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Social Science (087) — AI-generated practice question

AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.

Q1. [1] straightforward initial-understanding
Which of the following best explains why industrialists in Victorian Britain often hired workers only for certain months of the year? (A) Machines could not operate during winter months (B) Seasonal demand for goods meant extra hands were needed only at peak times (C) The government restricted year-round employment in factories (D) Workers preferred seasonal contracts over permanent jobs
  1. A Workers refused to work for more than a few months at a time.
  2. B Many industries had peak demand only in particular seasons, making year-round employment unnecessary.
  3. C Steam-powered machines replaced workers for the rest of the year.
  4. D The government restricted the number of months a worker could be employed.
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-26 14:57 · grounding rag
Model Answer

Option B — Many industries had peak demand only in particular seasons, making year-round employment unnecessary.

Industries like gas works, breweries, and bookbinders needed extra workers only during busy seasons (e.g., winter or before Christmas), so industrialists hired labour seasonally rather than permanently.

Source: The Age of Industrialisation, Section 2 – Hand Labour and Steam Power

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Explanation

The passage directly states: "In many industries the demand for labour was seasonal… industrialists usually preferred hand labour, employing workers for the season." The examiner expects you to link seasonal demand to the practice of hiring workers only for certain months. Options A, C, and D are not supported by the text — machines, government restrictions, or worker preference are not cited as reasons. Always base MCQ justifications on the source text.

Previous-year CBSE Grade 10 board exam questions, organised by subject and chapter, each with a model answer — free to read and print.