CBSE Sample Papers Class 12 History 2023

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Sample Papers for Class 12 History 2023 – With Solution

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CBSE Class 12
History (Code No. 027)
Practice Paper (2022-2023)

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Time Allowed: 3 hours
Maximum marks: 80
General instructions:

1. Question paper comprises five Sections – A, B, C, D and E. There are 34 questions in the question paper. All questions are compulsory.
2. Section A – Question 1 to 21 are MCQs of 1 mark each.
3. Section B – Question no. 22 to 27 are Short Answer Type Questions, carrying 3 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 60-80 words.
4. Section C – Question no 28 to 30 are Long Answer Type Questions, carrying 8 marks each. Answer to each question should not exceed 300-350 words
5. Section D – Question no.31 to 33 are Source based questions with three sub questions and are of 4 marks each
6. Section-E – Question no. 34 is Map based, carrying 5 marks that includes the identification and location of significant test items. Attach the map with the answer book.
7. There is no overall choice in the question paper. However, an internal choice has been provided in few questions. Only one of the choices in such questions have to be attempted.
8. In addition to this, separate instructions are given with each section and question, wherever necessary.

SECTION A (1×21=21)
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

1. Historians study ancient textual traditions to learn more about who wrote what and for whom.
   Accordingly, what does the above line MOST LIKELY suggest about historical text/inscriptions?
   1. They comment on social situations and practices.
   2. They were written from the perspective of some social categories.
   3. They highlight the authority that the kings enjoyed over their subjects.
   4. The language used in such sources was used by locals and royals of that era.
2. Which of the following is reinforced by inscriptions that describe the kingdoms which ruled the Indian subcontinent between 600 BCE & 600 CE?
   1. locals lived in mud houses
   2. some people learned to read
   3. high violence against women
   4. seals were used for international trade
3. Match the following and select the CORRECT option.
   

   List I	List II
   1. Mature Harappan settlement	a. Magan (Oman)
   2. Early Harappan settlement	b. Lothal (Gujarat)
   3. Copper	c. Cemetery H (Punjab region – India and Pakistan)
   4. Late Harappan occupation	d. Kalibangan (Rajasthan)

   1. 1 – a, 2 – b, 3 – c, 4 – d
   2. 1 – b, 2 – d, 3 – a, 4 – c
   3. 1 – b, 2 – a, 3 – d, 4 – c
   4. 1 – d, 2 – c, 3 – b, 4 – a
4. Which of the following would describe the marriage between Ratna Mohanty, an Odia woman, and Raghbir Rathod, a man from Rajasthan?
   1. Polygyny
   2. Exogamy
   3. Polyandry
   4. Endogamy
5. Given below is an image of Rajgir which is located in present-day Bihar and used to be known as Rajagaha during the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE.
   
   Which of the following statements about Rajgir may be said to be TRUE based on the image?
   1. It was a place that was strategically important to defend from enemy attacks.
   2. It was a place that was specifically designated for poor people to live.
   3. It was located on a land where farming could be done by people easily.
   4. It was a place where walls were made of clay bricks and mortar.

   NOTE: The following question is for visually impaired candidates in lieu of an image question.
   Who among the following would DEFINITELY be the poorest in a village which existed during King Ashoka’s rule?

   1. landless labourers
   2. small peasants
   3. untouchables
   4. gahapati
6. ‘Monastic existence is a necessary condition of salvation.’
   Source: NCERT
   Accordingly which of the following is ESSENTIALLY desirable to attain salvation in Jainism?
   1. being forgiving to other fellow human beings
   2. live a free life from possessions and ties
   3. follow the path of non-violence and truth
   4. concentrate on performing karma
7. Which among the following was used in warfare by the Vijayanagara Empire during the 14th century?
   1. musket
   2. cannon
   3. sword
   4. stone
8. Fill in the blank:
   In the Vijayanagara Empire, Nayakas and Amar Nayakas were regarded as powerful because both ________.
   1. owned the most fertile land in the kingdom
   2. had friendly relations with the Sultans
   3. managed and controlled the temples
   4. offered military support to the King
9. Given below are the places in which the Bhakti movement originated and spread across the country.
   Arrange them in the correct chronological order.
   1. Assam
   2. Karnataka
   3. Tamil Nadu
   4. Maharashtra

   Options:

