestyle,
he increased taxes. This brought severe dissatisfaction among the French people. Being pleasure
loving, he misused money on wasteful festivities.
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 (iii) His wife Marie Antoinette constantly interfered in the administration but the king never
objected to it. He lacked far-sightedness. This drawback of his personality made him quite
unpopular as king.
(iv) He never took heed to the common man’s demands. Consequently, the French Revolution took
place and he and his wife were guillotined.
Taxation Policy
(i) The French was divided into First, Second and Third Estates.
(ii) First and Second Estates which formed 10 per cent of the total population were clergy and
nobles and were exempted from all taxes and enjoyed all privileges.
(iii) The remaining 90 per cent population of the Third Estate paid all kinds of direct or indirect
taxes. Members of the Third Estate believed that no group in society should be privileged by
birth.
2. Describe the role of philosophers like John Locke, Rousseau and Montesquieu in the French
Revolution.
Ans:(i) Jean Locke sought to refute the doctrine of the divine and absolute rights of the rulers in his
book ‘Two Treaties of Government’.
(ii) John Jacques Rousseau was a French philosopher who carried the idea of Locke forward,
proposing a form of government based on a social contract between people and their
representatives.
(iii) Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government between the legislative, the
executive and the judiciary. His ideas were proposed in his book, ‘The Spirit of the Law’.
According to him, there should be a division of power between the three important organs— the
legislature, the executive and the judiciary.
The ideas of these philosophers were discussed by common people in salons and coffee houses and
inspired them to struggle for their rights.
3. Describe the system of Estates in which the French Society was organized in the 18th century.
What was the condition of peasants in this system?
Ans: The system and conditions are as follows:
(i) First and Second Estate—Clergy and nobility who owned 60% of land and enjoyed all privileges
and paid no taxes.
(ii) Third Estate— 90% of the population comprised of peasants, artisans, and landless. They did all
the work and paid all the taxes.
(iii) Middle Class–New social group of rich educated society, i.e., lawyers, doctors, judges and rich
businessmen.
They had no political rights.
They dreamt of a society based on merit.
They provided leadership.
4. Describe the circumstances leading to the outbreak of revolutionary protest in France.
Ans: The following circumstances paved the way for the outbreak of the revolutionary
protest:
(i) Louis XVI ruled like an autocrat and the people had no voice in any decision. The Estates
General (French Parliament) had not been convened for many years. The French administration was
inefficient, corrupt and disorganised. It did not give weightage to the common masses. (ii) Under
Louis XVI, France helped the thirteen American colonies to gain their independence

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 from Britain. The war added more than a billion livres to a debt that had already risen to more than
2 billion livres.
(iii) Lenders who gave the state credit, now began to charge 10 per cent interest on loans. So, the
French government was obliged to spend an increasing percentage of its budget on interest
payments alone.
(iv) The state finally increased taxes to meet its regular expenses such as the cost of maintaining an
army and running government offices or universities.
(v) The French society was divided into three estates but only members of the Third Estate
(peasants, artisans, workers, etc.) had to pay taxes. The members of the first two estates, i.e. the
clergy and the nobility belonged to the privileged class. Thus, the burden of financing activities of
the state through taxes was borne by the Third Estate alone.
(vi) The middle class that emerged in 18th century France was educated and enlightened. They
refuted the theory of the divine right of kings and absolute monarchy. They had access to the
various ideas of equality and freedom proposed by the philosophers like Locke, Rousseau,
Montesquieu, etc.
5. Mention any two factors that led to the subsistence crisis in France during the old regime.
Ans: The population of France rose from about 23 million in 1715 to 28 million in 1789. This led to
a rapid increase in the demand for food grains. Production of grains could not keep pace with the
demand. So, the price of bread which was the staple diet of the majority rose rapidly.
b. Most workers were employed as labourers in workshops whose owner fixed their wages. But
wages did not keep pace with the rise in prices. So the gap between the poor and the rich
widened.
c. Things became worse whenever drought reduced the harvest. Shortage of food grains led to
price rises, riots and death. It is called the subsistence crisis, something that occurred frequently
in France during the Old Regime.
6. How did France become a Republic?
Ans: a. Although Louis XVI had signed the Constitution, he entered into secret negotiations with the
King of Prussia. Rulers of other neighbouring countries too were worried by the developments in
France and made plans to send troops to put down the events that had been taking place there since
the summer of 1789.
b. Before this could happen, the National Assembly voted in April 1792 to declare war against
Prussia and Austria. Thousands of volunteers joined the army. They saw this as a war of the people
against kings and aristocracies all over Europe.
c. Political clubs like the Jacobins became an important rallying point for people who wished to
discuss government policies and plan their forms of action. Their leader was Maximilian
Robespierre. In the summer of 1792, the Jacobins planned an uprising of a large number of
Parisians who were angered by the short supplies and high prices of food.
d. On the morning of August 10 they stormed the Palace of the Tuileries, massacred the king’s
guards and held the king himself hostage for several hours. Later the Assembly voted to imprison
the royal family. Elections were held.

