Opium was such a commodity. The Portuguese had introduced opium into China in the early 16th century. Opium was however, known primarily for its medical properties and used in miniuscule quantities for certain types of medicines .
The Chinese were aware of the dangers of opium addiction and the Emperor had forbidden its production and sale except for medicinal purposes. But Western merchants in the mid-19th century began an illegal trade in opium.
Read the above passage and answer the following questions.
(a) What is opium? What are its uses?
(b) What lesson/values you have learnt from this passage?
(a) Opium was a commercial commodity and the Portuguese had introduced opium into China in the early 16th century. Opium was known for its medicinal properties and used in minuscule quantities for certain types of medicines.
(b) From the given passage I have learnt, that just for the sake of money we should not involve in the activities like opium trade which is not good for health of our fellow being.