“If you are looking for a history of India, or for an account of the rise and fall of the British Raj, you should look elsewhere. But if you want the story of how ordinary lives were affected by the events, then this book is for you.”
Which one of the following statements can be inferred from the passage?
Options:
(A) The book contains a comprehensive political chronology of British India.
(B) The book focuses on social history rather than political or grand military narratives.
(C) The author considers political history more important than ordinary lives.
(D) The book is useless for understanding Indian historical context.
Official Answer Key:
B
Step-by-Step Solution & Explanation
### **Detailed Step-by-Step Solution (GATE AE 2017 Q.61)**
**1. Intuitive Physical Setup & Given Parameters**:
- The passage sets a clear dichotomy:
- What the book is NOT: Not a political history of India or a chronicle of the rise and fall of the British Raj.
- What the book IS: The story of how ordinary lives were affected by these historical events.
**2. Step-by-Step Critical Inference Derivation**:
1. **Defining 'Social History'**:
- Political/military history focuses on rulers, grand events, and the rise and fall of empires.
- Social history focuses on the experiences, daily lives, and perspectives of common people.
2. **Analyzing the Inferred Meaning**:
- The passage explicitly tells the reader seeking grand political history to "look elsewhere", while recommending the book to those seeking the impact on "ordinary lives".
- Therefore, the book focuses on social history rather than political narratives.
**3. Comprehensive Options & Distractor Analysis**:
- **(A)** (comprehensive political chronology): ❌ Contradicted directly by "you should look elsewhere".
- **(B)** (focuses on social history rather than political narratives): ✅ **CORRECT**. Accurately summarizes the focus on ordinary human lives.
- **(C)** (considers political history more important): ❌ Unsubstantiated value judgment.
- **(D)** (useless book): ❌ Extreme and unjustified distortion.
**4. Official Master Key & Exam Takeaway**:
- **Official Answer**: **B**
- **Exam Rule**: In reading comprehension, contrast statements (*not X, but Y*) define the core thematic focus.
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