Practicing the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History with Solutions Set 4 allows you to get rid of exam fear and be confident to appear for the exam.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History Set 4 with Solutions
Time: 3 Hours.
Max. Marks: 70
General Instructions:
- Question paper comprises five Sections – A, B, C, D and E. There are 34 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.
- Section A – Question 1 to 21 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
- Section B – Question no. 22 to 27 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 60-80 words.
- Section C – Question no. 28 to 30 are Long Answer Type Questions, carrying 8 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 300-350 words.
- Section D – Question no. 31 to 33 are Source based questions with three sub-questions and are of 4 marks each.
- Section E – Question no. 34 is Map based, carrying 5 marks that include the identification and location of significant test items. Attach the map with the answer book.
Section – A (21 Marks)
Question 1.
Identify this character from the Mahabharata using this set of hints: [1]
• He belonged to the Nishada community.
• He sacrificed his thumb to Guru Drona.
A. Arjuna
B. Kama
C. Eklavya
D. Virata
Answer:
C. Eklavya
Question 2.
What was a “Sangha”? [1]
A. Organisation of monks
B. Organisation of musicians
C. Organisation of carpenters
D. None of the above
Answer:
A. Organisation of monks
Question 3.
Match the following and select the correct option: [1]
| List – I | List – II |
| 1. Sutas | a. Kuru Princes Gum |
| 2. Polygamy | b. King’s Charioteers |
| 3. Nishada | c. Men having more than one wife |
| 4. Dronacharya | d. Eklavya |
A. 1 – b, 2- c, 3 -d, 4- a
B. 1 – a, 2- d, 3 -c, 4- b
C. 1 – c, 2- b, 3 -d, 4- a
D. 1 – d, 2- a, 3 -b, 4- c
Answer:
A. 1 – b, 2- c, 3 -d, 4- a
Question 4.
Which one of the following statements is the correct explanation of the importance of Bodh Gaya in the history of Buddhism: [1]
A. Buddha gave his first sermon here.
B. Buddha attained enlightenment here.
C. Buddha attained nirvana here.
D. Buddha traveled to heaven from here.
Answer:
B. Buddha attained enlightenment here.
Question 5.
Identify the given image from the following options: [1]
A. Arjuna
B. Yudhishthira
C. Bhima
D. Nakul
Answer:
A. Arjuna
Question 6.
Which of the following foreign powers wanted to take away the eastern gateway of Sanchi Stupa to their own country? [1]
A. Norwegians
B. French
C. Scottish
D. Portuguese
Answer:
B. French
Question 7.
What is the title of the Telugu work on statecraft? [1]
A. Amuktamalyada
B. Tutranmalay
C. Samarqandi
D. Muktivahini
Answer:
A. Amuktamalyada
Question 8.
Fill in the blank:
The Mughal rulers propagated the idea that they have received the legitimacy to rule over the people from_______. [1]
A. God
B. Priests
C. Aristocracy
D. Sufi Saints
Answer:
A. God
Question 9.
Find out the correct chronological order of the events associated with the Vijayanagara Empire from the following options: [1]
I. Foundation of Vijayanagara Empire
II. Visit of Duarte Barbosa to the Vijayanagara Empire
III. Colin Mackenzie excavated the sites of Hampi
IV. Bijapur and Golconda ended the rule of the Vijayanagara Empire
Options:
A. I, II, IV & III
B. II, III, IV & I
C. Ill, II, I & IV
D. IV, II, I & III
Answer:
A. I, II, IV & III
Question 10.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). [1]
Assertion (A): Persian became the most important language in the Mughal court.
Reason (R): There was a large-scale exchange of scholars between India and Iran.
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is correct, but (R) is not correct.
D. (R) is correct, but (A) is not correct.
Answer:
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
Question 11.
Complete the following with the correct option: Virupaksha Temple: Lord Virupaksha:: Hazara Temple:_______. [1]
A. Lord Shiva
B. Lord Rama
C. Lord Ganesha
D. Lord Brahma
Answer:
B. Lord Rama
Question 12.
