SET-1

HISTORY (027)
Question BANK (Term 1)
2021-22
CLASS-XII

CHATER-1
BRICKS, BEADS AND BONES

1 Where were large granaries found?

A. Harappa and Mohenjodaro
B. Kalibangan
C. Banawali
D. Lothal and Dholavira

2 Which of the following statement(s) is are correct about the subsistence

strategies of Harappa?
(1) Archaeologists have reconstructed dietary practices from finds of
charred grains and seeds.
(2) Archaeo-botanists have studied grains found at Harappa like millets,
barley, etc.
(3) Animal wee domesticated according to Archaeo-botanists.
Choose the correct option.
(a) (1) and (2) only
(b) (2) and (3) only
(c) (1), (2) and (3)
(d) (2) only

3 ‘The Great Bath’ was found in which own of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A. Lothal
B. Harappa
C. Mohenjodaro
D. Rangpur

4 Which town in the Indus Valley Civilization had no Citadel?

A. Mohenjodaro
B. Harappa
C. Chanhudaro
D. Lothal

5 What was the main feature of the Harappan civilization?

 A. Town Planning
B. Art and architecture
C. Administration
D. Agriculture

6 Which two strategies are adopted by the archaeologists ton identify social
differences among the Harappans?
i. Study of burials
ii. Study of script
iii. Study of trade and commerce
iv. Study of artefacts
Choose the correct option.
A. Both ‘i’ and ‘ii’
B. Both ‘i’ and ‘iv’
C. Both ‘ii’ and ‘iii’
D. Both ‘i’ and ‘iii’

7 Which of the following items have not been found in the Harappan graves?
A. pottery and ornaments
B. Iron hand axe
C. Jewellery
D. Copper mirrors

8 Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding the weights used

during the Harappan period?
A. The Harappan people had developed several kinds of small and heavy
weights.
B. They were cubical in shape and had no markings.
C. These weights were mostly made of hard stones like chert.
D. The higher denominations of weights were binary in multiples of two

9 Which of the following is not one of the features of the Harappan writing?
A. The Harappan script was pictographic and not alphabetical.
B. It has been deciphered by James Princep.
C. It had too many sighs, somewhere between 375 and 400.
D. The script was written from right to left.

10 Consider the following statement regarding the Priest King of Harappa.

According to Archaeologist:
1. Priest king held political power.
 2. He was related with Mesopotamian History.
3. He was related with Harappan religion.
4. His authoritarian rule could be one of the causes of the decline of
Harappa.
Which one of the following is correct?
A. (1), (3) and (4)
B. (2), (3) and (4)
C. (1), (2) and (3)
D. (1), (2) and (4)

11 Name the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) who

announced the discovery of new civilization of Indus Valley to the world.
A. John Marshall
B. Alexander Cunningham
C. William Blake
D. Alexander Bell

12 Name the author of the book “The Story of Indian Archaeology”.

A. R N Roy
B. T N Ramaswamy
C. S N Roy
D. R Ramaswamy

13 Look at the figure given below and identify its name as given by the
archaeologists.
A. Shiva
B. Devadasi
C. Mother Goddess
D. Mother Earth

14 Who was the first Director General of the Archaeological Survey of India?
A. John Marshall
B. Alexander Cunningham
C. William Blake
D. Alexander Bell

15 Who were shamans?

A. Shamans were the finance minister of the kings.
B. Shamans were men and women with magical powers.
C. Shamans were the people which worked in the fields.
 D. Shamans were trader who went to different place.

16 Harappa s located on the banks of which river?

A. Indus
B. Chenab
C. Ravi
D. Jhelum

17 Which of these was the cause of decline of Harappan civilisation?

(a) Climatic Change
(b) Floods
(c) Deforestation
(d) All of these

18 Consider the following statements about the seals of Proto-Shiva.

1. There is a mention of a deity ‘Rudra’ in ancient religious texts.
2. Later on Rudra word was used for Shiva.
3. Rudra is not mentioned as Pashupati in Rigveda.
4. Depiction of Pashupati does not match the mention of Rudra in Rigveda.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4

19 Which of the following things were found at craft production centres in

Harappan civilisation?
1. Carnelian
2. Jasper
3. Crystal
4. Quartz
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3, 4
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 2, 4

20 Consider the following statements regarding Indus Valley civilisation:

1. The Harappan seal is probably the most distinctive feature of the Harappan
civilisation.
 2. Evidences of canal irrigation have been found at a site called shortughai.
3. Mohenjodaro was a city laid in an unplanned manner.
4. Copper was brought from Kolar region of Karnataka.
Which of the given statements is/are incorrect?
(a) 1, 2, 3
(b) 3, 4
(c) 1, 2, 4
(d) 2,4

21 Why the Harappan script is called enigmatic? Choose the correct reason from
the following options:
A. It resembles the Hieroglyphic script of Egypt.
B. It had too many symbols, between 600 and 1000 in number.
C. It was written from left to right.
D. Its script remains undeciphered till date

Passage/Case Study/ Sources based Questions

1 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs by
choosing the most appropriate option.
How Artefacts are Identified

