ICSE Class 10 History and Civics Sample Question Paper 1 with Answers
Maximum Marks: 40
Time: 1 1/2 Hours
Genaral Instructions
- Answers to this Paper must be written on the paper provided separately.
- You will not be allowed to write during the first 10 minutes.
- This time is to be spent in reading the question paper.
- The time given at the head of this Paper is the time allowed for writing the answers.
- Attempt all questions from Section A and any four questions from Section B.
- The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
Part – I [10 Marks]
(Attempt all questions from this Section)
Choose the correct answers to the questions from the given options. (Do not copy the question, write the correct answer only.)
Question 1.
(i) The procedure to remove the President is called _________. [1]
(a) Impeachment
(b) Interpellation
(c) Resolution
(d) Prorogation
Answer:
(a) Impeachment
Explanation:
The President of India can be removed from his office before the expiry of his term if he violates the Constitution of India. The impeachment procedure can be initiated in either of the two houses of the Legislature: Lok Sabha (The Lower House) or Rajya Sabha (The Upper House).
(ii) The term of office of the Vice President is _________. [1]
(a) Five years
(b) Six years
(c) Two years
(d) Ten years
Answer:
(a) Five year
Explanation:
Normal term of office of the Vice-President is five years provided by constitution.
(iii) The ___________ is considered to be the Leader of the Lok Sabha. [1]
(a) President
(b) Speaker
(c) Vice President
(d) Prime Minister
Answer:
(d) Prime Minister
Explanation:
The Presiding officer of the lower house of the Parliament is Prime Minister.
(iv) The power of the Supreme Court to review laws passed by Union Legislature is _________. [1]
(a) Revisory Jurisdiction
(b) Advisory Jurisdiction
(c) Original Jurisdiction
(d) Judicial Review
Answer:
(d) Judicial Review
Explanation:
Judicial Review can be defined as the power of the Supreme Court to examine the laws passed by the union legislature and the orders issued by the executive officials to find wether or not they are permitted by the Constitution.
(v) The High Court judges are appointed by the _________. [1]
(a) President
(b) Prime Minister
(c) Governor
(d) Chief Justice of India
Answer:
(a) President
Explanation:
The Chief Justice of the High Court is appointed by the President of India in consultation with the chief justice of the Supreme Court and the Governor of concerned state. The appointment of other judges shall also be made in the same manner except that in their case the Chief Justice of High Court shall also be consulted.
(vi) Which of the following was not a common ideology of the dictators? [1]
(a) Faith in totalitarian rule
(b) One party and One Leader
(c) Faith in Communism
(d) Aggressive Nationalism arid Imperialism
Answer:
(c) Faith in Communism
Explanation:
The ideology of dictatorship faith in totalitarian rule, One party One Leader and Aggressive Nationalism and Imperialism but not in communism.
(vii) The International Court of Justice consists of _________ judges. [1]
(a) 9
(b) 15
(c) 10
(d) 20
Answer:
(b) 15
Explanation:
The International Court of Justice is composed of 15 judges elected to nine-year terms of office by the United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council. These organs vote simultaneously but separately. In order to be elected, a candidate must receive an absolute majority of the votes in both bodies.
(viii)The non-permanent members of the Security Council are elected by the members of _________. [1]
(a) General Assembly
(b) International Court of Justice
(c) The Trusteeship Council
(d) The Secretariat
Answer:
(a) General Assembly
Explanation:
The Security Council has primary responsibility for the maintenance of international peace and security. It has 15 Members, and each Member has one vote.
(ix) The Treaty of Versailles mandated Germany to pay a war reparation of _________. [1]
(a) 35 billion dollars
(b) 40 billion dollars
(c) 33 billion dollars
(d) 50 million pounds
Answer:
(c) 33 billion dollars
Explanation:
Treaty of Versailles, peace document signed at the end of World War I by the Allied and associated powers and by Germany in the Hall of Mirrors in the Palace of Versailles, France, on June 28,1919; it took force on January 10, 1920.
