The Champaran episode was a turning-point in Gandhi’s life. ‘‘What I did,” he explained, “was a very ordinary thing. I declared that the British could not order me about in my own country.” But Champaran did not begin as an act of defiance. It grew out of an attempt to alleviate the distress of large numbers of poor peasants. This was the typical Gandhi pattern — his politics were intertwined with the practical, day-to-day problems of the millions. His was not a loyalty to abstractions; it was a loyalty to living, human beings. In everything Gandhi did, moreover, he tried to mould a new free Indian who could stand on his own feet.
i. In the extract, the phrase 'loyalty to abstractions' refers to a strong commitment to _____.
A. selected groups
B. simple pleasures
C. certain ideologies
D. governmental authorities
ii. Select a suitable word from the extract to complete the following analogy: change: transform :: relieve: ______.
iii. Select the correct option to fill in the blank. The primary motive of Gandhi's actions was to _____.
A. make Indians self-reliant
B. eradicate peasant poverty
C. unite the people of Champaran
D. expose the incompetence of the British
iv. Which of these best describes the primary purpose of the extract?
A. It highlights Gandhi's intention to use peasants to overthrow colonial power.
B. It points out why the Champaran episode is still relevant in free modern India.
C. It explains the differences between the political strategies of Gandhi and the British.
D. It shows how Gandhi's position in the Champaran struggle reflected his political views.
v. Identify the textual clue that allows the reader to infer Gandhi's view of his own accomplishments (clue: a word).
vi. Complete the sentence with an appropriate explanation, as per the extract.
Gandhi uses the words 'turning point' to refer to the Champaran incident because it __________.
