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THEME-4
THINKERS, BELIEFS AND BUILDINGS
CULTURAL DEVELOPMENTS
C.600 BCE-600 CE
1. Sanchi Stupa
is located in?
A. Uttar Pradesh
B. Odisha
C. Bihar
D. Madhya
Pradesh
Ans: D
Explanation: Sanchi Stupa is a Buddhist complex,
famous for its Great Stupa, on a hilltop at Sanchi Town in Raisen District of
the State of Madhya Pradesh. Hence, D is
the correct option.
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2. What does
Kutagrashala means—
A. A school of
thought
B. A hut with a
pointed roof
C. Sacrifice
performed by Kings
D. None of the
above.
Ans: B
Explanation: Teachers travelled from place to place,
trying to convince one another as well as laypersons, about the validity of
their philosophy or the way they understood the world. Debates took place in
the kutagarashala — literally, a hut with a pointed roof — or in groves where
travelling mendicants halted. Hence, B is the correct option.
___________________________________________________________________________
3. Which of the
following is the Buddhist Sinhalese Chronicle?
A. Dipavamsa
B. Mahavamsa
C. both A and B
D. None of
these
Ans: C
Explanation: As Buddhism travelled to new regions such
as Sri Lanka, text such as the Dipavamsa (literally, the chronicle of the
island) and Mahavamsa (the great chronicle ) were written.The term vamsha is
used for lineage. Hence, C is the correct option.
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4. Gautam
Buddha belonged to which clan—
A. Muni
B. Knantrika
C. Sakya
D. Ajivika
Ans: C
Explanation:
Siddhartha (as Buddha was named at birth), was the son of a chief of Sakya
clan. Hence, C is the correct option.
5. Which of the
following means an organization of Monks-
A. Sangha
B. Bhikkuni
C. Dhamma
D. Gana
Ans: A
Explanation: . Buddha founded a sangha, an organisation
of monks who became teachers of dhamma. These monks lived simply, possessing
only the essential requisites for survival, such as a bowl to receive food once
a day from the laity. As they lived on alms,
they were known as bhikkhus. Hence, A is the correct
option.
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6. Who was the
first woman to enter Sangha—
A. Punna
B. Gargi
C. Prabhavati
D. Gotami
Ans: D
Explanation: Initially, only men were allowed into the
sangha, but later women also came
to be admitted. According to Buddhist texts, this was
made possible through the mediation of Ananda, one of the Buddha's dearest disciples,
who persuaded him to permit women into the sangha. The Buddha's foster mother,
Mahapajapati Gotami was the first woman to be ordained as a bhikkhuni. Hence, D
is the correct option.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
7. Who was the
last Tirthankara?
A. Parsvanath
B. Mahavira
C. Rishabhdev
D. Subhadra
Ans: B
Explanation: According to Jaina tradition,
Mahavira(last and 24th tirthankara) was preceded by 23 other teachers or
tirthankaras — literally, those who guide men and women across the river of
existence. Hence, B is the correct option.
___________________________________________________________________________
8. "Be
lamps unto yourselves as all of you must work out
your own
liberation", were the last words of?
A. Gautam
Buddha
B. Mahavir Jain
C. Gotami putra
Satkarni
D. Ashoka
Ans: A
Explanation: According to Buddhist tradition, his last
words to his followers were: "Be lamps unto yourselves as all of you must
work out your own liberation." Hence, A is the correct option.
___________________________________________________________________________
9.
The earliest known collection of women's literature composed by Bikkunis—
A. Nishadini
B. Theri Gatha
C. Dipavamsa
D.
Uttaradhyayana
Ans: B
Explanation: Theri Gatha,the earliest-known collection
of women's literature was composed by Bikkunis as a part of Sutta Pitaka.
Hence, B is the correct option.
__________________________________________________________
10. According
to popular belief, the woman whose touch
caused trees to
flower and bear fruit was —
A.
Shalabhanjika
B. Gajalakshmi
C. Mahapajapati
Gotami
D. Sigala
Ans: A
Explanation: According to popular belief,
Shalabhanjika was a woman whose touch caused trees to flower and bear fruit. It
is likely that this was regarded as an auspicious symbol and integrated into
the decoration Of the stupa. Hence, A is the correct option.
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11. Sutta
Pitaka is a religious texts of-
A. Hindus
B. Jains
C. Buddhists
D. Jews
Ans: C
Explanation: The Sutta Pitaka is the second of the
three divisions of the Tripitaka or Pali Canon, the Pali collection of Buddhist
writings of Theravada Buddhism. Hence, C is the correct option.
