KINSHIP, CASTE AND CLASS
Q. 1. Consider the following statements about Mahabharata:
(1) Historians have set aside the traditions as described in
Mahabharata.
(2) It has around 10,000 verses.
(3) The main theme of Mahabharata is about the warring princes
across India.
(4) Its critical edition was started by K. R. Mangalam in 1919 CE.
State which of the above statements are correct?
(A) Only (1)
(B) (1) and (2)
(C) (1), (2) and (4)
(D) None of these
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 2. What does the Sanskrit word ‘Kula’ define?
(A)
Neighbours (B) Families
(C) Deities (D) None of these
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 3. How many verses are there in Mahabharata?
(A) One
lakh (B) 20000
(C) 50000 (D) More than one lakh
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 4. Under the leadership of a noted Indian Sanskritist,V.S.
Sukthankar and his team comprising
dozens of scholars initiated the task of preparing
a critical edition of the Mahabharata. Which of the
following statements is incorrect about the critical
edition of Mahabharata?
(A) The team worked out a method of comparing
verses from each manuscript.
(B) They selected the verses that appeared
common to most versions and published these
in several volumes, running into over 13,000
pages.
(C) These variations were documented in
footnotes and appendices to the main text.
(D) The project took 49 years to complete.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 5. Which one of the following statement is not true regarding
the word, ‘patriliny’ ?
(A) Patriliny had not existed prior to
the
composition of the epic, Mahabharata. The central story of the
Mahabharata established the idea.
(B) Patriliny means tracing descent from father to son, grandson
and so on.
(C) Most ruling dynasties (c. sixth century BCE onwards) claimed
to follow this system, although there were variations in practice.
(D) The concern with patriliny was not unique to ruling families. It
is evident in mantras in ritual texts such as the Rigveda.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 6. Consider the following statements regarding the rules of the
marriage during the Early Societies:
I. At that time sons were
important for the
continuity of the patrilineage, daughters were viewed rather
differently within this framework.
II. At the same time, marrying them into families outside the kin
was considered desirable.
III. The system of exogamy gave rise to the belief that kanyadana
or the gift of a daughter in marriage was an important religious
duty of the father.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
(A) Only I
(B) I
and II
(C) I and III
(D) All of the above
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 7. Which of the following statement is incorrect about the
meaning of Endogamy?
(A) Endogamy refers to marriage outside the unit.
(B) Endogamy refers to marriage within a unit –
this could be a kin group, caste, or a group
living in the same locality.
(C) It is the practice of a man having several wives.
(D) It is the practice of a woman having several
husbands.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 8. Which among the following was a strategy adopted by the
Brahmanas to enforce the varna order?
(A) Assert that varna order was a human creation.
(B) Advised kings to punish those who violated
these norms.
(C) Persuaded people that their status was
determined by birth.
(D) Persuaded people that their status was
determined by occupations they practised.
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 9. Ekalavya belonged to the category of:
(A) Vanik (B)
Mlechchha
(C) Brahmana (D) Nishada
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 10. According to The Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras
Kshatriyas were to engage in ..................... .
(A) warfare, protect people and administer justice,
study the Vedas, get sacrifices performed, and
make gifts
(B) study and teach the Vedas, perform sacrifices
and get sacrifices performed, and give and
receive gifts.
(C) in agriculture, pastoralism and trade.
(D) serving the Brahmans.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 11. Which one 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.
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 12. 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.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 14. Which of the following pairs is not correctly matched?
(A) Kouravas–Son of Gandhari
(B) Ekalavya–Chandala
(C) Pandavas–Sons of Pandu
(D) Suvarnakaras–Goldsmith
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 15. A forest-dwelling or a hunting community is called
(A) Nishada (B) Chandala
(C) Suvarnakaras (D) Shudras
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 16. Which foreign traveller wrote in his account
that“untouchables” had to sound a clapper in the streets so
that people could avoid seeing them.”?
