Understanding Diversity — Exercise Solutions
Use this page alongside the official Samacheer Kalvi textbook. Solve every exercise question on your own first, then check the solutions below.
I. Choose the Correct Answer (MCQs)
Q1. India consists of ___ states and ___ Union territories.
- (a) 27, 9
- (b) 29, 7
- (c) 28, 7
- (d) 28, 9
India originally had 29 states and 7 Union territories when this textbook was written. Note: After the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, India now has 28 states and 8 Union territories.
Q2. India is known as a ___.
- (a) Continent
- (b) Subcontinent
- (c) Island
- (d) None of these
India has all the physical features of a continent — mountains, plateaus, plains, rivers, and seas — along with varied weather patterns, which is why it is called a subcontinent.
Q3. Mawsynram, the land of highest rainfall, is located in ___.
- (a) Manipur
- (b) Sikkim
- (c) Nagaland
- (d) Meghalaya
Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the highest annual rainfall in the world, making it the wettest place on Earth.
Q4. Which one of the following religions is NOT practised in India?
- (a) Sikhism
- (b) Islam
- (c) Zoroastrianism
- (d) Confucianism
India is home to Hinduism, Islam, Christianity, Sikhism, Buddhism, Jainism, and Zoroastrianism. Confucianism is not widely practised in India.
Q5. Recognised official languages of India, as per the Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution, are ___.
- (a) 25
- (b) 23
- (c) 22
- (d) 26
The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognises 22 official languages.
Q6. Onam festival is celebrated in ___.
- (a) Kerala
- (b) Tamil Nadu
- (c) Punjab
- (d) Karnataka
Onam is the harvest festival of Kerala, celebrated to welcome the legendary King Mahabali.
Q7. Mohiniyattam is a classical dance of ___.
- (a) Kerala
- (b) Tamil Nadu
- (c) Manipur
- (d) Karnataka
Mohiniyattam is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, originating from Kerala.
Q8. 'Discovery of India', a book was written by ___.
- (a) Rajaji
- (b) V.O.C.
- (c) Nethaji
- (d) Jawaharlal Nehru
Jawaharlal Nehru wrote 'The Discovery of India' during his imprisonment in 1944 at Ahmednagar Fort.
Q9. The phrase 'Unity in Diversity' was coined by ___.
- (a) Jawaharlal Nehru
- (b) Ambedkar
- (c) Mahatma Gandhi
- (d) Rajaji
Jawaharlal Nehru coined the phrase 'Unity in Diversity' to describe India's unique character — diverse in culture, language, and religion, yet united as a nation.
Q10. V.A. Smith called India as ___.
- (a) Great Democracy
- (b) Unique land of diversities
- (c) Ethnological museum
- (d) Secular nation
Vincent Arthur Smith, a British historian, called India an 'Ethnological Museum' because of the wide variety of racial and cultural groups found here.
Additional MCQs
Q11. The oldest Dravidian language is ___.
- (a) Hindi
- (b) Tamil
- (c) Sanskrit
- (d) Telugu
Tamil is the oldest of the Dravidian languages and was recognised as a classical language in 2004.
Q12. Punjab is well-known for ___ dance.
- (a) Bihu
- (b) Dandia
- (c) Bhangra
- (d) Dumhal
Bhangra is a lively folk dance of Punjab, traditionally performed during the harvest festival of Baisakhi.
Q13. Tamil was declared as a classical language in the year ___.
- (a) 2002
- (b) 2004
- (c) 2012
- (d) 2008
Tamil was the first Indian language to be declared a classical language by the Government of India in 2004.
II. Fill in the Blanks
1. Geographical features and climatic conditions determine the economic activities of a region.
2. Jaisalmer, the land of lowest rainfall, is located in Rajasthan.
3. Tamil was declared as a classical language in the year 2004.
4. Bihu festival is celebrated in Assam.
5. Gurunanak Jayanthi is celebrated by the Sikhs.
6. India became independent in the year 1947.
7. The first Prime Minister of independent India was Jawaharlal Nehru.
8. The fundamental unit of a society is the family.
9. The folk dance of Punjab is Bhangra.
10. The migration of people is the reason for India's rich diversity.
III. Match the Following
| # | Column A | Column B | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Negroids | (a) Religion | 1 → d (Indian race) |
| 2 | Coastal areas | (b) India | 2 → c (Fishery) |
| 3 | Zoroastrianism | (c) Fishery | 3 → a (Religion) |
| 4 | Unity in diversity | (d) Indian race | 4 → b (India) |
Additional Match the Following
| # | Column A | Column B | Match |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Gujarat | (a) Kummi | Gujarat → Garba |
| 2 | Kerala | (b) Ghoomer | Kerala → Mohiniyattam |
| 3 | Rajasthan | (c) Garba | Rajasthan → Ghoomer |
| 4 | Tamil Nadu | (d) Mohiniyattam | Tamil Nadu → Kummi |
IV. Very Short Answer Questions
Q1. Define diversity.
Q2. What are the types of diversity?
Q3. Why is India called a subcontinent?
Q4. Write the names of three major festivals celebrated in India.
Q5. List out some of the classical dances of India.
| State | Classical Dance |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Bharatanatyam |
| Kerala | Kathakali |
| Karnataka | Yakshagana |
| Odisha | Odissi |
| Andhra Pradesh | Kuchipudi |
| Manipur | Manipuri |
| Assam | Sattriya |
Q6. Why is India called the land of unity in diversity?
