CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - Awadh, Annexation and Growing Discontent -

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CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - Awadh, Annexation and Growing Discontent

⏱️ 30 Minutes

❓ 20 Questions

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

CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - Awadh, Annexation and Growing Discontent

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QUESTION 1 OF 20

Assertion (A): Dalhousie viewed Awadh as a "cherry that will drop into our mouth one day".
Reason (R): The British felt Awadh's soil was good for producing indigo and cotton, and it could be developed into the principal market of Upper India.

Answer Review

1 Assertion (A): Dalhousie viewed Awadh as a "cherry that will drop into our mouth one day".
Reason (R): The British felt Awadh's soil was good for producing indigo and cotton, and it could be developed into the principal market of Upper India.

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

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

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Dalhousie desired annexation of Awadh. �� Awadh was economically valuable. �� Strategic and commercial motives encouraged annexation.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Dalhousie famously referred to Awadh as a "cherry that will drop into our mouth one day," showing British eagerness to annex it. → British officials valued Awadh because of its fertile land, agricultural potential, and commercial importance. → They believed it could become a major market for Upper India. → Therefore the Reason correctly explains the Assertion. → Hence Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → The Reason directly explains Dalhousie's interest.
�� Option C → Reason is true.
�� Option D → Assertion is historically correct.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Connect Dalhousie's statement with British economic motives.

Final Logic:

�� Economic value explains British desire to annex Awadh.

🧠 Memory Trick

Cherry = Rich Awadh

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Annexation of Awadh

2 Identify the incorrect statement about the context of the 1856 annexation of Awadh.

A It was expected to complete a process of territorial annexation begun with Bengal.

B The Maratha lands and the Doab had already been conquered by the early 1850s.

C Awadh was annexed on the plea that the region was misgoverned.

D Lord William Bentinck was the Governor General who annexed Awadh in 1856.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Awadh was annexed in 1856. �� Dalhousie was Governor-General. �� Misgovernment was the official justification.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Awadh was annexed by Lord Dalhousie in 1856. → British authorities claimed the region was misgoverned. → Bengal, Doab, and Maratha territories had already been brought under British control. → Therefore Option D is incorrect.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Correct historical context.
�� Option B → Correct according to NCERT.
�� Option C → Official justification used by British authorities.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

�� Identify the option with the wrong Governor-General.

Final Logic:

�� Dalhousie, not Bentinck, annexed Awadh.

🧠 Memory Trick

Awadh 1856 = Dalhousie

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Annexation of Awadh

3 Consider the conditions of the Subsidiary Alliance:
1. The ally had to provide resources for maintaining the British contingent.
2. The ally could independently engage in warfare without British permission.

A Only 1 is correct

B Only 2 is correct

C Both 1 and 2 are correct

D Neither 1 nor 2 is correct

💡 Short Explanation

�� British troops stayed in allied states. �� Costs were borne by the ally. �� Independent warfare was prohibited.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Under the Subsidiary Alliance, allied rulers had to maintain British troops stationed in their territory. → They could not wage war or negotiate externally without British approval. → Therefore Statement 1 is correct and Statement 2 is incorrect. → Hence Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Statement 2 is false.
�� Option C → Statement 2 remains false.
�� Option D → Statement 1 is correct.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Check each condition against alliance rules.

Final Logic:

�� Resource support was compulsory; independent warfare was forbidden.

🧠 Memory Trick

Alliance = No Independent War

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Subsidiary Alliance

4 Match the elements of the Subsidiary Alliance system:

List 1	List 2
1. British Resident	a. Stationed in the ally's territory
2. Armed contingent	b. Nawab's military
3. Disbanded forces	c. Attached to the court to advise
4. External threats	d. British took responsibility for protection

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

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

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

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

💡 Short Explanation

�� Resident advised the ruler. �� British troops were stationed locally. �� Nawab's army was reduced.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

British Resident → Attached to the court to advise (c) → Armed contingent → Stationed in ally's territory (a) → Disbanded forces → Nawab's military (b) → External threats → British protection (d) → Hence Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Incorrect Resident matching.
�� Option B → Resident and contingent mismatched.
�� Option D → Multiple incorrect pairings.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

�� Match institutions with their functions.

