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Literary passages · Question 237 of 305

Why does the writer begin with the Slave Dynasty?

Question 237

MediumOriginal question

In the history of India the of the Slave Dynasty was not a happy one. In going back to the reign of the servants in my own life's history I can find nothing glorious or cheerful touching the period. There were frequent changes of king, but never a variation in the code of and punishments with which we were . We, however, had no opportunity at the time for on the subject; our backs bore as best they could the blows which befell them: and we accepted as one of the laws of the universe that it is for the Big to hurt and for the Small to be hurt. It has taken me a long time to learn the opposite truth that it is the Big who suffer and the Small who cause suffering.

I now sometimes wonder why such cruel treatment was out to us by the servants. I cannot admit that there was on the whole anything in our behaviour or to have put us of human kindness. The real reason must have been that the whole of our burden was thrown on the servants, and the whole burden is a thing difficult to bear even for those who are nearest and dearest. If children are only allowed to be children, to run and play about and satisfy their curiosity, it becomes quite simple. problems are only created if you try to confine them inside, keep them still or their play.

Why does the writer begin with the Slave Dynasty?

Options for question 237

Show the answer and explanation
CorrectNot quiteAnswer B

Correct answer: B

Explanation

  1. He says the Slave Dynasty "was not a happy one", and then turns to "the reign of the servants in my own life's history".

  2. The comparison playfully treats the servants as rulers, and the children as their subjects.

Worth noting

"Frequent changes of king" in the next sentence continues the joke: the servants kept changing, but the rules did not.

Concept
Understanding a comparison used for effect
Typical time
50 s
Your time
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The rule this testsWhat the passage suggests
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Ten questions from Literary passages, at your own pace.

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Ten questions from Literary passages, at your own pace.