Q7. What is meant by family? What are the types?
- Joint family — where several generations live together under one roof.
- Nuclear family — where only parents and their children live together.
Q8. Define community.
Q9. What is a continent?
Q10. Name the religions which flourish in India.
V. Short Answer Questions
Q1. Mention the people who came to India for trade.
Q2. Mention any four folk dances of India.
| State | Folk Dance |
|---|---|
| Tamil Nadu | Karagattam, Oyillattam, Kummi, Thappattam |
| Kerala | Mohiniyattam |
| Punjab | Bhangra |
| Gujarat | Dandia (Garba) |
VI. Detailed / Long Answer Questions
Q1. Explain Linguistic Diversity and Cultural Diversity.
Linguistic Diversity
- According to the census of India 2001, India has 122 major languages and 1,599 other languages.
- Four major Indian language families are Indo-Aryan, Dravidian, Austroasiatic, and Sino-Tibetan. Tamil is the oldest Dravidian language.
- Historically, the Portuguese, the Dutch, the British, the Danish, and the French came to India for trade. Their occupation has left an impact upon the culture and language of the people.
- English has emerged as an important language and a medium of instruction in schools and colleges. It is widely used in official communication and daily life.
- The Eighth Schedule of the Indian Constitution recognises 22 official languages.
Cultural Diversity
- The term 'culture' refers to the customs and practices of people, their language, dress code, cuisine, religion, social habits, music, art, and architecture.
- The culture of a group of people is reflected in their social behaviour and interactions.
- The group identity fostered by social patterns is unique to a group.
- Art and architecture are an integral part of every community. They develop as part of the culture and tradition of a community.
- India's cultural diversity is visible in its festivals, food, clothing, dance forms, and architecture across different regions.
Q2. "India is a land of diversity, yet we are all united." Discuss.
VII. HOTS (Higher Order Thinking Skills)
Q. List out the various festivals celebrated in different states.
| State | Festival |
|---|---|
| Andhra Pradesh | Brahmotsavam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Losar Festival |
| Assam | Bohag Bihu |
| Bihar | Chhath Puja |
| Chhattisgarh | Bastar Dussehra |
| Goa | Carnival |
| Gujarat | Janmashtami, Diwali |
| Haryana | Baisakhi |
| Himachal Pradesh | Maha Shivaratri |
| Jammu and Kashmir | Eid-ul-Fitr and Eid-ul-Azha |
| Jharkhand | Holi |
| Karnataka | Ugadi |
| Kerala | Onam |
| Madhya Pradesh | Diwali |
| Maharashtra | Ganesh Chaturthi |
| Manipur | Lai Haraoba |
| Meghalaya | Wangala |
| Mizoram | Chapchar Kut |
| Nagaland | Hornbill Festival |
| Odisha | Rath Yatra |
| Punjab | Baisakhi |
| Rajasthan | Gangaur |
| Sikkim | Losar |
| Tamil Nadu | Pongal |
| Telangana | Bathukamma |
| Tripura | Kharchi Puja |
| Uttar Pradesh | Ram Leela |
| Uttarakhand | Phool Dei |
| West Bengal | Durga Puja |
VIII. Life Skill
Q. Suggest measures to bring unity in your school.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
1. Confusing "subcontinent" with "continent." A continent is a standalone landmass; India is a subcontinent because it has all features of a continent within a part of Asia.
2. Writing "29 states" without knowing it is now 28. The textbook was written when India had 29 states, but after the reorganisation of Jammu and Kashmir (2019), India now has 28 states and 8 Union territories.
3. Confusing classical dance forms with folk dances. Classical dances (Bharatanatyam, Kathakali, etc.) follow codified rules; folk dances (Bhangra, Kummi, etc.) are regional and informal. Know which is which.
4. Saying "Confucianism is practised in India." It is not. The correct answer to "which religion is not practised in India" is Confucianism.
5. Writing only "diversity means differences." Always explain with examples — differences in language, religion, food, dress, culture, and customs.
6. Forgetting who coined "Unity in Diversity." It was Jawaharlal Nehru, not Gandhi or Ambedkar.
7. Confusing the number of official languages. The Eighth Schedule recognises 22 languages, not 23, 25, or 26.
Exam Checklist
Before your exam, make sure you can:
- [ ] Define diversity and list its five types (landform/lifestyle, social, religious, linguistic, cultural)
- [ ] Explain why India is called a subcontinent with examples of physical features
- [ ] State who coined "Unity in Diversity" and what V.A. Smith called India
- [ ] Name the 22 recognised official languages and identify Tamil as the oldest Dravidian language (declared classical in 2004)
- [ ] Match states with their classical and folk dances (Bharatanatyam-TN, Kathakali-Kerala, Bhangra-Punjab, etc.)
- [ ] List major festivals of India with their associated religions and states
- [ ] Explain linguistic diversity (122 major languages, 4 language families, impact of foreign traders)
- [ ] Explain cultural diversity (customs, dress code, cuisine, art, architecture)
- [ ] Discuss how India is diverse yet united (patriotism, national symbols, freedom struggle, Constitution)
- [ ] Differentiate between joint and nuclear families
- [ ] Name the foreigners who came to India for trade (Portuguese, Dutch, British, Danish, French)
- [ ] Identify Mawsynram (highest rainfall, Meghalaya) and Jaisalmer (lowest rainfall, Rajasthan)