Class 8 Question Paper 2024-25 Social Science (Half Yearly)

HALF YEARLY EXAM

QUESTION
PAPER
ORIGINAL EXAM PAPERS

HALF YEARLY EXAMINATION, 2024
2024-25
SOCIAL SCIENCE
Time – 3:00 Hrs. Class – VIII M.M. : 80
Date – 11.09.2024 (Wednesday)

Name of the student _______________________________________________ Section _____
GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS:
• The Question paper contains five sections-Section A, B, C, D and E.
• All questions are compulsory.
• Section-A: Consists of objective type questions, carrying 1 mark.
• Section-B: Consists of questions carrying 2 and 3 marks.
• Section-C: Consists of source based and picture based questions carrying 4 marks.
• Section -D: Consists of Long questions carrying 5 marks. Answer to each question
should not exceed 100 words.
• Section-E is map based question, carrying 4 marks. Map in question no. 11 (i)
needs to be removed and attached with the answer sheet.
• There is overall choice in 3 marks questions. An internal choice has been provided
in long questions.
SECTION- A
Q1 Choose the correct option from the following. (6x1=6)
i) In 1600 the East India Company acquired a charter from the ruler of England, Queen Elizabeth
I, granting it ___________.
a) rights of exploring the possibilities of trade in the Indian Ocean.
b) the right to trade duty free.
c) the sole right to trade with the East.
d) the right to share the produce with French colonies.
ii) Tipu Sultan established a close relationship with the _____________ in India and modernized
his army with their help.
a) Dutch b) French c) English d) Portuguese
iii) Match the following and choose the correct option.
List I List II
A. Ryots i. village
B. Mahal ii. cultivation on ryots land
C. Nij iii. peasant
D. Ryoti iv. cultivation on planters own land
a) A-i,B-ii,C-iii,D-iv b) A-iii,B-i,C-iv,D-ii c) A-ii,B-iii,C-ii,D-iv d) A-iv,B-ii,C-iii,D-i
iv) State governments have authority to make rules on subjects of _______________.
a) Union list b) National concern c) Neighbouring states d) State list
v) Read the following statements carefully and choose the correct option.
i) Water is a vital renewable natural resource.

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ii) Three fourth’s of the earth’s surface is covered with water.
iii) The oceans cover one-third of the earth’s surface and support a rich variety of plant and
animal life.
Which of the above statements is/are not true about water?
a) Only i b) i and ii c) Only iii d) i and iii
vi) From the list given below, identify the work which is not performed by the Central government.
a) Maintain peaceful relation with China
b) Madhya Pradesh government to discontinue Board exams in Class VIII for all schools under
this board.
c) Introduction of new train connection between Ajmer and Mysore
d) Introduction of a new 2,000 rupee note.
Q.2 Assertion and Reason. (1x2=2)
Read the following assertions and reasons in Q.7 and Q.8 and choose the correct option.
a) Both A and R are true and R is correct explanation of A
b) Both A and R are true but R is not correct explanation of A
c) A is true, but R is false
d) A is false, but R is true
i) Assertion (A) : Nij cultivation on a large scale also required many ploughs and bullocks.
Reason (R) : About 75 per cent of the land producing indigo was under Nij system.
ii) Assertion (A) : Resources that are drawn from nature and used without much modification are
called natural resources.
Reason (R) : Many of these resources are free gifts of nature and can be used directly.
Q.3 Fill in the Blanks. (5x1=5)
i) The demand for indigo increased in late 18th century in Britain because of _______.
ii) The force used by a legal authority like the State is referred to as _______.
iii) The Constitution also has a section called _______ which was designed to serve as a guide to
the independent Indian State to institute laws and policies.
iv) Time and ________ are two important factors that can change substances into resources.
v) The method of sowing seeds in Jhum cultivation is known as ____________.
Q.4 Define the following terms. (Any three) (3x1=3)
a) Sovereign b) Weathering c) Resource d) Coalition government
Q.5 Give suitable term/s for the following statements. (4x1=4)
i) Those who signed the contract under this system, got cash advances from the planters at
low rates of interest to produce indigo.
ii) These trees shed their leaves in a particular season.
iii) A field left uncultivated for a while so that the soil recovers fertility.
iv) The exclusive right over any idea or invention.

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SECTION B
Q.6 Answer the following questions in short. (5x2=10)
i) What were the areas of conflict between the Bengal nawabs and the East India Company?
ii) European traders were attracted to India .Give suitable reasons.
iii) Why were ryots reluctant to grow indigo?
iv) Write any two rights that the new law of Protection against Domestic Violence helped to
achieve for women.
v) Identify the type of Soil conservation method shown in the given images and write at least one
difference between both methods.

