IAS Art & Culture Test Questions - Set - 5

1)   Which of the following elements were used for decoration by the Delhi Sultanate in their arches?

1) Animal figures
2) Human figures
3) Verses of Quran
4) Scrolls of flowers


a. Only 1, 3 and 4
b. Only 3 and 4
c. Only 2, 3 and 4
d. All of the above
e. Only 2, 3 and 4
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Only 3 and 4

Explanation:
Animal and human figures were considered un-Islamic. Calligraphy was used in a major way for decoration.


2)   What is the decorative device found on all the buildings of Firuz Shah Tughlaq?

a. Lotus
b. Lily
c. Rose
d. Rose petals
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Lotus

Explanation:
The Tughlaqs did not use costly Redstone but used cheaper and easily available greystone. Since it was difficult to carve this type of stone, the decoration was minimum. But lotus was found on the buildings of Firuz Shah.


3)   What is Arabesque?

a. A style of calligraphy of Arabs
b. A style of decoration of buildings used by Turks
c. A style of painting by introduced by Arabs
d. A style of painting by introduced by the Mughals
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: A style of decoration of buildings used by Turks

Explanation:
The Turks used geometrical and floral designs, combining them with panels of inscriptions containing verses from the Quran. The combination of these decorative devices was called Arabesque. They also freely borrowed Hindu motifs like bell motif, bel motif, swastika, lotus, etc.


4)   Which Sufi saint was called a ‘perfect’ or siddha by other yogis?

a. Qutbuddin Bakhtiyar Kaki
b. Nizamuddin Auliya
c. Shihabuddin Suhrawardi
d. Moinuddin Chisti
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Nizamuddin Auliya

Explanation:
He adopted yogic breathing exercises so much so that the other yogis called him siddha or ‘perfect’.


5)   Which of the following statement/s is/are correct regarding Sufi silsilahs?

1) The Chistis accepted the service of the state and some of them held important posts in the ecclesiastical.
2) The Suharwadis on the other hand preferred to keep aloof from the state politics and shunned the company of nobles and rulers.


a. Only 1
b. Only 2
c. Both 1 and 2
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Chistis remained aloof and Suharwadis accepted the service of the state. However in their own ways both helped the rulers by creating climate of opinion in which people belonging to different sects and religions could live in peace and harmony.


6)   Before accepting Bhakti as one of the recognized road to salvation, which of the following was/were the only road/roads to salvation?

1) Dnyana
2) Karma
3) Bhaav


a. 1 and 2
b. 2 and 3
c. 1 and 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: 1 and 2

Explanation:
Dnyana (Knowledge) and Karma (Action) led to domination of priests. Bhakti emphasized bhaav, faith in god, love towards god and service to humanity, etc. thus removing need for the priests.


7)   Which disciples of Ramananda are correctly matched with their profession?

1) Kabir ---------- Tailor
2) Raidasa ------- Butcher
3) Pipa ------------ Weaver
4) Sadhana ------ Rajput prince


a. Only 1, 2 and 3
b. Only 2, 3 and 4
c. All of the above
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
He chose his disciples from all sections of society disregarding caste. His disciples were: a) Kabir, a Muslim weaver b) Raidasa, a cobbler c) Sena, a barber d) Sadhana, a butcher e) Dhanna, a Jat farmer f) Naraharai, a goldsmith and g) Pipa, a Rajput prince.


8)   In the Bhakti tradition, who popularized kirtans?

a. Tukaram
b. Surdas
c. Chaitanya
d. Namdev
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Chaitanya

Explanation:
The early sufis popularized musical gatherings called ‘sama’. Chaitanya popularized kirtans or musical gatherings as a special form of mystic experience.


9)   Amir Khusrau experimented with all poetical  forms and created a new style of Persian called

a. Urdu
b. Sabaq-i-hindi
c. Khaliq Bari
d. Hindavi
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Sabaq-i-hindi

Explanation:
It means style of India. He also created new ragas like ainam, ghora, sanam, etc.


10)   Who translated from Sanskrit to Persian the famous book called ‘Tuti Nama’?

a. Isami
b. Ziauddin Barani
c. Zia Nakshabi
d. Jami
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Zia Nakshabi

Explanation:
During the rule of Muhammad Tughlaq, Zia Nakshabi was the first to translate into Persian Sanskrit stories which were related by a parrot to a woman whose husband had gone on a long journey. It proved very popular and was subsequently translated into Turkish and many European languages.


11)   ‘Tuzuk-i-Baburi’ was written by

a. Ziauddin Barani
b. Babur
c. Abul Fazl
d. Akbar
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Babur

Explanation:
It was his memoirs. He wrote in Turkish language. He is regarded as one of the two most famous writers in the Turkish Language. As a prose writer he had no equal. Tuzuk-i-Baburi is considered one of the classics of world literature.


12)   Mughals were fond of gardens and running water. Who established this tradition?

a. Lodis
b. Humayun
c. Babur
d. Sher Shah
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Babur

Explanation:
Babur laid a number of formal gardens with running water thus establishing a tradition.


13)   Akbar propagated the idea of ‘sulh-i-kul’, which meant

a. Peace to all
b. Divine Monotheism
c. God is great
d. Divine illumination
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Peace to all

Explanation:
In sulh-i kul all religions and schools of thought had freedom of expression but on condition that they did not undermine the authority of the state or fight among themselves. The ideal of sulh-i kul was implemented through state policies – the nobility under the Mughals was a composite one comprising Iranis, Turanis, Afghans, Rajputs, Deccanis – all of whom were given positions and awards purely on the basis of their service and loyalty to the king.


