CBSE Class 10 English The Sermon at Benares VBQs

Multiple Choice Questions

Question. The lesson talks of Buddha’s life as prince to show that ........... .
(a) he lived a happy and fulfilling life
(b) he was a prosperous man
(c) he was a pampered and a wealthy man
(d) he was ignorant to the sufferings of the world
Answer. (b) 

Question. Prince Siddhartha lived for ten years as befitted royalty. What does the underlined phrase mean?
(a) Royal person
(b) Someone who lives by royal treasures
(c) Someone who lives as a king or a queen should
(d) None of the above
Answer. (c) 

Question. What could be the reason that Prince Siddhartha was shielded from the sufferings of the world?
(a) To prevent him from becoming a great spiritual leader as foretold on his birth.
(b) He was unable to accept the truth about the sufferings of the world.
(c) He did not want to see the sufferings of the world.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (a)

Question. For how much time did Gautama sit under the peepal tree?
(a) Seven years
(b) Six years
(c) Seven days
(d) Four days
Answer. (c) 

Question. What does the word ‘enlightenment’ mean in the context of the chapter ‘The Sermon at Benares’?
(a) A state of being innocent
(b) A state of high spiritual knowledge
(c) A state of deserted brain
(d) A state of begging alms
Answer. (b)

Question. What does the sermon in the chapter ‘The Sermon at Benares’ reflect?
(a) Buddha’s wisdom
(b) Buddha’s enlightenment
(c) Story of Kisa Gotami
(d) Death is common to all
Answer. (a) 

Question. Why did Kisa Gotami want to bring her dead child back to life? Choose the least possible reason.
(a) She could not accept the truth that her only son was dead.
(b) She believed in rebirths.
(c) She believed that medicine could cure her son.
(d) None of the above
Answer. (b) 

Question. “She has lost her senses. The boy is dead.” – Who is ‘she’ and ‘the boy’ in the given sentence?
(a) Kisa Gotami and her dead husband
(b) Kisa Gotami and Gautam Buddha
(c) Kisa Gotami and her dead son
(d) Kisa Gotami and a man from neighbourhood
Answer. (c) 

Question. Why do you think Gautam Buddha ask Kisa Gotami to bring mustard seeds from the house where no one had ever died?
(a) To put her down.
(b) To make her realise that death is common to all.
(c) To keep her busy till he was cured her son.
(d) All of the above
Answer. (b) 

Question. Those who do not grieve are ……… …
(a) arrogant
(b) proud
(c) happy
(d) wise
Answer. (d) 

Question. Which of the following statement is not true in accordance with the chapter ‘The Sermon at Benares’?
(i) The real name ofGautamBudhhawas PrinceDevdatt.
(ii) The sight of a monk begging alms moved the prince towards the path of enlightenment.
(iii) Kisa Gotami was grieving for her dead husband.
(iv) It took Gautam Buddha ten years to gain enlightenment.
(v) Prince Siddhartha was married at the age of sixteen.
(vi) Prince Siddhartha was shielded from the sufferings of the world till twenty five years of his life.
(a) (i), (iv) and (v)
(b) (i), (iii) and (iv)
(c) (ii), (v) and (vi)
(d) (i), (ii) and (iii)
Answer. (b) 

Question. Which of the following are the teachings of Buddha as mentioned in the chapter ‘The Sermon at Benares’?
(i) The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief and combined with pain.
(ii) There is no means by which those that have been born can avoid dying.
(iii) The fate of men is like city lights which flicker up and then extinguish again in darkness.
(iv) Not from weeping nor from grieving will anyone obtain peace of mind.
(a) Option (i)
(b) Option (ii) and (iii)
(c) Options (i), (ii) and (iv)
(d) None of these
Answer. (c)

Extract Based MCQs

1. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

At twelve, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred scriptures and years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty.
At about the age of twenty-five, the prince here to fore shielded from the sufferings of the world, while going out on hunting, chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnessed.

