EXPLORING INDIAN LITERATURE
TEST I. Directions: Read each questions carefully and choose the letter of your answer.
1. When did India produce a considerable body of literature?
a) 1000 B.C.
b) 500 B.C.
c) 300 B.C.
d) 100 A.D
2. Which language served as the foundation for Indian literature?
a) Tamil
b) Sanskrit
c) Hindi
d) Urdu
3. The earliest known literature of India is called:
a) Mahabharata
b) Vedas
c) Ramayana
d) Panchatantra
4. What does the word "Sanskrit" mean?
a) Ancient
b) Sacred
c) Cultivated
d) Traditional
5. Indian civilization influenced the language and culture of which regions?
a) Europe
b) Asia
c) Both Europe and Asia
d) Africa
6. What concept is associated with the belief that the soul of a person returns to the earth
in the body of another person, animal, or plant?
a) Reincarnation
b) Enlightenment
c) Salvation
d) Liberation
7. The Mahabharata is considered the greatest epic of:
a) Greece
b) India
c) Persia
d) Egypt
8. Who is regarded as the "Indian Shakespeare"?
a) Bhasa
b) Kalidasa
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Vishnu
9. Indian drama is known for its emphasis on:
a) Tragedy
b) Comedy
c) Love
d) War
10. Who is considered a prominent Indian poet and dramatist?
a) Bhasa
b) Kalidasa
c) Rabindranath Tagore
d) Valmiki
11. The Vedas are a collection of traditions handed down:
a) In written form
b) By word of mouth
c) By religious leaders
d) By foreign invaders
12. The Indians believed that a strong belief in which religion is necessary to save
humankind?
a) Hinduism
b) Buddhism
c) Jainism
d) Sikhism
13. The Ramayana is a story about the reincarnation of which god?
a) Shiva
b) Brahma
c) Vishnu
d) Indra
14. How many avatars of Vishnu are believed to have taken place?
a) Five
b) Seven
c) Nine
d) Ten
15. Which Indian epic is the longest in world literature?
a) Mahabharata
b) Ramayana
c) Vedas
d) Panchatantra
16. According to Indian mythology, what will Vishnu do when the tenth avatar takes place?
a) Ascend to heaven
b) End the current world and create a new world
c) Restore peace and purity
d) Go into deep meditation
17. Which characteristic of Indian literature is based on a deeply religious spirit?
a) Poetry and idyllic beauty
b) Historical accuracy
c) Piety
d) Multilingualism
18. What do the Vedas serve as for the Indians?
a) Holy scriptures
b) Epic poems
c) Grammar books
d) Moral guidelines
19. What is the predominant theme in Indian drama?
a) Tragedy
b) Comedy
c) Love
d) War
20. Which Indian collection contains the first fables ever written?
a) Mahabharata
b) Ramayana
c) Vedas
d) Panchatantra
21. Who was Rabindranath Tagore?
a) Prominent Indian poet and dramatist
b) Scholar who translated Indian epics
c) Inventor of Sanskrit grammar
d) Historian of ancient Indian literature
22. Which civilization had a highly developed culture while savages roamed the forests of
Europe?
a) Ancient Greece
b) Ancient Rome
c) Ancient Persia
d) Ancient India
23. What important contributions did India make to the world?
a) Trigonometry, grammar books, phonetics, and chess
b) Astronomy, medicine, architecture, and sculpture
c) Philosophy, literature, theater, and music
d) Agriculture, metallurgy, navigation, and trade
24. What is the significance of the term "avatar" in Indian literature?
a) Divine incarnation or manifestation
b) Symbol of purity
c) Mythical creature
d) Chosen warrior
25. What is the primary theme of the play "Shakuntala" by Kalidasa?
a) Revenge and betrayal
b) Love and devotion
c) War and conquest
d) Mysticism and spirituality
TEST II. RAMAYANA
Directions: Read each questions carefully and choose the letter of your answer.
1. Who is the author of the epic Ramayana?
a) Valmiki
b) Vyasa
c) Tulsidas
d) Kalidasa
2. What is the name of Rama's father in the Ramayana?
a) Dasharatha
b) Dasaraja
c) Janaka
d) Vasishtha
3. Who is the central protagonist of the Ramayana?
a) Ravana
b) Sita
c) Hanuman
d) Rama
4. Which character is known for his loyalty and devotion to Rama?
a) Lakshmana
b) Bharata
c) Sugriva
d) Vibhishana
5. Who abducts Sita in the Ramayana?
a) Rama
b) Ravana
c) Hanuman
d) Lakshmana
6. Which creature helps Rama in his quest to rescue Sita?
a) Monkeys
b) Tigers
c) Eagles
d) Snakes
7. Which demon king is the primary antagonist of the Ramayana?
a) Kumbhakarna
b) Indrajit
c) Vibhishana
d) Ravana
8. Which weapon does Rama use to defeat Ravana?
a) Brahmastra
b) Sudarshana Chakra
c) Pashupatastra
d) Brahma's bow
9. Who is Rama's faithful ally and devotee, known for his strength and intelligence?
a) Lakshmana
b) Bharata
c) Hanuman
d) Sugriva
10. What is the name of the bridge built by the monkey army to reach Lanka?
a) Setu Bandhan
b) Rama Setu
c) Lanka Setu
d) Vanara Setu
11. Which deity provides Rama with a divine bow to marry Sita?
a) Indra
b) Brahma
c) Shiva
d) Vishnu
12. What is the name of Ravana's sister, who tries to seduce Rama?
a) Surpanakha
b) Mandodari
c) Shurpanakha
d) Kaikeyi
13. Which sage advises Rama throughout his journey in the Ramayana?
a) Vishwamitra
b) Narada
c) Agastya
d) Vashishtha
14. How does the Ramayana conclude?
a) Rama is crowned as the king of Ayodhya
b) Ravana emerges victorious
c) Rama sacrifices his life for Sita
d) Sita becomes the queen of Lanka
15. Who is considered the seventh avatar of Lord Vishnu in the Ramayana?
a) Krishna
b) Parashurama
c) Varaha
d) Vamana