14)   New religion propagated by Akbar was

a. Sulh-i-kul
b. Insan-i-kamil
c. Farr-i-izzadi
d. Tauhid-i-ilahi
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Tauhid-i-ilahi

Explanation:
The word used by Abul Fazl and Badayuni for the so-called new religion of Akbar was ‘tauhid-i-ilahi’ (Divine Monotheism). It was really an order of Sufistic type. Many times it’s written as Din-i-Ilahi. But original word is Tauhid and not Din. Din means Faith. Din was applied to it 80 years later.


15)   Under which Mughal emperor was European painting introduced at the court by the Portuguese priests?

a. Humayun
b. Akbar
c. Jahangir
d. Shah Jahan
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Akbar

Explanation:
Under their influence principles of foreshortening was adopted. In it nearby and distant people and things could be placed in perspective.


16)   Who compiled the Sikh scriptures called Adigranth or Granth Sahib?

a. Guru Ram Das
b. Guru Har Govind
c. Guru Nanak
d. Guru Arjun Das
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Guru Arjun Das

Explanation:
Guru Arjan das was the fith guru who created the 11 th (current) guru of the Sikhs – Granth sahib/Adigranth.


17)   The first Indian building to use the Persian double dome is

a. Taj Mahal
b. Humayun’s Tomb
c. Jama Masjid
d. Moti Masjid
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Humayun’s Tomb

Explanation:
Humayun’s Tomb used double dome and is pre-cursor to Taj Mahal. It has a massive dome of marble. This device enabled a bigger dome to be built with a smaller one inside.


18)   Which of the following were influenced by the Mughal traditions of Architecture?

1) Golden Temple
2) Panch Mahal
3) Qutub Minar


a. Only 1
b. Only 1 and 2
c. Only 2 and 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation  Related Ques

ANSWER: Only 1

Explanation:
Harmandir of the Sikhs called the Golden Temple at Amritsar was built on the arch and dome principle and incorporated many features of the Mughal traditions of Architecture.


19)   The main characteristic feature of the Nagara style of architecture was?

a. Shikhar
b. Tall curved spiral roof over the garbhagriha
c. Mandapa
d. Compound Wall
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Tall curved spiral roof over the garbhagriha

Explanation:
The most representative temples of this style are found in North India and Deccan. E.g. Khajurao in M.P. and at Bhubaneshwar in Orissa, Sun Temple of Konark in Orissa etc.


20)   Which are correctly matched pairs of Saints with their location of preaching?

1) Mira Bai ----------- Gujarat
2) Chaitanya --------- Western Uttar Pradesh
3) Surdas -------------- Bengal and Orissa
4) Ramananda ------- Banaras and Agra


a. Only 2 and 3
b. Only 2, 3 and 4
c. Only 1 and 4
d. None of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: None of the above

Explanation:
Mirabai – Rajasthan; Chaitanya - Bengal and Orissa; Surdas - Western Uttar Pradesh; Ramananda - Banaras and Agra; Madhava – Kannada region; Nimbarka and Vallabhacharya - Telungana region


21)   Which temple has its 56 carved pillars emitting musical notes?

a. Hawa Mahal
b. Vijaya Vitthala Temple
c. Hazara Ramaswami Temple
d. Krishnaswami Temple
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Vijaya Vitthala Temple

Explanation:
It was built in the Vijaynagar Kingdom at Hampi. Hampi was capital of Vijaynagar. Hazara Ramaswami, Krishnaswami and Vitthalaswami temples were built by Krishnadevraya.


22)   Who is not a propagator of the Bhakti cult amongst the following?

a. Tukaram
b. Dadu
c. Muktabai
d. Tyagaraja
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Tyagaraja

Explanation:
Tyagraja was a composer of Carnatic Music. He is famous for composing devotional songs.


23)   Which of the following is/are included in the Nine jewels of Akbar’s Court (Navaratnas)?

1) Birbal
2) Abul Fazl
3) Abul Faizi
4) Raja Man Singh
5) Todar Mal


a. Only 1 and 5
b. Only 1, 2, 3 and 5
c. Only 1, 2 and 4
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: All of the above

Explanation:
Birbal; Faizi; Todar Mal; Raja Man Singh; Abdul Rahim Khan-I-Khana; Fakir Aziao-Din; Tansen; Mulla Do-Piyaza; Abu'l-Fazl ibn Mubarak – are the Navaratnas.


24)   Which of the following ruler/rulers had Navaratnas in their courts?

1) Akbar
2) Vikramaditya
3) Chandragupta Maurya


a. Only 1 and 2
b. Only 2 and 3
c. Only 1 and 3
d. All of the above
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Only 1 and 2

Explanation:
The court of Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) was adorned by the celebrated Navratnas. Kalidasa remain the foremost among them. Varahamira and Amarsimha too were among them.


25)   Which of the following is not an art book?

a. Babur Nama
b. Akbar Nama
c. Tutu Nama
d. Padshah nama
Answer  Explanation 

ANSWER: Tutu Nama

Explanation:
Zia Nakshabi was the first to translate Sanskrit stories into Persian. The book Tutu Nama or Book of the Parrot became popular and translated into Turkish and later into many European languages.