Class 6 Social Science Chapter 5 India, That Is Bharat Practice Paper 2

Class: VI Subject: Social Science Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 05 - India, That Is Bharat Time: 1½ Hours Max. Marks: 40

General Instructions:

1. All questions are compulsory.

2. This question paper contains 20 questions divided into five sections A, B, C, D and E.

3. Section A contains 10 MCQs of 1 mark each.

4. Section B contains 4 questions of 2 marks each.

5. Section C contains 3 questions of 3 marks each.

6. Section D contains 1 question of 5 marks.

7. Section E contains 2 Case Study Based questions of 4 marks each.

SECTION A - Multiple Choice Questions (1 mark each)

Q1. The word 'Sindhu' primarily refers to:
(a) A mountain range
(b) The Indus River
(c) A kingdom
(d) A religious text

Q2. Which tree gives India one of its ancient names, Jambudvīpa?
(a) Banyan tree
(b) Peepal tree
(c) Jamun tree
(d) Mango tree

Q3. The name 'Bharat' first appears in which ancient text?
(a) Ṛig Veda
(b) Arthaśāstra
(c) Upaniṣhads
(d) Rāmāyaṇa

Q4. In which century did Xuanzang visit India?
(a) 5th century CE
(b) 6th century CE
(c) 7th century CE
(d) 8th century CE

Q5. Why did the Greeks drop the letter 'h' from 'Hindu' when naming India?
(a) They found it difficult to pronounce
(b) This letter did not exist in Greek language
(c) It was a mistake in translation
(d) They wanted to create a unique name

Q6. The northern boundary of Bhārata, as described in the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, is:
(a) The desert
(b) The ocean
(c) The snowy mountains
(d) The river Ganga

Q7. What did ancient Tamil literature use to describe India's geographical extent?
(a) From the mountains to the seas
(b) From Cape Kumari to the great mountain and the oceans
(c) From east to west
(d) From the Ganga to the Sindhu

Q8. In ancient Persian, the word 'Hindu' was:
(a) A religious term
(b) A purely geographical term
(c) A cultural term
(d) A political term

Q9. How many years did Xuanzang spend in India?
(a) 10 years
(b) 15 years
(c) 17 years
(d) 20 years

Q10. The term 'Hindustān' first appeared in:
(a) Greek inscriptions
(b) Persian inscriptions
(c) Chinese texts
(d) Arabic manuscripts

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What is meant by 'Indian Subcontinent'? Why is India sometimes referred to this way?

Q12. How does the Indian Constitution acknowledge both 'India' and 'Bharat' as names of the country?

Q13. What was the main purpose of Xuanzang's journey to India?

Q14. Why is the Mahābhārata considered important for understanding India's ancient geography?

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Compare the names given to India by Indians and foreigners. What pattern do you notice in how foreigners named India?

Q16. Explain the transformation of 'Sindhu' to 'India' through different languages and civilizations.

Q17. How did ancient Indians define the geographical boundaries of their land? Give examples from at least two sources.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. Describe how foreign civilizations interacted with India and named the country. Discuss at least three different foreign names for India and explain their origins.

SECTION E - Case Study Based Questions (4 marks each)

Q19. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "In an ancient text called the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, we read: 'uttaram yat samudrasya himādreścaiva dakṣiṇam varṣam tad bhāratam nāma...' 'The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhārata.'"
(a) Which text provides this definition of Bhārata? (1 mark)
(b) What are the two geographical features mentioned as boundaries? (1 mark)
(c) Why is this definition considered accurate even today? (2 marks)

Q20. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "Based on Persian sources, the ancient Greeks named the region 'Indoi' or 'Indike'. They dropped the initial letter 'h' of 'Hindu' because this letter did not exist in their Greek language. The ancient Chinese also interacted with India. In several texts, they refer to India as 'Yintu' or 'Yindu'."
(a) What did the Greeks call India? (1 mark)
(b) What did the Chinese call India? (1 mark)
(c) Explain how both these names trace back to the same original Indian word. (2 marks) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 02

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(b) The Indus River The word 'Sindhu' refers to the Indus River, or at times to a river in general. It is the root word from which many names of India originated. Ans 2.
(c) Jamun tree 'Jambudvīpa' means 'the island of the fruit of the jamun tree'. The jamun (also called jambul tree or Malabar plum tree) is a common tree native to India. Ans 3.
(a) Ṛig Veda The name 'Bharata' first appears in the Ṛig Veda, where it refers to one of the main Vedic groups of people. Ans 4.
(c) 7th century CE Xuanzang travelled from China to India in the 7th century CE. He stayed for 17 years, visiting many parts of India and collecting Buddhist texts.

