Intermediate passages 1 The best recruiting agents

75 Queen Victoria

The long reign of Queen Victoria was a time of almost uninterrupted peace and great progress. The rapid growth of industry made Britain the world's leading industrial nation - "the workshop of the world", as it was called - and the British Empire reached the height of its power when Queen Victoria was proclaimed Empress of India in 1876. During her long life, which lasted 82 years, the Queen herself became a symbol of Britain's greatness. In 1840, Victoria married Prince Albert and lived happily with him until he died in 1861. After his death she led a lonely life, withdrew from public affairs, and could only rarely be persuaded to visit London. When she died in 1901 after a reign of 63 years, the world stood on the threshold of the 20th century, and many British people felt that a great age had gone forever.

1. In 1861

1. 
   the British Empire conquered India
   
2. 
   Queen Victoria gave up the throne of Great Britain
   
3. 
   Prince Albert became Queen Victoria's husband
   
4. 
   Queen Victoria lost her husband
   

2. 
   During the reign of Queen Victoria, A) the British Empire was formed
   

B) other countries lived in fear of Britain's power C) Britain was involved in hardly any wars

D) public affairs were the sole responsibility of the monarch

2. 
   Queen Victoria’s death
   

1. 
   came about because she was so lonely without her husband
   
2. 
   brought about the collapse of the British Empire
   
3. 
   left Britain ill-equipped to enter the 20th century
   
4. 
   was considered by many to be the end of an era
   

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