Practicing the CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History with Solutions Set 2 allows you to get rid of exam fear and be confident to appear for the exam.
CBSE Sample Papers for Class 12 History Set 2 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 the given ruler with the following set of information: [1]
• He was blind.
• He was the father of Duryodhana.
A. Pandu
B. Bheeshma
C. Dhritarashtra
D. Vidhur
Answer:
C. Dhritarashtra
Question 2.
Which of the following statements is incorrect about the Buddhist Sangha? [1]
A. Initially only men were allowed in the Sangha.
B. The monks of Sangha teaches the path of Dhamma.
C. The Sangha was later opened for the women as well.
D. The Sangha did not accommodate the disciples of monks.
Answer:
D. The Sangha did not accommodate the disciples of monks.
Question 3.
Match the following and select the correct option: [1]
| List -1 (Harappan Site) | List – II (Features) |
| 1. First Indus Site Discovered | A. Harappan |
| 2. Port City in Indus | B. Nageshwar |
| 3. Craft Production | C. Chahanundharo |
| 4. Shells | D. Lothal |
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:
B. 1 – a, 2- d, 3 -c, 4- b
Question 4.
Which of the following professions is common among Kong Zi, Mahavira, Aristotle and Buddha? [1]
A. Philosophers
B. Kings
C. Atheist
D. Warriors
Answer:
A. Philosophers
Question 5.
Identify the given image from the following options: [1]
A. Sahdev
B. Bhima
C. Kama
D. Dushasan
Answer:
B. Bhima
Question 6.
Which of the following rulers erected a pillar at Lumbini? [1]
A. Asoka
B. Bimbisara
C. Chandragupta
D. Samudragupta
Answer:
A. Asoka
Question 7.
What was the name given to pavilions in the Virupaksha temple? [1]
A. Mandapa
B. Dibba
C. Gopuram
D. Nayaka
Answer:
A. Mandapa
Question 8.
Fill in the blank :
_______wrote the book Akbar Nama. [1]
A. Abul Fazl
B. Faizi
C. Mirza Ghalib
D. Amir Khusrau
Answer:
A. Abul Fazl
Question 9.
Find out the correct chronological order of the Vijaynagara dynasties from the following options : [1]
I. Rule of the Sangama Dynasty
II. Rule of the Aravidu Dynasty
III. Rule of the Tuluva Dynasty
IV. Rule of the Suluva Dynasty
Options:
A. I, IV, III & I
B. II, m, IV & I
C. Ill, II, I & IV
D. IV, II, I & III
Answer:
A. I, IV, III & I
Question 10.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). [1]
Assertion (A): The officers of the Mughal administration under Akbar were directed to follow the policy of “Sulh-i-Kul.”
Reason (R): This policy was formed to ensure absolute peace in society and bring communal harmony.
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: [1]
Abdur Razzaq : Persia, Duarte Barbosa:_______
A. French
B. Morrocco
C. Portuguese
D. Netherlands
Answer:
A. French
Question 12.
Which among the following is correctly matched? [1]
| List-I | List – II |
| A. Henry Beveridge | Babur Nama translation |
| B. Alanqua | Afghan Queen |
| C. Plato | Greek |
| D. Sharia | Christian law |
Answer:
C. Plato- Greek
Question 13.
Given below are two statements, one labeled as Assertion (A) and the other labeled as Reason (R). [1]
Assertion (A): Durgabai informed the House that the opposition in the south against Hindi was very strong.
Reason (R): On the call of Mahatma Gandhi, she carried on Hindi propaganda in 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:
B. Both (A) and (R) are correct, but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Question 14.
Consider the following statements and select the correct one from the following options: [1]
I. The Objectives Resolution was brought by Jawahar Lai Nehru.
II. The Objectives Resolution was accepted and passed by the Constituent Assembly.
III. Objectives Resolution acted as the guiding light for the Constitution makers.
Options:
A. II & III
B. I & III
C. I, II & III
D. I & II
Answer:
C. I, II & III
Question 15.
Into how many chapters is “Kitab-ul-Hind” divided? [1]
A. Eighty
B. Eight
C. Ten
D. Twenty-four
Answer:
A. Eighty
Question 16.
What was the total number of the Mahajanapadas? [1]
A. Ten
B. Fourteen
C.Sixteen
D. Eighteen
Answer:
C. Sixteen
Question 17.
What is the literal meaning of the term “Silsila”? [1]
A. Chain of the link between master and disciple
B. Generosity
C. Contemplation
D. None of the above
Answer:
A. Chain of the link between master and disciple
Question 18.
