ISC Class 12 Sociology Sample Paper 2023 with Solutions

SECTION A - 14 MARKS

Question 1

(i) The direct link of an individual with one's ancestor is called: [1]
(A) Avoidance
(B) Descent
(C) Dormitory
(D) Exogamy

Answer: (B) Descent

Descent refers to the socially recognized social relationship between an individual and their ancestors.

Teacher's Note:
a) Descent establishes the line of ancestry and regulates inheritance and succession.
b) Students often confuse descent with residence or inheritance rules.

(ii) The marriage between children of siblings of the opposite sex is called: [1]
(A) Parallel cousin marriage
(B) Polygamous marriage
(C) Cross-cousin marriage
(D) Polyandrous marriage

Answer: (C) Cross-cousin marriage

Marriage between children of a brother and a sister (cross-cousins) is known as cross-cousin marriage.

Teacher's Note:
a) Parallel cousin marriage is between children of siblings of the same sex (two brothers or two sisters).
b) Remember that cross-cousin marriage is practiced widely in tribal and southern Indian communities.

(iii) Which of the following is NOT a rule of marriage? [1]
(A) Levirate
(B) Couvade
(C) Hypergamy
(D) Sororate

Answer: (B) Couvade

Couvade is a kinship usage/custom related to childbirth, not a rule of marriage.

Teacher's Note:
a) Levirate, sororate, and hypergamy are specific rules and prescriptions governing marital selection.
b) Couvade requires the husband to undergo ritual invalidism during his wife's pregnancy and childbirth.

(iv) A Brahmin man marrying a Vaishya woman is an example of: [1]
(A) Avoidance
(B) Hypergamy
(C) Hypogamy
(D) Polygamy

Answer: (B) Hypergamy

Hypergamy (Anuloma) is a form of marriage where a man of a higher caste marries a woman of a lower caste.

Teacher's Note:
a) Hypogamy (Pratiloma) is the reverse, where a woman of a higher caste marries a man of a lower caste.
b) In traditional Hindu society, hypergamy was socially preferred over hypogamy.

(v) A theory of religion based on the belief in the soul: [1]
(A) Functionalism
(B) Taboo
(C) Animism
(D) Totemism

Answer: (C) Animism

Animism is the belief in spiritual beings or souls inhabiting natural objects and living creatures.

Teacher's Note:
a) E.B. Tylor proposed animism as the earliest form of religion.
b) Totemism involves a sacred relationship between a social group and a natural plant or animal species.

(vi) A widely held irrational belief in supernatural influences often misunderstood as sacred is known as ____________. [1]

Answer: Superstition.

Teacher's Note:
a) Superstition consists of practices or beliefs not founded on reason or scientific knowledge.
b) Ensure exact terminology is used to secure full credit in fill-in-the-blank questions.

(vii) The type of family with blood relatives at the core is termed as ____________ family. [1]

Answer: Consanguine.

Teacher's Note:
a) A consanguine family is built around a core of blood relatives, whereas a conjugal family is centered on marital bonds.
b) Consanguine families are frequently found in extended or joint family systems.

(viii) The system of local self-government established to empower citizens at the grass root level is known as ____________. [1]

Answer: Panchayati Raj (or Local Self-Government / Decentralisation).

Teacher's Note:
a) The Panchayati Raj system was formalized via constitutional amendments to strengthen grassroots democracy in India.
b) It brings administration closer to rural citizens.

(ix) What is the term used for residence with the father's/husband's family? [1]

Answer: Patrilocal residence.

Teacher's Note:
a) Patrilocality requires the newly married couple to live with or near the husband's father's family.
b) It is the most common residential rule associated with patriarchal societies.

(x) One of the economies of the tribes in India involves animal rearing. Mention the economic activity being referred to here. [1]

Answer: Pastoralism (or Pastoral nomadism / Animal husbandry).

Teacher's Note:
a) Pastoralism involves breeding and managing herds of domesticated animals.
b) Many Himalayan and trans-humant tribes depend heavily on this economic pursuit.

(xi) State any one economic problem of tribes. [1]

Answer: Land alienation / Poverty / Indebtedness / Exploitation by middlemen.

Teacher's Note:
a) Land alienation remains one of the gravest threats to tribal economies.
b) Any one valid socioeconomic challenge faced by indigenous groups is accepted.

(xii) State any one measure implemented for tribal upliftment. [1]

Answer: Reservation in educational institutions and government jobs (or Constitutional safeguards / Tribal Sub-Plans).

Teacher's Note:
a) Protective discrimination policies help integrate tribes into mainstream society.
b) Mentioning specific constitutional provisions like the Fifth or Sixth Schedule is also rewarded.