Which among the following is correctly matched? [1]
| List – I | List – II |
| A. Diwan-i-Aam | Private Hall |
| B. Diwan-i-Khas | Public Hall |
| C. Peacock Throne | Shahjahan |
| D. Mimar | Tax officials |
Answer:
C. Peacock Throne- Shahjahan
Question 13.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). [1]
Assertion (A): Mahatma Gandhi thought Hindustani would be the ideal language of communication between diverse communities.
Reason (R): It could unify Hindus and Muslims and the people of the North and the South.
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R)is the correct explanation of (A).
B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
C. (A) is correct, but (R) is not correct.
D. (R) is correct, but (A) is not correct.
Answer:
A. Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 14.
Consider the following statements and select the correct one from the following options: [1]
I. Dr. Rajendra Prasad served as the President of the Constituent Assembly.
II. Dr. Rajendra Prasad ensured that discussions were on constructive lines in the Assembly.
III. Dr. Prasad proposed the resolution of the National Flag of India.
Options :
A. II & III
B. I &III
C. I, II & III
D. I & II
Answer:
D. I & II
Question 15.
Who was B.N. Rau? [1]
A. Law Minister of India
B. Constitutional Advisor to the Government of India
C. Chief Draughtsman
D. Home Minister
Answer:
B. Constitutional Advisor to the Government of India
Question 16.
What was the feature of Ganas and Sanghas? [1]
A. They were monarchies.
B. They were oligarchs.
C. They did not have any rulers.
D. None of the above.
Answer:
A. They were monarchies.
Question 17.
The revolt of 1857 started from which of the following cities? [1]
A. Bareilly
B. Lucknow
C. Meerut
D. Moradabad
Answer:
C. Meerut
Question 18.
Who wrote the book Shahjahan Nama? [1]
A. Faizi
B. Inayat Khan
C. Mumtaz Mahal
D. Chand Bibi
Answer:
B. Inayat Khan
Question 19.
Find out from the following pairs which one is NOT correctly matched: [1]
A. Great Bath: Ritual Bathing
B. Seals: Stamps
C. Bronze: Statues
D. Lapiz Lazuli: Food
Answer:
D. Lapiz Lazuli: Food
Question 20.
What is the meaning of the Sanskrit word “Jati”? [1]
A. Family
B. Network of kinfolk
C. Lineage
D. Caste
Answer:
B. Network of kinfolk
Question 21.
John Marshall dedicated his volumes of Sanchi to which of the following personality? [1]
A. Shahjehan Begum
B. Sultan Jehan Begum
C. Alexander Cunningham
D. None of the above
Answer:
B. Sultan Jehan Begum
Section – B (18 Marks)
Question 22.
What are some common features of a family? [3]
Answer:
Some common features of a family are:
1. The members of the same family often share food and other resources.
2. They generally live, work and perform the rituals together.
Question 23.
How can Vijayanagara city be traced back?
OR
State any three characteristic features of the Vitthala temple of Vijayanagara. [3]
Answer:
1. A large number of inscriptions of the kings of Vijayanagara and their nayakas recording donations to temples as well as describing important events have been recovered.
2. Several travelers visited the city and wrote about it.
3. Notable among them are those of an Italian trader named Nicolo de Conti, an ambassador named Abdur Razzaq sent by the ruler of Persia, a merchant named Afanasii Nikitin from Russia, all of whom visited the city in the fifteenth century, and those of Duarte Barbosa, Domingo Paes, and Femao Nuniz from Portugal, who came in the sixteenth century.
OR
1. The temple has several halls and a unique shrine designed as a chariot.
2. A characteristic feature of the temple complexes is the chariot streets that extended from the temple gopuram in a straight line.
3. These streets were paved with stone slabs and lined with pillared pavilions in which merchants set up their shops.
Question 24.
How did the Dandi March of 1930 affect the people of India during National Movement? [3]
Answer:
Dandi March of 1930 encouraged Indians of all classes to manifest their own discontent with colonial rule. The meetings were very well attended by villagers of all castes, and by women as well as men. Thousands of volunteers were flocking to the nationalist cause. Among them were many officials, who had resigned from their posts with the colonial government. Across large parts of India, peasants breached the hated colonial forest laws that kept them and their cattle out of the woods in which they had once roamed freely. In some towns, factory workers went on strike while the lawyer’s boycotted British courts and students refused to attend government-run educational institutions.
