Chapter 4 of the NCERT book deals with the Age of Industrialisation. In this, you will learn how factories and machines changed the world. The chapter starts with Britain and then moves to India. It also details how industrialization affected people’s lives, the growth of factories, new technology, and workers’ lives.
The chapter also highlights how Indian industries grew despite challenges.
Let’s look at some of the important dates in the chapter. You should memorize these, as mentioning the correct dates in the answer can fetch you full marks.
- 1764: James Hargreaves invented the Spinning Jenny
- 1781: James Watt patented the improved steam engine
- 1854: The first cotton mill in Bombay was established
- 1855: The first jute mill was set up in Bengal
- 1860s: The Elgin Mill was started in Kanpur
- 1862: Another jute mill was set up in Bengal
- 1874: The first spinning and weaving mill in Madras began production
- 1900: Cotton piece-goods production in India doubled between 1900 and 1912
- 1906: Export of Indian yarn to China declined
- 1912: J.N. Tata set up the first iron and steel works in India at Jamshedpur
- 1917: Seth Hukumchand set up the first Indian jute mill in Calcutta
- 1931: 67% of the large industries were located in Bengal and Bombay
- 1941: Over 35% of handlooms in India were fitted with fly shuttles
Now, lets go into 43 MCQs and try solving them. After the multiple-choice questions, we also have 2 match the following questions for this chapter. Each MCQ question has four options, with the correct answer provided in a dropdown. At the end, we had 15 questions to fill in the blanks. The entire set of questions will make you ready for the exams.
The Age of Industrialisation Multiple choice questions for Class 10 History Chapter 4
Question 1. What was the primary industry in Britain during the first phase of industrialization?
a) Iron and steel
b) Cotton
c) Wool
d) Machinery
Answer:
b) Cotton
Question 2. Which of the following was NOT a major change in the industrial landscape during the age of industries?
a) Growth of factories
b) Decline of hand technology
c) Formation of an industrial labor force
d) Continued importance of small-scale production
Answer:
b) Decline of hand technology
Question 3. What was a major technological advancement in the textile industry?
a) The Spinning Jenny
b) The Steam Engine
c) The Assembly Line
d) The Cotton Gin
Answer:
a) The Spinning Jenny
Question 4. Which country dominated the international market in textiles before the industrial age?
a) China
b) India
c) France
d) Japan
Answer:
b) India
Question 5. What was the role of the gomastha in the textile trade?
a) A weaver
b) A supervisor
c) A trader
d) A buyer
Answer:
b) A supervisor
Question 6. What were the main goods traded by Indian merchants in the pre-colonial period?
a) Machinery and tools
b) Cotton and silk textiles
c) Gold and silver
d) Spices and tea
Answer:
b) Cotton and silk textiles
Question 7. How did the East India Company control the textile trade?
a) By eliminating competition
b) By offering higher prices
c) By establishing partnerships with local traders
d) By reducing production
Answer:
a) By eliminating competition
Question 8. What led to the decline of textile exports from India by the mid-19th century?
a) High tariffs on Indian goods
b) Competition from European textiles
c) Poor quality of Indian textiles
d) Limited demand for textiles
Answer:
b) Competition from European textiles
Question 9. Which Indian city was known for its cotton mills in the late 19th century?
a) Delhi
b) Kolkata
c) Mumbai
d) Chennai
Answer:
c) Mumbai
Question 10. What was a significant consequence of the American Civil War for Indian weavers?
a) Increase in cotton prices
b) Decrease in cotton demand
c) Surplus of cotton supply
d) Stability in cotton prices
Answer:
a) Increase in cotton prices
Question 11. Why did European Managing Agencies dominate Indian industries?
a) They had better technology
b) They controlled the capital
c) They offered better wages
d) They provided job security
Answer:
b) They controlled the capital
Question 12. What was a major factor for the growth of industries in colonial India?
a) British government policies
b) Local entrepreneurship
c) Foreign investments
d) Industrial espionage
Answer:
a) British government policies
Question 13. Which sector did NOT see significant technological changes during the industrial revolution in India?
a) Textile
b) Iron and steel
c) Food processing
d) Pottery
Answer:
d) Pottery
Question 14. Which innovation was crucial for the development of the cotton industry?
a) The Spinning Jenny
b) The Steam Engine
c) The Power Loom
d) The Cotton Gin
Answer:
c) The Power Loom
Question 15. What was the primary function of the jobber in the factories?
a) Managing production
b) Recruiting workers
c) Supervising quality
d) Marketing products
Answer:
b) Recruiting workers
Question 16. What led to the decline of old trading ports like Surat?
