ASSESSMENT

SHEETS

PRACTICE TEST
PAPERS YOURSELF

Practice Paper-1 Practice Paper-2 Practice Paper-3 Practice Paper-4

History Ch-1, 2, 3 History Ch-4, 5, 6 History Ch-7, 8, 9 History Ch-10, 11, 12

Geography Ch-1, 2 Geography Ch-3, 4 Geography Ch-5, 6 Geography Ch-7, 8
Civics Ch-1, 2 Civics Ch-3, 4 Civics Ch-5, 6 Civics Ch-7, 8, 9

Test Yourself-1 Test Yourself-2

History Ch-1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 History Ch-7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

Geography Ch-1, 2, 3, 4 Geography Ch-5, 6, 7, 8
Civics Ch-1, 2, 3, 4, 5 Civics Ch-6, 7, 8, 9

147
 Practice Paper–1
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. Which of the following are examples of sacred literature?
(a) Tripitakas (b) Angas (c) Mahabharata (d) All of these
2. What were the Palaeolithic tools made of?
(a) Wood (b) Stone (c) Bones (d) Animal horns
3. Which of the following is known as the ‘Morning Star’?
(a) Mercury (b) Venus (c) Jupiter (d) Sun
4. In which hemisphere is the Tropic of Cancer located?
(a) Northern (b) Southern (c) Both (a) and (b) (d) None of these
5. Which of the following is the main official language of India?
(a) Urdu (b) Tamil (c) Hindi (d) English
6. Who protects the weaker and backward sections of the society?
(a) State (b) Religious people (c) Rich people (d) Police
B. Fill in the Blanks.
1. Burzahom is an important Neolithic site in ___________________.
2. _________________ is a Palaeolithic site in Karnataka.
3. Ceres is the largest _______________ in our solar system.
4. The maximum distance between any two longitudes is at the ______________.
5. The __________________ school of music is known as Hindustani, while the __________________ school
of music is called Carnatic.
6. Dr. B.R. Ambedkar belonged to the ____________ caste.
C. Write T for True and F for False.
1. We have written records of the discovery of fire and the invention of wheel.
2. People of Daojali Hading buried their dead along with domesticated animals.
3. Equator divides the Earth into two equal halves.
4. Differences in society and its structure create unrest.
D. Give short answers for the following.
1. Name the two main sources for studying the past.
2. What does rock art refer to?
3. Name a periodic comet.
4. Which climatic zone is the coldest on Earth?
5. Name two languages included in the Constitution other than Hindi.
6. Who were not given the same rights and privileges as the other three castes?
E. Projects and activities
Students can be evaluated based on the projects and activities given at the end of each chapter and the
projects and activities given in the teacher’s manual.

