According to the passage about the Government School of Industrial Arts and Robert Chisholm, to which place did the Government College of Arts and Crafts shift during Chisholm’s tenure?

Introduction / Context:
This reading-comprehension question focuses on the movement and location of the institution that eventually became the Government College of Arts and Crafts. The passage traces its history from Alexander Hunter’s founding of the Madras School of Arts, through its takeover by the Government, to its later development under Robert Chisholm. At one point, the text explains that the school moved from one location to another and that new premises were later built on a particular site during Chisholm’s time. The question asks where the college shifted during Robert Chisholm’s tenure, so you must carefully distinguish between the original site and the final, redesigned premises.

Given Data / Assumptions:

• The passage notes that the school was initially located on Popham’s Broadway. • It then states that the school moved from Popham’s Broadway to Poonamallee High Road after the Government takeover. • Later, during Chisholm’s time, more suitable premises were built on the Poonamallee High Road site to his design. • The question emphasises “during the tenure of Robert Chisholm”.

Concept / Approach:
To answer this question, you need to follow the timeline of locations mentioned in the passage. First, the Madras School of Arts is said to have been moved from Popham’s Broadway to Poonamallee High Road in 1852. The passage later explains that Hunter requested better premises and that these new buildings “came up on the PH Road site in Chisholm’s time and to his design”. This shows that, during Chisholm’s tenure, the institution was established on Poonamallee High Road in improved premises. Therefore, the correct answer is “Poonamallee High Road”. The other options either represent the earlier location, a different region, or a generic but unsupported phrase.

Step-by-Step Solution:
1. Identify the two main locations mentioned: Popham’s Broadway and Poonamallee High Road. 2. Note the sequence: the school moved from Popham’s Broadway to Poonamallee High Road after Government takeover. 3. Read the later lines describing Hunter’s request for better premises and how Chisholm’s design was used. 4. Observe that the new premises “came up on the PH Road site in Chisholm’s time”. 5. Conclude that during Chisholm’s tenure, the institution was based at Poonamallee High Road.

Verification / Alternative check:
If you mentally reconstruct the relevant part of the passage, you get something like: “The School, taken over by Government in 1852, moved from Popham’s Broadway to Poonamallee High Road. ... It was at a prize-giving of the School that Hunter urged the Governor to provide it more suitable premises. They came up on the PH Road site in Chisholm’s time and to his design — and remain there.” This clearly indicates that the important shift and the final, significant premises are associated with Poonamallee High Road during Chisholm’s leadership. “Nilgiri Hills” is mentioned elsewhere in connection with photographs of hill tribes, not as a site of the college. “Government quarters” is not used in the passage as an official name for the location. Therefore, only “Poonamallee High Road” matches the description accurately.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
• “Nilgiri Hills” appears in the passage only as a region where photographs of tribes were taken, not as a location of the college. • “Popham’s Broadway” was the original site, but the passage states that the institution had already moved from there to Poonamallee High Road before the new premises were built. • “Government quarters” is a vague phrase not used in the passage to describe the institution’s location.

Common Pitfalls:
Students may confuse the timeline of moves or latch onto the first location mentioned, “Popham’s Broadway”, forgetting that the institution later moved. Others may misread and think that Chisholm introduced an entirely new place rather than new premises on the existing site. To avoid these mistakes, always track dates and transitions carefully in historical passages. Noting key phrases like “moved from” and “came up on the PH Road site in Chisholm’s time” will help you keep the chronology straight.

Final Answer:
During Robert Chisholm’s tenure, the Government College of Arts and Crafts was located at Poonamallee High Road.