Question 2 - Case Based Questions - Chapter 4 Class 10 History - The Age of Industrialization - History

Read the extract given below and answer the questions:

The abundance of labour in the market affected the lives of workers. As news of possible jobs traveled to the countryside, hundreds tramped to the cities. The actual possibility of getting a job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations. If you had a relative or a friend in a factory, you were more likely to get a job quickly. But not everyone had social connections. Many job-seekers had to wait weeks, spending nights under bridges or in night shelters. Some stayed in Night Refuges that were set up by private individuals; others went to the Casual Wards maintained by the Poor Law authorities. Seasonality of work in many industries meant prolonged periods without work. After the busy season was over, the poor were on the streets again. Some returned to the countryside after the winter, when the demand for labour in the rural areas opened up in places. But most looked for odd jobs, which till the mid-nineteenth century were difficult to find.

Question (i)

Name one factor that affected the lives of the workers.

Answer :      

From the paragraph

       The abundance of labour in the market affected the lives of workers . As news of possible jobs travelled to the countryside, hundreds tramped to the cities.  The actual possibility of getting a job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations.

The abundance of labour in the market affected the lives of the workers.

Question (ii)

What happened when the news of the possible jobs travelled to the countryside?

Answer : 

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From the paragraph

       The abundance of labour in the market affected the lives of workers. As news of possible jobs travelled to the countryside, hundreds tramped to the cities .   The actual possibility of getting a job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations.

 As news of possible jobs travelled to the countryside, hundreds tramped to the cities. 

Question (iii)

Was it easy for the workers to get the job in the cities?

Answer :

From the paragraph

      As news of possible jobs travelled to the countryside, hundreds tramped to the cities.  The actual possibility of getting a job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations . If you had a relative or a friend in a factory, you were more likely to get a job quickly. But not everyone had social connections. Many job-seekers had to wait weeks, spending nights under bridges or in night shelters.

      No, it was not easy for the workers to get a job . The actual possibility of getting a  job depended on existing networks of friendship and kin relations. Many job-seekers had to wait weeks, spending nights under bridges or in night shelters.

Question (iv)

How did the seasonality of work in many industries affect job seekers?

Answer : 

From the paragraph

        Seasonality of work in many industries meant prolonged periods without work . After the busy season was over, the poor were on the streets again.  Some returned to the countryside after the winter,  when the demand for labour in the rural areas opened up in places. But most looked for odd jobs,  which till the mid-nineteenth century were difficult to find. 

  Seasonality of work in many industries meant prolonged periods without work. 

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