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 e. From now on all men of 21 years and above, regardless of wealth, got the right to vote. The
newly elected assembly was called the Convention. On 21 September 1792, it abolished the
monarchy and declared France a republic.
7. What role did the philosophers play in the French Revolution?
Ans: (i) The philosophers played an important role in the French Revolution. They inspired the
common mass of France with their revolutionary ideas and prepared them to fight against injustices.
(ii) They did not believe in the doctrine of the divine and absolute right of the monarch. In his Two
Treatises of Government, John Locke refuted this doctrine strongly.
(iii) Rousseau carried the idea forward proposing a form of government based on a social contract
between people and their representatives.
(iv) In The Spirit of the Laws, Montesquieu proposed a division of power within the government
between the legislative, the executive and the judiciary.
(v) The ideas of these philosophers were discussed intensively in saloons and coffee houses and
spread among people through books and newspapers. These were frequently read aloud in groups
for the benefit of those who were illiterate. Thus, the philosophers contributed a lot in bringing
about the French Revolution.
8. Describe the condition of women during the period of the French Revolution.
Ans: The revolutionary government introduced various laws to improve the lives of
women– (i) Women were active participants in the events.
(ii) Most of the women of the Third Estate had to work for a living.
(iii) They worked as seamstresses or laundresses and sold flowers, fruits and vegetables at the
market.
(iv) They were employed as domestic servants in the houses of prosperous
people. (v) They could not get education or job training.
(vi) Working women had also to take care of their families. i.e. cook, fetch water, queue up for
bread and look after the children.
(vii) Their wages were also lower than men.
(viii) To voice their interests, women began their political clubs and newspapers. (ix) They
demanded the right to vote, to be elected to the Assembly and to hold political office.

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Chapter -2 Socialism in Europe and The Russian Revolution
 I. Choose the correct option:
1. Industrialisation did not lead to which of the following problems?
(a) poor wages (b) long hours of work
(c) liberalism (d) development of new industrialised regions

2. The people who wanted to put an immediate end to the existing governments in Europe (in 1815)
were called:
(a) nationalists (b) liberals (c) revolutionaries (d) radicals

3. Which of these statements is/are correct about Europe after the French Revolution? (a)
Suddenly it seemed possible to change the aristocratic society of the 18th century.
(b) However not everyone wanted a complete transformation of society.
(c) Some wanted a gradual shift, while others wanted a complete change of
society. (d) All of the above.

4. Which of the following factors made autocracy unpopular in Russia?

(a) The German origin of the Tsarina Alexandra (b) Poor advisors like the Monk Rasputin
(c) The huge cost of fighting in the World War I (d) Both (a) and (b)

5. Which of the statements given about the Socialist Revolutionary Party is not true? (a) The Socialist
Revolutionary Party was formed by socialists active in the countryside (b) They struggled for
peasants’ rights and demanded that land from nobles be transferred to them (c) They were one
united group fighting for their rights
(d) Both (a) and (b)

6. What were the demands made by the workers in St. Petersburg who went on strike? (a)
Reduction of working time to eight hours (b) Increase in wages
(c) Improvement in working conditions (d) All of the above

7. Why did the Tsar dismiss the first Duma within 75 days of its election?
(a) Because it was incapable of making good decisions
(b) Because the Tsar did not want anyone to question his authority
(c) The term of the first Duma was of 75 days only
(d) None of the above.

8. Why was St. Petersburg, the German name of a Russian city, renamed as Petrograd?
(a) There were high anti-German sentiments in Russia
(b) People disliked the saint after whom the city’s name was kept
(c) The name ‘Petrograd’ was chosen by the Tsarina
(d) None of the above.

