CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - The Hoe and the Plough -

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CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - The Hoe and the Plough

⏱️ 30 Minutes

❓ 20 Questions

📌 Answers are locked once submitted — results and explanations appear at the end.

CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - The Hoe and the Plough

1 / 20

QUESTION 1 OF 20

Assertion (A): While colonial officials viewed the Rajmahal hills as dangerous and wild, artists like William Hodges found beauty in their roughness and irregularity.
Reason (R): Artists searching for the picturesque were inspired by Romanticism, celebrating nature as an idyll uncorrupted by modern civilisation.

Answer Review

1 Assertion (A): While colonial officials viewed the Rajmahal hills as dangerous and wild, artists like William Hodges found beauty in their roughness and irregularity.
Reason (R): Artists searching for the picturesque were inspired by Romanticism, celebrating nature as an idyll uncorrupted by modern civilisation.

A Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

B Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C A is true, but R is false.

D A is false, but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

Colonial officials saw danger in forests and hills. Romantic artists admired natural landscapes. The picturesque movement influenced their views.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Colonial administrators like Buchanan often viewed the Rajmahal hills as hostile and difficult terrain. → However, artists such as William Hodges were influenced by Romanticism and the idea of the "picturesque," which celebrated rugged, irregular, and untouched landscapes. → Therefore, both Assertion and Reason are true, and the Reason correctly explains why artists appreciated the same landscape that officials feared. → Hence, Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option B → The Reason directly explains the Assertion.
Option C → The Reason is historically correct.
Option D → The Assertion is also true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Compare the different viewpoints of officials and artists.

Final Logic:

�� Romantic ideals explain why artists admired landscapes viewed negatively by officials.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Officials saw danger; Artists saw beauty."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Rajmahal Hills and the Picturesque

2 Match the perspectives of the Rajmahal terrain (List 1) with the corresponding groups (List 2):

List 1	List 2
1. A zone signifying danger	a. The Paharias
2. A place of beauty and the picturesque	b. British artists like Hodges
3. A refuge to insulate from hostile forces	c. British revenue officials
4. An area needing clearance for agriculture	d. Early European travellers like Buchanan

A 1-d, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c

B 1-a, 2-c, 3-b, 4-d

C 1-b, 2-a, 3-c, 4-d

D 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b

💡 Short Explanation

Different groups viewed the hills differently. Perception depended on interests. Colonial and tribal views differed sharply.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Correct matching: Danger → Buchanan (d) Picturesque beauty → Hodges (b) Refuge → Paharias (a) Agricultural clearance → Revenue officials (c) → Therefore Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option B → Several group-perspective pairings are incorrect.
Option C → Hodges did not view the hills as dangerous.
Option D → Buchanan was not associated with agricultural clearance.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

�� Match each perception to the group historically associated with it.

Final Logic:

�� Only Option A correctly aligns all viewpoints.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Buchanan–Danger, Hodges–Beauty, Paharias–Refuge."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Perceptions of the Rajmahal Hills

3 Consider the following statements regarding the Paharias' dependence on the forest:
1. The forest provided the basis for their identity and survival.
2. They lived in grand permanent stone houses built from forest timber.
Which of the statements is/are correct?

A Both 1 and 2

B Only 1

C Only 2

D Neither 1 nor 2

💡 Short Explanation

Forests shaped Paharia identity. Survival depended on forest resources. Permanent stone houses are not mentioned.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because the forest was central to Paharia livelihood, culture, and identity. → Statement 2 is incorrect because the Paharias lived in simple hutments, not grand stone houses. → Therefore Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Statement 2 is wrong.
Option C → Statement 1 is correct.
Option D → Statement 1 is definitely correct.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Evaluate each statement independently.

Final Logic:

�� Only Statement 1 matches NCERT.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Forest = Identity + Survival."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Forest Dependence of the Paharias

4 Identify the INCORRECT statement about how the Paharias managed their shifting cultivation:

A They left land fallow after a few years to recover fertility.

B They heavily ploughed the land to ensure deep soil turnover.

C The fallow lands provided pasture for their cattle.

D They relied on hoes rather than ploughs to scratch the ground.

