1. Which of the following rulers was praised in a Sanskrit prashasti for controlling vast territories, including Bengal, Ghazni, and South India?
   A) Akbar
   B) Ashoka
   C) Ghiyasuddin Balban
   D) Sher Shah Suri
   
2. Why do historians believe that the claims made in royal prashastis about the extent of an empire were often exaggerated?
   A) Because rulers always ruled smaller territories than they claimed
   B) Because they were written to impress the king and the people
   C) Because rulers never engaged in territorial expansion
   D) Because there were no written records in ancient times
   
3. Which language did Amir Khusrau note as a common literary language that was not associated with any specific region?
   A) Persian
   B) Hindi
   C) Sanskrit
   D) Arabic
   
4. According to Amir Khusrau, how did regional languages in India compare to Sanskrit?
   A) Sanskrit was spoken by common people across all regions
   B) Sanskrit was an elite language known only to Brahmanas
   C) Sanskrit was used only in South India
   D) Sanskrit was never used in India
   
5. What was one of the main reasons for the rise of large regional states?
   A) The decline of central empires and the rise of local rulers
   B) The increasing influence of European traders
   C) The use of only one language for administration
   D) The complete disappearance of local cultures
   
6. Which of the following best describes a pan-regional empire?
   A) An empire that controlled only one kingdom
   B) An empire that ruled over diverse regions with different cultures
   C) A small kingdom ruled by a local chief
   D) A trade network without political control
   
7. Which dynasty ruled over a vast territory, including North and South India, in the medieval period?
   A) The Cholas
   B) The Mughals
   C) The Palas
   D) The Mauryas
   
8. What impact did large empires have on regional cultures?
   A) Regional cultures disappeared completely under imperial rule
   B) Regional cultures remained separate and unaffected
   C) Regional cultures were influenced by imperial traditions while retaining their uniqueness
   D) Regional cultures replaced imperial traditions entirely
   
9. What happened to regional states after the decline of large empires like the Mughals?
   A) They merged into European colonies immediately
   B) They remained independent but continued to be influenced by imperial policies
   C) They completely rejected the influence of past empires
   D) They united to form a new empire immediately
   
10. Which of the following was NOT a characteristic of regional states in medieval India?
    A) They had their own distinct cultural traditions
    B) They used only one language for administration
    C) They had rulers who adapted imperial ideas to local conditions
    D) They often continued the governance practices of larger empires
    

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Answers and Explanations

1. C) Ghiyasuddin Balban
   The prashasti of Balban claimed he ruled over a vast empire from Bengal to Afghanistan, though historians consider this exaggerated.
   
2. B) Because they were written to impress the king and the people
   Prashastis were often written by court poets who praised rulers to gain royal favor.
   
3. C) Sanskrit
   Amir Khusrau noted that Sanskrit was an elite literary language not tied to any specific region.
   
4. B) Sanskrit was an elite language known only to Brahmanas
   Unlike regional languages spoken by common people, Sanskrit was primarily used by scholars and priests.
   
5. A) The decline of central empires and the rise of local rulers
   As large empires weakened, local rulers gained power and established independent regional states.
   
6. B) An empire that ruled over diverse regions with different cultures
   Pan-regional empires controlled vast areas with multiple languages, traditions, and cultures.
   
7. B) The Mughals
   The Mughal Empire extended over both North and South India, influencing many regional cultures.
   
8. C) Regional cultures were influenced by imperial traditions while retaining their uniqueness
   While imperial policies affected local traditions, regional cultures maintained their distinct identities.
   
9. B) They remained independent but continued to be influenced by imperial policies
   Many regional states, like the Marathas and Rajputs, continued using Mughal administrative systems even after the empire’s decline.
   

B) They used only one language for administration
Regional states used multiple languages for administration, adapting them to local populations.