9. Which of the following events took place after the Tsar abdicated on 2nd March? (a)
A provisional government was formed
(b) It was decided to set up a Constituent Assembly
(c) Constituent Assembly was formed by revolutionaries only
(d) Both (a) and (b)

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10. Why did the support of people to the Tsar for war gradually start decreasing? (a)
Because of rising prices
(b) The army was sick and tired of war
 (c) Because Tsar Nicholas II refused to consult the main parties in Duma
(d) None of the above

II. Assertion and Reasons.

Direction: In the following questions, a statement of assertion is followed by a statement

of reason. Mark the correct choice as –
(a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.
(b) If Both assertion and reason are true but reason is not the correct explanation of
assertion. (c) If Assertion is true but reason is false.
(d) If Both assertion and reasons are false.

1. Assertion [A]: By 1940-1950, the towns in Soviet Russia were facing an acute problem with grain
supplies
Reason [R]: The government fixed the prices at which grain would be sold, but the peasants refused
to sell their grain to government buyers at these prices.

Ans: (a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion 2.
Assertion [A]: The Socialist Revolutionary Party was formed by socialists active in the countryside
Reason [R]: They struggled for peasants’ rights and demanded that land from nobles be transferred to
them
Ans: (a) If Both assertion and reason are true and reason is the correct explanation of assertion.

III. Answer the following Questions

1. What was the socialist system?
Ans: Socialists were against private property, and saw it as the root of all social ills of the time. •
Individuals owned the property that gave employment but the propertied was concerned only
with personal gain and not with the welfare of those who made the property productive. • So if
society as a whole rather than single individuals controlled property, more attention would be
paid to collective social interests.
• Socialists wanted this change and campaigned for it.

2. What were the social, economic and political conditions in Russia before 1905?
Ans: Social Condition:
Workers were a divided group, some had strong links with the villages, and others had settled
permanently in cities. Workers were divided into skills. Division of workers showed themselves in
dress and manners too.

Economic Condition:

Most industries were the private property of industrialists. The government supervised large
factories. The industry was found in pockets. Many factories were set up in the 1890s when
Russia’s railway network was extended, foreign investment in industry increased, coal production
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doubled, and iron and steel output quadrupled. Most industries were the private property of
industrialists.
 Political condition:

Russia was an autocracy. Unlike other European countries, the Tsar was not subject to Parliament.
Liberals in Russia campaigned to end this state of affairs.

3. Describe the visions of Robert Owen and Louis Blanc.

Ans: Socialists had different visions of the future. Some believed in the idea of cooperatives.
• Robert Owen (1771-1858), a leading English manufacturer, sought to build a cooperative
community called New Harmony in Indiana (USA). Other socialists felt that cooperatives
could not be built on a wide scale only through individual initiative: they demanded that
governments encourage cooperatives.
• In France, for instance, Louis Blanc (1813-1882) wanted the government to encourage
cooperatives and replace capitalist enterprises. These cooperatives were to be associations of
people who produced goods together and divided the profits according to the work done by
members.

4. Briefly explain the thoughts of Karl Marx about capitalism which convinced the workers to enter
conflict with the capitalists.
Ans: Marx argued that industrial society was ‘capitalist’.
• Capitalists owned the capital invested in factories, and the profit of capitalists was produced
by workers. The conditions of workers could not improve as long as this profit was
accumulated by private capitalists.
• Workers had to overthrow capitalism and the rule of private property. Marx believed that to
free themselves from capitalist exploitation, workers had to construct a radically socialist
society where all property was socially controlled. This would be a communist society.
• He was convinced that workers would triumph in their conflict with capitalists. A
communist society was the natural society of the future.
•
5. Who was ‘father Gapon’? Narrate the events leading to the “‘Bloody Sunday” incident and the 1905
revolution.
Ans: Gapon, the son of a peasant, was born in the village of Beliki, in Russia. Gapon became a
priest in St. Petersburg where he showed considerable concern for the welfare of the poor. • The
year 1904 was a particularly bad one for Russian workers. Prices of essential goods rose so quickly
that real wages declined by 20 per cent.
• The membership of workers’ associations rose dramatically. When four members of the
Assembly of Russian Workers, which had been formed in 1904, were dismissed at the
Putilov Iron Works, there was a call for industrial action.
• Over the next few days over 110,000 workers in St Petersburg went on strike demanding a
reduction in the working day to eight hours, an increase in wages and improvement in
working conditions.
• When the procession of workers led by Father Gapon reached the Winter Palace it was
attacked by the police and the Cossacks. Over 100 workers were killed and about 300
wounded. The incident, known as Bloody Sunday, started a series of events that became
known as the 1905 Revolution.
6. Explain reasons why Russian people wanted the tsar to withdraw from the world war.
Ans: In Russia, the war was initially popular and people rallied around Tsar Nicholas II.
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• As the war continued, though, the Tsar refused to consult the main parties in the Duma.
Support wore thin.
• Anti-German sentiments ran high, as can be seen in the renaming of St Petersburg – a
German name – as Petrograd.
• The Tsarina Alexandra’s German origins and poor advisers, especially a monk called
Rasputin, made the autocracy unpopular.