   1. i, iv, iii, ii
   2. ii, iii, i, iv
   3. iii, ii, iv, i
   4. iv, i, ii, iii
10. There are two statements given below, marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.
    Assertion (A): The Harappan civilization declined gradually and slowly rather than abruptly.
    Reason (R): Harappa witnessed many climatic changes, deforestation, excessive floods, and overuse of the landscape before collapsing.
    1. A is true but R is false.
    2. A is false but R is true.
    3. Both A and R are true and R explains A.
    4. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
11. Al-Biruni, Ibn Battuta, and Francois Bernier came from vastly different social and cultural environments. Hence, they were more attentive to everyday activities and practices.
    Accordingly, which of the following would such travellers MOST LIKELY include in their writings?
    1. poetry that praised the emperor
    2. weapons that were used in a war
    3. people’s participation in choosing their local leader
    4. customs that were followed during wedding celebrations
12. The names of some notable individuals linked to the Indian uprising of 1857 are listed below.
    Which among the following is CORRECTLY matched?
    1. Lord Dalhousie – Viceroy of India
    2. Wajid Ali Shah – Mughal Emperor
    3. Shah Mal – rebel leader of the Kol tribals
    4. Nana Saheb – successor to Peshwa Baji Rao II
13. There are two statements given below, marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Read the statements and choose the correct option.
    Assertion (A): Rich ryots and village headmen – jotedars and mandals – wanted the Zamindars to be in trouble.
    Reason (R): The greater part of rural credit was supplied by the jotedars, not by the Zamindars who administered rural territory than owning land.
    1. A is true but R is false.
    2. A is false but R is true.
    3. Both A and R are true and R explains A.
    4. Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.
14. Al-Biruni depended mainly on the works of Brahmansa and often quoted from the Vedas, the Puranas, the Bhagavad Gita, the works of Patanjali, and the Manusmriti.
    From the above line, which of the following can be inferred?
    1. He understood the oppression that untouchables faced in Indian society.
    2. He read extensively about the existence of different religions in India.
    3. He had a clear understanding of state diplomacy and administration.
    4. He learned a lot about Indian society by reading ancient texts.
15. Consider the working conditions of the following farmers:
    P: He owns a small piece of land in his village which he cultivates with his wife. Q: She is a farmer who cultivates outside of her village as she earns more there.
    R: He owns a large size land in his village and hires farmers to work in his fields.
    S: He is a farmer who works on land outside of his village on a contractual basis.
    Who among these would have been considered khud-kashta peasants in 17th-century India?
    1. both P and Q
    2. both R and S
    3. both P and R
    4. both Q and S
16. Why did most people work in the agriculture sector during medieval India?
    1. The Mughals and other princely states during that time paid farmers the highest salaries.
    2. There were plenty of cultivable lands where food and non-food crops could be produced.
    3. According to caste rules, all members of the society needed to produce their own food.
    4. Unlike other professions at the time, farming was done by both men and women.
17. Why did the British favour the Santhals more than the Paharias?
    1. Paharias were a nomadic group whereas the Santhals were a civilised settled population.
    2. Paharias refused to practice shifting agriculture which the Santhals agreed to do.
    3. Santhals agreed to collect mahua from the forests which the Paharias denied.
    4. Santhals were ready to clear forests and plough which the Paharias refused.
18. Which among the following actions were adopted by followers of Gandhian Nationalism?
    1. encouraging people to learn English
    2. giving hate speech against the Indian minorities
    3. mobilising people to form an army against the British
    4. breaking unfair laws that the British had imposed on Indians
19. Which of the following sources from the 19th century will NOT provide facts surrounding the events of the sepoy mutiny?
    1. articles from the Delhi Urdu Akhbar
    2. coins and jewellery used by people
    3. images from the Punch Magazine
    4. the Azamgarh Proclamation
20. After discussion among the constituent assembly members, which of the following was added to the Indian Constitution?
    1. reserving one-third of the seats for women in local governments
    2. having separate electoral seats for the Dalits and the Adivasis
    3. granting the right to vote to all adult citizens of India
    4. reserving seats for Muslims in government bodies
21. Why did the argument for greater power to the provinces provoke a strong reaction among the members of the Assembly?
    1. They feared that decentralisation will stall the economic development of the nation.
    2. They feared that people would be more loyal to the province than the nation.
    3. They wanted Indians to be under one nation – one government model.
    4. They wanted to follow the British unitary system of governance.

SECTION B (3X6=18)
SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

22. Give three examples that demonstrate complicated decision-making took place in the Harappan society.

    OR

    Explain how archaeologists classified Harappan artefacts to reconstruct their history.

23. ‘One means of claiming high status was to identify with a variety of deities.’
    1. What do the above lines imply about the new notions of kingships?
    2. Give two examples of what the states did to establish the new style of kingships between 200 to 300 AD.
24. Give three reasons why Ibn Battuta’s travel accounts differ greatly from Al Biruni’s travel accounts.
25. ‘In the constant struggle for power, forts and fortified settlements of the Vijayanagara Empire played a significant role in resisting invasions.’ Discuss
26. ‘The East India Company commissioned Buchanan with specific instructions about what he had to look for and what he had to record.’
    Justify the above statement with three suitable arguments.
27. ‘The sepoys were the makers of their own rebellion.’ Give three examples in support of the above statement.

    OR

    ‘The national movement in the twentieth century drew its inspiration from the events of 1857.’
    Write the three learnings that the leaders of the 20th century freedom movement received from the events of 1857.

SECTION C (8×3=24)
LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

28. Elaborate through examples on how inequality and human suffering were facts of life in the Mahabharat era.

    OR

    List the non-Kshatriya Kings and write about their policies that challenged the Brahmanical ideas of society.

29. Discuss the various aspects of overseas trade that occurred between the 16th and 18th centuries in India and its impact on the economy.