148
 Practice Paper–2
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. Which of the following is identified with the figure of Pashupati found on the Indus seals?
(a) God Vishnu (b) God Brahma (c) God Shiva (d) God Indra
2. What was the duration of the Vedic Age?
(a) 2500-1500 BCE (b) 1000-500 BCE (c) 1500-1000 BCE (d) 1500-500 BCE
3. Which of the following is the shape of Earth’s orbit around the Sun?
(a) Rectangular (b) Circular (c) Oval (d) Triangular
4. A thematic map does not show which of the following markings?
(a) Cities (b) Forests (c) Minerals (d) Crops
5. In which country is the political party ANC active?
(a) South Africa (b) India (c) Egypt (d) None of these
6. Why do people organize strikes, rallies and protest marches?
(a) To show their happiness (b) To show their satisfaction
(c) To show their disaffection (d) None of these
B. Fill in the Blanks.
1. Harappan sites ___________________ and _________________ are located in Gujarat.
2. __________________ was the capital of Vajji.
3. The _________________ of Earth causes day and night.
4. North, South, East and West are called __________________ directions.
5. The legislature is the __________________________ branch of the government.
6. Justice means ________________ and _______________ treatment of the people by the laws of a country.
C. Write T for True and F for False.
1. Brass was used in the Early Vedic Period.
2. Vajji had a gana-sangha form of government.
3. The tilting of the Earth’s axis is called orbit.
4. Apartheid was officially abolished in South Africa in 1894.
D. Give short answers for the following.
1. Define a script.
2. What are cist graves?
3. What is know as solstice?
4. What is a plan?
5. Which dictator ruled Germany by force?
6. After how many years are elections held in India?
E. Projects and activities
Students can be evaluated based on the projects and activities given at the end of each chapter and the
projects and activities given in the teacher’s manual.
149
 Practice Paper–3
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. Which of the following founded the Mauryan Empire?
(a) Ashoka (b) Chanakya (c) Bindusara (d) Chandragupta
2. Arretine ware was named after a city. In which country is this city located?
(a) Egypt (b) Mesopotamia (c) Italy (d) India
3. Which of the following is a continent and an island?
(a) Africa (b) Antarctica (c) Europe (d) Australia
4. Which of the following is a volcanic mountain?
(a) The Himalayas (b) The Vosges (c) Mt Fuji (d) Ural Mountains
5. Which of the following is the link between the Gram Panchayat and the Zila Parishad?
(a) Gram Sabha (b) Nyaya Panchayat (c) District court (d) Block Samiti
6. Who is the head of the Municipal Corporation?
(a) Mayor (b) Commissioner (c) Aldermen (d) Ward Councillor
B. Fill in the Blanks.
1. Vardhamana Mahavira was the last ______________________.
2. Megasthenes was a Greek envoy in _________________________________’s court.
3. The Great Barrier Reef is located in ______________________.
4. Intermontane plateaus are surrounded by ______________________.
5. The _____________________ is the head of the Gram Panchayat.
6. Municipal ___________________ are formed in big cities.
C. Write T for True and F for False.
1. Indika was written by Brihadratha.
2. Arctic ocean is the busiest from the point of view of trade.
3. The Himalayas are fold mountains.
4. Municipal Corporations provide services like sanitation, water supply, etc.
D. Give short answers for the following.
1. What is meant by the term bhikshu?
2. What are shrenis?
3. Define lithosphere.
4. Why are plains called lowlands?
5. Which officer implements the plans of the Block Samiti?
6. Who are aldermen?
E. Projects and activities
Students can be evaluated based on the projects and activities given at the end of each chapter and the
projects and activities given in the teacher’s manual.

150
 Practice Paper–4
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. Which of the following countries was the first to produce silk fabric?
(a) China (b) Japan (c) India (d) Sri Lanka
2. Which of the following was the capital of the Pallavas?
(a) Vatapi (b) Kanchipuram (c) Kaveripattinam (d) None of these
3. Lagoons can be found in which Indian state?
(a) Gujarat (b) Karnataka (c) Kerala (d) West Bengal
4. Where are mangrove forests found?
(a) Swampy areas (b) Dry areas (c) Cold areas (d) Hot areas
5. Who is the head of the police at the circle level?
(a) Commissioner of Police (b) Superintendent of Police
(c) Deputy Superintendent of Police (d) Station House Officer
6. Which of the following jobs offer medical facilities to their workers?
(a) Vendor jobs (b) Casual jobs (c) Permanent jobs (d) None of these
B. Fill in the Blanks.
1. ____________________ came to India during the reign of Harshavardhana to study Buddhism.
2. The ________________ caves are situated in Aurangabad district of Maharashtra.
3. _______________________ lake is a salt water lake in the Thar Desert.
4. _______________________ and ________________________ are the initiatives that have been launched to
protect our valuable animals.
5. ______________________ is the register in which records are maintained by the Patwari.
6. ________________________ own large plots of land and employ many people to work on their land.
C. Write T for True and F for False.
1. The navratnas belonged to the court of Chandragupta I.
2. Sahyadri is a part of Western Ghats.
3. Fishing is an important source of income for people living near coastal areas.
4. Professionals do not have any work.
D. Give short answers for the following.
1. Which city was the capital of Pandyas?
2. The foundation of which famous stupa was laid by Ashoka?
3. What is the shape of the Indian Peninsular Plateau?
4. What is the Indian bison known as?
5. Who is the head of the police in the state?
6. Where do people mostly migrate to?
E. Projects and activities
Students can be evaluated based on the projects and activities given at the end of each chapter and the
projects and activities given in the teacher’s manual.

