Option c is the correct answer. Statement 1 is correct- Buddhism is a very simple religion. Its teachings are easy to understand and follow, even by people with limited education. This made it appealing to people from all walks of life. Statement 2 is correct-Buddhism appealed to the Dalits, who were considered to be the lowest caste in the Hindu society. Buddhism offered them a way to escape the discrimination they faced in Hinduism. Statement 3 is correct- Buddhism had a missionary concept. This means that Buddhists were encouraged to spread the teachings of Buddhism to others. This helped to spread Buddhism to new areas. Statement 4 is correct- Buddha spoke in Prakrit, the language people used in India back then. This allowed people easy to learn and understand the Buddhism religion. On the other hand, Vedic Religion uses Sanskrit as a language which was monopoly of the Brahmins. Statement 5 is incorrect- The soundness of Vedic spirit by Philosophers was not a reason for the expansion of Buddhism. In fact, Buddhism was founded in reaction to some of the teachings of the Vedas. Important Tips Some other reasons that contributed to the expansion of Buddhism: The patronage of rulers: Many rulers, such as Ashoka the Great, patronized Buddhism and helped to spread its teachings. The Silk Road: The Silk Road was a network of trade routes that connected India to other parts of Asia. This allowed Buddhist monks to travel to new areas and spread their teachings. Inexpensive: Buddhism didn't involve costly rituals like the Vedic religion did. It focused on practical morals instead of expensive ceremonies, which became an important and positive part of society. Role of Universities: The universities like Nalanda, Taxila, Puspagiri, and Vikramsila played a big part too. People who studied there from different places in and outside India became interested in Buddhism and chose to follow it. They also worked hard to share Buddhism with others.