The colonial rule in India was first established in which of the following places? [1]
A. Madras
B. Bengal
C. Bombay
D. Deccan
Answer:
B. Bengal
Question 19.
Find out from the following pairs which one is NOT correctly matched: [1]
A. Tantia Tope: Kanpur
B. Rani Laxmibai Bai: Jhansi
C. Begum Hazrat Mahal: Lucknow
D. Wajid Ali Shah : Meerut
Answer:
D. Wajid Ali Shah : Meerut
Question 20.
From which of the following places Gandhiji started the salt March in the year 1930? [1]
A. Sabarmati Ashram
B. Wardha Ashram
C. Delhi Ashram
D. Belgaum Ashram
Answer:
A. Sabarmati Ashram
Question 21.
Who was the Chief Draughtsman of the Indian Constitution? [1]
A. S.N. Mukherjee
B. Nandalal Bose
C. Sir B.N. Rau
D. Dr Ambedkar
Answer:
A. S.N. Mukherjee
Section – B (18 Marks)
Question 22.
Describe the hierarchy of economic status in the Varna system.
OR
Discuss any three the features of the Shrenis. [3]
Answer:
The Varna system divided the people of the society into four main sections.
1. The economic status of the upper sections of the Varna system especially Brahmins and Kings (Kshatriyas) was very high. They generally possessed significant wealth.
2. The worst economic condition was of the Shudras who were seen as the inferior classes with the responsibility of serving the upper sections of the society.
OR
Some features of the Shrenis are:
1. Generally the members of a guild or shreni had specialisation in a single craft due to which they seek cooperation with each other.
2. There is evidence which proves that people belonging to different occupations organised themselves into shrenis for collective development.
3. Members of the shrenis collectively invested their wealth for economic development.
Question 23.
What can be known about nayakas? [3]
Answer:
Among those who exercised power in the empire were military chiefs who usually controlled forts and had armed supporters. These chiefs often moved from one area to another, and in many cases were accompanied by peasants looking for fertile land settle. These chiefs were known as the nayakas and they usually spoke Telugu or Kannada. Many nayakas submitted to the authority of the kings of Vijayanagara but they often rebelled and had to be subdued by military action.
Question 24.
How did Mahatma Gandhi want to celebrate 26 January 1930? [3]
Answer:
Gandhiji suggested that the time of the meeting should be advertised in the traditional way, by the beating of drums. The celebrations would begin with the hoisting of national flag. The rest of the day would be spent “in doing some constructive work, whether spinning, or service of ‘untouchables’, or reunion of Hindus and Mussalmans, or prohibition work, or even all these together, which is not impossible”.
Question 25.
What was the stand of the Muslim League and the Socialists on joining the Constituent Assembly? [3]
Answer:
The Socialists and the Muslim League were reluctant to join the Constituent Assembly due to different reasons as follows:
1. The Socialists held the view that the Constituent Assembly was the body that was created by the British due to which it did not represent the interests of all sections of India.
2. The League boycotted the Constituent Assembly as they put forward the demand of a separate nation Pakistan with a separate Assembly.
Question 26.
“India had a unique system of communication during the fourteenth century.” Justify the statement of Ibn-e-Battuta. [3]
Answer:
1. Inns and rest houses were built on almost all the trading routes.
2. Ibn-Battut was amazed by observing the postal system.
3. Merchants were not only able to send information to a long-distance, but also to dispatch goods required at short notice.
4. The postal system was so efficient that while it took 50 days for traders to reach Delhi from Sindh, the news, reports of spies would reach the king in only 5 days.
Question 27.
“Archaeologists have used evidence from material remains to piece together parts of Harappan history.” Justify the statement with reference to the principles of classification.
OR
“Harappan script is considered as an enigmatic script.” Justify the statement with suitable arguments. [3]
Answer:
1. One simple principle of classification is in terms of material, such as stone, clay, metal, bone, ivory etc.
2. The second and more complicated is in terms of function: archaeologists have to decide whether for instance an artefact is a tool or an ornament or both or something meant for ritual use.
3. Archaeologists also try to identify the function of an artefact by investigating the context in which it was found: was it found in a house, in a drain, in a grave, in a klin?
4. Sometimes, archaeologists have to take recourse to indirect evidence. For instance, though there are traces of cotton at some Harappan sites, to fin out about clothing we have to depend on indirect evidence including depictions in sculpture.
OR
Harappan script as an Enigmatie script:
1. Harappan seals usually have a line of writing, probably containing the name and title of the owner.
2. Most inscriptions are short, the longest containing about 26 signs.
3. Although the script remains undeciphered to date, it was evidently not alphabetical (where each sign stands for a vowel or a consonant) as it has just too many signs somewhere between 375 and 400.
