Read the following passage carefully and answer the question given below:
By the first century AD, many nomadic tribes had entered India through the mountain-passes in the north west. In the course of time, they were all Indianised. Kanishka, the chief of one of these tribes, built up an empire with Peshawar as the capital. Like Asoka, Kanishka came under the influence of Buddhism and was converted by a celebrated Buddhist scholar Asvaghosha. Kanishka appears to have tried to emulate Asoka. He strenuously worked for the spread of the Buddhist faith. He convened a Buddhist council to discuss grave religious problems. At the time, a big schism had arisen and the Buddhists were divided into two sects-the Hinayana and Mahayana. Of the two, the Mahayana became more popular. The Hinayanists believed in the traditional intellectual doctrine whereas the Mahayanists adopted new interpretations. The Mahayanists started worshipping Buddha as the living saviour and their ritualism had a strong appeal to the ordinary people. Nagarjuna, a great scholar in the court of Kanishka, formulated and propagated the Mahayana ideas. The differences between the two sects were largely reconciled in this council. Charaka, the most celebrated medical scientist of ancient India, is believed to have been Kanishka's court-physician. The Kushan empire built by Kanishka was dissolved by the third century AD.
Choose the word that is most nearly the same in the meaning of the word "Convened"
(A) United
(B) Assembled
(C) Postponed
(D) Associated
Choose the correct answer from the options given below:
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → (B) Only
Convened means brought people together for a formal meeting. Kanishka "convened a Buddhist council": the monks and scholars were gathered to discuss grave religious problems.
Example: The principal convened a meeting of all the teachers.
(A) United — Incorrect.
- United means joined together as one, in purpose or in a single body.
- It does not mean gathering people for a meeting.
- Example: The flood united the villagers in a common effort.
(B) Assembled — Correct.
- Assembled means gathered together in one place for a common purpose, which is what convened means.
- Example: The students assembled in the hall for the prize distribution.
(C) Postponed — Incorrect.
- Postponed means put off to a later time.
- The council was held, not delayed.
- Example: The match was postponed because of rain.
(D) Associated — Incorrect.
- Associated means connected or linked with something.
- Example: Diwali is associated with lamps and sweets.
Tip: In this question the options do not follow the order of the statements (Option 1 = (D) Only, Option 2 = (C) Only, Option 3 = (A) Only, Option 4 = (B) Only). NTA often jumbles the options in this way, so after finding the correct statement, read the options carefully and mark the one with the right letter.