MCQ on The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Class 6
Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 MCQ The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation
Multiple Choice Questions :
Question 1.
What is ong of the characteristics of a civilisation?
(a) Nomadic lifestyle
(b) Absence of writing
(c) Development of crafts and trade
(d) Lack of urbanism
Answer:
(c) Development of crafts and trade
Question 2.
Which river was central to the Harappan Civilisation?
(a) Ganges
(b) Yamuna
(c) Indus
(d) Brahmaputra
Answer:
(c) Indus
Question 3.
What material was used for waterproofing the ‘Great Bath’ in Mohenjo-daro?
(a) Cement
(b) Tar
(c) Stone
(d) Wood
Answer:
(b) Tar
Question 4.
Which Harappan city is known for its dockyard?
(a) Mohenjo-daro
(b) Harappa
(c) Lothal
(d) Rakhigarhi
Answer:
(c) Lothal
Question 5.
What were two main factors that may have contributed to the decline of the Harappan cities?
(a) Invasions and warfare
(b) Climatic change and the drying up of the Sarasvati River
(c) Overpopulation and lack of resources
(d) Technological failures and political instability
Answer:
(b) Climatic change and the drying up of the Sarasvati River
Question 6.
What evidence suggests that the Harappan civilisation was relatively peaceful?
(a) The presence of large armies and weaponry
(b) No trace of warfare or invasion has been found
(c) Frequent conflicts with neighboring civilisations
(d) Evidence of fortified city walls and defensive structures
Answer:
(b) No trace of warfare or invasion has been found
Question 7.
Why did the Sindhu-Sarasvatī civilisation begin to fall apart around 1900 BCE?
(a) Due to invasions from neighbouring civilisations
(b) Because of internal conflicts and civil wars
(c) Due to abandonment of cities and shift to rural lifestyles
(d) Due to a sudden increase in population
Answer:
(c) Due to abandonment of cities and shift to rural lifestyles
Question 8.
What was the primary purpose of the large basin found in Lothal?
(a) A water reservoir for the city
(b) A dockyard for receiving and sending boats
(c) A place for ceremonial activities
(d) A storage area for agricultural goods
Answer:
(b) A dockyard for receiving and sending boats
Question 9.
What material were the Harappan seals generally made of?
(a) Gold
(b) Clay
(c) Steatite
(d) Marble
Answer:
(c) Steatite
Question 10.
What is a notable feature of the Harappan seals found at many settlements?
(a) They are made of precious metals and depict historical events.
(b) They are small, made of steatite, and depict animal figures with writing signs.
(c) They are large and made of wood, featuring scenes of daily life.
(d) They are made of ceramic and include maps of trade routes.
Answer:
(b) They are small, made of steatite, and depict animal figures with writing signs.
Question 11.
What is NOT a characteristic feature of a civilisation?
(a) Nomadic lifestyle
(b) Trade
(c) Government and administration
(d) Writing systems
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
A civilisation typically has certain characteristics, including structured government and administration, urban development, trade, a system of writing, cultural expressions through art and social customs, and productive agriculture.
Question 12.
Which of the following rivers is associated with the early Indus Valley Civilisation?
(a) Kaveri
(b) Ganga
(c) Sarasvati
(d) Brahmaputra
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation:
The Sarasvati River was a prominent river in the region where the Indus Valley Civilisation flourished.
Question 13.
When was the city of Harappa excavated?
(a) 1920-21
(b) 1921-22
(c) 1930-31
(d) 1980
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
The city of Harappa was the first city of the Harappan Civilisation to be excavated in 1920-21.
Question 14.
What feature(s) is/are typically found in Harappan city planning?
(a) Wide streets oriented to cardinal directions
(b) Separate areas for bathing and waste management
(c) Both (a) and (b)
(d) Buildings made of wood
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation:
Harappans had wide streets which were oriented to the cardinal directions d nCh bathrooms. Whereas, the Harappan buildings were generally made of bricks, not wood.
Question 15.
Which material was used bv Harappa to make seals?
(a) Steatite
(b) Clay
(c) Gold
(d) Bronze
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
Harappan seals were using steatite a soft stone.
Question 16.
In today’s India, where is the ancient Harappan site, Dholavjra located?
(a) Haryana
(b) Punjab
(c) Rajasthan
(d) Gujarat
Answer:
Option (d) is correct
Explanation:
The Harappan site Dholavira is located in the state of Gujarat.
Question 17.
Which material was NOT commonly used by the Harappans?
(a) Shells
(b) Carnelian
(c) Steel
(d) Bronze
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation.
The Harappans used shells, carnelian, copper and bronze. Steel was not known to the Harappans.
Question 18.
From where did the people of Mohenjo-daro draw water?