Processing of food required grinding equipment as well as vessels

for mixing, blending and cooking. These were made of stone, metal
and terracotta. This is an excerpt from one of the earliest reports on
excavations at Mohenjodaro, the best-known Harappan site: Saddle querns …
are found in considerable numbers… and they seem to have been the only
means in use for grinding cereals. As a rule, they were roughly made of hard,
gritty, igneous rock or sandstone and mostly show signs of hard usage. As
their bases are usually convex, they must have been set in the earth or in
mud to prevent their rocking. Two main types have been found: those on
which another smaller stone was pushed or rolled to and fro, and others with
which a second stone was used as a pounder, eventually making a large
cavity in the nether stone. Querns of the former type were probably used
solely for grain; the second type possibly only for pounding herbs and spices
for making curries. In fact, stones of this latter type are dubbed “curry
stones” by our workmen and our cook asked for the loan of one from the
museum for use in the kitchen.
FROM ERNEST MACKAY, Further Excavations at
Mohenjodaro, 1937.
 a. Saddle querns discovered from excavations in Mohenjodaro were used
for:
i. Digging holes
ii. Grinding cereal
iii. Cooking food
iv. Making beads
b. Querns were also known as “curry stones because
i. They were used to cook curry.
ii. They were used to serve curry.
iii. They were used to pound herbs and spices used for making
curries.
iv. They were used to grow herbs and spices used for making
curries.
c. The base of the saddle querns was:
i. Concave
ii. Convex
iii. Flat
iv. oval
d. Artefacts discovered from Harappan sites were made of:
i. Metal
ii. Terracotta
iii. Stone
iv. All of the above
2 Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:
The Most Ancient System Yet Discovered
The most ancient
system yet discovered
About the drains, Mackay noted: “It is certainly the most complete ancient
system as yet discovered.” Every house was connected to the street drains.
The main channels were made of bricks set in mortar and were covered with
loose bricks that could be removed for cleaning. In some cases, limestone
was used for the covers. House drains first emptied into a sump or cesspit
into which solid matter settled while waste water flowed out into the street
drains. Very long drainage channels were provided at intervals with sumps
for cleaning. It is a wonder of archaeology that “little heaps of material,
mostly sand, have frequently been found lying alongside drainage channels,
which shows … that the debris was not always carted away when the drain
was cleared”. Drainage systems were not unique to the larger cities, but were
found in smaller settlements as well. At Lothal for example, while houses
 were built of mud bricks, drains were made of burnt bricks.
FROM ERNEST MACKAY, Early Indus
Civilisation, 1948.

a. Drains were usually made of:

A. Burnt Bricks
B. Stone pits
C. Clay bricks
D. None of these

b. The drains were covered with loose bricks because:

A. It was easy for waste water to flow out of the drain
B. It was easy to clean the drains from time to time
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. None of these

c. House drains first emptied into a:

A. Cesspit
B. Street drain
C. Tunnel
D. Stream

d. Which of the following statements is correct regarding the drainage

system of Harappan civilization?
A. The drainage system indicated that a sense of town planning
existed in the Harappan civilization.
B. All Harappan sites discovered did not have the drainage system.
C. The houses of poor people were not connected with the drains
D. Only (A) and (B)

3 Study the image of a Harappan seal and answer the following questions
choosing the correct options;
a. What were the seal usually made of?
A. Bronze
B. Steatite
C. Copper
D. Wax

b. The seals depicted:

A. Animal motifs
B. An deciphered script
C. Both (i) and (ii)
D. None of these

c. Which of the following statements best describes the usage of seals

during Harappan times?
A. Seals showed the power of the Kings who issued them.
B. Seals were used to identify the craft person who made them.
C. Seals were used to facilities long distance communication
between the traders.
D. None of the above.

d. Harappan seals have been discovered in Mesopotamia, Bahrain and

Oman. This signifies that:
i. Rulers from the Indian subcontinents went to wage wars with
other countries.
ii. Harappan people had trade relations with other parts of the
world.
iii. The other civilizations copied the art of seal making from the
Harappan civilization.
iv. None of these
4 Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

The variety of materials used to make beads is remarkable: stones like

carnelian (of a beautiful red colour), jasper, crystal, quartz and steatite;
metals like copper, bronze and gold; and shell, faience and
terracotta or burnt clay. Some beads were made of two or more stones,
cemented together, some of stone with gold caps. The shapes were
numerous – disc-shaped, cylindrical, spherical, barrel-shaped,
segmented. Some were decorated by incising or painting, and some had
designs etched onto them
Techniques for making beads differed according to the material. Steatite, a
very soft stone, was easily worked. Some beads were moulded out of a paste
made with steatite powder. This permitted making a variety of shapes, unlike
the geometrical forms made out of harder stones. How the steatite micro
bead was made remains a puzzle for archaeologists studying ancient
technology.

a. Which of the following material was used for bead making?

i. Carnelian
ii. Copper
iii. Shell
iv. All of the above

b. Which of the following statements regarding bead making is incorrect?

i. Some beads were moulded out of paste made with steatite
powder.
ii. Same technique was used for making beads with different
materials.
iii. Crystal was used for making beads.
iv. Some beads were capped with gold.

c. Steatite was a:
i. Metal
ii. Soft stone
iii. Chemical
iv. Another name for burnt clay

d. Specialised drills for making beads have been found in :

i. Chanhudaro
ii. Lothal
 iii. Dholavira
iv. All of the above

In the following questions, a statement of assertion followed by a

statement of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the
following choices:

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

1 Assertion (A): saddle querns were made of hard gritty igneous rocks or
sandstone.
Reason (R): Saddle querns were used to grind cereals.

2 Assertion (A): House drains first emptied into a sump or cesspit.

Reason (R): Each house drain emptied into a street drain.

3 Assertion (A): The Harappan Civilization had contacts with Western Asia
Reason (R): Archaeological finds suggest that copper was brought from
Oman.

4 Assertion (A): All buildings in Mohenjodaro had a courtyard.

Reason (R): The drains emptied themselves in the courtyard.

5 Assertion (A): some graves contain pottery and ornaments.

Reason (R): The Harappan people believed in life after death.

6 Assertion (A): Seals have been found in Oman.

Reason (R): Trade was conducted with distant land.

7 Assertion (A): Terracotta model of the plough have been at sites in Cholistan
and at Banawali(Haryana)
Reason (R): The Harappan people domesticated animals like the oxen.

8 Assertion (A): The burials in Harappan sites reveal the economic and social
difference amongst the people living within a particular culture.
Reason (R): In the Harappa sites, dead were generally buried in pits.
9 Assertion (A): The Harappan seals were made of steatite.
Reason (R): The seals were decorated with animal figures.

10 Assertion (A): The Harappans ate a wide range of plant and animal products,
including fish.
Reason (R): Archaeologists have been able to reconstruct dietary practices
from finds of charred grains and seeds.

11 Assertion (A): The field had two set of furrows at right angles to each other.
Reason (R): This layout of the field suggests that two different corps were
grown together.

12 Assertion (A): The citadel was situated on the lower town.

Reason (R): Structures meant for special purposes were built on the citadel.