151
 Answer Key to Practice Paper-1
A. 1 (d) 2. (b) 3 (b) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (a)
B. 1. Kashmir 2. Hunsgi 3. asteroid 4. Equator 5. North Indian, South Indian
6. Mahar
C. 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T
D. 1. Literary and Archaeological sources are two main sources of studying the past.
2. Rock art refers to the paintings made by early humans on the walls of caves.
3. Halley’s comet is a periodic comet.
4. Frigid zone is the coldest zone on Earth.
5 English, Gujarati, Kannada, Konkani * Any two of these and students can find out more*.
6. Dalits were not given the same rights and privileges as the other three castes.

Answer Key to Practice Paper-2

A. 1 (c) 2. (d) 3 (c) 4. (a) 5. (a) 6. (c)
B. 1. Lothal, Dholavira 2. Vaishali 3. rotation 4. Cardinal 5. law-making 6. fair, just
C. 1. F 2. T 3. F 4. F
D. 1. A script is a style of writing used by people for the language they use.
2. In cist graves, a box-like burial chamber made of rectangular stone slabs was built inside a pit. A port hole
in one of the walls of the chamber allowed the grave to be used again and again.
3. The day on which the mid-day sun is vertically overhead at the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn
is called a solstice.
4. A plan is a drawing which is used to show layout of buildings, houses, hospitals, class rooms etc. It represents
a very small area on a large scale.
5 Adolf Hitler ruled Germany by force.
6. In India, elections are held after every five years.

Answer Key to Practice Paper-3

A. 1 (d) 2. (c) 3 (d) 4. (c) 5. (d) 6. (a)
B. 1. tirthankar 2. Chandragupta Maurya 3. Australia 4. mountains 5. sarpanch
6. Corporations
C. 1. F 2. F 3. T 4. T
D. 1. Bhikshu means beggar in Prakrit.
2. Shrenis were guilds formed by traders and craftsmen.
3. Lithosphere is the hard solid outer layer of the Earth. It comprises of rocks and soil.
4. Plains are also referred to as lowlands because of their negligible elevation, generally not more than 200m
above sea level.
5 Block Development Officer (BDO) implements the plans of the Block Samiti.
6. Some well-known and distinguished people of the city are also made members of the Corporation. These
people are known as aldermen.

152
 Answer Key to Practice Paper-4
A. 1 (a) 2. (b) 3 (c) 4. (a) 5. (c) 6. (c)
B. 1. Hiuen Tsang 2. Ajanta 3. Sambhar 4. Project Tiger, Project Elephant
5. Khasra 6. Rich farmers
C. 1. F 2. T 3. T 4. F
D. 1. Madurai was the capital of Pandyas.
2. The foundation of Sanchi Stupa was laid by Ashoka.
3. Indian Peninsular plateau is triangular in shape.
4. Indian bison is also known as Gaur.
5 Director General of Police is the head of the police in the state. He is also called the Commissioner of Police.
6. People mostly migrate from villages to the cities.

153
 Test Yourself–1
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. The study of coins is known as:
(a) Numismatics (b) Chronology (c) Archaeology (d) Epigraphy
2. Pottery making started in the:
(a) Bronze age (b) Chalcolithic age (c) Neolithic age (d) Stone age
3. Spindle whorls in Harappa were made of:
(a) Wood (b) Faience (c) Terracotta (d) Both (b) and (c)
4. The coldest planet in our solar system is:
(a) Earth (b) Neptune (c) Uranus (d) Jupiter
5. The Standard Meridian for India passes through:
(a) Midnapur (b) Ahmedabad (c) Mumbai (d) Mirzapur
6. The tilting of the Earth’s orbit is called its:
(a) Inclination (b) Orbit (c) Equator (d) Pole
7. In the monarchical mahajanapada the ministers were called:
(a) Amatya (b) Dasa (c) Purohita (d) Karamkara
8. The Nyaya Panchayat is like a:
(a) Local court (b) Local government (c) Self government (d) Republic
9. Chhau is a :
(a) Classical dance (b) Fusion dance (c) Folk dance (d) Semi classical dance
10. The highest court in India is :
(a) High court (b) District court (c) Lok adalat (d) Supreme court
B. Answer the following questions in a few sentences (20 words).
1. Why is the study of the past important?
2. Why do historians study chronology?
3. Who were the Aryans?
4. What is direct democracy?
5. What is public opinion?
6. What is a social movement?
7. What is a sketch?
8. What is the circle of illumination?
9. What is shown in a physical map?
C. Answer the following briefly (40 words).
1. Write a note about the four major directions.
2. What is the main effect of the inclination of Earth’s axis?
3. What is meant by religious diversity in India?
4. How can we overcome prejudices?
154
 5. What are rock paintings?
6. What was the extent of the Indus Valley Civilization?
D. Answer the following questions in detail (80-100 words).
1. How is a solistice different from an equinox?
2. What are the phases of the Moon?
3. Explain what are the lines of latitudes using an appropriate diagram.
4. What was the Citadel in Indus Valley Civilization? Write about the Great Bath found there.
5. What is the importance of the Executive and the Judiciary as organs of a government?
6. Compare the monarchial form of government at Magadha and the republican form of government at Vajji.
7. Write in brief about the religious practices followed by the Vedic people.
8. Write a note on the Panchayati Raj system.
E. On the river map of India mark and label any four of the following Neolithic sites in the Indian subcontinent.
(a) Mehrgarh (b) Burzahom (c) Mahagara (d) Koldihwa
(e) Chirand (f ) Daojali Hading (g) Hallur (h) Paiyampalli

