Chapter 6
The Beginnings of Indian Civilization
Part A: Choose the correct option:
1. Which of the following is not a characteristic of a civilization?
a) Nomadic lifestyle
b) Trade
c) Government and administration
d) Writing systems
2. Which of the following 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) None of the above
3. Which was the largest city of the Harappan Civilization?
a) Lothal b) Mohenjo-daro c) Harappa d) Kalibangan
4. Which material was NOT COMMONLY used by Harappans?
a) Shells b) Carnelian c) Bronze d) Steel
5. From where did the people of Mohenjo-daro draw water?
a) Reservoirs b) Wells c) Streams d) Rivers
6. Name the place where elites generally lived
a) Lower Town b) Upper Town c) Dockyards d) Both a and b
7. Which material was commonly used for constructing houses in Harappan cities?
a) Stone b) Wood c) Bricks d) Clay
8. What was the primary reason for the growth of villages and towns in the Indus-
Saraswati region?
a) Advancement in metallurgy
b) Increased trade and exchange
c) Discovery of gold mines
d) Development of art and architecture
9. Assertion (A) The Harappans were pioneers in the field of metallurgy.
Reason (R) They imported tin to mix with copper to produce bronze, which was used
to make tools.
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 true, but R is false
d) A is False, but R is true
10. Assertion (A) The Harappans did not engage in long-distance trade.
Reason (R) Lothal had a well-constructed dockyard, indicating maritime activities.
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 true, but R is false
d) A is False, but R is true
PART B: Fill in the Blanks:
a) The __________________ was the earliest city discovered in Indus Valley
Civilisation.
b) The river______________ was an important part of the Harappan civilisation and is
known today as Ghaggar in India.
c) Fire altars have been discovered in the city of __________________.
d) Harappan cities were known for their advanced _________________system, which
included covered drains.
e) The Great Bath was discovered in the city of ____________________.
f) The famous figurine of the Dancing Girl of Mohenjo-daro was made up of
______________.
g) In Dholavira, the largest reservoir mentioned ____________ in length.
PART C: State True or False:
a) Till date, no concrete reason has been found for decline of the Harappan cities.
b) Most of the houses in the Harappan civilization had separate bathing areas.
c) The Great Bath of Mohenjo-daro was a reservoir for storing drinking water.
d) The Harappan cities had a uniform construction style, irrespective of size of the
houses.
e) The script used by the Harappans has completely been deciphered.
f) The main crop grown by the Harappans were wheat and barley.
PART D: Match the Following
HARAPPAN CITY MODERN STATE/REGION
1. Dholavira a) Punjab
2. Harappa b) Gujarat
3. Kalibangan c) Sindh
4. Mohenjo-daro d) Haryana
5. Rakhigarhi e) Rajasthan
PART E: Look at the picture below and answer the questions that follow:
1. Picture above is an example of:
a) Craft activity b) Harappan seal c) Textiles and clothing c) Currency system
2. These were used for:
a) Religious activities
b) Trade activities
c) Mining activities
d) Metallurgy
3. Which material was used by Harappans to make them?
b) Clay b) Gold c) Bronze d) Steatite
PART F: Answer the Following Questions: (Write 3 points each)
1. Write a note on the city planning of Harappan Civilization?
2. What was the Great Bath?
3. Despite its advanced urban planning and culture, the Harappan Civilization eventually
disappeared, what factors might have contributed to its mysterious decline?
A. ANSWER KEY:
1. A 6. B
2. C 7. C
3. B 8. B
4. D 9. A
5. B 10. D
B. a) Harappa
b) Sarasvati
c) Kalibangan
d) Drainage
e) Mohenjo-daro
f) Bronze
C.
a. True d. True
b. True e. False
c. False f. True
D. 1. B 2. A 3. E 4. C 5. D
E. 1. B 2. B 3. D
F.
1. (i) The larger cities were built according to precise plans. They had wide streets, which
were often oriented to the cardinal directions.
ii) Most cities seem to have been surrounded by fortifications. Many of the cities were
divided into two or more parts. The “upper town” where the local elite probably lived and
the “lowertown”, where common people lived.
iii) Some large buildings seem to have been used for collective purposes Ex. Warehouse
where goods to be transported were stored.
iv) Individual houses of various sizes lined the streets and smaller lanes. All buildings
were generally made of bricks.
2.
In Mohenjo-daro, a small but elaborate tank, which archaeologists called the Great
Bath, was built.
a) It had waterproofing materials such as natural bitumen, a form of tar applied on top of
carefully laid out bricks.
b) The tank was surrounded by small rooms, one of which contained a well. There was a
drain in one corner of the tank to empty it from time to time and refill it with
freshwater. It was used for religious rituals.
3. Despite all its achievements, the civilization began fall apart. Archaeologists have
proposed many factors out of which two factors are currently agreed upon-
a) A climatic change which affected much of the world from 2200 BCE onwards,
causing reduced rainfall and a drier phase. This would have made agriculture more
difficult and could have reduced food supplies to the cities.
b) The Sarasvati river dried up in its central basin, suddenly, cities there, such as
Kalibangan or Banawali were abandoned.