Question

What are Manuscripts?
A)These are handwritten records of the past and are in the form of books.
B)These are written records engraved on the stones.
C)These are written records engraved on the walls of caves.
D)These are written records engraved on the pillars.

Answer 1

Hint: Manuscripts are what remain of handwritten books in temples or monasteries. They were common before printing came into existence. A lot of Manuscripts have been destroyed whereas some still remain.

Complete answer:
Before printing came into existence, books were handwritten and were in the form of manuscripts. Usually etched onto a palm leaf or the bark of a birch tree, they were handwritten by the author or the author's scribe. They include epics, plays, poems. They also dealt with the lives of kings of those times, the religious context and issues and the socio cultural life of the people.

The written records engraved on stones are known as inscriptions. The earliest known inscriptions are those of Ashoka's edicts that speak of the lessons that he wanted to preach throughout his kingdom.

The earliest human beings didn't have proper education to write so they engraved about their lives on the walls of the caves they lived in, which are also known as inscriptions. The Ajanta and Ellors caves in India are a good example of this kind of cave art.
The written records on pillars are also known as inscriptions. The pillars have the greatness of kings or their victories at war engraved on them.

Hence, the correct answer is option (A)

Note: The differentiation between inscriptions and manuscripts made it evident to know the answer. Manuscripts are the handwritten texts made into books whereas inscriptions are carved onto the pillars, stones or walls of caves.