SECTION-D
MAP BASED QUESTION
1 On the political outline map of India, locate and label the following sites:
a. Harappa
b. Balakot
c. Chanhudaro
d. Nageshwar
e. Rakhigari
f. Kalibangan
g. Dholavira
h. Kot Diji
i. Lothal
j. Mohenjodaro

CHAPTER-2. KINGS FARMERS AND TOWNS

1 Identify the best reason for considering King Ashoka as ‘Devnampiya’ and
‘Piyadassi’ by his subjects.
A. Ashoka commissioned the edicts himself.
B. He adopted the title of ‘Devaputra’.
C. Epigraphists have concluded him as Devnampiya.
D. He worked for the welfare of the society through Dhamma.

2 Which if the following was the capital of Magadha?

 A. Rajagraha
B. Ujjain
C. Taxila
D. Gandhara

3 Brahmi and Kharosthi, two scripts used in the earliest inscriptions and coins
were first deciphered by:
A. James Princep
B. James Harding
C. William Blake
D. William Smith

4 Ganas of Sanghas were oligarchies which were

A. Ruled by a single ruler
B. Ruled by a groups of men
C. Ruled by women
D. None of these

5 Dharmasutras were Sanskrit texts

A. Composed by Brahmans
B. Composed by the Rulers
C. Compose by the saints
D. Composed by Bards

6 The Prayaga Prashasti (also known as the Allahabad Pillar Inscription)was

composed in Sanskrit by
A. Harisena
B. Hariprasad
C. Harishastri
D. Samudragupta

7 The title ‘Devaputra’ means:

A. Son of the ruler
B. Son of heaven
C. Son of God
D. Son of Sun

8 Ashoka is mentioned by which title in his inscription?

A. Ashoka, Piyadassi
B. Masattuvan, Ashoka
 C. Devnampiya, Piyadassi
D. Devaputra, Piyadassi

9 Name the languages in which the Ashokan inscriptions were written.

A. Pali, Prakrit and Greek
B. Pali, Sanskrit and Aramaic
C. Prakrit, Aramaic and Greek
D. Pali, Sanskrit and Greek

10 Match the following:

a. Gahapati (i) slaves
b. Vellalar (ii) ploughman
c. Uzhavar (iii) head of household
d. Adimai (iv) landowner
Options:
A. (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
B. (iii) (iv) (ii) (i)
C. (iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
D. (ii) (iii) (i) (iv)

11 Who were Dhamma Mahmatta?

A. Special revenue officer appointed by Ashoka for collection for tax
collection.
B. Special officers appointed by Ashoka for maintaining law and order in
the Kingdom.
C. Special officers appointed by Ashoka to spread the message of
Dhamma.
D. Special officer appointed by Ashoka to stop the spread of Dhamma.

12 Why is the Sixth century BCE often considered as a major turning point in the
Indian history?
A. Emergence of stated, cities and towns; use of iron
B. Emergence of states, cities and towns; dominance of Hinduism
C. Dominance of Hinduism; use of iron
D. Emergence of Buddhism and Jainism, extensive use of copper

13 Which of the following is not one of the main features of Ashoka’s Dhamma?
A. Respect the elders and be generous to Brahmins.
B. Consider your religion superior from other religion.
C. Gahapati should respect members of the family, relatives, servants, the
 poor and the slaves.
D. Follow non-violence.

14 Ventures of which of the following traders were risky but highly profitable?
A. Peddlers
B. Seafarers
C. Merchants with caravans of bullock pack-animals
D. All of the above

15 Who issued the first coins bearing the names of the rulers?
A. Mauryas
B. Guptas
C. Indo-Greeks
D. Satavahanas

16 An…………………..was land granted to a Brahman, who was usually exempted

from paying land revenue and other dues to the King, and was often given
the right to collect these dues from the local people.
A. Adimai
B. Agnishresth
C. Agrahara
D. Uzahavar

17 Consider the following statements about Mahajanapadas during the sixth

century BCE. Which of the following statements is/are correct?
1. There are 16 known Mahajanapadas or state of the sixth century
BCE.
2. While most Mahajanapadas had a King, some were oligarchies
where power was shared by a number of people called rajas.
3. The rajas composed Dharmasutras which laid down the ruler for tax
collection.
Choose the correct option:
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. Only 3
D. Only 2

18 Which of the following is/are correct limitations in the study of coins?

A. Letters are very faintly engraved, and thus reconstruction are
uncertain
 B. Inscriptions may be damaged or letters missing.
C. It is not always easy to be sure about the exact meaning of the words
used in inscriptions.
D. All of the above.

19 Which of these archaeological sources occupy a significant place in the

reconstruction of the ancient Indian History?
A. Vedas
B. Coins
C. Inscriptions
D. Both (B) and (C)

20 Periplus in Greek means:

A. Act of bread making
B. Sailing around
C. Ships
D. Beading making

21 Who among the following was the best-known ruler of the Satavahana
dynasty?
A. Yagnasri Satakarni
B. Simuka Satakarni
C. Gotami-puta Siri-Satakarni
D. Vashisthaputra Satakarni

Passage/Case Study/ Sources based Questions

1 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs by
choosing the most appropriate option.

In the Praise of Samudragupta

This is an excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti:

He was without an antagonist on earth; he, by the overflowing of the
multitude of (his) many good qualities adorned by hundreds of good actions,
has wiped off the fame of other kings with the soles of (his) feet; (he is)
Purusha (the Supreme Being), being the cause of the prosperity of the good
and the destruction of the bad (he is) incomprehensible; (he is) one whose
tender heart can be captured only by devotion and humility; (he is)possessed
of compassion; (he is) the giver of many hundred-thousand of cows; (his)
 mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the
poor, the forlorn and the suffering; (he is) resplendent and embodied
kindness to mankind; (he is)equal to (the gods) Kubera (the god of wealth),
Varuna (the god of the ocean), Indra (the god of rains) and Yama (the god of
death)…

1. Samudragupta, according to this excerpt, was without an antagonist

because;
A. There was no other Kings capable of being his adversary
B. He did not befriend any other King
C. He had many good qualities
D. None of the above

2. Samudragupta was called Parmatma purusha because:

A. He was without an adversary in this world
B. He was the cause of success of the good and the destruction of the
bad
C. He personified compassion to humans
D. All of the above

3. Which of the following statements is correct about Samudragupta?

A. Samudragupta was without an antagonist on this earth.
B. He was equal to the Gods.
C. Both A and B are correct
D. He was not kind-hearted king

4. The God of wealth is:

A. Yama
B. Kuber
C. Varuna
D. Indra

2 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs by
choosing the most appropriate option.