(x) Which of these countries was not part of the Berlin-Rome -Tokyo Axis? [1]
(a) Germany
(b) Italy
(c) Japan
(d) France
Answer:
(d) France
Explanation:
Rome-Berlin-Tokyo Axis was the alliance between Italy, Germany, and Japan who fought against Allied forces in World War II. Officials from Nazi Germany, Fascist Italy, and Imperial Japan signed the ten-year Tripartite Pact. The pact was the military alliance which asked for cooperation among the three nations (Axis powers) in World War II.
Part – II
Section – A [50 Marks]
(Attempt any one question from this Section)
Question 2.
The executive power of the Indian Union is vested in the President of India. In this context, answer the following questions:
(i) Give any two reasons for the indirect election of the President. [2]
(ii) Mention any two discretionary powers of the President. [2]
(iii) Mention any three legislative powers of the President. [3]
(iv) Name the three kinds of emergencies that can be proclaimed by the President. [3]
Answer:
(i) The two reasons for the indirect election of the President are:
The President is only a nominal executive and the real powers are vested in the council of ministers headed by the Prime Minister. It would have been anomalous to have the President elected directly by the people and not give him any real power.
The direct election of the President would have been very costly and time and energy-consuming due to the vast size of the electorate. This is unwarranted keeping in view that he is only a symbolic head.
(ii) Two Discretionary powers of the President are:
1. The President has to be informed of all important decision and deliberations of the Council of Ministers and the Prime Minister is bound to provide whatever information the President seeks.
2. The President cannot dismiss the Prime Minister in a Parliamentary System, as long as he enjoys a majority. But in case no single party gets a majority, then the President can write to the person who can govern with a majority support to form a Coalition Government which would be stable.
(iii) Legislative powers of the President are:
1. He can summon or prorogue the Parliament and dissolve the Lok Sabha. He can also summon a joint sitting of both the Houses of Parliament, which is presided over by the Speaker of the Lok Sabha.
2. He can address the Parliament at the commencement of the first session after each general election and the first session of each year.
3. He can send messages to the Houses of Parliament, whether with respect to a bill pending in the Parliament or otherwise. (Any two)
(iv) There are three types of emergencies under the Indian Constitution which are declared by president namely:
1. National Emergency: Article 352 of the Indian Constitution talks about the national emergency. National emergency is imposed whereby there is a grave threat to the security of India or any of its territory due to war, external aggression or armed rebellion.
2. State Emergency: Article 356 talks about the failure of constitutional machinery in state also known as the President’s rule. If the president on Governor’s report or otherwise is satisfied that the situation has arisen that the government can’t be carried in accordance with the constitutional provisions then, he may issue State emergency.
3. Financial Emergency: The president under Article 360 of the constitution has the power to declare financial emergency if he is satisfied that the financial stability or the credit of India or any part of its territory is threatened. It has to be laid before both the Houses of Parliament and ceases to operate at the expiration of two months unless meanwhile approved by the resolution of Houses.
Question 3.
The Supreme Court is the head of the entire system of judiciary. In this context, answer the following questions:
(i) Mention any two qualifications required by a person to be the judge of the Supreme Court. [2]
(ii) Who appoints the judges of the Supreme Court? What is their term of office? [2]
(iii) Mention any three cases which come under the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. [3]
(iv) Why is the Supreme Court called the Court of Record? [3]
Answer:
(i) Two qualifications required by a person to be the judge of the Supreme Court are He should be a citizen of India. He should have been a judge of a High Court (or high courts in succession) for five years.
(ii) The judges of the Supreme Court are appoint by President.
The term of office of Supreme Court judges are until they attain the age of 65 years.
(iii) The three cases which come under the Original Jurisdiction of the Supreme Court are:
1. Any dispute between the Centre and one or more state.
2. Protection of Fundamental Rights.
3. Interpretation of Constitution.
(iv) The Supreme Court called the Court of Record because:
The judgements, proceedings and acts of the Supreme Court are recorded for perpetual memory and testimony. These records are admitted to be of evidentiary value and cannot be questioned when produced before any court. They are recognised as legal precedents and legal references.
Section – B
(Attempt any two question from this Section)
Question 4.
