Case Study Questions- Themes in History- Part I

Specimen Questions- Based on CBSE Sample Question Paper- 2020-2021

Case Study Questions ( 3x3+9 Marks)1. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer any three
questions : (1+1+1=3)

( Ch 4 -Source 1- Page 84)

A prayer to Agni
Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni , the God of Fire:
Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the Gods, O wise one, as a liberal giver. Bestow on us, O
priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by sacrificing, mighty wealth for us. Pro-cure, O Agni, for ever to him
who pays to you (the gift of) nourishment the wonderful cow. May a son be ours, offspring that
continues our line ...
Verses such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit, known as Vedic Sanskrit. They were
taught orally to men belonging to priestly families.

a) Vedic Sanskrit is considered to be important because

(i) It was the language of common people

(ii) The Vedic verses were written in Sanskrit

(iii) Sanskrit was not spoken by Brahmins

(iv) Sanskrit was the major language of South India.

b) Why were sacrifices performed during the Vedic Period?

(i) For the birth of daughters

(ii) For the birth of sons

(iii) For spiritual satisfaction

(iv) For seeking the blessings of Buddha

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) :Agni was the God of Fire in the Vedic tradition.

Reason(R) :Therefore offerings were made to agni so that in form of smoke they would reach the Gods
living in the sky and invoke their blessings

(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.

(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

a) Rig Veda consists of hymns in praise of Agni, Indra, Soma etc

b) Many of these hymns were chanted when sacrifices were performed.

Choose the correct option:

(i) Only (a) is correct

(ii) Only (b) is correct.

(iii) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

(iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct

Answers:
a) ii- Vedic hymns were created in Vedic Sanskrit( inference can be made from the passage)
b) ii- for the birth of sons( can be interpreted from the passage )
c) i - A is correct and R is the correct reason. Agni was considered to be the messenger God,
hence offerings were made to Agni.( Critical thinking required- HOT Question)
d) iii- both a and b are correct( competency based - indirect connection with the passage. Needs
conceptual clarity HOT Question)

2. Carefully examine the map of the Citadel area of Mohenjodaro and answer the Questions that
follow : (1+1+1=3) ( Ch 1- Page 8)
a) Identify the two most important buildings located in the citadel area of Mohenjodaro.

(i) Great Bath and Great Temple

(ii) Great Bath and the Warehouse

(iii) Reservoir and the Palace Complex

(iv) Ploughed field and the Fire alters.

b) According to the assumption of most of the historians the purpose of the Great Bath must have
been:
(i) Washing clothes.

(ii) Bathing space for Women

(iii) Ritual bathing

(iv) Leisure Bathing just like Roman baths.

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) : Citadel was smaller but higher part of Mohenjodaro.

Reason(R) : It is on the citadel that we find evidence of structures that were probably used for special
public purpose:

(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.

(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

a) The Great Bath was a large round tank.

b) There were two flight of stairs on the north and the south of the tank.

Choose the correct option:

(i) Only (a) is correct

(ii) Only (b) is correct.

(iii) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

(iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct

Answers:
a) ii- Great Bath and the Warehose are considered to be most important buildings of
Mohenjodaro.( Both the structures are visible in the picture- Inference based)
b) iii - Most scholars agree that the purpose of Great Bath may have been ritual bathing.(
Competency Based- related to the concept)
c) ii - Both A and R are correct but there is no concrete corelation between them. ( Critical
thinking required HOT Question)
d) ii- only b is correct because Great Bath was a large rectangular tank not a round tank.( close
observation of the given picture required- inference based)
 Case Study Based Questions- Themes in Indian History- Part II

1. Study this Mughal painting entitled 'Jahangir Shooting the Figure of Poverty' carefully and answer
any three of the following questions by choosing the correct option: (1+1+1=3)

(Ch 9- Page 235)

a) The artist has enveloped the target in a dark cloud to suggest:

(i) The person is of bad character.