(A) Fa-Hien or
Fa-Xian
(B) Hiuen-Tsang
(C) Marco Polo
(D) Megasthenes,
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 17. Women were allowed to retain the gifts they received on
the occasion of their marriage as:
(A) stridhana (B) manusmriti
(C) biksha (D) None of These
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 18. According to Manusmriti, for women, there are six means
of acquiring wealth. Which one of the
following statement is incorrect regarding those
means?
(A) She could acquire wealth through
any subsequent gift and whatever her
“affectionate” husband might give her.
(B) She could acquire wealth through bridal procession.
(C) She could acquire wealth as a token of
affection, and what she got from her brother,
mother or father.
(D) She could acquire wealth after her husband’s
death.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 19. Sutta Patika is a text belong to ................ religion.
(A)
Hindu (B) Buddhist
(C) Jain (D) None of this
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 20. Which of the following statement is correct regarding the
interpretation of Sutta Pitaka?
(a) Originally human beings did not have fully
evolved bodily forms, nor was the world of
plants fully developed.
(b) All beings lived in an idyllic state of peace,
taking from nature only what they needed for
each meal.
(c) There was a gradual deterioration of this state
as human beings became increasingly greedy,
vindictive and deceitful.
(d) Human beings were not responsible for the
creation of the system, they could not change
it in future.
Which of the following statement(s) is/are correct?
(A) Only a (B)
a and b
(C) a, b, c (D) Only d
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 21. Which of the following statement is not the correct
interpretation of mahasammata?
(A) The idea of leadership was
based purely on choice.
(B) The institution of kingship was based on the choice of God.
(C) Recognition of human agency in creating and
institutionalising economic and social relations.
(D) Human beings were responsible for the creation of the
system, they could also change it in future.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Explanation: The name 'Mahasammata' is usually translated as
'acclaimed by the many', 'the great elect'. There seem to be two
ideas woven into this conception. On the one hand, an elective
and contractual theory of kingship is implied by the fact that he
was chosen by the people and voluntarily remunerated by them;
on the other hand he is chosen because he is the most
handsome in physical form and the most perfect in conduct, he
upholds the dhamma, and he is 'Lord of the Fields'. He is thus in
this second sense 'elect', while in the first sense he is ‘elective'..
Q. 22. Puranaruru is one of the anthologies of poems. To which
literature does it belongs?
(A) Tamil Sangam literature.
(B) Buddhist literature
(C) Sanskrit literature
(D) Bengali literature
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 23. Historians consider several elements when they analyse
texts such as:
(i) They examine the language of the texts
whether they were written in Prakrit, Pali or Tamil, languages that
were probably used by ordinary people, or in Sanskrit, a
language meant almost exclusively for priests and elites.
(ii) They also consider about the kind of texts
like whether these were mantras, learnt and
chanted by ritual specialists, or stories that
people could have read, or heard.
(iii) They also consider author’s perspective about
the text.
(iv) They try and ascertain the possible date of the
composition of the texts as well as the place
where they may have been composed.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(A) Only (i) (B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (i) and (iii) (D) All of the above
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 24. The word ‘Didactic’,means
(A) something that is meant
for purposes of
instruction.
(B) The description of events in a story
(C) Noticeable or sudden and often surprising
(D) Extremely mournful, melancholy or pathetic.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 25. The original story of Mahabharata was probably
composed by
(A) Lord Ganesha
(B) Rishi Veda Vyasa
(C) Charioteer-bards known as sutas.
D) Lord Brahama
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 26. Identify the years span, when an archeologist B.B.Lal
excavated at a village named Hastinapura
in Meerut (Uttar Pradesh)?
(A) 1951–52 (B) 1962–63
(C) 1970–71 (D) 1950–51
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 27. Who wrote the short story,“Kunti O Nishadi”?
(A) Mahadevi Verma
(B) Mahashweta Devi
(C) Krishna
Sobti
(D) Ashapurna Devi
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 28. Present-day historians suggest that the fact that
the
author(s) describe a polyandrous union
indicates that polyandry may have been prevalent
amongst ruling elites at some point of time.