__________________________________________________________
12. In Buddhist
tradition, the deeply compassionate beings who accumulate merit through their
efforts but used this not to attain the nibbana, but to help others were
called—
A. Bhikku
B. Bodhisatta
C. Dhamma
Mahamatta
D. Buddha
Ans: B
Explanation: Bodhisattas were perceived as deeply
compassionate beings who accumulated merit through their efforts but used this
not to attain nibbana and thereby abandon the world, but to help others. Hence,
B is the correct option.
___________________________________________________________________________
13. The New
style of Buddhist worship where images of Buddha and Bodhisattas became
important was called—
A. Theravada
B. Sanghvada
C. Mahayana
D. Hinayana
Ans: C
Explanation: The worship of images of the Buddha and
Bodhisattas became an important part of Buddhist tradition. This new way of
thinking was called Mahayana — literally, the "great vehicle". Those
who adopted these beliefs described the Older tradition as Hinayana or the
"lesser vehicle".Hence, C is the correct option.
__________________________________________________________
14.Which of the
following texts is related to Queen Kamalavati?
A. Abhidhamma
Pitaka
B. Tirchankara
C. Dipavamsa
D.
Uttaradhyayana Sutta
Ans: D
Explanation: A Prakrit text known as Uttaradhyayana
Sutta describes how a queen kamalavati tried to persuade her husband to
renounce the world . Hence,D is the correct option.
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15.
All of the following statements regarding Stupas are correct except —
A. Asoka
distributed portions of the Buddha's relics to build stupas over them.
B. The
tradition of erecting stupa was started by Asoka
C. Harmika,
represented the abode of God
D. The stupa
originated as simple semi-circular mound of
earth, called
anda
Ans: B
Explanation: The tradition of erecting stupas may have
been pre-Buddhist, but they came to be associated with Buddhism. Asoka
distributed portions of the Buddha's relics to
important towns and stupas were built over them. The
stupa originated as simple semi- circular mound of earth, called anda. Hence, B
is the correct option.
______________________________________________________________________________________
16. All of the
following statements regarding vows of Jainism are
correct except
—
A. Abstain from
killing
B. to follow
the path of moderation
C. Abstain from
stealing and lying
D. to observe
celibacy
Ans: B
Explanation:Jaina monks and nuns took five vows: to
abstain from killing, stealing and lying; to observe celibacy; and to abstain
from possessing property. Hence, B is the correct option.
_______________________________________________________________________________________
17
.Consider the following statements:
I. Entire world
is animated
11. Cycle of
birth and rebirth is shaped through Karma
Which of the
above statement (s) is/are correct about Jain
philosophy ?
A. only 1
B. only 11
C. Both I and
11
D. Neither I
nor 11
Ans: C
Explanation:The most idea in Jainism is that the
entire world is animated, also according to Jaina teachings, the cycle of birth
and rebirth is shaped through karma. Asceticism and penance are required to
free oneself from the cycle of karma. Hence, C is the correct option.
______________________________________________________________________________________
18. Consider
the following pairs:
1. Birth:
Lumbini
2. First
Sermon: Sarnath
3. Death: Bodh
Gaya
Which of the
following pairs of events related to Buddha is/
are correctly
matched?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 3 only
Ans: A
Explanation: Buddha's life — where he was born
(Lumbini), where he attained enlightenment (Bodh Gaya), where he gave his first
sermon (Sarnath) and where he attained nibbana (Kusinagara). Hence, A is the
correct option.
______________________________________________________________________________________
19. Consider
the following pairs:
1. Empty seat :
Meditation
2. Stupa -
Mahaparinibbana
3. Wheel -
First Sermon
Which of the
following symbols related to worship of Buddha
is/are
correctly matched?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. All 1, 2 and
3
D. 3 only
Ans: C
Explanation: Many early sculptors did not show the
Buddha in human form — instead, they showed his presence through symbols. The
empty seat was meant to indicate the meditation of the Buddha, and the stupa
was meant to represented mahaparinibbana. Another frequently used symbol was
the wheel. Hence, C is the correct option
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20. Consider
the following pairs:
1. Anatta: Transient
2. Anicca:
Soulless
3. Dukkha:
Sorrow
Which of the
following pairs is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. all 1, 2 and
3
D. 3 only
Ans: D
Explanation: According to Buddhist philosophy, the
world is transient (anicca) and constantly changing; it is also soulless
(anatta) as there is nothing permanent or eternal in it. Within this transient
world, sorrow (dukkha) is intrinsic to human existence. Hence, D is the correct
option.
