Assertion and Reason: Ashoka The Emperor Who Gave Up War | Class 6: Additional Practice PDF Download

Q1: Assertion(A): Ashoka was one of the most important rulers of the Mauryan Dynasty.
Reason(R): The Mauryan empire was founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, who with the help of Kautilya usurped the Nanda Dynasty.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Ashoka was indeed one of the most significant rulers of the Mauryan Dynasty. He is known for his massive empire and the propagation of Buddhism. The Mauryan empire was indeed founded by his grandfather, Chandragupta Maurya, who overthrew the Nanda Dynasty with the aid of his advisor Kautilya. However, this fact does not explain why Ashoka was an important ruler. His importance is defined by his own actions and policies, hence the reason does not explain the assertion.

Q2: Assertion(A): Merchants, officials and craft persons most probably resided in cities like Ujjain and Taxila.
Reason(R): Taxila was a major gateway to the northwest, including Central India, while Ujjain lay on the route from North to South India.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
It is likely that merchants, officials, and craft persons lived in cities like Ujjain and Taxila as these cities were significant trading and administrative centers. However, the reason given, which pertains to the strategic locations of these cities, does not explain why these specific groups of people resided there.

Q3: Assertion(A): Mauryas found it difficult to control the vast areas between various centres.
Reason(R): Arthashastra tells us that the North-west was important for blankets, and South India for its gold and precious stones.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The Mauryas did find it challenging to control the vast areas between various centres. However, the Arthashastra's note on the importance of the North-west for blankets and South India for its gold and precious stones does not explain this difficulty. The difficulty in administering a vast empire is more related to the geographical vastness, communication difficulties, and the diverse cultures and languages of different regions.

Q4: Assertion(A): Many a foriegn scholars and dignitaries came during the time of Mauryan empire.
Reason(R): Megasthenes was an ambassador who was sent to the court of Chandragupta by the roman ruler Seleucus Nicator.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Many foreign scholars and dignitaries did visit the Mauryan empire, contributing to the cultural and intellectual richness of the period. While Megasthenes was indeed an ambassador sent to Chandragupta's court by the Roman ruler Seleucus Nicator, this fact does not explain why other foreign scholars and dignitaries also visited the Mauryan empire.

Q5: Assertion(A): The war of Kalinga turned out to be a turning point in the life of Ashoka and changed the spectrum of Ancient India’s history.
Reason(R): Kalinga was a war of succession which Ashoka fought against 99 of his brothers. Kalinga is the ancient name of Coastal Orissa.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The war of Kalinga indeed changed Ashoka's outlook and the trajectory of Ancient India’s history as it led Ashoka to embrace Buddhism and non-violence. However, the reason given is incorrect. The war was not a war of succession against Ashoka's brothers, but a territorial expansion war against the independent state of Kalinga.

Q6: Assertion(A): Long after the Kalinga war was over, Ashoka was still haunted by the sheer barbarity of it all.
Reason(R): Ashoka, through his inscriptions, reiterated his belief that winning the people over through Dhamma is much better than conquering them through force.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Ashoka was indeed deeply affected by the barbarity of the Kalinga war, which led him to embrace Buddhism and non-violence. However, the reason given does not explain this. While Ashoka did propagate Dhamma and believed in winning people over through it, these beliefs were the result of his remorse over the Kalinga war, not the reason for his remorse.

Q7: Assertion(A): Drawing comparisons with how a father tries to teach his children, Ashoka felt he had a duty to instruct his subjects.
Reason(R): Ashoka was greatly inspired by the teachings of the Buddha. His Dhamma did not involve worship of a God, or performance of a sacrifice.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Ashoka did indeed feel a duty to instruct his subjects, much like a father with his children. However, the reason given does not explain this. While Ashoka was inspired by the teachings of Buddha, this inspiration does not directly explain his paternalistic approach to governance.

Q8: Assertion(A): Ashoka appointed officials, known as the Dhamma Mahamatta who spread the Dhamma.
Reason(R): During Ashoka’s reign as a king he came across a variety of social anomalies and injustice which made him take this step.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Ashoka did appoint officials known as Dhamma Mahamatta to propagate Dhamma. While Ashoka did encounter various social anomalies and injustices during his reign, this does not directly explain why he appointed Dhamma Mahamatta. The Dhamma Mahamattas were appointed to propagate Ashoka's Dhamma and ensure moral governance, not specifically to address social anomalies and injustices.

Q9: Assertion(A): Ashoka did not confine his Dhamma to the Indian Subcontinent.
Reason(R): He sent his ambassadors and dignitaries to other lands such as Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Ashoka did indeed propagate his Dhamma beyond the Indian Subcontinent, sending ambassadors to lands like Syria, Egypt, Greece, and Sri Lanka. This indeed explains why his Dhamma was not confined to the Indian Subcontinent.

