Q1. From which of the following regions, the remains of Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic cultures have been found in a sequence?
(a) Kashmir valley
(b) Krishna valley
(c) Belan valley
(d) Godavari valley
Answer: (c)
Explanation: In the Belan valley (Uttar Pradesh), all three phases, the Palaeolithic, Mesolithic and Neolithic, have been found in the sequence.
Q2. The Social System of the Harappans was:
(a) Fairly egalitarian
(b) Slave-Labour based
(c) Colour Varna based
(d) Caste-based
Answer: (a)
Explanation: (i) The Social System of Harappan was fairly egalitarian (equality and equal rights).
(ii) No signs of slave tradition or Varna system have been found.
Q3. Which one of the following temples figured in the news regarding the institution of the Devadasi?
(a) Jagannath Temple, Puri
(b) Pashupatinath Temple, Kathmandu
(c) KandariyaMahadev temple, Khajuraho
(d) Chausath Yogini temple, Bhedaghat
Answer: (a) Jagannath Temple, Puri
Explanation: Devadasi is a girl “dedicated” to the worship and service of a deity or a temple for the rest of her life. They were considered the human wife of Lord Jagannath.
Q4. Which of the following Vedic deities is not mentioned in the Boghazkoi inscription? (a) Indra
(b) Agni
(c) Mitra
(d) Varun
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The Vedic deities Agni is not mentioned in the Boghazkoi inscription. Four Vedic deities, i.e. Indra, Mitra, Varuna and Nastya were mentioned in the Boghazkoi inscription.
Q5. The Rig Veda is the
(a) Collection of hymns
(b) Collection of stories
(c) Collection of words
(d) Text of war
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The Rig-Veda is the largest and most important text in the form of Hymns. It includes 1028 hymns and it is divided into ten books called mandalas.
Q6. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
List-I
List-II
A. Ajit Kesh Kamblin
1. Fatalism
B. Sanjay Vethalipultta
2. Atomist
C. Pakudh Katyayan
3. Materialism
D. Puran Kashyap
4. Materialism Synicism
Codes: A B C D
(a) 3 4 1 2
(b) 1 2 3 4
(c) 2 1 3 4
(d) 1 2 3 4
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Early Buddhist texts speak of six foremost opponents of Lord Buddha who were:
1. Ajit Kesh Kamblin—Believed in Materialism
2. Maskari Gosal—Founder of Ajivaka sect
3. Puran Kasyap—Atomist
4. Pakudh Katyayam—Believed in Fatalism
5. Sanjay Vethaliputta— believed in materialism synicism
6. Niggantha Nathputta—He was Bhagavan Mahavir
Q7. Which ruler founded the famous Vikramshila University for the Buddhists?
(a) Mahipala
(b) Devapala
(c) Gopala
(d) Dharampala
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The Vikramashila University was a great Buddhism learning centre it was founded by the Pala king Dharmapala in the late 8th century. Tantrism was one of the important branches of learning. Its remains are located at Antichak in the Bhagalpur district of Bihar.
Q8.Directions: The following questions consist of two statements, Statement-I and Statement-II. You are to examine these two statements carefully and select the answers to these questions using the codes given below
Statement-I: Mahavira initially joined a group of ascetics called Nigranthas.
Statement-II: The sect was founded 200 years earlier by Parsva.
Codes:
(a) Both the statements are true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I
(b) Both the statements are true, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I
(c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is false
(d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is true
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Mahavira was not the founder and author of the Jain religion but simply a reformer. This sect of the Nigranthas was an important sect at the rise of Buddhism. This may be inferred from the fact that they are frequently mentioned in the pikas as opponents of Buddha and his disciples. This conclusion is further supported by another fact. Mankkhali Gosala, a contemporary of Buddha and Mahavira divided mankind into six classes, of these the third class contained the Nigranthas. Hence, statement-II is not the correct explanation of statement-I.
Q9. A Kushan Devakula was found in the vicinity of
(a) Jalandhar
(b) Sialkot
(c) Mathura
(d) Multan
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The family temple (Devakula in Sanskrit) of the Kushan royal family was where the patron deities or deities of the Kushanas should be worshipped. Two Devakulas so far discovered, one at Surkh Kotal in South Bactria (Afghanistan) and another one at Mat near Mathura in north India. The Devakulas contained sculptures of Kushan rulers Kanishka and others.
Q10. Arrange the following into sequential order and select the correct answer using the codes given below.
Rajaraja Chola I
Aditya Chola
Rajendra Chola
Parantaka Chola I
Codes:
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 2, 4, 1, 3
(c) 3, 4, 2, 1
(d) 4, 3, 1, 2
Answer: (b)
Explanation: King Vijayalaya founded the Chola Empire. Aditya, I was the second king of the empire, who caused a decline of the Pallavas and defeated the Pandyas of Madurai. His son, Parantaka I, was the next ruler. Parantaka I conquered Sri Lanka and also defeated the Rashtrakutas in the Battle of Valhalla. Next in line were RajarajaChola I and Rajendra Chola I, supposed to be the greatest rulers of the Chola empire, who widened its extent beyond its limits.
Q11.Assertion (A): The emphasis of Jainism on non-violence (ahimsa) prevented agriculturalists from embracing Jainism.
Reason (R): Cultivation involved killing insects and pests.
(a) Both A and R are true but R is the correct explanation of A
(b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
(c) A is true but R is false
(d) A is false but R is true
Answer: (b) Both A and R are true but R is not a correct explanation of A
Explanation: Both statements are true but the reason is not a correct explanation of the assertion.
Q12. During whose reign did the Gandhara School of Art blossom?
