Women, Caste, and Reform – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class 8 — Social Science (History)
Chapter 7: Women, Caste & Reform
NCERT-alignedCBSE MCQs
Practice Test
30 MCQs with Explanations
Topic: Reformers, Women & Education
1. Which reformer strongly campaigned against sati and supported widow remarriage?
Answer: B. Ishwar Chandra Vidyasagar
Vidyasagar used scriptural interpretation and public persuasion to argue for widow remarriage and women's education, significantly influencing Bengal's reforms.
2. Who, along with his wife Savitribai, started schools for girls and lower-caste children in Maharashtra?
Answer: B. Jyotirao Phule
Jyotirao and Savitribai Phule established Marathi-medium schools for girls and lower-caste children to challenge caste and gender exclusion.
3. Which reformer used print and journals to campaign against social evils such as sati?
Answer: A. Raja Ram Mohan Roy
Raja Ram Mohan Roy used newspapers and petitions to campaign against sati and for social reform, influencing British authorities.
4. Why was vernacular education promoted by many reformers?
Answer: B. To increase access for local populations
Vernacular instruction made primary education more accessible to rural and non-English-speaking children, expanding literacy.
5. What practical benefit did reformers cite for educating women?
Answer: C. To improve family health and raise educated children
Reformers believed educated mothers would contribute to better family hygiene, literacy and social progress.
Topic: Caste, Exclusion and Response
6. How did Jyotirao Phule challenge caste hierarchy?
Answer: C. By opening schools for lower castes and critiquing Brahmanical dominance
Phule attacked caste privileges and established institutions to empower oppressed communities through education.
7. What was the significance of organising inter-caste public meals?
Answer: C. To challenge notions of pollution and promote equality
Shared meals symbolised social equality and broke down caste-based taboos about commensality.
8. Denial of temple entry was important because it:
Answer: C. Symbolised exclusion from community and ritual life
Temple entry was a marker of belonging; denying it reinforced social inferiority and restricted access to religious life.
9. Which of these was a practical effect of educating lower-caste children?
Answer: C. Providing skills that enabled occupational mobility
Education opened avenues beyond traditional caste-based jobs, enabling social and economic mobility.
10. Why was print in regional languages crucial for caste reform?
Answer: B. It made ideas accessible to non-English readers
Vernacular print allowed reformers to communicate directly with regional audiences, broadening support for anti-caste campaigns.
Topic: Methods, Law & Public Opinion
11. Which method combined moral persuasion and petitioning authorities to change social practices?
Answer: B. Legal campaigning and public advocacy
Reformers used petitions, reports and public opinion to persuade colonial authorities to enact laws (e.g., anti-sati regulations).
12. What limitation often hampered the enforcement of social reform laws?
Answer: C. Weak enforcement mechanisms and local resistance
Even when laws were passed, enforcement was uneven and local customs often persisted due to social power structures.
13. Missionary schools often helped social reform by:
Answer: B. Providing basic literacy and promoting women's education
Missionary and charitable schools expanded literacy, often opening doors for marginalized communities and girls.
14. A reform campaign that focused only on changing laws but ignored social attitudes was likely to:
Answer: B. Fail because laws need social backing
Legal change must be accompanied by education, persuasion and institutional support to change daily practices.
15. Public debates and lectures were important because they:
Answer: B. Engaged communities and clarified reform arguments
Face-to-face debates allowed immediate exchange, addressing concerns and mobilising local support for reforms.
Topic: Regional Examples & Legacy
16. Which region is closely associated with Vidyasagar's reforms?
Answer: B. Bengal
Vidyasagar's work for widow remarriage and education was primarily based in Bengal, affecting local law and discourse.
17. The mixed legacy of reform movements means:
Answer: C. They introduced institutions and debates but social change was uneven
Reforms established schools and laws, yet caste and gender inequalities persisted in everyday life for many years.
18. Which factor helped some individuals from lower castes to improve their social position over time?
Answer: B. Access to education and new jobs
Education enabled entry into clerical, professional and administrative roles, altering socio-economic status over time.
19. A successful local reform programme typically combined:
Answer: B. Education, print campaigns and grassroots organising
Combining institutions, persuasion and local action created sustainable change and broader acceptance.
20. Which statement best summarises the role of women reformers?
Answer: C. They were active teachers, organisers and change agents
Women like Savitribai Phule taught, organised schools and modelled alternative roles for women in public life.
Topic: Critical Thinking & Application
21. If a passage claims that all reformers were 'westernised elites', which fact would best challenge that claim?
Answer: B. Some reformers like Phule built grassroots schools in local languages
Phule's work shows reformers included grassroots activists working within communities, not only westernised elites.
22. A village resists girls' schooling. Which immediate step could reformers take to encourage attendance?
Answer: B. Run community awareness sessions and involve local women as teachers
Local engagement and female teachers build trust and address cultural objections, increasing school acceptance.
23. Which evidence best shows that a legal ban on a practice had social impact?
Answer: B. Decrease in incidents reported and changes in community practices
Concrete reductions and behavioural change indicate effective implementation and social acceptance beyond mere legislation.
24. A reformer argues from scriptures to support change. Why might this be persuasive to conservative audiences?
Answer: B. Because appealing to religious texts respects the audience's beliefs
Using familiar sacred texts can neutralise religious objections and show reforms are compatible with faith.
25. What makes grassroots schooling a powerful reform strategy?
Answer: B. It builds local ownership and long-term learning
Community-run schools adapt to local needs and create sustained change through trusted teachers and participation.
Topic: Assessment & Summary
26. Which two elements should students mention when explaining a reformer's success?
Answer: B. Methods used and concrete outcomes
Describe how reformers acted (schools, print, petitions) and what changed (laws, institutions, social practices).
27. A critic claims reforms were 'too western'. Which balanced point could you use to respond?
Answer: B. Point out reforms used local leaders, vernaculars and traditional texts as well as new ideas
Reform movements combined indigenous strategies with new concepts; many leaders rooted reforms in local languages and traditions.
28. When analysing a reform's effectiveness, which time-frame is important to consider?
Answer: B. Both short-term and long-term outcomes
Short-term wins (laws, schools) and long-term cultural shifts (attitudes, mobility) together show real effectiveness.
29. Which combination best describes sustainable reform?
Answer: C. Education, legal reform and community engagement
Sustainability needs laws backed by education and community support to change practices and attitudes.
30. Summarise the core lesson of Chapter 7 in one line.
Answer: B. Reform requires multiple strategies and time
The chapter shows that education, print, institutions and legal action combined over time to challenge caste and gender inequalities.