(a) Reservoirs
(b) Ponds
(c) River
(d) Wells
Answer:
Option (d) is correct
Explanation:
The people of Mohenjo-daro drew water from hundreds of wells made of bricks.
Question 19.
What is believed to be the major reason for the decline of the Harappan Civilisation?
(a) Warfare
(b) Climate change
(c) Invasion
(d) Civil war
Answer:
Option (b) is correct
Explanation:
Climate change and the drying up of the Sarasvati River are the two reasons that are believed to be the main reasons for the decline of the Harappan Civilisation.
Question 20.
Which of the statements is correct about the Harappans?
(a) The Harappans did not develop a writing system and only relied on oral traditions.
(b) The trade activities of the Harappans were only carried out within their boundaries.
(c) The Harappans were very hygienic.
(d) The cities of the Harappan Civilisation were not planned properly as they lacked uniformity.
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation:
The Harappans lived in well-planned cities that were uniformly built. They prioritised hygiene as they had private bathrooms and proper water management systems. Harappans had developed their script though it remains undecipherable till date. They even had trade networks with outside civilisations like Mesopotamia.
Assertion-Reason Type Questions :
I. There are two statements in each question marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose your answer as per the options given below:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Question 1.
Assertion (A): The Harappan Civilisation had a complex system of urban planning.
Reason (R): The cities were built with wide streets oriented to cardinal directions and had detailed drainage systems.
Answer:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 2.
Assertion (A): The Harappans were known for their advanced water management techniques.
Reason (R): They built large reservoirs and had intricate systems of drainage in their cities.
Answer:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 3.
Assertion (A): The Harappans were engaged in active trade, not only within their own civilisation, but with other civilisations and cultures within and outside India.
Reason (R): They exported ornaments, timber, some objects of daily use, probably also gold and cotton, and possibly some food items.
Answer:
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Question 4.
Assertion (A): The Harappans created many of their settlements along the banks of large or small rivers. Reason (R): They were also the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used to weave into clothes.
Answer:
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Question 5.
Assertion (A): The Harappans did not gave much importance to water management and cleanliness. Reason (R): In Mohenjo-daro, people drew water from hundreds of wells made of bricks.
Answer:
(A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
II.
Questions 1 to 5 are assertion and reason -based questions.
Following options should be used for these questions.
(a) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, and Reason (R) is the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(b) Both Assertion (A) and Reason (R) are true, but Reason (R) is not the correct explanation of Assertion (A).
(c) Assertion (A) is true, but Reason (R) is false.
(d) Assertion (A) is false, but Reason (R) is true.
Question 1.
Assertion: The Harappan Civilisation is also called the ‘First Urbanisation of India’.
Reason: The Ilarappan citiec had a highy, organised and well-maintained utban layout.
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
The Harappan cities were precisely planned with wide st reels, advance drainage system, private bathrooms, fortification and distinct areas for the elite and Common people.
Question 2.
Assertion: The Great Bath in Moltenjo-daro was speciallymade for conhmutnal bathing.
Reason: The houses In the Ilarappan cities had private bathrooms.
Answer:
Option (d) is correct.
Explanation:
The primary purpose of the Great Bath is debated and two main arguments suggest that either it was used by the royal family or else it was meant for religious rituals. The reason is correct as many homes had private bathrooms, indicating communal bathing was unlikely.
Question 3.
Assertion: Most of the Harappan settlements were along the banks of rivers.
Reason: The soil near rivers is fertile.
Answer:
Option (a) k correct.
Explanation:
Most of the Harappan were found along the banks of small or large as rivers not only provide easy access to Water also enrich the soil around them, making it suitable to carry out agricultural practices.
Question 4.
Assertion: Harappans were engaged In active trade both within and outside their civilisation
Reason: Harappans conducted the first intensive maritime activity in India.
Answer:
Option (b) k correct.
Explanation:
The Harappans engaged in extensive trade within and outside their boders and for distant exchanges they utilised various rout including maritime.
Question 5.
Assertion: A number of seals have been excavated from many settlements that were made of steatite and had animal figures on them.
Reason: Tue seals were likely related to agricultural activities.
Answer:
Option (c) ¡s correct.
Explanation:
The Harappan seals were related to trade activities, as they probably helped the trade to identify their goods and also each other.