7. State the main events leading to the February Revolution in Petrograd.

Ans: Main events of the February Revolution:

• In February 2017 there was a shortage of food items in workers' quarters.

• On Feb 22, a lockout took place at a factory on the right bank.

• The workers in fifty factories called a strike, women played a very critical role in
strikes. • This day went on to be named International Women’s Day. On
25th Feb, Government suspended Duma.
• On 27th Feb, Police headquarters were ransacked, and people were demonstrating and
raising slogans about bread, wages, better hours and democracy.
• Petrograd Soviet was formed.

• Tsar abdicated on March 2, Monarchy was formed in Feb 1917.

• Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed a Provisional Government to run the country.

Effects of February Revolution:

• Restrictions on public meetings and associations were removed.

• ‘Soviets’ like the Petrograd Soviet, were set up everywhere, though no common system of
election was followed.
• The number of trade unions increased.

• In Industrial areas, factory committees were formed to question the way industrialists ran
their factories.
• Soldiers committees were formed in the Army.

• Bolsheviks' influence kept growing and the provisional government saw its power reducing. •
Land committees were formed to handle the redistribution of land, which was a popular
demand for peasants and their socialist revolutionary leaders in the countryside.

8. Which events led to the October Revolution of 1917 in Russia?

 Ans: Main events of October Revolution:

As the conflict between the provisional government and the Bolsheviks grew, Lenin feared the
Provisional Government would set up a dictatorship. Lenin began discussions for an uprising
against the Government. Bolshevik supporters in the Army, Soviets and factories were brought
together. On 16th October 1917, Lenin persuaded the Petrograd Soviet and the Bolshevik Party to
agree to a socialist seizure of power. A military revolutionary committee was appointed by the
Soviet under Leon Trotskii to organize the seizure. The uprising began on 24th October 1917.
Military men loyal to the Government seized the buildings of two Bolshevik newspapers. Pro
Government troops were sent to take over telephone and telegraph offices and protect the Winter
Palace. In retaliation response the Military Revolutionary Committee ordered its supporters to seize
Government offices and arrest ministers. A ship named Aurora bombed the Winter Palace, other
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ships sailed down the Neva and took over various Military positions. By the end of the end, the city
was under the control of Committee and ministers had resigned. By December, Bolsheviks
controlled the Moscow-Petrograd area.

Effects of October Revolution.

• Industries and banks were nationalised by November 1917, Government took over
ownership and management.
• The land was declared social property and peasants were allowed to seize the land of the
nobility.
• In the cities, Bolsheviks enforced the partition of large houses according to family
requirements.
• Old titles of the aristocracy were banned.

• New uniforms were designed for the army and officials.

• The Bolshevik Party was renamed the Russian Communist Party (Bolshevik)

• Bolsheviks conducted elections to the constituent assembly, however, they failed to attain
the majority, The Assembly rejected the Bolshevik measures and Lenin dismissed the
assembly.
• All Russian Congress of Soviets became Parliament of the country. Russia became a one
party state.
• Trade unions were kept under party control, the Secret Police punished anyone who
criticised the Bolsheviks. Many young artists and writers continued to support the Party as
it stood for Socialism.
• Many experiments were done in Arts and Architecture, but many were unhappy because of
the censorship.

