Question Bank — Understanding Social Science

NCERT Class 9 Social Science · Chapter 1 · CBSE Board Pattern

Class 9 Social Science Chapter 1 Question Bank CBSE Board Pattern

QUESTION BANK

Chapter 1: Understanding Social Science

(CBSE Class 9 – NCERT Pattern)

Section A — MCQs (1 mark each)

1. Social Science is best defined as the:
(a) Study of the natural world
(b) Systematic study of human society
(c) Study of only political institutions
(d) Collection of stories about the past

2. Which of the following is not mentioned in the chapter as a factor shaping society?
(a) History
(b) Geography
(c) Climate change
(d) Astrology

3. The idea of Pañchamahābhūtas explains the natural world as:
(a) Five separate elements with no connection
(b) An interconnected system of five great elements
(c) A purely scientific classification of matter
(d) A political concept of governance

4. Assertion (A): Geography adopts both spatial and temporal perspectives.
Reason (R): It examines where things are located and how places change over time.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

5. The Arthaśhāstra is associated with:
(a) Description of Pañchamahābhūtas
(b) Systematic thinking on governance, economy and administration
(c) Study of climate and landforms
(d) Collection of archaeological artefacts

6. Assertion (A): Social Science is a single unified discipline.
Reason (R): A drought affects environment, economy, politics, society and culture simultaneously.
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true.

7. Which discipline studies the location and distribution of places and the relationship between people and their surroundings?
(a) History
(b) Political Science
(c) Geography
(d) Economics

8. Material remains used to study the past are called:
(a) Literary sources
(b) Archaeological sources
(c) Numismatic sources only
(d) Epigraphic sources only

9. The phrase vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam conveys the idea of:
(a) Political centralisation
(b) The world as one family / interconnectedness of societies
(c) Economic self-sufficiency
(d) Environmental isolation

10. According to the chapter, Social Science helps citizens in a democracy by:
(a) Replacing the need for elections
(b) Enabling informed participation through understanding of governance and rights
(c) Limiting questions about public issues
(d) Focusing only on economic data

Section B — Very Short Answer (2 marks each)

11. Define Social Science in one sentence as given in the chapter.
12. State any two questions that the chapter raises to show that society does not function by chance.
13. What does the chapter mean by “empirical evidence” in the context of History?
14. Name the four core disciplines of Social Science in Grades 9–10.
15. Identify two Indian knowledge traditions mentioned that reflect early systematic thinking about society.
16. Why does the chapter say that Social Science is not a single subject?

Section C — Short Answer (3 marks each)

17. Explain how daily activities of a student are connected to systems of governance, economy and environment. Give three points.
18. Compare the focus of Geography and History as described in the chapter.
19. “Power was viewed as a responsibility rather than merely a privilege.” Explain this statement with reference to Indian political thought.
20. Give three reasons why the study of Economics is important for understanding contemporary India.
21. How does Social Science help in building respect and cooperation among diverse communities? Explain with examples from the chapter.

Section D — Long Answer (5 marks each)

22. “To understand the present, we must trace the long journey of continuity and change.” Analyse the statement with reference to the role of Social Science.
23. Discuss the significance of Indian intellectual traditions (Pañchamahābhūtas, vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam and Arthaśhāstra) in the development of Social Science thinking.
24. “Social Science prepares you not only to understand the world but also to take part in shaping it.” Justify the statement by explaining the role of the four disciplines and the importance of studying Social Science.

Section E — Source-Based Questions (4 marks each)

Source 1

“Human beings live in societies and depend on each other in many ways. Our lives are shaped by the environment, the institutions that govern us, the economic activities that meet our needs, and the traditions and ideas passed down through generations. Understanding these connections is the foundation of Social Science…”

25. (a) What does the passage identify as the foundation of Social Science? (1)
(b) List any two factors mentioned that shape human lives. (1)
(c) How does the passage describe the scope of Social Science beyond telling “what happened”? (1)
(d) Why is understanding “connections” important according to the source? (1)

Source 2

“Geography studies the location and distribution of places, objects, materials, and people, as well as the relationships between human societies and their surroundings. It examines both the physical features of the Earth’s surface and the human communities that inhabit it…”

26. (a) Which discipline is described in the passage? (1)
(b) Name any two aspects that Geography examines. (1)
(c) How does Geography integrate spatial and temporal perspectives? (1)
(d) Which tools does the chapter mention that Geography uses? (1)

▶ Answer Key Attempt all questions first,
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Section A

  1. (b)
  2. (d)
  3. (b)
  4. (a)
  5. (b)
  6. (d)
  7. (c)
  8. (b)
  9. (b)
  10. (b)

Section B

  1. Systematic study of human society (2 marks).
  2. Any two questions from the list given in the chapter (e.g., Why do some people live in crowded cities…?) (1+1).
  3. Information collected by actual observation or experimentation (2 marks).
  4. Geography, History, Political Science, Economics (½ each).
  5. Pañchamahābhūtas and Arthaśhāstra (or vasudhaiva kuṭumbakam) (1+1).
  6. Because a single event affects multiple aspects (environment, economy, politics, society, culture) requiring different perspectives (2 marks).

Section C

  1. Any three points: food production-transport, roads and public authorities, electricity network, school policies (1 each).
  2. Geography: location, distribution, people-environment relationship; History: human past, change over time, sources (any three comparative points).
  3. Reference to rājadharma, welfare of people in Arthaśhāstra, Panchayati Raj as responsibility (any three points).
  4. Any three: understanding resource use, post-independence progress and challenges, GDP, budget, sustainable growth.
  5. Explains diversity as outcome of geographical/historical factors; shows underlying unity of Indian culture; fosters belonging (any three).

Section D

  1. Any five points: observation of change, tracing continuity and change, role of disciplines, evidence-based reasoning, shaping future actions.
  2. Any five points covering the three traditions and their link to modern Social Science.
  3. Role of four disciplines + citizen participation + future challenges (any five analytical points).

Section E

Source 1

(a) Understanding connections between environment, institutions, economy and traditions.
(b) Environment, institutions, economic activities, traditions (any two).
(c) Explains why events occur and how aspects are interconnected.
(d) Society is shaped by multiple factors, not by chance.

Source 2

(a) Geography.
(b) Location and distribution, physical features, human communities, people-surroundings relationship (any two).
(c) Integrates where things are located (spatial) with change over time (temporal).
(d) Maps, globes, atlases, GIS, infographics.

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All questions are answerable from the NCERT chapter text. Reviewed by GFIS faculty.