Ans: A

Exp:

Pair 1 is incorrectly matched: The Cheras controlled the central and northern parts of Kerala and the Kongu region of Tamil Nadu. Vanji was their capital and the ports of the west coast, Musiri and Tondi, were under their control. Vanji is identified with Karur, while some scholars identify it with Thiruvanchikulam in Kerala.

Pair 2 is incorrectly matched: The Cholas controlled the central and northern parts of Tamil Nadu. Their core area of rule was the Kaveri delta, later known as Cholamandalam. Their capital was Uraiyur (near Tiruchirapalli town) and Puhar or Kaviripattinam was an alternative royal residence and chief port town. Tiger was their emblem. Kaviripattinam attracted merchants from various regions of the Indian Ocean.

Pair 3 is correctly matched: The Pandyas ruled from Madurai. Korkai was their main port, located near the confluence of Thampraparani with the Bay of Bengal. It was famous for pearl fishery and chank diving. Korkai is referred to in the Periplus as Kolkoi. Fish was the emblem of the Pandyas. Their coins have elephants on one side and a stylised image of fish on the other. 

Ans: B

Exp:

Sillappadikaram was the earliest and greatest of the epics of the Sangam Age. It was written by Ilango Adigal, the younger brother of the celebrated Cheran Senguttuvan, who became a monk in order to allay the fears of Senguttuvan, the reigning king. It is the tragic story of a merchant, Kovalan of Puhar, who falls in love with a dancer, Madhavi, neglecting his wife Kannagi. However, Kannagi avenges the death of her husband in the hands of the Pandyan king and becomes a goddess. It marks the beginning of Kannagi cult or Pattini cult, the worship of the goddess of Chastity. It contains a great deal of social and historical information about the Sangam Age.

Ans: A

Exp: 

The Sabha or manram of the king in the capital was the highest court of justice. The Sangam rulers were famous for impartiality in the administration of justice. Manram is,

• Institution of justice delivery
• It was the common meeting place in the village.
• According to Kural, it was a general assembly dealing with all affairs.

 Ans: D

Exp:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Sangam literature can be dated from its earliest to the first two centuries CE. The poets were men and women were drawn from all classes in society and they were richly rewarded for their compositions.Women poets like Avvaiyar, Nachchellaiyar and Kakkai Padiniyar flourished in this period and contributed to Tamil literature.

Statement 2 is incorrect: Sati or the custom of self-immolation at the death of one’s husband was not generally prevalent during this period. However, some women from the royal family indulged in the practice of Sati.

Ans: B

Exp: 

The term Puranaruru refers to one of the anthologies of poems of Tamil Sangam literature.

• Purananuru contains 400 poems of varying lengths. It is composed of more than 150 poets.
• Purananuru is an important source of information on the political and social history of prehistoric 
• Tamil Nadu as it is mainly concerned with life outside family – kings, wars, greatness, generosity, 
• ethics, and philosophy.
• It is traditionally called the last of the Eight Anthologies (Ettuthokai) in Sangam literature.
• The Purananuru poems use words, phrases, and metaphors that suggest the ancient Tamil society 
• interacted with other parts of the Indian subcontinent.