HISTORY (MCQ) Chapter 1

1. Consider the following statements regarding the identification of Shiva, a figure represents
Harappan seals:
(1) It is shown in the form of Gajapati
(2) It is shown seated in Yogic posture.
(3) It is surrounded by animals.
(4) It is shown with a female figure identifiable with Parvati.
Which of the above are correct reasons for identifying the figure with Shiva?
(a) (1) and (4)
(b) (2) and (3)
(c) (2) and (4)
(d) (3) and (4)

2. Consider the following statements about Indus Valley Civilisation:

(a) It is also called Harappan culture.
(b) It is named after the first site where a unique culture was discovered.
(c) It is dated between 5000 BCE to 2500 BCE.
(d) It was uniform throughout its existence.
State which of the above statements are correct:
(i) Only a
(in) a and b
(in) a, b and d
(iv) All of these

3. Who was the Director General of Archaeological Survey of India who announced to the
discovery of a new civilisation in the Indus valley.
(a) Alexander Cunningham
(b) R.E.M Wheeler
(c) James Prinsep
(d) John Marshall

4. Saddle Querns were used for ________

(a) bathing
(b) grinding cereals
(c) perfume bottles
(d) both (a) and (b)

5. A distinctive feature of Harappan cities was

(a) Building
(c) Drainage system
(b) Agriculture
(d) Great Bath

6. Fill in the blank:

Dholavira is presently situated in ________.
(a) Rajasthan
(b) Gujarat
(c) Pakistan
(d) Bihar
7. . Which of these statements is correct?
(a) The Early Harappan culture has no evidence of agriculture and was primarily nomadic.
(b) Some of the settlements were large than some of the present-day modern towns.
(c) There is evidence of large scale burning at some sites.
(d) None of the settlements were abandoned by Harappans.

8. Which of these statements is correct?

(a) Mohenjodaro was the first discovered site of Indus Valley civilisation.
(b) Mohenjodaro is the most well-known site of Indus Valley civilisation.
(c) Mohenjodaro was divided into Citadel, Upper Town and Lower Town.
(d) Upper Town was larger than Lower Town.

9. The term Stratigraphy means.

(a) The island of Bahrain.
(b) Analysis of the order and position of layers of archaeological remains.
(c) Furnace for burning baking clay.
(d) Material made of ground sand or silica mixed with colour and gum.

10. Fill in the blank:

Many important sites of Indus Valley Civilisation are located in ________.
(a) India
(b) China
(c) Pakistan
(d) Both (a) and (c)

11. In Harappan archaeology person who claims magical powers was called
(a) Steatite
(b) Hoards
(c) Stratigraphy
(d) Shaman

12. Fill in the blank:

In Harappan Civilization, Inter Country communication with Oman was done via ________.
(a) land routes
(b) expeditions
(c) riverine routes
(d) both (a) and (c)

13. Which of these Harappan sites is called as Center of Ganeshwar-Jodhpura culture by the
archaeologists?
(a) Mohenjodaro
(b) Nageshwar
(c) Khetri
(d) Dholavira

14. Identify the structure from the given hint: Large rectangular tank in a courty
corridor on all four sides with two flights of steps
(a) warehouse
(b) the great bath
(c) mandapa
(d) lower town
15. Assertion (A) : Indus valley people were primarily the worshipper of male God. Reason (R): A seal
resembling Shiva has been found.
(A) Assertion and reasoning are true and reasoning is the correct way of explaining
(B) A and R are true but R is not correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

16. Assertion (A): Harappan civilization had extensive trade contacts with other contemporary
civilizations.
Reason (R): Bronze age civilizations were sustained by elaborate exchange networks.
(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

17. Assertion (A): The People of Harappan civilization are said to have commercial links with the
people of the Tigris and Euphrates basins. Reason (R): There is no archaeological evidence to
substantiate the hypothesis of trade links with Mesopotamia.
(A) Both (A) and (R) are correct and (R) is the correct explanation of (A)
(B) Both (A) and (R) are correct but (R) is NOT the correct explanation of (A)
(C) (A) is correct but (R) is not correct
(D) (A) is not correct but (R) is correct

18. Which of these was the cause of decline of Harappan Civilisation

(a) climatic change
(b) floods
© deforestation
(d) all of the above

19. Who among the following was the author of book ‘The Story of Indian Archaeology’?
A. R E M Wheeler
B. John Marshall
C. S.N.Roy
D. Rakhal Das Bannerjee

20. Who among the following was the first Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India
(ASI)?
A. Alexender Cunningham B. Harold Hargreaves
C. Daya Ram Sahni.
D. John Marshall

21. Which one among the following religious practices was seemed to be unfamiliar and unusual
with the Harrapan culture?
A. Mother Goddess
B. Priest King
C. Yogic posture seal
D. Sanskritic Yajnas

22. Read the following information and identify the practitioners of a sub-discipline of archaeology.
They are the specialists in ancient animal remains. They tried to study and understand the
Harappans subsistence strategies through animal bones and found at Harappan sites and indicated
that Harappan domesticated few animals.