💡 Short Explanation

Shifting cultivation used hoes. Soil was lightly scratched. Deep ploughing was absent.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Paharias practiced shifting cultivation using hoes and light soil disturbance. → Heavy ploughing belongs to settled agriculture, not shifting cultivation. → Therefore Option B is the incorrect statement.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → True feature of shifting cultivation.
Option C → Fallow land served as grazing ground.
Option D → Hoes were regularly used.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

�� Identify the practice belonging to settled agriculture.

Final Logic:

�� Heavy ploughing does not fit shifting cultivation.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Hoe, Not Plough."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Shifting Cultivation

5 In the practice of shifting cultivation, after cutting bushes and burning the undergrowth, the Paharias utilized the __________ from the ash to enrich the soil for growing pulses and millets.

A Nitrogen

B Calcium

C Potash

D Phosphorus

💡 Short Explanation

Vegetation was burned. Ash improved fertility. Potash enriched the soil.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Burning undergrowth produced ash rich in potash. → Potash increased soil fertility and supported cultivation of pulses and millets. → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Nitrogen is not identified in NCERT here.
Option B → Calcium is not the emphasized nutrient.
Option D → Phosphorus is not mentioned.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Direct Recall

Application:

�� Recall the specific NCERT term.

Final Logic:

�� Ash → Potash.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Burn → Ash → Potash."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Shifting Cultivation Process

6 Arrange the stages of the Paharia agricultural cycle in chronological order:
1. Leaving the land fallow to recover fertility.
2. Clearing patches of forest and burning undergrowth.
3. Moving to a new area.
4. Scratching the ground with hoes and growing crops for a few years.

A 2, 4, 1, 3

B 1, 2, 3, 4

C 4, 1, 3, 2

D 2, 1, 4, 3

💡 Short Explanation

Forest cleared first. Crops cultivated next. Land then left fallow.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Sequence: 2 → Forest clearing and burning 4 → Cultivation using hoes 1 → Land left fallow 3 → Move to another area → Therefore Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option B → Begins with fallow land.
Option C → Cultivation cannot begin before clearing.
Option D → Fallow occurs after cultivation.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Follow the actual agricultural cycle.

Final Logic:

�� Clearing → Cultivation → Fallow → Shift.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Clear → Grow → Rest → Move."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Agricultural Cycle

📄 Passage

"From the forests they collected mahua (a flower) for food, silk cocoons and resin for sale, and wood for charcoal production. The undergrowth that spread like a mat below the trees and the patches of grass that covered the lands left fallow provided pasture for cattle."

Based on the passage, how did the Paharias integrate their economic activities with the forest environment?

A By exclusively focusing on growing cash crops for export.

B By clear-cutting forests to establish large grazing farms.

C By collecting specific forest products for both subsistence and trade.

D By selling cattle to the British in exchange for grain.

💡 Short Explanation

Forests supported daily life. Products were used for food and trade. Economic activities remained forest-based.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The passage shows that the Paharias collected mahua for food, silk cocoons and resin for sale, and wood for charcoal production. → Thus, forests supplied both subsistence needs and marketable products. → Option C correctly captures this combination of survival and trade. → Therefore, Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → The Paharias did not focus exclusively on export-oriented cash crops.
Option B → They practiced shifting cultivation, not large-scale forest clearance.
Option D → No evidence suggests systematic cattle-for-grain trade with the British.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Match the answer directly with the economic activities listed in the passage.

Final Logic:

�� Forest products were used for both consumption and sale.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Forest = Food + Trade"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Forest-Based Economy of the Paharias

📄 Passage

According to the passage, what specific forest resource was utilized by the Paharias for the production of charcoal?

A Mahua flowers

B Patches of grass

C Silk cocoons

D Wood

💡 Short Explanation

Forest resources had specific uses. Charcoal production required wood. The passage directly states this.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The passage explicitly mentions that the Paharias collected wood for charcoal production. → Mahua was used as food, silk cocoons and resin were sold, while grass served as pasture. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Mahua was primarily used as food.
Option B → Grass provided pasture for cattle.
Option C → Silk cocoons were collected for sale.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Substitution

Application:

�� Use the exact information provided in the passage.

