AI-generated practice question — model-generated for extra practice, not a previous-year CBSE board question.
According to Ernst Renan, the 'social capital' upon which a national idea is based consists of common glories in the past and a common will in the present. This includes having performed great deeds together and the desire to perform more. A nation is thus a large-scale solidarity whose existence is described as a daily plebiscite.
Source: Chapter 1, Nationalism in Europe
The examiner expects you to directly quote or closely paraphrase Renan's own words from the passage. The key phrases are "common glories in the past," "common will in the present," and "great deeds performed together." Mentioning "daily plebiscite" adds value. Do not write a general definition of nationalism — stay tied to Renan's specific argument.