END
HISTOR– XII
THEME-2
MCQ
Kings, Farmers and Towns : Early States and Economies
1. Who was known as Devanama Piyadasi?
A. Vardhamana Mahavir
B. Chandragupta Maurya
C. Gautama Buddha
D. King Asoka
Ans: D
Explanation: Most of the early inscriptions mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi — meaning "pleasant to behold" concluded by epigraphists to be Mauryan
king Asoka. Hence, D is the correct option.
2.Who deciphered the Brahmi and Kharosthi scripts?
A. Colin Mackenzie
B. James Prinsep
C. D.C Sircar
D. A. Cunningham
Ans: B
Explanation: In 1830s, James Prinsep, an officer in the mint of the East India Company, deciphered Brahmi and Kharosthi, two scripts used in the earliest inscriptions and coins. He
found that most of these mentioned a king referred to as Piyadassi — meaning "pleasant to behold"; Hence, B is the correct option.
3. Kautiltya's Arthashastra is a book on-
A. Economic relations
B. Principal and practices of statecraft
C. foreign policy
D. duties of king
Ans: B
Explanation: Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire. Source that is often used is the Arthashastra, parts of which were probably composed by Kautilya or Chanakya. Hence, B is the correct option.
4. To which dynasty did Ashoka belong?
A. Satavahana
B. Kushan
C. Maurya
D. Gupta
Ans: C
Explanation: The growth of Magadha culminated in the emergence of the Mauryan
Empire. Chandragupta Maurya, who founded the empire, extended control as far northwest as Afghanistan and Baluchistan, and his grandson Asoka, arguably the
most famous ruler of early India, conquered Kalinga. Hence, C is the correct option.
5. Megasthenes, the composer of Indica was-
A. Greek Ambassador
B. Chinese piligrime
C. Egyptian traveller
D. Iranian Scholar
Ans: A
Explanation: Megasthenes was an ambassador of Greek king Seleucus I Nicator, to the court of Chandragupta Maurya. He wrote the book Indica. Hence, A is the correct option.
6. Special officers appointed by Asoka to spread the
message of Dhamma were called—
A. Rajuka
B. Dhamma Sharmana
C. Kumar Amatya
D. Dhamma mahamatta
Ans: D
Explanation: Special officers, known as the dhamma mahamatta, were appointed to spread the message of dhamma. This included respect towards elders, generosity towards Brahmanas and those who renounced worldly life, treating slaves and servants kindly, and respect for religions and traditions other than one's own. Hence, D is the correct option.
7. The Prayaga Prashasti (Allahabad inscription) was
composed by-
A. Vishakhdatta
B. Upa gupta
C. Harishena
D. Ashvaghosha
Ans: C
Explanation: The Prayaga Prashasti (also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription) composed in Sanskrit by Harishena, the court poet of Samudragupta, arguably the most powerful of the Gupta rulers. Hence, C is the correct option.
8. The famous Sudarshana lake is located in which
state?
A. Gujarat
B. Maharashtra
C. Bihar
D. Andhra Pradesh
Ans: A
Explanation: The Sudarshana lake in Gujarat was an artificial reservoir. It is mentioned in a rock inscription (c. second century CE) in Sanskrit, composed to record the achievements of the Shaka ruler Rudradaman. Hence, A is the correct option.
9. The Jatakas were written in—
A. Prakrit
B. Pali
C. Sanskrit
D. Tamil
Ans: B
Explanation: The Jatakas were written in Pali around the middle of the first millennium CE. Hence, B is the correct option.
10). The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana,
the ruler of Kanauj, composed by his court poet—
A. Banabhatta
B. Harishena
C. Ashvaghosh
D. Jaidev
Ans: A
Explanation: The Harshacharita is a biography of Harshavardhana, the ruler of Kanauj,
composed in Sanskrit by his court poet, Banabhatta. Hence, A is the correct option.
11. The Queen who had independent access to land,
against the provisions of Sanskrit legal texts
A. Salavati
B. Vijaya Satakani
C. Prabhavati Gupta
D. Yana Sakasena
Ans: C
Explanation: An inscription indicated that Vakataka Queen (one of the few queens known from early Indian history) Prabhavati Gupta, the daughter of Chandragupta 11 had access to land, which she then granted. According to Sanskrit legal texts,
women were not supposed to have independent access to resources such as land. Hence, C is the correct option.
