HISTORY

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ISC Specimen Question Paper
49
HISTORY
(Three Hours)
(Candidates are allowed additional 15 minutes for only reading the paper.
They must NOT start writing during this time)
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Answer Question 1 (Compulsory) from Part I and five questions from Part II, choosing two questions
from Section A, two questions from Section B and one question from either Section A or Section B.
The intended marks for questions or parts of questions are given in brackets [ ].
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PART I
Answer all questions
Question 1 [20]
(i) What were the two ulterior motives behind Curzon’s decision to partition Bengal
in 1905?
(ii) State any two reasons for the growth of revolutionary dispositions in India at the turn of
the 20th century.
(iii) Name the leaders of the Home Rule League in India.
(iv) State any two reasons to explain the decision of the Congress to support the British in
the First World War.
(v) Why was the Simon Commission sent to India in 1927? Why did the Congress boycott
it?
(vi) State one fundamental difference between the No-changers and the Pro-changers.
(vii) What was the most damaging feature of the Communal Award (1932) introduced by
Ramsay MacDonald?
(viii) What was the basis of Jinnah’s two-nation theory?
(ix) Name any one outstanding nationalist leader among women, during the Civil
Disobedience Movement (1930-34).
(x) Name the leader who played a vital role in the reorganisation and integration of states in
post-independence India.
(xi) Who introduced the “Battle of Wheat” Campaign? What was its primary objective?
(xii) Why and by whom was the “Final Solution” policy implemented?
(xiii) What adverse effects did the French occupation of the Ruhr have on Germany?
(xiv) Name the signatories of the Anti-Comintern Pact (1936).


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ISC Specimen Question Paper
50
(xv) Mention any two reasons to explain why the Russian victory at Stalingrad proved
catastrophic for the Germans.
(xvi) Give one example to show that the “thaw” in US-Soviet relations after 1953 was not
consistent.
(xvii) What is the significance of the Tonkin Gulf incident?
(xviii) How did the “Uniting for Peace Resolution” enhance the powers of the General
Assembly?
(xix) What was Britain’s main objection to joining the EEC in its early years?
(xx) Name the organisation established and led by Yasser Arafat.
PART II
SECTION A
Question 2
Disillusionment with the principles and methods of the Moderate leadership led to a strong
demand for aggressive political methods and actions. In this context discuss the following:
(a) Recognition of the true nature of the economic and political policies of the British
government.
[8]
(b) Contribution of Tilak to the rise of radical nationalism in India. [4]
(c) Reasons for the split in the Congress at its Surat Session in 1907. [4]
Question 3
(a)
Discuss the role of Sir Sayyid Ahmad Khan and the Aligarh School in the growth of
communalism in India.
[6]
(b) Give a brief account of the British Government’s attitude towards the Muslim League. [4]
(c) Examine the significance of the Lucknow Session of the Congress (1916) and show
how it reflected the political maturity of Indian nationalist leaders.
[6]
Question 4
(a)
Evaluate the significance of the Lahore Session (1929) of the Congress. [6]
(b) Give a brief account of the Civil Disobedience Movement under the leadership of Gandhiji
from 1930 to 1934.
[10]


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ISC Specimen Question Paper
51
Question 5
The 1930s witnessed several important political developments. In this context discuss:
(a)
Kisan Sabha Movement. [4]
(b) States Peoples’ struggles. [6]
(c) Participation of women in the national movement. [6]
Question 6
(a)
Give an account of the origin of the Indo-Pak dispute over [8]
(i) Kashmir.
(ii) River waters.
(b) State the main aims of the Non-Aligned Movement. Why did India follow a policy of
non-alignment after independence?
[8]
SECTION B
Question 7
(a) Discuss the economic problems that brought the Weimar Republic to the verge of collapse. [8]
(b) Hitler and the Nazi party seemed to promise an attractive alternative to the ineffective
Weimar Government. Explain.
[8]
Question 8
Mussolini believed that there was more to be gained from friendship with Germany than with
Britain and France. In this context discuss:
(a) The change in Mussolini’s foreign policy from 1934 to 1940. [10]
(b) Mussolini’s involvement in World War- II leading to his downfall and the collapse of
Fascism.
[6]


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ISC Specimen Question Paper
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Question 9
(a) State the main aims of Hitler’s foreign policy. [4]
(b) Explain how he achieved his aims with reference to the following:
(i) The reintroduction of conscription (1935) and reoccupation of the Rhineland (1936). [6]
(ii) The Anschluss with Austria (1938). [6]
Question 10
(a) Give an account of (i) the Berlin Blockade (1948 – 49) and (ii) the Cuban Missile Crisis
(1962) and explain the significance of each.
[8]
(b) State the reasons for the détente in international relations in the 1970s. [8]
Question 11
(a) Give an account of the conflict in Palestine after the First World War and explain how it led
to the outbreak of the Arab-Israel War in 1948.
[8]
(b) With reference to the Camp David Accord discuss President Sadats’ efforts to negotiate a
peaceful settlement with Israel.
[8]


NAME ............................................................ INDEX NO. ......................................
(This map must be fastened with all other answers)
MAP FOR Q. No.2 (MAP OF INDIA)
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58 ISC Specimen Question Paper