The Value of Work – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
CBSE Class 6 — Social Science
Theme E — Economic Life Around Us • Chapter 13: The Value of Work
Class 6
Subject: Social Science
Topic: The Value of Work
CBSE Practice: 40 MCQs with answers and clear explanations aligned to NCERT for focused revision.
Chapter 13
Understanding types of work, professions and their importance
Section A — Basics & Definitions (Q1–Q8)
Definition
1. What does the term 'work' mean?
Answer: B. Work includes paid and unpaid activities that produce goods or services — for example, farming, teaching, or household chores.
Types
2. Which of these best describes 'manual work'?
Answer: B. Manual work uses physical effort — examples include construction, cleaning and gardening.
Skilled vs Unskilled
3. Which job is an example of skilled work?
Answer: A. Carpentry requires training and skill, so it is skilled work.
Formal vs Informal
4. What characterises informal sector work?
Answer: B. Informal work often lacks contracts and benefits; examples include street vendors and daily-wage labourers.
Examples
5. Which of these is NOT an example of work?
Answer: B. Singing for practice with no production or service delivered is not considered work, unlike singing professionally or for payment.
Purpose
6. Which is a main economic purpose of work?
Answer: B. Work provides income that people use to buy food, shelter and other necessities.
Social role
7. How does work contribute to society?
Answer: A. Work produces goods and services like food, education and healthcare that society needs to function.
Dignity
8. What does 'dignity of labour' mean?
Answer: A. Dignity of labour means respecting every honest job and the people who do it.
Section B — Sectors & Examples (Q9–Q16)
Agriculture
9. Which job is an agricultural worker most likely to do?
Answer: B. Harvesting crops is a key agricultural activity performed by farm workers.
Industry
10. Which of these is a typical industrial job?
Answer: A. Assembly line work in factories is a common industrial job producing manufactured goods.
Services
11. Which job is part of the service sector?
Answer: A. Teaching is a service that provides education to students.
Self-employment
12. Which person is most likely self-employed?
Answer: A. A small shop owner typically runs their own business and is self-employed.
Artisan
13. What does an artisan do?
Answer: A. Artisans use skill to make items by hand, preserving traditional crafts and local culture.
Informal Work
14. Which is an example of informal work?
Answer: A. Street vending is usually informal, with no formal contract or social security.
Public services
15. Who provides public services like water and sanitation in towns?
Answer: A. Municipalities manage water supply, sanitation and local infrastructure in towns and cities.
Vocational
16. Vocational training helps workers to:
Answer: A. Vocational training provides hands-on skills for trades like plumbing, tailoring and machine operation, making workers job-ready.
Section C — Income, Security & Rights (Q17–Q24)
Income
17. Which factor most directly determines a worker's income?
Answer: A. Skilled and formal jobs often pay better than unskilled or informal work due to higher productivity and demand.
Job security
18. What is job security?
Answer: A. Job security means steady employment with regular pay and sometimes benefits like leave and pension.
Social protection
19. Which measure protects workers during illness?
Answer: A. Health insurance and paid sick leave help workers maintain income and access care during illness.
Minimum wage
20. What is the purpose of minimum wage laws?
Answer: A. Minimum wage laws set a floor for pay so workers receive a basic, fair income for their labour.
Workers' rights
21. Which right helps workers report problems at work?
Answer: A. Grievance redressal systems allow workers to report issues and seek remedies for unfair treatment or unsafe conditions.
Child labour
22. Why is child labour harmful?
Answer: A. Child labour denies education and may expose children to hazards, limiting future opportunities.
Labour unions
23. What is one role of labour unions?
Answer: A. Unions represent workers to negotiate wages, benefits and safety with employers collectively.
Equality
24. How does respecting dignity of labour promote equality?
Answer: A. Respecting all work helps reduce discrimination and builds a fairer society where everyone’s contribution is valued.
Section D — Skills, Training & Future of Work (Q25–Q32)
Training
25. What is one benefit of vocational training?
Answer: A. Vocational training equips people with employable skills that can lead to better jobs and income.
Digital skills
26. Why are basic digital skills useful today?
Answer: A. Digital literacy enables people to find work online, use e-services, and improve productivity across jobs.
Gig economy
27. What is gig work?
Answer: A. Gig work includes short contracts or tasks offering flexibility but often without long-term security.
Lifelong learning
28. Why is lifelong learning important?
Answer: A. As technology and job markets change, updating skills helps workers remain employable and adapt to new roles.
Entrepreneurship
29. How can small business support improve livelihoods?
Answer: A. Microfinance and training help entrepreneurs expand businesses and increase incomes.
Skill mismatch
30. What is a skill mismatch?
Answer: A. Skill mismatch occurs when workers lack the skills employers need, causing unemployment or underemployment despite job openings.
Automation
31. Which is a possible effect of automation on jobs?
Answer: A. Automation can replace repetitive tasks but also creates demand for technology-related roles and maintenance jobs.
Future skills
32. Which skill will be increasingly important in the future workplace?
Answer: A. Basic digital skills will be crucial as many tasks and services move online or use digital tools.
Section E — Community, Environment & Sustainability (Q33–Q40)
Environment
33. How can jobs harm the environment if not managed properly?
Answer: A. Industrial emissions and unsafe waste disposal can pollute air, water and soil; sustainable practices reduce such harm.
Sustainable jobs
34. Which practice makes work more sustainable?
Answer: A. Recycling and efficient use of resources help protect the environment while supporting livelihoods.
Community jobs
35. How do community-based jobs support local development?
Answer: A. Local jobs like artisans and shopkeepers help circulate money locally, creating more opportunities and stronger communities.
Waste management
36. Why is waste segregation important at source?
Answer: A. Segregating wet and dry waste helps recycling, composting and reduces pressure on landfills, improving urban sanitation.
Public health
37. How do sanitation workers help public health?
Answer: A. Regular waste removal and cleaning reduce disease risk and maintain hygienic living environments.
Gender
38. Why is supporting women’s work important for development?
Answer: A. When women work, family incomes rise and gender equality improves, benefiting overall development.
Cooperatives
39. How do cooperatives benefit small producers?
Answer: A. Cooperatives strengthen bargaining power, reduce costs and help small producers access larger markets and better returns.
Summary
40. Why is it important to value all types of work in society?
Answer: A. Valuing all work recognises contributions across sectors — from farmers to cleaners to teachers — ensuring dignity and functional societies.
All MCQs are NCERT-aligned with explanations to clear concepts and reinforce understanding of the value and types of work.