12. According to the tradition who scribed the Mahabharata—
A. Lord Shiva
B. Lord Ganesha
C. Lord Bramha
D. Lord Vishnu
Ans: B
Explanation: According to tradition, Vyasa dictated the stories to lord Ganesha, who then scribed the Mahabharata . Hence, B is the correct option.
13. Numismatics is the study of—
A. Numbers
B. Pottery
C. Coins
D. Sculptures
Ans: C
Explanation: Numismatics is the study of coins, including visual elements such as
scripts and images, metallurgical analysis and the contexts in which they have been
found. Hence, C is the correct option.
14. The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by—
A. Guptas
B. Mauryas
C. Nandas
D. Indo-Greeks
Ans: D
Explanation: The first coins to bear the names and images of rulers were issued by the Indo-Greeks, who established control over the north-western part of the subcontinent c. second century BCE. Hence, D is the correct option.
15. The first to issue gold coins were—
A. Kushanas
B. Satavahanas
C. Pandyas
D. Cholas
Ans: A
Explanation: The first gold coins were issued c. first century CE by the Kushanas. These were virtually identical in weight with those issued by contemporary Roman emperors and the Parthian rulers of Iran. Hence, A is the correct option.
16. What is Gandatindu ?
A. Inscription
B. Jataka
C. Prashasti
D. Shreni or Guild
Ans: B
Explanation: The Jatakas were written in Pali around the middle of the first millennium CE. One story known as the Gandatindu Jataka describes the plight of the subjects of a wicked king. Hence, B is the correct option.
17. Asiatic Society of Bengal was founded in the year—
A. 1801
B. 1757
c. 1784
D. 1858
Ans: C
Explanation: The Asiatic Society was founded by civil servant Sir William Jones on 15 January 1784, At the time of its foundation, this Society was named as "Asiatic Society". In 1832 the name was changed to "The Asiatic Society of Bengal" and again in 1936 it was renamed as "The Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal". Hence, C is the correct option.
18.Which of the following is not one of the major political centres of Mauryan Empire?
A. Taxila
B. Tosali
C. Suvarnagiri
D. Kandahar
Ans: D
Explanation: There were five major political centres in the empire — the capital Pataliputra and the provincial centres of Taxila, Ujjayini, Tosali and Suvarnagiri, all mentioned in Asokan
inscriptions. Taxila and Ujjayini were situated on important long-distance trade routes, while Suvarnagiri (literally, the golden mountain) was possibly important for tapping the gold mines of Karnataka. Hence,D is the correct option.
19.Which one of the following places has no Ashokan edict
A. Girnar
B. Kandahar
C. Patliputra
D. Shahbazgarhi
Ans: C
Explanation: Major Rock Edicts are Located at- kalsi(Dehradun), Girnar(Gujarat), Yerragudi(Andhra Pradesh), Sannati(Karnataka), Sopara(Mumbai), Dhauli & Jaugada(Odisha), Mansehra & Shahbazgarhi(Pakistan, Kharoshti script ), Kandahar(
Pakistan, in Greek). Hence, C is the correct option.
20. All of the following statements regarding inscriptions are
correct except —
A. Inscriptions are writings engraved on hard surfaces such as
stone, metal or pottery.
B. They usually record the achievements, activities or ideas of
those who commissioned them.
C. Inscriptions are virtually permanent records, some of which
carry dates
D. The earliest inscriptions were written in Sanskrit.
Ans: D
Explanation: The earliest inscriptions were written in Prakrit. Hence, D is the correct option.
21. All of the following statements regarding Magadha are
correct except —
A. Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially
productive
B. Gold mines were accessible and provided resources for kingdom.
C. In the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to
Pataliputra
D. The Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and
convenient communication
Ans: B
Explanation: Magadha was a region where agriculture was especially productive. Iron mines (in present-day Jharkhand) were accessible and provided resources for tools and weapons.
Initially, Rajagaha was the capital of Magadha, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra by Udayin. The Ganga and its tributaries provided a means of cheap and
convenient communication. Hence, B is the correct option.
