Languages — Set 3
Arts & Culture · भाषाएं · Questions 21–30 of 50
Which of the following is the official language of the state of Sikkim?
Correct Answer: A. Nepali
• **Nepali** = This is the most widely spoken and official language of the state of Sikkim. • **22 languages** — Nepali is one of the 22 languages recognized in the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bodo: mainly spoken in Assam; Manipuri: official language of Manipur; Dogri: spoken primarily in the Jammu region of Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh.
The ancient script from which most modern Indian scripts evolved is?
Correct Answer: A. Brahmi
• **Brahmi** = This ancient script is the progenitor of almost all modern scripts used in South Asia. • **Ashoka's edicts** — The most famous examples of the Brahmi script are found in these inscriptions from the Mauryan period. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Hieroglyphic: an ancient Egyptian writing system; Kharosthi: another ancient Indian script, but less influential and written right to left; Aramaic: an ancient Semitic script, from which Kharosthi is derived, but not the direct ancestor of most modern Indian scripts.
Which language is spoken by the largest number of people in the world as a first language?
Correct Answer: D. Mandarin Chinese
• **Mandarin Chinese** = This language holds the distinction of having the largest number of native speakers globally. • **1.1 billion+** — The approximate number of native Mandarin Chinese speakers worldwide, mainly due to China's large population. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Hindi: ranks high but is not the largest; English: most widely spoken overall (including second language users), but not the largest first language; Spanish: ranks high but has fewer native speakers than Mandarin.
What is the official language of the state of Andhra Pradesh?
Correct Answer: A. Telugu
• **Telugu** = This is the primary and official language of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. • **1953** — Andhra Pradesh was the first Indian state to be formed on a linguistic basis in this year, recognizing Telugu. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Kannada: official language of Karnataka; Malayalam: official language of Kerala; Tamil: official language of Tamil Nadu.
The term 'Lingua Franca' refers to a?
Correct Answer: C. Common bridge language
• **Common bridge language** = A lingua franca is a language used for communication between people who speak different native languages. • **English** — In modern global contexts, this language often serves as the global lingua franca. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Secret code: a system of communication known only to a specific group; Sacred language: a language used for religious purposes; Dead language: a language no longer spoken as a native language.
Which language is written in the 'Vatteluttu' script in ancient South India?
Correct Answer: B. Tamil
• **Tamil** = **Vatteluttu** was an early cursive writing system primarily used for this language in ancient South India. • **Brahmi** — The Vatteluttu script is believed to have evolved from a southern variant of this ancient Indian script. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Malayalam: has its own Malayalam script; Kannada: uses the Kannada script; Telugu: uses the Telugu script. While Vatteluttu was also used in parts of Kerala, its primary association is with early Tamil.
The language 'Meiteilon' is another name for which state's official language?
Correct Answer: B. Manipur
• **Manipur** = **Meiteilon** is the native name for the Manipuri language, which is the official language of this state. • **Meitei Mayek** — This is the indigenous script used for writing Meiteilon, which has seen a revival in recent times. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Mizoram: official languages are Mizo and English; Tripura: official languages are Bengali, Kokborok, and English; Nagaland: official language is English, with various local Naga languages.
Which organization in India is responsible for the promotion of Hindi globally?
Correct Answer: A. Kendriya Hindi Sansthan
• **Kendriya Hindi Sansthan** = This autonomous organization, headquartered in Agra, is primarily dedicated to the promotion and teaching of Hindi, including globally. • **Ministry of Education** — The Kendriya Hindi Sansthan operates under the administrative control of this central ministry. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Sahitya Akademi: India's national academy of letters, promoting literature in all recognized Indian languages; Vishwa Hindi Sammelan: a World Hindi Conference, which is an event, not a permanent organization; Bureau of Indian Standards: responsible for standardization and quality certification of goods.
The 'Hindustani' language is a blend of which two languages?
Correct Answer: B. Hindi and Urdu
• **Hindi and Urdu** = **Hindustani** is a common vernacular that serves as the linguistic base for both standardized Hindi and Urdu. • **Mahatma Gandhi** — He advocated for Hindustani as a unifying national language for India due to its widespread understanding. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Bengali and Odia: distinct Eastern Indo-Aryan languages; Sanskrit and Pali: ancient Indo-Aryan languages, with Pali being a Middle Indo-Aryan Prakrit; Marathi and Gujarati: distinct Western Indo-Aryan languages.
Which language uses the 'Tirhuta' script traditionally?
Correct Answer: A. Maithili
• **Maithili** = **Tirhuta**, also known as Mithilakshar, is the traditional script historically used for writing this language. • **Devanagari** — While Tirhuta is traditional, this script is now more commonly used for writing Maithili. • 💡 Wrong-option analysis: Assamese: uses the Assamese script (closely related to Bengali script); Bhojpuri: often written in Devanagari or Kaithi scripts; Bengali: uses the Bengali script.