Final Logic:

�� Only Option C contains all correct associations.

🧠 Memory Trick

Resident–Court, Troops–Territory

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Subsidiary Alliance System

5 The widespread sense of grief at Wajid Ali Shah's exile led one contemporary to write: "The life was gone out of the body, and the body of this town had been left lifeless... in separation of ________".

A Birjis Qadr

B Hazrat Mahal

C Firangi Raj

D Jan-i-Alam

💡 Short Explanation

�� Wajid Ali Shah was loved by many subjects. �� His exile caused deep sorrow. �� Jan-i-Alam was his affectionate title.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

"Jan-i-Alam" was a title used for Wajid Ali Shah. → Contemporary accounts describe public grief after his exile. → The phrase symbolizes emotional attachment to the Nawab. → Therefore Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Birjis Qadr was his son.
�� Option B → Begum Hazrat Mahal was his wife.
�� Option C → Not the title used in the quotation.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Identify the historical title associated with Wajid Ali Shah.

Final Logic:

�� Jan-i-Alam refers to the exiled Nawab.

🧠 Memory Trick

Jan-i-Alam = Wajid Ali Shah

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Exile of Wajid Ali Shah

6 Arrange the following in chronological order reflecting shifting political dynamics:
I. Subsidiary Alliance imposed on Awadh.
II. Wajid Ali Shah exiled to Calcutta.
III. Populace in Lucknow celebrates the fall of British rule by hailing Birjis Qadr.

A I, III, II

B II, I, III

C III, II, I

D I, II, III

💡 Short Explanation

�� Subsidiary Alliance came before annexation. �� Wajid Ali Shah was exiled in 1856. �� Birjis Qadr was hailed during the Revolt of 1857.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The Subsidiary Alliance was imposed on Awadh before annexation. → After annexation in 1856, Wajid Ali Shah was dethroned and exiled to Calcutta. → During the Revolt of 1857, the people of Lucknow celebrated the collapse of British authority and proclaimed Birjis Qadr as leader. → Therefore the correct sequence is I → II → III. → Hence Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Birjis Qadr's elevation occurred after the exile.
�� Option B → Alliance came before exile.
�� Option C → Sequence is completely reversed.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Arrange events according to the political history of Awadh.

Final Logic:

�� Alliance → Exile → Revolt Leadership.

🧠 Memory Trick

Alliance → Exile → Birjis

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Awadh and the Revolt

7 Assertion (A): The removal of the Nawab caused an emotional upheaval aggravated by immediate material losses.
Reason (R): The dissolution of the court and its culture resulted in a whole range of people, from musicians to retainers, losing their livelihood.

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

�� Nawab's removal shocked society. �� Court culture collapsed. �� Thousands lost patronage and income.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The exile of Wajid Ali Shah created both emotional and economic distress. → Court culture in Lucknow disintegrated. → Musicians, dancers, artisans, retainers, poets and officials lost their livelihoods. → Therefore the material losses directly explain the emotional upheaval. → Hence Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

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

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Determine whether the Reason explains the Assertion.

Final Logic:

�� Court collapse caused both emotional and economic suffering.

🧠 Memory Trick

Court Falls → Livelihood Falls

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Court Culture and Exile

8 Which statement about the socio-economic impact of the Nawab's exile is incorrect?

A A chain of grievances linked prince, taluqdar, peasant, and sepoy.

B People identified 'firangi raj' with the end of their cherished world.

C Only the administrative officials lost their livelihood, while artisans prospered.

D Musicians, dancers, and poets lost their patrons.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Many occupational groups suffered. �� Patronage networks collapsed. �� Artisans did not prosper after annexation.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The exile of the Nawab disrupted the entire court-centered economy. → Musicians, dancers, poets, retainers, officials and artisans lost patronage. → NCERT highlights a broad chain of grievances connecting different social groups. → Therefore Option C is incorrect.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Correct NCERT interpretation.
�� Option B → Reflects widespread resentment against British rule.
�� Option D → Court artists indeed lost patrons.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

�� Identify the statement that contradicts NCERT evidence.

Final Logic:

�� Artisans suffered rather than prospered.