4. It is apparent that the script was written from right to left as some seals show a wider spacing on the right and cramping on the left, as if the engraver began working from the right and then ran out of space.
Section – C (24 Marks)
Question 28.
What are some of the common subsistence strategies in both the Early Harappan and the Mature Harappan cultures?
OR
Discuss in detail the drainage system of the Harappan cities. [8]
Answer:
Some of the common subsistence strategies in both cultures are:
1. The people of both cultures ate a different variety of plants and animals, including aquatic species like fish.
2. The discovery of charred grains and seeds depicts that a wide range of dietary practices was prevalent.
3. Grains such as wheat, barley, chickpeas, and lentils have been discovered from the Harappan sites showing their use in both cultures.
4. Some animals like cattle, sheep, goats and buffalo were domesticated by the people of both civilization.
5. The meat of the wild animals such as boar and deer were consumed by the people of both civilization.
OR
One of the most astonishing features of the Harappan civilisation was the drainage system of their cities. It was very carefully planned. Some of its features are:
1. The streets and towns in the cities were laid out in a grid pattern intersecting at the right angles.
2. The streets had proper drains at regular intervals having a fixed pattern.
3. Every house was connected with the drainage system for carrying out the waste to the disposal centre.
4. There were cesspits at regular intervals so that any issue with the blockage of the drainage can be easily resolved.
5. The drainage system of the Harappan cities was the sign of the engineering genius of the people of Harappa.
Question 29.
Give a brief account of writers who visited India after 1500 CE.
OR
India had a unique system of communication during the fourteenth century”. Examine the statement of Ibn Battuta. [8]
Answer:
The Following writers visited India after 1500 CE:
1. Roberto Nobili was a Portuguese writer who translated many Indian books into European languages.
2. Duarte Barftosa was a famous Portuguese writer who gave a detailed account of trade and society in south Indian.
3. But after 1600 CE, a lot of Dutch, English and French travellers came to India.
4. Jean-Baptiste Tavernier was a French jeweller. He had visited India at least six times. He was fascinated with the trading conditions in India. He compared India to Iran and the Ottoman Empire.
5. Manucci was an Italian doctor. He was so impressed with India that he settled here and never went back to Europe.
6. Francois Bernier was a Frenchman. He was a doctor, a historian and a political philosopher. He had come to the Mughal Empire in search of opportunities. He remained in India for twelve years, i.e., from 1656 to 1668. He was a physician to Prince Dara Shikoh, the eldest son of Emperor Shah Jahan
7. They were translated into English, Dutch, German and Italian. Between 1670 and 1725 C.E., his work was reprinted eight times in French and three times in English.
OR
Ibn Battuta examined the unique system of communication of India which impressed him very much. He explained this system in the following ways:
1. There were two kinds of postal system in India. These were uluq (horse post) and dawa (foot-post).
2. Uluq stationed at a distance of every four miles while the dawa has three stations per mile, means one-third of a mile.
3. The foot-post was quicker than the horse post and often it was used to transport the fruits of Khurasan.
4. Ibn Battuta was amazed by the efficiency of the postal system which allowed merchants to not only send information and remit credit across long distances, but also to dispatch goods required at short notice.
5. The postal system was so efficient that while it took fifty days to reach Delhi from Sind, the news reports of spies would reach the Sultan through the postal system in just five days. Thus, enabled the ruler to keep a strict watch over the vast empire.
Question 30.
Why did the zamindars regularly default on the payment of rents on their estates to the British government?
OR
Describe the lifestyle of the Paharias of the Rajmahal hills and how they utilized the forest resources. [8]
Answer:
There were several reasons behind this:
1. The initial demands of the rents by the British government were very high. This was done by the government because in future the prices of the lands would increase significantly.
2. The agricultural output was low during the 1790s due to which the farmers were unable to pay their rents. Due to this, the zamindars did not have sufficient revenue.
3. The revenue collected was invariable and did not consider the period of bad harvest, famine and natural disasters.
4. The Permanent Settlement Act also limited the powers of the zamindars during its initial period.
5. All the powers of the zamindars and provisions related to their lands were regulated by the British government.
OR
The Paharias used to inhabit the hilly areas of the Rajmahal hills. Some of their characteristic features were:
1. They adopted the practice of shifting cultivation and their life was depended on several forest products.
2. The Paharias used to clear the forest by cutting down the trees and then setting the remaining residue to the fire. On that land, they used to produce pulses and millets for consumption.
