Class 10 Social Science Chapter 9 Agriculture (Geography) Practice Paper 2

Class: X Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 04 - Agriculture Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. Which type of farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land?
(a) Plantation agriculture
(b) Intensive subsistence farming
(c) Primitive subsistence farming
(d) Commercial farming

Q2. Zaid season falls between which two cropping seasons?
(a) Rabi and Kharif
(b) Kharif and Rabi
(c) Summer and Winter
(d) Monsoon and Winter

Q3. Which crop requires high temperature above 25°C and high humidity with annual rainfall above 100 cm?
(a) Wheat
(b) Cotton
(c) Rice
(d) Mustard

Q4. Cotton grows best in which type of soil?
(a) Alluvial soil
(b) Red soil
(c) Black cotton soil
(d) Laterite soil

Q5. Which variety of coffee was initially brought from Yemen to India?
(a) Robusta
(b) Arabica
(c) Liberica
(d) Excelsa

Q6. The White Revolution in India is associated with:
(a) Wheat production
(b) Cotton production
(c) Milk production
(d) Sugar production

Q7. Which state is NOT a major tea-producing state in India?
(a) Assam
(b) West Bengal
(c) Punjab
(d) Tamil Nadu

Q8. Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to:
(a) Export value
(b) Area and production
(c) Nutritional content
(d) Market price

Q9. Sericulture refers to:
(a) Growing cotton
(b) Rearing silkworms
(c) Growing jute
(d) Bee keeping

Q10. The focus of India's First Five Year Plan in agriculture was:
(a) Green Revolution
(b) Land reforms
(c) White Revolution
(d) Export promotion

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What is commercial farming? How does rice demonstrate this concept with an example?

Q12. List the major wheat-producing states of India and explain why they are suitable for wheat cultivation.

Q13. Explain why jute is called the 'golden fibre' and mention its main uses.

Q14. What are HYV seeds? Name two crops where HYV seeds have been successfully used.

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Compare primitive subsistence farming with intensive subsistence farming based on: (i) Land use (ii) Labor requirement (iii) Productivity

Q16. Describe the cultivation requirements and major producing regions of sugarcane in India.

Q17. Explain any three measures taken by the Government of India to protect farmers from exploitation and financial risks.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. Explain the Green Revolution in India. What were its objectives, major features, and what impact did it have on different regions of the country? Also mention any one limitation of the Green Revolution.

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Case Study 1: India has three cropping seasons - rabi, kharif, and zaid. Rabi crops are sown in winter and harvested in summer. Important rabi crops include wheat, barley, peas, gram, and mustard. States from north and northwestern parts such as Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh are important for wheat production. The success of the green revolution in these states has been an important factor in their growth. (i) When are rabi crops sown and harvested? (1 mark) (ii) Name any two rabi crops other than wheat. (1 mark) (iii) What natural phenomenon helps rabi crops in northwestern India? (1 mark) (iv) Why has Punjab and Haryana become important for wheat production recently? (1 mark)

Q20. Case Study 2: Plantation is a type of commercial farming where a single crop is grown on a large area. The plantation has an interface of agriculture and industry. Plantations cover large tracts of land using capital- intensive inputs with the help of migrant laborers. All the produce is used as raw material in respective industries. In India, tea, coffee, rubber, sugarcane, and banana are important plantation crops. Since production is mainly for market, a well-developed network of transport and communication plays an important role.

(i) What is the main characteristic of plantation agriculture? (1 mark) (ii) Name any two plantation crops grown in India. (1 mark) (iii) Why is transport network important for plantation agriculture? (1 mark) (iv) What does 'interface of agriculture and industry' mean? (1 mark) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 02

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Q1. Answer:
(b) Intensive subsistence farming Intensive subsistence farming is practiced in areas of high population pressure on land. It is labor- intensive farming where high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation are used for obtaining higher production.

Q2. Answer:
(a) Rabi and Kharif Zaid is a short season during the summer months that falls between the rabi and kharif seasons. Crops like watermelon, muskmelon, cucumber, vegetables, and fodder crops are produced during zaid.

