From the free UGC NET History Mock Test 1 — Unit 1: Negotiating the Sources unit-wise mock test — real question, real answer, real explanation.
In Harappan archaeology, the site of Dholavira is uniquely distinguished by which urban feature?
Exclusive reliance on sun-dried mud bricks with no stone masonry
Tripartite division of the city and sophisticated stone water reservoirs ✓
Complete absence of a citadel area
Circular planned houses built along radial streets
Dholavira in Gujarat is unusual among Harappan sites for its three-part city division (citadel, middle town, lower town) and an elaborate system of stone-cut water reservoirs and channels, reflecting sophisticated water management in an arid region.
The Nirukta, an ancient treatise on etymology and philology, was composed by which scholar?
Panini
Yaska ✓
Pingala
Katyayana
Yaska's Nirukta is the earliest surviving systematic work on etymology, explaining difficult Vedic words — it is one of the six Vedangas and a crucial tool for interpreting archaic Vedic vocabulary correctly.
Which Sangam epic narrative centers around the revenge of Kannagi following the wrongful execution of her husband Kovalan?
Manimekalai
Silappadikaram ✓
Sivaka Chintamani
Kundalakesi
Silappadikaram ("The Tale of the Anklet"), attributed to Ilango Adigal, tells of Kannagi's grief and rage after the Pandyan king wrongly executes her husband Kovalan — it is one of the "five great epics" of Tamil literature and a major Sangam-era source.
The Mehrauli Iron Pillar Inscription near Delhi celebrates the military achievements of a monarch identified as 'Chandra'. Who is he generally identified with?
Chandragupta Maurya
Chandragupta I (Gupta)
Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) ✓
Chandradeva Gahadavala
Most historians identify the "Chandra" of the Mehrauli Iron Pillar inscription with Chandragupta II (Vikramaditya) of the Gupta dynasty, based on the described conquests, though the identification has been debated.
Coins featuring the image of the monarch playing the Veena (lute) were issued by which ancient Indian ruler?
Kanishka I
Samudragupta ✓
Harsha
Rudradaman I
Samudragupta issued a distinctive "Lyrist" or Veena-player type gold coin depicting himself playing the instrument, reflecting his self-projected image as a cultured king skilled in music, alongside his more famous "Ashvamedha" and "Tiger-slayer" coin types.
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Take the Free Mock Test →This question is part of our free Unit-Wise mock test series, drawn from the same real question bank used across every UGC NET History mock test on this site. For structured, chapter-by-chapter notes covering everything these questions test, see our UGC NET History Notes, or try the History Glossary Flashcard Quiz for daily term-by-term practice.
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Itihaaskar — UGC NET/JRF & UPSC History Optional notes by Parveen Malik (B.Tech. (CSE), M.A. (History), History JRF). Also spelt Itihaskar.
