The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation — Hard

Q1. Consider two statements about the Harappan decline. (i) A climatic change from about 2200 BCE reduced rainfall. (ii) The cities were destroyed by a great invasion. Which is correct?

• A. Both are correct
• B. Only (ii) is correct
• C. Only (i) is correct
• D. Neither is correct

Q2. Assertion (A): Most Harappan cities were surrounded by fortifications. Reason (R): The Harappans maintained large standing armies for conquest. Choose the correct option.

• A. A is true, R is false
• B. Both A and R true, but R is not the correct explanation of A
• C. Both A and R true, R is the correct explanation of A
• D. A is false, R is true

Q3. Which of the following is NOT listed in the chapter as a characteristic of a civilisation?

• A. Urbanism and town-planning
• B. Some form of writing
• C. A productive agriculture
• D. Use of gunpowder weapons

Q4. The plains of Punjab and Sindh became favourable to agriculture mainly because

• A. They received heavy snowfall all year
• B. They were deserts with no rivers
• C. The Indus River and its tributaries watered them and made them fertile
• D. They were covered by dense sea water

Q5. Why does making Harappan shell bangles from conch suggest sophisticated craft techniques?

• A. Because conch is a very soft, easily cut material
• B. Because shell is a hard material that requires advanced working techniques
• C. Because bangles were made of pure gold
• D. Because conch floats and needs no tools

Q6. The three Harappan seals shown in the chapter (Fig. 6.13) depict which kinds of figures, above which a few writing signs appear?

• A. A ship, a cart and a plough
• B. A horse, an elephant and a lion
• C. A king, a queen and a soldier
• D. A unicorn, a bull and a horned tiger

Q7. What technical detail of the Great Bath shows Harappan skill in waterproofing?

• A. It was lined with gold foil
• B. It used glass tiles imported from Egypt
• C. It was carved from a single diamond
• D. Waterproofing material like natural bitumen was applied over carefully laid bricks

Q8. The chapter uses several names for this civilisation. Which set of names is correctly used in the text?

• A. Indus, Harappan, Indus-Sarasvatī (or Sindhu-Sarasvatī)
• B. Vedic, Mauryan, Gupta
• C. Mesopotamian, Egyptian, Roman
• D. Mughal, Maratha, Chola

Q9. Why does the chapter put quotation marks around the name 'Priest King' for a Harappan statuette?

• A. Because it is not actually known who this figure was
• B. Because it was definitely a Harappan king
• C. Because it was made by a priest
• D. Because it shows a real coronation scene

Q10. The sudden abandonment of cities like Kalibangan and Banawali is linked in the chapter to which event?

• A. A volcanic eruption
• B. An attack by the Mauryas
• C. The drying up of the Sarasvatī River in its central basin
• D. A flood from the Mediterranean Sea

Q11. How was Dholavira's town-planning different from most other Harappan cities?

• A. It had three distinct zones, not two as in other cities
• B. It had no streets at all
• C. It was built entirely underwater
• D. It had only one large house

Q12. Which list correctly names cereals the Harappans are said to have grown?

• A. Maize, potato and tomato
• B. Only barley and nothing else
• C. Tea, coffee and sugarcane only
• D. Barley, wheat, some millets and sometimes rice

Q13. Which of the following is listed in the chapter among Harappan exports?

• A. Iron swords and cannons
• B. Printed books and paper
• C. Steam engines
• D. Ornaments, timber and probably gold and cotton

Q14. The growth of Harappan towns into cities around 2600 BCE is also given which special name in the chapter?

• A. The Green Revolution of India
• B. The First Urbanisation of India
• C. The Industrial Revolution of India
• D. The Vedic Age of India

Q15. A design on a Harappan pot from Lothal seems to tell which familiar story?

• A. The tortoise and the hare
• B. The lion and the mouse
• C. The thirsty crow who cleverly drinks water from the bottom of a pot
• D. The fox and the grapes