Chapter 1: Understanding Social Science (2026-27 Syllabus)

Important mcqs for practice:

1. What distinguishes Social Science from the Natural Sciences?

A) Social Science does not use any data or evidence.
B) Social Science focuses on human behavior and societal structures.
C) Social Science only studies the past, while Natural Science studies
the future.
D) Social Science is not subject to change or revision.
2. Which skill involves identifying the relationship between an event
and the reasons why it happened?
A) Chronology
B) Spatial Awareness
C) Causal Reasoning
D) Rote Memorization
3. In the new curriculum, "Historical Empathy" refers to:
A) Feeling sorry for people who lived in the past.
B) Judging historical figures by modern-day moral standards.
C) Understanding the actions of people in the past within their own
context and values.
D) Memorizing all the names of kings in a dynasty.
4. When a researcher uses a survey to gather information from 500
students, this is an example of:
A) Qualitative Research
B) Quantitative Research
C) Primary Oral History
D) Philosophical Speculation
5. Which concept describes the way individuals learn the norms,
values, and behaviors of their society?
A) Urbanization
B) Socialization
C) Globalization
D) Industrialization
6. Why is "Critical Literacy" important when reading news about social
issues?
A) To find reasons to criticize everyone.
B) To distinguish between verifiable facts and biased opinions.
C) To memorize the headlines for exams.
D) To ignore any news that is not local.
7. "Spatial Awareness" is a skill primarily associated with Geography
but used in Social Science to understand:
A) The chemical composition of soil.
B) How the location of a resource affects human settlement and
conflict.
C) The exact date a treaty was signed.
D) The rules of a democratic election.
8. Which of these is an example of an "Invisible Social Structure"?
A) A school building.
B) A bridge across a river.
C) Gender roles in a household.
D) A physical map of a country.
9. In Social Science, a "Fact" is different from an "Opinion" because a
fact:
A) Is what most people believe to be true.
B) Can be verified through evidence and observation.
C) Never changes over time.
D) Is always pleasant to hear.
10. The study of how people manage "Scarcity" (limited resources vs.
unlimited wants) is the core of:
A) Sociology
B) Economics
C) Political Science
D) Archaeology
11. Which term describes the study of the physical remains of the
human past, such as pottery or tools?
A) Ethnography
B) Archaeology
C) Cartography
) Psychology
12. "Multiple Perspectives" in Social Science means:
A) Every person’s opinion is equally true, regardless of evidence.
B) Examining an event from the viewpoints of different social,
economic, or cultural groups.
C) Reading only one textbook to avoid confusion.
D) Focusing only on the perspective of the winners of a war.
13. What is the primary purpose of using "Digital Maps" in the modern
Social Science classroom?
A) To replace the need for thinking about directions.
B) To analyze real-time data like population movement or
environmental changes.
C) To play games during class time.
D) To prove that paper maps are always wrong.
14. A "Secondary Source" of information is:
A) An original diary written during a war.
B) A piece of pottery found at an ancient site.
C) A biography written by a historian 50 years after an event.
D) A photograph taken at a protest.
15. Which value is core to the "Democratic Way of Life" discussed in
Chapter 1?
A) Absolute power for one leader.
B) Suppression of minority voices.
C) Respect for the rule of law and individual rights.
D) Avoiding any form of public debate.
16. "Human Agency" refers to:
A) A government office that hires employees.
B) The capacity of individuals to act independently and make free
choices.
C) The study of human evolution from apes.
D) A collection of maps showing human population.
17. The "Glocal" approach in the new syllabus encourages students to:
A) Only study global events.
B) Only study local events.
C) Understand how local events are connected to global processes.
D) Ignore both local and global events.
18. "Interdependence" in a modern economy means:
A) Every family grows its own food and makes its own clothes.
B) Nations and individuals rely on each other for goods, services, and
information.
C) One country controls all the world's resources.
D) Trade is no longer necessary.
19. What does "Ethics" in Social Science research prevent?
A) The use of computers in research.
B) The mistreatment of people being studied or the falsification of data.
C) The study of controversial topics.
D) The publication of results in multiple languages.
20. The ultimate aim of the "Integrated Approach" is to help students
see society as:
A) A series of disconnected boxes (History, Civics, etc.).
B) A complex, interconnected web of relationships and systems.
C) A subject that only exists in textbooks.
D) A collection of dates and names to be memorized.
Answers:-
Answer Key
1.B | 2. C | 3. C | 4. B | 5. B
6.B | 7. B | 8. C | 9. B | 10. B
11.B | 12. B | 13. B | 14. C | 15. C
16.B | 17. C | 18. B | 19. B | 20. B