Not to scale

155
 Test Yourself–2
A. Choose the correct answer.
1. Who wrote the Brihat Samhita?
(a) Varahamihira (b) Aryabhatta (c) Charaka (d) Sushruta
2. There are _______________________ Upanishads:
(a) 86 (b) 106 (c) 108 (d) 156
3. The administration of the Mauryas and how an empire should be governed is discussed in:
(a) Indika (b) Vedas (c) Arthashastra (d) Mudrarakhshasa
4. Plateaus that are surrounded by hills and mountains from all sides are called:
(a) Plains (b) Horsts (c) Fjords (d) Intermontane plateaus
5. The Northern Mountains originate from:
(a) Pamir Knot (b) Mt Everest (c) Ladakh range (d) Pir Panjal
6. Which of the following ancient trading centre was located near Puducherry?
(a) Bharuch (b) Arikamedu (c) Tamluk (d) Muziris
7. In which of the following seasons fishermen cannot go fishing?
(a) Summer season (b) Winter season (c) Spring season (d) Monsoon
8. The distance from the sea is termed as:
(a) Relief (b) Altitude (c) Continentality (d) Rainfall
9. Which of the following enjoy medical facilities from their employers?
(a) Permanent Workers (b) Domestic Workers (c) Daily Wage Workers (d) Hawkers
10. The head of the Municipal Corporation is:
(a) Governor (b) Deputy Mayor (c) Mayor (d) Chief Minister
B. Answer the following questions in a few sentences (20 words).
1. Why was Bharuch an important place?
2. What do you understand by the term muvendar?
3. Name some important works of Kalidasa.
4. What is secondary livelihood?
5. What is a Sessions’ Court?
6. What is RTI?
7. What is the Himadri?
8. What is biosphere?
9. Why does South India have high temperature in winters?
C. Answer the following briefly (40 words).
1. How does monsoon occur in India?
2. Write a short note on Malwa plateau.
3. What is animal husbandry?
4. What are the functions of the patwari?
156
 5. What are stupas?
6. What was the idea of Bhakti?
D. Answer the following questions in detail (80-100 words).
1. Differentiate between structural and erosional plains?
2. What were Hinayana and Mahayana?
3. What was Fa-Hien’s account of the Gupta period?
4. Why are forests important? How are they protected?
5. What was the Sangam literature?
6. Discuss the law of inheritance for women in India?
7. Why is the atmosphere important for us?
8. Discuss in brief various types of farmers living in rural areas.
E. On the river map of India mark and label any two from both segments in the Indian subcontinent.
1. (a) Sariska National Park (b) Pulicat wildlife sanctuary (c) Western Ghats (d) Palk Strait
2. (a) Kanauj (b) Purushapura (c) Taxila (d) Pataliputra

