1. Which of the following ancient Tamil Kingdoms came to be known from Sangam Literature?
[A] Chola
[B] Chera
[C] Pandya
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [ All of the above ]
Notes:
The history of ancient Tamil kingdoms i.e. Cholas, Cheras and Pandyas came to be known from Sangam Literature.
2. Where was the first Tamil Sangam held__?
[A] Madurai
[B] Kapatpuram
[C] Kaveripattnam
[D] Kural
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [ Madurai ]
Notes:
The first tamil Sangam was held to the south of Madurai under the patronage of Makeerthy, the Pandyan king. Agastya was the president of first sangam. Unfortunately, no literary work of this Sangam was available. The second tamil Sangam was held in Kapatpuram, second capital of the Pandyas. The third Tamil Sangam was held in Madurai. Its chairman was a tamil poet Nakkirar.
3. Which of the following book is considered as the ‘Odyssus of Tamil poetry’?
[A] Tirukkural
[B] Manimekalai
[C] Silappadikarma
[D] Jivaka Chintamani
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [ Manimekalai ]
Notes:
Manimekalai is a sequel of an epic ‘Silappatikaram’ written by Seethalai Saathanaar and is considered as the ‘Odyssus of Tamil poetry’.
4. Which of the following was the capital of early Cholas?
[A] Madurai
[B] Karur
[C] Uraiyaur
[D] Kaveripattnam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Uraiyaur]
Notes:
Uraiyaur, now a locality in Tiruchirappalli, was the capital of the early Cholas. It was famous for its cotton trade.
5. The Pattini cult was established by which Sangam ruler?
[A] Nedunjeral Adan, the Chera ruler
[B] Senguttuvan, the Chera ruler
[C] Karikala, the Chola ruler
[D] Nedujeliyan, the Pandyan ruler
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Senguttuvan, the Chera ruler ]
Notes:
Pattini cult was established by Cheran Senguttuvan, a famous ruler during the 2nd century AD. The Pattini cult involved the worship of Kannagi as the ideal wife. Kannagi was the wife of Kovalan, and their story was the subject of the Tamil epic Silappadigalam. The Chera dynasty was one of the four principal Tamil dynasties of Tamilakam, which is present-day Southern India. The Chera dynasty is credited with creating the land of Kerala.
6. Which among the following is a Tamil grammatical treatise ?
[A] Pattupattu
[B] Ettutogai
[C] Silappadikaram
[D] Tolkappiam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tolkappiam]
Notes:
The Tolkappiyam is a work on the grammar of the Tamil language It is written in the form of short formulaic compositions and comprises three books – the Ezhuttadikaram, the Solladikaram and the Poruladikaram.It deals with orthography, phonology, morphology, semantics, prosody and the subject matter of literature.
7. “Kuyil Pattu” is a famous work ascribed to which among the following Tamil Poets?
[A] Bharathidasan
[B] Avvaiyar
[C] Anandabharati Aiyangar
[D] Subramanya Bharathi
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Subramanya Bharathi]
Notes:
Subramanya Bharathi (1882-1921) also known as Mahakavi Bharathiyar was a pioneer of modern Tamil poetry. Subramanya Bharati’s songs are a part of contemporary popular culture and have featured in Tamil cinema in last many decades and also been set to music by famous composers like Illayaraja and sung by celebrated artistes like M.S. Subbulakshmi.
He published his first two collections of poems Swades, Gitanga and Janmabhoomi in 1908. His entire Tamil Literature can be divided into several parts of which the most prominent are the patriotic poems and the devotional poems viz. the Kannan Pattu (collection of songs devoted to Krishna) and Kuyil Pattu (Songs of Kuyil). It was only after his death in 1921, that his literary greatness came to be more and more appreciated and the value of his works Kannan-pattu and Kuyil- pattu was fully recognized. Today, Bharathiar is a household name in Tamil Nadu and a revered poet in rest of India.
8. Which among the following National Parks / Wild Life sanctuaries of Tamil Nadu is called as Top Slip?
[A] Aanamalai National Park
[B] Mudumalai Wildlife Sanctuary
[C] Guindy National Park
[D] Palani Hills National Park
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Aanamalai National Park]
Notes:
Aanaimalai Tiger Reserve was also known as Indira Gandhi Wildlife Sanctuary and National Park is located in the state of Tamil Nadu. The practice of sliding timber logs down the hills from a place located in the northeast corner of the park is named as “Topslip”. It is a famous tourist attraction.
9. Jayamkondam in Tamil Nadu is famous for which among the following minerals?
[A] Bauxite
[B] Lignite
[C] Calcite
[D] Magnesite
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Lignite]
Notes:
Jayamkondam is known for good quality lignite. The Jayakondam power station is a proposed 500-megawatt (MW) lignite-fired power station in Tamil Nadu.
10. Which among the following sites near Pondicherry gives best support to the view on an ancient trade between Rome and the ancient Tamil country of India?
[A] Villianur
[B] Suttukeni
[C] Arikamedu
[D] Andiarpalayam
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Arikamedu]
Notes:
Arikamedu is the site near Pondicherry that best supports the view of ancient trade between Rome and the ancient Tamil country of India. Arikamedu was an important coastal and port town in ancient India. It was located near Puducherry, a union territory of India. Arikamedu was believed to be an active trading port with the Roman Empire as early as the second century BC. Arikamedu exported textiles, beads, and precious stones, and imported wine and olive oil from Rome. It was believed to be the only town to have ties with Rome.
Arikamedu is located about seven kilometers from Pondicherry. The name Arikamedu means “eroding mud”.