Gujarat Board GSEB Class 8 English Textbook Solutions Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past Textbook Exercise Important Questions and Answers, Notes Pdf.

Gujarat Board Textbook Solutions Class 8 English Honeydew Chapter 3 Glimpses of the Past

GSEB Class 8 English Glimpses of the Past Text Book Questions and Answers

Comprehensive check

Question 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?
Answer:
The opening lines of the Hindi song are *Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon, Turn Khub Lagalo Nara; Ye Shubh Din Hai Hum Sab Ka, Lehraalo Tiranga Pyara; Par Mat Bhulo Seema Par Veero Ne Hain Pran Gawayen.” It was sung by Lata Mangeshkar. We see Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru, Lai Bahadur Shastri and Mrs Indira Gandhi seated on the stage in the picture at the top.

In the same frame, below, are given the pictures of Rani Laxmibai, Bahadurshah Zafar, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Lala Lajpat Rai, Bhagat Singh, Subhash Chandra Bose and Mahatma Gandhi. Here also, in the centre, is a portrait of Jawaharlal Nehru with a crowd behind. This crowd represents the common people of India.

Question 2.
In PIcture 2 what do you understand by the Company’s “superior weapons”?
Answer:
Technologically, the East India Company was far superior to the Indian princes, who were constantly at war with each other. The: Englishmen had access to better quality weapons. This prompted the Indian princes to seek their help in their fights. These internal ‘ rivalries helped the East India Company ‘ subdue the Indian princes one by one, and finally gain control over the whole of India.

Question 3.
Who is an artisan? Why do you ‘ think the artisans suffered? (Picture 3)
Answer:
An artisan is a skilled manual worker who crafts items that may be functional; or strictly decorative. The artisans suffered because the British were extracting very high taxes from them, which ruined them; economically. Moreover, machine-manufactured goods imported from Britain were sold extensively, which ruined the business of the artisans’ hand-made goods.

Question 4.
Which picture, according to. you, reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt?
Answer:
Picture 7 ‘The Sparks’ reveals the first sparks of the fire of revolt.

Working With The Text
Answer the following questions:

Question 1.
Do you think the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach to the events of 1757?
Answer:
Yes, the Indian princes were short-sighted in their approach. They fought against each other with the help of the British. Thus the British became the virtual rulers.

Question 2.
How did the East India Company subdue the Indian princes?
Answer:
The Indian princes were constantly at war with each other. They called the English merchants to help them in their fights. The people had no peace due to such constant fights. The rivalries helped the East India Company subdue the Indian princes one by one.

Question 3.
Quote the words used by Ram Mohan Roy to say that every religion teaches the same principles.
Answer:
The words of Ram Mohan Roy spoken to his wife were: “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.”

Question 4.
In what ways did the British officers exploit Indians?
Answer:
To earn quick profits, the British imposed heavy taxes, thereby forcing the Indian farmers to abandon their fields. They decided to do away with import duty for goods manufactured in England. This crippled the Indian industries. In 1818, they 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. The British prospered on the Company’s loot, while the Indian industries began to die.

Question 5.
Name these people:
(i) The ruler who fought pitched battles against the British and died fighting.
(ii) The person who wanted to reform society.
(iii) The person who recommended the introduction of English education in India.
(iv) Two popular leaders who led the revolt (Choices may vary.)
Answer:
(i) Tipu Sultan of Mysore
(ii) Raja Ram Mohan Roy of Bengal
(ill) Lord Macaulay
(iv) Nana Sahib Peshwa, Kunwar Singh, Begum Hazrat Mahal

Question 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) Flour reasons for the discontent that led to the 1857 War of Independence.
Answer:
(i) Untouchability and child marriage.
(ii)The British decided to do away with import duty on goods brought from England. This severely affected Indian industries. In 1818, they passed Regulation III. Under it, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.
(iii) The farmers were taxed heavily and ! the thumbs of skilled workers were cut by; importing goods from Britain.
(iv) Discontent was brewing amongst the Indians.

They felt that their kings who were supposed to be their protectors were mere ‘ puppets in the hands of the British. They lost their old jobs and lands. Taxes continued to ruin the peasants. There was discontent: in the East India Company’s army too. The white soldier got huge pay, mansions to five in and servants, while the Indian soldiers got a;! pittance and slow promotions. Few Englishmen s had cared to understand Indian customs or the people’s mind. The religious sentiments of both Hindus and Muslims were also hurt. The grease on the bullets they had to Trite l was made from the fat of cows and pigs.