Question 25.
What were the views of “Jaipal Singh” on the condition of the tribal people of India? [3]
Answer:
Jaipal Singh belonged to the tribal community himself so he understood the grievances of the tribals adequately.
1. He said that the tribal groups had been disrespected and confronted for the past 6000 years and now in independent India, they need to be respected and protected.
2. He showed faith in the vision of Nehru’s “Objectives Resolution”, which sought to provide equality of opportunity in India.
Question 26.
Explain the method of irrigation and technology used during Mughal period. [3]
Answer:
The Mughal emperors always gave importance to expand agricultural production. Agriculture was depended mainly on the monsoons but artificial systems of irrigation were also developed during this period.
1. The state undertook the digging of new canals (Nahar or Nala) and also repairing of the canals.
2. The farmers used those technologies which harnessed animal power. There was the use of wooden plow which was light. It had an iron tip or colter.
3. There was also the use of a drill. It was pulled by a pair of giant oxen used to plant seeds.
4. A narrow iron blade with a small wooden handle was also used to hoe and weed.
Question 27.
“Partition of India had made nationalists fervently opposed to the idea of separate electorates.” Examine the statement. [3]
Answer:
1. The Nationalists were haunted by the continued civil war and riots during partition days.
2. B. Pocker Bahadur made a strong plea for a separate electorate for Muslims in the constituent assembly.
3. The idea of a separate electorate provoked anger and dismay amongst most nationalists in the constituent assembly.
4. It was seen as a measure introduced by the British to divide Indians.
5. This was the demand, which turned one community against another.
6. It divided the people on communal levels. It strained relations and cause blood.
7. It was against the principle of democracy.
8. It was suicidal for the nation according to G.B. Pant.
9. Separate electorate could lead to divided loyalties and difficulty to forge a strong nation and a strong state.
10. Isolating minorities would deprive them of any effective say within the government.
Section – C (24 Marks)
Question 28.
What was the significance of the discovered site of Chanhudaro? Discuss the features of bead making on this site.
OR
Discuss different strategies used by the Harappan people for procuring the raw materials. [8]
Answer:
Chanhudaro was a small discovered site of about less than 7 hectares. The significance of this site is that it is generally known for its craft production activities. Some of the prevalent activities in this site were bead making, shell cutting, seal making, metal cutting, etc. Some of the important features of bead making are:
1. Variety of materials were used for making beads. Some common stones used for this purpose were carnelian, crystal, quartz, and steatite.
2. The use of metals like copper, bronze, gold, shell, terracotta and faience was also prevalent in bead making.
OR
Different strategies used by the Harappan people for procuring the raw materials are:
1. The Harappan-made establishments such as Nageshwar and Balakot in the areas where the availability of shells was there.
2. Among the other established sites of Harappans were Shortughai, in Afghanistan. It was the best source of Lapiz Lazuli.
3. The Harappans also used to send expeditions to regions rich in minerals. For example, they sent expeditions to the Khetri mines in Rajasthan which were rich in copper and to South India for gold.
4. There were also links of coastal communication with other nations of the world.
5. The exchange of commodities was prevalent in the Harappan culture through land and water transport.
Question 29.
“Ibn Battuta found Delhi as a city full of exciting opportunities.” Support your answer with evidences given by him.
OR
“The conception of social pollution intrinsic to the caste system was contrary to the law of nature.” Examine Al-Biruni’s statement on Indian caste system. [8]
Answer:
Ibn Battuta arrived at Delhi in the 14th century. His description regarding Indian cities was very informative and helpful to understand the lifestyle of Indians. He described Indian cities in the following ways:
1. Indian cities were densely populated and prosperous although sometimes these were affected by the wars.
2. Most cities had crowded streets and bright colourful markets with a wide variety of commodities.
3. Delhi, with its vast population, was the largest city in India.
4. Daulatabad was no less, easily rivalled Delhi in size.
5. The rampart round the city was widely expanded. Inside the rampart, there were houses for the night sentry, gatekeepers and storehouses.
