Read the passage carefully and then answer the question that follows. The rich flora and fauna of Cubbon Park in Bengaluru often capture the attention of visitors more than anything else. However, when people pause and take time to look closely at the statue standing in the park, they begin to marvel at its sheer grandeur. Sculpted by Sir Thomas Brock, the marble statue, which is about 11 feet high, appears larger than life. It vividly brings out the personality of Queen Victoria, who was the Monarch of Great Britain from 1837 till 1901, depicting a rather proud, stern person with sharply defined and pronounced facial features. In 1906, the statue was formally unveiled in the city by George Frederick Ernest Albert, then Prince of Wales and Duke of Cornwall and York, and since that ceremony it has stood in all its glory, now well over 111 years old. Even though there is a wealth of history associated with the statue and it was deliberately made to appear imposing, many busy Bengalureans probably refer to it casually as just another familiar landmark. While workers in the park continue their discussions and carry out the instructions given to them, everyday life in Cubbon Park goes on as usual. According to the passage, Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain for how many years?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: 64 years

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
This question is based on a reading comprehension passage about the statue of Queen Victoria in Cubbon Park, Bengaluru. The passage combines descriptive detail with historical information. The specific question asks about the duration of Queen Victoria rule over Great Britain, which is a factual detail embedded in the middle of the passage. Such questions test careful reading and the ability to extract numerical information accurately.


Given Data / Assumptions:
We need only a few key lines from the passage to answer the question.


    The passage states that Queen Victoria was the Monarch of Great Britain from 1837 till 1901.
    The question asks for how many years she ruled.
    The options provide different possible durations in years.
    No external history knowledge is strictly needed, because the passage itself gives the years.


Concept / Approach:
The approach is straightforward arithmetic based on the years mentioned. To find how long a person held a position, we subtract the starting year from the ending year. Since rule from 1837 till 1901 is inclusive in a historical sense, the number of completed years is 1901 minus 1837. Many comprehension questions expect students to perform this subtraction correctly without adding extra years unless explicitly required. Therefore, we compute the difference and match it to the options.


Step-by-Step Solution:

Step 1: Identify the relevant line in the passage, which says Queen Victoria was Monarch of Great Britain from 1837 till 1901. Step 2: Subtract the starting year from the ending year, that is 1901 − 1837. Step 3: Perform the subtraction to get 64, which shows that her reign lasted for sixty four years. Step 4: Compare the result 64 years with the options and select the one that exactly matches this duration.


Verification / Alternative check:
We can verify by thinking in approximate terms. From 1840 to 1900 would be about sixty years, and since 1837 is three years earlier than 1840 and 1901 is one year after 1900, the total should be roughly sixty four years, which is consistent with the calculation. Historical references also often describe Queen Victoria as having reigned for more than six decades, which fits the answer of sixty four years. Therefore, the numerical result aligns both with the passage and with general historical knowledge.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
The option 34 years is much shorter than the difference between 1837 and 1901 and would suggest that she ruled only a little more than three decades. The option 54 years still underestimates the length of a reign that clearly spans from the late 1830s to the beginning of the twentieth century. The option 44 years also fails to match the arithmetic difference between the years given. The option 74 years overestimates the duration and would require a starting year earlier than 1827 to be correct. Only 64 years accurately reflects the period from 1837 to 1901.


Common Pitfalls:
A common mistake in such questions is to misread or misremember the years, confusing 1837 with some other date or glancing over 1901. Another pitfall is to add one extra year without justification, thinking both start and end should be fully counted, which may lead to an incorrect result in similar problems. The safest method is to copy the two years carefully, write the subtraction clearly, and then compare the result to the options instead of relying on mental approximations alone.


Final Answer:
According to the passage, Queen Victoria ruled Great Britain for 64 years.

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