The question has a lot in common with the historical facts depicting the essence of the year of Elephant (570 C.E.) and majority of the candidates who attempted it performed better as a result of clear points inherent in the factual occurrences of the historical event. 
The question requested the candidates to examine the following points:

• The event of the Elephant refers to an attempt to pull down the Kacbah in 570 C.E.
• It occurred when Abdul-Muṭṭalib was the head of Quraysh.
• Abraha al-Ashram was then the Abyssinia viceroy of Yemen.

• This is because of the political and economic significance of the pilgrimage as well as the religious leadership of Makkah.
• So he built an elaborate cathedral in Sanāc the capital of Yemen.
• The motive was to attract pilgrims to it instead of the kacbah.
• An Arab was said to have profaned this cathederal.
• He decided to march on Makkah to pull down the Kacbah in retaliation.
• Elephants and other war implements were obtained to execute the plan.
• Allah, the Owner of the House protected it.
• He sent flocks of birds with baked stones to destroy the attackers.
• The rest fled back to Abyssinia disappointed.
• Sūratul Fīl (Q.107) refers to the event.
• Prophet Muhammad (S.A.W.) was born in that year.