Working With Language

In comics what the characters speak is put in bubbles. This is direct narration. When we report what the characters speak, we use the method of indirect narration.
Study these examples :
First farmer: Why are your men taking away the entire crop?
Second farmer: Your men have taken away everything.
Officer: You are still in arrears. If you don’t pay tax next week, I’ll send you to jail.

• The first farmer asked the officer why his men were taking away the entire crop.
• The second farmer said that their men had taken away everything.
• The officer replied that they were still in arrears and warned them that if they did not pay tax the following week, he (the officer) would send them (the farmers) to jail.

Change the following sentences into indirect speech :
(1) 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 …………………

(2) 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
Answer:
(1) The first man said that they must educate their brothers. The second man added that they must try to improve their material conditions. The third man suggested that they must convey their grievances to the British Parliament.

(2) The first soldier said that the white soldier got huge pay. mansions and servants. The second soldier remarked that they got a pittance and slow promotions. The third soldier asked who. the British were to abolish their customs.

Speaking And Writing

Question 1.
Playact the role of farmers who have grievances against the policies of the government. Rewrite their ‘speech bubbles’ in dialogue form first.
Answer:
Students will playact the role of farmers themselves.

Question 2.
(i) Students will refer to the pictures on pages 47 – 48 of the textbook and answer the following questions :
(1) Where is the fox?
Answer:
The fox is in the well.

(2) How did it happen?
Answer:
She fell into the well by accident.

(3 ) What is the fox thinking?
Answer:
The fox is thinking of how to get out of there.

(4) Who is the visitor?
Answer:
The visitor is a goat.

(5) What does she want to know?
Answer:
She wants to know whether the water is sweet.

(6) What is the fox’s reply?
Answer:
The fox replies that the water is very sweet and she had a lot of it.

(7) What happens next?
Answer:
The goat wanted to taste the water.

(8 ) Where is the goat?
Answer:
The goat is dragged into the water by the fox.

(9) Where is the fox now?
Answer:
The fox is now out of the well.

(10) What is the goat thinking?
Answer:
The goat is thinking of her mother’s advice not to trust any stranger.

(ii) Write the story in your own words. Give it a title.
Answer:
Once a fox fell into a well accidentally. She thought how to get out of the well. A goat arrived there by chance. She looked into the well. She asked the fox if the water was sweet. The cunning fox played a trick. She told a lie that the water was very, very sweet, and she had enough of it.

The foolish goat also wanted to taste the water. The fox ‘ invited her into the well. The goat jumped into the well. Now the fox climbed onto the goat’s back and got out of the well. Then she thanked the goat for help. The goat was’ reminded of her mother’s words that she must never go by the advice of a stranger.

Question 3.
Read the following news item. Based on this news item (Refer to page 49 of the Textbook) and write a paragraph on what you think about this new method of teaching history.
Answer:
Attempt yourself.

Question 4.
Find the chapters in your history book that correspond to the episodes and events described in this comic. Note how the information contained in a few chapters of history has been condensed to a few pages with the help of pictures and ‘speech bubbles’.
Answer:
Attempt yourself.

Question 5.
Create a comic of your own using this story. Once the Sun and the Wind began to quarrel, each one saying that he was stronger than the other. At last, they decided to test each other’s strengths. A man with a cloak around his shoulders was passing by. The Wind boasted, “Using my strength I can make that man take off the cloak.” The Sun agreed. The Wind blew hard.

The man felt so cold that he clasped his cloak around his body as tightly as possible. Now it was the turn of the Sun which shone very hot indeed. The man felt so hot that he at once removed the cloak from his body. Seeing the man taking off the cloak, the Wind conceded defeat.
Answer:
Attempt yourself.

Writing:

Based on the visual clues given below, write an interesting story. Add a relevant title and moral to it.

Answer:
Making a bird-home
It was scorching summer. Newspapers reported that at certain places birds fell dead in the terrible heat. Rahul was very sensitive. As soon as he heard the news, he thought of making a shelter for birds. He shared this idea with his sister, Sonia.

She was very happy to contribute to this noble deed. Soon they brought a plank of wood. Rahul brought a saw and a drill. He also brought a hammer and some nails. With the help of his sister, he sawed the plank into pieces and prepared a nice little nest. Then he brought a ladder and set the bird home among the branches of the tree.

Moral: Be kind to birds and animals.