Prabhavati Gupta and the Village of Danguna

This is what Prabhavati Gupta states in her inscription: Prabhavati Gupta …

commands the gramakutumbinas (householders/peasants living in the
village), Brahmanas and others living in the village of Dangun…
“Be it known to you that on the twelfth (lunar day)of the bright (fortnight) of
Karttika, we have, in order to increase our religious merit donated this village
with the pouring out of water, to the Acharya (teacher)Chanalasvamin … You
should obey all (his) commands…
We confer on (him) the following exemptions typical of an agrahara…(this
village is) not to be entered by soldiers and policemen; (it is) exempt from
(the obligation to provide) grass, (animal) hides as seats,
and charcoal (to touring royal officers); exempt from (the royal prerogative
of) purchasing fermenting liquors and digging (salt); exempt from (the right
to) mines and khadira trees; exempt from (the obligation to supply) flowers
and milk; (it is donated) together with (the right to) hidden treasures and
deposits (and)together with major and minor taxes …”
This charter has been written in the thirteenth (regnal) year. (It has been)
engraved by Chakradasa.

1. Prabhavati Gupta was;

A. Queen of the Vakataka dynasty
B. Daughter of Rudersena II
C. Regent of Chandragupta II
D. Owner of Danguna village

2. Prabhavati donated Danguna village to Chahalasvamin because:

A. She wanted to make Chahalasvamin her regent
B. She wanted to punish the villagers
C. She wanted to increase her religious merit
D. None of the above

3. Which of the statements is incorrect regarding Prabhavati according to

the text given?
A. Prabhavati conferred upon number of exemption on the village of
Danguna
B. Prabhavati wanted to please the villagers and gain their support in
case of a war
C. The village would not be entered by soldiers and policemen
D. None of the above

4. The following exemptions were conferred upon Danguna village by

Prabhavati:
A. The village would not be entered soldiers and policemen
 B. The village was exempted from the rights to mine and khadira trees
C. The village was exempted from the obligation to supply flowers and
milk

3 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs by
choosing the most appropriate option.

The orders of the King

Thus speaks king Devanampiya Piyadassi: In the past, there were no

arrangements for disposing affairs, or for receiving regular reports. But I have
made the following (arrangement). Pativedakas should report to me about
the affairs of the people at all times, anywhere, whether I am eating, in the
inner apartment, in the bedroom, in the cow pen, being carried (possibly in a
palanquin), or in the garden. And I will dispose of the affairs of the people
everywhere.

1. Who were the Pativedakas?

A. Minister
B. Reporters
C. Officers
D. Policemen

2. Who is King Devnampiya Piyadassi?

A. Chandragupta Maurya
B. Ajatshatru
C. Samudragupta
D. Ashoka

3. Which is the correct meaning of the title Piyadassi?

A. God’s favourite
B. Beloved of the Gods
C. Pleasant to behold
D. God’s servant

4. From the inscription given which if the following statements are

correct regarding King Piyadassi?
A. The King is a good administrator
B. The King looks after the welfare his people
C. The King likes to be well inform about the daily lives of his people
 D. All of the above

4 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs by
choosing the most appropriate option.

By the fourth century there is evidence of larger states, including the Gupta
Empire. Many of these depended on samantas, men who 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.
Histories of the Gupta rulers have been reconstructed from literature, coins
and inscriptions, including prashastis, composed in praise of kings in
particular, and patrons in general, by poets. While historians often attempt
to draw factual information from such compositions, those who composed
and read them often treasured them as works of poetry rather than as
accounts that were literally true. 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 (c.
fourth century CE), is a case in point.

1. The Allahabad Pillar inscription is written in:

A. Pali
B. Sanskrit
C. Prakrit
D. Greek

2. The Samantas were:

A. men who maintained themselves through local resources including
control over land
B. They offered homage and provided military support
C. Both (A) and (B)
D. Revenue minister of the King

3. Harishena was the court poet of:

A. Chandragupta
B. Samudragupta
C. Kanishka
D. Ashoka
 4. Prashastis were generally composed:
A. In praise of the King
B. In praise of the people
C. As a warning
D. As a legal notice

In the following questions, a statement of assertion followed by a statement

of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the following choices:

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

Assertion (A): Ashoka believed in the policy of dhamma

1 Reason (R): special officers were appointed to spread the message of
Dhamma. These officers were known as the dhamma mahamattas

2 Assertion (A): Ganas or Sanghas were oligarchies.

Reason (R): They had Women rulers.

3 Assertion (A): Inscriptions are writings engraved on hard surfaces such as

stone, metal or pottery.
Reason (R):Earliest inscriptions were written in Prakrit

4 Assertion (A): The Kushans rulers considered themselves to be God -like

Reason (R): One means of claiming high status was to identify with a variety
of deities.

5 Assertion (A): Agricultural produce increased during the sixth century BCE.
Reason (R): The use of iron ploughshare was introduced.

6 Assertion (A): Early texts suggest that there were sixteen states known as
Mahajanapadas.
Reason (R): The lists are same as per Buddhists and Jaina texts

7 Assertion (A): Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the

history of Mauryan Empire
Reason (R): Arthashastra, composed by Kautilya or Chanakya, was one of the
main source to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire
8 Assertion (A): To some extent, exchanges were facilitated by the introduction
of coinage.
Reason (R):These coins facilitated long distance transactions from which
Kings also benefited

9 Assertion (A): A votive inscriptions record gifts made to religious institutions.

Reason (R): On the pedestal is a Prakrit inscription, mentioning that a woman
named Nagapiya, the wife of a goldsmith (sovanika) named Dharmaka
installed this image in a shrine.

10 Assertion (A): Ashoka’s inscription has not been found in Kalinga, although
he conquered the region.
Reason (R): The anguish of the conquest was too painful in the region, and
therefore King Ashoka was unable to address the issue.