Final Logic:

�� Passage directly links wood with charcoal production.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Wood → Charcoal"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Economic Activities of the Paharias

9 Which of the following accurately describes the application of authority by the Paharia tribal chiefs?

A They operated as revenue collectors under the direct supervision of British magistrates.

B They settled internal disputes and organized military actions against plainspeople.

C They enforced the use of the plough among their tribe members.

D They actively encouraged British intervention to maintain peace.

💡 Short Explanation

Chiefs maintained community order. They resolved disputes. They led tribal resistance and warfare.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Paharia chiefs were central figures in tribal society. → They settled disputes, maintained unity, and led the tribe in conflicts against other tribes and plainspeople. → Option B accurately reflects their authority and responsibilities. → Therefore, Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Tribal chiefs were not British revenue officials.
Option C → They did not enforce plough agriculture.
Option D → British intervention often weakened their authority rather than being encouraged by them.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Compare each option with the functions assigned to chiefs in NCERT.

Final Logic:

�� Dispute settlement and leadership in conflict were their primary roles.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Chief = Judge + Leader"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Tribal Chiefs and Authority

10 Assertion (A): The unity of the Paharia community was largely maintained by their tribal chiefs.
Reason (R): The chiefs acted as central figures who resolved internal disputes and led the community against external threats.

A A is true, but R is false.

B Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

C Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

D A is false, but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

Chiefs were community leaders. They settled disputes. They defended the tribe.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Assertion is true because tribal chiefs played a key role in maintaining community unity. → The Reason is also true because they acted as dispute-settlers and military leaders. → These responsibilities directly explain why they were able to maintain unity within the tribe. → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → The Reason is true.
Option B → The Reason directly explains the Assertion.
Option D → The Assertion is also true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Check whether the Reason logically explains the Assertion.

Final Logic:

�� Leadership in disputes and defense created community unity.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Chief Leads → Tribe Unites"

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Community Unity and Tribal Chiefs

11 Match the reasons for Paharia relations with plains (List 1) with their practical outcomes (List 2):

List 1	List 2
1. Years of scarcity	a. Paid a small toll for protection
2. Asserting power	b. Procuring food for survival
3. Negotiating relations	c. Demonstrating dominance over settled communities
4. Traders using passes	d. Forcing zamindars to pay regular tribute

A 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a

B 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d

C 1-c, 2-a, 3-d, 4-b

D 1-d, 2-b, 3-a, 4-c

💡 Short Explanation

Scarcity led to food raids. Power was asserted through attacks. Tribute and tolls regulated relations.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Correct matching: Years of scarcity → Procuring food for survival (b) Asserting power → Demonstrating dominance (c) Negotiating relations → Zamindars paid tribute (d) Traders using passes → Paid toll for protection (a) → Therefore Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option B → Scarcity was linked to survival, not tolls.
Option C → Multiple pairings are incorrectly matched.
Option D → Traders paid tolls, not tribute.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

�� Match each activity with its historical outcome.

Final Logic:

�� Only Option A correctly aligns all four relationships.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Scarcity–Food, Power–Dominance, Tribute–Peace, Toll–Trade."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Paharias and Plains Relations

12 In the tribute system maintained by the Paharias, once traders paid a small __________, the hill chiefs protected their goods from being plundered.

A Tax

B Bribe

C Toll

D Fine

💡 Short Explanation

Traders passed through hill routes. Protection was provided by chiefs. A toll was charged.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Traders using routes through the hills paid a small toll. → In return, Paharia chiefs ensured that their goods were protected from raids. → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → It was not an official state tax.
Option B → It was a recognized payment, not a bribe.
Option D → A fine is a penalty, not a protection payment.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Substitution

Application:

�� Insert each option into the sentence.

Final Logic:

�� Toll best fits the historical arrangement.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Pay Toll = Get Protection."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Trade Routes and Toll System

13 Which of the following INCORRECTLY reflects the British application of their perception of forests as "wild"?

A They initiated campaigns to clear the forests.

B They sought to transform forest people into settled agriculturists.

C They protected the forests to preserve the traditional tribal hunting grounds.

