Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Bangalore
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question links urban legends and etymology with general knowledge. Many cities have interesting stories behind their names, and textbooks sometimes highlight such facts to make learning geography more engaging. The phrase town of boiled beans is associated with the origin of the name of a major Indian city, based on a well known local legend involving a grateful king and a simple meal.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- The question asks which citys name literally means the town of boiled beans.
- Options are Boston, Bosnia, Bangalore, Bareilly and Hyderabad.
- We assume the question refers to the translation of an older local language term that evolved into the modern city name.
Concept / Approach:
The idea is to connect the phrase town of boiled beans with the local name Benda Kaal Uru in Kannada, which is linked to Bengaluru or Bangalore. A famous legend says that a king, after being served boiled beans by a poor woman, named the place Benda Kaal Uru, meaning town of boiled beans. Over time the name evolved into Bengaluru and then its anglicised form Bangalore. Recognising this story helps answer the question easily.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall the legend in which a Hoysala king was served boiled beans by an old woman in a village.
Step 2: Remember that the king named the place Benda Kaal Uru, which in Kannada translates to town of boiled beans.
Step 3: Note that Benda Kaal Uru gradually became Bengaluru and later Bangalore in English usage.
Step 4: Identify Bangalore among the options as the city related to this legend.
Step 5: Eliminate Boston, Bosnia, Bareilly and Hyderabad because they have different etymological origins not connected to boiled beans.
Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that several articles and travel blogs describe Bengaluru as the city of boiled beans, repeating this popular story. While historians sometimes debate the exact origin of the name, the legend is widely known and frequently used in quiz questions. None of the other cities listed have a similar meaning in their original languages, which further confirms Bangalore as the correct answer in the examination context.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Boston is a city in the United States whose nickname Beantown refers to baked beans, but its official name does not literally mean town of boiled beans in its language of origin.
Bosnia is a country name, not a city, and its etymology is unrelated to boiled beans.
Bareilly is a city in Uttar Pradesh in India with its own local history, but it is not associated with the boiled beans legend.
Hyderabad has a different origin related to names of rulers and has no connection with this specific phrase.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes confuse the Beantown nickname of Boston with the literal translation of a city name and choose Boston incorrectly. Others may guess randomly between Indian cities without recalling the Kannada term Benda Kaal Uru. To avoid such errors, pay attention to stories about city name origins in standard general knowledge books and remember which ones are often repeated in exams, such as the popular tale of Bengaluru and the boiled beans.
Final Answer:
The city whose name is popularly said to mean town of boiled beans is Bangalore (Bengaluru).
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