Question. What was the unintended effect of the sights Buddha see?
(a) He felt dejected and sorrowful
(b) He renounced royalty
(c) He decided to become an ascetic
(d) He decided to consult a pandit
Answer. (a) 

Question. What did the prince see while he was out on hunting?
(a) He saw a sick and aged man.
(b) He saw a funeral procession.
(c) He saw a monk begging for alms.
(d) All of the above
Answer. (d)

Question. Choose the option that lists the set of statements that are NOT TRUE according to the given extract.
(i) He was Lord Buddha.
(ii) He was kept away from sorrows of life.
(iii) He was just ten years old when he left the kingdom.
(iv) He became a beggar because he was dethroned.
(v) He gained enlightenment.
(vi) His son was ten years old when he left the kingdom.
(a) (iii) and (iv)
(b) (i) and (iv)
(c) (ii) and (v)
(d) (ii) and (vi)
Answer. (a)

Question. Pick the option that correctly classifies Fact/s(F) and Opinion/s (O) given below.
1. He was born a prince and was kept away from sorrows.
2. He should not have taken such a rash decision.
3. His wife and son must have hated him.
4. He was the enlightened one.
(a) F- 1, 3 and O-2, 4
(b) F-2, 3 and O-1, 4
(c) F-1, 4 and O-2, 3
(d) F-1 and O-2, 3, 4
Answer. (c)

Question. He decided to seek
(a) self-consciousness
(b) enlightenment
(c) cure for people frompain
(d) helpless people fromsorrow
Answer. (b)

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

Poor Kisa Gotami now went from house to house, and the people pitied her and said, “Here is mustard-seed; take it!” But when she asked, “Did a son or daughter, a father or mother, die in your family?” they answered her, “Alas! the living are few, but the dead are many. Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” And there was no house but some beloved one had died in it.

Question. The community’s response to Kisa in the above extract was somewhat different from before. Why do you think that was the case?
(a) They had learnt from Buddha’s sermons.
(b) They were able to help Kisa in some way this time.
(c) They understood parental grief.
(d) They liked Kisa and enjoyed talking to her.
Answer. (b) 

Question. Which of the following options represent the correct understanding of the word ‘poor’ in the phrase “Poor Kisa Gotami”?
(a) In need of money
(b) Weak
(c) Unfortunate
(d) Inferior
Answer. (c) 

Question. “Do not remind us of our deepest grief.” The tone of the speaker(s) is
(a) disillusioned
(b) sceptical
(c) ironic
(d) solemn
Answer. (d) 

Question. Pick the option that explains — ‘…the living are few, but the dead are many.’
(a) It shows the high death rate and low birth rate in the city of Benares.
(b) It highlights the holy status of Benares where many Hindus go to die.
(c) It throws light on the numerous loved ones the villagers had lost over time.
(d) It reflects that many children who had died in the village for various reasons.
Answer. (c) 

Question. Imagine you are a photo journalist visiting the city at the time Kisa Gotami went from house to house.
You documented her experience given in the above extract in a photo series.
Your publisher wants to publish the photo series in three parts wherein Part 1 shows Kisa’s visits to the houses; Part 2 depicts her conversations with people, and Part 3 captures Kisa’s reflections at the end of the day sitting by the wayside.
The publisher would also like you to choose titles for the series and its three parts.
Look at the titles given below, and choose the options that provide the most appropriate set of titles.
(1) Series Title – From Darkness to Light.
Part I – Living in Loss; Part II – A Mother’s Journey;
Part III – Mustard Seed
(2) Series Title – Mustard Seed.
Part I – A Mother’s Journey; Part II – From Darkness
to Light; Part III – Living in Loss
(3) Series Title – A Mother’s Journey.
Part I – Mustard Seed; Part II – Living in Loss; Part
III – From Darkness to Light
(4) Series Title – Living in Loss.
Part I – From Darkness to Light; Part II – Mustard
Seed; Part III – A Mother’s Journey
(a) 1 and 2
(b) 2 and 3
(c) 3 and 4
(d) 1 and 4
Answer. (b) 2 and 3

I. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

At 12, he was sent away for schooling in the Hindu sacred Scriptures and years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for 10 years as befitted royalty.
At about the age of 25, the prince here to force shielded from the sufferings of the world, while going out on hunting, chanced upon a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. The sights so moved him that he at once became a beggar and went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnesse(d)

Question. Who does ‘he’ refer to?
(a) Budh(a)
(b) sick man.
(c) monk.
(d) An aged man
Answer. A