Ans 5.
(b) This letter did not exist in Greek language The Greeks dropped the initial letter 'h' from 'Hindu' because this letter did not exist in their Greek language, resulting in 'Indoi' or 'Indike'. Ans 6.
(c) The snowy mountains According to the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, the northern boundary of Bhārata is the snowy mountains (Himalayas), and the southern boundary is the ocean. Ans 7.
(b) From Cape Kumari to the great mountain and the oceans Ancient Tamil literature described India's extent as "from [Cape] Kumari in the south, from the great mountain in the north, from the oceans on the east and on the west." Ans 8.
(b) A purely geographical term In ancient Persian, 'Hindu' was a purely geographical term referring to the region beyond the Indus River.

It did not refer to the Hindu religion. Ans 9.
(c) 17 years Xuanzang spent 17 years in India, during which he visited many parts of the country, met scholars, and collected Buddhist texts. Ans 10.
(b) Persian inscriptions The term 'Hindustān' first appeared in a Persian inscription about 1,800 years ago and later became widely used by invaders to describe the Indian Subcontinent.

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. The 'Indian Subcontinent' is a geographical term that refers to the region of the world that includes: Included areas: The region encompassing modern India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, Bhutan, and sometimes Sri Lanka and parts of Afghanistan. Reason for the term: India is sometimes referred to as a subcontinent because it is a large, distinct geographical region separated from the rest of Asia by natural boundaries like the Himalayas, and it has its own unique climate, culture, and geological features.

Ans 12. The Indian Constitution acknowledges both names in the following ways: English version: The Constitution, which was first written in English, uses the phrase 'India, that is Bharat' right at the beginning. Hindi version: Similarly, the Hindi version of the Constitution mentions 'Bhārat arthāth India' (meaning 'Bharat, that is India'). This dual recognition shows that both names are equally valid and official for the country. Ans 13. The main purposes of Xuanzang's journey to India were: (i) Collection of Buddhist texts: He came to collect authentic Buddhist manuscripts and texts from India, the birthplace of Buddhism.

(ii) Scholarly learning: He wanted to meet Indian scholars and learn more about Buddhist philosophy and teachings. (iii) Translation work: After returning to China, he translated the Sanskrit manuscripts he collected into Chinese, helping spread Buddhist knowledge in China. Ans 14. The Mahābhārata is important for understanding India's ancient geography because: (i) Comprehensive coverage: It lists many regions and kingdoms that covered the entire geography of the Subcontinent, from Kashmir in the north to Kerala in the south.

(ii) Regional names: It mentions specific regions like Kāshmīra, Kurukṣhetra, Vanga, Prāgjyotiṣha, Kaccha, and Kerala, many of which are still recognizable today. (iii) Use of terms: It uses terms like 'Bhāratavarṣha' and 'Jambudvīpa' to refer to the entire Subcontinent, showing that ancient Indians had a concept of India as a unified geographical entity.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. Comparison between names given by Indians and foreigners: Names given by Indians: • Sapta Sindhava - based on rivers • Jambudvīpa - based on native trees • Bhāratavarṣha/Bhārata - based on people/rulers • These names reflected India's natural features, vegetation, and cultural identity. Names given by foreigners: • Persians: Hindu/Hind • Greeks: Indoi/Indike • Chinese: Yindu/Yintu • Arabs and later Persians: Hindustān Pattern observed: Almost all foreign names for India trace back to the Sanskrit word 'Sindhu' (the Indus River). Different civilizations adapted this word to their own languages, but the common origin shows that foreigners primarily identified India through its most prominent geographical feature - the Indus River. This reveals that the northwestern region served as the main entry point for foreign contact with India.

Ans 16. The transformation of 'Sindhu' to 'India' occurred through the following stages: Stage 1 - Original Sanskrit name (Ancient India): • 'Sindhu' was the Sanskrit name for the Indus River • Used by ancient Indians in the Ṛig Veda Stage 2 - Persian adaptation (6th century BCE): • Persians conquered the Indus region • They changed 'Sindhu' to 'Hindu' (or 'Hind', 'Hidu') • This was their way of pronouncing the Sanskrit word Stage 3 - Greek adaptation (Based on Persian): • Greeks learned about India from Persian sources • They converted 'Hindu' to 'Indoi' or 'Indike' • They dropped the 'h' because it didn't exist in Greek Stage 4 - Latin and English (Based on Greek):

• The Latin form 'India' developed from Greek 'Indoi' • This became the English name 'India' • The French 'Inde' and other European languages followed similar patterns Summary of transformation: Sindhu (Sanskrit) → Hindu (Persian) → Indoi/Indike (Greek) → India (Latin/English) Ans 17. Ancient Indians defined the geographical boundaries of their land using natural features: From the Viṣhṇu Purāṇa: • Northern boundary: The snowy mountains (Himalayas) • Southern boundary: The ocean (Indian Ocean) • The text states: "The country that lies north of the ocean and south of the snowy mountains is called Bhārata" • This clearly defines India between two major natural boundaries From ancient Tamil literature (about 2,000 years ago):