MAP BASED QUESTIONS:

On the political outline map of India, locate and label the following sites:

A. Distribution of Ashoka’s inscriptions:

B. Mahajanapadas and cities:

i. Vaji
ii. Magadha
iii. Kosala
C. Pillars inscription:
i. Sanchi
ii. Topara
 SET-II
HISTORY (027)
Question BANK (Term 1)
2021-22
CLASS-XII
Chapter 3
Kinship, Caste and Class: Early Societies
1 In which type of marriage does a woman have several husbands?
(a) Endogamy
(b) Exogamy
(c) Polygyny
(d) Polyandry

2 Shakas who came from Central Asia were regarded by the Brahmanas
as
(a) Dasas
(b) Untouchables
(c) Mlechchhas
(d) Aryans

3 Which of the following statements is correct about the classification of

people in terms of ‘gotra’ under Brahmanical practice around 1000
BCE onwards?
(a) After marriage women were expected to give up their father’s
gotra.
(b) They were supposed to adopt the gotra of their husband.
(c) Another important rule was that members of the same gotra could
not marry.
(d) All of these.

4 The original story of Mahabharata was composed by

(a) Brahmanas
(b) Kshatriyas
(c) Sutas
(d) None of these

5 What was the object of the team of V.S. Sukthankar?

(a) Prepare critical edition of Mahabharata
(b) Translate Mahabharata in the English language
(c) Prepare critical edition of Manusmriti
 (d) Translate Manusmriti in Tamil

6 How many verses are there in Mahabharata?

(a) 20 thousand
(b) 50 thousand
(c) One Lakh
(d) More than one lakh

7 Which of these is the most important dharmashastra?

(a) Manusmriti
(b) Mahabharata
(c) Rigveda
(d) None of these

8 According to Shastras, only __ could rule the country.

(a) Brahmins
(b) Kshatriyas
(e) Vaishyas
(d) Shudras

9 Which of these rulers followed endogamy?

(a) Satvahanas
(b) Pandavas
(e) Mauryas
(d) None of these

10 The earliest inscriptions were written on which material?

(a) Paper
(b) Metal
(c) Stones
(d) Wood

11 Which of the following was one of the occupations of Kshatriyas?

(a) Perform sacrifices and give gifts
(b) To teach Vedas
(c) Trade
(d) Agriculture

12 Which of the following statements is incorrect about the duties as laid

down in Manusmriti for the Chandalas?
 (a) They had to live on the outskirts of the village.
(b) They had to use discarded utensils.
(c) They were supposed to wear old clothes of the villagers and
ornaments made from shells.
(d) It was their duty to serve as executioner and dispose of the bodies
of those who had no relatives.

13 Which of the following strategies were evolved by Brahmanas to

enforce the norms of Varna order from c. 600 BCE to 600 CE?
(a) Brahmanas used to emphasise that the Varna system is divine.
(b) Brahmanas tried to convince people that their occupation and
status are determined by birth.
(c) Brahmanas advised the kings to ensure that people follow the
norms of the Varna system within the kingdom.
(d) All of these.

14 Which of the following statements is correct about the importance of

gender differences in the early societies from c. 600 BCE to 600 CE?
(i) Societies were patriliny in nature.
(ii) Women were allowed to give land grants.
(iii) Sons were considered important for the continuity of the family.
(a) Only ‘i’
(b) Both ‘ii’ and ‘iii’
(c) Both ‘i’ and ‘iii’
(d) All the above

15 Shungas and Kanvas, the immediate successors of the Mauryas, were:

A. Shudras
B. Vaishyas
C. Kshatriyas
D. Brahmans

16 Read the following extract from Adi Parvan and identify being
described in it:
The city, bursting like the ocean, packed with hundreds of mansions,
displayed with its gateways, arches and turrets like massing clouds the
splendour of Great Indra’s city.
A. Patliputra
B. Hastinapur
C. Oudh
 D. Varanasi

17 Which of the following statements is correct regarding the epic

Mahabharata?
A. Over the centuries, versions of the epic were written in a variety
of languages through an ongoing process of dialogue between
peoples, communities, and those who wrote the texts.
B. Several stories that originates in specific regions or circulated
amongst certain people found their way into the epic. At the
same time the central story of the epic was retold in different
ways.
C. The episodes were depicted in sculpture and paintings. They
also provided themes for a wide range of performing arts- plays,
dance and other kinds of narrations.
D. All of these

18 Consider the following statements regarding gendered access to

property.
1. Women had to right to the paternal estate.
2. Paternal estate was divided equally amongst sons after the
death if the parents.
3. Stridhana could be inherited by the children and husband of the
woman.
Which of the statements above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2
B. 2 and 3
C. 1 and3
D. 2 only

19 Match the following

i. Endogamy (a) refers to a marriage outside the unit
ii. Exogamy (b) refers to the practices of a man having
several wives.
iii. Polygyny (c) refers to the practice of a woman having
several husbands.
iv. Polyandry (d) refers to marriage within the unit.
Choose the correct option:
A. (i)-b, (ii)-c, (iii)-a, (iv)-d
B. (i)-a, (ii)-b, (iii)-d, (iv)-c
C. (i)-c, (ii)-a, (iii)-b, (iv)-d
 D. (i)-d, (ii)-a, (iii)-b, (iv)-c

20 Who is the author of Ashtaadhyayi?

A. Kalidas
B. Panini
C. Brhamagupta
D. Kauishka

Passage/Case Study/ Sources based Questions

21 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

Dm Draupadi’s Marriage

Drupada, the king of Panchala, organised a competition where the

challenge was to string a bow and hit a target; the winner would be
chosen to marry his daughter Draupadi. Arjuna was victorious and was
garlanded by Draupadi. The Pandavas returned with her to their
mother Kunti, who, even before she saw them, asked them to share
whatever they had got. She realised her mistake when she saw
Draupadi, but her command could not be violated. After much
deliberation, Yudhisthira decided that Draupadi would be their
common wife.
When Drupada was told about this, he protested. However, the seer
Vyasa arrived and told him that the Pandavas were in reality
incarnations of Indra, whose wife had been reborn as Draupadi, and
they were thus destined for each other.
Vyasa added that in another instance a young woman had prayed to
Shiva for a husband, and in her enthusiasm, had prayed five times
instead of once. This woman was now reborn as Draupadi, and Shiva
had fulfilled her prayers. Convinced by these stories, Drupada
consented to the marriage.