Question. What did the prince see while he was out hunting?
(a) he saw a sick and aged man
(b) The saw a funeral procession
(c) He saw a monk begging for a alms
(d) All of the above
Answer. D

Question. How was the Prince kept?
Answer. He was kept shielded from the sufferings of the worl(d)

Question. Choose the option that list the set of statements that are not true according to the given extract
(1) he was Lord Buddha
(2) He was kept away from sorrows of life
(3) He was just 10 years old when he left the kingdom
(4) He became a beggar because he was dethroned
(5) He gained enlightenment
(6) His son was 10 years old when he left the kingdom
(a) 3 and 4.
(b) 1 and 2.
(c) 2 and 5.
(d) 2 and 6
Answer. A

Question. Pick the option that correctly classifies facts and opinions given below
(1) he was born a prince and was kept away from sorrows
(2) He should not have taken the rash decision
(3) His wife and son must have hated him
(4) He was the enlightened one
(a) Facts 1 and 3 ; opinion 2 and 4.
(b) Facts 2 and 3 ; opinion 1 and 4
(c) Facts 1,4 ; Opinion 2,3.
(d) Facts 1 and Opinion 2,3,4
Answer. C

II. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

Mark while relatives are looking on and lamenting deeply, one by one mortals are carried off, like an ox that is led to the slaughter. So, the world is afflicted with death and decay, therefore the wise do not grieve, knowing the terms of the worl(d)

Question. Those who do not grieve are
(a) Happy.
(b) Arrogant.
(c) Prou(d)
(d) Wise
Answer. D

Question. The fate of mortals
(a) Life.
(b) Death.
(c) Destiny.
(d) All of these
Answer. B

Question. Complete the sentence
The wise do not grieve because…………..
Answer. They understand that death is inevitable

Question. Which animal are men compared to?
Answer. An ox

Question. Choose the statement that is not true according to the given extract.
(a) The wise people do not grieve.
(b) Death is the ultimate reality in the world
(c) We should learn to move on.
(d) None of the above
Answer. D

III. Read the following extract carefully and answer the questions that follow:

He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he wanted to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree Bodhi Tree (Tree of Wisdom) and began to teach and to share his new understandings.
At that point he became known as the Budha (the awakened or enlightened). Reached his first sermon at the city of Benaras, most holy of the dipping places on the river Ganga; that sermon has been reserved and is given here.It reflects the Buddha's wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

Question. What did Buddha do while sitting under the tree?
Answer. He vowed to stay until enlightenment came

Question. After how many days or years got enlightenment?
(a) Seven days.
(b) six days
(c) seven years
(d) 10 years
Answer. A

Question. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
(a) Kashi
(b)Haridwar
(c) Banaras
(d) none of these
Answer. C

Question. What does the sermon preached by Buddha reflect?
(a) Wisdom about lamenting
(b) wisdom about dealing with grief
(c) wisdom about collecting handful of mustard seeds
(d) wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering
Answer. D

Question. How is Banaras described in the lesson?
Answer. The most folly of the dipping places is on the river Gang(a)

Short Answer Type Questions 

Question. What do you know about the early life of Buddha?
Answer. The early life of Buddha was filled with royal pleasure and happiness. Lord Buddha was born in a royal family as Siddhartha Gautama. At the age of twelve, he was sent away for schooling in Hindu sacred scriptures. Four years later, he got married to a princess and had a son.

Question. What was the effect of observing the sufferings of the world on Buddha?
Answer. The sights of suffering sick man, old man, funeral process and a beggar had a deep impact on Buddha. He was so affected by the sufferings that he at once left his royal life in search of enlightenment and an understanding of the world around him.

Question. What did the Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment?
Answer. After the Buddha had attained enlightenment, he started teaching and sharing his new understandings. He spread his preachings far and wide so that people could come to know the truth. He wanted people to understand the world so that they could live peacefully.

Question. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house. What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not? 
Answer. When Kisa Gotami’s son died, she went from house to house, and asked for some medicine that would cure her child.
No, she did not get it because her child was dead and no medicine could have brought him back to life.

Question. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddha. What does she ask for, the second time around? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer. After talking to Lord Buddha, Kisa Gotami again went house to house to get mustard seed from a family wherein no one has died.
No, Kisa Gotami could not get anything because there is no person or family in the world wherein there has been no death. Everyone has faced the loss of a beloved member.

