Q1. Which among the following sites of the Indus Valley Civilization was the first to be scientifically excavated, leading to the discovery of this ancient urban culture?
(B) Harappa
(C) Lothal
(D) Kalibangan
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Correct Answer: (B) Harappa
Notes:
Harappa, located in present-day Pakistan, was first excavated in 1921 by Daya Ram Sahni under the Archaeological Survey of India. Its discovery revealed a previously unknown Bronze Age urban civilization, marking the beginning of systematic research into the Indus Valley Civilization.
Q2. The ancient Indus Valley site of Mohenjo-daro, one of the most prominent urban centers of the Harappan Civilization, was discovered during excavations in 1922 by which archaeologist?
(B) Rakhaldas Banerjee
(C) Alexander Cunningham
(D) Mortimer Wheeler
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Correct Answer: (B) Rakhaldas Banerjee.
Notes:
Mohenjo-daro was discovered in 1922 by Rakhaldas Banerjee, an officer of the Archaeological Survey of India. His findings, along with Harappa, confirmed the existence of a highly developed urban civilization in the Indus Valley, dating back to around 2500 BCE.
Q3. The Indus Valley Civilization, one of the earliest urban civilizations of the world, is also referred to by which alternative name based on its first discovered major site?
(B) Chalcolithic Civilization
(C) Gangetic Civilization
(D) Harappan Civilization
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Correct Answer: (D) Harappan Civilization.
Notes:
The Indus Valley Civilization is also called the Harappan Civilization because Harappa was the first site discovered in 1921. Archaeologists use this term to collectively describe all sites sharing similar cultural features like urban planning, seals, and drainage systems.
Q4. In the well-planned urban settlements of the Indus Valley Civilization, which of the following materials was predominantly used for constructing houses, drainage systems, and public buildings?
(B) Stone
(C) Baked bricks
(D) Mud
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Correct Answer: (C) Baked bricks.
Notes:
The Indus Valley people extensively used standardized baked (burnt) bricks for construction. These bricks were uniform in size, ensuring strong and durable structures. Their use in houses, drainage systems, and granaries reflects advanced engineering skills and planned urban architecture.
Q5. The urban planning of the Indus Valley Civilization is considered highly advanced; which of the following best describes the layout pattern of its cities, where streets intersected at right angles forming well-organized blocks?
(B) Circular planning
(C) Grid pattern
(D) Linear planning
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Correct Answer: (C) Grid pattern.
Notes:
Indus cities followed a grid pattern with streets crossing each other at right angles. This systematic layout divided cities into rectangular blocks and ensured efficient movement and drainage, reflecting remarkable planning and engineering skills.
Q6. The “Great Bath,” a remarkable public structure believed to have been used for ritualistic or ceremonial bathing, has been excavated at which Indus Valley Civilization site?
(B) Mohenjo-daro
(C) Lothal
(D) Kalibangan
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Correct Answer: (B) Mohenjo-daro .
Notes:
The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro is a large, well-built water tank made of baked bricks and waterproof materials. It likely served ritual or religious purposes, indicating the importance of cleanliness and ceremonial bathing in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Q7. Which Indus Valley Civilization site is particularly known for its well-planned dockyard, providing strong evidence of maritime trade and overseas commercial activities?
(B) Dholavira
(C) Banawali
(D) Lothal
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Correct Answer: (D) Lothal.
Notes:
Lothal, located in present-day Gujarat, is famous for its dockyard, one of the earliest known in the world. It indicates that the Indus people engaged in maritime trade, likely connecting with regions like Mesopotamia through sea routes.
Q8. The script found on seals and other artifacts of the Indus Valley Civilization has been a subject of extensive research; what is its current status of interpretation?
(B) Alphabetic
(C) Undeciphered
(D) Brahmi-based
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Correct Answer: (C)Undeciphered.
Notes:
The Indus script remains undeciphered despite numerous attempts by scholars. It consists of short inscriptions on seals and tablets, and the absence of a bilingual inscription (like the Rosetta Stone) has made its interpretation extremely difficult.
Q9. Indus Valley seals often depict various animals reflecting aspects of their environment and beliefs; which of the following animals is notably absent or rarely found on these seals?
(B) Elephant
(C) Horse
(D) Tiger
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Correct Answer: (C)Horse.
Notes:
Animals like bulls, elephants, and tigers frequently appear on Indus seals. However, the horse is rarely depicted, and its remains are scarce in archaeological findings, suggesting it was either unknown or not significant in the Indus Valley Civilization.
Q10. The Indus Valley Civilization is classified as a Bronze Age culture; which of the following metals was not known or used by its people?
(B) Bronze
(C) Iron
(D) Gold
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Correct Answer: (C)Iron.
Notes:
The Indus Valley Civilization belonged to the Bronze Age, where copper and bronze were widely used along with gold for ornaments. Iron technology had not yet been discovered or utilized, which became prominent only in later periods.