D They believed clearing forests would establish an ordered society.

💡 Short Explanation

British encouraged forest clearance. Settled agriculture was promoted. Tribal hunting grounds were not preserved.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The British associated forests with disorder and believed they should be cleared. → They aimed to expand cultivation and settle forest communities. → Therefore the statement about protecting forests for tribal hunting grounds is incorrect. → Hence Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Forest clearance was actively encouraged.
Option B → Tribal groups were pushed toward settled agriculture.
Option D → Ordered society was linked to settled cultivation.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

�� Identify the option that contradicts colonial policy.

Final Logic:

�� Preservation of hunting grounds was not a British objective.

🧠 Memory Trick

"British Rule = Clear Forests, Not Preserve Them."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: British Perception of Forests

14 Assertion (A): The British felt an urgent need to persuade the Paharias to give up hunting and take up plough agriculture.
Reason (R): The British viewed the forest dwellers as savage and primitive, and believed that forcing them into plough agriculture would civilize them.

A Both A and R are false.

B A is true, but R is false.

C Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A.

D Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

💡 Short Explanation

British disliked shifting cultivation. Agriculture was seen as civilized. Tribal communities were targeted for reform.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The British believed settled agriculture represented progress and civilization. → Since they considered forest people primitive, they wanted them to adopt plough cultivation. → Thus both statements are true, and the Reason explains the Assertion. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Both statements are historically true.
Option B → Reason is true.
Option C → Reason directly explains the policy.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Examine whether the Reason explains the colonial objective.

Final Logic:

�� Civilizing ideology drove agricultural policies.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Plough = Civilize (British View)."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Colonial View of Tribal Society

15 Driven by the desire to expand agriculture, the British encouraged forest clearance, leading zamindars and jotedars to turn uncultivated lands into __________ fields.

A Wheat

B Cotton

C Indigo

D Rice

💡 Short Explanation

Forests were cleared. Agricultural frontiers expanded. Rice cultivation spread widely.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Zamindars and jotedars converted uncultivated lands into rice fields. → Rice cultivation became a major feature of agricultural expansion in eastern India. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Wheat was not the principal crop mentioned here.
Option B → Cotton is not associated with this expansion.
Option C → Indigo cultivation is unrelated to this specific NCERT discussion.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Direct Recall

Application:

�� Recall the specific crop mentioned in NCERT.

Final Logic:

�� Forest clearance led to expansion of rice fields.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Clear Forest → Grow Rice."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Expansion of Settled Agriculture

16 Arrange the consequences of the expansion of settled agriculture in the Rajmahal region in chronological order:
1. Conflict sharpens between hill folk and settled cultivators.
2. Zamindars and jotedars extend the frontiers of settled agriculture.
3. The area under forests and pastures contracts.
4. Paharias retaliate by raiding settled villages with increasing regularity.

A 1, 2, 3, 4

B 2, 3, 1, 4

C 3, 1, 4, 2

D 4, 3, 2, 1

💡 Short Explanation

Agriculture expanded first. Forest area shrank. Conflict emerged and raids followed.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Correct sequence: 2 → Agricultural expansion 3 → Forest contraction 1 → Conflict intensifies 4 → Paharia raids increase → Therefore Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Conflict began after expansion.
Option C → Forest contraction followed expansion.
Option D → Raids were a later consequence.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Follow the cause-and-effect chain.

Final Logic:

�� Expansion → Forest loss → Conflict → Raids.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Expand → Shrink → Clash → Raid."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Consequences of Agricultural Expansion

17 How did the Paharias strategically adapt their resistance when faced with British pacification campaigns?

A They moved down to the plains and assimilated into settled villages.

B They formed large open-field armies to face the British troops.

C They signed peace treaties handing over the lower hills unconditionally.

D They withdrew deep into the mountains, insulating themselves to carry on a war with outsiders.

💡 Short Explanation

Resistance continued despite British campaigns. Geography aided defense. Retreat strengthened survival.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Facing British attacks, many Paharias retreated deeper into the hills. → This isolation allowed them to continue resisting outside control. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Assimilation did not occur on a large scale.
Option B → They did not rely on open-field warfare.
Option C → No unconditional surrender occurred.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Identify the resistance method consistent with hill communities.

