Class 8 English Chapter 3 Practice Question Answers - Glimpses of the Past

Q1: Who is considered short-sighted because of their approach to the events of 1757?
Ans: The Indian princes and kings were considered short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757.

Q2: What was the time period of the Company’s conquests?
Ans: The time period of the Company’s conquests was from 1757 to 1849.

Q3: Which year is known for the First War of Independence?
Ans: The year 1857 is known for the First War of Independence.

Q4: Fill in the blanks:
(i) Oh, my countrymen! Let your eyes fill with tears, as you recall the sacrifices of _____.
Ans: India’s martyrs
(ii) With its superior weapons, the British _____ was extending its power in 18th century India.
Ans: East India Company
(iii) A far-seeing ruler like the brave ______ fought the British till he died fighting!
Ans: Tipu of Mysore
(iv) Religious leaders preached ideas like _____.
Ans: Untouchability and child marriage

Q5: Word – Meaning from the given chapter:
(i) Essence
Ans: Spirit
(ii) Short-sighted
Ans: Narrow-minded
(iii) Dethroned
Ans: To remove someone from power
(iv) Pittance
Ans: An inadequate amount of money

Q6: What did the British do to the farmers?
Ans: The British wanted heavy and instant profit; they imposed a tax on the farmers that forced the farmers to abandon their fields.

Q7: How did the East India Company overpower India or Indian princes in the 18th century?
Ans: Indian kings and princes were always fighting with each other, so the rivalries paved the way for the East India Company to overpower Indian princes.

Q8: Who was the far-seeing ruler at the time of the Company’s conquests?
Ans: The far-seeing ruler Tipu Sultan was the Tipu of Mysore who fought the British till he died fighting.

Q9: Who preached untouchability and child marriage at the time of British Rule?
Ans: Religious leaders preached the ideas of child marriage and untouchability at the time of British Rule.

Q10: What did the preachers tell about anyone crossing the sea and the woman?
Ans: The preachers believed that anyone who would cross the sea would lose his religion. They also believed that all the misery in the world is due to women.

Q11: Who was Ram Mohan Roy?
Ans: Ram Mohan Roy was a learned man from Bengal who understood what was wrong with the country. He believed that knowledge should be practical and scientific. He went to England to understand how the British were so powerful. There he advised them that if they wanted to rule Indians, they must understand their responsibility towards them.

Q12: How did the British oppress the Indians?
Ans: The British continued to oppress India in various ways. They passed Regulation III in 1818 that allowed the British to imprison Indians without any trial in a court.

Q13: What did English education produce?
Ans: English education produced Indians as clerks. The British hired them for petty jobs. But, as an advantage, English education also produced a new generation of intellectuals who believed in educating others and encouraging people to improve their material conditions. They knew that to bring about change, they must convey their concerns to the British Parliament.

Q14: How did the British affect Indian Industries?
Ans: As soon as the British entered India, they implemented their policies. The East India Company's laws, such as exempting goods manufactured in England from import duties when brought to India, started crippling Indian industries. The East India Company had better equipment, and the manpower of the Indian industries was no longer competitive.

Q15: What did Macaulay advise in 1835?
Ans: In 1835, an Englishman named Macaulay advised that all Indians should be taught the English language and other subjects in English only. This was a departure from the education system that was previously taught in Persian and Sanskrit in India.

Q16: How did the hatred towards the white man grow into armed revolt?
Ans: The white rulers implemented all the mean and fetid tactics to take over the princely states. By 1856, they conquered the entire India. Indian princes did what the Company asked. They became puppets of the British. Many Indians were eventually forced to accept Christianity as their new religion. Indian soldiers were not paid as much as the British soldiers. They were paid less. This grew hatred towards the white man, which led to an armed revolt.

Q17: What changes were seen during the years 1855-57?
Ans: During the years 1855-57, many changes happened in the province of India. In 1855, a Santhal revolution rose in Bengal. The main reason behind this was the loss of land by the Santhals, and this event led to the massacre of a number of Europeans and their local supporters. Sepoy Mangal Pandey attacked the adjutant of his regiment and was executed. Other sepoys were stripped of their uniforms and humiliated and put in prison as they revolted. The Indians who supported the revolt visited village after village, sending chapattis, asking the common people for their service towards their emperor. The masses provided shelter and help to all the patriots.

Q18: What were the strategies used by the British East India Company to rule India?
Ans: The British came to India to spread their trade. Their main agenda was to make a profit. But for that, they required political and ruling power over Indians to continue their trade. Heavy taxes on peasants were imposed. The demand and value of Indian goods decreased rapidly as the market was flooded with imported English goods. The imported goods were exempted from import duties. The trading and skills of Indian companies were ruined, and rivalry among the rulers helped the British to dethrone those who did not obey them.

Q19: What was the Fight for Freedom (1857)?
Ans: The 1857 mutiny was the first Fight for Freedom. Rebels like Begum Hazrat Mahal of Lucknow joined the upsurge against the foreigners. Leaders like Maulvi Ahmedulia of Faizabad started a revolt with his people in Bareilly, Kanpur, and Allahabad. Azimulla Khan asked Tatya Tope to elect Peshwa Nana Saheb as their leader in the War of Independence, and the kings and princes fought battles all over North India with the British.

Q20: Write the central idea and the summary of the poem “Macavity: The Mystery Cat”.
Ans: The poem is about a cat named Macavity. He is also known as the Hidden Paw. The cat is a mastermind that commits great crimes. He disobeys the law, and the police of Scotland Yard are helpless as they cannot track him down. He is so fast that Flying Squads chase him yet get nothing. Macavity does not only break the laws made by humans but also the laws of nature. He can float in the air without requiring any support. He is tall and thin. He is considered an incarnation of evil in the poem.