DESCRIPTIVE TEST

Class : X (CBSE) MS Max. Marks : 40

Sub : Social Science 2024-25 Time : 90 Min.

General Instructions:

1. The question paper comprises Six Sections – A, B, C and D. There are 13 questions in the Ques-
tion paper. All questions are compulsory.
2. Section A – Question no. 1 to 5 are Very Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 2 marks each.
Answer to each question should not exceed 40 words.
4. Section B - contain no. 6 to 10 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answer
to each question should not exceed 60 words
5. Section C – Question no. 11 and 12 is long answer type questions, carrying 5 marks. Answer to
the question should not exceed 120 words.
6. Section-D - Question no. 13 is map based, carrying 5 markss with two parts, 13(a) Identification
type (2 mark) and 13(b) Locate and Labelling type (3 marks).
8. There is no overall choice in the question paper.

SECTION - A
VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (2M × 5 = 10M)

1. Define Sustainable Development. 2

A. i) Sustainable development refers to development of resources without damaging the
environment and development in the present should not compromise with the needs of the
future generation.
ii) An equitable distribution of resources is essential for sustained quality of life and global
peace. If the present trend of resource depletion by few individuals and countries continues,
the future of our planet is in danger.
2. State the importance of Rio Convention. 2
A. In June 1992, more than 100 heads of states met in Rio de Janeiro in Brazil, for the first International
Earth Summit.
i) The Summit was convened for addressing urgent problems of environmental protection and
socioeconomic development at the global level. The assembled leaders signed the Declaration
on Global Climatic Change and Biological Diversity.
ii) The Rio Convention endorsed the global Forest Principles and adopted Agenda 21 for
achieving Sustainable Development in the 21st century.

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3. Suggest any two ways to solve the problem of land degradation. 2
A. Ways to solve the problems of land degradation:
a) Afforestation.
b) Proper management of grazing.
i) Afforestation and proper management of grazing can help to some extent. Planting of shelter
belts of plants, control on over grazing, stabilisation of sand dunes by growing thorny bushes
are some of the methods to check land degradation in arid areas.
ii) Proper management of waste lands, control of mining activities, proper discharge and disposal
of industrial effluents and wastes after treatment can reduce land and water degradation in
industrial and suburban areas.
4. What is JFM? 2
A. i) Joint Forest Management is a programme in which local communities are involved in the
management and restoration of degraded forests.
ii) The major purpose of the JFM is to protect the forests from encroachments, grazing, theft
and fire and also to improve the forests in accordance with an approved Joint Forest
Management plan.
iii) In return, the member of these communities are entitled to intermediary benefits like non
timber forest produces.
5. What are permanent forests? 2
A. i) Reserved and protected forests are also referred to as permanent forest estates maintained for
the purpose of producing timber and other forest produce, and for protective reasons.
ii) More than half of the total forest land has been declared reserved forests. Reserved forests
are regarded as the most valuable as far as the conservation of forest and wildlife resources
are concerned.

SECTION - B
SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (3M × 5 = 15M)

