Social Studies PYQs

The correct option is 'Only (A) and (C) are true'.

Important Points

(A) Asteroids do move around the Sun, just like all other objects in our solar system.

• Asteroids are small, rocky objects that orbit the sun. Although asteroids orbit the sun like planets, they are much smaller than planets.
• There are lots of asteroids in our solar system. Most of them live in the main asteroid belt—a region between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

(C) They are found between the orbits of Mars and Jupiter.

• The majority of known asteroids orbit within the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, generally with not very elongated orbits.

Additional Information  (B) Sometimes asteroids do come near the Earth, and some have collided with our planet.

• This is False
• Sometimes these meteoroids come near the earth and tend to drop upon it.
• During this process due to friction with the air they get heated up and burn. It causes a flash of light.
• Sometimes, a meteor without being completely burnt, falls on the earth and creates a hollow.

The correct answer is Both (A) and (B) are true

Important Points

(A) The Equator is indeed a very important reference point for locating places on the Earth.

• It is an imaginary line that divides the Earth into the Northern and Southern Hemispheres and is used as the starting point for the system of latitude.

(B) Latitude is often determined by measuring the angle between the horizon and the North Star (Polaris) from the observer's perspective.

• The angle between the horizon and the North Star corresponds to the latitude of the observer.
• This is generally true for locations in the Northern Hemisphere, where the North Star is visible.
• In the Southern Hemisphere, other celestial navigation techniques are used as the North Star is not visible.

The correct answer is 5 hours.

Important PointsThe Earth is divided into 24 time zones, each of which covers 15 degrees of longitude.

• Therefore, the time difference between two places can be found by subtracting their longitudes, dividing the difference by 15 (since each time zone is 15 degrees wide), and then converting this to time.

The difference between 95°E and 20°E is 75°E.

75°E / 15 = 5

So, the time difference between place A and B is 5 hours.

Therefore, the correct answer is:

5 hours

The correct answer is Only (A) and (B)

Important Points(A) The revolution of the earth and the inclination of the earth's axis in a fixed direction causes seasons.

• The Earth's axis is tilted about 23.5 degrees relative to the plane of its orbit around the Sun.
• This tilt, combined with the Earth's revolution around the Sun, leads to the change in seasons.
• When the axis is tilted towards the Sun, it is summer in that hemisphere because the Sun's rays are hitting the Earth more directly, providing more heat.
• Conversely, when the axis is tilted away from the Sun, it is winter because the Sun's rays are hitting the Earth at a more oblique angle, providing less heat. In between these extremes, spring and autumn occur.

(B) Changes in the position of the Earth around the Sun changes seasons.

• As the Earth orbits the Sun, its tilt means that the Sun's rays hit different parts of the Earth more directly during different parts of the year.
• When the Earth is on one side of its orbit, one hemisphere is tilted towards the Sun. Half an orbit later, when the Earth is on the opposite side of the Sun, the other hemisphere is now tilted towards the Sun.
• This difference in sunlight intensity and duration results in the changing of the seasons.

In terms of rotation, this movement does not cause seasons. Instead, the rotation of the Earth is what gives us day and night. The Earth completes one rotation approximately every 24 hours. During this time, any given point on the Earth will face towards the Sun (day) and then away from the Sun (night

The correct answer is  Tropical evergreen forests are found in the regions near the equator and close to the tropics.

Important Points

Tropical evergreen forests, also known as rainforests, are primarily located in regions near the equator.

• These areas receive high annual rainfall and have consistently warm temperatures, making them ideal for the growth of lush, diverse vegetation.
• The equatorial belt, which extends about 10 to 15 degrees north and south of the equator, houses most of these forests.

  

Additional Information

• Tropical evergreen forests are not the same as monsoon forests.
• Monsoon forests, also known as tropical deciduous forests, are different in that they have a distinct dry season, during which trees may shed their leaves to conserve water.
• In tropical evergreen forests, trees retain their leaves year-round because these regions do not have a dry season.

Sal, teak, and neem are typical of deciduous forests, not evergreen forests. Evergreen forests include trees like mahogany, ebony, and rosewood.

The correct answer is (A), (B), (C) and (D) are all true

Important Points(A) There is geological and archaeological evidence that the Sahara was once a much greener and more hospitable region than it is today.

• Around 10,000 years ago, this area had a wetter climate that supported a diverse range of plant and animal life.
• However, changes in the Earth's orbit around the sun led to gradual climate changes that turned the region into the arid desert it is today.

(B) The climate of the Sahara desert is indeed hot and dry.