Not to scale

157
 Answer Key to Test Yourself-1
A. 1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (d) 4. (b) 5. (d) 6. (a)
7. (a) 8. (a) 9. (c) 10. (d)
B. 1. The study of the past is important to know more about our ancestors and the society of those times—how
they lived, what they ate, what they wore, their beliefs and faiths and their arts and crafts etc.
2. Historians, or people who study the past, use chronology as the first step towards understanding historical
events.
3. The Aryan people who arrived in India were probably from Central Asia. They migrated to different parts
of the world, perhaps in search for fertile pastoral lands or maybe due to an increase in population.
4. In ‘direct’ democracy, all the citizens collectively take decisions relating to governance. This is possible only
in countries which have small populations.
5. Public opinion is the opinion of the people on an issue or matter relating to public concern and welfare.
It helps shape government policies and decisions.
6. ‘Social movements’ may be formed by any section of people in order to challenge some decisions of the
government. The organizers of the movement conduct various activities in order to create awareness about
specific issues.
7. A sketch is a rough drawing an area or a place drawn without a scale or accurate distances.
8. The circle that separates day and night is called the circle of illumination.
9. Physical maps show the relief or natural features of the Earth’s surface. They show landforms like plains,
mountains, valleys and plateaus and waterbodies like rivers, seas and oceans.
C. 1. North (N), South (S), East (E) and West (W) are four major directions. These are called the cardinal directions.
The north direction is shown on a map by an arrow pointing in the upward direction with the letter N
marked on it. This arrow is called the North Line. The direction to the right of the north line is east and to
its left is west. The direction at the bottom of the North Line is south.
2. The tilt or inclination of the Earth’s axis causes variation in the length of days and nights. Due to this
inclination, the northern hemisphere remains inclined towards the Sun for half of the year and the southern
hemisphere during the other half.
3. India is a secular country. Freedom of religion is a fundamental right guaranteed by our Constitution. While
Hinduism is the religion practised by majority of people, other religions also flourish in India. Each religion
has its own customs, traditions, festivals and places of worship.
4. We can overcome prejudices by trying to understand people before judging them. We should give ourselves
and them a chance to get to know each other better before we form opinions about them. We should
respect and accept the diversity of our country. This will help in broadening our minds and make us respect
other cultures and overcome prejudices.
5. One of the important sources of the early humans are the rock paintings of the Stone Age found around
the world. The early humans painted on cave walls. Many of these paintings have survived to the present
day. The paintings mainly portrayed animal figures.
6. The Indus Valley Civilization spread over large parts of the present day Pakistan, the Indian states of Punjab,
Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Haryana, modern day Afghanistan and Baluchistan. After Harappa and
Mohenjodaro, many more sites sharing several common features with these two sites, were discovered.
D. 1. The day on which the midday Sun is vertically overhead at the Tropic of Cancer or the Tropic of Capricorn, is
called a solstice. It is the longest day in that hemisphere. There are two solstices in a year. They are summer
solstice and winter solstice. Similarly, on two days of the year, the midday Sun is vertically overhead at the
equator. On these days, the duration of days and nights is same throughout the world. These days are called
equinoxes. The two equinoxes are spring equinox and autumnal equinox.

158
2. The phase of the Moon or the lunar phase is the shape of the Moon we can see from the Earth. It depends
on how much of the Moon is lit up by the Sun. The phase of the Moon changes every day. The Moon goes
through all its phases during the lunar month.
The various phases of the Moon are:
(a) When the Moon is between the Sun and the Earth, it is known as new moon. During this phase, we
see the side of the Moon that is not lit up by the Sun.
(b) During a full moon, the Earth, Moon and Sun are in complete alignment. This makes the entire sunlit part
of the Moon visible to us. In a month there is usually only one full moon. However, we may sometimes
see a second full moon in the same month. This phenomenon is called Blue moon.
(c) During the half moon phase, the Moon is at a 90 degree angle with respect to the Earth and the Sun.
Therefore, we see only half of the Moon lit up while the other half is in darkness.
3. The imaginary lines that run horizontally across a globe are termed as lines of latitude. The latitude of a
place is the angular distance of that place north or south of the equator measured in degrees, minutes and
seconds from the centre of the Earth. A line of latitude joins all places having the same angular distance
from the equator. For example, 40°N latitude joins all places situated at an angular distance of 40°N of the
equator. In all there are 90 parallels in each hemisphere, progressively increasing in degrees towards the
poles marked as North Pole and South Pole. The equator is taken as the starting point of all latitudinal lines
and is marked at 0° angle of latitude. All other latitudes are aligned from 0° to 90° in both the hemispheres.