Q3. Answer:
(c) Rice Rice is a kharif crop which requires high temperature above 25°C, high humidity, and annual rainfall above 100 cm. In areas of less rainfall, it grows with the help of irrigation.

Q4. Answer:
(c) Black cotton soil Cotton grows well in drier parts of the black cotton soil of the Deccan plateau. India is believed to be the original home of the cotton plant.

Q5. Answer:
(b) Arabica The Arabica variety of coffee was initially brought from Yemen and is produced in India. This variety is in great demand all over the world, and Indian coffee is known for its good quality.

Q6. Answer:
(c) Milk production The White Revolution, also known as Operation Flood, was associated with milk production and was one of the strategies initiated to improve Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s.

Q7. Answer:
(c) Punjab Punjab is not a major tea-producing state. Major tea-producing states include Assam, West Bengal (Darjeeling and Jalpaiguri), Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Meghalaya, Andhra Pradesh, and Tripura.

Q8. Answer:
(b) Area and production Jowar is the third most important food crop with respect to area and production. It is a rain-fed crop mostly grown in moist areas which hardly needs irrigation.

Q9. Answer:
(b) Rearing silkworms Sericulture refers to rearing of silkworms for the production of silk fiber. Silk is obtained from cocoons of silkworms fed on green leaves, especially mulberry.

Q10. Answer:
(b) Land reforms 'Land reform' was the main focus of India's First Five Year Plan. It included collectivization, consolidation of holdings, cooperation, and abolition of zamindari to bring about institutional reforms after Independence.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Q11. Answer: Commercial Farming: The main characteristic of commercial farming is the use of higher doses of modern inputs like HYV seeds, chemical fertilizers, insecticides, and pesticides to obtain higher productivity primarily for market sale. Example with Rice: Rice demonstrates this concept as it is a commercial crop in Haryana and Punjab where it is grown extensively using modern technology for sale in markets, but in Odisha, it is a subsistence crop grown primarily for self-consumption by farmers.

Q12. Answer: Major wheat-producing states: Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Rajasthan. Suitability for wheat cultivation: These states belong to the Ganga-Satluj plains in the northwest and black soil region of Deccan They receive availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones The success of green revolution in Punjab, Haryana, and western Uttar Pradesh has made them important wheat producers

Q13. Answer: Why called 'Golden Fibre': Jute is known as the golden fibre because of its golden brown color and its economic importance as a major fiber crop that brings prosperity to farmers and the economy. Main uses: It is used in making gunny bags, mats, ropes, yarn, carpets, and other artifacts. It is particularly important for packaging agricultural products.

Q14. Answer: HYV Seeds: HYV stands for High Yielding Variety seeds. These are genetically improved seeds that produce higher yields compared to traditional seeds when provided with adequate irrigation, fertilizers, and pesticides. Examples of crops:

1. Wheat - HYV seeds contributed significantly to the Green Revolution

2. Rice/Paddy - Used extensively in Punjab, Haryana, and other states

3. (Other examples: Maize, Bajra)

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Q15. Answer: Comparison between Primitive and Intensive Subsistence Farming: (i) Land Use: Primitive: Practiced on small patches of land; farmers shift to fresh patches when soil fertility decreases (slash and burn) Intensive: Practiced on same land continuously with maximum utilization; farmers take maximum output from limited land despite small holdings (ii) Labor Requirement: Primitive: Uses family/community labor with primitive tools like hoe, dao, and digging sticks Intensive: Highly labor-intensive; uses high doses of biochemical inputs and irrigation along with manual labor (iii) Productivity:

Primitive: Low productivity as farmers do not use fertilizers or other modern inputs; depends on monsoon and natural soil fertility Intensive: Higher productivity due to use of modern inputs, irrigation, and intensive cultivation methods despite small land holdings

Q16. Answer: Cultivation Requirements of Sugarcane: Climate: Tropical and subtropical crop; grows well in hot and humid climate Temperature: Requires 21°C to 27°C Rainfall: Annual rainfall between 75 cm and 100 cm; irrigation required in regions of low rainfall Soil: Can be grown on a variety of soils Labor: Needs manual labor from sowing to harvesting Time: Takes almost a year to grow Major Producing Regions: Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Bihar, Punjab, and Haryana. India is the second largest producer of sugarcane after Brazil.