• It is one of the hottest places on Earth, with temperatures often exceeding 40 degrees Celsius. Rainfall is also very rare and sporadic in the Sahara.

(C) Despite the intense heat during the day, nights in the Sahara can be surprisingly cold.

• Due to the lack of humidity and vegetation, the desert cannot retain the heat from the day, and temperatures can drop close to freezing.

(D) People living in the Sahara, such as the Tuareg people, do often wear heavy robes.

• These robes serve to protect them from the harsh sun during the day and the cold temperatures at night. The layers of the robes also serve to insulate the body and keep it cool

The correct answer is Both (A) and (B)

Important Points(A) Limestone to Marble:

• Limestone is a sedimentary rock primarily composed of calcium carbonate (in the form of the mineral calcite).
• When limestone is subjected to high heat and pressure over a long period of time (a process known as metamorphism), its structure and composition change, transforming it into marble.
• Marble is also primarily composed of calcite, but its crystals are much larger and interlocked, resulting in a harder and more durable rock that is often used in construction and sculpture.

(B) Clay to Slate:

• Clay is a type of fine-grained natural soil material that contains hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates (clay minerals).
• When clay is buried and subjected to moderate heat and pressure over millions of years, it undergoes a process of metamorphism and turns into slate.
• Slate is a fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock that is derived from shale or mudstone.
• It is characterized by its strong cleavage, which allows it to be split into thin, smooth sheets.
• Slate is often used in roofing, flooring, and flagstones due to its durability and appearance.

The correct answer is Oxygen and Nitrogen

Important Points

The Earth's atmosphere is primarily composed of Nitrogen and Oxygen.

• Specifically, Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the Earth's atmosphere, while Oxygen comprises approximately 21%.
• The remaining 1% is made up of several other gases, including Argon, Carbon Dioxide, and trace amounts of others like Neon, Helium, and Methane.

Additional InformationThe Earth's atmosphere is a mixture of gases that surrounds the Earth, extending from the surface of the Earth out into space. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the composition:

Nitrogen (N2) -

• Nitrogen is the most abundant gas in the atmosphere and makes up about 78% of it by volume.
• It's a crucial component of the Earth's ecosystem, as it's a key element in the makeup of organic materials like proteins and DNA.

Oxygen (O2) -

• Oxygen is the second most abundant gas in the atmosphere, making up about 21%.
• It's essential for the process of respiration in most life forms and is the gas that we breathe in order to survive. Oxygen is also required for combustion or burning.

Argon (Ar) -

• Argon makes up about 0.93% of the atmosphere.
• It's a noble gas, which means it's very stable and doesn't readily react with other substances.

Carbon Dioxide (CO2) -

• Despite making up a relatively small portion of the atmosphere  but the concentration is increasing due to human activities), carbon dioxide plays a significant role in Earth's environment.
• It's a greenhouse gas, which means it contributes to the warming of the Earth by absorbing heat reflected from the Earth's surface.

Other gases -

• The remaining portion of the atmosphere is composed of various trace gases, including neon, helium, methane, krypton, and xenon, as well as water vapor.
• The atmosphere also contains particulates, like dust, pollen, and microscopic organisms, and various compounds released by human activity, like sulfur dioxide from burning fossil fuels, and chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) from aerosols and refrigeration systems.
• These can have significant impacts on air quality and climate.

The correct answer is (A) is false, (B) is true.

Important PointsStatement (A): Almost all weather phenomena occur in the thermosphere.

• This statement is false.
• Almost all weather phenomena, including cloud formation, rain, snow, wind, and storms, occur in the troposphere, not the thermosphere.
• The troposphere is the lowest layer of the Earth's atmosphere, extending approximately 8 to 15 kilometers above the Earth's surface.
• This layer contains about 75% of the atmosphere's mass and 99% of its water vapor.
• These conditions, along with the warming of this layer by heat radiating from the Earth's surface, lead to the development of most weather phenomena.

Statement (B): Radio waves transmitted from the earth are reflected back to the earth by the thermosphere.

• This statement is true.
• The thermosphere is heavily ionized by solar and cosmic radiation.
• This means that it contains a high concentration of free electrons and ions (charged particles).
• When radio waves encounter this layer, particularly shortwave radio waves, they can be refracted, or bent, and can bounce back toward the Earth's surface.
• This is why shortwave radio signals can be used for long distance or even transcontinental communication.
• This is also one of the reasons we are able to use GPS and satellite communication systems

Both (A) and (B) are correct

Important Points

Statement (A): The topsoil is being washed away by rainfall and the lush forest is turning into a barren landscape.

