Question 3 - Chapter 5 - Indigo - Flamingo - Chapters (Literature) - English Class 12

Read the extract and answer the following questions.

Extract:

Presently, the landlords learned that Germany had developed synthetic indigo. They, thereupon, obtained agreements from the sharecroppers to pay them compensation for being released from the 15 per cent arrangement. The sharecropping arrangement was irksome to the peasants, and many signed willingly. Those who resisted, engaged lawyers; the landlords hired thugs. Meanwhile, the information about synthetic indigo reached the illiterate peasants who had signed, and they wanted their money back.

(Indigo)

Question (i)

List any two sensory details present in this extract.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

Two possible sensory details present in this extract are:

• The sight of the agreements signed by the sharecroppers
• The sound of the thugs hired by the landlords

Step-by-step explanation: 

• To answer this question, we need to identify two details from the extract that appeal to one or more of the five senses: sight, hearing, smell, taste, or touch. 
• Sensory details help the reader to imagine and understand the situation better . In this extract, one possible sensory detail is the sight of the agreements signed by the sharecroppers, which shows their willingness or reluctance to be released from the 15 per cent arrangement.
•   Another possible sensory detail is the sound of the thugs hired by the landlords, which shows their violence and intimidation towards the resisting peasants. 
• Therefore, these are two possible sensory details present in this extract.😊

Question (ii)

Why did some peasants want their money back after signing the agreements?

1. They realized they had been cheated by the landlords
2. They changed their mind about growing indigo
3. They found out about synthetic indigo
4. They wanted to hire lawyers

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(c) They found out about synthetic indigo

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to understand the reason behind the peasants' demand for their money back after signing the agreements. 
• The last sentence of the extract tells us that the information about synthetic indigo reached the illiterate peasants who had signed, and they wanted their money back. Synthetic indigo was a cheaper and artificial alternative to natural indigo, which reduced the demand and price of natural indigo. 
• This meant that the peasants who had agreed to pay compensation to the landlords for being released from growing indigo had made a bad deal. 
• Therefore, the correct option is C. They found out about synthetic indigo.😎

Question (iii)

 Complete the sentence appropriately.

 The phrase "those who resisted" refers to ____________.

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 those who resisted signing the agreements

Step-by-step explanation: 

• To answer this question, we need to find a phrase that best completes the sentence and matches the context of the extract. 
• The phrase "those who resisted" refers to the peasants who did not want to sign the agreements to pay compensation to the landlords for being released from the 15 per cent arrangement. 
• These peasants engaged lawyers to fight for their rights and interests. 
• Therefore, the phrase that fits the blank is those who resisted signing the agreements.👏

Question (iv)

Explain any one possible inference that can be drawn from the line "the landlords hired thugs".

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

 One possible inference that can be drawn from the line "the landlords hired thugs" is that the landlords were desperate and ruthless in getting the agreements signed by the peasants.

Step-by-step explanation: 

• They did not care about the welfare or consent of the peasants, and they resorted to violence and coercion to achieve their goals .
• They wanted to avoid paying any compensation or rent to the peasants, and they wanted to get rid of the indigo cultivation as soon as possible.
• Therefore, this line shows the greed and cruelty of the landlords.🙏

Question (v)

 What does the term 'synthetic indigo' mean?

1. Indigo that is made from natural sources
2. Indigo that is made from artificial sources
3. Indigo that is mixed with other colors
4. Indigo that is of poor quality

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(b) Indigo that is made from artificial sources

Step-by-step explanation:

•  To answer this question, we need to know the meaning of the term 'synthetic indigo'. Synthetic indigo is a type of indigo dye that is produced from chemical substances, rather than from plants or animals. 
• Synthetic indigo was developed by German scientists in the late 19th century, and it became a cheaper and more accessible alternative to natural indigo, which was grown by farmers in India and other countries. 
• Therefore, the correct option is B. Indigo that is made from artificial sources.👍

Question (vi)

 Which of the following headlines best suggests the central idea of the extract?

1. The Discovery of Synthetic Indigo
2. The Conflict between Landlords and Peasants
3. The Agreements Signed by Sharecroppers
4. The Role of Lawyers in Champaran

Answer:

Answer as written by the student:

(b) The Conflict between Landlords and Peasants

Step-by-step explanation: 

• To answer this question, we need to identify the main theme or message of the extract. The extract focuses on how the discovery of synthetic indigo led to a conflict between the landlords and the peasants in Champaran over the agreements to pay compensation for being released from growing indigo. 
• The extract shows the contrast between the peasants who signed willingly, those who resisted and engaged lawyers, and those who wanted their money back.  
• It also shows the difference between the landlords who obtained the agreements and those who hired thugs. 
• Therefore, the headline that best captures this idea is B. The Conflict between Landlords and Peasants.😊