Q17. Answer: Three measures to protect farmers:

1. Minimum Support Price (MSP): The government announces minimum support price, remunerative prices, and procurement prices for important crops to check the exploitation of farmers by speculators and middlemen, ensuring they get fair prices

2. Crop Insurance: Provision for crop insurance against drought, flood, cyclone, fire, and disease helps farmers recover from losses due to natural calamities and reduces their financial risks

3. Credit Facilities: Establishment of Grameen banks, cooperative societies, and introduction of Kisan Credit Card (KCC) provide loan facilities to farmers at lower rates of interest, reducing their dependence on moneylenders and preventing exploitation

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Q18. Answer: The Green Revolution in India: Introduction: The Government of India embarked upon introducing agricultural reforms to improve Indian agriculture in the 1960s and 1970s. The Green Revolution was based on the use of package technology to increase agricultural production, particularly food grains. Objectives: To achieve self-sufficiency in food grain production To increase agricultural productivity using modern technology To reduce dependence on food imports To ensure food security for the growing population Major Features:

1. Use of HYV Seeds: Introduction of High Yielding Variety seeds, particularly for wheat and rice

2. Chemical Fertilizers: Extensive use of chemical fertilizers to boost productivity

3. Irrigation Development: Development of irrigation facilities through canals and tubewells

4. Pesticides and Insecticides: Use of modern pesticides and insecticides to protect crops

5. Modern Agricultural Practices: Introduction of mechanization and scientific farming methods Impact on Different Regions: Positive Impact: Punjab, Haryana, western Uttar Pradesh, and parts of Rajasthan experienced significant growth in wheat production. These regions became the food basket of India Regional Disparity: The Green Revolution led to concentration of development in few selected areas, leaving many regions behind Economic Growth: Successful states experienced economic prosperity and improved living standards of farmers One Limitation: The Green Revolution led to regional imbalance as its benefits were concentrated in few selected areas like Punjab, Haryana, and western UP, while other regions did not benefit equally. This created economic disparities between different agricultural regions of the country.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Q19. Answer: (i) Sowing and harvesting time: Rabi crops are sown in winter from October to December and harvested in summer from April to June. (ii) Two rabi crops: Two rabi crops other than wheat are: Barley Gram (any two from: barley, peas, gram, mustard) (iii) Natural phenomenon: Availability of precipitation during winter months due to western temperate cyclones helps rabi crops in northwestern India, providing the necessary moisture for their growth. (iv) Importance of Punjab and Haryana: Punjab and Haryana have become important for wheat production due to the success of the Green Revolution in these states. Development of irrigation facilities through canals and tubewells, along with use of HYV seeds and modern agricultural practices, has made these states major wheat producers.

Q20. Answer: (i) Main characteristic: The main characteristic of plantation agriculture is that a single crop is grown on a large area using capital-intensive inputs with the help of migrant laborers. (ii) Two plantation crops: Two plantation crops grown in India are: Tea (in Assam and North Bengal) Coffee (in Karnataka) (Other examples: rubber, sugarcane, banana) (iii) Importance of transport network: Transport network is important for plantation agriculture because the production is mainly for market rather than self-consumption. A well-developed network of transport and communication is needed to connect plantation areas with processing industries and markets for moving the raw materials and finished products.

(iv) Interface of agriculture and industry: 'Interface of agriculture and industry' means that plantation agriculture combines agricultural production with industrial processing. The crops grown on plantations serve as raw materials for industries, and often the processing units are located within or near the plantation areas. For example, tea is processed within the tea garden itself to restore its freshness before being sent to markets.