XII HISTORY SAMPLE QUESTIONS

 Part - A

(Very Short Answer Type Questions)

1. “Coinage plays a valuable role in determining certain period of Indian history.” Justify the statement giving two points.

2. Why is Al-Biruni’s text “Kitab-ul-Hind” considered as a Voluminuous text ?

3. State any two characteristic features of the towns built by the Mughals in India during sixteenth and seventeenth centuries.

OR

State any two characteristic features of the ‘new Black Town’ developed during the colonial period in Madras.

Part - B

(Short Answer Type Questions)

4. Prove with the help of examples that the Harappans had established their contacts with Western Asia for purchase/exchange of artifacts.

5. Describe the administrative features of the Mauryan Empire.

6. ‘Mahanavami Dibba of Vijaynagara was the centre of elaborate rituals.’ Explain the statement with suitable examples.

7. Why did N.G. Ranga urge to interpret minorities in the economic terms in the Constituent Assembly ? Explain.

8. Analyse the impact of American Civil War on the lives of the Ryots in Deccan country-side.

OR

Examine why were the religious divisions between Hindus and Muslims hardly noticeable during the uprising of 1857.

9. “Akbar consciously made Persian the leading language of the Mughal Court.” Justify the statement with the efforts made by him.

OR

“The visible centre of Mughal power was the King’s Court.” Justify the statement with suitable arguments.

Part - C

(Long Answer Questions)

10. Explain how the chronicle ‘Ain-i-Akbari’ is the major source to understand agararian history of sixteenth and seventeenth centuries. Also, explain the method of irrigation and technology used during that period.

OR

Explain the role played by Zamindars during sixteenth and seventeenth centuries in India.

11. Describe the ‘ideal of Patriliny’ and ‘Gendered access to Property’ prevailing during sixth century B.C.E. to sixth century C.E.

OR

Describe the elements considered by historians to analyse Mahabharata. State the efforts of V.S. Suthankar and his team for the preparation of the critical edition of Mahabharata.

12. “‘Quit India Movement’ was genuinely a mass movement bringing into its ambit hundreds of thousands of ordinary Indians.” Analyse the statement.

OR

“The worst is over but Indians need to work collectively for the equality of all classes and creeds.” Substantiate the statement of Gandhiji for bringing communal peace after the partition of India.

Part - D

(Source Based Questions)

13. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow :

The Muslim League resolution of 1940

The League’s resolution of 1940 demanded :

That geographically contiguous units are demarcated into regions, which should be so constituted, with such territorial readjustments as may be necessary, that the areas in which the Muslims are numerically in a majority as in the north-western and eastern zones of India should be grouped to constitute “Independent States”, in which the constituent units shall be autonomous and sovereign. 

(13.1) Identify the major demands of the Muslim League.

(13.2) Analyse the reasons for the demand of autonomy by the Muslim League.

(13.3) Analyse the distinctive aspects of the Muslim League Resolution of 1940.

OR

Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow :

A small basket of grapes

This is what Dr. Khushdeva Singh writes about his experience during one of his visits to Karachi in 1949 :

My friends took me to a room at the airport where we all sat down and talked... (and) had lunch together, I had to travel from Karachi to London... at 2.30 am... At 5.00. p.m. ... I told my friends that they had given me so generously of their time, I thought it would be too much for them to wait the whole night and suggested they must spare themselves the trouble. But nobody left until it was dinner time.... Then they said they were leaving and that I must have a little rest before emplaning. .... I got up at about 1.45 a.m. and, when I opened the door, I saw that all of them were still there.... They all accompanied me to the plane, and, before parting, presented me with a small basket of grapes. I had no words to express my gratitude for the overwhelming affection with which I was treated and the happiness this stopover had given me.

(13.1) Analyse the attitude of the people of Karachi towards Khushdeva Singh.

(13.2) Express the feelings of Khushdeva Singh at Karachi.

(13.3) “Love is stronger than hate.” Elucidate the statement in the context of this narrative.

14. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow :

A prayer to Agni

Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni, the god of fire :

Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the gods, O wise one, as a liberal giver.
Bestow on us, O priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by sacrificing, mighty wealth for us.

Procure, O Agni, for ever to him who prays to you (the gift of) nourishment, the
wonderful cow, May a son be ours, offspring that continues out line...

Verses such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit, known as Vedic
Sanskrit. They were taught orally to men belonging to priestly families.

(14.1) Why was Vedic Sanskrit significant ?

(14.2) Explain any two Vedic traditions of religious beliefs and practices.

(14.3) Why were sacrifices performed during Vedic Period ?

15. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer the questions that follow :

The One Lord

Here is a composition attributed to Kabir :

Tell me, brother, how can there beNo one lord of the world but two ?
Who led you so astray ?God is called by many names :
Names like Allah, Ram, Karim, Keshav, Hari and Hazrat.Gold may be shaped into rings and bangles.Isn’t it gold all the same ?Distinctions are only words we invent....
Kabir says that are both mistaken.Neither can find the only Ram. One kills the goat, the other cows.They waste their lives in disputation.

(15.1) How has Kabir laid emphasis on the attainment of oneness with the divine ? Explain.

(15.2) How do you think the people waste their lives in disputation ?

(15.3) How has the lyrical beauty of his poem made him a figure of inter-religious harmony ? Explain.

Part - E

(Map Question)

16. (16.1) On the given political outline map of India, locate and label the following with appropriate symbols :

(a) Agra, a territory under Mughals OR Vijaynagara

(b) Champaran, a centre of National Movement OR Gwalior - a centre of the Revolt of 1857

(16.2) On the same outline map three places have been marked as A, B, C which are related to the mature Harappan sites. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines marked near them.