A. MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUESTIONS (MCQs)
1. A civilisation must have which of the following?
a) Only agriculture
b) Only trade
c) Urbanism, writing, trade, government, and productive agriculture
d) Only cultural activities
Answer: c
2. The first Harappan city to be excavated in 1920–21 was:
a) Mohenjo-daro
b) Dholavira
c) Harappa
d) Lothal
Answer: c
3. The Sarasvatī River is today known as:
a) Ganga
b) Ghaggar–Hakra
c) Yamuna
d) Sutlej
Answer: b
4. Which metal did Harappans use along with copper to make bronze?
a) Gold
b) Tin
c) Iron
d) Silver
Answer: b
5. Lothal’s huge water structure was mainly used as a:
a) Public bath
b) Dockyard
c) Swimming pool
d) Water reservoir
Answer: b
6. The “Great Bath” was discovered in:
a) Harappa
b) Dholavira
c) Mohenjo-daro
d) Kalibangan
Answer: c
7. Which of the following crops were Harappans the first to grow in Eurasia?
a) Cotton
b) Tobacco
c) Sugarcane
d) Coffee
Answer: a
8. Harappan seals were mostly made of:
a) Gold
b) Bronze
c) Steatite
d) Iron
Answer: c
9. The Harappans lived mainly along the banks of:
a) Indus and Sarasvatī
b) Ganga and Yamuna
c) Narmada and Tapti
d) Godavari and Krishna
Answer: a
10. The major reason agreed upon for Harappan decline is:
a) War and invasion
b) Volcanic eruption
c) Climate change and drying of Sarasvatī River
d) Earthquake
Answer: c
B. ONE-WORD ANSWERS
1. What is the soft stone used to make Harappan seals?
Answer: Steatite
2. Name the famous water structure found at Mohenjo-daro.
Answer: Great Bath
3. What do we call a river that flows into a larger river?
Answer: Tributary
4. Which civilisation is also known as the Sindhu-Sarasvatī civilisation?
Answer: Harappan civilisation
5. What metal alloy is made by mixing copper and tin?
Answer: Bronze
C. VERY SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (1–2 sentences)
1. Why were Harappans also called the inhabitants of the Indus Valley?
Answer: Because many of their cities, like Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, were located in the Indus river region.
2. Why is productive agriculture considered essential for civilisation?
Answer: It provides surplus food, allowing people to settle in cities and engage in crafts, trade, writing, and administration.
3. What does the presence of planned streets and drainage systems show about Harappan society?
Answer: It shows they had advanced engineering skills and a strong civic sense.
4. Why did the Harappans build cities near rivers?
Answer: Rivers provided water, fertile soil, and transport routes.
5. What evidence tells us that Harappans traded with distant regions?
Answer: Harappan objects like beads and seals were found in Mesopotamia and Oman.
D. SHORT ANSWER QUESTIONS (3–4 sentences)
1. What were the main features of Harappan town planning?
Answer: Harappan cities had wide streets laid out in a grid pattern, separate upper and lower towns, well-built houses, and strong fortifications. They also had advanced drainage systems running beneath the streets. Public structures like the Great Bath and warehouses show organised administration and collective activities.
2. Describe the water management system of the Harappans.
Answer: Harappans maintained an efficient system of wells, drains, and reservoirs. Almost every house had a bathroom connected to covered drains. Dholavira had large stone reservoirs connected by channels for water storage. Their system reflects careful planning and civic discipline.
3. What did Harappans eat, and what does it tell us about their agriculture?
Answer: They ate wheat, barley, millets, pulses, vegetables, fruits, dairy products, and spices like turmeric and ginger. They also domesticated animals and fished in rivers and the sea. This variety shows they practiced productive agriculture and had a rich and diverse diet.
4. Why did the Harappan civilisation decline around 1900 BCE?
Answer: The major reasons include a global climatic change leading to reduced rainfall and the drying up of the Sarasvatī River. These changes made agriculture difficult and led to food shortages. As cities could not sustain themselves, people moved back to rural settlements.
E. BRIEF ANSWERS / LONG PARAGRAPH (6–7 sentences)
1. What is a civilisation? Explain with reference to the Harappan civilisation.
Answer: A civilisation is an advanced society marked by government, urban planning, writing, trade, and cultural development. The Harappan civilisation displayed all these features. It had well-planned cities like Mohenjo-daro, an efficient administration, and advanced crafts. Harappans used a form of writing seen on seals and maintained active trade with distant regions like Mesopotamia. Their agriculture was productive, supporting large populations. Cultural objects such as the Dancing Girl and the Priest King statue show artistic achievement. Thus, Harappan society meets all the criteria of a well-developed civilisation.
2. Describe major achievements of the Indus-Sarasvatī (Harappan) civilisation.
Answer: The Harappans built highly planned cities with wide roads, drainage systems, and public structures like the Great Bath and warehouses. They had advanced water management, including wells and large reservoirs. They developed excellent crafts like bead-making, pottery, metallurgy, and shell-working. Their trade network extended to Mesopotamia and the Arabian coast, supported by dockyards such as Lothal. They practiced productive agriculture and grew crops like wheat, barley, millets, and cotton. Harappan seals and symbols show a sophisticated sense of identity and communication. Overall, their achievements laid strong foundations for later Indian cultures.
