Paper : ICSE Class X Important Questions : History - (2005)

General Instructions

1. Attempt all questions from Part I (Compulsory). A total of five questions are to be attempted from Part II, two out of three questions from Section A and three out of five questions from Section B.
2. The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].

PART I (30 Marks) 
Attempt all questions from this Part. 

Question 1
(a) Differentiate between Unicameral and Bicameral Legislature.[1]

(b) Explain the term Quorum.[1]

(c) Name the Tribunal over which the High Courts do not have the power of Superintendence.[1]

(d) Mention one privilege of a Member of Parliament.[1]

(e) Mention one difference in the election of the Vice - President and that of the President of India, as far as the electorate is concerned.[1]

(f) What is meant by the term Cabinet in a State?[1]

(g) Who appoints the Judges of a High Court?[1]

(h) Mention one circumstance under which a member of the State Legislative Assembly can be disqualified.[1]

(i) Name the highest Criminal Court in a district.[1]

(j) What is meant by Original jurisdiction of the High Court?[1]

Question 2
(a) With reference to the British rule in India, mention two economic factors, which became the causes of the First War of Independence, 1857.[2]

(b) What did the British do to foster the policy of Divide and Rule, which gave rise to the formation of the Muslim League?[2]

(c) Name two leaders of the Swaraj Party. Why were they said to be Pro - Changers?[2]

(d) State two reasons given by the Cabinet Mission for rejecting the demand for a separate State of Pakistan.[2]

(e) Mention any two provisions of the Indian Independence Act, 1947.[2]

(f) State two underlying principles of Fascism.[2]

(g) Name the signatory countries of the Triple Entente (1907).[2]

(h) Name the permanent member countries of the Security Council.[2]

(i) State any two functions of the UNDP.[2]

(j) State the importance of Articles 1 and 2 of the Human Rights Declaration.[2]

PART II (50 MARKS)
SECTION - A

Attempt any two questions from this Section.

Question 3
With reference to the Union Parliament, answer the following questions:-

(a) Which House is considered to be more powerful - the Lok Sabha or the Rajya Sabha? State two reasons to justify your answer.[3]

(b) How is the Speaker of the Lok Sabha elected? Mention two functions of the Speaker during the session of the Parliament.[3]

(c) Mention four ways in which the Lok Sabha exercises control over the Council of Ministers.[4]

Question 4
The President of India is the Head of the Indian Republic while the Governor is the Head of the State Government. In this context, answer the following questions:-

(a) (i) Besides being a citizen of India, state three other qualifications required by a person to be eligible to be the Governor of a State.

(ii) Justify the need for 'Indirect Election' of the President.[3]

(b) Describe the circumstances under which the President can declare an emergency in the country.[3]

(c) Enumerate four similar features in the legislative powers of the President and the Governor.[4]

Question 5
'The Supreme Court is the apex judicial body in the country'. With reference to this, answer the following questions:-

(a) State the composition of the Supreme Court. Mention the qualifications required to become a Supreme Court Judge.[3]

(b) Describe the Supreme Court's power of judicial review. What is meant by Court of Record? [3]

(c) Explain how the independence of the Judges of the Supreme Court is ensured by the Constitution.[4]

SECTION - B
Attempt any three questions from this Section.

Question 6
'Numerous causes were at work in causing the great upsurge of 1857'. Explain the following with reference to the above statement:-

(a) The introduction of Railways and Telegraphs.[3]

(b) The introduction of Enfield Rifles.[3]

(c) The laws that interfered with the religious customs of the people.[4]

Question 7
(b) State the demands made by the Moderates.[3]

(c) Give any four achievements of the Moderates.[4]

Question 8
Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow:-

"On August 7th and 8th, in Bombay the All - India Congress Committee considered and debated in Public the resolution, ...... . The Committee resolves therefore to sanction, ...... the starting of a mass struggle on non - violent lines under the inevitable leadership of Gandhiji. ...... The resolution was finally passed late in the evening of August 8th, 1942. A few hours later, in the early morning of August 9th, a large number of arrests were made in Bombay and all over the country. (From: The Discovery of India - Jawaharlal Nehru)

(a) What is meant by 'mass struggle on non-violent lines'? Which resolution was passed on the 8th of August, 1942 leading to a mass struggle on non - violent lines? [3]

(b) State any three reasons behind the launching of the August, 1942 movement.[3]

(c) Discuss any four consequences of the 1942 Movement.[4]

Question 9
With reference to the first World War answer the following questions:-

(a) Enumerate any three causes of the First World War.[3]

(b) What were the objectives of the League of Nations? Name the organization formed in October, 1945 with objectives similar to those of the League of Nations.[3]

(c) Mention four points under the Treaty of Versailles, which affected Germany.[4]

Question 10
With the surrender of Japan, the Second World War was finally over. The War had far - reachingconsequences. Against this background, write short notes on:-

(a) Effect of World War II on Japan.[3]

(b) The division of Germany.[3]

(c) Division of the world into two Power Blocs.[4]