(i) Some historians note that while the practice of
polyandry may have seemed unusual or even
undesirable from the Brahmanical
point of
view, it was (and is) prevalent in the
Himalayan region.
(ii) There may have been a shortage of women
during times of warfare, and this led to
polyandry. In other words, it was attributed to
a situation of crisis.
(iii) The author(s) choose to associate this practice
with the central characters of the Mahabharata
because sometimes creative literature often
has its own narrative requirements and does
not always literally reflect social realities.
Which of the above statement(s) is/are correct?
(A)
Only (i)
(B) (i) and (ii)
(C) (i) and (iii)
(D) All of the above
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Directions : In the following questions, a statement of
Assertion (A) is followed by a statement of Reason (R).
Mark
the correct choice as.
(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 and R is true.
Q. 1. Assertion (A): Historians also investigate and analyse
attitudes towards family and kinship.
Reason (R): It is likely that some of these ideas would have
shaped people’s actions, just as actions may have led to
changes in attitudes.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 2. Assertion (A): With the emergence of new towns, no
change was observed in the beliefs and practices in social life.
Reason (R): A Brahmanical practice, evident from c. 1000 BCE
onwards, was to classify people (especially Brahmanas) in terms
of gotras.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Explanation: With the emergence of new towns, social life
became more complex. People from near and far met to buy and
sell their products and share ideas in the urban milieu. This may
have led to a questioning of earlier beliefs and practices . Faced
with this challenge, the Brahmanas responded by laying down
codes of social behaviour in great detail.
Q. 3. Assertion (A): Brahmanas laying down codes of social
behaviour in great detail. These were meant to be followed by
Kshatriyas in particular and the rest of society in general.
Reason(R) : From c. 500 BCE, these norms were compiled in
Sanskrit texts known as the Dharmasutras and Dharmashastras.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 4. Assertion (A): One Brahmanical practice, evident from c.
1000 BCE onwards, was to classify people
(especially Brahmanas) in terms of gotras .
Reason (R): 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.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 5. Assertion (A): People of some jatis did not easily fit in the
varna system.
Reason (R): People of some jatis organised into groups called
shrenis.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q.6. Assertion (A): Women were expected to give their father’s
gotra and take up their husband’s gotra after marriage.
Reason (R): Women who are married the Satavahana rulers
retained their father’s gotras instead of taking of husband’s gotra.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 7. Assertion (A): Ekalavya shot seven arrows into dog’s
mouth. When the dog returned to the Pandavas, they were
amazed at this superb display of archery.
Reason (R): Drona demanded Ekalavya’s right thumb as his
fee, Ekalavya unhesitatingly cut it off and offered it.
Ans.
Option (B) is correct.
Q. 8. Assertion (A): According to the Shastras, only Kshatriyas
could be kings. However, several important ruling lineages
probably had different origins.
Reason (R): The Shungas and Kanvas, Mauryas were
Brahmanas.
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 9. Assertion (A): Property is to be divided among sons and
women could not claim a share.
Reason (R): Women in ruling families had access to wealth. For
example: Prabhavati Gupta was granted land but such examples
were very rare.
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 10. Assertion (A): Women can retain the gifts they received
during their marriage as stridhana.
Reason (R): This can be inherited by their children. Husbands
had also claim on it.
Ans. Option (C) is correct.
Q. 11. Assertion (A): In Tamil Sangam, men who were generous
were respected, while those who
were miserly or simply accumulated wealth for
themselves were despised.
Reason (R): Tamil Sangam anthologies often illuminate social
and economic relationships,
suggesting that while there were differences
between rich and poor, those who controlled
resources were also expected to share them.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 12. Assertion (A): A wealthy Shudra can live like a rich man,
can have servants and people respect
him.
Reason (R): Economic status determined a person’s status in
society.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 13. Assertion (A): The Buddhists developed an alternative
understanding of social inequalities,
and of the institutions required to regulate social
conflict.
Reason (R): In a myth found in a text known as the Sutta Pitaka
Buddhists suggested that originally
human beings did not have fully evolved bodily
forms, nor was the world of plants fully developed.