a) Natural disasters
b) European dominance in trade
c) Poor management
d) Depletion of resources
Answer:
b) European dominance in trade
Question 17. What did the nationalist message in advertisements promote?
a) Use of foreign goods
b) Use of Indian-made products
c) Consumption of luxury items
d) Import of European technology
Answer:
b) Use of Indian-made products
Question 18. Which Indian industrialist set up the first jute mill in Calcutta in 1917?
a) Jamsetjee Tata
b) Dwarkanath Tagore
c) Seth Hukumchand
d) G.D. Birla
Answer:
c) Seth Hukumchand
Question 19. What was a common reason for the migration of Indian weavers to other villages?
a) Better wages
b) Escape from British control
c) Family relations
d) Availability of raw materials
Answer:
b) Escape from British control
Question 20. How did the swadeshi movement impact Indian industries?
a) Decreased production
b) Increased imports
c) Boosted local production
d) Led to factory closures
Answer:
c) Boosted local production
Question 21. What was the primary export commodity of the East India Company from India in the 18th century?
a) Opium
b) Tea
c) Cotton textiles
d) Spices
Answer:
c) Cotton textiles
Question 22. Why did Indian merchants face difficulties in trading with Europe in the 19th century?
a) High European tariffs
b) Competition from China
c) Monopoly rights of European companies
d) Lack of quality goods
Answer:
c) Monopoly rights of European companies
Question 23. What was the impact of the fly shuttle on handloom workers?
a) Decreased productivity
b) Improved productivity
c) Increased labor demand
d) Reduced quality
Answer:
b) Improved productivity
Question 24. What was a significant result of the First World War on Indian industries?
a) Decline in production
b) Increased home market supply
c) Closure of factories
d) Import of foreign goods
Answer:
b) Increased home market supply
Question 25. Who were the primary workers in the spinning departments of Ahmedabad mills?
a) Men
b) Children
c) Women
d) Skilled artisans
Answer:
c) Women
Question 26. What did Dwarkanath Tagore believe was essential for India’s development?
a) Traditional methods
b) Westernization and industrialization
c) Isolationism
d) Agricultural expansion
Answer:
b) Westernization and industrialization
Question 27. Which industry faced a significant challenge during the American Civil War?
a) Textile
b) Iron and steel
c) Pottery
d) Food processing
Answer:
a) Textile
Question 28. What was a common practice among Bombay mill workers regarding their villages?
a) Permanent relocation
b) Seasonal migration
c) Ignoring village connections
d) Selling village land
Answer:
b) Seasonal migration
Question 29. Which region in India was known for its cotton industry in the early 20th century?
a) Bengal
b) Gujarat
c) Punjab
d) Maharashtra
Answer:
d) Maharashtra
Question 30. What was the primary reason for the establishment of the first cotton mill in Bombay?
a) Abundance of raw materials
b) Demand for cotton textiles
c) Government incentives
d) Foreign investments
Answer:
b) Demand for cotton textiles
Question 31. What was a significant factor in the growth of factory industries in England?
a) Abundant labor supply
b) Technological innovations
c) High tariffs on imports
d) Agricultural expansion
Answer:
b) Technological innovations
Question 32. Which Indian industrialist was involved in the China trade before investing in industries?
a) Jamsetjee Tata
b) Dwarkanath Tagore
c) G.D. Birla
d) Seth Hukumchand
Answer:
b) Dwarkanath Tagore
Question 33. What was a common feature of advertisements by Indian manufacturers in the 19th century?
a) Use of foreign models
b) Depiction of Indian gods and goddesses
c) Focus on technological advancements
d) Promotion of luxury goods
Answer:
b) Depiction of Indian gods and goddesses
Question 34. What was a significant outcome of the decline in textile exports from India in the 19th century?
a) Increase in local demand
b) Emigration of weavers
c) Development of new industries
d) Introduction of new textiles
Answer:
b) Emigration of weavers
Question 35. What was a key characteristic of the proto-industrial system?
a) Factory-based production
b) Rural-based production
c) Large-scale mechanization
d) Exclusive urban production
Answer:
b) Rural-based production
Question 36. What was the impact of the monopoly rights granted to the East India Company?
a) Increase in competition
b) Decrease in competition
c) Higher prices for goods
d) Improved quality of goods
Answer:
b) Decrease in competition
Question 37. What was the main challenge faced by Indian weavers in the late 19th century?
a) Lack of raw materials
b) Competition from machine-made goods
c) High labor costs
d) Limited market demand
Answer:
b) Competition from machine-made goods
Question 38. What was the role of the jobber in the Indian mills?