🧠 Memory Trick

Court Gone = Patronage Gone

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Social Effects of Annexation

📄 Passage

"The British were unwilling to tolerate the power of the taluqdars. Immediately after the annexation, the taluqdars were disarmed and their forts destroyed. The British land revenue policy further undermined the position and authority of the taluqdars. After annexation, the first British revenue settlement, known as the Summary Settlement of 1856, was based on the assumption that the taluqdars were interlopers with no permanent stakes in land: they had established their hold over land through force and fraud."

Based on the passage, how did the Summary Settlement of 1856 view the taluqdars?

A As legitimate owners of the land.

B As interlopers who established their hold through force and fraud.

C As essential intermediaries for tax collection.

D As victims of the Nawab's oppressive rule.

💡 Short Explanation

�� British distrusted taluqdars. �� Settlement targeted their authority. �� They were viewed as illegitimate landholders.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The passage explicitly states that British officials regarded taluqdars as interlopers. → They believed taluqdars had acquired land through force and fraud. → This assumption justified removing them from revenue administration. → Therefore Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Opposite of British perception.
�� Option C → British tried to reduce their role.
�� Option D → Not the basis of the Summary Settlement.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Use the exact wording from the passage.

Final Logic:

�� "Interlopers through force and fraud" appears directly in the passage.

🧠 Memory Trick

Taluqdar = "Interloper" (British View)

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Summary Settlement

📄 Passage

What was the immediate action taken against taluqdars after annexation?

A They were granted pensions.

B They were promoted to British administrative ranks.

C They were disarmed and their forts were destroyed.

D They were exiled to Calcutta alongside the Nawab.

💡 Short Explanation

�� British sought to weaken taluqdar power. �� Military strength was removed first. �� Forts symbolized local authority.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Immediately after annexation, the British moved against the taluqdars. → They confiscated weapons and destroyed forts. → This reduced their military and political influence. → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → No such policy was adopted.
�� Option B → Taluqdars were not promoted to British administration.
�� Option D → Only Wajid Ali Shah was exiled to Calcutta.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Extract the answer directly from the passage.

Final Logic:

�� Passage clearly states: "disarmed and forts destroyed."

🧠 Memory Trick

Annexation → Disarm → Destroy Forts

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Taluqdars after Annexation

11 The taluqdars of ________ Awadh were the hardest hit by the Summary Settlement, some losing more than half of their previously held villages.

A southern

B northern

C eastern

D western

💡 Short Explanation

�� Southern Awadh taluqdars suffered the greatest losses. �� Summary Settlement reduced taluqdar authority. �� Many lost more than half their villages.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

NCERT states that the taluqdars of southern Awadh were among the worst affected by the Summary Settlement of 1856. → British officials removed taluqdars wherever possible and settled directly with village proprietors. → This policy drastically reduced taluqdar landholdings and influence. → Therefore Option A is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Northern Awadh is not specifically identified as the hardest hit.
�� Option C → Eastern Awadh is not mentioned in this context.
�� Option D → Western Awadh is not the answer given by NCERT.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Recall the specific regional reference from NCERT.

Final Logic:

�� Southern Awadh taluqdars lost the most villages.

🧠 Memory Trick

South = Severe Settlement Loss

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Summary Settlement and Taluqdars

12 Match the elements of Revenue policy impact:

List 1	List 2
1. Revenue flows for the state	a. Did not decline
2. Burden on peasants	b. Increased
3. Increase in revenue demand	c. Would reduce exploitation of peasants
4. Official belief about removing taluqdars	d. From 30 to 70 percent in some places

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

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

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

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

💡 Short Explanation

�� State revenue increased. �� Peasant burden remained high. �� Revenue demands rose sharply.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Revenue flows increased (1-b). → Peasant burden did not decline (2-a). → Revenue demand rose by 30–70% in some areas (3-d). → Officials believed removing taluqdars would reduce peasant exploitation (4-c). → Hence Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Incorrect matching of items.
�� Option B → Multiple pairings are wrong.
�� Option D → Does not reflect NCERT evidence.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Option Grouping

Application:

�� Match each impact with the corresponding outcome.

Final Logic:

�� Only Option C provides all correct pairings.

