CBSE Class 8 Social Science Advanced How, When and Where Very Short Answer Questions Set 01

Very Short Answer Questions

Question 1. Fill in the blank: The Indologists such as James Mill, ____________, Vincent Smith took keen interest in Indian culture.
Answer:
Max Mueller
In simple words: Max Mueller was another European scholar who studied ancient Indian texts.

Teacher's Note:
1. Indologists were scholars who studied Indian literature, history and philosophy.
2. The three names to remember are James Mill, Max Mueller and Vincent Smith.

Question 2. Fill in the blank: The National Archives of India came up in the year ________.
Answer:
1920 (as given in this chapter)
In simple words: The record rooms of the government grew into the National Archives, which this chapter dates to 1920.

Teacher's Note:
1. The date 1920 is the one given in this chapter; some other sources trace the archive back to the Imperial Record Department of 1891, so follow your own textbook if it differs.
2. Archives keep the original government papers that historians use as primary sources.

Question 3. Fill in the blank: The practice of controlling the territory, political system and economic life of a less powerful country by a more powerful one is called ____________.
Answer:
Imperialism
In simple words: When a strong country takes control of a weaker one, it is called imperialism.

Teacher's Note:
1. New sea routes and trade contacts led to the rise of imperialism in the modern period.
2. Do not confuse it with colonisation, which means setting up colonies in other lands.

Question 4. Fill in the blank: The ____________ set up record rooms attached to all administrative institutions.
Answer:
British
In simple words: The British kept papers of every office in record rooms so that the government could refer to them.

Teacher's Note:
1. Record rooms were attached to offices such as the collectorate, the secretariat and the law courts.
2. Because of this, the modern period has an enormous amount of written evidence.

Question 5. Fill in the blank: ____________ became the first Governor-General in 1773.
Answer:
Warren Hastings
In simple words: Warren Hastings was the first Governor-General and held the post from 1773 to 1785.

Teacher's Note:
1. Strictly, in 1773 he became Governor-General of Bengal; the post of Governor-General of India came later, but this chapter uses this wording.
2. Remember the span 1773 to 1785.

Question 6. True or False: On 14 August, Pakistan was declared a separate nation.
Answer:
True. Pakistan was declared a separate nation on 14 August 1947, and India became independent at midnight on 15 August 1947.
In simple words: Pakistan came into being a day before India's independence day.

Teacher's Note:
1. Link the dates: 3 June announcement, 14 August Pakistan, 15 August India.
2. Many people forget that the two countries have different independence days.

Question 7. True or False: In AD 1453, the Turks took control of the overland trade routes connecting Europe to the East.
Answer:
True. The Turkish control of the land routes forced the Europeans to look for sea routes to the East.
In simple words: Once the land route was blocked, European sailors looked for a way by sea.

Teacher's Note:
1. This event is the starting point of the age of exploration.
2. Link it with Vasco da Gama's voyage to India.

Question 8. True or False: Videotapes are archaeological sources.
Answer:
False. Videotapes are primary sources of the modern period, but archaeological sources are buildings and monuments such as the Gateway of India or Parliament House.
In simple words: Videotapes record events, whereas archaeological sources are old buildings and remains.

Teacher's Note:
1. Primary sources include four kinds: archaeological sources, original documents, photographs and videotapes.
2. Do not mix the whole group with one of its members.

Question 9. True or False: Many regional kingdoms emerged in the beginning of the 19th century.
Answer:
False. The regional kingdoms emerged in the 18th century, when the Mughal empire weakened.
In simple words: The regional states grew in the 1700s, not in the 1800s.

Teacher's Note:
1. By the early 19th century the British had already conquered or subdued most of these kingdoms.
2. Check the century carefully in such statements.

Question 10. True or False: The Battle of Plassey was the turning point in the history of India.
Answer:
True. The Battle of Plassey (23 June 1757) began British political power in India and is seen as a turning point.
In simple words: After Plassey the British East India Company began to rule parts of India.

Teacher's Note:
1. The battle was fought at Plassey in West Bengal on 23 June 1757.
2. Use it as the anchor date for the modern period in your timeline.