Fill in the blanks :
1. The Harappan Civilisation is also known as the ______ Civilisation.
Answer:
Indus-Sarasvati
2. The ‘Great Bath’ was found in the city of _______.
Answer:
Mohenjo-daro
3. The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow _______.
Answer:
cotton
4. The Sarasvati River is now known as _______ in India and _______ in Pakistan.
Answer:
Ghaggar; Hakra
5. The Harappan Civilisation is also known as the _______ Civilisation.
Answer:
Indus_Sarasvati/Sindhu_Sarasvati
6. Harappa and ___________ were the first two cities or the tiarappan Clvi ation to be discovered.
Answer:
Mohenjo-daro
7. In the tipper town of the Ilarappan cities local _________ lived.
Answer:
elite
8. Goods to be transported were stored in _______.
Answer:
warehouses
9. Harappan5 were the first in Eurasia to grow _______.
Answer:
cotton
10. The most favoured ornaments that the Harappans exported were beads of _________.
Answer:
Carnelian
11. Around _______ the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation, began to fall apart.
Answer:
1900 BCE
True or False :
1. The Indus Valley Civilisation is also referred to as the Harappan Civilisation.
Answer:
True
2. The Harappans used bronze for making tools and figurines.
Answer:
True
3. All Harappan cities had large fortifications and were surrounded by walls.
Answer:
False
4. The Harappan Civilisation was characterized by frequent warfare and invasions.
Answer:
False
5. The Indus Valley Civilisation depended on the Ganges River for its development.
Answer:
False
6. Most of the Harappan cities had four distinct parts.
Answer:
False
7. Harappans used plough for agricultural activities.
Answer:
True
8. The remains of turmeric, ginger and apple were found in the Harappan cooking pots.
Answer:
False
9. The symbolic meaning of the animal figures on seals are deciphered now.
Answer:
False
Match the following :
Question 1.
Match the ancient names with their corresponding regions:
| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Harappa | (a) Known for its large dockyard |
| 2. Mohenjo-daro | (b) Site of the Great Bath |
| 3. Dholavira | (c) Site of the Great Bath |
| 4. Lothal | (d) Early site discovered in 1920-21 |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| 1. Harappa | (d) Early site discovered in 1920-21 |
| 2. Mohenjo-daro | (b) Site of the Great Bath |
| 3. Dholavira | (c) Site of the Great Bath |
| 4. Lothal | (a) Known for its large dockyard |
Question 2.
| Column A | Column B |
| (1) Harappa | (i) Great Bath |
| (2) Mohenjo daro | (ii) Large reservoir |
| (3) Dholavira | (iii) Tributary of Ganga |
| (4) Yamuna | (iv) Waterproofing |
| (5) Lothal | (v) First discovered city |
| (6) Bitumen | (vi) Dockyard basin |
Answer:
| Column A | Column B |
| (1) Harappa | (v) First discovered city |
| (2) Mohenjo daro | (i) Great Bath |
| (3) Dholavira | (ii) Large reservoir |
| (4) Yamuna | (iii) Tributary of Ganga |
| (5) Lothal | (vi) Dockyard basin |
| (6) Bitumen | (iv) Waterproofing |
Passage Based Questions
I. Read the following source and answer the following questions:
The Harappans created many of their settlements along the banks of large or small rivers. This is a logical choice, not just for easy access to water, but also for agriculture, since rivers enrich the soil around them. Archaeological findings have shown that the Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets, and sometimes rice, in addition to pulses and a variety of vegetables. They were also the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used to weave into clothes. They made farming tools, including the plough, some of which continue to be used by modern-day farmers.
This intense agricultural activity was managed by hundreds of small rural sites or villages. Then, as now, the cities could survive only if enough agricultural produce from rural areas reached them on a daily basis.
Question 1.
Why did the Harappans choose to settle along the banks of rivers?
(a) For easy access to fishing
(b) For protection from invaders
(c) For easy access to water and enriched soil for agriculture
(d) For transportation facilities
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation:
Creating settlements along rivers was a practical choice for the Harappans as rivers provided easy access to water and enriched soil, which were crucial for agricultural practices.
Question 2.
Which of the following crops were mainly grown by the Harappans?
(a) Corn and tomatoes
(b) Barley, wheat and some millets
(c) Sugarcane and tea
(d) Grapes and apples
Answer:
Option (b) is correct.
Explanation:
The Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets, and sometimes rice, in addition to pulses and vegetables. They even grew cotton.
Question 3.
How did Harappan cities survive?
(a) Through trading
(b) Through hunting and gathering
(c) Through the daily influx of agricultural produce from rural areas
(d) None of the above
Answer:
Option (c) is correct
Explanation:
The survival of Harappan cities was only possible if enough agricultural produce from rural areas reached them on a daily basis.
Question 4.
What information can be inferred about the importance of agriculture in the Harappan Civilisation?
(a) It was an activity meant for entertainment purposes.
(b) It supported both rural and urban populations.
(c) It made foreign trade possible.
(d) It made Harappans rich and powerful.
Answer:
Option (b) is correct
Explanation:
The passage highlights that intense agricultural activity was practiced and managed by rural sites, which supported both the villages and the cities, indicating its vital role in sustaining the civilisation.
Question 5.
Which modern-day agricultural practice known to Harappans according ,0 lhe
(a) Cultivation of cotton
(b) Crop rotation
(c) Terrace farming
(d) Use of HYV seeds
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow cotton and (Ins is a sienifie-m agricultural practice even today.