3. They used to cultivate an area of land for a few years and then left it so that it could recover its fertility.
4. From the forests, they collected Mahua for food, products like silk cocoons and resins for selling purposes. The collection of wood for charcoal production was also done.
5. The lives of the Paharias rotated around the agricultural activities and the forest produce.
Section – D (12 Marks)
Question 31.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
When historians began reconstructing early Indian history in the nineteenth century, the emergence of the Mauryan Empire was regarded as a major landmark. India was then under colonial rule and was part of the British Empire. Nineteenth and early twentieth-century Indian historians found the possibility that there was an empire in early India both challenging and exciting. Also, some of the archaeological finds associated with the Mauryas, including stone sculpture, were considered to be examples of the spectacular art typical of empires.
Many of these historians found the message on Asokan inscriptions very different from that of most other rulers, suggesting that Asoka was more powerful and industrious, as also more humble than later rulers who adopted grandiose titles. So it is not surprising that nationalist leaders in the twentieth century regarded him as an inspiring figure.
(i) India was under which rule when the historians began constructing the history of the Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
India was under colonial rule when the Indian historians began constructing the history of the Mauryan Empire.
(ii) What were some of the significant features of the Mauryan Empire?
Answer:
Some of the significant features of the Mauryan Empire were the stone sculpture, the inscriptions of Asoka and other artefacts.
(iii) What image of Asoka can be constructed through his inscriptions?
Answer:
The inscriptions suggest that Asoka was a powerful and industrious ruler. He was also very humble and adopted several grandiose titles. He became an inspiring figure for the nationalist leaders.
Question 32.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
Both Nayanars and Alvars were revered by the Vellala peasants. Not surprisingly, rulers tried to win their support as well. The Chola kings, for instance, often attempted to claim divine support and proclaim their power and status by building splendid temples that were adorned with stone and metal sculpture to recreate the visions of these popular saints who sang in the language of the people.
(i) The Nayanars and the Alvars received support from which sections of the society?
Answer:
The Nayanars and the Alvars received support from the peasants, women and as well as the ruling Kings.
(ii) Why do you think that Chola Kings supported the Nayanars and Alvars?
Answer:
The Nayanars and the Alvars had wide support from the common people. On the other hand, they acted as the intermediate between the Kings and God. They attempted to claim divine support. Due to these reasons, they supported the Nayanars and the Alvars.
(iii) Why did Chola Kings construct temples?
Answer:
Most of the well-known temples of South India were constructed by the Chola kings. They wanted to claim the divine status and also wanted to receive the legitimacy of the Bhakti saints by implementing their vision.
Question 33.
Read the following source carefully and answer the questions that follow: [4]
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah
Maulvi Ahmadullah Shah was one of the many maulvis who played an important part in the revolt of 1857. Educated in Hyderabad, he became a preacher when young. In 1856, he was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. He moved in a palanquin, with drumbeaters in front and followers at the rear.
He was therefore popularly called Danka Shah, the maulvi with the drum (danka). British officials panicked as thousands began following the maulvi and many Muslims began seeing him as an inspired prophet. When he reached Lucknow in 1856, he was stopped by the police from preaching in the city. Subsequently, in 1857, he was jailed in Faizabad. When released, he was elected by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader.
He fought in the famous Battle of Chinhat in which the British forces under Henry Lawrence were defeated. He came to be known for his courage and power. Many people in fact believed that he was invincible, had magical powers, and could not be killed by the British. It was this belief that partly formed the basis of his authority.
(i) Why did British officials panic about Maulavi Ahmadullah?
Answer:
He was seen moving from village to village preaching jehad (religious war) against the British and urging people to rebel. The British officials panicked, as thousands began following the maulvi.
(ii) What was the reason for his popularity?
Answer:
The Muslims started seeing him as an inspired prophet. He used to move in a palanquin, with drumbeaters in front and followers at the rear. He was elected by the mutinous 22nd Native Infantry as their leader.
(iii) Why was he considered invincible?
Answer:
He came to be known for his courage and power. Many people in fact believed that he was invincible, had magical powers, and could not be killed by the British. It was this belief that partly formed the basis of his authority.
Section – E (5 Marks)
Question 34.
1. On the given political map of India, locate and label the following with appropriate symbols: [3]
I. Lathal- A Mature Harappan Site
II. Bodh Gaya- A Major Buddhist Side
III. Panipat- Territory Under the Control of Mughals
OR
Jhansi- A Main Centre of the Revolt ofl857
Question 34.
2. On the same outline map, two places have been marked as A’ and ‘B’, as the centres of the National Movement. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. [2]
Answer:
