Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Practice Paper 1

Class: VI Subject: History Session: 2025-26 Chapter: 06 - The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation 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 Harappan Civilisation is also known as:
(a) Egyptian Civilisation
(b) Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation
(c) Mesopotamian Civilisation
(d) Chinese Civilisation

Q2. The Harappan cities were established around:
(a) 4000 BCE
(b) 3000 BCE
(c) 2600 BCE
(d) 1900 BCE

Q3. Which river is known as 'Ghaggar' in India and 'Hakra' in Pakistan?
(a) Indus River
(b) Sarasvatī River
(c) Yamuna River
(d) Sutlej River

Q4. The famous 'Great Bath' was discovered in:
(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjo-daro
(c) Dholavira
(d) Lothal

Q5. Harappan seals were generally made of:
(a) Bronze
(b) Gold
(c) Steatite
(d) Iron

Q6. The largest reservoir at Dholavira measured:
(a) 50 metres in length
(b) 73 metres in length
(c) 100 metres in length
(d) 120 metres in length

Q7. Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow:
(a) Wheat
(b) Rice
(c) Cotton
(d) Barley

Q8. The dockyard at Lothal measured:
(a) 100 × 20 metres
(b) 150 × 30 metres
(c) 217 × 36 metres
(d) 250 × 40 metres

Q9. Bronze is made by combining copper with:
(a) Zinc
(b) Tin
(c) Lead
(d) Silver

Q10. The Harappan Civilisation declined around:
(a) 2600 BCE
(b) 2200 BCE
(c) 1900 BCE
(d) 1500 BCE

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. What are the two main factors that led to the decline of the Harappan Civilisation?

Q12. Name any four cities of the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation.

Q13. What were the two distinct parts of Harappan cities? Who lived in each part?

Q14. What evidence shows that Harappans engaged in maritime trade?

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Describe the water management system of the Harappan Civilisation.

Q16. What crops did the Harappans grow? What farming tool did they use?

Q17. Explain the significance of Harappan seals in trade activities.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. Discuss the town-planning features of the Harappan cities with examples.

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

Q19. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "The vast plains of the Punjab and Sindh are watered by the Indus River and its tributaries. This made those plains fertile and, therefore, favourable to agriculture. A little further east, another river, the Sarasvatī, used to flow from the foothills of the Himalayas through Haryana, Punjab, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat. In this whole region, from about 3500 BCE, villages grew into towns, and with increasing trade and other exchanges, those towns further grew into cities."
(a) Which rivers made the plains of Punjab and Sindh fertile? (1)
(b) Through which modern states did the Sarasvatī River flow? (1)
(c) When did villages begin to grow into towns in this region? (1)
(d) What led to towns growing into cities? (1)

Q20. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "The Harappans created many of their settlements along the banks of large or small rivers. Archaeological findings have shown that the Harappans grew cereals like barley, wheat, some millets, and sometimes rice, in addition to pulses and a variety of vegetables. They were also the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used to weave into clothes. They made farming tools, including the plough."
(a) Why did Harappans create settlements along river banks? (1)
(b) Name any three cereals grown by the Harappans. (1)
(c) What was the Harappans' unique achievement in agriculture? (1)
(d) What did they do with cotton? (1) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 01

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(b) Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation Ans 2.
(c) 2600 BCE Ans 3.
(b) Sarasvatī River Ans 4.
(b) Mohenjo-daro Ans 5.
(c) Steatite Ans 6.
(b) 73 metres in length Ans 7.
(c) Cotton Ans 8.
(c) 217 × 36 metres Ans 9.
(b) Tin Ans 10.
(c) 1900 BCE

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. The two main factors that led to the decline of the Harappan Civilisation were: (i) Climatic change: A climatic change affected much of the world from 2200 BCE onward, causing reduced rainfall and a drier phase. This made agriculture more difficult and reduced food supply to the cities. (ii) Drying up of the Sarasvatī River: The Sarasvatī River dried up in its central basin, leading to the abandonment of cities like Kalibangan and Banawali. Ans 12. Four cities of the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation are:

(i) Harappa (Pakistan's Punjab) (ii) Mohenjo-daro (Sindh, Pakistan) (iii) Dholavira (Gujarat) (iv) Rakhigarhi (Haryana) (Any other correct answers: Lothal, Kalibangan, Ganweriwala, Banawali, etc.) Ans 13. The two distinct parts of Harappan cities were: (i) Upper Town: This was the area where the local elite probably lived, including rulers, officials, administrators, and priests. (ii) Lower Town: This was the area where common people lived. The quality of construction was the same for both parts, showing a relatively balanced society.

Ans 14. Evidence of Harappan maritime trade includes: (i) Several Harappan settlements were located in the coastal regions of Gujarat and Sindh. (ii) Lothal, a small settlement in Gujarat, had a huge dockyard measuring 217 × 36 metres, used to receive and send boats for transportation of goods across the sea.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. The water management system of the Harappan Civilisation demonstrates their advanced planning: (i) Harappans gave much importance to water management and cleanliness. (ii) They had separate bathing areas in their homes connected to a network of drains that ran below the streets and took waste water away. (iii) In Mohenjo-daro, hundreds of brick wells were built for drawing water. (iv) At Dholavira, at least six large reservoirs were built with stones or cut into rock, connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution.

Ans 16. Crops grown by Harappans: The Harappans grew a variety of crops including: (i) Cereals: barley, wheat, some millets, and sometimes rice (ii) Pulses: various types of dal (iii) Vegetables: variety of vegetables (iv) Cotton: They were the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they wove into clothes. Farming tool: They used the plough for farming, which continues to be used by modern-day farmers. Ans 17. Harappan seals played an important role in trade activities: (i) Thousands of small seals have been excavated from many Harappan settlements.

(ii) These seals were generally made of steatite, a soft stone that was hardened through heating. (iii) They measured only a few centimetres and depicted animal figures with writing signs above them. (iv) The seals helped traders identify their goods and each other during elaborate trade activities. (v) They served as a form of identification and authentication for trade purposes.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18. The town-planning of Harappan cities shows remarkable sophistication: (i) Planned Layout: Harappan cities were built according to precise plans with wide streets oriented to cardinal directions. (ii) Fortifications: Most cities were surrounded by fortifications for protection. (iii) Two Distinct Parts: • Upper town where the elite lived • Lower town where common people lived (iv) Drainage System: Houses had separate bathing areas connected to underground drains running below streets (example: Lothal).

(v) Construction Quality: All buildings were made of bricks with the same quality of construction for both small and big houses. (vi) Special Structures: • Warehouses for storing goods (found in multiple cities) • The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro (12 × 7 metres) • Large reservoirs at Dholavira (largest: 73 metres) (vii) Water Supply: Wells for water supply (Mohenjo-daro had about 700 brick wells). This planned urbanization is called the 'First Urbanisation of India.'

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) The Indus River and its tributaries made the plains of Punjab and Sindh fertile.
(b) The Sarasvatī River flowed through Haryana, Punjab, parts of Rajasthan and Gujarat.
(c) Villages began to grow into towns from about 3500 BCE.
(d) Increasing trade and other exchanges led to towns growing into cities around 2600 BCE. Ans 20.
(a) Harappans created settlements along river banks because rivers provided easy access to water and made the soil fertile, which was favorable for agriculture.
(b) Three cereals grown by the Harappans were: barley, wheat, and millets (or rice).

(c) The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which was their unique achievement in agriculture.
(d) They used cotton to weave into clothes.