90°N
80
°N

60°
N

40
°N

20°
N

0° North to 90°
tor
20° Equa
S
South to
40° 90°
S

4. The citadel was the raised part of the Indus cities. Important buildings of the cities such as the Great Bath
at Mohenjodaro and the granaries at Harappa and Mohenjodaro. were built on the citadel. Fire altars have
been discovered at Kalibangan and Lothal. These were probably used for domestic or ritualistic purposes.
The Great Bath, discovered at Mohenjodaro, is one of the most famous and important structures of the
Indus Valley civilization. It is a large, rectangular tank, made by fitting bricks with mortar. Then a thick
layer of plaster was applied to the sides and the floor to make it watertight. On two sides, there are steps,
which lead down to the tank. Around the tank are rooms, which were probably changing rooms. Water was
probably brought in from a well and drained after use. It is believed that the tank may have been used for
religious purposes or people may have bathed here on special occasions. This tank shows the advanced
engineering and planning skills of the people.
5. The Executive is the organ which sees that the laws made by the legislature are enforced and people who
violate the laws are punished. Officially, India’s central executive is headed by the President of the country,
though the real work is done by the Prime Minister and a council of other ministers. At the State level, the

159
 executive is headed by the Governor and run by the Chief Minister and his council of ministers. The Judiciary
is the organ of the government in whose hands the judicial power is vested. It functions through a system
of courts. It ensures that the government functions according to the laws, settles disputes and safeguards
people against unjust rule. The Indian judiciary consists of the Supreme Court, the High Court and various
lower courts. The Supreme Court is the highest court in the country. The High Court is the highest court
in the State. The judiciary functions independently of the legislature and the executive.
6. There were two types of political systems that prevailed in the mahajanapadas. One was that of a
gana-sangha (republic) In this system of government, the mahajanapada was ruled by a group of people
who were elected by the people of that tribe. The heads of the family of the various clans or clan chiefs
governed the collective territory. There was no hereditary kingship. Decisions were taken on the basis of
a majority vote. So it was like a democratic system. The government of Vajji had a republican structure.
The second type of political system was that of a monarchy. In this system of government, the mahajanapadas
were ruled by kings, who were very powerful. They maintained large armies and ruled according to their
own wishes. Kingship was hereditary, that is, after the death of the king, his son succeeded him as the ruler.
Magadha is an example of a monarchical form of government.
7. The Aryans worshipped the various forces of nature, as they wanted protection from natural disasters, and
considered them sacred. The gods of the Early Vedic period were mostly connected with nature.
Some of the important gods were Indra (the warrior god and also the god of storm and rain), Varun (the
sky god), Agni (the fire god), Vayu (the wind god) and Surya (the sun god). Some of the goddesses who
were worshipped were Aditi (the mother of the gods), Usha (the goddess of the dawn), Ratri (the spirit of
the night) and Aranyani (the forest goddess).
There were no temples or image worship. Prayers were chanted in the open. Fire was an important part
of all religious rituals. Yajnas (sacrifices) were performed to please the deities, to protect their cattle, for
becoming kings and for children, especially sons.
Most of the early Vedic gods lost their importance. New gods, Brahma (the creator), Vishnu (the preserver)
and Shiva (the destroyer) replaced the old gods. Hinduism as it exists today began to take shape in this
period.
Religious worship became complex and sacrifices were given greater importance. Religion became an
expensive affair and the common people found it almost impossible to conduct sacrifices. The priests
became more important and powerful. They performed sacrifices on behalf of the king and the people.
The priests in return were gifted gold, cloth and cows.
During this period, new developments in religious philosophy also emerged with concepts and ideas such
as karma (actions) and moksha (salvation). It was believed that by doing good actions, man could attain
salvation.
8. The Panchayati Raj system is the local self-government system at the rural or village level. It aims at rural
development. It is a unique system that has evolved in our country over time.
Panchayat is like a village council consisting of village residents, usually the village elders. It enables people
to form their own government and participate directly in the development of their area.
The origin of the panchayat can be traced back to ancient India. The word Panchayat literally means assembly
(ayat) of five (panch). Wise and respected elders are chosen and accepted by the local community.
The term Panchayati Raj originated in India during the British rule when administration became more and
more centralized.
The Panchayati Raj functions through three levels or tiers—the Gram Panchayat, Gram Sabha and Nyaya
Panchayat at the village level, the Block Samiti or Panchayat Samiti at the block level and the Zila Parishad
at the district level.

