CBSE Class 12 History Kings Farmers And Towns MCQs Set 02

Question. Identify the best reason for considering King Ashoka as ‘Devanampiya’ or ‘Piyadassi’ by his subjects.
(a) Asoka commissioned the edicts himself.
(b) He adopted the title of ‘Devaputra’.
(c) Epigraphists have concluded him as Devanampiya.
(d) He worked for the well being of society through Dhamma.

Answer : D

Question. Which one of these became the most powerful Mahajanapada between the sixth and the fourth centuries BCE?
(a) Magadha
(b) Kashi
(c) Chedi
(d) Kuru

Answer : A

Question. Sangam is a literature of …………….. language.
(a) Tamil
(b) Malayalam
(c) Sanskrit
(d) Marathi

Answer : A

Question. Which one of the following was the first capital of Magadha?
(a) Rajagaha
(b) Ujjain
(c) Taxila
(d) Gandhara

Answer : A

Question. In which of the following languages have the earliest inscriptions been recorded?
(a) English
(b) Prakrit
(c) Pali
(d) Sanskrit

Answer : B

Question. Rajagaha which was a capital of Maghadha, was a fortified settlement, located amongst hills. Later, in the fourth century BCE, the capital was shifted to Pataliputra, present-day Patna. Idenify the incorrect reason about choosing the city of Patliputra in this aspect.
(a) Patiliputra is situated at the bank of the river Ganga which was a commanding route of communication along the Ganga.
(b) It’s central location in northeastern India led rulers of successive dynasties to base their administrative capital here.
(c) It is Situated at the confluence of the Ganges Gandhaka, and Son rivers, Pataliputra formed a “water fort or jaldurga.
(d) Pataliputra is the capital of Nandas, Mauryans, Sungas and the Guptas down to the Cholas.

Answer : D

Question. Assertion (A): Historians have used a variety of sources to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire.
Reason (R): Arthashastra, composed by Kautilya or Chanakya, was one of the main source to reconstruct the history of the Mauryan Empire.
(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.

Answer : A

Question. Assertion (A): From the sixth century BCE, land and river routes criss-crossed the subcontinent and extended in various directions – overland into Central Asia and beyond, and overseas, from ports that dotted the coastline – extending across the Arabian Sea to East and North Africa and West Asia, and through the Bay of Bengal to Southeast Asia and China.
Reason (R): Merchants travelled these routes with caravans of bullock carts and pack-animals.
(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.

Answer : B

Question. Assertion (A): Nationalist leaders of India, in the twentieth century, regarded King Ashoka as an inspiring figure. A
Reason (R): King Ashoka, arguably the most famous ruler of early India, conquered Kalinga.
(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.

Answer : B

Question. 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.
(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.

Answer : A

Question. Name the language in which the Ashokan inscriptions were written.
(A) Pali, Prakrit and Greek
(B) Pali, Sanskrit and Aramaic
(C) Pali, Prakrit and Aramaic
(D) Pali, Sanskrit and Greek

Answer: c

Question. Scholars from the mid-twentieth century onwards, were primarily interested in the histories of …………….. .
(A) Kings
(B) Issues such as economic change, different social groups, etc.
(C) Religious beliefs of people
(D) Marginalised groups.

Answer: b

Question. James Prinsep was able to decipher Asokan Brahmiin the year
(A) 1835
(B) 1838
(C) 1856
(D) 1738

Answer: b

Question. Scholars in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries were primarily interested in the histories of:
(A) kings
(B) travellers
(C) inventions
(D) None of the Above

Answer: a

Question. Assertion (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.
(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.

Answer: a

CASE-BASED MCQs

Question. Read the following excerpt from the Prayaga Prashasti carefully and answer the questions:

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-thousands 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) … kingship?

Question. This inscription is known as a Prashasti because:
(A) It is composed in praise of its patron.
(B) It is composed by a court poet.
(C) It is treasured as an important account of its patron.
(D) It is composed in Sanskrit.

Answer: a

Question. This excerpt mentions (he is) equal to (the Gods)…. This projects what element of Kingship?
(A) Means of claiming high status by identifying with a variety of deities.
(B) Means of claiming themselves god like.
(C) Means of claiming a number of titles.
(D) All of the above.

Answer: a

Question. Assertion (A): He is possessed of compassion.
Reason (R): He is the giver of many hundredthousand cows; his mind has received ceremonial initiation for the uplift of the miserable, the poor, the forlorn and the suffering…
(A) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are correct but R is not the correct explanation of A.
(C) A is incorrect but R is correct.
(D) R is incorrect but A is correct.

Answer: c

Question. Consider the following statements:
(a) Histories of rulers have been reconstructed from literature, coins and inscription including Prashastis like the one in the excerpt.
(b) While Historians often attempt to draw factual information from such a composition, those who composed and read them often treasured them as works of poetry rather than as accounts that were literally true. This excerpt is an example of such a case.
Choose the correct option:
(A) Both (a) and (b) are correct.
(B) Only (a) is correct.
(C) Only (b) is correct.
(D) Neither (a) nor (b) are correct.

Answer: d