St. Joseph Chaminade Academy (ICSE)

Question 1 – Multiple Choice Questions (10 marks)

1. The large kingdoms that rose in the 6th century BCE were known as
   (a) Janapadas (b) Mahajanapadas (c) Gramas (d) Sanghas
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   (b) Mahajanapadas
2. Which kingdom became very strong due to its mines, forests and elephants?
   (a) Kosala (b) Avanti (c) Magadha (d) Vatsa
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   (c) Magadha
3. The main reason for growth of bigger towns in the Later Vedic period was
   (a) better trade routes (b) use of iron tools (c) arrival of Greeks (d) new religions
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   (b) use of iron tools
4. During the Gupta period, provinces were called
   (a) vishayas (b) bhuktis (c) janapadas (d) gramas
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   (b) bhuktis
5. Chandragupta II was famous with the title
   (a) Devanampiya (b) Vikramaditya (c) Maharajadhiraja (d) Dharmashoka
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   (b) Vikramaditya
6. The officer who looked after a district in Mauryan times was often called
   (a) yukta (b) rajjuka (c) pradeshika (d) kumaramatya
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   (c) pradeshika
7. Harshavardhana changed his capital city to
   (a) Thanesar (b) Kannauj (c) Pataliputra (d) Ujjain
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   (b) Kannauj
8. The Chinese traveller who came during the Gupta period and wrote about India was
   (a) Xuanzang (b) Fa-Hien (c) I-Tsing (d) Marco Polo
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   (b) Fa-Hien
9. A mahajanapada ruled by a chosen council instead of a king was called a
   (a) monarchy (b) republic (c) dictatorship (d) empire
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   (b) republic
10. The village near the Ganga that later became the great city of Pataliputra was originally called
    (a) Rajagriha (b) Pataligrama (c) Taxila (d) Ujjayini
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    (b) Pataligrama

Question 2 – Answer briefly (5 × 2 = 10 marks)

1. Write two sentences describing how big Ashoka’s empire was.
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   Ashoka’s empire covered almost the whole of India except the far south. It stretched from Afghanistan in the west to Odisha in the east and from the Himalayas to northern Karnataka.
2. Name two great things Samudragupta achieved as a ruler.
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   1. He defeated many kings in north and south India.
   2. He performed the Ashvamedha sacrifice to show his power.
3. What do we mean by “wards” in a Nagar Panchayat?
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   Wards are small areas or divisions in a town from which people elect one councilor each to the Nagar Panchayat.
4. Mention any two important discoveries or ideas of Aryabhata.
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   1. He said the Earth rotates on its axis.
   2. He worked on the value of pi (π) and the place value system.
5. According to the 74th Constitutional Amendment, what is a metropolitan area?
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   A metropolitan area is a big urban region with more than 10 lakh people, including the main city and nearby towns or outgrowths.

Question 3 – Explain the following terms (any 10) (1 mark each)

1. Janapada
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   Early tribal areas or small states in ancient India that later grew into bigger kingdoms.
2. Dhamma
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   Ashoka’s policy of kindness, truth, non-violence and respect for all religions.
3. Monarchy
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   A type of government ruled by a king or queen, usually passed from parent to child.
4. Hellenic
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   Style or influence coming from ancient Greek culture, especially seen in Gandhara art.
5. Octroi
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   Tax charged by a municipality on goods brought into a city.
6. Gandhara Art
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   Buddhist art style from north-west India that mixed Indian and Greek features.
7. Municipal Corporation
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   Local government body for very big cities that manages water, roads, garbage, etc.
8. Mahamatras
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   Special officers appointed by Ashoka to spread dhamma and check administration.
9. Republic
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   A state ruled by elected leaders or a council instead of a king.
10. Brahmi
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    Ancient script used for Ashoka’s rock and pillar edicts.

Question 4 – Match the Following (10 marks)

Question 5 – Picture Study & Functions (10 marks)

(Imagine the picture shows ancient university ruins – Nalanda)

1. Which famous ancient university is shown in the picture?
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   Nalanda
2. Who started / founded this university?
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   Kumaragupta I
3. Name the Chinese scholar who studied here for many years.
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   Xuanzang (Hiuen Tsang)
4. What was very special about this university?
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   It was a huge international learning centre with thousands of students, big library, free education and students from many countries.
5. In which dynasty / age was this university started?
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   Gupta dynasty / age

Mandatory [M] or Voluntary [V] functions (5 marks)

1. Providing safe drinking water to every house →
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   [M]
2. Organising city festivals and fairs →
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   [V]
3. Keeping streets clean and removing garbage →
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   [M]
4. Making and maintaining public gardens →
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   [V]
5. Planting trees on both sides of main roads →
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   [V]

Question 6 – One Word + True/False (10 marks)

Give One Word Answers (5 marks)

1. The Greek ruler who made a treaty with Chandragupta Maurya →
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   Seleucus
2. The last king of the Nanda dynasty →
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   Dhana Nanda
3. The elected leader of a big city corporation →
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   Mayor
4. The share of farm produce given as tax in ancient times →
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   Bhaga
5. The famous capital city of the Mauryan Empire →
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   Pataliputra

True or False (5 marks)

1. Nagar Palika is another name for Municipal Council. →
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   True
2. Nagar Panchayat members are elected for 5 years. →
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   True
3. Chandragupta Maurya was already a king when he met Chanakya. →
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   False
4. Ashoka’s Dhamma encouraged people to fight wars. →
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   False
5. Ashoka respected all religions even after becoming a Buddhist. →
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   True