(xiii) What is the ideology that promotes the authority of male members in a society called? [1]

Answer: Patriarchy.

Teacher's Note:
a) Patriarchy is a social system in which men hold primary power and predominate in roles of political leadership, moral authority, and social privilege.
b) It underpins gender inequality across various institutions.

(xiv) Give any one difference between sex and gender. [1]

Answer: Sex is a biological distinction based on physiological and anatomical characteristics, whereas gender is a socially constructed concept referring to roles, behaviors, and attributes that a society considers appropriate for men and women.

Teacher's Note:
a) Sex is universal and biologically determined, while gender is culturally variable and learned.
b) Clearly highlighting the biological versus social distinction is essential for full marks.

SECTION B - 28 MARKS

Question 2. Briefly explain the term tribe. Discuss any three features of tribe. [4 Marks]

Answer:
A tribe is a social group existing outside the civilized mainstream, usually comprising a collection of families or kin groups sharing a common name, language, territory, and culture, and possessing a distinct political system.
Three features of a tribe are:
1. Common Territory: Members of a tribe usually occupy a specific geographic region or habitat, which creates a sense of shared identity.
2. Common Language: A tribe typically shares a distinct dialect or language that differentiates it from surrounding populations.
3. Common Culture and Customs: They share uniform traditions, folklore, beliefs, and endogamous practices that bind the community together.

Teacher's Note:
a) Emphasize that tribes are relatively self-contained social units.
b) Ensure all three features are explicitly listed and briefly elaborated to secure full marks.

Question 3. What is meant by the term inequality? Discuss any three elements of social stratification. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Social inequality refers to the condition where people have unequal access to resources, rewards, power, and prestige within a society.
Three elements of social stratification are:
1. Differentiation: The recognition of biological and social differences among individuals in a society.
2. Ranking: The societal evaluation and grading of these differences into superior and inferior social layers.
3. Reward Distribution: Unequal allocation of social resources, wealth, power, and privileges based on structural ranking.

Teacher's Note:
a) Stratification is structured social inequality institutionalized over generations.
b) Clearly distinguish between differentiation, ranking, and unequal rewards.

Question 4. Define monogamy as a form of marriage. Discuss any three functions of monogamy. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Monogamy is a form of marriage in which one man is married to one woman at any given time.
Three functions of monogamy are:
1. Stability of Family: It provides a stable and secure emotional and physical environment for raising children.
2. Economic Security: Property and inheritance remain undivided among a single set of offspring, preventing family disputes.
3. Equality in Status: It promotes gender equality and mutual respect between spouses by establishing a balanced partnership.

Teacher's Note:
a) Monogamy is universally recognized and practiced across almost all modern societies.
b) Mention how it avoids the jealousy and friction often associated with polygamous unions.

Question 5. Elaborate on any four functions of family. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Four functions of the family are:
1. Biological Reproduction: It ensures the legitimate continuation of the human species through socially sanctioned procreation.
2. Socialisation: It acts as the primary agency of socialisation, transmitting cultural norms, values, and language to the child.
3. Economic Provision: It provides food, shelter, clothing, and financial security to all its dependent members.
4. Emotional Support and Affection: It offers a secure environment that fulfills the psychological and emotional needs of individuals.

Teacher's Note:
a) Categorize functions into biological, social, economic, and psychological aspects.
b) Provide clear sub-headings and concise explanations for each point.

Question 6. Briefly explain the kinship usage of Couvade. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Couvade is a peculiar kinship usage or custom observed in certain primitive societies where the husband assumes the ritual invalidism and behavioral restrictions associated with pregnancy and childbirth alongside his wife.
Key features of Couvade:
1. The husband takes to bed, groans as if experiencing labor pains, and observes strict dietary taboos.
2. It serves to psychologically identify the father with the newborn child.
3. It culturally establishes and validates the husband's paternity over the child.
4. It functions as a protective ritual against evil spirits endangering the newborn.

Teacher's Note:
a) Couvade illustrates the complex symbolic ties within kinship systems.
b) Explain both the behavioral aspect and the underlying social purpose.

Question 7

(i) Discuss the impact of culture contact on dormitories. [4 Marks]

Answer:
The impact of culture contact (modernisation, Christianity, education, and state policies) on traditional youth dormitories includes:
1. Decline and Disintegration: Exposure to external values led many tribes to view dormitories as backward, causing their gradual abandonment.
2. Loss of Moral Authority: Modern formal schooling replaced the traditional training imparted in dormitories, undermining elders' authority.
3. Stigmatisation: Christian missionaries and colonial administrators often discouraged dormitories due to misconceptions about moral laxity.
4. Disruption of Social Solidarity: The breakdown of dormitories weakened community cooperation and youth socialisation among tribal groups.

