APEEJAY SCHOOL, PITAMPURA

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION (2023-24)

CLASS- IX
SUBJECT- SOCIAL SCIENCE
Time- 3 hour Max Marks-80
General Instructions:
Question paper comprises Six Sections – A, B, C, D, E and F. There are 37 questions in the
question paper. All questions are compulsory.
Section A – Question no. 1 to 20 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
Section B – Question no. 21 to 24 are Very Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 2 marks
each. Answer to each question should not exceed 40 words.
Section C- contains Q.25to Q.29 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each.
Answer to each question should not exceed 60 words.
Section D – Question no. 30 to 33 are long answer type questions, carrying 5 marks each.
Answer to each question should not exceed 120 words.
Section-E – Questions no from 34 to 36 are case based questions with three/four sub
questions and are of 4 marks each.
Section F – Question no. 37 is map based, carrying 5 marks with two parts, 37a from History
(2 marks) and 37b from Geography (3 marks).
There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been
provided in few questions. Only one of the choices in such questions have to be attempted.
In addition to this, separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever
necessary.

SECTION-A MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (1 MARK)

Q1.Name the longitudinal extent in which India is located? (1)
(a) 108°8’E and 139°9’E
(b) 108°8’W and 108°8’W
(c) 68°7’E and 97°25’E
(d) 68°7’W and 97°25’W
Q2.A narrow channel of sea separating two land-masses is called ___. (1)
(a) Gulf
(b) Strait
(c) Isthmus
(d) Bay
Q3.The Standard Meridian of India, 82°30′E passes through which of the following places?
(1)
(a) Kanniyakumari in Tamil Nadu
(b) Walong in Arunachal Pradesh
(c) Kachchh in Gujarat
(d) Mirzapur in Uttar Pradesh
Q4. Which of the following is not a feature of the peninsular plateau? (1)
(a) It is composed of igneous and metamorphic rocks.

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(b) Gently rising hills
(c) Deep valleys
(d) Wide valleys
Q5. Famous valleys of Kashmir, the Kangra, and Kullu Valley are found in which of the
following mountain range? (1)
(a) Great Himalayan
(b) Himachal Himalaya
(c) Himadri range
(d) Shiwalik range
Q6.Which of the following option best signifies this cartoon? (1)

(a) Democracy strengthen by military.

(b) Democracy restoration by military.
(c) In democracy rulers often use guns/power to remain in power.
(d) Democracy always comes in country when guns/power is used
Q7.Why can the Chinese government not be called a democratic government even though
elections are held there? (1)
(a) Army participates in election
(b) Government is not accountable to the people
(c) Some parts of China are not represented at all
(d) Government is always formed by the Communist Party
Q8. Which of these positions is correct in relation to the ‘Sovereign’ status of India? (1)
(a) USA can decide India’s foreign policy
(b) USSR can support the CPI (M) in setting up its government in India
(c) The Indian government only can decide its internal and external policies
(d) The Indian government can interfere in the internal matters of Pakistan
Q9. How does democracy allow us to correct its own mistakes?
(a) Mistakes are hidden and cannot be corrected
(b) Re-electing the same government to enable it to correct its mistakes
(c) The rulers can be changed
(d) The rulers are permanent and can not be changed
Q10. According to which Act were the elections held to provincial legislatures in India in
1937? (1)

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(a) Government of India Act, 1935
(b) Government of India Act, 1919
(c) Government of India Act, 1909
(d) Government of India Act,1858
Q11.Which term is used to describe the society and institutions of France before 1789? (1)
(a) Old Regime
(b) Livre
(c) Subsistence crisis
(d)Taille
Q12.Which of the following was a factor in the rise of Napoleon ? (1)
(a) Fall of the Jacobin government
(b) Robespierre’s Reign of Terror
(c) Political instability of the Directory
(d) Nationalist forces
Q13.What were the ideas of ‘conservatives’ regarding social change in the 19th century? (1)
(a) They accepted that some change was required
(b) They believed that change should be done by a slow process
(c) They were completely opposed to any such change
(d) Both a and b
Q14. Which of the following is true about the peasants of Russia? (1)
(a) Except in a few cases, they had no respect for the nobility
(b) Peasants wanted the land of the nobles to be given to them
(c) Frequently they refused to pay rent and even murdered the landlords
(d) They wanted the amount of tax to be reduced
Q15. After the abdication of Tsar Nicolas II in 1917, Soviet leaders and Duma leaders formed
a _____. (1)
(a) National Government to run the country
(b) Provisional Government to run the country
(c) Local Government to run the country
(d) Central Government to run the country
Q16. Vicious cycle is created when: (1)
(a) Educated parents invest more in the education of their children.
(b) Disadvantaged parents keep them in same state of disadvantage
(c) Birth of more children in a family
(d) Children start working at an early stage
Q17.The workforce population includes from (1)
(a)15-59 years ( who are willing to work )
(b)15-60 years( who are willing to work
(c)14-59 years( who are willing to work )
(d)Any age( who are willing to work )
Q18.Which sector provides the largest employment in Palampur? (1)
(a) Services
(b) Manufacturing
(c) Agriculture
(d) Education
Q19.Which of the following terms used for measuring the crop produced on a given piece of

