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Social Science (087) — CBSE Class 10 board question

Q1. [2] § 2.4 The Revolutionaries § 4.2 Italy Unified
Analyse the role of Chief Minister Cavour who led the movement to unite the regions of Italy.
Previously asked in CBSE board exam
2023 32/2/1 Q21(a)
Generated by claude-sonnet-4-6 · 2026-06-15 06:56 · grounding rag
Model Answer

Chief Minister Cavour was neither a revolutionary nor a democrat. He was a skilled diplomat from the wealthy Italian elite who spoke French better than Italian. Through a tactful diplomatic alliance with France, he helped Sardinia-Piedmont defeat Austrian forces in 1859, playing a crucial role in the unification of Italy under King Victor Emmanuel II in 1861.

Source: Chapter 1, Section on Nationalism in Europe

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Explanation

The examiner expects you to mention two key points: (1) Cavour's character — not a revolutionary/democrat, a diplomat from the elite; and (2) his key action — the Franco-Sardinian alliance that defeated Austria. Avoid writing about Garibaldi or Mazzini in detail, as the question is specifically about Cavour. Stick to the passage; don't over-explain.

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