9. Explain Lenin’s April Theses.

Ans: In April 1917, the Bolshevik leader Vladimir Lenin returned to Russia from his exile. • He
and the Bolsheviks had opposed the war since 1914. Now he felt it was time for soviets to
take over power.
 • He declared that the war be brought to a close, land be transferred to the peasants, and banks
be nationalised. These three demands were Lenin’s ‘April Theses’.

Credence High School, Dubai

Social Science
Grade X
REVISION QUESTIONS

Political Science
10
Chapter -1 What Democracy and Why Democracy
I. Choose the correct option:
1. The word ‘Democracy’ comes from the Greek word –
(a) Democracia (b) Democratic
(c) Demos (d) Kratia

2. The head of the government in Nepal is the:

(a) President (b) Prime Minister
(c) King (d) Vice President

3. In which case was the real power with external powers and not with the locally
elected representatives?
(a) India in Sri Lanka (b) the US in Iraq
(c) USSR in Communist Poland (d) Both (b) and (c)

4. How many members are elected to the National People’s Congress from all over
China?
(a) 3050 (b) 3000
(c) 4000 (d) 2000

5. Which party always won elections in Mexico since its independence in 1930 until
2000?
(a) Revolutionary Party (b) Mexican Revolutionary Party (c) Institutional
Revolutionary Party (d) Institutional Party

6. When did Zimbabwe attain independence and from whom?

 (a) 1970, from Black minority rule (b) 1880, from White minority rule (c) 1980,
from Americans (d) 1980, from White minority rule

7. Which of these features is/are necessary to provide the basic rights to the citizens?
(a) Citizens should be free to think (b) should be free to form associations (c) Should be
free to raise protest (d) All the above

8. What is Constitutional Law?

(a) Provisions given in the Constitution (b) Law to make Constitution (c) Law
to set up Constituent Assembly (d) none of the above

9. The most common form that democracy takes in our time is that of
(a) Limited Democracy (b) representative democracy (c) Maximum
democracy (d) none of the above

10. One person, one vote one value means

(a) One person is to be voted by all
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(b) One person can cast one vote and each vote has one value.

(c) A person can vote only once in his lifetime.

(d) One person can vote at any time and on any issue.

11. One of the drawbacks of democracy is

(a) Instability and delays (b) corruption and hypocrisy (c) Politicians fighting
among themselves (d) all the above

12. Democracy improves the quality of decision-making because

(a) Decisions are taken by educated people
(b) Decisions are taken by consultation and discussion
(c) Decisions are taken over a long period
(d) All decisions are approved by the judiciary

II. Source Based Question

1. Look at the Cartoon given below:
This cartoon was drawn when elections were held in Iraq with the presence of US and other
foreign powers. What do you think this cartoon is saying? Why is ‘democracy’ written the
way it is?
Answer
(i) The military forces (The USA and allied forces) were behind effecting democracy in
Iraq. Saddam Hussain ruled Iraq nothing less than a dictator from 1979 to 2003. In 2003
NATO forces occupied Iraq and first multiparty elections were held in 2005 in Iraq. (ii)
‘M’ stands here to signify the role of army in bringing democracy in Iraq

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Question 2. Look at the cartoon given below:

This cartoon was drawn in the context of Latin America. Do you think it applies to the
Pakistani situation as well? Think of other countries where this would apply? Does this
happen sometimes in our country as well?

Answers
The cartoon reflects as how the armed forces, be the police, army or hooligans, hijack
democracy by force.
(i) This can be applicable to the Pakistan. the democratic government of Nawaz Sharif was
toppled through a military coup by Parvez Musharaf. In Pakistan, General Musharraf with
the help of army officials controlled the elected representatives. The final power rested with
Parvez Musharraf.
(ii) This could be applied in many Latin American countries, Iraq, China, etc. (iii) In
India, incidents of violence and booth capturing by hooligans of politicians were
common features during elections especially in northern states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh
and W. Bengal. Now a days the EVMs are used for voting and it has drastically reduced
violence and booth capturing incidents.

Question 3. Look at the cartoon given below:

This cartoon was titled ‘Building Democracy’ and was first published in a Latin American
publication. What do moneybags signify here? Could this cartoon be applied to India?
Answer
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(i) A lot of money is spent during elections. Politicians spend huge amount of money in
campaigning and even to buy votes. Role of money in effecting elections undermine the
very purpose of democracy where a voter freely decided his vote.
(ii) India is no exception and most of our leaders sitting in the Parliament are Millionaires.