With reference to the First World War, answer the following questions:
(i) Name the two alliances formed in Europe during the First World War. [2]
(ii) Name the two countries which came under dictatorship after the First World War. Name the dictators. [2]
(iii) Explain the Sarajevo Crisis. [3]
(iv) Mention any three ways in which the Treaty of Versailles benefited France. [3]
Answer:
(i) The two alliances formed in Europe during the First World War I are:
1. Triple Alliance: It had Germany, Austria Hungary and Italy as its members.
2. Triple Entente: It had France, Britain and Russia as its members.
(ii) The two countries which came under dictatorship after the First World War were Germany and Soviet Russia:
1. The dictator of Germany was- Adolf Hitler.
2. The dictator of Soviet Russia was- Joseph Stalin.
(iii) This Sarajevo Crisis refers to the events surrounding the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand, heir to the Austro-Hungarian throne, and his wife Archduchess Sophie during a state visit to Sarajevo on 28 June, 1914. It is traditionally regarded as the immediate catalyst for the First World War which also ended Austro-Hungarian rule in Bosnia and resulted in the creation the kingdom of Yugoslavia.
(iv) Three ways in which the Treaty of Versailles benefited France were:
1. France gained a lot from the Treaty of Versailles. Alsace-Lorriaine were returned by Germany to them.
2. France was compensated for the destruction of its coal mines by Germany. France was supposed to get 15 years of supply of coal from Germany.
3. Germany paid financial reparations, disarm, overseas colonies, 13% of its territories to France, Poland, Denmark and Lithuania.
Question 5.
Look at the picture given and answer the questions that follow:
(i) Which organization does this emblem represent? Where is its head quarters ? [2]
(ii) Mention any two objectives of this organisation. [2]
(iii) Mention any three functions of the General Assembly. [3]
(iv) What is the composition of the Security Council? [3]
Answer:
(i) This emblem represents United Nation Organisation. Its headquarter is in New York City.
(ii) The two objectives of United Nation Organisation are:
1. The maintenance of International Peace and security.
2. To encourage international cooperation in the spheres of social, economic and cultural development.
(iii) The three functions of the General Assembly are:
1. Consider and approve the United Nations budget and establish the financial assessments of Member States.
2. Elect the non-permanent members of the Security Council and the members of other United Nations councils and organs and, on the recommendation of the Security Council, appoint the Secretary-General.
3. Consider and make recommendations on the general principles of cooperation for maintaining international peace and security, including disarmament.
4. Discuss any question relating to international peace and security and, except where a dispute or situation is currently being discussed by the Security Council, make recommendations on it.
(iv) The Security Council consists of fifteen Members of the United Nations.
The Republic of China, France, the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, and the United States of America are the permanent members of the Security Council.
The General Assembly elect ten non-permanent members of the United Nations the Security Council. The non-permanent members of the Security Council shall be elected for a term of two years. In the first election of the non-permanent members after the increase of the membership of the Security Council from eleven to fifteen, two of the four additional members shall be chosen for a term of one year. A retiring member shall not be eligible for immediate re-election. Each member of the Security Council shall have one representative.
Question 6.
(i) Give the full form of UNICEF and UNESCO. [2]
(ii) Mention any two functions of WHO. [2]
(iii) What is meant by the term Non-Alignment? Name any two founders of the Non- Aligned Movement. [3]
(iv) Mention any three objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement. [3]
Answer:
(i) UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund.
UNESCO: United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.
(ii) The two functions of WHO are:
1. Providing leadership on matters critical to health and engaging in partnerships where joint action is needed.
2. Shaping the research agenda and stimulating the generation, translation and dissemination of valuable knowledge.
(iii) Non-aligned may refer to: Non-Aligned Movement, movement of states considering themselves not formally aligned with or against any major power bloc. Non-belligerent, in a war. Neutrality (international relations), in a war: more restrictive than non-alignment.
The first NAM was held in Belgrade in 1961.
Two founders of Non-aligned Movement were:
1. President Tito (original name Josip Broz) of Yugoslavia.
2. President Kwame Nkrumah of Ghana. President Sukarno of Indonesia.
(iv) The three objectives of the Non-Aligned Movement are:
1. To eliminate all the causes which could lead to war.
2. To strengthen the United Nations as an organ of world peace.
3. To oppose colonialism, imperialism and racial discrimination.