Q1. What was a “factory” in the context of the East India Company?
- A manufacturing plant
- A fort
- A trading post or depot
- A naval dock
Correct Option: 3. A trading post or depot.
Explanation: A trading post or depot is used to be denoted as Factory.
Q2. Where was the first major centre of English trade in India before 1687?
- Madras
- Bombay
- Surat
- Calcutta
Correct Option: 3. Surat .
Explanation: Before 1687, Surat was the main trading center for the English East India Company in India. It served as the Company’s headquarters on the western coast until it was later replaced by Bombay due to increasing threats from the Marathas.
Q3. What advice did Sir Thomas Roe give that influenced future British policy in India?
- Use both diplomacy and military strength
- Focus only on trade, not politics
- Treat the Mughals with total submission
- Avoid any conflicts with Indian rulers
Correct Option: 1. Use both diplomacy and military strength .
Explanation: In 1617, Sir Thomas Roe advised the Company to deal with Indians with the “sword in one hand and the Caducean in the other,” meaning a combination of military power and diplomacy. This dual approach became the foundation of British strategy in India.
Q4. Why was the English attempt to fortify their factory in Surat in 1625 unsuccessful?
- The Portuguese stopped them
- Mughal authorities arrested the English leaders
- Local Indian rulers supported the Dutch instead
- They ran out of funds
Correct Option: 2. Mughal authorities arrested the English leaders .
Explanation: When the Company tried to fortify its factory in Surat, Mughal authorities imprisoned the English officials involved. This demonstrated the strength and vigilance of the Mughal Empire at the time.
Q5. Why did the English find it easier to establish control in South India during 16th century?
- The Mughals supported them
- The Marathas helped them
- The Portuguese had weakened the region
- The region lacked a strong centralized government
Correct Option: 4. The region lacked a strong centralized government .
Explanation: After the fall of the Vijayanagar Empire in 1565, South India was divided into many weak and petty states. This political fragmentation made it easier for the English to use bribery or force to gain control