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Read the given extract… (Social Science 2023 32/5/1 Q36)

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Social ScienceCBSE Class 10 · Board exam 2023, set 32/5/1 · 4 marks · Case-based

CBSE Class 10 Social Science 2023: question 36

Set in the CBSE Class 10 board exam of 2023, paper 32/5/1, section E, question 36, for 4 marks. Try it first; the hints and our step-by-step solution are below.

Q36 · 4 marks · Case-basedCompetency-basedPower-sharing

Read the given extract and answer the questions that follow:

Belgium is a small country in Europe, smaller in area than the state of Haryana. It has borders with France, the Netherlands, Germany and Luxembourg. It has a population of a little over one crore, about half the population of Haryana. The ethnic composition of this small country is very complex. Of the country's total population, 59 per cent lives in the Flemish region and speaks Dutch language. Another 40 per cent people live in the Wallonia region and speak French. Remaining one per cent of the Belgians speak German. In the capital city Brussels, 80 per cent of the people speak French while 20 per cent are Dutch-speaking.

  1. (36.1)

    Explain the ethnic composition of Belgium.

    1 mark
  2. (36.2)

    Explain the term 'ethnic'.

    1 mark
  3. (36.3)

    How did the Belgian Government solve their ethnic problem ? Explain.

    2 marks

Source: official question paper from cbse.gov.in (PDF). See it in the full 2023 board paper, set 32/5/1.

Hints

Open one hint at a time and try again before the next.

Hint 1

Use the percentages given in the extract.

Hint 2

'Ethnic' relates to shared culture and a belief in common descent.

Hint 3

Think of the constitutional amendment and the community governments.

Step-by-step solution

Each step shows the marks it earns, as an examiner would award them. Checked by an independent re-solve from the question paper.

  1. (36.1) Of Belgium's population, 59% live in the Flemish region and speak Dutch, 40% live in Wallonia and speak French, and 1% speak German. In Brussels, 80% speak French and 20% speak Dutch.

    1 mark

  2. (36.2) 'Ethnic' refers to a social division based on shared culture. People of the same ethnic group believe in a common descent because of similarities of physical type, culture or both.

    1 mark

  3. (36.3) Belgium amended its constitution so that Dutch- and French-speaking ministers are equal in number in the central government. Some special laws need a majority from each linguistic group.

    1 mark

  4. It also set up a separate community government for each language community, with powers over cultural, educational and language matters. Brussels has a separate government in which both communities have equal representation.

    1 mark

Answer: (36.1) 59% Dutch-speaking Flemish, 40% French-speaking Walloons, 1% German-speaking; (36.2) A social division based on shared culture and a belief in common descent; (36.3) Equal ministers in the central government and separate community governments.

Where the marks are

  • (36.1) Composition with percentages (1 mark)
  • (36.2) Meaning of ethnic (1 mark)
  • (36.3) Any two measures explained (1 + 1 marks)

Revise the chapter

  • Chapter: Power-sharing (notes, formulas, where marks are lost and every past question)
Practise this chapterBoard-style questions from Power-sharing, one at a time, marked against the answer key and marking points.Back to the full paper2023 board paper, set 32/5/1: every question, by section.

The question is transcribed from the official paper; figures are described in words. The solution, hints and chapter tag are ours. Spotted an error? Write tosupport@questionbuddy.in.