UPSC Prelims 2007 Q13: Art & Culture – Cultural Institutions & Awards
Match List - I with List - II and select the correct answer using the code given below the lists:
List - I (Writer)
A.
V. S. Naipaul
B. Salman Rushdie
C. Paul Scott
D. J. G. Farrell
List - II (Book)
1. The Siege of Krishnapur
2. In a Free State
3. Midnight's Children
4. Staying On
Codes:
- (a) A - 2 B - 4 C - 1 D - 3
- (b) A - 4 B - 3 C - 1 D - 2
- (c) A - 3 B - 1 C - 2 D - 4
- (d) A - 2 B - 3 C - 4 D - 1
Answer: (d) A - 2 B - 3 C - 4 D - 1
Explanation
Matching writers with their books
| Writer | Book |
|---|---|
| V. S. Naipaul | In a Free State |
| Salman Rushdie | Midnight's Children |
| Paul Scott | Staying On |
| J. G. Farrell | The Siege of Krishnapur |
So the correct code is A-2, B-3, C-4, D-1, matching every writer to their correctly titled Booker-era novel from this list.
Answer: (d) A-2 B-3 C-4 D-1.
Why each option is right or wrong
- (a) Incorrect. Mismatches Naipaul and Farrell's book codes.
- (b) Incorrect. Swaps Rushdie and Scott's pairings.
- (c) Incorrect. Mismatches all four pairings.
- (d) CORRECT. A-2 (Naipaul-In a Free State), B-3 (Rushdie-Midnight's Children), C-4 (Scott-Staying On), D-1 (Farrell-Siege of Krishnapur).
Key point
Naipaul-In a Free State, Rushdie-Midnight's Children, Scott-Staying On, Farrell-The Siege of Krishnapur.
Remember
Naipaul-In a Free State, Rushdie-Midnight's Children, Scott-Staying On, Farrell-Siege of Krishnapur.
Common mistakes
- Confusing multiple Booker Prize-winning novels with Indian/colonial themes.
- Mixing up Paul Scott's *Staying On* with his earlier *Raj Quartet* works.
- Not recognising J. G. Farrell's *Siege of Krishnapur* as set during the 1857 revolt.
Exam tip
All four are Booker-winning novels with India/colonial settings — memorise each author-title pair individually.
Sources
- The Booker Prize Foundation — Previous winners (1971 In a Free State, 1973 The Siege of Krishnapur, 1977 Staying On, 1981 Midnight's Children)
- Encyclopaedia Britannica — Booker Prize