Preliminary - Page 5 of 7

Milindapanho is in the form of a dialogue between the king Menander and Buddhist monk:

(a) Nagasena
(b) Nagarjuna
(c) Nagabhatta
(d) Kumarilabhatta

Ans: (a) Nagasena

Explanation: Milindapanho wasn’t written by one person. It is the collected dialogue between the Indo-Greek kingMilinda (or Meander) and the Buddhist sage Nagasena.

The famous dialogue between Nachiketa and Yama is mentioned in the:

(a) Chhandogyopanishad
(b) Mundakopanishad
(c) Kathopanishad
(d) Kenopanishad

Ans: (c) Kathopanishad

Explanation:Kathopanishad is the conversation betweenNachiketa and Yamraj (God of death). Nachiketa wasa seeker, and Yamraj was a Guru (knower of secrets).

Which one of the following scripts of ancient India was written from right to left?

(a) Brahmi
(b) Nandnagari
(c) Sharada
(d) Kharosthi

Ans: (d) Kharosthi

Explanation:Kharosthi script was deciphered by JamesPrinsep (1799–1840), using the bilingual coins of theIndo-Greek period. This in turn led to the reading ofthe Edicts of Ashoka, some of which, from thenorthwest of the Asian subcontinent, were writtenin the Kharosthi script.

Which one of the following statements regarding Ashoka stone pillars is incorrect?

(a) These are highly polished
(b) These are monolithic
(c) The shaft of pillars is tapering in shape
(d) These are parts of architectural structures

Ans: (d) These are parts of architectural structures

Explanation:Ashoka stone pillars were meant to spread hisDhamma (not the part of architectural structure).

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below the lists:

List-I	List-II
A. Gupta	1. Badami
B. Chandella	2. Panamalai
C. Chalukya	3. Khajuraho
D. Pallava	4. Deogarh

Codes:
(a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 1; D – 2
(b) A – 4; B – 2; C – 3; D – 1
(c) A – 2; B – 3; C – 4; D – 1
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2

Ans: (a) A – 4; B – 3; C – 1; D – 2

Explanation:

List-I	List-II
A. Gupta	4. Deogarh
B. Chandella	3. Khajuraho
C. Chalukya	1. Badami
D. Pallava	2. Panamalai

Badami was also known as Vatapi in Bijapurdistrict of Karnataka. Panamalai or Kanchi in TamilNadu was the capital of Pallavas.

Which one of the following texts of ancient India allows divorce to a wife deserted by her husband?

(a) Kamasutra
(b) Manava Dharma Shastra
(c) Sukra Nitisara
(d) Arthashastra

Ans: (d) Arthashastra

Explanation:Arthashastra was written by Kautilya. In thisbook ‘Moksha’ has been used for divorce.

Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer:

List-I	List-II
A. Vishakhadatta	1. Medicine
B. Varahamihira	2. Drama
C. Charaka	3. Astronomy
D. Brahmagupta	4. Mathematics

Codes:
(a) A – 1; B – 3; C – 4; D – 2
(b) A – 2; B – 1; C – 3; D – 4
(c) A – 2; B – 3; C – 1; D – 4
(d) A – 3; B – 4; C – 1; D – 2

Ans: (c) A – 2; B – 3; C – 1; D – 4

Explanation:

List-I	List-II
A. Vishakhadatta	2. Drama
B. Varahamihira	3. Astronomy
C. Charaka	1. Medicine
D. Brahmagupta	4. Mathematics

Vishakhadatta wrote a drama named “MudraRakshasa”.

Which one of the following sculptures was invariably used green schist as the medium?

(a) Maurya sculptures
(b) Mathura sculptures
(c) Bharhut sculptures
(d) Gandhara sculptures

Ans: (c) Bharhut sculptures

Who among the following is known for his work on medicine during the Gupta period?

(a) Saumilla
(b) Sudraka
(c) Shaunaka
(d) Susrutha

Ans: (d) Susrutha

Explanation:Susrutha Samhita was written by Susrutha. Hewas said to have been the best surgeon during theGupta period.

In the context of ancient Indian society which one of the following terms does not belong to the category of the other three?

(a) Kula
(b) Vamsa
(c) Kosa
(d) Gotra

Ans: (c) Kosa

Explanation:Kosa was used for treasury and the rest of thethree terms were related to family.