160
E. Solution to Map Question
(Teachers should see the correct location of any four of the following sites with correct labeling marked on
the map.)

Burzahom

Mehrgarh

Koldihwa
Chirand Daojali Hading
Mahagara

Hallur
Paiyampalli

Not to scale

161
 Answer Key to Test Yourself-2
A. 1. (a) 2. (c) 3. (c) 4. (d) 5. (a) 6. (b)
7. (d) 8. (c) 9. (a) 10. (c)
B. 1. Bharuch or Bhrigukachchha or Barygaza (as referred to by the Greeks) was an important port town on the
Gujarat coast. It was one of the busiest ports of ancient India, an important centre for overseas trade.
2. The Sangam literature mentions a term muvendar which means ‘the three crowned kings’ and refers to the
three main ruling families of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas.
3. Abhijnanashakuntalam, Malavikagnimitram, Vikramorvashiyam and Raghuvamsa are some of the famous
works of Kalidasa.
4. Secondary livelihood are jobs that involve transformation of raw materials into goods. It involves changing
or transforming raw materials such as raw cotton into cotton cloth.
5. The Sessions Judge presides over the Sessions Court which is the highest court for criminal cases in the
district. It deals with cases of theft, murder, kidnapping, etc.
6. The Right to Information Act (RTI) gives people the right to demand information on any issue.
7. The Himadri is the northernmost range of the Himalayas. It is the longest and the highest mountain range
in the world.
8. The biosphere is a very narrow zone where lithosphere, hydrosphere and atmosphere meet. All forms of
life exist in it.
9. South India has high temperature mainly due to its closeness to the sea. Coastal areas experience a moderate
climate during this season.
C. 1. Monsoon or rainy season starts from mid June and lasts till about end of September. During the summer
months, a low pressure area is formed over northern India because the heat makes the air light and it starts
rising. Moisture laden winds from the high pressure area of the Indian Ocean move into the low pressure
areas and cause heavy rains in India.
2. The Malwa Plateau is surrounded by the Aravalli Hills in the north-west and the Vindhyas in the south.
The eastern extension of the plateau is known as Bundelkhand and the southern extension is known as
Bagelkhand. In south Bihar, it is called the Chota Nagpur Plateau.
3. Animal husbandry means farming that involves rearing animals to produce food. People rear animals such
as cows, goats and buffaloes mainly for their milk. The milk is sold to village cooperative societies. These
societies then sell the milk in the market.
4. The patwari collects detailed information about the owner of each plot of land, the size of the land, the
crops grown on the land, etc. He measures the various plots of land and records the dimensions. He also
conducts inspections to find out the yield from the land after each harvest. He collects land revenue from
the farmers in the villages.
5. Stupas are dome-shaped structures which contain the relics of the Buddha or Buddhist monks. A small box
which contains the relics is placed at the centre or the inner chamber of the stupa. This may either contain
the bodily remains, such as bones, teeth or ashes, or else objects used by the Buddha or the Buddhist
monks.
6. The idea of bhakti signified a person’s devotion to god. A pure heart was all that was needed to worship
god. Anybody, rich or poor, man or woman, belonging to the upper or lower class, could worship god. The
idea of bhakti finds mention in the Bhagavad Gita.
D. 1. Structural plains are formed when rock layers on the Earth’s crust are aligned horizontally. They are also
known as tectonic plains. The Russian Platform and the Great Plains of USA are examples of structural
plains. Erosional plains are formed due to continuous wearing down of the high lands like mountains, hills
or plateaus due to erosion by running water, wind and glaciers. The West Siberian Plain is an example of
erosional plain.

