Introduction: How, When, and Where – Short Answer Type Questions
CBSE Class 8 • Social Science
CBSE board standard
Topic-wise
Short answers (3–4 lines)
CBSE Assessment Guidance
Use these questions for formative assessments, revision tests, and exam practice focusing on concepts, chronology, and source-analysis.
Content Bank: Revision Notes, Key Terms, Timeline Exercises, Primary & Secondary Source Examples, Map & Chronology Tasks, Exam Tips.
Topic A: Basic Concepts (What is History?)
1. Define history in your own words.
History is the systematic study of past human activities and societies, based on evidence to explain changes over time.
2. How does history help us in the present?
Studying history helps us understand causes of current events and learn lessons from past successes and failures.
3. What is meant by ‘evidence’ in history?
Evidence includes any information from the past—like documents, objects, or oral accounts—that helps explain historical events.
4. Why should historical study be based on evidence?
Evidence gives credibility and allows historians to test claims, preventing reliance on rumours or myths.
5. Mention two kinds of evidence historians use.
Historians use material evidence (objects, monuments) and written evidence (inscriptions, letters) among other types.
6. What is a historical question?
A historical question asks about what happened in the past, who was involved, when it happened, and why it occurred.
Topic B: Dates & Chronology
7. Explain why dates are important in history.
Dates help place events in order, allowing historians to see relationships and changes across time.
8. What is chronology? Give an example.
Chronology is the sequence of events. For example, placing the reigns of rulers in order to study political change.
9. How does a timeline help students revise?
A timeline visually arranges events, making it easier to remember sequences and see overlaps between events.
10. Can the same event have different dates in sources? Why?
Yes—differences may arise due to calendar systems, recording errors, or later copying of sources.
11. What is an era or period in history?
An era is a span of time marked by particular features like political systems, culture, or technology (e.g., ancient, medieval, modern).
12. How can students practice chronology effectively?
By making timelines for chapters and placing local events and textbook examples in order for frequent review.
Topic C: Sources of History
13. What are primary sources? Give two examples.
Primary sources are direct records from the past such as coins, inscriptions, letters, pottery, and official records.
14. What are secondary sources? Give one example.
Secondary sources are interpretations made after the event, like textbooks or historical articles summarising primary evidence.
15. Why are oral accounts useful as sources?
Oral accounts preserve local memories and traditions, especially where written records are scarce, but they require cross-checking.
16. How do inscriptions help historians?
Inscriptions often provide dates, names, and events directly from the period, making them valuable for factual details.
17. What is documentary evidence? Give an example.
Documentary evidence includes written records like official letters, farm records, or traveller accounts that describe events or practices.
18. Why must sources be interpreted carefully?
Because sources can be incomplete, biased, or damaged, so historians must assess reliability and context before using them.
Topic D: Primary vs Secondary Sources
19. How would you distinguish primary and secondary sources quickly?
Ask whether the source was created at the time studied (primary) or later (secondary) by someone interpreting the past.
20. Is an old map a primary source? Explain.
Yes, an old map is a primary source because it shows how people in that period understood geography and places.
21. Can secondary sources be biased? Give a reason.
Yes, secondary sources reflect the author’s interpretation and may emphasise certain viewpoints or omit others.
22. Give an example where a secondary source helps understand a primary source.
A historian’s article explaining inscriptions' language can help students understand the meaning of carved texts.
23. Why are museums important for historians?
Museums store and display artefacts and objects that provide material evidence about past cultures and technologies.
24. How can a photograph be used as evidence?
A photograph records a moment; historians check who took it, when, and why, to use it as factual evidence or illustration.
Topic E: Periodisation
25. Define periodisation with an example.
Periodisation divides time into blocks like the medieval period; for example, the classification of ancient, medieval and modern India.
26. Why do historians use periodisation?
It simplifies study by grouping changes and making comparisons across similar time-spans easier to understand.
27. Mention one limitation of periodisation.
It can oversimplify complex changes and ignore regional variations within the same period.
28. How does periodisation differ across cultures?
Different societies experienced changes at different times, so their period labels and dates are not always the same.
29. Can periodisation help in exams? How?
Yes—using period labels helps students organise answers and place events in correct historical contexts.
30. Give one classroom activity to understand periods.
Ask students to place local events or inventions on a large classroom timeline and discuss overlaps and differences.
Topic F: Method of Historians
31. List the main steps historians follow when studying a question.
They formulate questions, collect evidence, evaluate sources, interpret findings, and construct a narrative or explanation.
32. What is source criticism?
Source criticism involves checking a source’s origin, purpose, accuracy, and possible biases before using it.
33. Why is corroboration important?
Corroboration—cross-checking with independent sources—helps confirm facts and reduce errors.
34. How do historians form explanations from evidence?
They link facts to causes and effects, using evidence to support interpretations and acknowledging uncertainties.
35. What role do questions play in historical research?
Questions guide research focus and determine which sources and methods are most relevant to a study.
36. How can students practise historian skills?
By analysing short extracts, evaluating sources, and writing brief evidence-based explanations in class exercises.
Topic G: Tools and Skills for Studying History
37. Name three tools historians use.
Maps, timelines, and archaeological reports are key tools historians use to study the past.
38. How does map-work improve understanding?
Map-work locates events spatially and shows relationships like trade routes or political boundaries over time.
39. What is the value of making charts and tables?
Charts and tables summarise complex data clearly, helping compare information such as population or trade figures.
40. How can sketching a timeline aid memory?
Sketching a timeline makes revision active and helps students remember sequences through visual association.
41. Why are photographs useful in history lessons?
They provide visual evidence of people, places, and objects, making historical accounts more tangible and relatable.
42. Suggest one classroom activity using archaeological evidence.
Provide students with pictures of artefacts and ask them to infer the object's use, date, and what it tells about past life.
Topic H: Reading Sources and Understanding Bias
43. What questions do you ask when reading a source?
Ask who made it, when and where it was made, its purpose, and what information it provides or omits.
44. Define bias with an example related to sources.
Bias is a partial viewpoint; for example, an official record may praise a ruler and ignore failures.
45. How can omissions in a source mislead readers?
Omissions hide information that could change the interpretation, making the source appear one-sided.
46. What does corroboration involve in simple terms?
It means checking the same fact across different independent sources to see if they agree.
47. Give a quick method to spot bias in a written extract.
Look for strong adjectives, lack of opposing views, or selective facts that favour one side.
48. Why should students read more than one source on a topic?
Reading multiple sources offers a fuller picture and helps identify differing viewpoints and facts.
Topic I: Revision and Exam Tips
49. How should you prepare short answers for exams from this chapter?
Write clear definitions, use examples from the textbook, and keep answers concise (2–4 lines) focusing on the question.
50. What is one effective last-minute revision strategy?
Review a one-page timeline and a source table summarising what each source tells and its limitations.
Note: These short-answer questions are strictly aligned with NCERT Class 8 Chapter 1 and aimed at CBSE Class 8 examination standards.