CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2014 Solved Set A

Part – A

Answer all the questions given below: 

1. Numismatics is an important source for the historians to reconstruct the past. Give two examples.

2. Bhakti and Sufi traditions came as a challenge to Brahmanical norms, support the statement with two arguments.

3. State any two difficulties faced by the Census Commissions appointed by the British in collecting and classifying census data. 

Part – B

Section – I

Answer any “two” of the following questions. 

4. How do archaeologists trace socio-economic and cultural beliefs of the Harappan society?

5. Elaborate with examples from the Mahabharata as to how it reflects the norms of family and kinship of the ancient times. 

6. “Many people who turned to Buddhism enriched it with their own pre-Buddhist and even non-Buddhist beliefs, practices and ideas.”

Explain by giving examples from the sculptures at Sanchi. 

Section – II

Answer any “one” of the following questions. 

7. Temples played an important role in the life of the ‘Vijaynagar Kings’. Justify the statement with suitable arguments 5mark

8. Explain with illustrations that ‘Ain-i-Akbari’ is an extraordinary document of its time.

Section – III

Answer any “one” of the following questions. 

9. Describe the life style of the Paharias. 

10. “Rumours and prophecies played an important part in moving people into action.”

Justify the statement in the context of the revolt of 1857. 

Section – IV

Value based question. 

11.1 ‘The policies adopted by Akbar during his rule strengthened values of peaceful coexistence in the society’. Explain giving examples from his policies.

11.2 How far these values are relevant in contemporary India to resolve communalism.

Part – C 

Long Answer questions.

12. Zamindars were central figures in medieval India. Justify the statement.

Or

Examine the distinguishing features of the Mughal Nobility. Analyze their relationship with the Mughal Emperors. 

13. Examine the strengths and limitations of oral history. How has it helped in understanding the Partition better ? 

Or

In what way did Mahatma Gandhi transform the nature of the national movement?

Part – D

Passage based questions 

Read the following extracts carefully and answer the questions that follow:

14. The anguish of the King When the King Devanampiya Piyadassi had been ruling for eight years, the( country of the) Kalingas (present day coastal Orissa) was conquered by (him).One hundred and fifty thousand men were deported, a hundred thousand were killed and many more died. After that, now that (the country of) the Kalingas has been taken, Devanampiya (is devoted) to an intense study of Dhamma, and to instructing (the people) in Dhamma. This is the repentance of Devanampiya on account of his conquest of the (country of the) Kalingas. For this is considered very painful and deplorable by Devanampiya that, while one is conquering an unconquered (country) slaughter, death and deportation of the people (take place) there…

i) Who was called Devanampiya Piyadassi? Give a brief description of his character.

ii) Mention the limitations of inscriptions as a source to history.

iii) Explain the effects of the war of Kalinga on Ashoka. 

iv) Why did the King repent after the war of Kalinga?  

Please refer to attached file for CBSE Class 12 History Sample Paper 2014 Solved Set A