• This is true.
• Deforestation in the Amazon Basin has led to the loss of the topsoil, which is the most fertile part of the soil and vital for plant growth.
• When the forest is removed, the soil is exposed to the elements, including heavy rainfall typical of the region.
• Without trees and plants to help hold the soil together with their root systems, the rain can easily wash the soil away, leading to a process known as soil erosion.
• This erosion can change the fertile landscape into a barren, unproductive one.

Statement (B): A large area of rain forest in the Amazon Basin has been disappearing due to developmental activities.

• This is also true.
• The Amazon rainforest has been significantly impacted by human activities, particularly due to development such as logging, agriculture (including the creation of pastures for livestock), mining, and the construction of dams and roads.
• These activities lead to deforestation, which is the permanent removal of trees to make room for something besides the forest.
• This has resulted in a significant loss of forest area in the Amazon Basin.

The correct answer is  (A) and (C)

Important Points

(A) More focus on the use of renewable resources:

• This is correct. One of the major tenets of sustainable development is the increased use of renewable resources.
• Renewable resources are those which are naturally replenished, such as solar energy, wind energy, and geothermal energy.
• Focusing on the use of renewable resources over non-renewable resources (like fossil fuels) can help to reduce environmental harm and ensure resources are available for future generations.

(B) Respect and care only for those forms of life that are economically useful:

• This is not a principle of sustainable development. Instead, sustainable development emphasizes the importance of biodiversity and the intrinsic value of all forms of life, not just those that have economic value.
• A truly sustainable approach recognizes that all species play a role in the ecosystem and contribute to its overall health and resilience.

(C) Change in attitudes and practices towards the environment: This is also a fundamental aspect of sustainable development.

• Promoting a change in attitudes and practices can lead to more sustainable behaviors, such as reducing waste, recycling, and supporting environmentally friendly products and companies.
• This sort of cultural shift is necessary for sustainable development to be truly effective

The correct answer is A, B, and (C)

Important Points

A population pyramid is a graphical representation of the age and sex composition of a population. Here is why these options are most suitable:

(A) Birth and Death rates:

• Population pyramids can provide information about birth rates because the width of the base of the pyramid represents the proportion of individuals in the youngest age groups.
• This can give an indication of the rate of births. Death rates can also be inferred by comparing different age groups.

(B) Comparison of male and female population:

• This is one of the most basic pieces of information given by a population pyramid.
• It shows the population of each sex by age group, enabling a comparison of the male and female population.

(C) Expanding labour force:

• A population pyramid can help to predict the size of the future labor force, by showing the number of individuals currently in age groups that will enter the labor force in coming years.

Additional Information

(D) Migration pattern (intra-country):

• While population pyramids can show the effects of migration (for example, if there is a deficit of individuals in certain age groups), they may not directly provide detailed information about the patterns of migration, especially within a country.
• Therefore, it may not be the best tool for introducing this topic in an elementary classroom.

Only (A) is true

Important Points

Statement (A): Cooperative sector industries are owned and operated by the producers or suppliers of raw material, workers, or both.

• This is correct.
• In a cooperative sector, ownership and management belong to the members, who are either the producers, suppliers, or workers themselves.
• These members share the profits and benefits.

Statement (B): Maruti Udyog Limited and Steel Authority of India are examples of cooperative sector industries.

• This is not correct.
• Maruti Udyog Limited (now Maruti Suzuki India Limited) and the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) are examples of public sector industries, not cooperative sector industries.
• They were established by the government, and the government holds a significant proportion of the shares.
• Public sector industries are owned and operated by the government, while cooperative sector industries are owned and operated by the members or workers themselves

Around 2300 years ago, in the Tamil region, large landowners were known as Vellalar.

Key Points

• Around 2300 years ago, there were at least three different kinds of people living in most villages in the southern and northern parts of the subcontinent.
• In the Tamil region, large landowners were known as vellalar, ordinary ploughmen were known as uzhavar, and landless labourers, including slaves, were known as kadaisiyar and adimai.
• In the northern part of the country, the village headman was known as the grama bhojaka.
• Apart from the gramabhojaka, there were other independent farmers, known as grihapatis, most of whom were smaller landowners.
• And then there were men and women such as the dasa karmakara, who did not own land, and had to earn a living working on the fields owned by others.
• In most villages there were also some crafts persons such as the blacksmith, potter, carpenter and weaver.

Therefore, the correct answer is Vellalar.

We know that the plough was used by the Harappans because archaeologists have found evidence of a toy plough.

