Q26. 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.
Q27. Match list-I with the list ‘B’ and choose the correct answer from the codes given below:
List ‘A’
List ‘B’
A. Mahendra varman I
1. Destroyer of the city of Ranarasika
B. Parameshvara varman I
2. Avanisimha (lion of the earth)
C. Simhavishnu
3. Construction of Kailashnatha temple
D. Narasimhavarman II
4. Beginning of rock-cut temples
Codes: A B C D
(a) 4 1 2 3
(b) 1 2 3 4
(c) 2 3 4 1
(d) 4 2 1 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Mahendravarman I, a Pallava ruler, contributed much towards Pallava architecture. A great patron of art and architecture, some of the most magnificent temples at Mamallapuram were constructed under his rule. His rule also marked the beginning of rock-cut temples in India. The Pallava king Parameshvaravarman I destroyed the Chalukya capital at Badami, Ranarasika. Simhavishnu Avanisimha was another Pallava ruler who was known as the lion of the earth. Narasimhavarman II got constructed the Kailashanath temple, located in Tamil Nadu. It is constructed in the Dravidian architectural style and is dedicated to Lord Shiva.
Q28. The religion of early Vedic Aryans was primarily of
(a) Bhakti
(b) Image worship and Yajnas
(c) Worship of nature and Yajnas
(d) Worship of nature and Bhakti
Answer: (c) Worship of nature and Yajnas
Explanation: The early Vedic Aryans indulged in Image Worship and Yajnas.
Q29. Which of the following places is associated with Jainism?
(a) Kapilvastu
(b) Pava
(c) Sarnath
(d) Sravasti
Answer: (b)
Explanation: Pawapuri or Pava is a holy site for Jains located in Nalanda district in Bihar. Around 5th Century BCE, Mahavira, the last Tirthankara of Jainism achieved Moksha or Nirvana here.
Q30. Consider the following statements:
The Chinese pilgrim Fa-Hien attended the fourth Great Buddhist Council held by Kanishka.
The Chinese pilgrim Hiuen-Tsang met Harsha and found him to be antagonistic to Buddhism.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (d)
Explanation: Statement-1 is incorrect as the fourth Buddhist Council was held in Kashmir during the reign of Kanishka under the presidentship of Vasumitra and Ashvaghosh. Fa-Hien visited India during the reign of Chandra Gupta-II and not during Kanishka’s reign.
Statement-2 is incorrect as Harsha was not antagonistic to Buddhism when Hiuen -Tsang met him.
Q31. Arrange these divine powers of the Rigvedic period in the order of their importance
Varuna
Agni
Indra
Soma
Select the correct sequence from the codes given below:
Codes:
(a) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(b) 1, 3, 2 and 4
(c) 3, 2, 1 and 4
(d) 3, 1, 2 and 4
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The correct sequence of divine powers of Rigveda are Indra, Agni, Varuna, and Soma.
Indra: Indra was the most important divinity and was lord of war. 250 hymns have been devoted to only Indra in Rigveda, which is highest for any of the gods. His other names are Car-warrior (Rathestha); A winner (Jitendra) and Soma Drinker (Somapa).
Agni: Agni is the god of fire and acceptor of sacrifices. He was considered to be an intermediary between gods and men. 200 hymns have been devoted to only Agni in Rigveda while Agni is mentioned in 218 hymns.
Varuna: Varuna is the god of the sky, of water, and of the celestial ocean, as well as a god of law called Rita, and of the Patal Loka (Underworld). He is one of the most prominent Devas in the Rigveda, and lord of the heavens and the earth. 46 hymns are dedicated to Varuna in Rigveda.
Soma: Soma was prepared by extracting juice from the stalks of a certain plant, and the Soma god was the god of the plants. 123 hymns are dedicated to Soma and most of them are from Soma Mandala.
Visvedevas: They are various Vedic gods taken together as a whole headed by Indra. 70 hymns are dedicated to Visvedevas in Rigveda.
Yama: Yama is considered to have been the first mortal who died and espied the way to the celestial abodes, and in virtue of precedence, he became the ruler of the departed. He is the guardian of the world of the dead. His twin sister is Yami and both Yama and Yami are children of Surya.
Surya: Surya is the Sun god and 8 hymns are dedicated to Surya in Rig-Veda.
Other Rigvedic gods:
Savitri: The Gayatri Mantra is dedicated to Savitri.
Pusan: The guardian of the Jungle Paths and Roads.
Vishnu: A comparatively minor god in Rigveda.
Vayu: Wind god
Dyaus: Father of heaven
Aditi: Goddess of eternity
Maruts: Storm spirits
Gandharva: Divine musicians
Ashvins: Divine doctors
Rbhus: Three semi-divine deities of Rigveda.
