UPSC Essentials brings to you its initiative of daily subject-wise quizzes. These quizzes are designed to help you revise some of the most important topics from the static part of the syllabus. Each day, we cover one new subject. Attempt today’s subject quiz on History, Culture and Social Issues to check your progress. Come back tomorrow to solve the Environment, Geography, Science and Technology MCQs. Don’t miss checking the answers and explanations at the end of the quiz.

1. It is a classical dance form of Kerala.

2. It is characterized by swaying and circular movements.

3. It comprises about 40 different basic movements called adavukal.

The above mentioned statements refer to which classical dance?

(a) Kuchipudi

(b) Mohiniyattam

(c) Bharatnatyam

(d) Kathakali

QUESTION 2

Consider the following Harappan settlements:

1. Banawali

2. Padta bet

3. Kalibangan

4. Mohenjodaro

What is the correct chronological order of these sites from south to north?

(a) 2—4—3—1

(b) 1—2—3—4

(c) 4—3—1—2

(d) 3—1—4—2

QUESTION 3

Which of the following is not a general characteristic of Kui language?

(a) Absence of words

(b) Inadequate number of words

(c) It belongs to aboriginal dialects of the Austroasiatic group of languages

Festive offer

(d) There are no abstract nouns to express an ideal entity

QUESTION 4

Which of the following forts was built by Alauddin Khilji with the motive to fortify his kingdom?

(a) Purana Qila

(b) Siri Fort

(c) Hauz Khas Fort

(d) Adilabad Fort

QUESTION 5

Consider the following statements:

1. It is also known as ‘mankur mango’ or ‘malcorado’.

2. They are priced premium due to an early ripening and harvesting season and a restricted supply.

Which of the following states has got the geographical indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry for the above mentioned mango?

(a) Karnataka

(b) Kerala

(c) Maharashtra

(d) Goa

ANSWERS TO THE MCQs

1. (b)

FYI:

— Mohiniyattam with its origins in Kerala, is one of the lesser known of the eight Indian classical dance forms — the other seven being Bharatnatyam, Katahak, Kathakali, Sattriya, Oddissi, Kuchipudi and Manipuri.

It is characterized by swaying and circular movements, the dance form is very slow in comparison to the other.

— The origin and popularity of this dance form are strongly linked to the legendary Tamil dance master Vadivelu, one of the Thanjavur quartets.

— The phrase Mohiniyattam is derived from the words mohini, meaning a woman who enchants observers, and aattam, meaning smooth and seductive body movements.

— The main themes of the dance form Mohiniyattam are love and devotion to God, with the lead role usually being Lord Vishnu or his avatar Lord Krishna.

Mohiniyattam consists of approximately 40 various basic motions known as adavukaland its performance style is distinguished by hip swaying and delicate movements with a straight body posture from side to side.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: http://www.keralatourism.org)

2. (a)

FYI:

— Archaeologists from the University of Kerala, collaborating with Krantiguru Shyamji Krishna Varma Kachchh University, Bhuj, discovered a mass burial site with 500 burials on the outskirts of Khatiya hamlet in Gujarat’s Kutch district in 2018.

— The presence of the skeleton, as well as pottery artefacts and animal bones excavated by archaeologists from a hillock known as Padta Bet, indicates the presence of a 5,200-year-old Harappan settlement 1.5 kilometers from the mass burial ground of Juna Khatiya, an Early Harappan necropolis.

— Within the four-hectare area of ​​Padta Bet, the researchers identified two localities where archaeological deposits were discovered during excavation: Locality 2 with artefacts from the Early Harappan era (3,200 BC to 2,600 BC), Mature Harappan era (2600 BC to 1900 BC ), and Late Harappan era (1900 BC to 1700 BC), and Locality 1 with artefacts from the Mature Harappan era and Late Harappan era.

The correct order of the given sites from south to north is Padta bet, Mohenjodaro, Kalibangan, and Banawali.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

3. (c)

FYI:

— According to the Author, Friend-Pereira, JE in his book – A Grammar of the Kui Language, The Kui language is one of the uncultivated aboriginal dialects of the Dravidian group of languages.

— The Dravidian languages ​​belong to the class of Agglutinative languages.

— The general characteristics of Kui languages ​​are:

1. Absence of words that means the higher forms of thought. Hence, There are no abstract nouns to express an ideal entity as existing separate and distinct from a concrete object.

2. Inadequate number of words to mark and differentiate between the various kinds of moral qualities and the various forms of higher activities.

3. Absence of any systematic attempt by the addition of formative particles as in the literary languages:

(i) To draw a distinction between the substantival and verbal forms of words.

(ii) to discriminate between the intransitive and transitive signification of verbs and the substantial adjectival forms of nouns, and

(iii) to form a group of related words from a common generic root.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

(Other Source: indianculture.gov.in)

4. (b)

FYI:

— The Siri fort is located in the heart of the capitalthe fort is the second among the seven cities of Delhi and the first to be built by a Muslim ruler — Alauddin Khilji.

Siri was constructed with the motive to fortify his kingdom.

— Among the many administrative buildings and palaces, the Hazar Sutun, a majestic palace with a thousand pillars, deserves the most credit. Siri housed Hauz-e-Alai, a magnificent reservoir… Rajiv Tiwari writes in his book Delhi: A Travel Guide.

— The glory of Siri at its prime has also been acknowledged by Timurlane — the Mongol ruler who invaded Delhi in the 14th century.

— Siri had practically lost all its glory until the Asian Games gave it a new lease of life in 1982. The residential quarters built for foreign participants in the Asian Games at Siri.

Therefore, option (b) is the correct answer.

5. (d)

FYI:

— Mangoes, known in Goa as ‘mankurad’, are the most popular of the coastal state’s more than 80 unique varieties, and sell for an average of Rs 5,000 per dozen in local marketplaces.

— The mangoes, also known as ‘mankur mango’ or ‘malcorado’, are priced premium due to an early ripening and harvesting season and a restricted supply, according to vendors and producers.

— This variety of mangoes was originally called ‘malcorado’, meaning poor color in Portuguese. The word later metamorphosed to mankurad over a period of time.

Goa ‘mankurad’ mango, or ‘mankurad’, got the geographical indication (GI) tag from the Geographical Indications Registry in Chennai.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 62)

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 61)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment, Geography, Science and Technology (Week 61)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 61)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 61)

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