Explanations

Using passive voice to organise information

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The use of passive voice in Immediate cause of revolution: The railway issue

The following text from a history textbook talks about the events that led to the 1911 Revolution in China. The words in bold are verbs in passive voice .

Immediate cause of revolution: The railway issue

The immediate cause of the outbreak of the 1911 Revolution was the nationalisation of railways. This was part of the long term dispute between the central government and the provincial authorities. During the Late Qing Reform, the Qing government attempted to regain centralised authority by nationalising all provincial railways. Yet this invited angry protest from the provinces, as they had financed the construction of railways. The opposition was particularly strong in Sichuan. They regarded the plan as a plot to curb their provincial wealth and power. Therefore, "railway protection societies" were formed to organise strikes and mass demonstrations. In response, the Governor of Sichuan ordered the arrest of the demonstrators. Government troops opened fire on the demonstrators and killed about 32 people. The people of Sichuan became anti-Manzu. They turned their sympathy to the revolutionaries. The revolutionary flame only needed a spark to set it alight. It happened in Wuchang, Hubei Province, in October 1911.

(Adapted from Leung, J.Y.M. and Yan, W.Y. (1990) The Modern World Since 1800, Volume 1. Longman, p 148.)

	Introduction
	The use of passive voice in Cement
	The use of passive voice in How do plants survive drought?
	The use of passive voice in Immediate cause of revolution: The railway issue