Q32. Whose statue was an important creation of the people of Indus Valley Civilization?
(a) Natraj
(b) Dancing Girl
(c) Buddha
(d) Narasimha
Answer: (b)
Explanation: A nude bronze statue of a ‘dancing girl’ was found at Mohenjodaro. The Girl was in a dancing position and was wearing a no. of bangles in both hands.
Q33. Which one of the following four Vedas contains an account of magical charms and spells?
(a) Rigveda
(b) Yajurveda
(c) Atharvaveda
(d) Samaveda
Answer: (c) Atharvaveda
Explanation: Atharvaveda is a book of magical formulas. It contains charms and spells to ward off evil and disease.
Q34. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
Q35. From the third century AD when the Hun invasion ended the Roman Empire, the Indian merchants relied more and more on the:
(a) African trade
(b) West-European trade
(c) South-East Asian trade
(d) Middle-Eastern trade
Answer: (c) South-East Asian trade
Explanation: After the 3rd century AD Roman Empire came to an end. Indian merchants meanwhile had begun to rely more heavily on the south-east Asian Trade.
Q36. Consider the following statements:
The list of sixteen Mahajanapadas is available in Anguttara Nikaya.
Asmaka Mahajanpada was situated on the bank of Godawari.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The list of sixteen Mahajanapadas is available in Anguttara Nikaya. Asmaka Mahajanapada was situated on the bank of the river Godavari. The Anguttara Nikaya, the fourth division of the Sutta Pitaka, consists of several thousand suttas arranged in eleven books (nipatas) according to numerical content. An excellent modern print translation of the complete Anguttara Nikaya is Bhikkhu Bodhi’s The Numerical Discourses of the Buddha: A New Translation of the Anguttara Nikaya. Some believe that Asmaka was a colony of the Kambojas, and its earlier name was Aswaka. The epic Mahabharata mentions that the king of the name Asmaka was the adopted son of Saudasa Alias Kalmashapada a king of Kosala and an Ikshwaku ruler. Asmara Sumantu was a sage among the sages who assembled in Kuruk shelter, during the last days of Kuru hero Bhishma.
Q37. Which one of the following was initially the most powerful city-state of India in the 6th century B.C.?
(a) Gandhar
(b) Kamboj
(c) Kashi
(d) Magadh
Answer: (d) Magadh
Explanation: Of the 16 Mahajanapadas, Magadha, Kosala, Vatsa, and Avanti were more powerful. They fought amongst themselves for years and ultimately Magadha emerged victorious under Bimbisara(Haranyak dynasty) in 6th C BC.
Q38. What was the strength of the Indus economy?
(a) Agriculture
(b) Business
(c) Pottery
(d) Crockery
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Agriculture was the main strength of the Indus economy. They produced wheat, barley, dates sesame, etc. Indus people were the first to grow cotton in the world. The fertile soil due to the inundation of the Indus River and the wooden ploughshare and stone sickle used for Ploughing and harvesting helped the growth of agriculture in Indus civilization.
Q39. The term ‘Aryan‘ denotes:
(a) An ethnic group
(b) A nomadic people
(c) A speech group
(d) A superior race
Answer: (c) A speech group
Explanation: Aryan is in fact a linguistic term indicating a speech group of Indo-European origin, and is not an ethnic term.
Q40. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
List-I (Jain Tirthankara)
List-II (Birthplace)
A. Ajitnath
1. Kashi
B. Vimalnath
2. Hastinapur
C. Shantinath
3. Kampilya
D. Parshavanath
4. Ayodhya
Codes: A B C D
(a) 1 2 3 4
(b) 2 3 4 1
(c) 3 4 1 2
(d) 4 3 2 1
Answer: (d)
Explanation: List of 24 Tirthankars and their birthplaces
Name
Birthplace
1. Rishabha (Adinath)
Ayodhya
2. Ajitnath
Ayodhya
3. Sambhavanath
Sravasti
4. Abhinandannath
Ayodhya
5. Sumatinath
Ayodhya
6. Padmabrabha
Kausambhi
7. Suparshvanath
Kasi (Banaras)
8. Chandraprabha
Chandrapuri
9. Pushpadanta (Suvidhinatha)
Kakandi
10. Shiatnath
Bhadrikapuri
11. Shreyansanath
Simhapuri
12. Vasupujya
Champapuri
13. Vimalnath
Kampilya
14. Anantnath
Ayodhya
15. Dharmanath
Ratnapuri
16. Shantinath
Hastinapura
17. Kunthunath
Hastinapura
18. Aranath
Hastinapura
19. Malinath
Mithilapuri
20. Munisuvrata
Kusagranagara (Rajgrih)
21. Naminatha
Mithilapuri (Mathura)
22. Neminatha
Sauripura (Dwarka)
23. Parsvanatha
Kasi (Banaras)
24. Mahavira (Vardhamana)
Kundagram
Q41. Consider the following statements:
The Cholas defeated Pandya and Chera rulers and established their domination over peninsular India in the early medieval times.
