Chapter 3 – Glimpses of the Past

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions and answers
- Comprehension Check
- Working with the text
- Working with language
- Speaking and writing
B. Additional questions and answers
- Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)
- Fill in the blanks
- True or false
- Match the following
- Short-type questions & answers
- Long-type questions & answers
C. Grammar practice with answers

A. Exercise questions and answers

Comprehension Check

1. Look at picture 1 and recall the opening lines of the original song in Hindi. Who is the singer? Who else do you see in this picture?
Ans: The song “Ae Mere Vatan Ke Logon” was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. It is a famous patriotic song.
In the picture we can see Jawaharlal Nehru, Lal Bahadur Shastri, Rani Lakshmibai, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Bhagat Singh.

2. In picture 2, what do you understand by the company’s “superior weapons”?
Ans: The East India Company took advantage of the weaknesses of Indian rulers and their lack of unity. This was what helped them control India and they saw it as their “superior weapon.”

3. Who is an artisan? Why do you think the artisans suffered? (picture 3)
Ans: An artisan is a skilled worker, like an expert weaver. I think the artisans suffered because their thumbs were cut off, making it impossible for them to weave beautiful cloth and sell it to earn a living.

4. Which picture, according to you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?
Ans: It is Picture 7.

Working with the text

Answer the following questions

1. Do you think the Indian princes were shortsighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Ans: Yes, the Indian princes were shortsighted. They did not work together and only focused on their own kingdoms. They helped English merchants defeat other kings and increase their power but did not think about the consequences.

2. How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Ans: The Indian kings were busy fighting each other, and the East India Company took advantage of this to gain control. The British had a strong army and used clever tactics to defeat the princes.

3. Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Ans: Raja Ram Mohan Roy said

“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.”

This means all religions teach the same principles.

4. In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Ans: The British officers treated Indians unfairly in the following ways:

They exported many goods to India, which harmed Indian artisans and their work.
They imposed heavy taxes on Indian farmers.
They passed a law (Regulation III) that allowed them to send any Indian to jail without a trial.

5. Name these people.
(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)
Ans:

(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.	Tipu Sultan
(ii) The person who wanted to reform the society.	Raja Rammohan Roy
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.	Lord Macaulay
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)	Tantya Tope, Maulvi Ahmadullah

6. Mention the following.
(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.
(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.
(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.
(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Ans:

(i) Two examples of social practices prevailing then.	a) Child marriage b) Untouchability.
(ii) Two oppressive policies of the British.	a) The British made a law (Regulation III) that allowed them to send any Indian to jail without a trial in court. b) Importing British goods in large amounts, hurting Indian businesses
(iii) Two ways in which common people suffered.	a) Farmers were heavily taxed b) Artisans lost their jobs because British goods were sold cheaply in India.
(iv) Four reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.	a) Farmers suffered because of high taxes. b) The British changed land laws c) Indian soldiers were treated unfairly compared to British soldiers. d) The grease on bullets was made from cow and pig fat, which hurt religious feelings.

Working with language

1. Change the following sentences into indirect speech.

(i) First man: We must educate our brothers.
Second man: And try to improve their material conditions.
Third man: For that we must convey our grievances to the British Parliament.
The first man said that _________________________.
The second man added that __________________________________.
The third man suggested that ____________________________.
Ans:
The first man said that they must educate their brothers.

The second man added that they should also try to improve their material conditions.

The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.

(ii) First soldier: The white soldier gets huge pay, mansions, and servants.
Second soldier: We get a pittance and slow promotions.
Third soldier: Who are the British to abolish our customs?
The first soldier said that______________________________.
The second soldier remarked that _________________________.
The third soldier asked _________________________________.
Ans:
The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay, mansions, and servants.

The second soldier remarked that they received very little pay and had slow promotions.

The third soldier asked who the British were to abolish their customs.

Speaking and writing

1. Playact the role of farmers who have grievances against the policies of the government. Rewrite their ‘speech bubbles’ in dialogue form first.
Ans:

First Farmer: The British are making our lives very hard. They take away all our crops, and we have nothing left to eat.
Second Farmer: Yes, you are right! They are asking us to pay very high taxes even when we have no money.
Third Farmer: There has been no rain for three years. Our crops have dried up. How can we pay such heavy taxes?
First Farmer: My brother-in-law could not pay the taxes so they put him in jail. This is so unfair!
Second Farmer: We must all stand together and fight for our rights.
Third Farmer: Yes, we cannot stay silent anymore. It’s time to do something and protect our families.

2. (i) Ask one another questions about the pictures.

a) Where is the fox?
Ans: The fox is in the well.

b) How did it happen?
Ans: She fell into the well by mistake.

c) What is the fox thinking?
Ans: The fox is thinking about how to get out of the well.

d) What does she want to know?
Ans: She wants to know if the water is sweet.

e) What happens next?
Ans: The goat falls into the well.

f) Where is the fox now?
Ans: The fox is out of the well.

g) Who is the visitor?
Ans: The goat is the visitor.

h) What is the fox’s reply?
Ans: The fox says the water is very sweet, and she drank so much that she might faint.

i) Where is the goat?
Ans: The goat is in the well.

j) What is the goat thinking?
Ans: She is thinking about her mother’s advice to be careful when listening to strangers.

(ii) Write the story in your own words. Give it a title.

The Clever Fox and the Foolish Goat

One day, a fox was walking near a well. He wasn’t careful and accidentally fell inside. The well was deep, and he couldn’t climb out. He started thinking of a way to escape. After some time, a goat passed by and saw the fox in the well. The goat asked, “Is the water sweet?” The clever fox wanted to trick the goat, so he said, “Oh yes! The water is very tasty. I drank so much that I might faint!” Hearing this, the goat believed the fox and jumped into the well to drink the water. As soon as the goat jumped in, the clever fox quickly climbed onto her back and jumped out of the well. Now, the goat was stuck inside and remembered her mother’s advice: “Be careful when listening to strangers.” She realized she had been fooled.

Moral of the story: Think before you act. Do not trust others blindly.

3. Read the following news item.

History becomes fun at this school
Mumbai: Students in the sixth grade of a certain school in Navi Mumbai love their history lessons thanks to a novel teaching aid. It is not surprising given the fact that their study material includes comic books and they use their textbooks for reference to put things into perspective. Besides, students are encouraged to tap other sources of information as well. During history classes, students pore over comic strips of historical periods, enact characters of emperors and tyrants, and have animated discussions on the subject. History has become fun. In the class, students are asked to read the comic strip aloud, after which they break up into groups of four, discuss what they have heard and write a summary. Each group leader reads his group’s summary aloud, and the whole class jumps into discussion and debate, adding points, disagreeing, and qualifying points of view. A sixth-grade student says, “It’s a lot of fun because everyone gets a chance to express themselves and the summary takes everyone’s ideas into account.” According to the school principal, the comic strip format and visuals appeal to students. A historian feels that using comics in schools is a great idea. Comics and acting help students understand what characters in the story are actually thinking.
(adapted from The Times of India, New Delhi, October 2007)

History becomes fun at this school

Mumbai: Students in the sixth grade of a certain school in Navi Mumbai love their history lessons thanks to a novel teaching aid. It is not surprising given the fact that their study material includes comic books and they use their textbooks for reference to put things into perspective. Besides, students are encouraged to tap other sources of information as well. During history classes, students pore over comic strips of historical periods, enact characters of emperors and tyrants, and have animated discussions on the subject. History has become fun. In the class, students are asked to read the comic strip aloud, after which they break up into groups of four, discuss what they have heard and write a summary. Each group leader reads his group’s summary aloud, and the whole class jumps into discussion and debate, adding points, disagreeing, and qualifying points of view. A sixth-grade student says, “It’s a lot of fun because everyone gets a chance to express themselves and the summary takes everyone’s ideas into account.” According to the school principal, the comic strip format and visuals appeal to students. A historian feels that using comics in schools is a great idea. Comics and acting help students understand what characters in the story
are actually thinking.

(adapted from The Times of India, New Delhi, October 2007)

Based on this news item, write a paragraph on what you think about this new method of teaching history.

Ans:

Fun ways to learn history
This new way of teaching history is fun and interesting. Students learn more when they use comic strips, act, and talk about history. They don’t just memorize facts from textbooks they can also read, discuss, and even act out past events. This makes learning enjoyable. Kids learn from each other by sharing their thoughts and working together. The comic strip style also helps them imagine the past and what people in history might have thought. I like this idea because it brings history to life and gives kids a fun way to remember what they’ve learned.

B. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

1. When did the British East India Company expand its rule?
(a) 1600-1700
(b) 1757-1849
(c) 1857-1947
(d) 1900-1950

Ans: (b) 1757-1849

2. Who was India’s Governor-General in 1830?
(a) Warren Hastings
(b) Lord William Bentinck
(c) Lord Dalhousie
(d) Lord Cornwallis

Ans: (b) Lord William Bentinck

3. Who was the brave ruler of Mysore?
(a) Shivaji
(b) Haider Ali
(c) Tipu Sultan
(d) Rani Lakshmi Bai

Ans: (c) Tipu Sultan

4. Who started English education in India?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(c) Lord Macaulay
(d) Jawaharlal Nehru

Ans: (c) Lord Macaulay

5. Who worked to stop superstitions in India?
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Lord Macaulay
(c) Tipu Sultan
(d) Warren Hastings

Ans: (a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy

6. Who said, “We will fight till our last breath for freedom”?
(a) Mahatma Gandhi
(b) Tatya Tope
(c) Jawaharlal Nehru
(d) Bhagat Singh

Ans: (b) Tatya Tope

7. Where did the sepoys march to during the 1857 revolt?
(a) Delhi
(b) Mumbai
(c) Kolkata
(d) Chennai

Ans: (a) Delhi

8. Who said, “The bones of cotton weavers are bleaching the plains of India”?
(a) Raja Ram Mohan Roy
(b) Mahatma Gandhi
(c) William Bentinck
(d) Lord Macaulay

Ans: (c) William Bentinck

9. Before 1835, education in India was in which languages?
(a) English and Hindi
(b) Persian and Sanskrit
(c) Urdu and Bengali
(d) French and Tamil

Ans: (b) Persian and Sanskrit

10. Which group lost their land due to new land rules in Bengal?
(a) Mughals
(b) Santhals
(c) British officials
(d) Marathas

Ans: (b) Santhals

11. Who said, “The white man has taken away my kingdom”?
(a) Rani Lakshmi Bai
(b) Bahadur Shah Zafar
(c) Nana Saheb
(d) Tipu Sultan

Ans: (c) Nana Saheb

12. What did Maulvi Ahmedulla tell the people?
(a) To accept British rule
(b) To rise against the British
(c) To leave their homes
(d) To pay more taxes

Ans: (b) To rise against the British

13. Who said, “Mother Ganga! This is my last offering to you!”?
(a) Rani Lakshmi Bai
(b) Mangal Pande
(c) Kunwar Singh
(d) Bahadur Shah Zafar

Ans: (c) Kunwar Singh

14. Where did the people rise against the British?
(a) Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata
(b) Bareilly, Kanpur, Allahabad
(c) Delhi, Hyderabad, Jaipur
(d) Patna, Bhopal, Agra

Ans: (b) Bareilly, Kanpur, Allahabad

Fill in the blanks

1. The Santhals rebelled against the British in the year ______________________. (1855)
2. The British imposed high ____________________ on Indian farmers. (Taxes)
3. The First War of Independence took place in the year ________________________. (1857)
4. Begum Hazrat Mahal was the ruler of ________________________. (Lucknow)
5. The Santhals rebelled against the British in the year _______________. (1855)
6. The revolt of 1857 started from ____________________. (Meerut)
7. The British introduced English education to ______________ (Clerk job)
8. The slogan “Rise, brothers, rise!” was given by __________________________. (Bahadur Saha Zafar)
9. The British introduced new ______________ rules that took land from many Indian farmers. (Land)
10. ______________ of Faizabad was a religious leader who encouraged people to fight the British. (Maulvi Ahmedulla)

