Timeline and Sources of History — Hard

Q1. Read the statements. (i) BCE means Before Common Era and replaces BC. (ii) 560 BCE is an approximate birth year of Gautama Buddha. Which is/are correct?

• A. Only (i)
• B. Only (ii)
• C. Both (i) and (ii)
• D. Neither (i) nor (ii)

Q2. Among the century years 1800, 1900 and 2000, which is a leap year according to the chapter's rule?

• A. 1800 only
• B. 1900 only
• C. 2000 only
• D. All three

Q3. Using the chapter's rule, the 3rd century BCE would include which years?

• A. 201 BCE to 300 BCE (i.e., 300 BCE to 201 BCE)
• B. 1 BCE to 100 BCE
• C. 201 CE to 300 CE
• D. 300 BCE to 400 BCE

Q4. We are said to be in the 3rd millennium CE. From and up to which years does it run, and what does this confirm about the year 2024?

• A. 1 to 1000 CE; 2024 lies in the 2nd millennium
• B. 2001 to 3000 CE; 2024 lies within the 3rd millennium
• C. 1001 to 2000 CE; 2024 lies in the 4th millennium
• D. 2000 to 3000 CE; 2024 lies in the 4th millennium

Q5. On the timeline in Fig. 4.3, which event is placed at around 12,000 BCE?

• A. Beginning of copper metallurgy
• B. End of the last ice age
• C. Birth of the Buddha
• D. The Indus-Sarasvati civilisation

Q6. Arrange chronologically (earliest first) using Fig. 4.3: copper metallurgy begins, end of last ice age, birth of Jesus.

• A. End of ice age → copper metallurgy → birth of Jesus
• B. Copper metallurgy → end of ice age → birth of Jesus
• C. Birth of Jesus → copper metallurgy → end of ice age
• D. End of ice age → birth of Jesus → copper metallurgy

Q7. When two historical sources give contradictory information (the 'jigsaw pieces don't match'), what do historians do, according to the chapter?

• A. Discard all sources and stop the study
• B. Decide which source they can trust more
• C. Always believe the older source
• D. Combine the contradictions into one fact

Q8. In Fig. 4.4, 'Archaeological Sources' branch into two groups. Which pairing is correct?

• A. Structures (monuments, mounds) and Excavations (tools, pottery, burials)
• B. Vedas and folklore
• C. Travelogues and historical chronicles
• D. Paintings and sculptures

Q9. Studies of the 'genetics' of ancient people have recently added fresh insights to history. Genetics is best defined as the branch of biology that studies how

• A. rocks form layers over millions of years
• B. certain features and characteristics pass from one generation to the next
• C. ancient coins were minted
• D. the climate changed during the Ice Age

Q10. Rock paintings found in hundreds of caves are valuable to historians mainly because they

• A. give exact dates of every event
• B. make visible aspects of early human life, with figures, symbols and scenes of animals or humans
• C. were written in the Gregorian calendar
• D. record the names of kings

Q11. What happened when the climate warmed up at the end of the last Ice Age, according to the chapter?

• A. All rivers dried up permanently
• B. The ice partly melted, and the resulting waters swelled rivers and eventually drained into the oceans
• C. The Earth froze even more deeply
• D. Humans stopped using fire

Q12. Which sequence correctly shows how human settlements grew more complex over time, as described in the chapter?

• A. Towns → villages → hamlets
• B. Hamlets → sizeable villages → small towns
• C. Cities → hamlets → villages
• D. Villages → rock shelters → towns

Q13. As villages grew, new technologies appeared. According to the chapter, in what order was metal first used?

• A. Iron first, copper later
• B. Copper first, iron later
• C. Gold first, iron later
• D. Bronze first, copper later

Q14. The chapter stresses that human history is only 'a tiny, most recent part' of Earth's history. Which idea does this best support?

• A. Humans have existed for as long as the Earth
• B. The Earth is far older than humanity, and Homo sapiens appeared very late in that long story
• C. Fossils are younger than human writings
• D. History begins only with the Gregorian calendar

Q15. The chapter compares historical sources to a jigsaw puzzle. What important caution does this comparison convey?

• A. Every puzzle piece is always available
• B. In history, quite a few pieces of the puzzle may remain missing
• C. Sources can never contradict each other
• D. Only one source is ever needed