🧠 Memory Trick

Revenue ↑, Burden Same, Demand ↑, Taluqdar ↓

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Revenue Policy after Annexation

13 Consider the following statements regarding the British revenue collection:
1. There was no guarantee that revenue demand would be reduced in times of crop failure.
2. The method of collection was highly flexible depending on the peasants' conditions.

A Both 1 and 2 are correct

B Only 2 is correct

C Neither 1 nor 2 is correct

D Only 1 is correct

💡 Short Explanation

�� Revenue demand remained rigid. �� Collection methods were inflexible. �� Peasants lacked protection.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because British revenue officials generally insisted on collection even during hardship. → Statement 2 is incorrect because collection methods were inflexible, not flexible. → Therefore only Statement 1 is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Statement 2 is false.
�� Option B → Statement 1 is true.
�� Option C → Statement 1 is correct.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Evaluate each statement separately.

Final Logic:

�� Only Statement 1 aligns with NCERT.

🧠 Memory Trick

British Revenue = Rigid

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Peasant Grievances

14 Assertion (A): The dispossession of taluqdars meant the breakdown of an entire social order.
Reason (R): Under the British, peasants easily obtained loans during festivities from new administrative banks.

A Both A and R are true.

B Both A and R are false.

C A is true but R is false.

D A is false but R is true.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Taluqdars were social patrons. �� Their removal disrupted village society. �� British banks did not replace patronage networks.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Assertion is true because taluqdars were central to rural social and economic relations. → Their dispossession disrupted patronage and support systems. → Reason is false because peasants did not gain easy access to supportive banking institutions. → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Reason is false.
�� Option B → Assertion is true.
�� Option D → Assertion is true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Test the truth of each statement independently.

Final Logic:

�� Social breakdown occurred, but not because of supportive British banks.

🧠 Memory Trick

No Taluqdar = Social Breakdown

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Social Consequences of Annexation

15 Identify the incorrect statement regarding the pre-British social order in Awadh.

A Taluqdars never exacted any dues from the peasants.

B Ties of loyalty and patronage bound the peasant to the taluqdar.

C Taluqdars were oppressors but many appeared to be generous father figures.

D Taluqdars were often considerate in times of need.

💡 Short Explanation

�� Taluqdars collected dues. �� Patronage relationships existed. �� Social obligations softened exploitation.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Taluqdars certainly extracted dues and rents from peasants. → However, they also provided protection and assistance in difficult times. → Options B, C, and D accurately reflect NCERT's nuanced description. → Therefore Option A is incorrect.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option B → Correct description of patronage.
�� Option C → Reflects NCERT interpretation.
�� Option D → Taluqdars often assisted dependents.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Extreme Word Filter

Application:

�� Look for absolute terms like "never."

Final Logic:

�� "Never" makes Option A incorrect.

🧠 Memory Trick

Never = Danger Word

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Rural Social Order

16 During the 1857 revolt, many taluqdars who were loyal to the Nawab of Awadh joined ________ in Lucknow to fight the British.

A Rani Lakshmi Bai

B Begum Hazrat Mahal

C Nana Sahib

D Kunwar Singh

💡 Short Explanation

�� Begum Hazrat Mahal led resistance in Awadh. �� Taluqdars supported her cause. �� Lucknow became a major rebel center.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

After annexation, many taluqdars rallied behind Begum Hazrat Mahal. → She emerged as a leading symbol of resistance in Awadh. → Therefore Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Associated with Jhansi.
�� Option C → Led resistance in Kanpur.
�� Option D → Led rebellion in Bihar.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Odd One Out

Application:

�� Match leader with region.

Final Logic:

�� Awadh resistance centered on Begum Hazrat Mahal.

🧠 Memory Trick

Awadh = Hazrat Mahal

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Resistance in Awadh

17 Arrange the following in the correct sequence of events:
I. New cartridges are introduced, creating fear among sepoys.
II. Sepoys defied their superior officers and took up arms.
III. Peasants poured into towns and joined the soldiers in rebellion.