GSEB Class 8 English Glimpses of the Past Additional Important Questions and Answers

Select the most appropriate options as answers and complete the following sentences:

Question 1.
The First War of Indian Independence started In …………….. .
A. 1757
B. 1857
C. 1849
D. 1942
Answer:
B. 1857

Question 2.
…………………. helped the East India Company to subdue them one by one.
A. Their far-sightedness
B. Their short-sightedness
C. The rivalries among the Indian princes
D. Their weak army-strength
Answer:
C. The rivalries among the Indian princes

Question 3.
The farmers abandoned their fields on account of ………………….. .
A. heavy taxes levied by British merchants.
B. continual famines.
C. dire poverty.
D. None of these three.
Answer:
A. heavy taxes levied by British merchants.

Question 4.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy told the people that ……………… had been ruining them.
A. British policies
B. superstitions
C. faith in religion
D. illiteracy
Answer:
B. superstitions

Question 5.
According to Regulation III,…
A. an Indian could be jailed without trial I in a court.
B. goods manufactured in England could be brought to India without import duty.
C. British soldiers will be paid more salaries than Indian soldiers.
D. the products by native artisans cannot be put in the market for selling.
Answer:
A. an Indian could be jailed without trial I in a court.

Question 6.
Till 1835, the education in India was in ………….. and ……………… languages.
A. Hindi, Sanskrit
B. Tamil, Hindi
C. Sanskrit, Persian
D. Marathi, Sanskrit
Answer:
C. Sanskrit, Persian

Question 7.
By …………… the British had conquered the whole of India.
A. 1905
B. 1867
C. 1899
D. 1856
Answer:
D. 1856

Question 8.
In 1855, the Santhals of …………………started rebellion.
A. Tamil Nadu
B. Bengal
C. Bihar
D. Karnataka
Answer:
B. Bengal

Question 9.
Distribution of chapatis and lotuses was the indication to people and soldiers ………………. .
A. to leave the jobs of the Britishers.
B. make peace with the Britishers.
C. to rise against the Britishers.
D. come out of superstitions.
Answer:
C. to rise against the Britishers.

Question 10.
After the outbreak in Meerut, the sepoys marched to Delhi to meet ……………… .
A. Lord William Bentinck.
B. Lord Macaulay.
C. Bahadurshah Zafar.
D. Tatya Tope.
Answer:
C. Bahadurshah Zafar.

Question 11.
Begum Hazrat Mahal ruled over ……………… .
A. Lucknow.
B. Delhi.
C. Meerut.
D. Faizabad.
Answer:
A. Lucknow.

Question 12.
Pitch battles were fought against the British in ………………… .
A. East India.
B. North India.
C. South India.
D. West India.
Answer:
B. North India.

Question 13.
Azimulla Khan and Tatya Tope had …………….. as their leader in the War of Independence.
A. Maulvi Ahmedulla
B. Bahadurshah Zafar
C. Nana Saheb Peshwa
D. Rani Laxmibai
Answer:
C. Nana Saheb Peshwa

Say whether the following sentences are True or False:

Question 1.
The British East India Company was extending its power in the 18th century India.
Answer:
True

Question 2.
The British East India Company could subdue Indian princes on account of rivalries among them.
Answer:
True

Question 3.
All the kings who ruled in the 18th century were bad, so they were dethroned.
Answer:
False

Question 4.
In those days, a few people believed that all the misery in the world was due to women.
Answer:
True

Question 5.
Being merchants, the British wanted to help farmers.
Answer:
False

Question 6.
The East India Company’s policies crippled Indian industries.
Answer:
True

Question 7.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy did not believe in science and modern knowledge.
Answer:
False

Question 8.
Raja Ram Mohan Roy started newspapers.
Answer:
True

Question 9.
Macaulay introduced a new education system mainly to produce clerks for the East India Company.
Answer:
True

Question 10.
The learning of English language failed to produce even a single intellectual among the Indians.
Answer:
False

Question 11.
The British started converting the Hindus to Christians.
Answer:
True

Question 12.
The first revolt against the British started in Bengal.
Answer:
True

Question 13.
Many landlords had lost their lands because of the British policies.
Answer:
True

Question 14.
Eighty-year old Kunwarsinh of Bihar offered his wrist to mother Narmada.
Answer:
True

Answer the following questions in two to three sentences each:

Question 1.
What helped the East India Company to overpower Indian princes?
Answer:
Indian princes were always engaged in fighting with one another. The rivalries paved the way for the East India Company to overpower Indian princes.

