MCQ on Agriculture in the Sangam literature of Tamil Nadu

MCQ on Agriculture in the Sangam literature of Tamil Nadu for ICAR-JEF, ICAR-SRF, ICAR-NET, IBPS-AFO/SO, Pre-PG, BHU Pre-PG, IFFCO-AGT, CCI, FCI, B.sc, M.sc, All Agriculture Competitive Exams. 1. Which period does the Sangam literature belong to? a) 200 AD to 500 AD b) 100 BC to 200 AD c) 200 BC to 100 AD d) 500 BC to 200 BC – **Answer: c) 200 BC to 100 AD** – Explanation: The Sangam literature belongs to the period between 200 BC to 100 AD. 2. What was the primary occupation of the population in the Tamil region during the Sangam period? a) Trading b) Agriculture c) Fishing d) Hunting – **Answer: b) Agriculture** – Explanation: The main profession of the population during the Sangam period was agriculture. 3. Which regions were included in the Tamil region during the Sangam period? a) Tamil Nadu and Kerala b) Tamil Nadu and Karnataka c) Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh d) Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh – **Answer: d) Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh** – Explanation: The Tamil region during the Sangam period included Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, and parts of Andhra Pradesh. 4. Who is known as the “Tamil grandfather” for his efforts in collecting and publishing Sangam literature? a) Tholkappier b) Thiruvalluvar c) Swaminatha Iyer d) Thirumalai Nayakkar – **Answer: c) Swaminatha Iyer** – Explanation: Swaminatha Iyer, popularly known as “Tamil grandfather,” collected and published Sangam literature. 5. Which poem from the Sangam period provides descriptions of various agricultural aspects? a) Thirukural b) Tholkappiyam c) Silappadikaram d) Manimekalai – **Answer: b) Tholkappiyam** – Explanation: Tholkappiyam provides descriptions of various agricultural aspects during the Sangam period. 6. How many groups were the lands classified into according to Tholkappiyam? a) Three b) Four c) Five d) Six – **Answer: b) Four** – Explanation: Land was classified into four groups: mullai, Kurinji, marudham, and neithal. 7. Which one of the following is not a classification of land according to Tholkappiyam? a) Hills b) Coastal areas c) Rivers d) Cultivable lands – **Answer: c) Rivers** – Explanation: Tholkappiyam classified land into hills, coastal areas, and cultivable lands, but not rivers. 8. Who authored the poem Tholkappiyam? a) Thiruvalluvar b) Thirumalai Nayakkar c) Tholkappier d) Swaminatha Iyer – **Answer: c) Tholkappier** – Explanation: Tholkappier authored the poem Tholkappiyam. 9. What does Tholkappiyam give descriptions of? a) Religious practices b) Social hierarchy c) Agricultural aspects d) Political structure – **Answer: c) Agricultural aspects** – Explanation: Tholkappiyam provides descriptions of various agricultural aspects. 10. What material was used for writing manuscripts during the Sangam period? a) Paper b) Palmyra leaves c) Papyrus d) Animal skins – **Answer: b) Palmyra leaves** – Explanation: Manuscripts during the Sangam period were written on palmyra leaves. 11. Which of the following crops were ratooned according to the text? a) Rice b) Millets c) Sugarcane d) Coconut – **Answer: c) Sugarcane** – Explanation: Sugarcane was one of the crops that were ratooned, as mentioned in the text. 12. How were plants considered according to the Sangam literature? a) Inanimate objects b) Non-living entities c) Living beings with sensitivity d) Mechanical structures – **Answer: c) Living beings with sensitivity** – Explanation: Plants were considered as living beings and endowed with sensitivity in the Sangam literature. 13. Who considered agricultural development as their primary duty according to the text? a) Merchants b) Farmers c) Kings d) Priests – **Answer: c) Kings** – Explanation: Kings considered agricultural development as their primary duty, as stated in the text. 14. What was considered the yardstick of prosperity of the country according to the text? a) Population growth b) Industrial development c) Increased agricultural production d) Foreign trade – **Answer: c) Increased agricultural production**  – Explanation: Increased agricultural production was considered a yardstick of prosperity of the country. 15. Who was responsible for raising the bunds of the river Cauvery, according to the text? a) Farmers b) Slaves from a conquered country c) Priests d) Kings – **Answer: b) Slaves from a conquered country** – Explanation: The king Karikal Cholan brought 1000 slaves from a conquered country to raise the bunds of the river Cauvery. 16. What was used for ploughing according to the text? a) Oxen b) Horses c) Buffaloes d) Elephants – **Answer: c) Buffaloes** – Explanation: Buffaloes were used for ploughing, as mentioned in the text. 17. What was considered superior to shallow ploughing? a) Deep ploughing b) Surface ploughing c) Vertical ploughing d) Circular ploughing – **Answer: a) Deep ploughing** – Explanation: Deep ploughing was considered superior to shallow ploughing. 18. What was used for leveling paddy according to the text? a) Wooden plough b) Metal rake c) Parambu d) Hoe – **Answer: c) Parambu** – Explanation: A labour-saving tool called parambu was used for leveling paddy. 19. According to the text, when should irrigation be given? a) Mid-day b) Early morning or late evening c) Afternoon d) Night – **Answer: b) Early morning or late evening** – Explanation: Irrigation should be given either in the early morning or late evening, not during hot mid-day. 20. What is considered a masterpiece of engineering even today according to the text? a) Stone dam across the river Cauvery b) Wooden bridge across the river Ganges c) Irrigation canal in the Indus Valley d) Aqueduct in Rome – **Answer: a) Stone dam across the river Cauvery** – Explanation: The stone dam constructed across the river Cauvery centuries ago is considered a masterpiece of engineering even today. 21. What tools were used to lift water from wells, tanks, and rivers according to the text? a) Hoe and shovel b) Amiry, keilar, and yettam c) Plough and rake d) Scythe and sickle – **Answer: b) Amiry, keilar, and yettam** – Explanation: Tools such as amiry, keilar, and yettam were used to lift water from wells, tanks, and rivers. 22. Which tools were used for scaring birds in millet fields? a) Hoe and shovel b) Scythe and sickle c) Thattai and kavan d) Plough and rake –