Question. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what the Buddha wanted her to understand? NCERT
Answer. Kisa Gotami understood the second time that death is common to all. She understood that she was being selfish in her grief. There was no house where some beloved had not died.
Yes, this was what the Buddha wanted her to understand.

Question. According to Kisa Gotami, what is the greatest grief of life?
Answer. According to Kisa Gotami, the greatest grief in life is the death of one’s loved ones. Therefore, instead of lamenting on it, the wise should accept the truth of death. Weeping will only increase the pain and disturb the peace of mind of a person.

Question. How did Kisa Gotami realise that life and death is a process? 
Answer. Kisa Gotami realised that life and death is a normal process when she went from house to house but was unable to find one house where nobody had died. It was when she sat down that she realised that death is common to everyone. Those who are born will die one day.

Question. According to Buddha, who are wise men?
Answer. According to Buddha, wise men are those people who never complain or lament over their loss. They accept the truth and move on such people are calm and composed. They lead a blessed and peaceful life.

Question. How do you usually understand the idea of ‘selfishness’? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief ’? NCERT
Answer. I usually understand the idea of selfishness as being concerned only about one’s own interests. I also understand it to mean showing complete disregard for others’ interests.
Yes, I agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being ‘selfish in her grief ’. In her son’s death, she was unable to see that death is something that strikes all living beings.

Question. Elucidate any one quality that Siddhartha demonstrated when he gave up his status and family.
Explain your choice.
Answer. Siddhartha demonstrated compassion, kindness and his determination in his decision to leave behind his family and prince hood. He felt sympathetic towards others. He was disturbed to see people’s sufferings and wanted to find out a solution to eradicate their sufferings and diseases.

Question. Do you think being enlightened placed a far greater responsibility on the Buddha than being king would have? Justify your stance.
Answer. Yes, enlightenment placed far greater responsibilities than being a king would have on Buddha. As a king, he was more concerned with the physical well-being of only his countrymen but now he had an obligation to take care of the whole of humanity.
As Buddha, he owed the responsibility of preaching and educating the people about the truth that he had realised.

Question. What do you know about the early life of Gautam Budha?
Answer. We know about the early life of Buddha that he was born in a royal family. His childhood name was Siddharth. At the age of 12, he was sent away for schooling in Hindu sacred Scriptures. Four years later, he got married to a princess and had a son.

Question. What was the effect of observing the sufferings of the world on Buddha?
Answer. That effect of observing the sufferings of the world was that he went out into the world to find enlightenment. At the age of 25, while hunting one day he saw a sick man, then an aged man, then a funeral procession and finally a monk begging for alms. This affected him so much that he went out in the world to seek the enlightenment

Question. What did Buddha do after he had attained enlightenment?
Answer. After the Buddha had attained enlightenment, he started teaching and sharing his new understandings. He spread his preachings far and wide so that people could come to know the truth. He shared his knowledge with people through his teachings.

Question. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
Answer. Gautham Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Banaras, which is regarded as the holiest of the dipping places on the river Gang(a) The sermon reflects his knowledge about a kind of suffering.

Question. When her son dies, Kisa Gotami goes from house to house? What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer. After the death of her only son, Kisa Gotami was overcome with grief. She carried the dead body of her son in her arms and went from door to door asking for medicine to cure her child, but nobody could provide any medicine. For there is no such medicine available which can bring a dead person back to life.

Question. Kisa Gotami again goes from house to house after she speaks with the Buddh(a) What does she ask for? Does she get it? Why not?
Answer. Gautama Buddha asks Kisa to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. Kisa Gotami went from door to door, but couldn’t find a single house where death had not taken a beloved away. She could not get it as death is inevitable and anyone who is born is bound to die one day.

Question. What does Kisa Gotami understand the second time that she failed to understand the first time? Was this what Buddha wanted her to understand?
Answer. After failing to procure a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door, she sat down by the roadside feeling helpless. She saw the lights of the city that flickered and were extinguishe(d) At last, it was darkness everywhere.
She realised that death was common to all and she was being selfish in her grief. Yes, this is what Buddha wanted her to understand, that everyone who is born has to die one day.