Key Points

• In the Indus Valley region, while many people lived in the cities, others living in the countryside grew crops and reared animals.
• The Harappan farmers and herders supplied food to crafts persons, scribes and rulers in the cities.
• We know from remains of plants that the Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard.
• A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.
• While real ploughs, which were probably made of wood, have not survived, toy models have been found.
• As this region does not receive heavy rainfall, some form of irrigation may have been used.
• This means that water was stored and supplied to the fields when the plants were growing.

Hence, the correct answer is toy plough.

The Tamil epic, "Silappadikaram' was composed by Ilango.

Key Points

• Some of the best–known epics were written during the Sangam period.
• Epics are grand, long compositions, about heroic men and women, and include stories about gods.
• A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango, around 1800 years ago.
• It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi.
• Later, he and Kannagi left Puhar and went to Madurai, where he was wrongly accused of theft by the court jeweller of the Pandya king.
• The king sentenced Kovalan to death.
• Kannagi, who still loved him, was full of grief and anger at this injustice, and destroyed the entire city of Madurai.

Therefore, we can conclude that the Tamil epic, "Silappadikaram' was composed by Ilango.

The correct answer is (A), (B) and (C).

Key Points

• Temples and mosques were beautifully constructed because they were places of worship.
• They were also meant to demonstrate the power, wealth and devotion of the patron. Hence, statement B is correct.
• The largest temples were all constructed by kings.
• The other, lesser deities in the temple were gods and goddesses of the allies and subordinates of the ruler.
• The temple was a miniature model of the world ruled by the king and his allies.
• As they worshipped their deities together in the royal temples, it seemed as if they brought the just rule of the gods on earth.
• As each new dynasty came to power, kings wanted to emphasise their moral right to be rulers.
• Constructing places of worship provided rulers with the chance to proclaim their close relationship with God, especially important in an age of rapid political change. Thus, statement A is correct.
• Rulers also offered patronage to the learned and pious, and tried to transform their capitals and cities into great cultural centres that brought fame to their rule and their realm.
• Rulers recognized the influence and power of the priestly class within society.
• By constructing temples or mosques, rulers could win the support of religious leaders and gain the favor of the priestly class. Thus, statement C is correct.
• This support was important for maintaining social stability and ensuring the cooperation of influential religious figures.

Thus, the correct answer is (A), (B) and (C).

The correct answer is Malayalam.

Key Points

• The Chera kingdom of Mahodayapuram was established in the ninth century in the south-western part of the peninsula, part of present-day Kerala.
• It is likely that Malayalam was spoken in this area.
• The rulers introduced the Malayalam language and script in their inscriptions.
• In fact, this is one of the earliest examples of the use of a regional language in official records in the subcontinent.
• At the same time, the Cheras also drew upon Sanskritic traditions.
• The temple theatre of Kerala, which is traced to this period, borrowed stories from the Sanskrit epics.
• The first literary works in Malayalam, dated to about the twelfth century, are directly indebted to Sanskrit.

Therefore, the correct answer is Malayalam.

The correct option is Only (A) is correct.

Key Points

• Statement A refers to the decision-making process within the monastic community of the Sangha.
• In early Buddhist tradition, important matters and decisions were often discussed and debated among the members of the Sangha.
• This democratic approach allowed for the participation of many members in the ruling process.
• It emphasized collective decision-making rather than a single authoritative figure making all the decisions.
• This inclusive and participatory approach helped to ensure a more balanced and consensus-driven governance within the monastic community.
• Statement B highlights the inclusivity of the Sangha, particularly with regard to the participation of women and kammakaras.
• In the early Buddhist tradition, women faced significant challenges in fully participating in the monastic Sangha.
• The original establishment of the Sangha by the Buddha allowed for the admission of both men and women as ordained monastics.
• However, over time, restrictions and limitations were placed on women's participation and ordination within the monastic community.
• This resulted in the development of separate and unequal conditions for women compared to men.

Thus, Only (A) is correct.

The first cotton spinning mill was set up in Bombay.

Key Points

• The first cotton mill in India was set up as a spinning mill in Bombay in 1854.
• From the early nineteenth century, Bombay had grown as an important port for the export of raw cotton from India to England and China.
• It was close to the vast black soil tract of western India where cotton was grown.
• When the cotton textile mills came up they could get supplies of raw material with ease.
• By 1900, over 84 mills started operating in Bombay.
• Many of these were established by Parsi and Gujarati businessmen who had made their money through trade with China.

Hence, the correct answer is Bombay.