I. The shooting competition was organised by:

A. Arjuna
B. The Pandavas
C. King Drupad
D. Draupadi
 II. Yudhisthira decided that Draupadi would be their common wife
because:
A. The Pandavas believed it was destined
B. King Drupad wanted to marry to all the Pandavas
C. Both (i) and (ii)
D. The Pandavas could not violate their mother kunti’s
command

III. Which of the following statements is incorrect regarding

Draupadi’s marriage?
A. Arjuna wanted Draupadi to be the wife of all the
Pandavas.
B. King Drupad wanted the Pandavas to marry Draupadi.
C. Yudhisthira won the competition organised by king
Drupad.
D. All are incorrect.

IV. King Drupad was finally convinced by:

A. Yudhisthira
B. Arjuna
C. Seer Vyasa
D. Kunti

22 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

The Gotra of Women

One Brahmanical practice, evident from c. 1000 BCE onwards, was to

classify people (especially Brahmanas) in terms of gotras. Each gotra
was named after a Vedic seer, and all those who belonged to the same
gotra were regarded as his descendants. Two rules about gotra were
particularly important: women were expected to give up their father’s
gotra and adopt that of their husband on marriage and members of
the same gotra could not marry.
One way to find out whether this was commonly followed is to
consider the names of men and women, which were sometimes
derived from gotra names. These names are available for powerful
ruling lineages such as the Satavahanas who ruled over parts of
 western India and the Deccan (c. Second century BCE-second century
CE). Several of their inscriptions have been recovered, which allow
historians to trace family ties, including marriages.

I. Each gotra was named after a:

A. King
B. Brahman
C. Seer
D. Warrior

II. Which of the following statements is not correct regarding

the gotras?
A. Women were expected to give up their father’s gotra
after marriage.
B. The gotra of a person was kept hidden till the time of
his/her marriage.
C. Members of the same gotra could not marry each other.
D. Only (A) and (B) are correct.

III. Which if the following statement is incorrect regarding the

gotras?
A. Gotras allowed historians to trace family ties.
B. Each gotra was named after a seer.
C. Members of the same gotra could marry each other.
D. All those who belonged to the same gotra were
considered descendants of the seer whose name was
used to identify the gotra

IV. The Satavahana rulers were polygynous, which means:

A. They could marry within their gotra
B. They could marry several women
C. They could marry their sons to other Varna
D. They could marry their daughters to their ministers

23 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

“Proper” Social Rules

Here is a story from the Adi Parvan of the Mahabharata:

Once Drona, a Brahmana who taught archery to the Kuru princes, was
approached by Ekalavya, a forest dwelling nishada (a hunting
community). When Drona, who knew the dharma, refused to have him
as his pupil, Ekalavya returned to the forest, prepared an image of
Drona out of clay, and treating it as his teacher, began to practise on
his own. In due course, he acquired great skill in archery. One day, the
Kuru princes went hunting and their dog, wandering in the woods,
came upon Ekalavya. When the dog smelt the dark Nishada wrapped
in black deer skin, his body caked with dirt, it began to bark. Annoyed,
Ekalavya shot seven arrows into its mouth. When the dog returned to
the Pandavas, they were amazed at this superb display of archery.
They tracked down Ekalavya, who introduced himself as a pupil of
Drona.
Drona had once told his favourite student Arjuna, that he would be
unrivalled amongst his pupils. Arjuna now reminded Drona about this.
Drona approached Ekalavya, who immediately acknowledged and
honoured him as his teacher. When Drona demanded his right thumb
as his fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut
it off and offered it. But thereafter, when he shot with his remaining
fingers, he was no longer as fast as he had been before. Thus, Drona
kept his word: no one was better than Arjuna.

I. Drone refused to have Ekalavya as his pupil because:

A. He did not like Ekalavya
B. Ekalavya was forest dweller and Drona was Brahmana
C. Ekalavya was better than Arjuna
D. Ekalavya was better than Drona in archery

II. Ekalavya shot arrows in the dog’s mouth because:

A. The dog was disturbing Ekalavya
B. Ekalavya did not like dogs
C. The dog belonged to the Pandavas
D. The dog was attacking Ekalavya

III. Which of the following statements is incorrect?

A. Drone asked for Ekalavya right thumb as his fees.
B. Ekalavya was forest dweller and Drona could not be his
teacher according to Dharma.
C. Ekalavya cut off his right thumb and gave it to Drona
D. Ekalavya was the son of Drona arch enemy
 IV. Ekalavya cut off his right thumb and gave it to Drona
because:
A. He considered Drona as his Guru and the guru had asked
him for his right thumb as fees.
B. He wanted to please Drona and become his favourite
students
C. He believed he did not need his thumb to be good archer.
D. All of the above

Passage/Case Study/ Sources based Questions

24 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

The “Right” Occupation

The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras also contained rules about the

ideal “occupations” of the four categories or varnas. Brahmanas were
supposed to study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices and get
sacrifices performed, and give and receive gifts. Kshatriyas were to
engage in warfare, protect people and administer justice, study the
Vedas, get sacrifices performed, and make gifts. The last three
“occupations” were also assigned to the Vaishyas, who were in
addition expected to engage in agriculture, pastoralism and trade.
Shudras were
assigned only one occupation – that of serving the three “higher”
varnas.
The Brahmanas evolved two or three strategies for enforcing these
norms. One, as we have just seen, was to assert that the varna order
was of divine origin. Second, they advised kings to ensure that these
norms were followed within their kingdoms.
And third, they attempted to persuade people that their status was
determined by birth. However, this was not always easy. So
prescriptions were often reinforced by stories told in the
Mahabharata and other texts.
 I. The rules for the right occupation were contained in the:
A. Adi Parvan
B. Upanishads
C. Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras
D. Yajurveda

II. ……………………….were assigned with only one occupation and

that was serving the other three varnas.
A. Brahmanas
B. Kshatriyas
C. Vaishyaas
D. Shudras

III. The status of the people was determined by:

A. Birth
B. Occupation
C. Varna
D. None of the above

IV. Which of the following statements is correct?

A. The Brahmanas evolved strategies for enforcing the
norms of occupation on the people.
B. They asserted that the varna order was divine origin
C. They attempted to persuade people that their status was
determined by birth.
D. All of the above.

Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

In the following questions, a statement of assertion followed by a

statement of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the
following choices:

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

1 Assertion (A): The chiefs were patrons of bard and pots who sang their
 praise.
Reason (R): Poems included in the Tamil Sangam anthologies often
suggest that those who controlled resources were also expected to
share them.