The Cholas sent an expedition against the Sailendra Empire of South-East Asia and conquered some of the areas.
Which of these statements is/are correct?
(a) Only 1
(b) Only 2
(c) Both 1 and 2
(d) Neither 1 nor 2
Answer: (c)
Explanation: The Chola kingdom of the Sangam period extended from the modern Tiruchi district to southern Andhra Pradesh. Their capital was first located at Uraiyur and then shifted to Puhar. Karikala was a famous king of the Sangam Cholas. Pattinappalaiportrays his early life and his military conquests. In the Battle of Venni, he defeated the mighty confederacy consisting of the Cheras, Pandyas, and eleven minor chieftains.
The Chola emperor launched a successful naval expedition against the Shailendra kingdom.
Q42. The Ashoka major rock edicts which tell us about the Sangam Kingdom include rock edicts:
(a) I and X
(b) I and XI
(c) II and XIII
(d) II and XIV
Answer: (c) II and XIII
Explanation: The ll and Xlll rock edicts mention the southern kingdoms of Chola. Pandya, Satyaputra, Keralaputraand Tambapanni.
Q43. Which of the following has not been found in the excavation in Terracotta of Indus Valley sites?
(a) Buffalo
(b) Sheep
(c) Cow
(d) Pig
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Cow was related to Vedic culture not from Indus Valley civilization.
Q44. Which one of the following is not a part of early Jains literature?
(a) Therigatha
(b) Acarangasutra
(c) Sutrakritanga
(d) Brihatkalpasutra
Answer: (a) Therigatha
Explanation: Therigatha was a part of Buddhist literature.
Q45. The Third Buddhist Council was patronized by-
(a) Kanishka
(b) Ashoka
(c) Mahakashyap Upali
(d) Sabakarni
Answer: (b)
Explanation: The third Buddhist Council was held at Patliputra in 250 BC. It was convened by Mauryan King Ashoka.
Trick to remember four Buddhist Councils:- RA VA PA KA
Rajgriha – Ajatshatru
Vaishali – Kalashoka
Pataliputra – Ashoka
Kashmir – Kanishka
Q46. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (a): Life scenes of Gautam Buddha are represented in the Sanchi art.
Reason (R): Sanchi was intimately connected with the life of Gautam Buddha.
Codes:
(a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Sanchi is famous for the outstanding specimens of Buddhist art and architecture, belonging to the period between the third century BC and the twelfth century AD. The site of Sanchi was discovered in the year 1818 by General Taylor and an archaeological museum was established in 1919 by Sir John Marshall. However, Sanchi was not directly connected with events in the life of the Buddha, Sanchi became a pilgrimage site when Ashoka Maurya erected a stupa and column there.
Q47. In which language was the Buddhist texts ‘Pitakas’ composed?
(a) Sanskrit
(b) Ardhamagadhi
(c) Pali
(d) Prakrit
Answer: (c)
Explanation: Tripitakas (three baskets) is the Sacred scriptures of Buddhists. These are written in the Pali language. The three tripitakas are Sutta Pitaka, Vinaya Pitaka and Abhidhamma Pitaka.
Q48. Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?
(a) Saumilla
(b) Sudraka
(c) Shaunaka
(d) Susrutha
Answer: (d) Susrutha
Explanation: Susrutha Samitha was written by Susrutha. He was said to have been the best surgeon during the Gupta period.
Q49. Which one of the following was a corporation of merchants in ancient India?
(a) Chaturvedimangalam
(b) Parishad
(c) Ashtadikgaja
(d) Manigrama
Answer: (d) Manigrama
Explanation: A manigramam was a large, influential guild of South Indian merchants during the period of Western Chalukyan rulers in the 10th – 12th Century CE.
Q50. Consider the following statements and select the correct answer from the codes given below:
Assertion (A): Hiuen Tsang spent about two years in Kashmir in the pursuit of Buddhist texts.
Reason (R): Kashmir was a renowned centre of Buddhist learning at that time.
Codes:
(a) Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
(b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(c) A is true, but R is false
(d) A is false, but R is true
Answer: (a)
Explanation: Hiuen Tsang arrived in Kashmir taking the route from Tibet and Ladakh. He had a significant influence in spreading Buddhism in Kashmir. When he had first arrived in Kashmir, Buddhism was a widespread religion. He later proceeded to Harsha’s empire to learn more about Buddhism. He spent about two years in Kashmir in the pursuit of Buddhist texts. He studied under a renowned Kashmiri teacher.