A.------------------- B.-------------------
Q.7 Answer the following questions in 60 to 80 words. (Any six) (6x3=18)
i) Which Fundamental Rights will the following situations violate ?
a) If a 13-year old child is working in a factory manufacturing carpets. –
b) If a politician in one state decides to not allow labourers from other states to work in his state.
c) If a group of people are not given permission to open a Telugu-medium school in Kerala.
ii) Distinguish between renewable and non-renewable resources in three points.
iii) Water availability per person in India is declining. Give reason. Suggest any 2 ways to conserve
water.
iv) Describe the following features of Indian Constitution in brief.
a) Separation of Power b) Federalism c) Parliamentary form of the government
v) In what ways was the administration of the Company different from that of Indian rulers?
vi) India is a secular state. Elucidate the statement with the objectives and importance of
Secularism.
vii) With the help of the information given below in the table, answer the following questions.
Result of the 17th Lok Sabha Election ( May 2019)
Political parties No. of MPs
BJP 303
INC 52
DMK 23
AITC 22
YSR Congress 22

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SS 18
JD(U) 16
BJD 12
BSP 10
others 86
Grand Total 543
a) Which political party will play a role of Opposition party?
b) Which Party do you think will form the government? Give reason why?
SECTION C
Source based.
Q.8 Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
India, as we know, became independent on 15 August 1947. Preceding this was a long and
difficult struggle in which many sections of society participated. People from various
backgrounds joined the struggle and they were inspired by the ideas of freedom, equality and
participation in decision– making. Under colonial rule, the people had lived in fear of the British
government and did not agree with many of the decisions that they took. But they faced grave
danger if they tried to criticise these decisions. The freedom movement changed this situation.
The nationalists began to openly criticise the British government and make demands. As far
back as 1885, the Indian National Congress demanded that there be elected members in the
legislature with a right to discuss the budget and ask questions. The Government of India Act
1909, allowed for some elected representation. While these early legislatures under the British
government were in response to the growing demands of the nationalists, they did not allow
for all adults to vote nor could people participate in decision making.
i) Freedom struggle shows the features of united struggles. Which ideas made the people
participate in Freedom struggle? (1)
ii) The legislatures under British did not allow all the adults to vote. Do you agree with this
arrangement? What changes were made in voting after Independence in India? (2)
iii) List the demands of the Indian National Congress from the British government. (1)
Picture based question.
Q.9 Read the picture carefully and answer the questions that follow.
i) Savita was explaining Rita about the Soil profile .Help her by labelling the layers of soil in the
following diagram. (4x½=2)

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ii) Complete the following mind-map of factors of soil formation. (4x½=2)

SECTION- D
Q.10 Answer the following questions in about 80-100 words. (4x5=20)
i) Name any two steps that government has taken to conserve plants and animals. Differentiate
between Evergreen and Deciduas forest in three points. (2+3)
ii) How does the Parliament control, guide and inform the government?
OR
Why do we need a Parliament? State two points of differences between Lok Sabha and Rajya
Sabha on these points – (a) Election (b) Bill / Motion (3+2)
iii) Describe the main features of Permanent settlement. Write in two points how is it different
from Mahalwari settlement.
OR
Explain the system of Subsidiary Alliance and Doctrine of Lapse. (3+2)
iv) a) How did the forest laws impact the life of tribal people? Write in two points. (2)
b) What was Birsa Munda’s vision of a Golden age? Explain in three points. (3)
SECTION- E (Map -based questions)
Q.11 MAP SKILL.
i) On the given outline Political Map of India, locate the places with the help of the given
information. (1x2=2)
A. The place where Sirajuddaulah was defeated by Robert Clive in 1757.
B. First Indian State to accept the Subsidiary Alliance.
ii) Identify any one of the tribes found in the shaded regions/states in the map given below. (4x½=2)

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SOCIAL SCIENCE
Time – 3:00 Hrs. Class – VIII M.M. : 80
Date – 11.09.2024 (Wednesday)

Name of the student _______________________________________________ Section _____
Q.11 MAP SKILL.
i) On the given outline Political Map of India locate the places with the help of the given
information. (1x2=2)
A. The place where Sirajuddaulah was defeated by Robert Clive in 1757.
B. First Indian State to accept the Subsidiary Alliance.

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Study Materials
Notes

Model Papers Class 6 Notes

Sample Papers Class 7 Notes
Half Yearly Sample Papers Class 8 Notes

Class 9 Notes
Important Resources
Class 10 Notes
Periodic Table
Class 11 Notes
Writing Skills / Formats

Maps of India / World Class 12 Notes

Books and Solutions

NCERT Books
NCERT Book Solutions
HC Verma Chapter Wise Solutions
RD Sharma Solutions
CGBSE Solutions