Extract Based Questions: Glimpses of the Past | English Class 8 PDF Download

Q1: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

"The British East India Company was extending its power in 18th century India. Indian princes were short-sighted. That upstart Rajah—Bah! Call the English merchants. They will help me defeat him. The people had no peace due to such constant fights."

(i) How did Indian princes react to the British East India Company’s expansion?
Ans: The Indian princes were short-sighted and sought the help of the British merchants to fight their rivals, which ultimately weakened them and helped the British extend their power.

(ii) What impact did the constant fights have on the people?
Ans: The constant fights between Indian princes caused unrest among the people, leading to a lack of peace in the country.

(iii) What role did the British East India Company play in the conflicts between Indian princes?
Ans: The British East India Company exploited the rivalries between the Indian princes, offering help in exchange for influence, and gradually extended its control over India.

(iv) How did the attitude of Indian princes contribute to British dominance in India?
Ans: The Indian princes were divided and focused on their rivalries, which made it easier for the British to manipulate them and expand their influence, ultimately leading to British dominance in India.

Q2: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

" The truth was that Indians had lost self-respect. The British scorned them. The native is unworthy of trust, incapable of honesty—True, your honor, but I am honest. Being merchants, the British wanted quick profits, their heavy taxes forced farmers to abandon their fields. The British invented other methods which gave them more profits. Inevitably famines followed. Between 1822 and 1836 fifteen lakh Indians died of starvation."

(i) How did the British view the native population of India?
Ans: The British viewed the native population with contempt, believing that Indians were unworthy of trust and incapable of honesty.

(ii) How did the British exploit the Indian farmers?
Ans: The British imposed heavy taxes on Indian farmers, forcing them to abandon their fields, which led to economic hardship and suffering.

(iii) What were the consequences of British policies on Indian society?
Ans: The British policies resulted in famines, and between 1822 and 1836, fifteen lakh Indians died due to starvation. Additionally, these policies crippled local industries and caused widespread poverty.

(iv) What does the passage reveal about British priorities in India?
Ans: The passage reveals that the British were primarily focused on maximizing their profits through exploitation, without regard for the well-being of the Indian population, which led to widespread suffering.

Q3: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

"Ram Mohan Roy, a learned man from Bengal, understood what was wrong with the country. Let us not despise ourselves, our ancient culture is great. And we are capable of greater achievements. We must first reform our society. Superstitions have been ruining us. He was attracted by science and modern knowledge. Knowledge should be practical and scientific. He started newspapers but the suspicious British stopped them in 1823. He told his wife Uma—'Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. Different teachers have different opinions, but the essence of every religion is the same.'"

(i) What was Ram Mohan Roy's belief regarding religion?
Ans: Ram Mohan Roy believed that while different religions may have different practices or teachings, the essence of every religion is the same, promoting universal values.

(ii) How did Ram Mohan Roy try to reform Indian society?
Ans: Ram Mohan Roy sought to reform Indian society by challenging superstitions and advocating for a rational, scientific approach to understanding the world. He also worked towards social reform, including advocating for the abolition of practices like child marriage.

(iii) How did Ram Mohan Roy view the importance of education?
Ans: Ram Mohan Roy valued education and emphasized the need for practical and scientific knowledge. He believed that education should help individuals understand and improve their material and social conditions.

(iv) What message did Ram Mohan Roy convey through his comparison of cows' milk and religious teachings?
Ans: Ram Mohan Roy used the analogy of cows' milk being the same regardless of the cow's color to suggest that despite differences in religious practices or opinions, the core values of all religions are essentially the same.

Q4: Read the extract given below and answer the following questions.

"In 1818, the British had passed Regulation III. Under it, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court. All the time British officers in India drew big salaries and also made fortunes in private business. By 1829, Britain was exporting British goods worth seven crore rupees to India."

(i) What was the significance of Regulation III passed in 1818?
Ans: Regulation III, passed in 1818, allowed the British to imprison Indians without trial, which was a significant violation of civil liberties and further oppressed the Indian population.

(ii) How did British officers exploit India for personal gain?
Ans: British officers in India drew large salaries and made private fortunes by engaging in business, exploiting the economic system for their benefit while the local population suffered.

(iii) How did British trade policies impact India?
Ans: British trade policies led to the export of British goods worth seven crore rupees to India by 1829, which caused a drain on Indian resources and negatively affected local industries.

(iv) What does this passage reveal about the relationship between the British and the Indian economy?
Ans: The passage reveals that the British exploited the Indian economy for their own gain through unfair policies, regulations, and trade practices that favored Britain while undermining India's economic interests.