A. Archaeo-Botanist
B. Archaeo-Zoologist
C. Geo-Archaeologists
D. Anthropologists

23. Consider the following statement (s):

I. the Harappan civilisation was the development of urban centres.

II the most distinctive features of Harappan cities were the carefully planned drainage system
III Harrapan roads and streets were laid out along an approximate “grid” pattern

Which of the above statement (s) is/are correct about Harappa Civilisation?
A. Only I
B. Only II
C. I&II
D.I, II & III

24. Match the following

Archeologist.
(a) Alexander Cunningham
(b) DayaRamSahni.
(c) John Marshall.
(d) R E M Wheeler.
Role/Contributions
(i) Discovered seals at Harappa
(ii) first director general of ASI
(iii) brought military precision in archeology
(iv) announced the discovery of a new civilisation

Options:
(a) (b) (c) (d)
A (ii) (i) (iv) (iii)
B (iv) (iii) (ii) (i)
C (i) (ii) (iii) (iv)
D (i) (iii) (ii) (iv)

25. Fill in the blank:

Strategy used by Harappans for procuring raw materials may have been to send expeditions to areas
such as the --------------- region of Rajasthan (for copper) and south India (for gold). Select the
appropriate option:
A. Khetri
B. Alvar
C. Vagad
D. Marwar

26. Which of these is the other name of Harappan Civilisation?

(a) Aryan Civilisation
(b) Indus Valley Civilisation
(c) Vedic Civilisation
(d) All of these
27.Which of these sites of Harappan Civilisation belong to Haryana?
(a) Kalibangan
(b) Lothal
(c) Banawali
(d) Shortugai

28. From where did Harappans get gold?

(a) South India
(b) Central India
(c) Himalayan Region
(d) Chotta Nagpur region

29. Which of these was not worshipped by the Harappan?

(a) Nature
(b) Goddess
(c) Indra
(d) Pashupatinath

30. Consider the following statement:

1. After independence, most of the Harappan civilisation centres went over to Pakistan.
2. The Harappan script has been deciphered.
3. Rulers had an important role in Harappan civilisation.
4. Dead were buried in Harappa.
Which of the above is correct statement?
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 1, 3 and 4
(c) 1, 2, 3 and 4
(d) 2, 3 and 4

31.Which of the following things were found at craft production centres in Harappan
civilisation?
1. Carnelian
2. Jasper
3. Crystal
4. Quartz
(a) 1, 2 and 3
(b) 3, 4
(c) 2, 3, 4
(d) 2, 4

32. Choose the correct option.

Assertion(A) : Citadel was smaller but higher part
of Mohenjodaro.
Reason(R) : It is on the citadel that we find
evidence of structures that were probably used for
special public purpose:

(A) Both A and R are correct and R is the correct

explanation of A.
(B) Both A and R are correct but R is not the
correct explanation of A.
(C) Ais incorrect but R is correct.
(D) R is incorrect but A is correct.

33.Consider the following statements:

(i)The Great Bath was a large round tank.
(ii) There were two flight of stairs on the north
and the south of the tank.
Choose the correct option:
(A) Only (i) is correct
(B) Only (in) is correct.
(C) Both (i) and (in) are correct.
(D) Neither (i) nor (i) is correct

34.What was used to make the sculpture the oxen?

(A) Minor metal arsenic
(D) Red Soil
(C) Copper
(D) Fire baked earthen clay

35. Cunningham unsuccessfully placed the bricks

found from Harappa with the time frame of the
first cities in the Ganga valley. Why?
(A) Because he wanted to save time.
(B) Because Harappa was not a part of Chinese
pilgrim itineraries and remained unknown for
long.
(C) Because Harappa was not under British
control.
(D) Because the surrounding villagers rumoured
about it.

36. ________ is the most popular site of Indus Valley civilisation while ______ was the first
site of the civilisation to be discovered.
(A) Mohenjodaro, Harappa
(B) Harappa, Lothal
(C) Harappa, Mohenjodaro
(D) Mohenjodaro, Lothal

37. Assertion (A): The Harappans probably had some belief in life after death.
Reason (R): Some graves excavated at Harappa show that the dead were buried along
with ornaments and toiletries.
A). (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation to A.
B). (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C). ( c) A is true but R is false
D). (d) A is false but R is true
38. Assertion (A): The Harappans did not believe in any religion
Reason (R): No temples have been found at any Harappan site as yet.
A). (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation to A.
B). (b) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A.
C). ( c) A is true but R is false
D). (d) A is false but R is true

39. Which among the following is a very soft stone?

(i) Steatite
(ii) Jasper
(iii) Carnelian
(iv) None of the above

40. Which of the following is not one of the features of Harappan writing?

(i)The Harappan script was pictographic and not alphabetical.

(ii) It has been deciphered by James Prinsep.

(iii) It had too many signs, somewhere between 375 and 400.

(iv) The script was written from right to left.