6. The lower part of the rampart was built of stone and the upper part was of bricks.
7. It had many towers.
8. There were twenty-eight gates in Delhi, which were called as ‘Darwaza’. Of these gates, Budaun Darwaza, Mandwi Darwaza, and Gul Darwaza were very famous.
9. The markets and bazaars of Indian cities were the places of economic transactions and social and cultural activities.
10. Most of the bazaars had a masjid and a temple.
11. These places also had fixed spaces for public performances by dancers, musicians and singers.
12. Ibn Battuta found that many towns derived their wealth and prosperity through the appropriation of surplus from villages.
OR
Al-Biruni wrote the voluminous text ‘Kitab-ul- Hind in which he elaborately discussed about the social life of India. According to him, the conception of the pollution intrinsic to the caste system in India was contrary to the law of nature. Al-Biruni tried to explain the caste system by looking for parallels in other societies. He noted that in ancient Persia, four social categories were recognized. These were kings and princes; monks, fire-priests and lawyers; physicians, astronomers and other scientists and peasants and artisans.
1. Social divisions not unique to India: He suggested that social divisions were not unique to India. At the same time, he pointed out that within Islam all men were considered equal, differing only in their observance of piety (deep respect for God).
2. Rejection of notion of pollution: Al-Biruni disapproved the notion of pollution. He remarked that everything which falls into a state of impurity strives and succeeds in regaining its original condition of purity, e.g., the sun cleanses the air, and the salt in the sea prevents the water from becoming polluted.
3. Cycle of purification important for life on earth: Al-Biruni believed that if there were no phenomenon of removing impurity, then the life on Earth would have been impossible. Hence, the conception of social pollution intrinsic to the caste system, was according to him, contrary to the laws of nature. Al-Biruni’s description of caste system was deeply influenced by his study of normative Sanskrit texts, thus he described caste system from the point of view of Brahmanas. But in real life, the caste system was not so rigid.
Question 30.
How did the credit flow from the cotton merchants to the lowest level ryots during the period of the American Civil War?
OR
What were some of the reasons due to which the ryots became angry with the moneylenders? [8]
Answer:
The American Civil War led to the reduction of the supplies of raw cotton for Britain significantly. Due to this reason, the cotton merchants encouraged the production of cotton in the countryside.
1. The cotton merchants visited the cotton districts in Bombay to make an assessment of the supply of cotton and to encourage its cultivation.
2. The export merchants provided money to the urban sahukars as they wanted to have a continuous supply of raw cotton for exporting it to Britain.
3. The sahukars gave advances to the moneylenders in the cotton growing villages who had promised an uninterrupted supply of cotton to them.
4. The moneylenders gave loans to the ryots to increase the cultivation of cotton. This way, the credit flowed from the top level to the bottom.
5. During the time of increase in demand of the commodity, the availability of credit became easy as the lenders felt that there were high chances of recovery.
OR
Some of the reasons due to which the ryots became angry with moneylenders are mentioned here:
1. The moneylenders outrightly refused to extend the loans to the ryots during the time of their crisis after the end of the Civil War in America.
2. The ryots got into deeper debt and became completely dependent on the moneylenders for their survival. However, the moneylenders showed an insensitive attitude towards their plight.
3. The ryots felt that the moneylenders were violating the customary rule of the countryside.
4. Moneylending was a widespread practice before the beginning of colonial rule and was operated on the basis of some norms.
5. There was a norm that the interest charged on the principal could not be more than that. However, this norm was broken down and the money lenders charged very high rates of interest. All these reasons made the ryots angry with the moneylenders.
Section – D (12 Marks)
Question 31.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
We have seen that kings and ruling elites lived in fortified cities. Although it is difficult to conduct extensive excavations at most sites because people live in these areas even today (unlike the Harappan cities), a wide range of artifacts have been recovered from them. These include fine pottery bowls and dishes, with a glossy finish, known as Northern Black Polished Ware, probably used by rich people, and ornaments, tools, weapons, vessels, and figurines, made of a wide range of materials – gold, silver, copper, bronze, ivory, glass, shell and terracotta.