a) Managing production
b) Supervising quality
c) Recruiting and managing workers
d) Marketing products
Answer:
c) Recruiting and managing workers
Question 39. Why did some industrialists prefer hand labor over machines in the 19th century?
a) Higher efficiency
b) Lower costs
c) Better quality control
d) Scarcity of skilled labor
Answer:
b) Lower costs
Question 40. What was the main advantage of the Spinning Jenny?
a) Reduced labor demand
b) Increased speed of spinning
c) Lower production costs
d) Improved quality of yarn
Answer:
b) Increased speed of spinning
Question 41. What was a significant impact of the introduction of the steam engine?
a) Decline in factory production
b) Increase in factory production
c) Reduction in transportation costs
d) Improvement in agricultural productivity
Answer:
b) Increase in factory production
Question 42. What led to the rise of new industrial towns in Britain?
a) Agricultural expansion
b) Industrial growth
c) Decline of old cities
d) Government policies
Answer:
b) Industrial growth
Question 43. How did the expansion of railways impact the iron and steel industry in Britain?
a) Decreased demand
b) Increased demand
c) Reduced production
d) Stabilized prices
Answer:
b) Increased demand
Match the columns for Class 10 History Chapter 4
Question 1
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction of Spinning Jenny | A. 1912 |
| 2. First cotton mill in Bombay | B. Late 19th century |
| 3. Establishment of Jamshedpur Iron and Steel Works | C. 1860s |
| 4. Establishment of the Elgin Mill | D. 1835 |
| 5. Formation of the first Chamber of Commerce in Madras | E. 1854 |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Introduction of Spinning Jenny | D. 1835 |
| 2. First cotton mill in Bombay | E. 1854 |
| 3. Establishment of Jamshedpur Iron and Steel Works | A. 1912 |
| 4. Establishment of the Elgin Mill | C. 1860s |
| 5. Formation of the first Chamber of Commerce in Madras | B. Late 19th century |
Question 2
| Column A | Column B |
|---|---|
| 1. Use of advertisements in India | A. Colonial period |
| 2. Decline of the port of Surat | B. 19th century |
| 3. Establishment of tea plantations | C. 18th century |
| 4. Introduction of the fly shuttle | D. 1914 |
| 5. Start of the First World War | E. Late 19th century |
Answer:
| Column A | Correct Answer |
|---|---|
| 1. Use of advertisements in India | E. Late 19th century |
| 2. Decline of the port of Surat | C. 18th century |
| 3. Establishment of tea plantations | A. Colonial period |
| 4. Introduction of the fly shuttle | B. 19th century |
| 5. Start of the First World War | D. 1914 |
Fill in the Blanks for Class 10 History Chapter 4 – The Age of Industrialisation
1. James Mill divided Indian history into three periods: ___, ___, and British.
Answer:
Hindu, Muslim
2. The British thought that surveys were important for ___.
Answer:
effective administration
3. ___ were often used to symbolize the association of gods with the quality of goods in advertisements.
Answer:
Images of Indian gods and goddesses
4. The East India Company appointed ___ to supervise weavers, collect supplies, and examine the quality of cloth.
Answer:
gomastha
5. In the mid-nineteenth century, Britain exported ___ worth about £77 million.
Answer:
iron and steel
6. The ___ increased the productivity per worker, speeded up production, and reduced labor demand.
Answer:
fly shuttle
7. The first symbol of the new era of industrialization was ___.
Answer:
cotton
8. The consolidation of East India Company power initially led to an increase in ___ from India.
Answer:
textile exports
9. The ___ movement gathered momentum, mobilizing people to boycott foreign cloth.
Answer:
swadeshi
10. The term ___ refers to the first or early form of something.
Answer:
proto
11. ___ were used to create respect for products by associating them with historic figures.
Answer:
Labels
12. The demand for ___ cloth fluctuated violently during bad harvests and famines.
Answer:
coarse
13. The introduction of the ___ made it possible for weavers to operate large looms and weave wide pieces of cloth.
Answer:
fly shuttle
14. In the early nineteenth century, ___ became an intimate part of the English landscape.
Answer:
factories
15. ___ is a process in which fibers, such as cotton or wool, are prepared prior to spinning.
Answer:
Carding
Other Chapters MCQ for Class 10 History
- Chapter 1 – Print Culture and the Modern World MCQ
- Chapter 2 – Nationalism in India MCQ
- Chapter 3 – The Making of a Global World MCQ
- Chapter 5 – The Rise of Nationalism in Europe MCQ