• Southern point: Cape Kumari (Kanyakumari) • Northern point: The great mountain (Himalayas) • Eastern boundary: The ocean (Bay of Bengal) • Western boundary: The ocean (Arabian Sea) • A poem praises a king whose name is known "from [Cape] Kumari in the south, from the great mountain in the north, from the oceans on the east and on the west" Conclusion: Both north and south Indian sources used the same natural features to define India's boundaries, showing that ancient Indians from different regions had a unified geographical understanding of their land. This demonstrates their sophisticated knowledge of geography and a shared sense of territorial identity.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18. Foreign civilizations interacted with India through various means and gave different names to the country: (i) PERSIAN INTERACTION AND NAMING: How they interacted: • In the 6th century BCE, a Persian emperor launched a military campaign • He gained control of the region of the Indus River • This established direct contact between Persia and India Names given: • The Persians called India 'Hind', 'Hidu' or 'Hindu' • Later, they used the term 'Hindustān' (first appeared about 1,800 years ago) Origin:

• These names are adaptations of the Sanskrit word 'Sindhu' (the Indus River) • In ancient Persian, 'Hindu' was purely a geographical term, not religious • 'Hindustān' means 'land of the Hindus/Indus' (ii) GREEK INTERACTION AND NAMING: How they interacted: • Greeks learned about India from Persian sources • They had trade contacts and some Greek rulers even controlled parts of northwest India • Greek scholars wrote accounts about India Names given: • The Greeks called India 'Indoi' or 'Indike' Origin:

• Based on the Persian 'Hindu' • They dropped the initial 'h' because this letter did not exist in Greek language • The Latin 'India' and English 'India' eventually developed from this Greek form (iii) CHINESE INTERACTION AND NAMING: How they interacted: • Chinese scholars and pilgrims visited India to study Buddhism • Xuanzang spent 17 years in India in the 7th century CE • He and other scholars collected Buddhist texts and met Indian scholars • They translated Sanskrit manuscripts into Chinese Names given:

• The Chinese called India 'Yintu' or 'Yindu' • They also used 'Tianzhu' Origin: • 'Yindu' came from 'Sindhu' through the transformation: Sindhu → Hindhu → Indu → Yindu • 'Tianzhu' also derived from 'Sindhu' but could be understood as 'heavenly master' • This reflected Chinese respect for India as the land of the Buddha CONCLUSION: All major foreign civilizations that interacted with India - whether through military conquest (Persians), trade and diplomacy (Greeks), or religious pilgrimage (Chinese) - named India based on the Sanskrit word 'Sindhu'. Each adapted it to their own language, but the common origin shows that the Indus River region served as the primary point of contact between India and the outside world. These interactions enriched both India and the visiting civilizations through exchange of knowledge, culture, and ideas.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) Text name (1 mark): The Viṣhṇu Purāṇa, an ancient Indian text, provides this definition of Bhārata.
(b) Two geographical features (1 mark): The two geographical features mentioned as boundaries are: (i) The ocean in the south (Indian Ocean) (ii) The snowy mountains in the north (Himalayas)
(c) Why this definition is accurate today (2 marks): This definition is considered accurate even today because: • The Himalayas still form India's northern boundary, separating it from the rest of Asia.

• The Indian Ocean still bounds India on the south, with the Arabian Sea on the west and Bay of Bengal on the east. • These natural boundaries have remained constant throughout history and continue to define India's geographical extent. • Modern India still lies between these same natural features, making this ancient description remarkably precise and enduring. Ans 20.
(a) Greek name for India (1 mark): The Greeks called India 'Indoi' or 'Indike'.
(b) Chinese name for India (1 mark): The Chinese referred to India as 'Yintu' or 'Yindu'.

(c) Connection to the same original word (2 marks): Both Greek and Chinese names trace back to the same Sanskrit word 'Sindhu': Greek transformation: • Sindhu (Sanskrit) → Hindu (Persian) → Indoi/Indike (Greek) • The Greeks learned about India from Persian sources • They adapted the Persian 'Hindu' by dropping the 'h' (which didn't exist in Greek) Chinese transformation: • Sindhu (Sanskrit) → Hindhu (Persian influence) → Indu → Yindu (Chinese) • The Chinese adapted the word to their language's pronunciation system Despite different routes and adaptations, both names ultimately originated from 'Sindhu', the ancient Indian name for the Indus River. This shows how a single geographical feature served as the basis for India's name across multiple civilizations.