Kerala SSLC · Social Science · Class 10
Struggle and Freedom: Important Questions with Answers
These are 10 important multiple-choice questions from the Kerala SSLC Social Science chapter “Struggle and Freedom” (Kerala SCERT syllabus). Each one shows the correct answer and a short explanation of why it is right. Try answering before you read the answer. ExamSummary has 10 practice questions on this chapter in total.
Q1.Which incident led Mahatma Gandhi to call off the Non-Cooperation Movement in February 1922?
- A)Jallianwala Bagh Massacre
- B)Chauri Chaura Incident
- C)Dandi March
- D)Simon Commission Arrival
Answer: B) Chauri Chaura Incident
The Chauri Chaura incident involved villagers setting fire to a police station after a violent clash, resulting in deaths. Gandhi felt this violated his principle of non-violence and suspended the movement to prevent further unrest.
Q2.The Rowlatt Act of 1919 was primarily opposed by Indians because it allowed the government to:
- A)Tax all imported goods heavily
- B)Imprison suspects without trial
- C)Ban all political parties
- D)Establish military rule in Punjab
Answer: B) Imprison suspects without trial
The Rowlatt Act extended wartime emergency measures, permitting the colonial government to imprison individuals suspected of sedition without a trial or evidence. This arbitrary power sparked widespread anger across India.
Q3.What was the primary objective of the Khilafat Movement launched by Indian Muslims in 1919?
- A)To demand independence from Britain immediately
- B)To protect the Ottoman Caliphate's authority
- C)To establish a separate Muslim state
- D)To support the Simon Commission
Answer: B) To protect the Ottoman Caliphate's authority
The movement aimed to preserve the religious authority of the Ottoman Sultan as the Caliph of Islam, fearing its loss after World War I. It became a platform for Hindu-Muslim unity before being merged with the Non-Cooperation Movement.
Q4.During the Civil Disobedience Movement, what was the specific act of defiance known as the 'Salt March'?
- A)Boycotting British cloth
- B)Marching to break the salt law at Dandi
- C)Occupying government offices
- D)Refusing to pay land revenue
Answer: B) Marching to break the salt law at Dandi
Gandhi led a 240-mile march from Sabarmati to Dandi to produce salt from seawater, directly violating the British monopoly on salt production. This symbolic act mobilized millions of Indians against unjust colonial laws.
Q5.Why did the Indian National Congress organize the boycott of the Simon Commission in 1928?
- A)It consisted entirely of British members
- B)It proposed to partition India
- C)It offered too much autonomy
- D)It supported the Khilafat cause
Answer: A) It consisted entirely of British members
The commission was formed to review constitutional reforms in India, but it had no Indian representatives. This exclusion led to the slogan 'Simon Go Back' and widespread protests across the country.
Q6.The Poona Pact of 1932 was an agreement between Mahatma Gandhi and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar regarding:
- A)Separate electorates for Depressed Classes
- B)Quit India Movement strategy
- C)Formation of a provisional government
- D)Women's suffrage rights
Answer: A) Separate electorates for Depressed Classes
Gandhi fasted against the Communal Award which granted separate electorates to untouchables, while Ambedkar sought guaranteed representation. The pact increased reserved seats for them in provincial legislatures instead of separate voting booths.
Q7.How did the Great Depression of the 1930s affect the peasantry in rural India?
- A)Prices of agricultural produce fell drastically
- B)They received high subsidies from the government
- C)Land ownership laws were abolished
- D)Export duties on crops were removed
Answer: A) Prices of agricultural produce fell drastically
Global economic collapse caused crop prices to plummet, making it difficult for farmers to pay rent and taxes to landlords and the British administration. This economic distress fueled participation in peasant movements.
Q8.In which session of the Indian National Congress was the resolution for Purna Swaraj (Complete Independence) passed?
- A)Lahore Session 1929
- B)Calcutta Session 1906
- C)Lucknow Session 1916
- D)Nagpur Session 1920
Answer: A) Lahore Session 1929
Presided over by Jawaharlal Nehru in 1929, the Lahore Session declared January 26, 1930, as Independence Day. It marked a shift from seeking dominion status to demanding full sovereignty from British rule.
Q9.What was the main contribution of women to the Salt Satyagraha?
- A)They led the army against the British
- B)They participated in picketing shops selling foreign cloth and liquor
- C)They negotiated peace treaties with Viceroy
- D)They organized the Quit India strikes
Answer: B) They participated in picketing shops selling foreign cloth and liquor
Thousands of women joined the movement by breaking salt laws and picketing shops selling foreign goods and alcohol. Their active participation challenged traditional gender roles and strengthened the nationalist cause significantly.
Q10.The slogan 'Do or Die' was famously associated with which movement launched in August 1942?
- A)Non-Cooperation Movement
- B)Civil Disobedience Movement
- C)Quit India Movement
- D)Khilafat Movement
Answer: C) Quit India Movement
Gandhi gave this speech at the Bombay session of the All India Congress Committee to launch the Quit India Movement. It called for immediate British departure from India, even through force if necessary.