Question 2.
Who was Tipu Sultan? What happened to him?
Answer:
Tipu Sultan was a far-seeing ruler of Mysore. He was dead against the British ! and their policies. He fought with them till he died fighting.

Question 3.
Why did Ram Mohan Roy go to England? What did he tell the British there?
Answer:
Ram Mohan Roy went to England to see what made the British so powerful. There he told them that they (Indians) accepted them as rulers and they must accept them (Indians) as subjects. He also reminded them of the responsibility a ruler owed to his subjects.

Question 4.
What was Regulation III?
Answer:
In 1818, the British had passed Regulation III. Under this Regulation, an Indian could be jailed without trial in a court.

Question 5.
What did Macaulay suggest in 1835?
Answer:
An Englishman Macaulay suggested that Indians should be taught through the English language.

Answer the following questions in four to Jive sentences each :

Question 1.
How did the British East India Company eventually become the ruler of India? What tactics did they adopt to expand their empire?
Answer:
The British came to India as traders. Their chief motive was to make a fortune. But they needed political power to carry on their trade. They imposed heavy taxes on the peasants. The Indian goods lost their demand because the market was flooded with imported English goods. There was no import duty on goods brought in from England. The British, in this way, ruined the skilled Indians. They dethroned the Indian rulers and took advantage; of their rivalries. Slowly and steadily they spread their empire all over India.

Question 2.
How did the white rulers cripple Indian industries?
Answer:
The white rulers were chiefly traders. Their chief aim was to make profits at all cost. Hence, they began to ruin Indian industries. They imposed heavy taxes on farmers. They destroyed Indian cottage industries in order to sell goods manufactured in England. They exempted all goods imported from England from duties. In this way, their business flourished while the Indian industries died. The British made the Indians weak as well as poor.

Question 3.
How did the resentment against the white men grow leading to armed revolt?
Answer:
The white rulers adopted all the mean and foul tactics to take over the princely states. By 1856, they had conquered the whole of India. The Indian princes became their puppets. The British forced Indians to convert to Christian religion. They paid low wages to Indian soldiers. This created resentment among all sections of society, and the army as well. The so-called 1857 mutiny was, in fact, India’s First War of Independence.

Question 4.
Give a brief account of the role of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in spreading awareness in the Indian society.
Answer:
Raja Ram Mohan Roy was a learned! mem, a social reformer and a true nationalist. He was from Bengal. He understood well what was wrong with the Indian society. He called – upon the people to fight against social evils of untouchability and child marriage. He also asked the people to discard edl superstitions. He asked them to feel proud of their culture and learn English. Then alone they would be able to write to the British Parliament for a fair deal.

Vocabulary:

Replace the underlined words selecting the most appropriate options from the brackets :

Question 1.
The flight has been delayed one hour, due to weather conditions. (so that, because of as a result)
Answer:
The flight has been delayed one hour, because of weather conditions.

Question 2.
We owe a lot to our teachers who taught us how to live. (are thankful to, miss a lot, are greatly obliged to)
Answer:
We are greatly obliged to our teachers; who taught us how to live.

Question 3.
Mr Shah went to US before 25 years and he has made a good fortune there. (earned a good wealth, become lucky, got a good status)
Answer:
Mr Shah went to US before 25 years and he has earned a good wealth there.

Question 4.
We drove out the troublesome kids. (took for joy ride, forced to leave, banned to drive)
Answer:
We forced the troublesome kids to leave.

Question 5.
It was so hot that we stripped off our shirts. (put on, removed, brought)
Answer:
It was so hot that we removed our shirts. (achievements, Superstitions, ancient, reform, despise, capable)

Choose the correct Article(s), Conjunction(s) and Preposition(s) and complete the following passages:

Question 1.
But ………1…….. British continued to oppress Indians. ………..2………. 1818, they had passed Regulation III. ………..3……… it, ………….4……….. Indian could: be jailed …………….5………… trial in ………….6…………… court. :
Answer:
1. the
2. In
3. Under
4. an
5. without!
6. a

Question 2.
English education produced clerks to ………1…………., …….2………… British gave petty jobs ……….3………. them. …………..4……….. it also produced ……….5………… new generation ………….6…………. intellectuals.
Answer:
1. whom
2. the
3. under
4. Incidentally
5. a
6. of