Final Logic:

�� Withdrawal into mountains preserved autonomy.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Retreat to Hills = Resistance Continues."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Paharia Resistance

18 The Paharias viewed every white man with suspicion because their perception was deeply shaped by memories of brutal __________ during the British campaigns.

A Repression

B Exploitation

C Taxation

D Deception

💡 Short Explanation

British campaigns were violent. Tribal memory preserved these experiences. Distrust followed repression.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The violent British campaigns left lasting memories of repression. → These experiences caused the Paharias to distrust Europeans. → Therefore Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option B → Exploitation is broader and less specific.
Option C → Taxation was not the main reason.
Option D → Deception is not the NCERT emphasis.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Substitution

Application:

�� Select the term most consistent with British military action.

Final Logic:

�� Repression best fits the context.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Violence Creates Suspicion."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: British Campaigns against the Paharias

19 Match the figures/terms (List 1) with their roles in the pacification policy (List 2):

List 1	List 2
1. Augustus Cleveland	a. The British Collector
2. Annual allowance	b. Financial incentive
3. Paharia chiefs	c. Target group to maintain order
4. Proper conduct	d. Responsibility expected

A 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a

B 1-a, 2-b, 3-c, 4-d

C 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b

D 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c

💡 Short Explanation

Augustus Cleveland was the British Collector who introduced the pacification policy. Annual allowances were given as financial incentives to Paharia chiefs. Paharia chiefs were expected to maintain peace and order through proper conduct.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Pacification Policy was implemented by Augustus Cleveland, the British Collector of Bhagalpur, to establish control over the Paharia region. Under this policy, Paharia chiefs were recognized and provided with an annual allowance as a financial incentive. In return, they were expected to exhibit proper conduct and help maintain peace and order among their communities. Thus: 1. Augustus Cleveland → a. The British Collector 2. Annual allowance → b. Financial incentive 3. Paharia chiefs → c. Target group to maintain order 4. Proper conduct → d. Responsibility expected Therefore, Option B correctly matches all pairs.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → 1-b, 2-c, 3-d, 4-a

Augustus Cleveland was not a financial incentive.
Annual allowance was not the target group.
Proper conduct was not the British Collector.

Option C → 1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b

Augustus Cleveland was not the target group.
Paharia chiefs were not the British Collector.
Proper conduct was not a financial incentive.

Option D → 1-d, 2-a, 3-b, 4-c

Augustus Cleveland was not a responsibility.
Annual allowance was not the British Collector.
Paharia chiefs were not a financial incentive.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

Match each term with its historically associated role in the pacification policy.
Administrative figures, incentives, beneficiaries, and responsibilities naturally align with their respective descriptions.

Final Logic:

Collector → Cleveland, Allowance → Incentive, Chiefs → Maintain Order, Proper Conduct → Expected Responsibility.

🧠 Memory Trick

Cleveland–Collector, Allowance–Aid, Chiefs–Control, Conduct–Duty

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Paharias, Santhals and the Pacification Policy

20 Assertion (A): The Paharia community gradually lost respect for the chiefs who accepted the British allowance.
Reason (R): The chiefs were perceived as having compromised their independence to become stipendiary chiefs under the colonial government.

A Both A and R are false.

B A is true, but R is false.

C A is false, but R is true.

D Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.

💡 Short Explanation

British allowances changed tribal leadership. Chiefs became dependent on colonial power. Traditional authority weakened.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Chiefs who accepted British allowances came to be viewed as subordinate officials of the colonial state. → This perception reduced their prestige and authority among the Paharias. → Thus both statements are true, and the Reason correctly explains the Assertion. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

Option A → Both statements are true.
Option B → Reason is true.
Option C → Assertion is also true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Determine whether the Reason explains the loss of authority.

Final Logic:

�� Dependence on colonial allowances weakened traditional legitimacy.

🧠 Memory Trick

"Allowance Accepted = Authority Reduced."

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Colonialism and the Countryside – Topic: Effects of Pacification Policy

CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - The Hoe and the Plough

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