Directions: In this section, the following sentence has a blank space and is followed by four words. Select the word you consider most appropriate to fill in the blank space and indicate your response on the Answer Sheet accordingly. The British who ruled India for 200 years were here to _____________ India's natural resources.
exploit
Understanding the Question: Filling the Blank
The question asks us to choose the most appropriate word to complete the sentence:
"The British who ruled India for 200 years were here to _____________ India's natural resources."
We need to consider the historical context of British rule in India and the purpose of a colonial power regarding the resources of the colony.
Analyzing the Options for Natural Resources
Let's look at the given options and see which one best fits the context of the British presence in India and their interaction with natural resources.
- spoil: This means to damage or ruin something. While British actions did cause harm and damage to India in many ways, "spoil" is not the primary term used to describe the economic motivation for a colonial power's interest in resources. They weren't there just to ruin resources but to gain from them.
- implore: This means to beg someone desperately. This word is completely out of context. The British were the ruling power; they would not need to beg to access resources.
- exploit: This means to make full use of and derive benefit from a resource, often in an unfair or selfish way. It also means to use a situation or person in an unfair or selfish way. Historically, colonial powers like the British extracted resources, raw materials, and wealth from their colonies for the economic benefit of the ruling country. This action is accurately described as exploitation.
- drill: This refers specifically to making a hole, usually to extract substances like oil or water. While drilling might be a method used to extract certain resources, "drill" is too specific and doesn't cover the broad range of India's natural resources (like minerals, agricultural products, timber, etc.) that the British were interested in. The sentence refers to "natural resources" in general.
Identifying the Correct Word: Exploit
Considering the historical reality of British rule in India and the common practices of colonialism, the term that accurately describes their primary intention regarding India's natural resources is "exploit". They aimed to utilize these resources for their own economic advantage, often without fair compensation or regard for the impact on India itself.
Conclusion on Filling the Blank
Based on the analysis of the options and the historical context, the most suitable word to fill the blank is "exploit".
The completed sentence is:
"The British who ruled India for 200 years were here to exploit India's natural resources."
Revision Table: Understanding Vocabulary
| Word | Meaning in Context | Fit in Sentence |
|---|---|---|
| Spoil | Damage or ruin | Incorrect - doesn't capture the economic motive. |
| Implore | Beg desperately | Incorrect - ruling power doesn't beg for resources. |
| Exploit | Make full use of/derive benefit from (often unfairly) | Correct - accurately describes colonial resource extraction. |
| Drill | Make a hole to extract something specific | Incorrect - too specific, doesn't cover all resources. |
Additional Information: Colonial Exploitation
The economic policy of the British in India is often referred to as the "economic drain". This concept highlights how India's resources, wealth, and revenue were transferred to Britain, contributing to Britain's industrialization and prosperity while hindering India's economic development. The exploitation of natural resources, alongside other policies like revenue collection and trade control, was a key part of this economic drain.
Understanding the meaning of "exploit" in the context of history helps in grasping the nature of colonial rule and its impact on colonized regions.
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