(i) What is the full form of NBPW?
Answer:
The full form of NBPW is Northern Black Polished Ware.
(ii) Why extensive excavations cannot be carried out in most of the ancient Indian sites?
Answer:
Extensive excavations cannot be carried out due to the inhabitation of people in these areas. However, still, a vast amount of artefacts have been discovered from several excavating units.
(iii) What are some of the important commodities discovered in excavations?
Answer:
Some of the important commodities discovered are pottery items, tools and weapons, different vessels and figures. These commodities were made of gold, silver, bronze, copper and even terracotta.
Question 32.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
The khanqah was the centre of social life. We know about Shaikh Nizamuddin’s hospice (c. fourteenth century) on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur, on the outskirts of what was then the city of Delhi. It comprised several small rooms and a big hall (jama’at khana) where the inmates and visitors lived and prayed. The inmates included family members of the Shaikh, his attendants and disciples. The Shaikh lived in a small room on the roof of the hall where he met visitors in the morning and evening.
A veranda surrounded the courtyard, and a boundary wall ran around the complex. On one occasion, fearing a Mongol invasion, people from the neighboring areas flocked into the khanqah to seek refuge. Wali (plural auliya) or friend of God was a Sufi who claimed proximity to Allah, acquiring His Grace (Barakat) to perform miracles (karamat).
(i) Give a few details about the hospice of Shaikh Nizamuddin.
Answer:
Shaikh Nizamuddin hospice was located on the banks of the river Yamuna in Ghiyaspur. The hospice consists of several small rooms and one big hall. The big hall was for the combined living and praying of the inmates and the visitors.
(ii) Who comprises the inmates in the Khanqahs?
Answer:
The inmates in the Khanqahs generally comprised the family members of the Shaikh, his attendants and disciples. The Shaikh used to meet the visitors of the Khanqah during morning as well as in evening for some duration.
(iii) Why do people on one occasion seek refuge in the Khanqah?
Answer:
The people from the neighboring areas seek refuge in the Khanqah as they were fearful of a possible Mongol invasion. People knew that the Khanqah can serve as a protection centre for their lives.
Question 33.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
Escaping to the countryside. This is how the famous poet Mirza Ghalib described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857. Smiting the enemy and driving him before them, the victors (i.e., the British) overran the city in all directions. All whom they found in the street they cut-down. For two to three days every road in the city, from the Kashmiri Gate to Chandni Chowk, was a battlefield.
Three gates the Ajmeri, the Turkman, and the Delhi were still held by the rebels. At the naked spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred the color fled from men’s faces, and a vast concourse of men and women took to precipitate flight through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, they drew breath to wait until such time as might favour their return.
(i) Who was Mirza Ghalib ? What did he describe?
Answer:
Mirza Ghalib the famous Urdu poet who described what the people of Delhi did when the British forces occupied the city in 1857.
(ii) Why did British attack Delhi ? Give two reasons.
Answer:
Reasons of British attack on Delhi :
1. Rebels recognised the symbolic value of Delhi.
2. To establish the British control over the heels.
3. To uproot the parallel government set up by the rebels.
4. To suppress the revolt of 1857.
(iii) How did the people escape from Delhi and where did they take shelter ?
Answer:
As the three gates, the Ajmeri Gate, Turkman gate and Delhi gate were in control of rebels, people who saw with naked eyes, spectacle of this vengeful wrath and malevolent hatred, fled through these three gates. Seeking the little villages and shrines outside the city, wherever they could found safe shelter.
Section – E (5 Marks)
Question 34.
1. On the given political map of India, locate and label the following with appropriate symbols: [3]
I. Banawali- A Mature Harappan Site
II. Rajgir- Capital of Magadha
III. Azamgarh- A Main Centre of the Revolt of 1857
OR
Sanchi- A Major Buddhist Site
Question 34.
2. On the same outline map, two places have been marked as A’ and ‘B’, as the territories under Bahur, Akbar and Aurangzeb. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. [2]
Answer:
