Before the Industrial Revolution
1. What term do historians use to describe the early phase of industrialisation before the establishment of factories?
a) Post-industrialisation
b) Proto-industrialisation
c) Neo-industrialisation
d) Urban industrialisation
Answer: b) Proto-industrialisation
Explanation: Proto-industrialisation refers to the phase before factories, where merchants used rural households for production.
2. Why did European merchants shift to countryside production in the 17th and 18th centuries?
a) Lack of raw materials in towns
b) Lower demand for goods
c) Restrictions by urban guilds
d) Better machinery available in villages
Answer: c) Restrictions by urban guilds
Explanation: Urban guilds controlled production and restricted new entries, forcing merchants to move to the countryside.
3. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of proto-industrialisation?
a) Use of large factories
b) Home-based production
c) Rural artisans involved in manufacturing
d) International market demand
Answer: a) Use of large factories
Explanation: Proto-industrialisation involved home-based production, not factories.
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2. The Coming of the Factory System
1. Where did the first factories in England emerge?
a) Manchester
b) London
c) Countryside areas
d) Ports like Liverpool
Answer: a) Manchester
Explanation: Manchester became a key center during the early factory phase of industrialisation.
2. Which industry was the first to experience significant growth due to industrialisation in Britain?
a) Iron and steel
b) Automobile
c) Textile
d) Shipbuilding
Answer: c) Textile
Explanation: The textile industry led the early industrial revolution, with innovations like the spinning jenny and power loom.
3. What was the primary advantage of factories over traditional home-based production?
a) Better quality of goods
b) Use of renewable energy
c) Centralised control of labour and processes
d) Higher wages for workers
Answer: c) Centralised control of labour and processes
Explanation: Factories allowed better supervision and efficiency in production compared to scattered home-based work.
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3. Industrialisation in the Colonies (India)
1. Before the introduction of machine industries, Indian textiles dominated the international market for:
a) Wool and synthetic fabrics
b) Coarse cotton
c) Fine cotton and silk
d) Ready-made garments
Answer: c) Fine cotton and silk
Explanation: Indian textiles, especially fine cotton and silk, were highly valued internationally before industrialisation.
2. What led to the decline of traditional Indian textile industries in the 19th century?
a) Technological backwardness
b) Famines and poor agriculture
c) Competition from British machine-made textiles
d) Lack of skilled weavers
Answer: c) Competition from British machine-made textiles
Explanation: The influx of cheap British machine-made goods undercut traditional Indian textiles.
3. Which Indian port was a major hub for textile exports before British colonial dominance?
a) Mumbai
b) Surat
c) Chennai
d) Delhi
Answer: b) Surat
Explanation: Surat was a thriving port for textile trade before British control shifted focus to other ports.
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4. Peculiarities of Industrial Growth in India
1. What was the key reason for the growth of Indian industries during the First World War?
a) Introduction of new technologies
b) Decline in British imports due to war demands
c) Discovery of new raw materials in India
d) Higher demand for luxury goods
Answer: b) Decline in British imports due to war demands
Explanation: With British industries focused on war production, Indian industries filled the supply gap domestically.
2. Who were the early entrepreneurs in India’s industrial sector?
a) Farmers and artisans
b) Indian merchants involved in overseas trade
c) British officials
d) Government officials
Answer: b) Indian merchants involved in overseas trade
Explanation: Merchants like Jamsetjee Tata and Dwarkanath Tagore used profits from overseas trade to invest in industries.
3. Which Indian city became a major center for the cotton textile industry?
a) Delhi
b) Kolkata
c) Mumbai
d) Jaipur
Answer: c) Mumbai
Explanation: Mumbai emerged as a hub for the cotton textile industry due to its port access and proximity to cotton-growing regions.
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5. Market for Goods
1. How did British manufacturers promote their goods in India during the colonial period?
a) Word of mouth
b) Religious ceremonies
c) Advertisements with Indian cultural symbols
d) Government-mandated purchases
Answer: c) Advertisements with Indian cultural symbols
Explanation: British manufacturers used images of Indian gods, goddesses, and royal figures to appeal to Indian consumers.
2. What was the main objective of Swadeshi advertisements during the nationalist movement?
a) Promote British goods
b) Encourage the use of Indian-made products
c) Advertise imported luxury items
d) Support European businesses in India
Answer: b) Encourage the use of Indian-made products
Explanation: Swadeshi advertisements promoted Indian products as part of the nationalist movement against British rule.
