9. Culture and Science (History Quiz)

9. Culture and Science (History Quiz) Questions

• 1

  What is true about Iron Pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi?
  i. The pillar has not rusted
  ii. Harshvardhan name is mentioned on the pillar
  iii. It weighs over 3 tonnes

  A. Only i and ii
  B. Only i and iii
  C. Only ii and iii
  D. All of them

  Answer - B

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • The iron pillar at Mehrauli, Delhi is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian crafts persons.
  • It is made of iron, 7.2. m high, and weighs over 3 tonnes.
  • It was made about 1500 years ago.
  • Gupta dynasty ruler Chandragupta Vikramaditya name was mentioned in an inscription on the pillar.
  • The pillar has not rusted in all these years. Addition of phosphorous in the iron has prevented it from rusting.

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• 2

  What is true regarding stupas?
  i. It is a place for meditation of Jains.
  ii. A small box called relic casket was placed in the east direction in the stupa

  A. Only i
  B. Only ii
  C. Both i and ii
  D. None

  Answer - D

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • Stupa means a mound.
  • There are several kinds of stupas, round and tall, big and small
  • This is a place for Buddhists to meditate
  • There is a small box placed at the centre or heart of the stupa which contains bodily remains (such as teeth, bone or ashes) of the Buddha or his followers, or things they used, as well as precious stones, and coins

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• 3

  What is true regarding Harappans?
  i. They had knowledge of copper metallurgy
  ii. Their successors belonged to Iron Age.

  A. Only i
  B. Only ii
  C. Both i and ii
  D. None

  Answer - C

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • Archaeological excavations show that the Harappans were master craftsmen and had knowledge of
  • copper metallurgy.
  • They manufactured bronze by mixing copper and tin.
  • Harappans belonged to the Bronze Age and their successors belonged to the Iron Age.

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• 4

  What is true about Garbhagriha?
  A. Place where Image of chief deity was placed
  B. No person was allowed in this place
  C. Place for meditation of Buddhist monks
  D. Place for assembly of people

  Answer - A

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  The most important part of the temple was the room known as the garbhagriha, where the image of the chief deity was placed.
  It was here that priests performed religious rituals, and devotees offered worship to the deity
  A tower known as the shikhara, was built on top of the garbhagriha, to mark this out as a sacred place

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• 5

  What is true about Monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram?
  i. They were carved out of single piece of stone
  ii. People had to work from top to downwards to build this

  A. Only i
  B. Only ii
  C. Both
  D. None

  Answer - C

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • They were carved out of a huge, single piece of stone (that is why they are known as monoliths).
  • While brick structures are built up by adding layers of bricks from the bottom upwards, in this case the stone cutters had to work from top downwards

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• 6

  Where shikharas were built on?
  A. Stupa
  B. Mandapa
  C. Garbhagriha
  D. Pradakshina patha

  Answer - C

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  Shikhara was built on top of the garbhagriha, to mark this out as a sacred place. Building shikharas required careful planning.

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• 7

  Which of the following is false regarding building a temple?
  A. Kings or Queens used to decide to build it
  B. Extra taxes were imposed for building it
  C. Gifts brought by devotees used to decorate the building
  D. Name of the people who paid for decoration were inscribed on pillars/walls of it.

  Answer - B

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • Kings or queens decided to build the temples as it was an expensive affair.
  • Kings and queens spent money from their treasury to pay the crafts persons who worked to build these.
  • Devotees who came to visit the temple or the stupa, often brought gifts, which were used to decorate the buildings
  • The others who paid for decorations were merchants, farmers, garland makers, perfumers, smiths, and hundreds of men and women who are known only by their names. Their names were inscribed on pillars, railings and walls.

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• 8

  Which of the following is true regarding Ajanta Caves?
  i. Name of the persons who made them were written there
  ii. Most of them were monasteries for Buddhist monks
  A. Only i
  B. Only ii
  C. Both i and ii
  D. None

  Answer - B

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  • Ajanta is a place where several caves were hollowed out of the hills. Most of these were monasteries for Buddhist monks, and some of them were decorated with paintings.
  • As the caves are dark inside, most of the paintings were done in the light of torches.
  • The colours, which are vivid even after 1500 years, were made of plants and minerals.
  • The artists who created these splendid works of art remain unknown.

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• 9

  Epics are-
  i. Long compositions
  ii. Stories about Gods
  iii. Stories about heroic men and women
  A. Only I and ii
  B. Only i and iii
  C. only ii and iii
  D. all of them

  Answer - D

  Solution

  Points to know-
  Epics are grand, long compositions, about heroic men and women, and include stories about gods.

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• 10

  Who composed Silappadikaram?
  A. Ilango
  B. Sattanar
  C. Kalidasa
  D. Kovalan

  Answer - A

  Solution

  Points to Know-
  A famous Tamil epic, the Silappadikaram, was composed by a poet named Ilango around 1800 years ago.
  It is the story of a merchant named Kovalan, who lived in Puhar and fell in love with a courtesan named Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi.

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