True or false

1. By 1859 the British had conquered the whole of India. (False)

2. The British built many schools for free education in India. (False)

3. Tatya Tope fought bravely against the British. (True)

4. Mangal Pande was the third soldier to revolt against the British. (False)

5. The British allowed Indian weavers to freely sell their handmade cloth. (False)

6. Lord Macaulay wanted to promote Sanskrit education. (False)

7. William Bentinck said, “The bones of weavers are bleaching the plains of India.” (True)

8. Bahadur Shah Zafar was made the leader of the 1857 revolt. (True)

9. The British banned all newspapers in 1823. (False)

10. The British banned all newspapers in 1823. (True)

Match the following

Column A	Column B
(i) 1855	a. First War of Independence
(ii) 1818	b. British stopped Indian newspapers
(iii) 1857	c. Abolition of Sati by Lord William Bentinck
(iv) 1823	d. British completed the conquest of India
(v) 1835	e. Santhal Rebellion
(vi) 1829	f. Macaulay introduced English education
(vii) 1856	g. Regulation III passed

Ans:

Column A	Column B
(i) 1855	e. Santhal Rebellion
(ii) 1818	g. Regulation III passed
(iii) 1857	a. First War of Independence
(iv) 1823	b. British stopped Indian newspapers
(v) 1835	f. Macaulay introduced English education
(vi) 1829	c. Abolition of Sati by Lord William Bentinck
(vii) 1856	d. British completed the conquest of India

Short-type questions & answers

1. How did the British make money in India?
Ans: The British made money in India by buying raw materials like cotton from Indian farmers. They used these materials to make products such as clothes, tools, and other items. Then they sold these finished products back to India at a much higher price. This way the British earned a lot of money while the people in India had to pay more for these products.

2. What was Regulation III, and when was it passed?
Ans: Regulation III was a law passed by the British Parliament in 1818. It allowed the British to send any Indian person to jail without giving them a trial in court. This law was unfair because it took away the right of Indians to be judged fairly in front of a judge.

3. How did English education help the British?
Ans: The British taught Indians English so they could work as office helpers or clerks. However, they did not allow Indians to hold higher-level jobs. This made it easier for the British to control India.

4. What did Santhals do in 1855?
Ans: In 1855, the Santhals a group of tribal people lost their land due to British policies. They became angry and started a rebellion against the British. This is known as the Santhal Rebellion where they fought to protect their land and way of life.

5. Why did the Revolt of 1857 happen?
Ans: The Revolt of 1857 happened because Indians were unhappy with British rule. They had to pay high taxes, follow unfair laws and see Indian soldiers being treated badly. Many people also felt that the British were messing with their culture and religion which made them angry and caused a big rebellion.

6. How did Indian artisans suffer?
Ans: The British stopped Indian artisans from making cloth by hand. They made them buy cheap cloth made by machines from Britain instead. This made it hard for Indian artisans to earn a living because their handmade cloth was no longer needed.

7. Why did Indian industries begin to decline?
Ans: Indian industries started to decline because many people stopped buying handmade Indian goods. The British sold cheaper goods made in their factories which made it hard for Indian artisans to compete and sell their products.

8. Who was Tipu Sultan?
Ans: Tipu Sultan was the fearless king of Mysore. He fought many battles to protect his kingdom from the British. Sadly he was killed in battle while defending his land. He is remembered for his bravery and fight against British rule.

9. Who was Mangal Pande?
Ans: Mangal Pandey was an Indian soldier who fought against the British in 1857. He became famous for attacking British officers because he was upset with their unfair rules. His act of bravery inspired many other Indians to fight back.