6. Explain the role of human beings in resource development. 3

A. i) The process of transformation of things into resource involves an inter-dependent relationship
between nature, technology and institutions.
ii) Human beings interact with nature through technology and create institutions to accelerate
the pace of economic development.
iii) Human beings are essential components of resources as they transform materials in the
environment into resources and use them.
7. "Resource Planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life.'' Support the
statement with examples. 3
A. Resources are vital for human survival as well as for maintaining the quality of life.
i) An equitable distribution of resources has become essential for a sustained quality of life
and global peace.
ii) If the present trend of resource depletion by a few individuals and countries continues, the
future of our planet is in danger.
iii) Therefore, resource planning is essential for sustainable existence of all forms of life.
Sustainable existence is a component of sustainable development.
8. Describe any three characteristics of 'Black soil' found in India. 3
A. i) Extremely fine i.e., clayey material
ii) Rich in calcium carbonate, magnesium, potash and lime
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 iii) Develop deep cracks during hot weather
iv) High moisture retentive capacity
9. Write a brief note on 'Project Tiger'. 3
A. i) 'Project Tiger' was one of the well published wildlife campaigns in the world launched in
1973.
ii) In 1973, the authorities realised that the tiger population had dwindled to 1,827 from an
estimated 55,000 at the turn of the century.
iii) Tiger conservation has been viewed not only as an effort to save an endangered species but
with equal importance as a means of preserving biotypes of sizeable magnitude.
For example, Corbett National Park, (Uttaranchal), Sundarbans (West Bengal), Bandhavgarh
National Park (Madhya Pradesh), Sariska Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan), Manas Tiger Reserve
(Assam), Periyar Tiger Reserve (Kerala) are some of the tiger reserves in India.
10. What is importance of forests? 3
A. “Forests are crucial to the environment and human well-being, serving many important roles:
i) Biodiversity Conservation: Forests are home to a vast array of plant and animal species.
They provide habitats for wildlife, helping to conserve biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem
balance.
ii) Climate Regulation: Forests play a critical role in regulating the Earth's climate by absorbing
carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, thus helping to mitigate climate change. They
also help in maintaining the water cycle.
iii) Air and Water Purification: Forests help purify the air by absorbing pollutants and releasing
oxygen. They also filter and regulate water, contributing to clean water supplies and reducing
the risk of floods and droughts.
iv) Soil Protection: Forests prevent soil erosion by stabilizing the soil with their root systems.
This is essential for maintaining fertile soil for agriculture and preventing landslides.
v) Livelihood Support: Millions of people, especially in rural areas, depend on forests for their
livelihood through activities such as logging, gathering forest products, and ecotourism.
(Any three relavent point to be considered)

SECTION - C
LONG ANSWER BASED QUESTIONS (5M × 2 = 10M)
11. Analyse proper farming techniques which can be used for soil conservation. 5
A i) Crop rotation: If the same crop is sown in the same field, year after year, this consumes
certain nutrients from the soil making it infertile. Crop rotation can check this type of erosion.
ii) Settled agriculture: Checking and reducing shifting agriculture by persuading the tribal
people to switch over to settled agriculture.
iii) Terracing and contour bunding: Terracing and contour bunding across the hill slopes is
a very effective, and one of the oldest methods of soil conservation. Hill slope is cut into a
number of terraces having horizontal top and steep slopes on the back and front. Contour
bunding involves the construction of bank along the contour.
iv) Strip cropping: Large fields can be divided into strips. Strips of grass are left to grow
between the crops. This breaks up the force of the wind. This method is known as strip
cropping.
v) Shelter Belts: Planting lines of trees to create shelter also works in a similar way. Rows of
such trees are called shelter belts. These shelter belts have contributed significantly to the
stabilisation of sand dunes and in establishing the desert in western India.

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12. What is biodiversity? Why is biodiversity important for human lives? 5
A. Biodiversity is the sum total of all the varieties of species of plants, animals and microorganisms
living on the earth. It also includes the habitat in which they live. Some scientists estimate that
more than 10 million species live on our earth and some believe that this number can be more than
100 million.
Importance of biodiversity:Planet for all: The planet earth is not only for human beings alone.
All living beings share this planet with millions of other living beings, starting from the
microorganism to blue whale. There are different kinds of animals, plants and other living as well
as non living things.
Complex web: We, humans along with all other living organisms form a complex web of ecological
system in which we are only a part and very much dependent on this system of our own existence.
There is a multiple network of interdependence, i.e., all the organisms depend upon each other for
their survival. For example, the plants, animals and micro organisms recreate the quality of the air
we breathe, the water we drink and the soil that is used to produce food.

SECTION- D
MAP SKILL BASED QUESTION (2+3=5)
13. a. Two places A and B have been marked on the given outline map of India. Identify
them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. 2
A) A dam river Mahandai (Hirakud)
B) Identify the soil. (Forese Soil)
b. On the same outline map of India locate and label the following with suitable Symbols.
3
i) Tungabhadra dam
ii) Cotton Textile in Industry in Maharashtra.
iii) Arid Soil

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