Question. Why do you think Kisa Gotami understood this only the second time? In what way did Buddha change her understanding?
Answer. Earlier, she could see only her grief. When she went from door to door the second time, she understood that everyone was dealing with the loss of a beloved one. There was not a single house in the town, where death had not taken a father, a mother, a sister, a brother, son or a daughter. Everyone, at some point or the other, has experienced the death of their loved ones. Gautama Buddha helped her to understand all this, as he told her to bring a handful of mustard seeds from a house where death had never knocked at the door. This way she got aware that death is common to all human beings.

Question. How do you usually understand the idea of selfishness? Do you agree with Kisa Gotami that she was being selfish in her grief?
Answer. A selfish person is one who only thinks about himself or herself, and to some extent Kisa Gotami was being selfish because we are humans and it is natural for us to die. We do not easily accept the death of our loved ones. Same has happened with Kisa Gotami. As it was her only child, she did not want him to die and finally went to Buddha to ask for help.

Question. What was the basic idea of Budha’s preaching?
Answer. The basic idea of Budha’s preaching was that death is the ultimate truth of life. It is that every living being has to die one day. No one can escape from death. Grief cannot console anyone. We must accept this universal truth.

Long Answer Type Questions

Question. Describe the journey of Siddhartha Gautama becoming the Buddha. 
Answer. Gautama Buddha was born in 563 BC in a royal family. His name was Siddhartha Gautama. At the age of twelve, he was sent away for schooling. He studied all the sacred Hindu scriptures. At the age of sixteen, he married a princess and later they had a son. He lived a royal life for ten years and was shielded from the sufferings of the world.
However, when he was twenty five, he saw a sick man, then an aged man and a funeral procession. Finally, he came across a monk begging for alms. This was his first encounter with the harsh realities of life. These sights made him so sad that he decided to renounce the worldly pleasures. He left his family and became a monk. He went out into the world to seek spiritual knowledge. Siddhartha Gautama wandered for seven years in search of wisdom and truth. Finally, he sat down under a big peepal tree to mediate. He vowed to stay there until he got enlightenment. After seven days, Gautama got enlightenment. He became known as ‘The Buddha’ which means ‘enlightened’ or ‘the awakened’. He began to teach and spread his message of wisdom and truth.

Question. Life is full of trials and tribulations. Kisa Gotami also passes through a period of grief in her life.
How does she behave in those circumstances?
                                      or
Why did Gotami go to the Buddha? What lesson did he teach her? 
                                      or
How did the Buddha make Kisa Gotami realise the reality of death?
Answer. After the death of Kisa Gotami’s only child, she became very sad. She carried her dead child to her neighbours in order to get medicine to bring him to life. Her neighbours thought that she had gone insane as she was unable to accept the fact that her child is dead. It was then that someone suggested her to meet Gautama Buddha. When she met Gautama Buddha, he gave her an exercise to do. She was asked to collect mustard seeds from a house where no one had ever died. She went from one house to another but was unable to find a single house in the town where no one had died. This way she realised that death is a part of life and anyone who is born is bound to die one day.
Thus, Buddha changed her understanding of death by this exercise. Buddha told her that only the wise do not grieve and they accept the reality. Mourning brings only pain and sufferings to the body. One, who is composed, obtains peace of mind and will be free from sorrow and be blessed. This gave her strength to overcome grief.

Question. Through the story of Kisa Gotami what did the Buddha try to preach to the common man?
Answer. The lesson on death and suffering that Buddha taught Gotami was that, these are part and parcel of life. No one can avoid this truth. One has to meet one’s destined end one day. Whoever has come into this world will die one day. Thus, in the hour of grief for a loved one who has died, one must remain calm and composed. Then one doesn’t occupy himself with grief. Otherwise, they will feel the pain more.
However, those persons who are wise never complain or lament over their loss. They never try to bring back to life their loved ones who are dead, as Gotami wanted to do. They accept the truth and overcome their sorrow. Persons who overcome their sorrow will be blessed. So, wisdom is in the fact that people should not get distressed with pain, suffering or death.

