Question numbers (53 to 57) : Read the given passage and answer the questions.

Memories of my boyhood

One person who greatly my boyhood was my first cousin, Samsuddin. He was the one and only distributor for newspapers in Rameswaram. The newspapers would arrive at Rameswaram station by the moring train from Pamban. Samsuddin’s newspaper agency was a one man organization providing to the 1000 – strong literate population of Rameswaram town. These newspapers were mainly bought to keep track of current developments in the National Independence Movement, for astrological reference or to check the gold or silver rates prevailing in Madras. A few readers with a more cosmopolitan outlook would discuss discuss Hitler, Mahatma Gandhi and Jinnah; almost all would finally flow into the mighty political current of Periyar EVRamaswamy’s movement against high caste Hindus. Dinamani was the most popular newspaper. Since I could not read then, I had to satisfy myself with glancing at the pictures in the newspaper before Samsuddin delivered them to his customers.

The Second World War broke out in 1939, when I was eight years old. For reasons I have never been able to understand, there was a sudden demand for tamarind seeds in the market. I used to collect the seeds and sell them to a provision shop on Mosque Street. A day’s collection would fetch me the princely sum of one anna. Jallaluddin, who later married my sister, would tell me stories about the war which I would latter attempt to trace in the headlines in Dinamani. Our area, being isolated, was completely unaffected by the war. But soon India was forced to join the Allied Forces and something like a state of emergency was declared. The first casualty came in the form of the suspension of the train halt at Rameswaram station. The newspapers, now had to be bundled and thrown out from the moving train on the Rameswaram Road between Rameswaram and Dhanuskodi. That forced Samsuddin to look for a helping hand t catch the bundles and, as if naturally, I filled the slot. Samsuddin helped me earn my first wages. Half a century later, I can feel the surge of pride in earning my own money for the first time.

Question-55 : Which period is the author referring to in the passage?

1. pre-independence India

2. before the outbreak of the World War II

3. when Periyar Ramaswamy was fighting against the privileges of high-class Brahmins

4. immediately after the independence of India

Which of the following combinations is correct?

Question - 1