22. All of the following statements regarding increasing
agricultural production in 6th century BCE are correct except —
A. Parts of Punjab and Rajasthan adopted iron ploughshare
B. Irrigation was adopted to increase agricultural production
C. Production of paddy was dramatically increased by the
introduction of transplantation
D. The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in
areas which had high rainfall
Ans: A
Explanation: The iron-tipped ploughshare was used to turn the alluvial soil in areas which had high rainfall. Parts of Punjab and Rajasthan did not adopt it till the twentieth century.
In some parts of the Ganga valley, production of paddy was dramatically increased by the introduction of transplantation. Irrigation was adopted to increase agricultural production.
Hence, A is the correct option.
23. Consider the following statements about Asoka and mark the
correct statement:
A. Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages on stone
surfaces
B. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be
dhamma.
C. Neither A nor B
D. Both A and B
Ans: D
Explanation: Asoka was the first ruler who inscribed his messages to his subjects and officials on stone surfaces — natural rocks as well as polished pillars. He used the inscriptions to proclaim what he understood to be dhamma. Hence, D is the correct option.
24. Consider the following statements about Mahajanapadas and mark the correct statement:
A. While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some,
known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies
B. Both Mahavira and the Buddha belonged to such ganas
C. Neither A nor B
D. Both A and B
Ans: D
Explanation: While most mahajanapadas were ruled by kings, some, known as ganas or sanghas, were oligarchies, where power was shared by a number of men, often collectively
called rajas. Both Mahavira (Vajji) and the Buddha (Gandhar) belonged to such ganas. In some instances, as in the case of the Vajji sangha Hence, D is the correct option
25. Consider the following statements:
I. Many Mauryan rulers adopted the title devaputra, or "son of god"
II. Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central to
South India.
Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct ?
A. only 1
B. only 11
C. Both 1 and 11
D. Neither I nor 11
Ans: D
Explanation: Kushanas ruled over a vast kingdom extending from Central Asia to northwest India. Many Kushana rulers adopted the title devaputra, or "son of god" Hence, D is the correct option.
26. Consider the following statements:
I. Samantas maintained themselves through local resources
including control over land.
II. They offered homage and provided military support to rulers.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct about Samantas?
A. only 1
B. only 11
C. Both 1 and 11
D. Neither I nor 11
Ans: C
Explanation: Samantas, maintained themselves through local resources including control over land. They offered homage and provided military support to rulers. Powerful samantas could become kings: conversely, weak rulers might find themselves being reduced to positions of subordination. Hence, C is the correct option.
27. Consider the following statements:
I. The term Gahapati was often used to designate small peasants
as well as large landlords.
II. Sangam texts also mention different categories of people-like
vellelar, uzhavar and adimai
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct about rural
societies in Mahajanapada period?
A. only 1
B. only 11
C. Both 1 and 11
D. Neither 1 nor 11
Ans: C
Explanation: The term gahapati was often used in Pali texts to designate small peasants and large landholders. Early Tamil literature (the Sangam texts) also mentions different categories of people living in the villages — large landowners or .vellalar, ploughmen or uzhavar and slaves or adimai. Hence, C is the correct option
28. Consider the following statements:
I. The Manusmrti is one of the best-known philosophical texts of
early India.
II. It was written in Sanskrit and compiled between c. 2nd century BCE and c. 2nd century CE Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct about Manusmriti?
A. Only I
B. only II
C. Both I and II
D. Neither I nor II
Ans: B
Explanation: The Manusmrti is one of the best-known legal texts of early India, written in Sanskrit and compiled between c. second century BCE and c second century CE. Hence, B
is the correct option.
29. Consider the following pairs:
1. Magadha- Rajgir
2. kasi- Vaishali
3. Gandhar- Taxila
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2 and 3 only
Ans: C
Explanation: Capitals of Magadha, kasi, Gandhar are Rajgir, Varanasi and Taxila respectively. Hence, C is the correct option.
30. Consider the following pairs:
1. Shahbazgarhi edict- Greek script
2. Girnar edict-Brahmi script
3. Kandahar edict- Kharosthi script
Which of the following pairs is/are correctly matched?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 2 and 3 only
Ans:B
Explanation: Major Rock Edicts are Located at- Mansehra & Shahbazgarhi (Pakistan, Kharoshti script); Kandahar (Pakistan, in Greek ; kalsi(Dehradun); Girnar Gujarat); Yerragudi(Andhra Pradesh); Sannati(Karnataka ; Sopara(Mumbal); Dhau i &
Jaugada(Odisha). Hence, B is the correct option.