10. What was the Land Rule Act?
Ans: The Land Rule Act was a law made by the British where farmers had to pay very high taxes for their land and if they could not pay on time the British took their land away which made many farmers poor and unhappy.

Long-type questions & answers

1. What changed when English education started in India?
Ans: In 1835 the British started English education in India. They wanted Indians to help them by doing small jobs like clerks and translators. This made it easier for the British to run their offices. But later English education helped Indians learn new things like the ideas of freedom, fairness, and rights. The educated Indians began to understand that British rule was not fair. So they started asking for change and worked for India’s freedom. Because of this education India got many smart leaders and reformers who helped in the fight for independence.

2. What caused the First War of Independence in 1857?
Ans: The First War of Independence started in 1857 because many Indians were unhappy with the way the British were controlling India. Farmers had to pay very high taxes, and many Indian kings lost their kingdoms because of a British rule called the Doctrine of Lapse. Indian soldiers, called sepoys, were treated unfairly and were not given the same respect or pay as British soldiers. The final reason that made things worse was the new gun cartridges. These cartridges were greased with cow and pig fat, which hurt the religious beliefs of both Hindus and Muslims. This made the Indian soldiers very angry. The fight began in Meerut and quickly spread to many parts of North India. Many kings, soldiers, and common people joined together to fight against British rule.

3. What superstitions were spread by religious leaders?
Ans: During British rule some religious leaders spread superstitions and wrong beliefs. People were told not to question old traditions. They were made to believe that untouchability, child marriage, and stopping girls from going to school were right. Many people were afraid of new ideas and believed that change was a bad thing. But reformers like Raja Ram Mohan Roy and Swami Dayanand Saraswati worked hard to change this thinking. They taught people that all human beings are equal and that both boys and girls should have the chance to go to school. They worked hard to stop unfair practices and to spread good and fair ideas.

4. What good things did Raja Ram Mohan Roy do?
Ans: Raja Ram Mohan Roy (1772–1833) was a wise and brave leader who wanted to make India a better place. He worked to stop bad customs like Sati (burning widows), child marriage, and untouchability. He believed that education was very important for everyone to grow and do well in life. So he started a group called the Brahmo Samaj to share new and good ideas with people. He also supported education for girls and said that everyone should be treated equally. He spoke out against the unfair rules made by the British and even went to England to talk about the rights of Indian people. His good ideas helped to change the country and inspired many leaders in the future.

C. Grammar practice with answers

Change the following sentences from direct to indirect speech.

1. She said, “I cannot come to the party.”
2. She asked, “Did you complete your homework?”
3. He said, “I am happy.”
4. He asked, “Where do you live?”
5. The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”
6. He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”
7. The boy asked, “Why are you late?”
8. He said, “The train arrived late yesterday.”
9. My friend asked, “Are you coming to the picnic?”
10. He said, “My father is a doctor.”

Ans:

Direct Speech	Indirect Speech
1. She said, “I cannot come to the party.”	She said that she could not come to the party.
2. She asked, “Did you complete your homework?”	She asked if I had completed my homework.
3. He said, “I am happy.”	He said that he was happy.
4. He asked, “Where do you live?”	He asked where I lived.
5. The teacher said, “The sun rises in the east.”	The teacher said that the sun rises in the east.
6. He said, “I will call you tomorrow.”	He said that he would call me the next day.
7. The boy asked, “Why are you late?”	The boy asked why I was late.
8. He said, “The train arrived late yesterday.”	He said that the train had arrived late the previous day.
9. My friend asked, “Are you coming to the picnic?”	My friend asked if I was coming to the picnic.
10. He said, “My father is a doctor.”	He said that his father was a doctor.

Chapter 3 – Glimpses of the Past

Content Structure

A. Exercise questions and answers

Comprehension Check

Working with the text

Working with language

Speaking and writing

B. Additional questions and answers

Multiple choice questions & answers (MCQs)

Fill in the blanks

True or false

Match the following

Short-type questions & answers

Long-type questions & answers

C. Grammar practice with answers

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