Academic Session: 2025-26
Summative Assessment 1
Model Paper
Subject: Social Science Grade: VIII Max Marks :70
Date: 04/07/2025 Duration: 2 Hours 30 Minutes No. of Pages: 7
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General Instruction:
• The question paper has 32 questions in all. All questions are compulsory.
• Marks are indicated against each question.
• Write in points and adhere to word limits for the allocated marks.
• There is no overall choice. However, internal choices have been provided in sections B, C and D.
You have to attempt only one of the choices in such questions.
Section A - Questions 1 to 12 are Objective types of Questions of 1 mark each.
Section B - Questions 13 to 22 are Very Short Answer Questions of 2 marks each.
Answers to these questions should not exceed 40 words each.
Section C - Questions 23 and 28 are Short Answer Questions of 3 marks each.
Answers to these questions should not exceed 60 words each.
Section D - Questions 29 and 31 are Long Answer Questions of 5 marks each.
Answers to these questions should not exceed 80 - 100 words each.
Section E - Question 32 is a map skilled-based question of 5 marks
[Link]. SECTION A [1x12=12]
Choose the correct option and write only the answer in your answer
sheet.
1. What is the basic idea behind sustainability? 1
a) Maximizing resource use without concern for future generations
b) Ensuring that resources are used in a way that meets present needs
without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their
own needs
c) Using resources as quickly as possible
d) Prioritizing economic growth over environmental conservation
2. Identify the type of resources that are found in a region but have not been 1
utilized, which might be because of the lack of technology.
a) Potential resource
b) Localized Resource
c) Actual Resource
d) Ubiquitous Resource
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3. A subsistence farmer would: 1
a) Be able to grow crops for profit
b) Cultivate crops and rear animals for meeting personal needs
c) Grow a single crop on vast areas of land
d) Raise livestock on a large scale
4. Which of these is not a typical feature of Indian agriculture? 1
a) Fragmentation and subdivision of land holdings
b) Rural indebtedness
c) Dependence on the timely arrival of the Monsoon
d) Extensive methods of cultivation
5. Which institution in India is responsible for keeping historical documents, 1
records, letters, etc?
a) National Archives of India
b) National Museum
c) Salarjung Museum
d) All of these
6. Colonisation leads to which changes in a country? 1
a) Political
b) Economic
c) Social
d) All of the above
7. What were political and commercial agents serving the English East India 1
Company and furthering its interests called?
a) Generals
b) Governors
c) Representatives
d) Residents
8. What impact did the acquisition of the Diwani rights have on British trade 1
in India?
a) It limited the Company’s ability to trade in Europe.
b) It eliminated the need to import gold and silver from Britain.
c) It increased the cost of goods purchased in India.
d) It led to the closure of several British factories in India.
Which of the following features of the Indian Constitution establishes India 1
9. as a sovereign state?
a) Fundamental Rights
b) Directive Principles of State Policy
c) Preamble
d) Union List
10. In which of the following situations is a minister misusing his power? 1
a) Refuses to sanction a project of his ministry for he finds valid
technical faults in the project.
b) Threatens to send his security staff to beat up his neighbour.
c) Calls up the police station to ask them not to register a
complaint that is likely to be filed against his relative.
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d) Launches a project to create awareness about safety
protocols during the Covid 19 pandemic.
i. Option d
ii. Option b and c
iii. Option a
iv. All of the above
11. Secularism means the absence of a …………………… 1
a) State religion
b) Religion
c) Religious law
d) Religious head
12. By which constitutional amendment, the word ‘secular’ was added to the 1
Preamble of the Indian Constitution?
a) Article 15
b) Article 14
c) Article 19
d) Article 20
SECTION ‘B’ [2X10=20]
Q13. Why is the distribution of natural resources on Earth highly uneven? [2]
Q14. Can biotic resources survive in the absence of abiotic resources? If so, give [2]
reasons.