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land? (1)
(a)Output
(b)Productivity
(c)Cultivation
(d)Yield
Q20.Decrease in IMR (Infant Mortality Rate) of a country signifies: (1)
(a) Increase in life expectancy
(b) Increase in GNP
(c) Economic development of a country
(d) Increase in number of colleges in a country

SECTION-B VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (2 MARKS)

Q21.Explain any two ways in which slavery was abolished in France. (2)
Q22. “The apartheid system was particularly oppressive for the blacks.” Justify by giving two
reasons. (2)
Q23.‘Democracy is all about political competition and powerplay.There is no scope for
morality’. Justify the statement by giving any two arguments against democracy. (2)
Q24.A detailed account of the different physiographic units highlights the unique features of
each region in India. In the light of this statement mention any two features. (2)

SECTION-C SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (3 MARKS)

Q25. On what terms did Savita get a loan from Tejpal Singh? How would Savita's condition
be different if she could get a loan from the bank at a low rate of interest? (3)
Q26.What is the role of health in human capital formation? (3)
Q27. Explain any three reasons which led to civil war between the Bolsheviks and the
Russian army of non-Bolsheviks. (3)
Q28.Mention any three differences between Eastern Ghat and Western Ghat. (3)
Q29.Highlight the importance of constitutional Amendment. State its significance in a
democratic country like India. (3)

SECTION-D LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS (5 MARKS)

Q30.The nature of unemployment differs in rural and urban areas.Explain with examples. (5)
Q31.The Northern Indian plains are densely populated areas of India. Discuss its importance
along with its geographical divisions. (5)
Q32.Describe the views of Radicals. Mention any four features of the Russian economy at the
beginning of the 20th century. (5)
Q33.There are other forms of government in the world, among them democracy is considered
to be the best option. Highlight any five reasons for this. (5)

SECTION-E CASE BASED QUESTIONS (4 MARKS)

Q34.Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Chemical fertilizers provide minerals which dissolve in water and are immediately available
to plants. But these may not be retained in the soil for long. They may escape from the soil
and pollute groundwater, rivers and lakes. Chemical fertilisers can also kill bacteria and other
micro -organisms in the soil .This means some time after their use, the soil will be less fertile
than ever before. The consumption of chemical fertilizers .Punjab is the highest in the
country. The continuous use of chemical fertilizers has led to degradation of soil health.

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Punjab farmers are now forced to use more and more chemical fertilizers and other inputs to
achieve the same production level. This means cost of cultivation is rising very fast (Source:
The Tribune).
(i) Why was the use of chemical fertilisers started in Palampur village? (1)
(ii)How modern farming is different from traditional farming? (1)
(iii)Explain any two disadvantages of using chemical fertilisers. (2)
Q35.Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
The Peninsular plateau is one of the oldest landmass. The plateau has broad and shallow
valleys and rounded hills. This plateau consists of two broad divisions, namely, the Central
Highlands and the Deccan Plateau. The part of the Peninsular plateau lying to the north of the
Narmada river covering a major area of the Malwa plateau is known as the Central
Highlands. The Vindhyan range is bounded by the Central Highlands on the south and the
Aravalis on the northwest. The further westward extension gradually merges with the sandy
and rocky desert of Rajasthan. The flow of the rivers draining this region, namely the
Chambal, the Sind, the Betwa and Ken is from southwest to northeast, thus indicating the
slope. The Central Highlands are wider in the west but narrower in the east. The eastward
extensions of this plateau are locally known as the Bundelkhand and Baghelkhand. The
Chotanagpur plateau marks the further eastward extension, drained by the Damodar river.
(i)How was the Peninsular plateau formed? (1)
(ii)Discuss the location of the Central Highlands. (1)
(iii)Define the term ‘Bundelkhand’. (1)
(iv)Name the two geographical divisions bounding Vindhyan range. (1)
Q36. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
Like South Africa, India’s Constitution was also drawn up under very difficult circumstances.
The making of the constitution for a huge and diverse country like India was not an easy
affair. At that time the people of India were emerging from the status of subjects to that of
citizens. The country was born through a partition on the basis of religious differences. This
was a traumatic experience for the people of India and Pakistan. Atleast ten lakh people were
killed on both sides of the border in partition related violence. There was another problem.
The British had left it to the rulers of the princely states to decide whether they wanted to
merge with India or with Pakistan or remain independent. The merger of these princely states
was a difficult and uncertain task. When the constitution was being written, the future of the
country did not look as secure as it does today. The makers of the constitution had anxieties
about the present and the future of the country. Some basic values were accepted by all
leaders much before the Constituent Assembly met to deliberate on the Constitution.
(i)In what way was the condition of South Africa different from India? (1)
(ii)Define the term Constituent assembly. (1)
(iii)Mention any two problems India was facing at the time of partition. (2)

SECTION-F MAP BASED QUESTIONS (5 MARKS)

Q37.(a)On an outline political map of the world, two places have been marked. Identify them
and write their names in the space provided.
(i)The capital of France
(ii)A port famous for slave trade
(b)On an outline political map of India, label and locate the following places.
(i)A mountain range in the southern part of Malwa plateau.

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(ii)One of the oldest mountain range in western part of India.
(iii)The highest peak in Wesstern Ghat

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