    OR

    Explain the caste and gender-based inequalities that existed in India during the 16th -18th century AD.

30. Describe the major events that took place after Quit India movement that ultimately resulted in India’s partition.

    OR

    List the various sources Rita may use to make a project about the major events of the Indian National Movement.

SECTION D (4×3=12)
SOURCE BASED QUESTIONS

31. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
    

    The Therigatha

    This unique Buddhist text, part of the Sutta Pitaka, is a collection of verses composed by bhikkhunis. It provides an insight into women’s social and spiritual experiences. Punna, a dasi or slave woman, went to the river each morning to fetch water for her master’s household. There she would daily see a Brahmana performing bathing rituals. One morning she spoke to him. The following are versescomposed by Punna, recording her conversation with the Brahmana: I am a water carrier: Even in the cold I have always gone down to the water frightened of punishment Or the angry words of high class women. So what are you afraid of Brahmana, That makes you go down to the water (Though) your limbs shake with the bitter cold? The Brahmana replied: I am doing good to prevent evil; anyone young or old who has done something bad is freed by washing in water. Punna said: Whoever told you You are freed from evil by washing in the water?… In that case all the frogs and turtles Would go to heaven, and so would the water snakes and crocodiles! (Instead) Don’t do that thing, the fear of which leads you to the water. Stop now Brahmana! Save your skin from the cold …

    1. The poem highlights the treatment meted out to the slaves in ancient India. Illustrate with one example.
    2. Compare the teachings of Brahmanism and Buddhism that the poem tries to emphasise.
    3. The poem finds mention in the Sutta Pitaka which literally means ‘Basket of Discourse’. What does it say about the main content of this canon of Buddhist writings?
32. Read the excerpt given below and answer the questions that follow.
    

    The pilgrimage of the Mughal princess Jahanara, 1643

    The following is an excerpt from Jahanara’s biography of Shaikh Muinuddin Chishti, titled Munis al Arwah (The Confidant of Spirits): After praising the one God … this lowly faqira (h u mble soul) Jahanara … went from the capital Agra in the company of my great father (Emperor Shah Jahan) towards the pure region of incomparable Ajmer… I was committed to this idea, that every day in every station I would perform two cycles of optional prayer … For several days … I did not sleep on a leopard skin at night, I did not extend my feet in the direction of the blessed sanctuary of the revered saving master, and I did not turn my back towards him. I passed the days beneath the trees. On Thursday, the fourth of the blessed month of Ramzan, I attained the happiness of pilgrimage to the illuminated and the perfumed tomb … With an hour of daylight remaining, I went to the holy sanctuary and rubbed my pale face with the dust of that threshold. From the doorway to the blessed tomb I went barefoot, kissing the ground. Having entered the dome, I went around the light-filled tomb of my master seven times… Finally, with my own hand I put the finest quality of itar on the perfumed tomb of the revered one, and having taken off the rose scarf that I had on my head, I placed it on the top of the blessed tomb …

    1. Chishti devotionalism was expressed through ziyarat and qawaali. Identify what Jahanara performed.
    2. Explain why Jahanara referred to herself as a ‘faqira’ at the tomb.
    3. Illustrate with four examples Jahanara’s absolute devotion and reverence for the ‘revered one’.
33. Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
    

    “I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to the minorities”

    During the debate on 27 August 1947 , Govind Ballabh Pant said: I believe separate electorates will be suicidal to minorities and will do them tremendous harm. If they are isolated forever, they can never convert themselves into a majority and the feeling of frustration will cripple them even from the very beginning. What is it that you desire and what is our ultimate objective? Do the minorities always want to remain as minorities or do they ever expect to form an integral part of a great nation and as a such guide and control its destinies? If they do, can they ever achieve that aspiration and that ideal if they are isolated from the rest of the community? I think it would be extremely dangerous for them if they were segregated from the rest of the community and kept aloof in an air-tight compartment where they would have to rely on others even for the air they breathe…The minorities if they are returned by separate electorates can never have any effective voice. CAD, VOL.II

    1. What is the idea of separate electorates that Ballabh Pant was opposed to?
    2. Why does Ballabh Pant call separate electorates as ‘suicidal to minorities’?
    3. Explain the counter arguments in favour of separate electorates as B. Pocker Bahadur put forward.

SECTION E (1×5=5)

34. 34.1 On the given political map of India, locate and label the following:
    1. Ajanta- a site of rock-cut cave monuments
    2. Lothal- an Indus Valley site
    3. Panipat – battle site between Babur and Ibrahim Lodhi

       OR

    4. Thanjavur- a centre of Nayaka power

    34.2 On the same outline map, two places have been marked as A and B which were under British control in 1857. Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them.
    

    Note: The following questions are for the Visually Impaired Candidates only in lieu of Q.No.34
    34.1 Mention any two mature Harappan sites that are in present-day Gujarat.
    34.2 Mention any one important territory under the Mughal empire that is in present-day Pakistan.

    OR

    Mention the centre of Nayaka power that has the Brihadishvara temple.
    34.3 Mention two cities under British Control in 1857 that are on the western coast.

 

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