162
2. Buddhism had split into two sects—Hinayana and Mahayana. Hinayana was the older form in which the
Buddha was not depicted in human form. He was instead depicted through various symbols, such as the
Bodhi tree, the rider-less horse, etc. In Mahayana, the Buddha was depicted in human form. Many lifelike
statues of the Buddha were created.
3. According to Fa-Hien in the Gupta period:
— The people were honest and simple and led happy, secure and prosperous lives.
— Crime was rare and punishments were not very severe.
— There were not too many restrictions and people had considerable freedom.
— People did not have to pay too many taxes.
— He also mentions that there were many charitable institutions and rest houses.
— At the same time, he also noticed the plight of the untouchables, who had to live on the outskirts of
the city.
4. Forests are a rich source of natural resources and are very useful.
• The plants in a forest absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen.
• They provide necessary humus to the soil.
• They prevent soil erosion by binding the soil with their roots.
• They increase moisture content in the air, thus inducing rainfall.
• Forests provide a natural habitat to wildlife.
• They check flood by holding water.
In India, cutting down of trees for commercial use and clearing forests for cultivation of crops has led to
the depletion of forest cover. The widespread cutting down of trees is called deforestation. Forests are our
national wealth and should be protected. Not only should the large-scale felling of trees be stopped, but
efforts should be made to plant more trees and conserve the environment. The Government of India has
initiated many programmes to conserve and protect forests and wildlife.
5. Sangam literature comprises of some of the earliest works in Tamil, which were composed and compiled
in sangams (assemblies) of poets and authors that were held in the city of Madurai. Three sangams were
supposed to have been held. Unfortunately most of the Sangam literature is now lost to us. But the existing
Sangam poems give us a lot of information on the life, culture and society of that period in south India. For
example, Sangam literature talks about various occupations but never about caste directly. Therefore, it is
considered to be an important source for studying and understanding the ancient south Indian history. The
Sangam literature mentions a term muvendar which means ‘the three crowned kings’ and refers to the three
main ruling families of the Cholas, the Cheras and the Pandyas, who ruled over the region of Tamilakam,
which comprises of modern-day Tamil Nadu and Kerala.
6. For a long time, women did not have any rights over land. They could not inherit any property. They were
only allowed to work on land, but not own it. The property was divided among the men in the family, while
the women were denied their share. An amendment to the Hindu Succession Act, 1956 was brought about
on 9 September, 2005. The Act brings all agricultural land at par with other property and makes Hindu
women inherit rights on land legally equal to those of men in all States. The Act also gives all daughters
(married or not) the right to receive a part of the family house. This Act is a major landmark as it ensures
that women are not discriminated against. It is an important step for ensuring women’s rights as it aims
at improving the status of the women in the society. The law is applicable to all the States and the Union
Territories of India. However, this law applies only to the Hindu community. Other communities have their
own laws on inheritance of property.
7. The atmosphere is important in many ways. It protects us from the harmful ultraviolet rays of the Sun. Oxygen
supports life on Earth while nitrogen helps in the growth of living organisms. Carbon dioxide absorbs heat
thereby keeping the Earth warm and plants absorb carbon dioxide to make food. Water vapour and dust
particles are important for the formation of clouds and occurrence of rain.

163
 8. Three types of farmers are—agricultural labourers or landless peasants, small or middle level farmers and
rich farmers. Landless peasants have no lands of their own, they work on other people’s lands, and they
are very poor. They work on land belonging to other farmers in exchange for wages which are often very
low.
Small farmers own small plots of land, work on them with their families, earn just about enough for their
families, often have to borrow money for items such as pesticides and fertilizers and are unable to afford
modern farming techniques. They are usually able to grow just enough for their needs. They are not able
to earn much from their land. Rich farmers own large plots of land. They employ other people to work on
their lands. They are very rich and are able to buy good quality seeds, fertilizers, insecticides and expensive
and modern machinery.
E. Solution to Map Question
(Teachers should see the correct location of any four of the following sites with correct labeling marked on
the map.)

2. (b) Purushapura

2. (c) Taxila

2. (a) Kanauj
1. (a) Sariska
National Park

2. (d) Pataliputra
Wes

1. (b) Pulicat Wildlife

1. (c hats
tern

Sanctuary
)
G

it
ra
St
k
P al
(d)
1.

Not to scale

164