Fill in the blanks with the appropriate forms of verbs given in the brackets and complete the text:

Question 1.
Taxes continued ………1…………. (ruin) the peasants. In Bengal, the Santhals who ………2…………. (lose) their lands under new land rules, became desperate. In 1855, they ………3…………. (rise); in rebellion and massacred Europeans and their supporters alike.
Answer:
1. to ruin
2. had lost
3. rose

Question 2.
Oh, proud Brahmin soldiers, ……….1…………. you ………1…………. (know) that the grease on the bullet you have ………2…………. (bite) ………3…………. (make) from the fat of cows and pigs?
Answer:
1. do, know
2. to bite
3. is made

Change the voice of the following :

(1) Soon, chapatis were sent from village to village.
(2) The masses gave all help and shelter to the patriots.
(3) The white man has deceived us too!
(4) All the time British officers in India drew big salaries.
(5) We accept you as rulers, and you must accept us as subjects.
(6) He was attracted by science and modern knowledge.
(7) Your men are taking all my crop.
Answer:
(1) Soon, they sent chapaties from village to village.
(2) All help and shelter was given to the patriots by the masses.
(3) We have been deceived by the white man too!
(4) All the time big salaries were drawn by British officers in India.
(5) You are accepted as rulers by us, and we must be accepted as subjects by you.
(6) Science and modern knowledge attracted him.
(7) All my crop is being taken away by your men.

Rewrite as directed :

(1) Indian princes were short-sighted. (Turn into Negative.)
(2) The people had no peace due to constant fights. (Use ‘Since’.)
(3) It is God who sent the British! (Make it Simple.)
(4) If you don’t pay next week, I will send you to jail. (Remove ‘if’.)
(5) Cows are of different colours, but the colour of their milk is the same. (Use ‘Though’.)
(6) Many landlords had lost their lands because of the British policies. (Use ‘therefore’.)
(7) The natives are unworthy of trust, incapable of honesty. (Use ‘neither… nor’.)
Answer:
(1) Indian princes were not far-sighted.
(2) Since there were constant fights, the people had no peace.
(3) Only God sent the British.
(4) Don’t pay next week and I will send you to jail. OR Unless you pay next week, I will send you to jail.
(5) Though cows are of different colours, the colour of their milk is the same.
(6) The British policies were not good, therefore many landlords had lost their lands.
(7) The natives are neither worthy of trust nor Eire they capable of honesty.

Glimpses of the Past Summary in English

Glimpses of the Past Summary:
It is a picture story. It recalls the story of freedom through pictures. It also explains the idea that led to the first war of Independence in 1857. At a function in Delhi, Lata Mangeshkar sang the patriotic song “Aye Mere Watan Ke Logon”. She called upon the Indians to recall with tearful eyes the sacrifices of Indian freedom fighters. The English East India Company came to India for trade.

But with its superior weapons and shrewd diplomacy, it extended its power in the 18th century. Indian princes were divided and short-sighted. People in India had no peace due to constant fights among the states of the country. They sought the help of the English merchants to defeat each other. These rivalries helped the Company to defeat and subdue Indian princes one by one.

A far-sighted ruler like the brave Tipu Sultan of Mysore fought the British till he died fighting. Now Indians reacted to the conquests made by the English Company. Some of them thanked God as well as the British for restoring peace in the country and stopping looting. They said their destiny was linked with the English.

But there were others who felt unhappy. They complained that the white man had killed or dethroned their kings. No doubt some kings were bad, but after all, they were Indians. Under the white rulers, they had become slaves.
Some religious leaders supported the social evils such as untouchability and child marriage. They forbade crossing the seas and going abroad. A few even said that women were to blame for all the misery. The truth was that Indians had lost self-respect. The white hated and disbelieved them.

The English were merchants first. Their aim was to make quick profits. They imposed heavy taxes on the farmers. They sent many farmers to jail for failing to pay their tax arrears. They destroyed the local Indian industries in order tcf sell goods manufactured in England. They exempted all goods imported from England from duties. Thus they ruined Indian artisans and their businesses.

Raja Ram Mohan Roy, a learned social reformer from Bengal, understood what was wrong with the country. He called upon the people to feel proud of their ancient culture. and get the society rid of stiffly superstitions. He pointed out that all religions preached the same thing.

He understood the Importance of science and modern knowledge. He started newspapers but the British stopped them in 1823. He crossed the seas and went to England to see what made the British so powerful. He then adopted the middle path.