Art & Culture

CDS 20255 questions

1. Q1

   Consider the following statements: 1. Erok Sim is a festival mainly celebrated by the Santhal community. 2. Sangken is a Buddhist festival celebrated in Arunachal Pradesh. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

   • A1 only
   • B2 only
   • CBoth 1 and 2
   • DNeither 1 nor 2
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

   Erok Sim is a festival associated with the Santhal (Santal) community, and Sangken is a Buddhist water festival celebrated by the Tai Khamti and other communities in Arunachal Pradesh, so both statements are correct (option C).

2. Q2

   The popular poem “Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali rani thi” (Like a man she fought, she was the Rani of Jhansi) was written by :

   • AMahadevi Varma
   • BSubhadra Kumari Chauhan
   • CAmrita Pritam
   • DBalamani Amma
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   Correct answer: (B) Subhadra Kumari Chauhan

   The famous patriotic poem 'Khoob ladi mardani woh to Jhansi wali rani thi' was written by the Hindi poetess Subhadra Kumari Chauhan. Mahadevi Varma, Amrita Pritam and Balamani Amma were other noted writers but none authored this particular verse on Rani Lakshmibai.

3. Q3

   In which one of the following states are the Guntupalle Buddhist Caves located ?

   • AAndhra Pradesh
   • BKarnataka
   • CTamil Nadu
   • DKerala
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   Correct answer: (A) Andhra Pradesh

   The Guntupalle (Guntupalli) rock-cut Buddhist caves, with their distinctive chaitya hall and stupas, are located in Eluru district of Andhra Pradesh. This makes option A correct; they are not in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu or Kerala.

4. Q4

   Consider the following statements about Ajanta Cave paintings : 1. The paintings depict yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras. 2. The artists have used the technique of providing “multiple perspectives”. Which of the statements given above is/are correct ?

   • A1 only
   • B2 only
   • CBoth 1 and 2
   • DNeither 1 nor 2
   Show answer & solution

   Correct answer: (C) Both 1 and 2

   Both statements about the Ajanta paintings are correct. The murals do depict celestial beings such as yakshas, gandharvas and apsaras alongside Jataka scenes, and the artists employed the technique of "multiple perspectives" to show figures and events from more than one viewpoint. Hence C.

5. Q5

   The book 'The Art of War' was written by :

   • ANiccolo Machiavelli
   • BThucydides
   • CThomas Hobbes
   • DJ.S. Mill
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   Correct answer: (A) Niccolo Machiavelli

   Among the options, Niccolo Machiavelli authored a treatise titled 'The Art of War' (Dell'arte della guerra, 1521). Thucydides, Hobbes and Mill wrote other political/historical works, so A is correct.