(ii) The person is a slave.

(iii) The person is not real rather it is symbolic of an abstract quality.

(iv) The person is a woman.

b) The animals seen in the painting underneath the feet of the emperor stand for:

(i) a realm in which both the strong(lion) and the weak(lamb) exist in harmony

(ii) an ideal world where animals and humans live together

(iii) Both(i) and (ii)

(iv) None of the above

c) The chain descending from the heaven is a symbol of:

(i) Divinity.

(ii) Justice.

(iii) Power.

(iv) All of the above.

d) The ‘halo’ shown around the face of Jehangir indicates:

(i)The Mughal concept of Kingship.

(ii) The Mughal concept of Sulh-i-kul.

(iii) Both (i) and(ii)

(iv) None of the above

Answers:

a) iii - Dark cloud is the symbol of abstract evil/problem/injustice.( critical thinking

required HOT Question)

b) i - In most of the Mughal paintings lion and the lamb have been shown together in order to
state that in Mughal realm weak and the strong could live together.( Competency based-
Concept based question)
 c) ii - Justice- Mughal rulers were depicted in the paintings as justice loving monarchs.( HOT
question- but can be inferred from the passage. The bell has been depicted as hanging
from the heaven )

d) i- The Mughal rulers were always depicted with a halo to justify the Mughal concept of
Kingship.( Competency based- conceptual clarity required. It is also visible in the given
painting)

2. Study the Picture and then read the following excerpt carefully and answer any three questions :
(1+1+1=3) ( Ch 6-Page 141)

One of the most striking examples of this process is evident at Puri, Orissa, where the principle deity was
identified, by the 12th century, as Jagannath (literally, the lord of the world), a form of Vishnu

a) This picture is one of the most striking example of:

(i) Nayanar Bhakti Movement

(ii) Lingayat Sect

(iii) Integration of cults

(iv) Alvar Bhakti Movement

b) Lord Jagannath is associated with:

(i) Brahma.

(ii) Vishnu.

(iii) Shiva

(iv) All of the above

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) : Jagannath was literally the Lord of the world.

Reason(R) : Lord Vishnu was worshipped in various avatars.

(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.

(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

a) Lord Jagannath has been depicted here with his sister Subhadra and brother Balaram

b) Lord Jagannath has been depicted here with his wife Sita and brother Lakshman.

Choose the correct option:

(i) Only (a) is correct

(ii) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

(iii) Only (b) is correct.

(iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct

 Answers:

a) iii- It is the example of integration of cults.( competency based- conceptual knowledge

required)

b) ii- Vishnu.( Inference based)

c) ii - Both A and R are correct but there is no correlation between them.( HOT Question)

d) i - only a is correct, b is incorrect( competency based, the figures are visible in the
passage)

Case Study Based Questions- Themes in Indian History- Part III

1. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer any three questions : (1+1+1=3)

( Ch 11- Page 294)

Rumours and prophecies played a part in moving people to action. The Sepoys who had arrived in Delhi
from Meerut had told Bahadur Shah about the bullets coated with the fat of cow and pigs and that
biting those bullets would corrupt their caste and religion. They were referring to the cartridges of the
Enfield Rifles that had just been given to them. The British tried to explain to the Sepoys that this was
not the case but the rumour of greased cartridge spread like wild fire across the Sepoy lines of North
India.

a) Why did the Sepoys marched to Delhi from Meerut?

(i) The Governor General of East India company lived in Delhi.

(ii) Delhi was the seat and symbol of Mughal authority

(iii) Rani Laxmi Bai urged the Sepoys to move to Delhi.

(iv) The greased cartridges were being made in Delhi.

b) How did the rumour of greased cartridges spread like wild fire across the cantonments?

(i) The cantonments were connected through the Telegraph Lines.

(ii) The cantonments published their own newspapers, in which this was reported.

(iii) This news was broadcasted on the Television.

(iv) All of the above

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) : According to the rumour the cartridges were greased with the fat of cows and pigs.

