Read the passage given below to answer.

The term “harem” is frequently used to refer to the domestic world of the Mughals. It originates in the Persian word haram, meaning a sacred place. The Mughal household consisted of the emperor’s wives and concubines, his near and distant relatives (mother, step- and foster-mothers, sisters, daughters, daughters-in-law, aunts, children, etc.), and female servants and slaves. Polygamy was practised widely in the Indian subcontinent, especially among the ruling groups. In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begams), and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth. The begams, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr ), naturally received a higher status and greater attention from their husbands than did aghas. The concubines (aghacha or the lesser agha) occupied the lowest position in the hierarchy of females intimately related to royalty. They all received monthly allowances in cash, supplemented with gifts according to their status. The lineage-based family structure was not entirely static. The agha and the aghacha could rise to the position of a begam depending on the husband’s will, and provided that he did not already have four wives. Love and motherhood played important roles in elevating such women to the status of legally wedded wives. Apart from wives, numerous male and female slaves populated the Mughal household. The tasks they performed varied from the most mundane to those requiring skill, tact and intelligence. Slave eunuchs (khwajasara) moved between the external and internal life of the household as guards, servants, and also as agents for women dabbling in commerce.

The begams received a higher status and greater attention from the emperor because:

(1) The begams were beautiful
(2) The begams were married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr)
(3) The begams were very learned and docile
(4) The begams cooked very tasty food

2

The correct answer is Option 2 - 2

The begams received a higher status and greater attention from the emperor because:

(1) The begams were beautiful
(2) The begams were married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr) (answer)
(3) The begams were very learned and docile
(4) The begams cooked very tasty food

As per the passage:

In the Mughal household a distinction was maintained between wives who came from royal families (begams), and other wives (aghas) who were not of noble birth. The begams, married after receiving huge amounts of cash and valuables as dower (mahr ), naturally received a higher status and greater attention from their husbands than did aghas.