CBSE Guess > Papers > Question Papers > Class X > 2009 > Social Science > Social Science

Q. 17. “Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting dignity and freedom of the individual.” Justify the statement by giving three examples. 3×1=3

Ans. Democracy stands much superior to any other form of government in promoting the dignity and freedom of the individual.
(i) The passion for respect and freedom are the bases of democracy. Democracy accepts dignity of women as a necessary ingredient of society. We have historically had male dominated societies. There is sensitivity to women’s issues because of long struggles by them. Democracy recognises the principle of equal treatment to women unlike non-democratic governments.
(ii) The same is true of caste inequalities. Democracy in India has strengthened the claims of the disadvantaged and discriminated castes for equal status and opportunity.
(iii) Also, democracy has to meet the expectations of citizens and people have the right to complain about the functioning of democracy.

Q. 18. Analyse the growth of consumer movement as a ‘social force’ in India, which led to the enactment of COPRA, 1986 by the Indian Government. 3

Ans. The consumer movement as a ‘social force’ originated with the necessity of protecting and promoting the interests of consumers against unethical and unfair trade practices of the producers and sellers.
i. Rampant food shortages, hoarding, black marketing, adulteration of food and edible oil gave birth to the consumer movement in an organised form in the 1960s.
ii. In the early phase, consumer organisations were mainly engaged in writing articles and holding exhibitions. They formed groups to look into malpractices in ration shops and overcrowding in road passenger transport.
iii. Because of all these efforts, the movement succeeded in putting pressure on businesses and the government to change their unfair ways. As a result of all this, a major step was taken by the Indian Government in 1986. It enacted the Consumer Protection Act, 1986, which popularly came to be known as COPRA.

Q. 19. Describe in brief the emergence of Greece as an Independent Nation. 4

Ans. The Greek War of Independence was an event that mobilised nationalist feelings among the educated elite across Europe. Greece was a part of the Ottoman empire since the 15th century. Revolutionary nationalism in Europe had started a struggle for independence amongst the Greeks from 1821. Nationalists in Greece were supported by other Greeks living in exile and also from many West Europeans who had sympathies for ancient Greek culture.
Poets and artists praised Greece as the cradle of European civilization and mobilised public opinion to support its struggle against a Muslim empire. The Treaty of Constantinople of 1832, finally recognised Greece as an independent nation.

Or

Describe the problems faced by the French after the creation of a modern city in Hanoi.

Ans. When the French set about to create a modern Vietnam, they decided to rebuild Hanoi. Latest architecture and engineering skills were used to build a new and ‘modern’ city.
In 1903, the modern part of Hanoi was struck by bubonic plague, which took a very interesting turn.
The French part of Hanoi was built as a beautiful and clean city with wide roads and a well laid out sewer system, while the ‘native quarter’ was not provided with any modern facilities. The refuse from the old city drained straight out into the river or, during heavy rains or floods, overflowed into the streets. So, what was installed to create a hygienic environment in the French city became the cause of the plague.
The large sewers of the modern part of the city, a symbol of modernity, became a breeding ground for rats. The sewers also served as a great transport system, allowing the rats to move around the city without any problem. Rats began to enter the well-cared-for homes of the French through the sewage pipes. Thus, the rat menace brought the end of French power.

Social Science 2009 Question Papers Class X
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