Reading comprehension – Gandhi passage: according to the text, the British held a monopoly over the production of which product?

Introduction / Context:
Toward the end of the Gandhi passage, the author describes one of Gandhi's most famous protests: the march to the sea to produce a basic commodity that the British controlled through a monopoly. This event is historically known as the Salt March or Dandi March, and the commodity involved was salt. The question asks you to identify that product from the options given.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The relevant lines from the passage tell us:
- Gandhi led thousands of Indians on a 250-mile march to a coastal town.
- The purpose of the march was to produce a certain product.
- The British colonial government had a monopoly on this product.
- Historically, this event is associated with the salt tax and the Salt March.

Concept / Approach:
This question requires you to recall a specific detail from the passage and, if needed, reinforce it with general knowledge. The text clearly mentions salt, a symbolic and everyday item that became a powerful symbol of resistance to unjust taxation and monopoly. The other options are all important agricultural or textile products in India's history, but they do not match the event described in the passage.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Focus on the description of Gandhi's most famous protest near the end of the passage. Step 2: Note that Gandhi led a long march to produce a specific commodity at the coast. Step 3: Remember that this protest is historically called the Salt March, which points directly to salt. Step 4: Choose “Salt” from the alternatives, as it is the only product that fits both the passage and known history.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verify by checking whether the other products in the options match any historical march described in the text. Indigo was associated with other movements, khadi with spinning and boycotting British cloth, and rice with general agriculture, but none of these is tied to a long march to produce the item at a coastal town under a British monopoly in this passage. Only salt matches perfectly.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a) Indigo is not mentioned in this passage as the focus of a protest march, though it has its own separate historical relevance.
Option b) Khadi cloth is linked with Gandhi's encouragement to spin and wear local cloth, but the passage specifically refers to marching to the sea to make a product; this matches salt, not cloth.
Option d) Rice is a staple crop but does not correspond to the described coastal march or a British monopoly in this context.

Common Pitfalls:
Sometimes, students mix up different aspects of Gandhi's campaigns, such as boycotting British cloth, encouraging khadi, and fighting the salt tax. However, the long march to a coastal town is particularly associated with salt, and paying attention to this detail removes the confusion.

Final Answer:
Salt