Reason(R) : The Sepoys refused to use these cartridges because for Hindu Sepoys, cow was a revered
animal and for the Muslims the pig was a hated animal

(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.

(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

a) The greased cartridges were to be used in the new Enfield Rifles.

b) The British officers tried to explain to the Sepoys that cartridges were not greased. It was just a
rumour.

Choose the correct option:

(i) Only (a) is correct

(ii) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

(iii) Only (b) is correct.

(iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct

Answers:

a) ii- Delhi was the seat and symbol of Mughal authority. ( HOT Question. Critical thinking and
conceptual clarity required. Bahadur Shah Zafar has been mentioned in the passage)

b)i- The cantonments were connected through the Telegraph Lines. ( competency based)

c) i - Both A and R are correct because the Sepoys refused to use the greased cartridges due
to the given reason.( HOT Question- critical thinking required)
 d) ii - only a and b are correct.( inference can be made from the passage)

2. Read the following excerpt carefully and answer any three questions : (1+1+1=3)

( Ch 13-Source 4-Page-358)

On 5 April 1930, Mahatma Gandhi spoke at Dandi:

When I left Sabarmati with my companions for this seaside hamlet of Dandi, I was not certain in my mind
that we would be allowed to reach this place. Even while I was at Sabarmati there was a rumour that I might
be arrested. I had thought that the Government might perhaps let my party come as far as Dandi, but not me
certainly. If someone says that this betrays imperfect faith on my part, I shall not deny the charge. That I
have reached here is in no small measure due to the power of peace and non-violence: that power is
universally felt. The Government may, if it wishes, congratulate itself on acting as it has done, for it could
have arrested every one of us. In saying that it did not have the courage to arrest this army of peace, we
praise it. It felt ashamed to arrest such an army. He is a civilised man who feels ashamed to do anything
which his neighbours would disapprove. The Government deserves to be congratulated on not arresting us,
even if it desisted only from fear of world opinion. Tomorrow we shall break the salt tax law. Whether the
Government will tolerate that is a different question. It may not tolerate it, but it deserves congratulation for
the patience and forbearance it has displayed in regard to this party. … What if I and all the eminent leaders
in Gujarat and in the rest of the country are arrested? This movement is based on the faith that when a whole
nation is roused and on the march no leader is necessary.

a) The Dandi March started from:

(i)i Delhi

(ii) Meerut

(iii) Ahmadabad

(iv) Bardoli

b) Why was Gandhiji certain that he would not be allowed to reach Dandi?

(i) British might arrest him on the way.

(ii) British might impose the Rowlatt Act on him.

(iii) The British deport him back to South Africa.

(iv) All of the above

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) : Gandhi made Salt a symbol of Protest.

Reason(R) : Salt was used by Hindus and Muslims, it was used by rich and poor and the rate of tax was
very high on salt.

(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.

(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.

(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.

(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

a) Gandhi declared on 5th April that on 6th April he will break the salt law

b) He chose 6thApril , because on this day Poorna Swarajya resolution was passed.

Choose the correct option:

(i) Only (a) is correct

(ii) Only (b) is correct

(iii) Both (a) and (b) are correct.

(iv) Neither (a) nor (b) is correct

Answers:

a) iii- The Dandi March started from the Sabarmati Ashram , Ahmadabad.( Sabarmati Ashram
mentioned in the passage. It was located in Ahmedabad. Inference Based)

b) i- Gandhiji was sure that the British will arrest him on the way to Dandi.( Mentioned in the
passage)

c) i - Gandhiji deliberately chose salt as a symbol of protest because it was used by both Hindus
and Muslims and by rich and poor. Therefore, both A and R are correct and R is the correct
reason.( Critical thinking required HOT Question)
d) i- Only a is correct, b is incorrect because Poorna Swarajya Resolution was passed on the 31st
of December 1929. ( competency based- prior knowledge related to Dandi March
required)