ICSE Class 10 Board Exam Questions and Answers : United Nations Organisation and its Major Agencies

1 Mark Questions

Question 1 : State the most important reason for the formation of the UNO.

Answer : The main reason for the formation of the UNO is to maintain world peace and to secure the world from another war.

Question 2 : Where is the permanent headquarter of the International Court of Justice located?

Answer : The headquarter of the International Court of Justice is located at the Hague in Netherlands.

Question 3 : State one way in which the UNICEF raises funds.

Answer : UNICEF raises funds from selling greeting cards and through various fund raising campaigns.

Question 4 : What it meant by the term ‘Veto Power’ which is enjoyed by the permanent members of the UN?

Answer : It is a negative vote with reference to any matter. No matter can be referred or passed, if any member uses the veto power.

Question 5 : When did the United Nations officially come into existence?

Answer : On 24th October, 1945, the United Nations formally came into existence.

Question 6 : Give one of the functions of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Answer : The General Assembly elects the judges of the International Court of Justice along with the Security Council.

Question 7 : WHO is a specialized UN agency devoted to a specific cause. What is this cause?

Answer : World Health Organisation is an agency working towards achieving the highest level of health for all the people.

Question 8 : Give the expanded form of UNESCO.

Answer : United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation.

Question 9 : Name the principal judicial organ of the UN.

Answer : International Court of Justice is the principal judicial organ of the UN.

2 Marks Questions

Question 10: Who appoints the Secretary General of the United Nations?

Answer : The Secretary General of the Untied Nations is appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council.

Question 12 : Mention the big five countries that constitute the permanent members of the Security Council (USA).

Answer : The five permanent members of the Security Council are Britain, France, Russia, China and the United States of America (USA).

Question 13 : Where is the headquarter of the WHO located? Mention any one function of the Security Council.

Answer : The headquarter of the WHO is located at Geneva in Switzerland.

The Security Council fromulates plans for the establishment of a system to regulate armaments.

Question 14 : Which agency of the UN looks after the interests of the children in the world? What was the original purpose of setting up this agency?

Answer :   United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) looks after the interests of the children in the world. The original purpose of setting up this agency is to help the urgent needs of children in post war Europe.

Question 16: Give the expanded form of WHO and UNDP.

Answer : WHO is expanded as World Health Organisation and UNDP is expanded as United Nations Development Programme.

Question 17 : Mention any two ways by which the Security Council maintains International Peace.

Answer : Two ways by which the Security Council maintains International Peace are as follows:

  1. By calling on members to apply economic sanctions and by taking other measures to prevent or stop aggression.
  2. By taking military action against an aggressor.

3 Marks Questions

Question 22 : Explain the composition of the Security Council.

Answer :The Security Council comprises of 5 permanent members and 10 non-permanent members elected for a term of 2 years. It is the executive body of the United Nations.

Question 23 : What are the functions of the Security Council relating to maintaining World Peace. 

Answer : The functions of the Security Council related to maintaining World Peace are as follows:

  1. The Security Council investigates any dispute or situation which might lead to International friction.
  2. It recommends methods of adjusting any such dispute and terms of settlement.
  3. The Council can call on members to apply economic sanctions and other measures not involving the use of force to prevent or stop aggression.
  4. The Council can take military action against an aggressor.

Question 24 : Where are the headquarters of United Nations Organisation located? Who all can be its members?

Answer : The headquarters of the United Nations are situated at New York in the USA.

Its membership is open to all peace loving countries who believe in the principles of the United Nations (UN). Countries are admitted by the General Assembly by a majority of 2/3rd votes.

Question 25 : Name the principal Judicial organ of this organisation and explain its composition.

Answer : The International Court of Justice is the principle judicial organ of the United Nations situated at the Hague in Netherlands.

The Court consists of 15 judges elected for a term of 9 years. It may not include more than one judge from any nationality. Elections are held every 3 years for 1/3rd of the seats. The Court elects its President and Vice-President for 3 years.

Question 27 : Explain three vital roles that the WHO plays in combating diseases.

Answer : Vital roles that the WHO plays in combating diseases are as follows:

  1. It helps the countries to build up infrastructure in the health sectors.
  2. It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases.
  3. It gives important drugs needed for medical care e.g., it launched a programme to immunise children against 6 major diseases.

Question 28 : Mention any three objectives of the United Nations.

Answer : Three objectives of the United Nations are as follows:

  1. To develop friendly relations among nations.
  2. To achieve International co-operation in solving problems.
  3. To be a centre for harmonising the actions of nations in the attainment of these common aims.

Question 29 : Mention any three functions of the International Court of Justice.

Answer : Three functions of the International Court of Justice are as follows:

  1. The Court plays a significant role in the codification of International Law.
  2. The Court’s jurisdiction extends to disputes pertaining to the interpretation of International Law.
  3. It also advises the authorised bodies to request for any opinion.

Question 32 : Mention any three important functions of UNESCO.