(a) Harsha
(b) Ashok
(c) Kanishka
(d) Chandragupta II
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Gandhara School of Art blossom in the reign of Kanishka
Q13. Which one among the following statements about the coins of the Gupta rulers is correct?
(a) The obverse and reverse, both had only the king’s portrait and date
(b) The obverse and reverse, both had only an image of a deity and date
(c) The obverse generally had a king’s portrait and the reverse had an image of a deity or a motif
(d) The obverse generally had a king‘s portrait and the reverse always had a date
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Gupta coinage started with a remarkable series in Gold issued by Chandragupta I, the third ruler of the dynasty.
Q14. Which among the following coin names occur in the pratyahara inscriptions?
(a) Satamana
(b) Nishka
(c) Dramma
(d) Dinara
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Dramma coin name occurs in the pratyahara inscriptions. Mihira Bhoja I’s epithet was Srimad-Adivaraha (the fortunate primaeval boar incarnation of Vishnu) and therefore there is a broad agreement amongst the scholars on the attribution of Adi Varaha drama billion coins to him. These coins have a depiction of Adivaraha on the obverse.
Q15. The unique structure in Mohenjodaro was:
(a) Bathing pool
(b) Assembly hall
(c) Granary
(d) Dockyard
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The bathing pool was the unique structure of Mohenjodaro. It measures 11.88 × 1.01 × 2.43 mt. The floor of the bathing pool was made of burnt bricks.
Granary was found in Harappa and was built on a massive brick foundation over an area of 45 square meters. A, 55 × 37 meters of the area of the granary was found in Mohenjodaro.
A dockyard having an area of 37 × 22 meters was found in Lothal.
Q16. Vaishakha Poornima has a great significance because it was on this day-
(a) Buddha was born
(b) Buddha got enlightened
(c) Buddha died
(d) All of the above
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Vaishakha Poornima is the full moon day in the month of Vaishakha (May). It is celebrated to commemorate the birth anniversary. Enlightenment and Mahaparinirvana (Death anniversary) of Gautama Buddha.
Q17. A collective term used by the Jains for their sacred books is-
(a) Prabandhas
(b) Angas
(c) Nibandhas
(d) Charity
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Angas are the sacred text of Jainism based on the teachings of Tirthankaras. The Angas are composed of 46-texts. Out of which there are 12 Angas.
Q18. Between which of the following was the ancient town of Takshasila located?
(a) Indus and Jhelum
(b) Jhelum and Chenab
(c) Chenab and Ravi
(d) Ravi and Beas
Answer: (a) Indus and Jhelum
Explanation: Sindhu was the old name of the river Indus and Vitasta was the old name of River Jhelum.
Q19. Chanakya was known as ______.
(a) Rajasekhara
(b) Tejasvi
(c) Kautilya
(d) Vatsyayana
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Chanakya was also known as Kautilya or Vishnugupta. He was the chief minister at the court of King Chandragupta Maurya. He wrote the famous book ‘Arthashastra’ and ‘Chanakya NITI’.
Q20. In which of the following Indus Valley sites the famous Bull-seal was found?
(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjodaro
(c) Lothal
(d) Chanhudaro
Answer: (a)
Explanation: On the site of the Indus Valley Civilization, the famous Bull-seal was found in Harappa. The figure has been made well, a proof of the fine art skills acquired by the people of that time. Seals are mainly in square or rectangular shapes. This bull-seal dates to around 2450-2200 BC.
• Including other seals, the seal of Rhinoceros was found in Mohenjodaro.
• The people of Lothal worshipped a fire god, which could be a horned deity depicted on ancient seals.
Q21. Which one of the following Janapadas was a republican state in the sixth century BC?
(a) Kosala
(b) Anga
(c) Mayadha
(d) Vajji
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Vajji Janapada was a republican state in the sixth century BC. Its capital was Vaishali. The Vajji republic was ruled by a confederation of eight clans (Atthakula) of whom the Vrijis, the Lichchavis, the Jnatrikass and the Videhas were the most important.
Q22. Which one of the following edicts mentions the personal name of Ashoka?
(a) Kalsi
(b) Rummindei
(c) Special Kalinga Edict
(d) Maski
Answer: (d)
Explanation: The personal name of Ashoka is mentioned only in the edicts of Maski, Gurjara, Nettur and Udegolam.
Q23. To whom is ‘Junagarh Rock Inscription’ associated?
(a) Rudradaman
(b) Bimbisara
(c) Chandragupta-II
(d) Gautamiputra Satakarni
Answer: (a)
Explanation: The ‘Junagarh Rock Inscription’ is associated with Kshatrap ruler Rudradaman. It narrates the construction of the Urjyat Dam around Lake Sudarshan. These are the earliest known classical Sanskrit inscription.
Q24. Why did Buddhism start declining in India in the early medieval times?
Buddha was by that time considered as one of the incarnations of Vishnu and thus became a part of Vaishnavism.
Invading tribes from Central Asia till the time of last Gupta king adopted Hinduism and persecuted Buddhists.
Kings of the Gupta dynasty were strongly opposed to Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 1 and 3 only
(c) 2 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Buddha was considered the 9th incarnation of Vishnu. No tribe from Central Asia persecuted Buddhists. The Gupta dynasty did not oppose Buddhism. However, they did not give them patronage.
Q25. The Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara are the
(a) Three main racial groups of the Indian subcontinent
(b) Three main linguistic divisions into which the languages of India can be classified
(c) Three main styles of Indian temple architecture
(d) Three main musical Gharanas prevalent in India
Answer: (c) Three main styles of Indian temple architecture
Explanation: Nagara, Dravida and Vesara are the three main styles of Indian temple architecture.