1. Which of the following is not a discipline of Social Science

A. History
B. Physics
C. Geography
D. Political Science

Correct Answers - B

2. Consider the following statements regarding the nature of Social

Science

I. It studies human society and social relationship

II. It is concerned only with physical and natural phenomenon

III. It includes discipline such as the history geography Political

Science and economics

IV. It focuses exclusively on Laboratory based scientific experiments

Choose the correct answer

A. I AND III

B. II AND IV

C. I AND II

D. III AND IV

CORRECT ANSWER - B

3. Economics deals with

A. Weather and climate

B. Production and distribution of goods
C. Ancient culture
D. Government rules

Correct answer - B

4. The scope of Social Science include

A. Only past event

B. Only future planning
C. Past present and future of society
D. Only economic activity

CORRECT ANSWER - C
5. Which statement correctly describe the role of Social Science in
understanding governance?

A. It teachers how machines are manufactured

B. It explains how laws are made an implemented

C. It studies only ancient monuments

D. It deals only with weather conditions

Correct answer - B

1. In the process of Social Inquiry, what is the difference between an

'Observation' and an 'Inference'?
A) An observation is an educated guess, while an inference is a proven
fact.
B) An observation is what we perceive directly, while an inference is a
conclusion drawn from those observations.
C) Observations are only used in History, while inferences are only
used in Geography.
D) There is no difference; both terms are used interchangeably in the
new syllabus.
2. Which sub-discipline of Social Science specifically examines the
distribution of power and the processes by which collective
decisions are made for a society?
A) Sociology
B) Anthropology
C) Political Science
D) Psychology
3. When studying 'Human-Environment Interaction', a social scientist is
primarily looking at:
A) How humans can ignore nature to build large cities.
B) How the physical environment shapes human culture and how
humans, in turn, modify their environment.
C) The chemical reactions that occur in the atmosphere.
D) The history of ancient kings and their wars.
4. The concept of 'Opportunity Cost' in introductory Economics refers
to:
A) The total price of an item at a local market.
B) The value of the next best alternative that is given up when making
a choice.
C) The cost of printing new currency notes for the session.
D) The profit a company makes after selling all its goods.
5. Under the new NCF-SE framework, the study of Social Science aims
to move away from 'Content-Heavy' learning toward:
A) Learning only through digital games and videos.
B) Reducing the number of subjects to just one.
C) Conceptual understanding and the development of analytical skills.
D) Studying only local history without any global context.

Answer Key
1.B (Observation is direct perception; Inference is the logical
conclusion.)
2.C (Political Science focuses on power and decision-making.)
3.B (Human-Environment Interaction is the reciprocal relationship
between people and nature.)
4.B (Opportunity Cost is the trade-off inherent in every economic
decision.)
5.C (The shift is from rote memorization to conceptual and analytical
depth.)

1. Social science is mainly concern with the study of

A Plants and Animal

B. Human society and relationship
C. Machine and technology
D. Spaces and planets

Correct answers - B

2. Which group of discipline form part of Social Science

A. History geography political science economics

B. Physics chemistry biology

C. Mathematics statistics algebra
D. Botany zoology genetics

Correct Answer - A

3. Social science helps in developing

A. Physical strength only
B. Scientific tool
C. Critical thinking
D. Farming skills only

Correct Answer - A
4. Social science is important

A exams only
B. Daily life understanding
C. Only teachers
D. Only scientist

Correct answer - B

5. A key purpose of studying social science is to

A. Avoid questioning and accept all claim

B. Develop in formed responsible citizenship
C learn only dates and definition
D. Study society without values

Correct answer - B