2 Assertion (A): Social differences in access to resources for both men

and women.
Reason (R): Social differences were sharpened because of the
differences in access to resources for both men and women

3 Assertion (A): Women had no right to property.

Reason (R): Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received
the occasion if their marriage as Stridhana.

4 Assertion (A): In the epic Mahabharata, war between Kauravas and

Pandavas occurred.
Reason (R): Yudhisthir lost to Duryodhana in the game of dice.

5 Assertion (A): The Chandalas were placed at the very bottom of the
social hierarchy.
Reason (R): The Chandalas were corrupt and cruel people.

6 Assertion (A): In Brahmanical theory, jati, like varna, was based on

birth.
Reason (R): While the number of varnas was fixed at four, there was
no restriction on the number of jatis

7 Assertion (A): Brahmanas were supposed to study and teach the

Vedas, perform sacrifices and get sacrifices performed, and give and
receive gifts.
Reason (R): The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras contained rules
about the ideal “occupation” of the four categories or varnas.

8 Assertion (A): The Chandalas were treated as untouchables.

Reason (R): They had to live on the outskirts of the village.

9 Assertion (A): The Kshatriyas tried to enforce the norms of Varna order
from c. 600 BCE to 600 CE.
Reason (R): It was emphasised that the varna system is divine,
11 Assertion (A): After marriage, women were expected to give up their
father’s gotra.
Reason (R): They were supposed to adopt the gotra of their husband.

12 Assertion (A): In a story from Adi purana, Drona refused to have

Ekalavya as his students.
Reason (R): Ekalavya was the son of Drona’s enemy.

Chapter-4.

Thinkers, Beliefs and Buildings

1 Sanchi Stupa is situated

(a) Near to Bhopal
(b) Near to Indore
(c) Near to Delhi
(d) Near to Agra

2 Which of these was not the Begum of Bhopal?

(a) Shahjehan Begum
(b) Sultanjehan Begum
(c) Noorjehan Begum
(d) (a) and (b) both

3 24 Great teachers of Jainism are known as ________

(a) Tirthankara
(b) Jataks
(e) Jinas
(d) Vardhmanas

4 ________ is the birth place of Gautama Buddha.

(a) Kalinga
(b) Sarnath
(c) Lumbini
(d) Kushinagara

5 At which place Lord Buddha attained true enlightenment?

(a) Lumbini
(b) Kushinagara
(e) Sarnath
 (d) Bodhgaya

6 New tradition of Buddhism was called as _________

(a) Shwetambar
(b) Digambar
(c) Hinayana
(d) Mahayana

7 The most splendid stupa was at _________

(a) Amravati
(b) Sanchi
(c) Bhoomra
(d) Shahjidheri

10 Choose the correct option:

(a) Sanchi Stupa situated near to Bhopal.
(b) Sanchi Stupa was preserved by the Begums of Bhopal
(c) Sanchi Stupa belongs to Buddhism.
(d) All of these.

11 Consider the following statements:

1. Jainism was started by Rishabhdev.
2. Lord Mahavira was 24th Tirthankara of Jainism.
3. Teachings of Jainism are given in Angar.
4. Jainism started Sanghas to spread its massage.
Which of the given statements is/are correct?
(a) 1, 2, 3, 4
(b) 1, 2, 3
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 1, 3, 4

12 The ……………………… sought Shahjenhan Begum’s permission to take

away the eastern gateway, which was the best preserved, to be
displayed in a museum.
A. French
B. British
C. Dutch
D. Portuguese
13 I. Consider the following statements regarding the structure of the
stupa.
II. Harmika is balcony-like structure that represented the abode of
gods.
III. A mast called the anda arose from the harmika.
IV. A yashti was 9ftern surmounted by Chhatri or umbrella.
V. Yashti arose from the Harmika.
Which of the following statements are correct?
A. I, II and III
B. II, III and IV
C. I, and IV
D. I, III and IV

14 The …………………..consists of hymns in praise of a variety of deities,

especially Agni, Indra and Soma.
A. Shastras
B. Rigveda
C. Tripitka
D. Tirthankara

15 The compilation of Buddha teachings is known as:

A. Dipavamas
B. Tripitaka
C. Mahavama
D. Abhidhamma

16 According to Jaina teachings:

A. The cycle of birth and rebirth is shaped through karma.
B. Asceticism and penance are required to free onself from the
cycle of karma.
C. Renouncing the world is mandatory to free oneself from the
cycle of karma.
D. All of the above.

17 Which of the following is/are part of vows of Jainism?

A Abstain from killing
B Stealing and lying
C To observe celibacy
D All of the above
18 What does the Buddhist text Vinaya Pitaka contains?
A Regional Histories of Buddhism
B Rules and regulations of Sangha
C Buddha’s teaching
D Philosophical matters

19 When was Sanchi Stupa discovered?

A 1818
B 1819
C 1820
D 1825

20 The picture given below is of a sculpture of:

A. Bodhisattva
B. Buddha
C. Mahavira
D. Tirthankar

21 What does Charanachitras meant?

A. A scene from Jataka
B. Storyteller carrying scrolls of cloth or paper
C. A gateway of stupa
D. None of the above

22 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

A prayer to Agni

Here are two verses from the Rigveda invoking Agni, the God of Fire:
Bring, O strong one, this sacrifice of ours to the Gods, O wise one, as a
liberal giver. Bestow on us, O priest, abundant food. Agni, obtain, by
sacrificing, mighty wealth for us. Pro-cure, O Agni, for ever to him who
pays to you (the gift of) nourishment the wonderful cow. May a son be
ours, offspring that continues our line ...
Verses such as these were composed in a special kind of Sanskrit,
known as Vedic Sanskrit. They were taught orally to men belonging to
priestly families.

a) Vedic Sanskrit is considered to be important because

(i) It was the language of common people
(ii) The Vedic verses were written in Sanskrit
(iii) Sanskrit was not spoken by Brahmins
(iv) Sanskrit was the major language of South India.

b) Why were sacrifices performed during the Vedic Period?

(i) For the birth of daughters
(ii) For the birth of sons
(iii) For spiritual satisfaction
(iv) For seeking the blessings of Buddha

c) Choose the correct option.