Question. What lesson did Kisa Gotami learn the second time that she had failed to learn the first time?
Answer. Kisa Gotami had lost her only son and in grief, she carried her dead son to all her neighbours to get him cured and restored back to life. Finally, she went to the Buddha asking him for medicine to cure her boy. The Buddha felt that she needed to be enlightened about the truth of life that death and sorrow are inseperable.
He could see that grief had blinded her, and it would be difficult for her to accept the truth. So, the Buddha told her to procure mustard seeds from a house where none had died. Kisa Gotami went door to door. Then, she realised that there was no house where no one had died and that death is common to all.
She came back to the Buddha where he told her that life in this world is troubled and filled with sorrows. He gave her examples of ripe fruits and earthen vessels whose ‘lives’ are short. This way he made her realise the second time that death is unavoidable and none even the near and dear ones can save anyone from death.

Question. What is the nature of the life of the human beings according to the Buddha?
Answer. The life of mortals in this world is troubled and brief. It is combined with pain. Nobody can avoid dying. After reaching old age, there is death. Such is the nature of human beings. Just as ripe fruits are in danger of falling; so mortals are in danger of death. As all earthen vessels after a certain period of time break, so is the life of mortals. All have to die. Only he can get peace of mind who does not lament, complain and grieve. He who has overcome sorrow will be free from sorrow, and be blesse(d)

Question. How did Gautam Buddha get enlightenment? Explain with reference to the story.
Answer. Siddhartha Gautama was a prince who was protected from the sufferings of the worl(d) At the age of twenty-five, he came across a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession and a monk begging for alms. These sights moved him so much that he went out into the world to seek enlightenment concerning the sorrows he had witnesse(d) Siddhartha wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a Peepal tree.
He vowed to stay there until enlightenment came. Being enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree, the Tree of Wisdom. Thereafter he began to teach and share his new understanding. At that point he became to be known as the Buddh(a) He preached his first sermon at the holy city of Benares.

Question. Why and how did Siddhartha Gautama become the Buddha?
Answer. Gautama Buddha was born as a prince named Siddhartha Gautama in northern Indi(a) At the age of twelve, he was sent away for learning the Hindu sacred scriptures. Four years later he returned home to marry a princess. They had a son and lived for ten years as befitted royalty. Upto the age of twenty-five, the prince was shielded from the sufferings of the worl(d)
Then while going out for hunting, he came across by chance a sick man, an aged man, a funeral procession, and finally a monk begging for alms. These sights moved the prince so much that he went out into the world to seek a state of high spiritual knowledge concerning the sorrows of human beings. He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree. He got enlightenment after seven days. After that he came to be known as the Buddh(a)

Extract Based Questions

1. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

He wandered for seven years and finally sat down under a peepal tree, where he vowed to stay until enlightenment came. Enlightened after seven days, he renamed the tree the Bodhi Tree and began to teach and to share his new understandings. At that point he became known as the Buddha.

Question. What was the name of the peepal tree under which Buddha sat?
Answer. The name of the peepal tree under which Buddha sat was Bodhi Tree.

Question. What did Siddhartha do while sitting under the tree?
Answer. Siddhartha began to teach and share his new understandings while sitting under the tree.

Question. Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘solemnly promise to do a specified thing’.
Answer. ‘Vowed’ from the extract means ‘solemnly promise to do a specific thing’.

Question. After how many days Siddhartha got enlightenment?
Answer. Siddhartha got enlightenment after seven days of his vow that he would sit until enlightenment came.

Question. Siddhartha come to known as ………… after enlightenment.
Answer. Siddhartha came to know as Gautama Buddha after enlightenment.

2. Read the extract to attempt the questions that follow.

The Buddha preached his first sermon at the city of Benares, most holy of the dipping places on the River Ganges; that sermon has been preserved and is given here. It reflects the Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

Question. Where did Buddha preach his first sermon?
Answer. Buddha preached his first sermon at Benares.

Question. What does the sermon preached by Buddha reflect?
Answer. It reflects Buddha’s wisdom about one inscrutable kind of suffering.

Question. Find the exact word from the extract which means ‘impossible to understand’.
Answer. ‘Inscrutable’ from the extract means ‘impossible to understand’.

Question. How Benares is described in the lesson?
Answer. Benares is described in the lesson as the holiest of the dipping places on the river Ganges.

Question. What do you understand by the term Buddha?
Answer. Buddha means the awakened or the enlightened.