Teacher's Note:
a) Youth dormitories (like the Ghotul among the Muria Gond) were vital educational and social institutions.
b) Culture contact led to their rapid erosion in many parts of India.

OR

(ii) Discuss any four functions of dormitories. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Four functions of youth dormitories are:
1. Socialisation and Training: They impart tribal traditions, myths, folklore, and moral values to the younger generation.
2. Economic Cooperation: Dormitory members work collectively in community fields and help families during agricultural seasons.
3. Mate Selection and Courtship: They provide supervised spaces for young people to interact, choose life partners, and learn about marital responsibilities.
4. Defence and Community Service: Able-bodied dormitory youth act as a protective militia and assist the community during emergencies and festivals.

Teacher's Note:
a) Dormitories serve as crucial institutional mechanisms for community integration in tribal life.
b) Ensure distinct social, economic, and cultural functions are highlighted.

Question 8

(i) Shifting - axe - cultivation is not considered a viable economic activity for the tribes any longer. Discuss the given statement with respect to any four drawbacks of shifting - axe - cultivation. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Shifting cultivation (Jhum) is no longer viable due to the following drawbacks:
1. Environmental Degradation: It causes massive deforestation, soil erosion, and destruction of rich floral and faunal biodiversity.
2. Reduced Fallow Periods: Increasing population pressure has drastically shortened the fallow cycle, preventing soil fertility recovery.
3. Low Agricultural Productivity: It yields minimal food grain production, leading to perpetual food insecurity and poverty among practitioners.
4. Ecological Imbalance: It disrupts local watershed management and contributes to climate vulnerabilities in hilly terrains.

Teacher's Note:
a) Governments actively discourage shifting cultivation through resettlement and horticulture schemes.
b) Focus on ecological and economic unsustainability.

OR

(ii) The Weekly Haat is an example of a traditional market. Briefly discuss the concept of the Weekly Haat in the light of the given statement. [4 Marks]

Answer:
The Weekly Haat is a periodic, traditional market operating in rural and tribal regions on specific days of the week.
Key characteristics of the Weekly Haat include:
1. Gathering Place: It serves as a central hub where people from surrounding remote villages congregate to buy and sell daily essentials.
2. Barter and Cash Exchange: Traditionally based on barter, it now incorporates cash transactions for forest produce, agricultural goods, and manufactured items.
3. Social and Cultural Nexus: Beyond economic exchange, it acts as a social space for meeting relatives, settling disputes, and cultural bonding.
4. Economic Lifeline: It protects tribal communities from exploitative moneylenders by providing a direct platform for trade.

Teacher's Note:
a) Haats are integral to the rural economic and social fabric.
b) Emphasize both economic and socio-cultural dimensions of the Haat.

SECTION C - 28 MARKS

Question 9

(i) Define the term social change. Discuss in detail any six features of social change. [7 Marks]

Answer:
Social change refers to significant alterations over time in behavior patterns, cultural values, social structures, and norms within a society.
Six features of social change are:
1. Continuous Process: Social change is an ongoing, uninterrupted phenomenon; societies are constantly evolving.
2. Universal Phenomenon: It occurs in all societies across time and space, regardless of culture or geography.
3. Structural Change: It involves modifications in institutional frameworks like family, religion, polity, and economy.
4. Inevitable and Natural: Change is a law of nature; resistance may slow it down, but it cannot be permanently halted.
5. Rate of Change Varies: While social change is universal, its pace differs across societies, being rapid in modern industrial societies and slow in traditional ones.
6. Unpredictable and Complex: The exact direction, form, and ultimate consequences of social change cannot always be accurately foreseen.

Teacher's Note:
a) Define social change clearly before listing features.
b) Ensure all six features are well explained with appropriate sociological terminology.

OR

(ii) Define the term education. Elaborate on any six functions of education. [7 Marks]

Answer:
Education is the conscious and systematic process of imparting knowledge, skills, values, and training to individuals to prepare them for effective membership in society.
Six functions of education are:
1. Transmission of Culture: It passes cultural heritage, values, beliefs, and traditions from one generation to the next.
2. Socialisation: It instills social norms, discipline, cooperation, and civic responsibility in children outside the family.
3. Social Integration: It brings together diverse groups, fostering national unity, shared values, and social cohesion.
4. Occupational Placement: It provides specialized training and credentials, determining social mobility and career stratification.
5. Social Control: It reinforces societal rules, laws, and moral standards, ensuring social order.
6. Innovation and Research: It promotes scientific enquiry, critical thinking, technological advancement, and cultural renewal.