Assertion (A): Agni was the God of Fire in the Vedic tradition.
Reason (R) :Therefore offerings were made to agni so that in form of
smoke they would reach the Gods living in the sky and invoke their
blessings
(i) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of
A.
(ii) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation
of A.
(iii) A is incorrect but R is correct.
(iv) R is incorrect but A is correct.

d) Consider the following statements :

1. Rig Veda consists of hymns in praise of Agni, Indra, Soma etc
2. Many of these hymns were chanted when sacrifices were
performed.
Choose the correct option:
(i) Only (1) is correct
(ii) Only (2) is correct.
(iii) Both (1) and (2) are correct.
(iv) Neither (1) nor (2) is correct
23 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

The world Beyond the Palace

Just as the Buddha’s teachings were compiled by his followers, the

teachings of Mahavira were also recorded by his disciples. These were
often in the form of stories, which could appeal to ordinary people.
Here is one example, from a Prakrit text known as the Uttaradhyayana
Sutta, describing how a queen named Kamalavati tried to persuade
her husband to renounce the world:
If the whole world and all its treasures were yours, you would not be
satisfied, nor would all this be able to save you. When you die, O king
and leave all things behind, dhamma alone, and nothing else, will save
you. As a bird dislikes the cage, so do I dislike (the world). I shall live as
a nun without offspring, without
desire, without the love of gain, and without hatred …
Those who have enjoyed pleasures and renounced them, move about
like the wind, and go wherever they please, unchecked like birds in
their flight …
Leave your large kingdom … abandon what pleases the senses, be
without attachment and property, then practise severe penance,
being firm of energy …

I. The teaching of Buddha and Mahavira were compiled by:

A. Their disciples
B. Their children
C. Their Gurus
D. The Kings

II. Queen Kamalavati wanted her Husband to:

A. Fight with the enemy
B. Renounce the world
C. Conquer more territory
D. None of the above

III. Queen Kamalavati promises to live as:

A. A nun without offspring
B. Without desire and without hatred
C. Without the love of gain
 D. All of the above

IV. Which of the following is not a principle of Jainism?

A. entire world is animated
B. Follow the Middle Path
C. Non-injury to living beings
D. Abandon all pleasure of life

24 Read the following source carefully and answer the following MCQs
by choosing the most appropriate option.

The Therigatha

This unique Buddhist text, part of the Sutta Pitaka, is a

collection of verses composed by bhikkhunis. It provides
an insight into women’s social and spiritual experiences.
Punna, a dasi or slave woman went to the river each
morning to fetch water for her master’s household. There
she would daily see a Brahmana performing bathing rituals.
One morning she spoke to him. The following are verses
composed by Punna, recording her conversation with the
Brahmana:
I am a water carrier:
Even in the cold
I have always gone down to the water
frightened of punishment
Or the angry words of high class women.
So what are you afraid of Brahmana,
That makes you go down to the water
(Though) your limbs shake with the bitter cold?
The Brahmana replied:
I am doing good to prevent evil;
anyone young or old
who has done something bad
is freed by washing in water.
Punna said:
Whoever told you
You are freed from evil by washing in the water?…
In that case all the frogs and turtles
Would go to heaven, and so would the water snakes
and crocodiles!
(Instead) Don’t do that thing,
the fear of which
leads you to the water.
Stop now Brahmana!
Save your skin from the cold …

I. Punna convinces the Brahman to:

A. Abandon his purifying water rituals
B. Avoid taking bath in cold water
C. Purify Punna with the rituals
D. Only (A) and (B)

II. According to the Brahmana:

A. He enjoyed his daily dip in water ritual
B. He did the ritual to clean his body
C. A person who has done something bad would be freed
from his sins by washing in the water.
D. All of the above

III. The core of Buddhist philosophy that is being conveyed

through this Gatha is:
A. Taking a ritual bath daily must to purify oneself.
B. One cannot free oneself on sins and evils unless one
performs right actions, speak right words and have right
mindset.
C. It is pointless to wash oneself in water and conduct other
rituals to clean sins and evils.
D. Only (A) and (B)

IV. According to the Buddhist text given, Punna was:

A. A rich widow
B. Brahmanas wife
C. A dasi or slave
D. A learned woman

In the following questions, a statement of assertion followed by a

statement of reason is given. Choose the correct answer out of the
following choices:
 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

1 Assertion (A): Early Buddhist teachings had given great importance to

self effort in achieving nibbana.
Reason (B): They emphasised that the efforts of individual and right
actions can lead them to nibbana.

2 Assertion (A): All Buddha’s speeches were written down during his
lifetime.
Reason (B) Buddhist scholars wrote commentaries on Buddha’s
preaching.

3 Assertion (A) Buddhism grew rapidly during the lifetime of the Buddha
and after his death.
Reason (B) Buddha and other teachers taught mainly through
discussion and debate.

4 Assertion (A): Stories of previous births of Gautam Buddha contain

rules and regulations.
Reason (B): These stories provide regional histories of Buddhism.

5 Assertion (A): Queen Kamalavati advices her husband to abandon all

pleasures of life.
Reason (B): She wanted the king to be free all his responsibilities.

6 Assertion (A): Ashoka distributed portions of Buddha’s relics to

different towns and ordered construction of stupas over them.
Reason (B): He wanted his people to convert to Buddhism.

7 Assertion (A): According to Mahaparinibbana Sutta, Buddha told

Ananda to build thupas (stupa) at the crossroads.
Reason (B): He wanted his devotees to find peace of mind when they
visit the stupas.

8 Assertion (A) : the tradition of erecting stupa may have been pre-
Buddhist, but they came to be associated with Buddhism
Reason (B): Inscriptions found on the railings and pillars of stupas
 record donations made for building and decorating them.

9 Assertion (A): the empty seat indicated that Buddha was in

meditation.
Reason (B): Buddha’s presence was shown through symbols.

10 Assertion (A): Initially, only men were allowed into the Sangha, but
later women also came to be admitted.
Reason (B): This was made possible through the meditation of Ananda,
one of the Buddha’s dearest disciples.

MAP BASED QUESTIONS:

On the political outline map of India, locate and label the following sites:

I. Lumbini
II. Bodhgaya
III. Sanchi
IV. Kishinagar
V. Bharut
VI. Ajanta
VII. Amravati
VIII. Naisk