How the Land Becomes Sacred — Hard

Q1. Read the two statements about punyakshetra and choose the correct option. Statement A: A tirtha is usually located on the banks of a river or a lake, in a forest or on a mountain — so the natural landscape itself is seen as sacred space, or punyakshetra. Statement B: This perception has helped to protect and preserve Nature, since we are not distinct from her.

• A. Both A and B are true, and B explains A
• B. Both A and B are true, but B does NOT explain A
• C. A is true, B is false
• D. A is false, B is true

Q2. Consider the following statements about how the chapter defines sacredness: I. Sacredness is connected only with formal religion and ritual. II. Sacredness is also connected with geography and all sorts of traditions. III. In India, sacredness includes something more than religion — the very land covered by pilgrim routes. Which of the above statements are CORRECT as per the chapter?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. I, II and III

Q3. Match the Buddhist sacred site with the descriptor given in the chapter: I. Great Stupa, Sanchi II. Mahabodhi Stupa, Bodh Gaya III. Bodh Gaya (visitors) A. Receives more than four million visitors every year B. The place where the Buddha attained enlightenment C. A relic stupa, also seen in 'The Rise of Empires'

• A. I-C, II-B, III-A
• B. I-A, II-B, III-C
• C. I-B, II-C, III-A
• D. I-C, II-A, III-B

Q4. Match the three Sikh takhts named in the chapter with their cities: I. Takht Sri Patna Sahib II. Akal Takht III. Takht Sri Keshgarh Sahib A. Anandpur B. Patna C. Amritsar (within the Golden Temple)

• A. I-B, II-C, III-A
• B. I-B, II-A, III-C
• C. I-A, II-B, III-C
• D. I-C, II-B, III-A

Q5. Consider the following statements about the Kumbh Mela as per the chapter: I. The Kumbh Mela has been listed by UNESCO as an 'intangible heritage of the world'. II. Prayagraj hosts the Kumbh Mela every six years. III. The Kumbh Mela is held only at Prayagraj. Which are CORRECT?

• A. I and II only
• B. II and III only
• C. I and III only
• D. I, II and III

Q6. The chapter quotes Jawaharlal Nehru (1961): 'What has drawn our people from the south to the north and from the north to the south in these great pilgrimages? It is the feeling of one country and one culture.' What does this quote BEST support in the chapter's argument?

• A. That pilgrimages helped build a feeling of one country and one culture across India
• B. That pilgrimage routes were created mainly by the British government
• C. That sacred geography is unique to South India alone
• D. That tirthayatra is purely a religious act with no social meaning

Q7. Assertion (A): The peepul tree (ashvattha, Ficus religiosa) is regarded as sacred across many Indian traditions. Reason (R): The peepul is sacred to Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism, and its leaves are even seen on a seal from Mohenjo-daro.

• A. Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A
• B. Both A and R are true, but R is NOT the correct explanation of A
• C. A is true, R is false
• D. A is false, R is true

Q8. Match the sacred mountain or hill with the location/deity given in the chapter (Fig. 8.9): I. Mount Kailash II. Vaishno Devi Temple III. Tiruvannamalai IV. Tirumala hills A. Katra B. Tamil Nadu C. Sacred mountain in the Himalayan region D. Lord Balaji

• A. I-C, II-A, III-B, IV-D
• B. I-A, II-C, III-D, IV-B
• C. I-C, II-D, III-A, IV-B
• D. I-B, II-A, III-C, IV-D

Q9. Ravi reads the caption to Fig. 8.4 in his textbook. Which set of facts about the Pandharpur wari is CORRECTLY given in the caption?

• A. An 800-year-old tradition in Maharashtra; held annually; pilgrims walk in large groups to the Vithoba temple in Pandharpur
• B. A 200-year-old tradition in Karnataka; held every six years; pilgrims travel by train
• C. An ancient Tamil tradition; held only once in a lifetime; pilgrims go to the Sabarimala temple
• D. A modern Sikh pilgrimage; held monthly; pilgrims walk to Anandpur

Q10. Consider the following about the Belur image (Fig. 8.5) as described in the chapter: I. Vishnu, in his boar avatar, is shown crushing a demon and saving Bhudevi. II. Bhudevi is identified with Mother Earth. III. The image is at Mahabodhi temple, Bihar. Which of these statements are CORRECT?

• A. I and II only
• B. I and III only
• C. II and III only
• D. I, II and III

Q11. Read the two statements about the Dongria Khond and choose the correct option. Statement A: For the Dongria Khond, cutting trees on Niyam Dongar is prohibited and considered a sign of disrespect to the deity. Statement B: Niyam Raja is believed to provide everything they need for sustenance.

• A. Both A and B are true, and B explains A
• B. Both A and B are true, but B does NOT explain A
• C. A is true, B is false
• D. A is false, B is true

Q12. Match the trade route or place with its description as given in the chapter: I. Uttarapatha II. Dakshinapatha III. Pratishthana A. Modern Paithan B. Connected the north-western and eastern parts of the Subcontinent C. Route from Kaushambi through Ujjayini

• A. I-B, II-C, III-A
• B. I-A, II-B, III-C
• C. I-C, II-A, III-B
• D. I-B, II-A, III-C

Q13. Which is NOT a correct statement about pilgrims and traders as described in the chapter?

• A. Pilgrims need various items, which traders can provide, so their routes often overlap
• B. Some traders also doubled as pilgrims, carrying their wares while visiting sacred sites
• C. Pilgrim routes were always kept strictly separate from trade routes by royal order
• D. Goods traded along these routes included shells, pearls, coins, gold, diamonds, cotton, spices and sandalwood

Q14. The 'Think About It' box shows pictures of polluted rivers (Yamuna, Mahanadi, Kaveri) and asks 'Whose responsibility is it to preserve the sanctity of our sacred places?'. The chapter's summary on the next page answers this by linking the duty to

• A. Only the courts of law
• B. Only foreign tourists
• C. Our duty to protect our national heritage, as our Constitution also reminds us
• D. Only the religious gurus of each tradition

Q15. Aarti's teacher reads out David Suzuki's statement from the chapter — 'If a mountain is a deity, not a pile of ore; if a river is one of the veins of the land, not potential irrigation water…' What is the MAIN message Suzuki wants the reader to take?

• A. Mountains and rivers should be used only for mining and irrigation
• B. The way we SEE the world (as sacred kin or as mere resources) shapes the way we TREAT it
• C. Mountains and rivers cannot be deities in modern times
• D. Only farmers should care about rivers and mountains