Lawyer and activist Mahatma Gandhi spent his life advocating for his fellow Indians. Rather than resorting to aggression against others, however, Gandhi instead practiced civil disobedience to bring about positive changes in society.
Gandhi was born in India in 1869. At the time, the country was under British rule. In 1888, after finishing his studies in India, Gandhi decided to attend law school in England. Upon his arrival, Gandhi found it difficult to adapt to life in London. His English needed improvement, and his vegetarianism—part of the Hindu faith he practiced—was unusual to Londoners. Though Gandhi was often embarrassed by his differences, he held fast to his beliefs. Life in London also exposed Gandhi to social and political ideas that would eventually influence his own beliefs.
In 1891, Gandhi returned to India, only to find that his mother had died in his absence. Further compounding his despair was his inability to find proper work in India. So, in 1893, Gandhi accepted a position in South Africa. There, Gandhi, like other Indians in South Africa, faced discrimination and racism. Though the experience was unpleasant, it also spurred Gandhi to fight back. At the end of his year-long work contract, just as he was about to leave South Africa, Gandhi suddenly made the decision to stay. He wanted to help defend the rights of his fellow Indians. Gandhi spent the next 20 years in South Africa devoted to this cause, opposing discrimination against Indians.
In 1914, Gandhi returned to India. He wanted to assist poor farmers and workers who were being heavily taxed and discriminated against. He also wanted to help relieve poverty, improve conditions for women, and end caste-system discrimination against people considered to be of a lower status.
Ultimately, Gandhi hoped to bring self-rule to India and to end British imperialism in his country. To achieve this, he administered a civil disobedience campaign from 1919 to 1922. During this time, he promoted nonviolent noncooperation with the British government by encouraging Indians to boycott British-run institutions. In 1922, he was arrested for sedition, or encouraging rebellion against the state. Gandhi was sentenced to six years in prison but was released in 1924 due to his poor health. Later that same year, Gandhi fasted, or refused to eat, for three weeks. He wanted to call greater attention to the practice of nonviolence in response to warring between Muslims and Hindus in India.
Gandhi was jailed again in 1930 when he led a march to the sea. He defied British salt laws by picking up a handful of natural salt at the seashore. Gandhi encouraged others to do the same. Salt laws placed hefty taxes on salt. They also prevented Indians from producing or selling the seasoning. Since picking up salt was considered production, Gandhi’s act was illegal.
Despite his arrest, this example of civil disobedience nonetheless led to further discussions with Britain about Indian independence. In 1931, Gandhi traveled to London to attend a conference with the British, but he was arrested again when he returned to India.
In 1932, while still imprisoned, Gandhi began another fast to protest the British government’s discriminatory treatment of so-called “untouchables.” The untouchables were members of the lower classes of Indian society. Throughout the mid-1930s, Gandhi focused his efforts on improving the economic conditions and education of the peasantry and those in rural India.
In 1947, Gandhi’s dream of self-rule was finally realized. That year, India at last achieved independence from Britain. Unfortunately, Gandhi died just one year later, in 1948, at the hands of a fanatic. Despite his tragic death, Gandhi’s teachings of nonviolent civil disobedience live on. His lessons continue to guide countless others in their quest to overcome injustices in society.
Question 9
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Which statement best describes the conclusion of the passage in paragraph 9?
A. The paragraph directly restates the introduction’s thesis statement.
B. The paragraph responds to the opening sentences in the introduction.
C. The paragraph offers all new information not mentioned in the introduction.
D. The paragraph argues against the information in the introduction.
Question 10
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What is the meaning of the word sedition in paragraph 5?
A. a position of power in the government
B. the act of urging people to go against the government
C. the act of protesting against conditions at work
D. a condition of people who are discriminated against
Question 11
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Which sentence from the passage best supports your answer to the previous question?
A. “To achieve this, he administered a civil disobedience campaign from 1919 to 1922.” (paragraph 5)
B. “In 1922, he was arrested for sedition, or encouraging rebellion against the state.” (paragraph 5)
C. “He wanted to assist poor farmers and workers who were being heavily taxed and discriminated against.” (paragraph 4)
D. “Gandhi was jailed again in 1930 when he led a march to the sea.” (paragraph 6)
Question 12
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How does the author organize the passage to express the point of view that Gandhi "spent his life advocating for his fellow Indians"?
A. The author presents a comparison of the discrimination suffered by Indians in England, South Africa, and India
B. The author presents the events that led to the end of British imperialism in India
C. The author presents examples of how Gandhi encouraged peaceful civil disobedience
D. The author presents the important events of Gandhi’s life in sequential order
Question 13
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Which sentence states a central idea of the passage?
A. Gandhi changed to civil disobedience after being arrested.
B. Indians were better off under British rule.
C. British laws were unfair to citizens of India.
D. Gandhi fought only for Indians in South Africa.
Question 14
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Which sentence from the text best supports your answer to the previous question?
A. “There, Gandhi, like other Indians in South Africa, faced discrimination and racism.” (paragraph 3)
B. “Ultimately, Gandhi hoped to bring self-rule to India and to end British imperialism in his country.” (paragraph 5)
C. “They also prevented Indians from producing or selling the seasoning.” (paragraph 6)
D. “Throughout the mid-1930s, Gandhi focused his efforts on improving the economic conditions and education of the peasantry and those in rural India.” (paragraph 8)
Question 15
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Read the sentence from the passage.
Rather than resorting to aggression against others, however, Gandhi instead practiced civil disobedience to bring about positive changes in society (paragraph 1)
What does the word civil help the reader to understand about Gandhi's disobedience?
A. It was polite or orderly.
B. It was imitated by others.
C. It was helpful to his cause.
D. It was not effective.
1 answer
Here are the answers to the questions based on the passage:
Question 9:Answer: A. The paragraph directly restates the introduction’s thesis statement.
Question 10:Answer: B. the act of urging people to go against the government
Question 11:Answer: B. “In 1922, he was arrested for sedition, or encouraging rebellion against the state.” (paragraph 5)
Question 12:Answer: D. The author presents the important events of Gandhi’s life in sequential order.
Question 13:Answer: C. British laws were unfair to citizens of India.
Question 14:Answer: B. “Ultimately, Gandhi hoped to bring self-rule to India and to end British imperialism in his country.” (paragraph 5)
