1. (i) In the late 18th century, the English East India Company was buying tea and silk from China for sale in England. (ii) But England at that time produced nothing that could be easily sold in China. (iii) The Confucian rulers of China, the Manchus were suspicious of all foreign merchants. (iv) TheyRead more

    (i) In the late 18th century, the English East India Company was buying tea
    and silk from China for sale in England.
    (ii) But England at that time produced nothing that could be easily sold in China.
    (iii) The Confucian rulers of China, the Manchus were suspicious of all
    foreign merchants.
    (iv) They feared that the merchants would interfere in the local politics and
    disrupt their authority.
    So, the Manchus rulers were not willing to allow the entry of foreign
    goods into China.

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  2. (i) In the early 19th century, indigo and opium were two of the major commercial crops. (ii) By the end of the century, peasants were producing' sugarcane, cotton, jute, wheat and several other crops for export. (iii) These crops were produced to feed the population of urban Europe and to supply toRead more

    (i) In the early 19th century, indigo and opium were two of the major
    commercial crops.
    (ii) By the end of the century, peasants were producing’ sugarcane, cotton,
    jute, wheat and several other crops for export.
    (iii) These crops were produced to feed the population of urban Europe and
    to supply to the mills of Lancashire and Manchester in England.

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  3. (i) Cattle were suffocated to death as their lungs choked with dust and mud. (ii) Sand buried fences, covered fields and coated the surfaces of rivers till the fish died. (iii) Dead bodies of birds and animals were seen strewn all over the landscape. (iv) Machines like tractors and harvesters were cRead more

    (i) Cattle were suffocated to death as their lungs choked with dust and
    mud.
    (ii) Sand buried fences, covered fields and coated the surfaces of rivers till
    the fish died.
    (iii) Dead bodies of birds and animals were seen strewn all over the landscape.
    (iv) Machines like tractors and harvesters were clogged with dust and
    damaged beyond repair.

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  4. In the 1930s, terrifying duststorms began to blow over the southern plains. These were the black blizzards, about 7,000 to 8,000 feet high, rising like monstrous waves. The skies darkened and people were blinded and choked by the dust.

    In the 1930s, terrifying duststorms began to blow over the southern plains.
    These were the black blizzards, about 7,000 to 8,000 feet high, rising like
    monstrous waves. The skies darkened and people were blinded and choked
    by the dust.

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  5. (i) The prices of wheat were high and demand was limitless, the new machines helped farmers to rapidly clear large tracts, break up the soil, remove the grass and prepare the ground for cultivation. (ii) Now the work could be done quickly and with a minimum number of hands. (iii) With power'-drivenRead more

    (i) The prices of wheat were high and demand was limitless, the new
    machines helped farmers to rapidly clear large tracts, break up the soil,
    remove the grass and prepare the ground for cultivation.
    (ii) Now the work could be done quickly and with a minimum number of
    hands.
    (iii) With power’-driven machines, farmers could plough, seed and harvest
    2,000 to 4,000 acres of wheat in a season.

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