Prelims Daily MCQs - Art and Culture + Ancient + Medieval History (5 May)


1. Choose the correct statement

a) Most of Ashoka’s scriptures were in Pali and were written in Kharosthi script.

b) Most of Ashoka’s scriptures were in Prakrit and were written in Kharosthi script.

c) Most of Ashoka’s scriptures were in Pali and were written in Brahmi script.

d) Most of Ashoka’s scriptures were in Prakrit and were written in Brahmi script.

Ans: d

Exp: Ashoka wanted to spread his message of Dhamma, hence he used Prakrit as it was used more by common people compared to Pali. Kharosthi was used only in north-western region, while Brahmi was used for all other regions for writing on the rock edicts and pillars, therefore most scriptures were in Brahmi.


2. Which dynasty was known as lords of Dakshinapatha

a) Chalukyas

b) Sangam Cholas

c) Satvahanas

d) Rashtrakutas

Ans: c

Exp: Dakshinapatha meant the path which leads to the South. As this path went through the territory controlled by the Satvahanas, they were regarded as the lords of the Dakshinpathas.


3. Consider following statements related to Pallavas

  1. Ur was a village assembly where land owners were not Brahmins.
  2. Nagaram was an organization of Merchants.
  3. Sabha was an assembly of Brahmin landowners.

Choose correct statement(s)

a) 1 and 2 only

b) 1 and 3 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) All statements are correct

Ans: d

Exp: These assemblies looked after works like irrigation of land, making of roads and local temples etc. Different kinds of assemblies give an indication about the social setup of those times.


4.  Consider the following statements.

  1. Abul Fazl recorded history of Akbar’s reign in three volumes in Ain-e-Akbari.
  2. The first part recorded details about the administration of Akbar’s court.
  3. The second part recorded the events of Akbar’s reign.

Choose the correct option.

a) 1 only

b) 1 and 2 only

c) 2 and 3 only

d) 3 only

Ans: d

Exp: 1. Abul Fazl recorded history of Akbar’s reign in three volumes in Akbar Nama. The first volume of Akbarnama deals with the history of predecessors of Akbar. The second volume covers the events of Akbar’s reign. The third volume, called the Ā’īn-i-Akbarī, describes the administrative system of the Empire. It also deals with Akbar's household, army, the revenues and the geography of the empire.


5.  Consider following statements regarding foreign travellers.

Fa Hien stayed in Nalanda and visited other famous Buddhist pilgrimage sites.

Xuan Jang visited during the reign of Harshavardhana.

Choose the correct statement(s).

a) 1 only

b) 2 only

c) Both 1 and 2

d) Neither I nor 2

Ans: b

Exp: Fa Hien visited during the reign of Chandragupta II of Gupta dynasty, while Nalanda was founded later by Kumaragupta. Xuan Jang stayed in Nalanda and came to India during the reign of Harshavardhana of Pushyabhuti dynasty.


6. A cube of each side 4 cm, has been painted black, red and green on pairs of opposite faces. It is then cut into small cubes of each side 1 cm.

How many small cubes will have three faces painted ?

a) 4

b) 6

c) 8

d) 10

Ans: c

Exp: Total small cubes = (4/1)3 = 64

The small cube having three faces coloured are situated at the corners of the big cube because at these corners only three faces of the big cube meet.

Therefore the required number of such cubes is always 8, because there are 8 corners.


7. A train 225 meters long is moving at the rate of 54 kmph. In how many seconds will it cross a man standing near the railway line?

a) 12

b) 15

c) 16

d) 18

Ans: b

Exp: D = 225 ; S = 54 kmph ⇒ 54 × 5/18 = 15 m/s

D =TS ⇒ T = D/S = 225/15 = 15

⇒T =15 seconds.


Cover the entire CSAT syllabus in 70 hours.


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