II. India’s history starts with the emergence of the Indus Valley Civilisation, also known as the Harappan Civilisation. It thrived about 2,500 BC in western South Asia, which is now Pakistan and Western India. The Indus Valley housed Egypt Mesopotamia, India, and China’s biggest four ancient urban civilisations. However, nothing was known about this civilisation until the 1920s when India’s Archeological Department conducted excavations in the Indus Valley, where the two ancient towns, Mohenjodaro and Harappa, were discovered. The remains of structures and other items like domestic goods, military weapons, gold and silver decorations, seals, toys, ceramic products, etc., Indicate that a highly developed civilisation existed in this area four to five thousand years ago. The Indus Valley civilisation was essentially an urban civilisation, and people lived in well-planned and well-built cities, which were also centres of commerce. Mohenjo-daro and Harappa’s remains indicate great commercial cities—perfectly planned, carefully constructed, and well cared about. They had large roadways and well-developed drainage. The homes featured baked bricks and two or more stories.
Source: The Times Of India
Question 1.
The excavations that led to the discovery of Mohenjo-daro and Harappa were conducted by which department?
(a) Department of Agriculture
(b) Department of Geology
(c) Department of Archaeology
(d) Department of Urban Planning
Answer:
Option (c) is correct.
Explanation: According to the passage the Harappan cities of Mohenjodaro and Harappa were discovered by India’s Archaeological Department.
Question 2.
Which ancient urban civilisations were contemporary to the Harappan Civilisation?
(a) Roman, Greek, Persian and Babylonian
(b) Egyptian, Mesopotamian and Chinese
(c) Incan, Mayan and Egyptian
(d) Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Mesopotamian
Answer:
Option (b) Is correct.
Explanation:
Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation was one of the four largest ancient urban civilisations, along with Egypt, Mesopotamia, and China.
Question 3.
What was the possible social structure of the Harappan Civilisation?
(a) It was a democratic society.
(b) It had a nomadic society.
(c) It was a religious society.
(d) It had a well-organised and advanced urban society.
Answer:
Option (d) is correct.
Explanation:
The Harappan cities were well-planned and constructed, indicating well-organised and advanced urban set-up.
Question 4.
The remains of which of the following items were NOT found during the excavations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa?
(a) Gold and silver decorations
(b) Electronic devices
(c) Toys
(d) Ceramic products
Answer:
Option (b) is correct.
Explanation:
The remains of items like domestic goods, military weapons, gold and silver decorations, seals, toys, ceramic products, etc., were found during the excavations of Mohenjodaro and Harappa.
Question 5.
What information do we get about the economy of the Harappan Civilisation based on the passage?
(a) It relied heavily on trade and commerce.
(b) It was based on agricultural activities.
(c) It was a barter-based economy.
(d) It depended on military conquests for wealth.
Answer:
Option (a) is correct.
Explanation:
The passage signifies that the Harappan cities were commercial centers, indicating that trade and commerce were important to their economy.
Self-Assessment :
Question 1.
What is one of the characteristics of a Civilisation?
(a) Nomadic lifestyle
(b) Lack of administration
(c) Urbanism
(d) Absence of trade
Question 2.
Which river played a significant role in the Indus Valley Civilisation?
(a) Ganges
(b) Sarasvati
(c) Nile
(d) Amazon
Question 3.
What was the primary purpose of the ‘Great Bath’ in Mohenjo-daro?
(a) Residential use
(b) Commercial trade
(c) Public, royal, or religious use
(d) Storage of food
Question 4.
Which of the following items did the Harappans likely import?
(a) Cotton
(b) Copper
(c) Wheat
(d) Pottery
Question 5.
There are two statements marked as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). Choose your answer as per the options given below:
Assertion (A): Harappan craftspeople developed special techniques to drill stone, so a string could pass through them, and to decorate them in various ways.
Reason (R): The Harappans were engaged in active trade, not only within their own civilisation (other cities nearby or far away), but with other civilisations and cultures within and outside India.
(a) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
(b) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
(c) (A) is correct but (R) is wrong.
(d) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Question 6.
What is urbanism?
Question 7.
What was the primary building material used by the Harappans?
Question 8.
What did the Harappans use to identify their goods and verify transactions?
Question 9.
Name one major city of the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Question 10.
Why is the Indus Valley Civilisation also known as the Harappan Civilisation?
Question 11.
How did the Harappans manage water in their cities?
Question 12.
What were some of the agricultural products grown by the Harappans?
Question 13.
What can we infer from the thousands of small seals found in Harappan settlements?
Question 14.
Discuss the significance of the planned cities in the Indus Valley Civilisation.
Question 15.
Explain the role of agriculture in the Harappan economy.
Question 16.
What evidence suggests that the Harappans engaged in maritime trade?