A II, I, III

B I, III, II

C I, II, III

D III, I, II

💡 Short Explanation

�� Cartridge controversy triggered suspicion. �� Sepoys rebelled against British authority. �� Common people later joined the uprising.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

The introduction of greased cartridges generated fear among sepoys regarding religious pollution. → This fear contributed to sepoys defying their officers and taking up arms. → As the revolt spread, peasants and ordinary townspeople joined the rebellion, widening its scope. → Therefore the correct sequence is: I → II → III → Hence Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Sepoys could not rebel before the cartridge controversy emerged.
�� Option B → Peasant participation occurred after the sepoy uprising began.
�� Option D → Peasant participation was not the first stage.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Follow the historical progression from cause to rebellion to mass participation.

Final Logic:

Cartridge Fear → Sepoy Revolt → Popular Rebellion.

🧠 Memory Trick

Cartridge → Sepoy → Peasant

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Spread of the Revolt

18 Consider the following statements:
1. The link between the sepoys and the rural world had important implications in the course of the uprising.
2. The fears of the sepoys about the new cartridge were not communicated to the villages.

A Only 2 is correct

B Only 1 is correct

C Both are correct

D Neither is correct

💡 Short Explanation

�� Sepoys remained closely connected with villages. �� Rural grievances influenced sepoy attitudes. �� Information moved both ways.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Statement 1 is correct because NCERT emphasizes the close relationship between sepoys and the rural society of Awadh and eastern Uttar Pradesh. → Statement 2 is incorrect because fears regarding cartridges and British policies circulated between sepoy lines and villages. → The rural world and military world were deeply interconnected. → Therefore Option B is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Statement 2 is false.
�� Option C → Both statements are not correct.
�� Option D → Statement 1 is clearly true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Evaluate each statement independently.

Final Logic:

Only the first statement agrees with NCERT.

🧠 Memory Trick

Village ↔ Sepoy Connection

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Sepoys and Rural Society

19 Assertion (A): The sepoy mutiny was solely caused by the issue of greased cartridges in 1857.
Reason (R): For decades, the sepoys had complained of low levels of pay and the difficulty of getting leave.

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

�� Cartridge issue was an immediate trigger. �� Deeper grievances existed for decades. �� Pay and leave issues fueled dissatisfaction.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

Assertion is false because the revolt was not caused solely by the greased cartridges. → The cartridge controversy acted as a spark, but long-standing grievances already existed. → Sepoys had complained for years about low pay, lack of promotion opportunities, difficulties in obtaining leave, and racial discrimination. → Therefore the Reason is true while the Assertion is false. → Hence Option D is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Assertion is incorrect.
�� Option B → Assertion is incorrect.
�� Option C → Reason is true.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Elimination

Application:

�� Separate immediate causes from long-term causes.

Final Logic:

Cartridges triggered the revolt; they were not its only cause.

🧠 Memory Trick

Spark ≠ Whole Fire

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Causes of Sepoy Discontent

20 Match the period with the nature of sepoy-officer relationship:

List 1	List 2
1. 1820s	a. Abuse and physical violence became common
2. 1840s	b. White officers participated in sepoys' leisure activities
3. Pre-1857 change	c. Episode of greased cartridges
4. 1857	d. Trust replaced by suspicion

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

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

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

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

💡 Short Explanation

�� Early relations were relatively cordial. �� Racial distance increased over time. �� Cartridge issue destroyed remaining trust.

✅ Correct Answer Explanation

In the 1820s, British officers often mixed socially with sepoys and participated in leisure activities (1-b). → By the 1840s, racial attitudes hardened and abuse became more common (2-a). → Before 1857, trust had increasingly given way to suspicion (3-d). → In 1857, the greased cartridge controversy intensified tensions and triggered revolt (4-c). → Therefore Option C is correct.

❓ Why Other Options Are Incorrect

�� Option A → Incorrectly reverses early and later relationships.
�� Option B → Places suspicion in the wrong period.
�� Option D → Cartridge issue belongs to 1857, not the 1820s.

🎯 Strategy

Used: Contextual/Tonal Matching

Application:

�� Track the gradual deterioration of sepoy-officer relations over time.

Final Logic:

Friendship → Racial Distance → Suspicion → Cartridge Crisis.

🧠 Memory Trick

Friendship → Abuse → Suspicion → Cartridge

📚 Class XII – Themes in Indian History Part III – Chapter: Rebels and the Raj – Topic: Changing Sepoy-Officer Relations

CUET UG History Booster Test 2 - Awadh, Annexation and Growing Discontent

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