Answer : The three important functions of the UNESCO are as follows:

  1. Removal of illiteracy by encouraging adult education, distance education and open school education.
  2. Financial assistance for the education of disabled children, women and girls.
  3. It provides technical advice and assistance, equipments, and funds for the preservation of monuments and other work of arts.

4 Marks Questions

Question 36 : Explain the role of the UNESCO in the development of Science and Technology.

Answer : The scientific activities undertaken by the UNESCO are as follows:

  1. It organises seminars and conferences of scientists of various countries and circulates information through journals, press and exhibition.
  2. It promotes research in fields of Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Oceanography.
  3. It helps in correcting the imbalance in scientific and technological manpower that exists.
  4. It encourages the study of Social Sciences in order to focus attention on combatting all forms of discrimination.
  5. It also organises conferences to bring scientists together.
  6. It circulates information through journals. ‘Courier’ is the official monthly magazine of UNESCO.

Question 37 : 

UN-emblem

Study the picture above and answer the question that follow. 

Identify the organisation associated with the emblem above and mention any three principles of this organisation.

Answer : The above emblem belongs to the United Nations Organisation. In order to fulfill the purpose for which UNO was established, the members shall act in accordance to some principles.

  1. To respect the sovereign equality of all its members.
  2. They should settle their international disputes by peaceful means.
  3. They should refrain from threat or use of force against any State.
  4. They should given UN every assistance in any action that it takes.
  5. The United Nations shall not intervene in the domestic i.e., the internal affairs of any State.

Question 38 : The UN, apart from its main organs also work through its allied agencies. In this context, mention four functions of the Security Council in maintaining peace.

Answer : Four functions of the Security Council in maintaining peace are as follows:

  1. The Security Council can investigate any dispute which might lead to International friction.
  2. It formulates plans for the establishment of systems to regulate armaments.
  3. It can call on members to apply economic sanctions to prevent or stop aggression.
  4. It takes military actions against an aggressor.

Question 42 : The aim of the UN is to safeguard the world from the scourge of war. In this context, describe briefly the composition of the Security Council.

Answer : The Security Council is the executive body of the UN. It comprises of 15 members, 5 permanent and 10 non-permanent. The permanent members are USA, Britain, France, Russia and China. The election of non-permanent members are done by the General Assembly for a period of 2 years.

They are elected for a regional group which are as follows:

  1. Afro-Asian Countries – 5
  2. Latin – American Countries – 2
  3. Western European and other Countries – 2
  4. Eastern Europe – 1

5 Marks Questions

Question 43 : With reference to the agencies of the UN, give the main functions of the World Health Organisation.

Answer : The main functions of the World Health Organisation are as follows:

  1. It helps countries to improve health system by building up infrastructure.
  2. It gives important drugs needed for medical care.
  3. It promotes research to cure and prevent diseases.
  4. It works towards providing safe drinking water and adequate waste disposal.
  5. It organises conferences, seminars and training for health care personnel from different countries.
  6. It aims at fighting diseases and preventing them from spreading.
  7. It publishes health journals to create health consciousness among people.

6 Marks Questions

Question 44 : Describe briefly, the functions of the General Assembly.

Answer : The functions of the General Assembly are as follows:

  1. To consider and make recommendations on the principles of co-operation.
  2. To discuss questions relating to International peace and security.
  3. To discuss and make recommendations on any question within the scope of the Charter or the UN.
  4. To initiate studies and make recommendations to promote International co-operation.
  5. To make recommendations for peaceful settlement of disputes.
  6. To receive and consider reports from the Security Council.
  7. To consider and approve the budget of the UN.
  8. To elect the non-government members of the Security Council, the Economic and Social Council and the Trusteeship Council and to elect the judges of the International Court of Justice.

7 Marks Questions

Question 45 : The opening words of the UNESCO Constitution states that ‘Since war begins in the minds of men, defences of peace must be constructed’, with reference to this, state the functions of the UNESCO in the filed of education and scientific activities.

Answer :  Educational activities undertaken by the UNESCO are as follows:

  1. Removal of illiteracy by encouraging adult education, distance education and the open school system.
  2. Emphasis on education of women and girls.
  3. It provides financial assistance for the education of disabled children.
  4. It provides for grants and fellowships to teachers and scholars, organises library systems and promotion of International understanding through education.
  5. Organisation of book fairs and festivals at International and National levels.
  6. Encouragement of Science education by providing regional training centres.
  7. It promotes education as an instrument for International understanding.
  8. Advices about the production of textbooks, syllabus and teacher-training.
  9. Helps to set-up library system and also gives fellowships.

The scientific activities taken up by UNESCO are as follows:

  1. It organises seminar and conferences of scientists of various countries and circulates information through journals, press and exhibition.
  2. It promotes research in fields of Geology, Mathematics, Physics and Oceanography.
  3. It helps in correcting the imbalance in scientific and technological manpower that exists.
  4. It encourages the study of Social Sciences in order to focus attention on combating all forms of discrimination.
  5. It also organises conferences to bring scientists together.
  6. It circulates information through journals. ‘Courier’ is the official monthly magazine of UNESCO.