Teacher's Note:
a) Differentiate between formal and informal dimensions of education.
b) Cover both manifest (academic) and latent (socialising) functions.

Question 10. What is meant by the term caste? Give a detailed explanation of any five features of caste. [7 Marks]

Answer:
Caste is an ascribed, hereditary, endogamous social group in which a person's rank and associated rights and obligations are ascribed by birth.
Five features of caste are:
1. Segmental Division of Society: Society is divided into hereditary groups with distinct statuses, where membership is determined entirely by birth.
2. Hierarchy: Castes are arranged in a vertical ladder from high to low based on ritual purity and pollution.
3. Endogamy: Members must marry strictly within their own caste group, and inter-caste marriages are traditionally prohibited.
4. Restrictions on Food and Social Intercourse: Rules dictate what types of food and water can be accepted from other castes to maintain ritual purity.
5. Hereditary Occupation: Each caste is traditionally linked to specific hereditary occupations, such as priestly duties, trade, or manual labor.

Teacher's Note:
a) Reference G.S. Ghurye's classic features of caste for standard board evaluation.
b) Highlight that caste is an ascribed status rather than an achieved one.

Question 11. Discuss the functional aspect of religion by referring to the theories of Durkheim, Radcliffe Brown and Malinowski. [7 Marks]

Answer:
The functionalist perspective views religion as a vital institution that promotes social solidarity, psychological reassurance, and moral order.
1. Emile Durkheim: In his sociological theory (studied through totemism among Australian Aborigines), Durkheim argued that religion divides the world into the sacred and the profane. Religious rituals worship society itself, creating collective effervescence, strengthening social bonds, and reinforcing moral solidarity.
2. A.R. Radcliffe Brown: In his anthropological approach, religion maintains social structure and order. Rituals and beliefs express collective sentiments, regulate social behavior, and ease tensions during life crises, thereby preserving structural continuity.
3. Bronislaw Malinowski: Viewing religion from a psychological-functional standpoint, Malinowski argued that religion helps individuals cope with emotional stress, anxiety, and crises (such as death, danger, and unpredicted events) where science and technology fail, providing psychological comfort and confidence.

Teacher's Note:
a) Clearly separate the contributions of Durkheim, Radcliffe Brown, and Malinowski.
b) Emphasize how functionalists view religion as beneficial for society's equilibrium.

Question 12

Read the passage given below and answer the questions that follow.
In the context of human society, family helps to relate individuals to each other by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence.
Emerging from the human "family unit" are concepts of community, society and nationhood that bind people together and help maintain the social equilibrium. Family inculcates features that are basic to the development and evolution of societies all over the world.
The family as a unit has been evolving and changing over a period of time due to various factors. However, it continues to remain the backbone of the basic structure of society.

(i) Define family. [1 Mark]

Answer:
Family is a socially recognized group of people related by blood (consanguinity), marriage (affinity), or adoption, who live together, cooperate economically, and engage in the rearing of children.

Teacher's Note:
a) Ensure the core elements of kinship, co-residence, and cooperation are included.
b) Keep the definition concise for 1 mark.

(ii) "The family as a unit has been evolving and changing over a period of time due to various factors." Discuss any four factors responsible for the structural changes in the family. [4 Marks]

Answer:
Four factors responsible for structural changes in the family are:
1. Industrialisation: It shifted production from home to factories, leading to the breakdown of large joint families into nuclear households.
2. Urbanisation: Migration to cities for employment created housing shortages and socio-economic pressures favoring smaller nuclear families.
3. Education and Employment of Women: Women's financial independence and higher education altered traditional power dynamics and gender roles within the family.
4. Westernisation and Individualism: Growing emphasis on individual autonomy, personal freedom, and egalitarian values weakened traditional patriarchal authority.

Teacher's Note:
a) Connect macro-level social changes directly to micro-level family shifts.
b) Provide clear headings for each of the four factors.

(iii) Discuss any two features of family as given by Mac Iver. [2 Marks]

Answer:
Two features of family according to R.M. Mac Iver are:
1. Universality: The family is a universal institution found in all human societies, primitive and modern.
2. Limited Size: Compared to broader kinship groups or clans, the family is restricted in size, comprising parents and offspring or close kin.

Teacher's Note:
a) R.M. Mac Iver and C.H. Page highlighted several essential characteristics of family in their sociological work.
b) Mentioning features like emotional basis and mating relationship also earns credit.