important questions from work life and leisure
Answers
LAQ Q.1. Mention the major characteristics of an ancient town. [CBSE Sept. 2010. 2012]
Ans. (i) The towns and the Cities that first appeared along the river valleys like Ur and Mohenjodaro were larger in scale than other human settlements.
(ii) These cities were the centres of political power, administrative network, trade and industry, religious institutions and intellectual activities.
(iii) These cities supported various social group such as artisans, merchant; and priests
(iv) These cities varied greatly in size and complexity. Some were metropolises and oilier; smaller urban centres.
(v) Industrialisation played an important role in the expansion of cities.
Q.2. Explain with examples how has industrialisation changed the form of urbanisation In England in the modem period.[CBSE 2010]
Ans. (i)Towns and Cities that first appeared along river valleys, such as Ur. Nippur and Mohenjodaro. were larger in scale than other human settlements.
(ii) The ancient cities could develop only when an increase in food supplies made it possible to support A wide range of non-food producers.
(iii) The cities were often the centre; of political power, administrative networks, trade and industry, religious institutions, and intellectual activity, and supported various social groups such as artisans, merchants and priests. But the industrialisation changed the form of urbanisation. The modern towns like London. Leeds. Manchester developed because they attracted large number of workers to the textile mills.
(iv) The city of London became a powerful magnet for migrant populations, even though it did not hove large factories.
Q.3.What did historian Gareth Stedman Jones say about the ‘City of London ? [CBSE 2013]
Ans. (i) London was a city of clerks and shopkeepers.
(ii) It was a city of small masters and skilled artisans.
(in) It was a city of growing number of semi skilled and sweated out workers, of soldiers and servants, of casual labourers, street sellers and beggars.
(iv)Apart from the London dockyards, five major types of industries that employed large number of people were : Clothing and footwear, wood and furniture, metals and engineering, printing and stationery and precision products such as surgical instruments, watches and objects of precious metal.
(v) During the Fire World War. London began manufacturing motor care and electrical goods and the number of large factories increased until they accounted for nearly one- third of all jobs in the city.
Q.4. Explain the rise of London as a modem city.
Or
Explain the expansion of London over nineteenth century. [CBSE2008 Comp. ID]
Or
Explain any three reasons for which the population of London expanded during the 19th century. {CBSE Sept. 2010. 2011}
Ans.(i)By 1750, one out of every nine people of England and Wales lived in London. It was a colossal city with a population of about 6,75,000.
(ii)Over the nineteenth century. London continued to expand Its population multiplied fourfold in the 70 years between 1810 and I860, increasing from 1 million to about 4 million.
(iii) The city of London was a powerful magnet for migrant populations, even though it did not have large factories.
(iv) The nineteenth century London, was a city of clerks and shopkeepers, of small masters and skilled artisans, of a growing number of semi skilled and sweated out workers, of soldiers and servants, of casual labourers, street-sellers and beggars.
(v) During the First World War (1914-18). London began manufacturing motor cars and electrical goods, and the number of large factories increased until they accounted for nearly one-third of all Jobs in the city.
6. Explain the lifestyle of workers of mid-nineteenth century in Britain.
Ans. (i) Seasonal work : In most of the industries, the demand for labour was seasonal. The actual possibility of getting a job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations.
(ii) Low wages : The workers were getting very low wages.At the best of times till the mid-nineteenth century, about 10% of the population was extremely poor.
(iii) Women workers : Factories employed large number of women. With technological development women gradually lost their industrial jobs.
(iv) Problem of Housing : Most of the workers were living in slums. Factory or workshop owners did not house the migrant workers,
(v) Source of Fun and Leisure : For the poor workers the streets often were the only place for rest, leisure and fun. The working poor created spaces of entertainment wherever they lived.