Question 4. Look at the cartoon given below:

Which one of the following options best signifies this cartoon?

(a) Voters are greedy.
(b) Only highly educated classes of people are allowed to vote.
 (c) Men and women have equal rights to cast a vote
(d) Only rich men and women can vote

III. Answer the following Questions

1. What is democracy? Give some examples of non-democratic countries. Ans:
Democracy is a form of government in which the people elect the rulers.
Examples of non-democratic countries are – North Korea, Saudi Arabia

2. Define democracy and elaborate on any two common features of it.

OR
Explain any three salient features of democracy
According to Abraham Lincoln “Democracy is a government of the people by the people
and for the people”.
These are the features of democracy
• Rulers are elected by the people take all the major decisions.

• Regular, free and fair elections offer a choice and fair opportunity to people to change
the current rulers. This choice and opportunity is available to all the people on equal
basis (political equality)
• Freedom of speech, expression and thought is a feature of democracy. •
The dignity of an individual is recognised.

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• Certain political freedom is enjoyed by the citizens. Government is limited by basic
rules of the Constitution and citizens’ rights.
• Major decisions are made by elected leaders.

• One person one vote one value.

3. Why is democracy considered the best form of government? Explain with the help of
suitable examples. (Refer to textbook for examples)
OR
‘‘Democratic government is a more accountable form of government.’’ Justify the
statement with suitable arguments.
Answer:
a. It is a better government because it is a more accountable form of government.
b. Democracy improves the quality of decision-making
c. Democracy provides a method to deal with differences and
conflicts d. Democracy enhances the dignity of citizens.
e. Democracy allows us to correct our own mistake

4. Why democracy is not the best form of government?

OR
Democracy is all about political competition and powerplay. There is no scope for
morality. Justify the statement by giving arguments against democracy. OR
 “Democracy is the most popular form of government emerging in modern times.
Still, its shortcomings cannot be ruled out.” Justify the statement by highlighting any
five shortcomings of democracy.
Answer:
a. Leaders keep changing in a democracy. Thus, it leads to instability.
Frequent changes in the leadership lead to delays in the major decisions.
b. Democracy is all about political competition and power play. There is no scope
for morality
c. So many people have to be consulted in a democracy which leads to delays.
d. Elected leaders do not know the best interest of the people which leads to
bad decisions.
e. Democracy leads to corruption for it is based on electoral competition f.
Ordinary people do not know what is good for them. So, they should not decide
anything.
g. Democracy makes sure that people make their decisions but it does
not guarantee that these decisions are perfect.

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Chapter -2 Constitutional Design
I. Choose the correct option:
1. The Constituent Assembly adopted the Constitution of India on
(a) 26 January 1950 (b) 26 November 1949
(c) 26 January 1949 (d) 15 August 1947

2. Which of the following sentences is wrong about Dr B.R. Ambedkar? (а)

He was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.
(b) He was born in Maharashtra.
(c) He was a law minister in post-independence India.
(d) He was the founder of the independent labour Party of India.

3. Who among the following was not a member of the Constituent Assembly?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi (b) Rajendra Prasad
(c) T.T. Krishnamachari (d) Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru

4. Nelson Mandela remained in jail for

(a) 28 years (b) 29 years
(c) 30 years (d) 31 years

5. Apartheid in South Africa was discrimination based on

(a) gender (b) religion
(c) race (d) economic status
6. How many members had the Constituent Assembly wrote the Indian
Constitution?
(a) 200 (b) 199
(c) 198 (d) 190

7. Which of the following terms is not included in the Preamble to the Indian
Constitution?
(a) Liberty (b) Equality
(c) Secular (d) Religion

8. The Indian Constitution came into effect on

(a) 26 January 1949 (b) 26 January 1950
(c) 26 January 1952 (d) 26 November 1950

9. On what charges was Nelson Mandela sentenced to life imprisonment?

(a) For treason (b) For breaking the laws
(c) For corruption charges (d) for possessing illegal property

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10. In which way did the system of apartheid discriminate among the South Africans?
(a) Restricted social contact between the races
(b) Segregation of public facilities
(c) Created race-specific job categories
(d) All the above

11. Which group of people were called “colored” in South Africa?

(a) The native people of South Africa.
(b)The Europeans who settled in South Africa.
(c)The mixed races and the people who migrated from India.
(d)None of the above

12. The Terms ‘Socialists’ and ‘Secular’ were added in the Preamble through
(a) The 24th Constitutional Amendment Act.

(b) The 42nd Constitutional Amendment Act.