Q15. a) Why do farmers have different sources of income in mixed farming? [2]
OR
b) Some of the farmers who lack latest farming techniques tend to
overburden the animals in order to increase crop production. Do
you think it is correct? Why/Why not?
Q16. State the importance of intensive subsistence agriculture. [2]
Q17. Why did the British conduct so many surveys in India? (Two points) [2]
Q18. Why do historians not want to call the British rule in India a “modern period”? [2]
Q19. a) Name two areas which were under British rule. [1+1=2]
b) Name a territory which was annexed under the 'Doctrine of Lapse' and the
Subsidiary Alliance.
Q20. a) What do you mean by the term ‘Mercantilism’? [2]
OR
b) Examine the reasons why the British wanted to establish India as a colony.
Q21. a) List any four Fundamental Rights mentioned in the Constitution of India. [2]
OR
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b) Subir, a civil engineer, claims that the government has to provide him with
a job. Can he file a case against the government in a court of law?
Explain your answer briefly.
Q22. Why did the people of Nepal abolish the monarchy? [2]
SECTION C [3X6=18]
Q23. (a) Analyse the reasons for the conflicts between the English and the French [3]
in India during the 18th century. (Any three reasons)
OR
(b) Why did the Company remove Mir Jafar and Mir Qasim from the throne of
Bengal?
Q24. What is the problem with the periodisation of Indian History that James Mill [3]
offers?
Q25. How ‘Jhum cultivation’ leads to gradual deforestation? [3]
Q26. CASE BASED QUESTION [3]
The government declares a public holiday only on the festival of Diwali, but
not on Eid or Christmas, even though people from all religions live in the area.
Question:
Why is this unfair in a secular state, and what should the government do
instead?
Q27. Read and Reflect [1+2=3]
a) In this situation, which form of government is already present
in the country?
b) What are the demands of the people?
Q28. a) What is meant by sustainable development? What are the principles of [1+2=3]
sustainable development?
OR
b) Non-renewable resources are limited and can be exhausted. As a [3]
responsible individual, how can you contribute towards conserving such
resources?
Page 4 of 7
SECTION D [3x5=15]
Q29. (a) The expansion of Indian territories by the East India Company reached its [5]
Zenith during the period of Lord Dalhousie.
What were these policies and how did they help the British to gain control
over India?
OR
(b) In 1757, the British East India Company, under the command of Robert
Clive, fought the Nawab of Bengal, Sirajuddaulah, in the Battle of Plassey.
The battle was significant because it marked the beginning of British
control over Bengal, leading to the eventual colonization of India. The
British victory was largely due to the betrayal of Mir Jafar, one of
Sirajuddaulah’s commanders, who did not engage his troops in battle as
promised by Clive in exchange for making him the Nawab.
1. How did the internal divisions within Sirajuddaulah’s camp contribute to [2½x2=5]
the outcome of the Battle of Plassey?
2. In what ways did Robert Clive's alliances with Indian leaders like Mir Jafar
impact the British East India Company's success in Bengal?
Q30. Explain the difference between the Separation of Powers and Federalism. Use [5]
a flowchart or graphic organizer to support your answer.
Q31. a) What is shifting cultivation? Why is this type of agriculture discouraged? [1+3+1=5]
Give the local names of shifting cultivation in North-Eastern India and
Brazil.
OR
b) Explain why intensive subsistence farming is more common in monsoon [5]
regions of Asia than in temperate regions like Europe.
SECTION E [5 Marks]
Q32.1 Three places have been marked on the given outline map of India. [3 Marks
Identify them and write their correct names on the lines drawn near them. Geography]
A- State rich in forest.
B- State rich in water.
C- State rich in crude oil
Q32.2 On the given outline map of India mark and label any two of the following:
1. Madras [2 Marks
2. Calcutta History]
3. Mysore
4. Punjab
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Attach the maps to your answer sheet
Name:
Section:………
32.1
C
-
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32.2
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