Reading comprehension – Mahatma Gandhi passage: identifying the person referred to as “he” in the opening sentence of the passage.

Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a passage about a well-known peaceful political dissident from Gujarat. The first sentence refers to a “wiry, bespectacled man from Gujarat” and uses the pronoun “he”. Shortly afterwards, the passage explicitly names this person as Mohandas Gandhi, also known as Mahatma Gandhi. The question asks you to identify who this “he” is.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The passage states:
- “He wasn't the first, nor would he be the last, but the wiry, bespectacled man from Gujarat is certainly the most famous of the world's peaceful political dissidents.”
- It then immediately adds that Mohandas Gandhi, affectionately called Mahatma, led India's independence movement.
- The description includes details like leading India's independence in the 1930s and 1940s with non-violent protest.

Concept / Approach:
Pronoun reference questions test your attention to how a passage introduces and then names a character. Normally, a passage first describes a person and then reveals the name. When the name appears, it links back to the earlier pronoun. The test-taker should connect the descriptive clues (origin, actions, era) to the appropriate historical figure among the options.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the first sentence carefully and note the description: a wiry man from Gujarat, famous for peaceful political dissidence. Step 2: Immediately check the next sentence, where the passage openly names Mohandas Gandhi, also known as Mahatma. Step 3: Recognise that the pronoun “he” in the first sentence must refer to the person who is then identified as Gandhi. Step 4: Compare this with the options and confirm that Mahatma Gandhi is the only figure from Gujarat and the only one famous for leading India's independence by non-violent protest.

Verification / Alternative check:
Think about the biographies of the options: Narendra Modi is from Gujarat but is a contemporary political leader, not the central subject of non-violent independence struggles in the 1930s and 1940s; Dalai Lama is a Tibetan spiritual leader; Martin Luther King Jr. is an American civil rights leader. Only Mahatma Gandhi matches the specific time, place, and role described.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Option a) Narendra Modi does not fit the time frame or the description of leading India's independence movement through non-violence.
Option c) The Dalai Lama is not from Gujarat and is associated with Tibet, not India's freedom movement.
Option d) Martin Luther King Jr. was inspired by Gandhi but was active in the United States and is not the “wiry man from Gujarat”.

Common Pitfalls:
Some students might see “Gujarat” and think of modern politics, but the passage clearly locates the events in the era of India's independence. Failing to match the description with historical context can lead to incorrect guesses. Always combine geographic clues with time period and achievements.

Final Answer:
Mahatma Gandhi