Q10: Assertion(A): Ashoka believed in equal respect and care of all living beings.
Reason(R): This could be verified by the fact that he arranged for medical treatment of both human beings and animals.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Ashoka did indeed believe in equal respect and care for all living beings. This belief is indeed evident in his arrangement for medical treatment for both human beings and animals.

Q11: Assertion(A): Artisans and sculptors flourished during the reign of Mauryan dynasty.
Reason(R): The Rampurwa bull, part of the Mauryan pillar found in Bihar is an example of skills of sculptors at the time.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Artisans and sculptors did indeed flourish during the reign of the Mauryan dynasty. The Rampurwa bull, a part of a Mauryan pillar found in Bihar, is indeed a testament to the skills of the sculptors of the Mauryan era.

Q12: Assertion(A): Slaves were treated no different than others during the reign of Ashoka.
Reason(R): Treating all creatures with compassion, respecting one’s elders was more fruitful according to Ashoka.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The assertion regarding the treatment of slaves during Ashoka's reign is incorrect. Slaves were not treated the same as others; they were a part of the servile labor force. The reason regarding Ashoka's teachings about compassion and respect for elders does not have a direct correlation with the treatment of slaves.

Q13: Assertion(A): Most of Ashoka’s inscriptions were in Prakrit and were written in Brahmi script.
Reason(R): Most modern scripts have been developed from the Brahmi script over hundreds of years.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: b
Ashoka's inscriptions were indeed in Prakrit and were written in the Brahmi script. However, the development of modern scripts from the Brahmi script over hundreds of years does not explain why Ashoka's inscriptions were in Prakrit and Brahmi script.

Q14: Assertion(A): The importance of officials increased greatly during the reign of the Mauryan Empire.
Reason(R): Emperors needed more resources than kings because empires are larger than kingdoms and more officials are needed to keep people in check and collect taxes.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The importance of officials did indeed increase during the reign of the Mauryan Empire. This was because the empire was larger than previous kingdoms, necessitating more officials for administration and tax collection.

Q15: Assertion(A): There was delegation of responsibilities in different parts of the Mauryan Empire.
Reason(R): Royal princes were sent as Governors to govern far off areas and to exude better control.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
There was indeed delegation of responsibilities in different parts of the Mauryan Empire. Royal princes were sent as Governors to govern far-off areas, which indeed facilitated better control of these areas. 

Q16: Assertion(A): Different parts were ruled differently during the Mauryan Empire.
Reason: The area surrounding Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor. Provinces were run by Princes, where local rules and customs were followed.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
Different parts of the Mauryan Empire were indeed ruled differently. The area around Pataliputra was under the direct control of the emperor, while provinces were ruled by princes with local rules and customs being followed. This indeed explains the different styles of governance in different parts of the empire.

Q17: Assertion(A): There was an understanding between people living in remote areas and Mauryan administrators.
Reason(R): People living in forested regions were more or less independent but were expected to provide elephants, timber, honey and wax.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
There was indeed an understanding between people living in remote areas and Mauryan administrators. These people were more or less independent but were expected to provide elephants, timber, honey, and wax, which explains the nature of their relationship with the Mauryan administrators.

Q18: Assertion(A): Mauryan Empire reached its absolute peak under the reign of Ashoka.
Reason(R): Extension of the empire took place without any conquests, trade routes like Taxila and Ujjain were controlled with utmost perfection, there was peace and harmony and collective acceptance of Ashoka’s Dhamma.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: a
The Mauryan Empire did indeed reach its peak under Ashoka's reign. This was due to the extension of the empire without conquests, the control of important trade routes, and the peace, harmony, and acceptance of Ashoka's Dhamma.

Q19: Assertion(A): The great wall of China was built as a show of power by the emperors of that time.
Reason(R): It was meant to protect the northern frontier of the empire from Pastoral people.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The assertion is incorrect. The Great Wall of China was built primarily for defense purposes, to protect the empire from invasions from the north, not as a show of power. The reason given is correct.

Q20: Assertion(A): Ashoka was one of the first rulers to have his inscriptions inscribed on pillars as well as on rock surfaces.
Reason(R): The lions that we see on our notes and coins, known as Ashok Emblem, were carved on a massive stone pillar at Sarnath.
(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 but R is false.
(d) A is false but R is true
Ans: d
The assertion is incorrect. While Ashoka did have his inscriptions inscribed on pillars and rock surfaces, he was not the first ruler to do so. The reason given is correct. The Ashokan Emblem, which we see on our notes and coins, was indeed carved on a stone pillar at Sarnath.