All beings lived in an idyllic state of peace, taking from nature only what they needed for each meal.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 14. Assertion (A): From the fifth century BCE,
Brahmanas took over the story of Mahabharata
and began to commit it to writing.
Reason (R): This was the time when chiefdoms such as
those of the Kurus and around whom the story of
the epic revolves, they were gradually becoming
kingdoms. New kings want their
itihasa to be
recorded and preserved more systematically.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 15. Assertion (A): The bodies of nishadas were found
charred and it was believed that the Pandavas and
Kunti were dead.
Reason (R): Kunti arranged for a feast. While most of
the invitees were Brahmanas, a nishada woman
came with her five sons. When they were satiated
with drink and fell off to sleep, the Pandavas
escaped, setting fire to the house.
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 16. Assertion (A): Themes and episodes from the
Mahabharata were depicted in sculpture, paintings,
performing arts (dance, drama) and other kinds of
narrations.
Reason (R): This enormous composition of Mahabharata
is attributed to Sage Vyasa.
Ans. Option (B) is
correct.
I. Read the following excerpt titled
“A Mother’s Advice”
carefully and answer the questions:
Duryodhana
By making peace, you honour your father and me, as well as
your well-wishers...it is the wise man in control of his senses who
guards his kingdom. Greed and anger drag a man away from his
profits; by defeating these two enemies, a king conquers the
earth. You will happily enjoy the earth, my son, along with the
wise and heroic Pandavas. There is no good in a war, no law
(dharma) and profit (artha), let alone happiness; nor is there
(necessarily) victory in the end–don’t set your mind on war.
Duryodhana did not listen to this advice and fought and lost the
war.
Q. 1. Why did Gandhari appeal to her son not to fight against the
Pandavas?
(A) She knew that Pandavas will win.
(B) She knew that Kauravas will win.
(C) She knew that the war will end in a tie.
(D) She knew that it is
not necessary that victory would come in war.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 2. Why did Duryodhana not listen to his mother?
(A) He was overconfident
(B) He was egoistic about his powers.
(C) His advisors pushed him towards war.
(D) All of these.
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 3. What was the cause of war between the Kauravas and the
Pandavas?
(A) Right to Panchayat of Dwarka
(B) Right to throne of Hastinapur
(C) Right to enslave the other party
(D) None of these
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 4. Who won the war in the end?
(A) The Pandavas
(B) The Kauravas
(C) The war ended in a tie
(D) They finally entered into a treaty
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
II. Observe the picture and answer the following
questions by choosing the correct option.
Q. 1. Where has this sculpture been found?
(A) Amravati (B) Hastinapur
(C) Harappa (D) Mohenjodaro
Q. 1. What does the picture depict?
(A) A scene from the Mahabharata
(B) A scene from Jataka tales
(C) A scene from war of Kalinga
(D) None of these
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
Q. 2. Where was this terracotta sculpture found?
(A)
Maharashtra. (B) New Delhi
(C) Tamil Nadu (D) West Bengal
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 3. What is the approximate time period of this sculpture?
(A) Tenth century
(B) Twelfth century
(C) Fifteenth century
(D)
Seventeenth century
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 4. What is the central story behind the sculpture?
(A) Two sets
of warring cousins
(B) Hunter and the lion
(C) Expansion of empire by Asoka
(D) None of these
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
III. Observe the picture and answer the
following questions by choosing the correct option.
Q. 1. To which century does the sculpture belong to?
(A) c. third century BCE
(B) c. second century CE
(C) c. eighth century CE
(D) c. fifteenth century CE
Ans. Option (B) is correct.
Q. 2. How has the sculptor shown the difference between the
chief and his follower?
(A) The chief has placed hand on head of the
follower
(B) The chief is taller than the follower
(C) The chief is in the lead and the follower is
behind him
(D) All of these
Ans. Option (D) is correct.
Q. 3. From which Tamil literature has this been taken?
(A)
Puranaruru (B) Abhigyanam
(C) Kadambini (D) None of these
Ans. Option (A) is correct.
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