(c) The 73rd Constitutional Amendment Act.

(d) None of the above

II. Answer the following Questions

1. List the challenges faced by the drafting commission while drafting the Indian
constitution.
 Ans: - Diverse Population: India's vast diversity in culture, language, religion,
and ethnicity posed challenges in accommodating various interests.
- Caste System: The Constituent Assembly faced the challenge of addressing
social inequalities, including the caste system.
- Language Issue: There were debates over which language should be the
official language of India.
- Women's Representation: Ensuring adequate representation of women in
the The Constituent Assembly and the government were another challenge.

2. “The Constitution begins with a short statement of its basic values. This is called the
Preamble.” Explain the key feature of the preamble of the Indian Constitution. Ans:
WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA: The constitution has been drawn up and enacted by
the people through their representatives, and not handed down to them by a king or
any outside powers.
SOVEREIGN: People have the supreme right to make decisions on internal as well
as external matters. No external power can dictate the government of India.
SOCIALIST: Wealth is generated socially and should be shared equally by society.

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The government should regulate the ownership of land and industry to reduce
socio economic inequalities.

SECULAR: Citizens have complete freedom to follow any religion. But there is no
official religion. The government treats all religious beliefs and practices with equal
respect. (The terms ‘Socialist’ and ‘Secular’ were added in Preamble through the
42nd Constitutional Amendment in 1976).
DEMOCRATIC: A form of government where people enjoy equal political
rights, elect their rulers and hold them accountable. The government is run
according to some basic rules.
REPUBLIC: The head of the state is an elected person and not a hereditary
position. JUSTICE: Citizens cannot be discriminated against on the grounds of
caste, religion and gender. Social inequalities have to be reduced. Government
should work for the welfare of all, especially of the disadvantaged groups.
LIBERTY: There are no unreasonable restrictions on the citizens in what they
think, how they wish to express their thoughts and the way they wish to follow up
their thoughts in action.
EQUALITY: All are equal before the law. The traditional social inequalities have to
be ended. The government should ensure equal opportunity for all.
FRATERNITY: All of us should behave as if we are members of the same family.
No one should treat a fellow citizen as inferior.

3. What is meant by apartheid? How was it oppressive for the blacks in South Africa?
 Answer:
• Apartheid was the name of a system of racial discrimination unique to South
Africa. The white Europeans imposed this system on South Africa.
• The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks. They were
forbidden from living in white areas. They could work in white areas only if they
had a permit.
• Trains, buses, taxis, hotels, hospitals, schools and colleges, libraries, cinema halls,
theatres, beaches, swimming pools, public toilets, were all separate for the whites
and blacks. This was called segregation.
• They could not even visit the churches where the whites worshipped. Blacks could
not form associations or protest against the terrible treatment.
4. Why should we accept the Constitution made by the Assembly more than fifty years
ago?
Answer:
• The Indian Constitution was drafted by a Constituent Assembly.
• The Constituent Assembly was formed in 1946 and chaired by Dr. B.R.
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Ambedkar.
• Elections to the Constituent Assembly were held in July 1946. Its first
meeting was held in December 1946.
• It took almost three years to draft the Constitution, and it was adopted on
26th November 1949 but it came into effect on 26 January 1950. To mark this
day we celebrate January 26 as Republic Day every year.
• The Constituent Assembly that wrote the Indian constitution had
299 members.
• The members deliberated for 114 days spread over three years. Every document
presented and every word spoken in the Constituent Assembly has been recorded
and preserved. These are called ‘Constituent Assembly Debates’. • Mahatma
Gandhi was not a member of the Constituent Assembly. Yet many members
followed his vision. Years ago, writing in his magazine, ‘Young India’ in 1931,
he shared his vision of India free from any type of inequality where all the
communities live in harmony with each other.

Chapter -2 Electoral Politics (Revise the notebook question)

Map Work
Chapter 2: Socialism in Europe
Locate and label the following countries on the outlined political map of
World: Major countries of the First World War
Central Powers: Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey (Ottoman
 Empire) Allied Powers: England, France, Russia, America

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Practice the same on this given

map
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