Reading and Comprehension

 

Exercise-2

🏰 Title: Emperor Ashoka and the Kalinga War

Long ago, India was ruled by the great emperor Ashoka, who belonged to the Mauryan dynasty. When he was young, Ashoka was brave, ambitious, and determined to make his empire the most powerful in the world.

After becoming the emperor, he decided to conquer a region called Kalinga (present-day Odisha). Kalinga was a rich and independent kingdom, and its people loved their freedom. When Ashoka’s army attacked, the war was fierce and terrible. Thousands of soldiers and innocent people lost their lives.

After the victory, Ashoka went to the battlefield. When he saw the land covered with dead bodies and heard the cries of the wounded, his heart was filled with pain and sorrow. For the first time, he realized that war brings only destruction, not glory.

Deeply moved by the suffering, Ashoka decided never to fight again. He gave up violence and became a follower of Buddhism, a religion that teaches peace, kindness, and compassion.

He started spreading the message of love and non-violence across his empire and even to foreign lands. He built schools, hospitals, and roads, and placed stone pillars inscribed with his teachings so people could learn the values of truth and harmony.

From a fierce warrior, Ashoka became a peaceful ruler, remembered today as “Ashoka the Great.”

📘 Comprehension Questions

A. Answer the following:

1. Who was Ashoka, and which dynasty did he belong to?

2. Why did Ashoka fight the Kalinga war?

3. What did Ashoka see after the war that changed his heart?

4. What religion did Ashoka follow after the war?

5. What steps did Ashoka take to spread peace and kindness?

6. What is Ashoka remembered for today?

B. True or False:

1. Ashoka belonged to the Mauryan dynasty.

2. The Kalinga war brought happiness to Ashoka.

3. After the war, Ashoka became cruel and violent.

4. Ashoka spread the message of peace and non-violence.

C. Vocabulary Check:

Find the meanings of these words from the story:

1. Ambitious

2. Sorrow

3. Compassion

4. Harmony

D. Think and Answer:

1. What do you learn from Ashoka’s change after the Kalinga war?

2. Do you think kindness is more powerful than war? Why?

3. How can we follow Ashoka’s message in our daily lives?