CLASS 12TH UNSEEN PASSAGE -1

Prompt / Question

Jamshedji Tata wanted to make textiles in Nagpur in the 1800s with the cotton grown there. Nagpur had no textile industry then, and in Manchester Jamshedji was told that Nagpur’s weather was not suitable as it was too dry. He said, ‘Alright, I will bring the Manchester weather to Nagpur.’ He imported humidifiers and started India’s first textile mill in 1874. Jamshedji started the Tata Iron and Steel Company and wanted to export steel rails to Britain. A Britisher called Sir Frederick Upcourt scoffed, “If Tatas makes steel rails to British specifications, I will undertake to eat every pound of rail that they make ”. History stands testimony to the fact that Tatas did manage to make steel rails and export them to Britain. No accounts are available about Upcourt tryst with gastric challenges. In fact, world war 11 British tanks were called Tatanagars because the steel was made in Tatanagar. Jamshedji pursued his dreams, put together a team, raised the capital, created a product, and mainstreamed it. He did it sitting in India 125 year ago when India’s technical capabilities were far less than they are now. When you dream, surely some of it gets translated into reality. A century ago, Jamshedji took some foreign visitors to the Majestic Hotel in Mumbai but was denied entrance because he was an Indian. Jamshedji simply resolved to build a hotel that was even finer, and which would not discriminate against people based on colour or race.

• Why did Jamshedji Tata initially want to set up a textile mill in Nagpur?
  A. It had skilled textile workers
  B. Cotton was grown locally
  C. It was close to British ports
  D. The climate matched Manchester

• What was the main objection raised in Manchester against setting up a textile mill in Nagpur?
  A. Lack of capital
  B. Poor transportation
  C. Dry weather
  D. Shortage of labour

• How did Jamshedji Tata respond to concerns about Nagpur’s unsuitable climate?
  A. He abandoned the project
  B. He shifted the project to Bombay
  C. He imported humidifiers
  D. He changed the type of textile

• In which year did Jamshedji Tata start India’s first textile mill?
  A. 1857
  B. 1868
  C. 1874
  D. 1881

• What challenge did the Tata Iron and Steel Company face regarding steel rails?
  A. Lack of raw materials
  B. Opposition from Indian traders
  C. Skepticism from British officials
  D. High transportation costs

• Who mocked the idea of Tatas making steel rails to British specifications?
  A. Lord Curzon
  B. Sir Frederick Upcourt
  C. Sir Winston Churchill
  D. Lord Mountbatten

• What was Sir Frederick Upcourt’s reaction to the possibility of Tata-made steel rails?
  A. He praised the initiative
  B. He ignored the proposal
  C. He challenged their quality sarcastically
  D. He offered technical help

• Why were British tanks in World War II referred to as “Tatanagars”?
  A. They were manufactured in Nagpur
  B. They were designed by Indians
  C. Their steel came from Tatanagar
  D. They were repaired in India

• Which qualities of Jamshedji Tata are highlighted in the passage?
  A. Caution and patience
  B. Dreaming and perseverance
  C. Wealth and privilege
  D. Obedience to authority

• What incident inspired Jamshedji Tata to build the Taj Hotel?
  A. Poor service at an Indian hotel
  B. A dispute with British officials
  C. Being denied entry due to his race
  D. Lack of luxury hotels in Mumbai

Sample Answer

1. B
2. C
3. C
4. C
5. C
6. B
7. C
8. C
9. B
10. C