Questions of Work, Life and Leisure

Work, Life and Leisure

9. What were the changes in the kind of work available to women in London between the 19th & 20th century? Explain the factors that led to this change.
Ans: Most of the working women in the nineteenth century were migrants, belonging to far off places with their families to the industrial center of London.
The women did not get jobs in factories; therefore, they took up the jobs of maid servants, worked in lodges, cooked, washed clothes, cared for babies, etc .They also earned by tailoring washing and match box making.
They became the helping hand in the domestic lives of the well to do families in London.
But the working status of women changed in light of the following:
A) After the 1st World War started in 1914, the status and lives of women changed,
B) Women were now employed in factories on a large scale because during war- time, factories were asked to increase their production. Men went to fight the war, therefore, all the responsibility fell on the shoulders of women.


10. Explain the social changes in London which led to the need for the underground railways in London?
Ans:. Between the two World Wars the responsibility for housing the working classes was accepted by the British state which built one million cottages.
This made the new forms of transport like underground railways necessary.
Underground railways solved the means of traveling in the city.


11. Mention various measures which were taken to decongest London in the 19th & 20th century.
Ans: The various measures which were taken to decongest London in the 19th & 20th century were as follows:
i) Greening the open spaces.
ii) Reducing pollution.
iii) Landscaping the city.
iv) Creating a green belt around London.
v) Development of Garden City.
vi) Building of apartments.
vii) Building of family cottages.

Questions of Work, Life and Leisure

Also read:
Jump to >> Work, Life and Leisure Notes
Jump to >> 114 MCQS of Work, Life and Leisure

LONG TYPE QUESTION ANSWER of Work, Life and Leisure

1. Explain the social changes in London which led to the need for the underground railways? Or
Why was the development of the underground railway criticized?
Ans:
i) Pollution levels made people aware of needs for new lungs for the city.
ii. Constant flow of migrants led to growth of slums congestion of localities and pollution.
iii. It was a totally new mode and people were afraid to travel underground.
iv. The houses that obstructed the railway line were smashed down.


2. A large city population was both a threat and an opportunity. Explain.
Ans: Large city population led to development of new means of transportation, providing a wide market to the industry. Thus, it comes as an opportunity. But on the other hand can sometimes become a threat too.
In the severe winter of 1886, when outdoor work came to a standstill .The London poor exploded in a riot, demanding relief from the terrible conditions of poverty. Alarmed shopkeepers closed down their establishments, fearing the 10,000 strong crowds that were marching from Deptford to London.
The marchers had to be dispersed by the police. A similar riot occurred in late 1887; this time, it was brutally suppressed by the police in what came to be known as the bloody Sunday of November 1887.


3. Explain the social life of people living in Bombay.
Ans: The social life of people living in Bombay:
i. The homes were small so streets and neighborhood were used for a variety of activities and social functions.
ii. Liquor shops and akharas came up on many empty spots.
iii .Streets were used for playing and other leisure activities.
iv. Caste and family groups in the mill neighborhoods were headed by someone who was similar to a village headman. Sometimes, the jobber in the mills could be the local neighborhood leader. He settled disputes, organized food supplies, or arranged informal credit. He also brought important information on political developments.


4. What was the need of under ground railways in London?
Ans: The need of under ground railways in London:
i .The London underground railway partially solved housing crisis by carrying large masses of people to and fro, London.
ii. People who wanted to live in garden suburbs and still work could work in the city and use underground railways.


5. Calcutta had a long history of air pollution. Examine the reasons.
Ans: Calcutta had a long history of air pollution because of the following reasons:
i. High level of pollution was the result of the huge population that depended on dung and wood as fuel in their daily life.
ii. Smoke from the chimneys of industrial units was also responsible for air pollution.
iii. The city was built on marshy land, the resulting fog combined with smoke to produce thick black smog.


6. ‘Bombay was a prime city of India.’ Justify by giving examples.
Ans: Bombay was a prime city of India because:
1. It was the major outlet for cotton textile from Gujarat.
2. It functioned as a major port city.
3. It was an important administrative center in western India.
4. It soon emerged as a major industrial center.
5. The opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 brought the west close to Bombay.


7. Describe the life in chawls?
Ans: Life in chawls:
1. Chawls were multi-storeyed structure built and owned by private landlords such as Merchants, bankers and building contractors.
2. Each chawl was divided into smaller one room tenements which had no private toilets.
3. Many families could reside at a time in a tenement.
4. People had to keep the window of their rooms closed even in humid weather due to close proximity of filthy gutters, buffalo stables etc.
5. Though water was scarce and people often quarreled every morning for a turn at the top observers found that house were kept quite clean.


8. Explain the life style of workers of mid 19th century in Britain?
Ans: The life style of workers of mid 19th century in Britain:
1. In most of the industries the demand for labor was seasonal.
2. The workers were getting very low wages.
3. Factories employed large numbers of women.
4. Most of the workers were living in slums. Factories or workshop owners did not house the migrant workers.
5. For the poor workers the street often was the only place for rest, leisure and fun.


9. Describe the problems of traveling in the underground railway?
Ans: The problems of traveling in the underground railway:
1. People were afraid to travel underground.
2. The Compartments were over crowed and polluted by smoke.
3. The atmosphere was a mixture of sulphur, coal and dust with fuel fumes from the gas lamps.
4. Many felt that the iron monsters added to the mess and unhealthiness of the city.
5. Suffocation due to lack of oxygen supply and heat.


10. Explain haw a city like Calcutta faced the problem of environmental pollution.
Ans: A city faced the problem of environmental pollution in the following ways:
1. Since the city was built on marshy land, the resulting fog combined with smoke and generated a think black smoke.
2. High levels of pollution were due to the huge population that used dung and wood as fuel in their daily life.
3. Main pollutants were industries and establishments that used steam engine run on coal.
4. Rice mills of Tollygunge began to burn rice husk instead of coal leading to black soot which feel like drizzling rain.