Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Practice Paper 3

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 First Urbanisation of India refers to:
(a) Development of villages
(b) Growth of towns into cities around 2600 BCE
(c) Building of forts
(d) Start of agriculture

Q2. Which city had about 700 wells built with bricks?
(a) Harappa
(b) Mohenjo-daro
(c) Lothal
(d) Dholavira

Q3. The height of the 'Dancing Girl' figurine from Mohenjo-daro is:
(a) 5.8 cm
(b) 8.5 cm
(c) 10.8 cm
(d) 12.5 cm

Q4. Metallurgy includes techniques of:
(a) Weaving clothes
(b) Extracting and working with metals
(c) Making pottery
(d) Building houses

Q5. The Ṛig Veda describes the Sarasvatī River as flowing:
(a) From east to west
(b) From the mountain to the sea
(c) Only during monsoons
(d) Underground

Q6. Mohenjo-daro and Harappa are now located in:
(a) India
(b) Afghanistan
(c) Pakistan
(d) Bangladesh

Q7. The term 'elite' in the context of Harappan cities refers to:
(a) Common people
(b) Farmers
(c) Higher layers of society like rulers and officials
(d) Traders

Q8. A tributary is:
(a) A main river
(b) A river that flows into a larger river
(c) An ocean
(d) A lake

Q9. Pulses include crops like:
(a) Wheat and rice
(b) Beans, peas and lentils
(c) Cotton and jute
(d) Sugarcane and vegetables

Q10. A reservoir is:
(a) A type of seal
(b) A large place where water is stored
(c) A farming tool
(d) A type of building

SECTION B - Short Answer Questions (2 marks each)

Q11. Why were Harappan settlements created along river banks?

Q12. What is bronze and how did Harappans use it?

Q13. What do the seals tell us about Harappan trade and communication?

Q14. Why do archaeologists believe the Harappan Civilisation was relatively peaceful?

SECTION C - Short Answer Questions (3 marks each)

Q15. Describe the special features of the water reservoirs at Dholavira.

Q16. What evidence shows that Harappans had a diverse diet? Mention at least four different types of food.

Q17. Explain how the quality of construction in Harappan cities shows they were a well-balanced society.

SECTION D - Long Answer Question (5 marks)

Q18. What were the major achievements of the Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation? Discuss any five achievements with examples.

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

Q19. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "The Harappans were engaged in active trade, not only within their own civilisation but with other civilisations and cultures within and outside India. They exported ornaments, timber, some objects of daily use, probably also gold and cotton, and possibly some food items. The most favoured ornaments were beads of carnelian, a reddish semiprecious stone found mostly in Gujarat. Harappan craftspeople developed special techniques to drill them."
(a) What were the two types of trade that Harappans engaged in? (1)
(b) What was carnelian? (1)
(c) Where was carnelian mostly found? (1)
(d) Why did Harappan craftspeople need to drill beads? (1)

Q20. Read the following passage and answer the questions: "In Mohenjo-daro, people drew water from hundreds of wells made of bricks. But in other regions, it may have been from ponds, nearby streams or human-made reservoirs. In the case of Dholavira (in the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat), the largest reservoir measured 73 metres in length! At Dholavira, at least six large reservoirs were built with stones or even cut into the rock. Most of them were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution."
(a) How many wells were there in Mohenjo-daro approximately? (1)
(b) What was the length of the largest reservoir at Dholavira? (1)
(c) How many large reservoirs were built at Dholavira? (1)
(d) How were the reservoirs at Dholavira connected? (1) DETAILED ANSWER KEY - PAPER 03

SECTION A - Answers to MCQs

Ans 1.
(b) Growth of towns into cities around 2600 BCE Ans 2.
(b) Mohenjo-daro Ans 3.
(c) 10.8 cm Ans 4.
(b) Extracting and working with metals Ans 5.
(b) From the mountain to the sea Ans 6.
(c) Pakistan Ans 7.
(c) Higher layers of society like rulers and officials Ans 8.
(b) A river that flows into a larger river Ans 9.
(b) Beans, peas and lentils Ans 10.
(b) A large place where water is stored

SECTION B - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 11. Harappan settlements were created along river banks for several important reasons: (i) Rivers provided easy access to water for drinking and daily use. (ii) Rivers enriched the soil around them, making it fertile and favorable for agriculture, which was essential for feeding both villages and cities. Ans 12. What is Bronze: Bronze is a metal created by adding tin to copper. It is harder than copper alone. Uses by Harappans: The Harappans mastered the art of working with bronze and used it to make various items including tools, pots and pans, and some figurines like the famous 'Dancing Girl'.

Ans 13. Harappan seals tell us important information about their trade and communication: (i) Thousands of small seals made of steatite have been found, showing elaborate trade systems. (ii) The seals depicted animal figures with writing signs above them, which helped traders identify their goods and each other during trade activities. Ans 14. Archaeologists believe the Harappan Civilisation was relatively peaceful because: (i) There is no trace of warfare or invasion in the archaeological evidence.

(ii) The Harappans do not seem to have kept any army or weapons of war, unlike other contemporary civilisations.

SECTION C - Answers to Short Answer Questions

Ans 15. The water reservoirs at Dholavira had several special features: (i) Large Size: The largest reservoir measured 73 metres in length, showing impressive engineering capabilities. (ii) Number: At least six large reservoirs were built at this site. (iii) Construction: The reservoirs were built with stones or even cut into the rock, demonstrating advanced construction techniques. (iv) Connectivity: Most of the reservoirs were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution.

(v) Water Management: This system shows the Harappans' sophisticated approach to water management in the dry region of Rann of Kutch. Ans 16. Several types of evidence show that Harappans had a diverse diet: (i) Cereals: Archaeological findings show they grew barley, wheat, millets, and sometimes rice. (ii) Pulses and Vegetables: They cultivated various pulses and vegetables. (iii) Meat and Fish: Large numbers of animal and fish bones found during excavations prove they ate meat from domesticated animals and fished in both rivers and seas.

(iv) Dairy Products: Scientific examination of clay pots has revealed remains of dairy products. (v) Spices and Fruits: Clay pots have also shown remains of turmeric, ginger and banana, indicating use of spices and fruits in their diet. Ans 17. The quality of construction in Harappan cities demonstrates they were a well-balanced society: (i) Individual houses of various sizes lined the streets and smaller lanes, showing diversity in housing. (ii) Interestingly, the quality of construction was the same for small and big houses, indicating that all citizens, whether rich or poor, had access to good quality housing.

(iii) This equal quality of construction shows that the differences between the rich and the poor were not glaring, supporting the view that Harappan society was well-balanced where mutual accommodation was more important than exploitation.

SECTION D - Answer to Long Answer Question

Ans 18. The Indus-Sarasvatī Civilisation achieved remarkable progress in many areas: (i) Advanced Town Planning: • Cities were built according to precise plans with wide streets oriented to cardinal directions • Example: Streets at Kalibangan and housing areas in Dholavira show perpendicular layout (ii) Sophisticated Water Management: • Complex drainage systems with covered drains running below streets (Lothal) • Hundreds of brick wells (about 700 in Mohenjo-daro) • Large reservoirs connected by underground channels (Dholavira had 6 reservoirs, largest 73m long) (iii) Maritime Trade and Commerce:

• First intensive maritime activity in India • Built dockyards (Lothal's dockyard: 217 × 36 metres) • Traded with Mesopotamia and other civilisations • Exported carnelian beads, cotton, timber (iv) Advanced Craftsmanship: • Mastered metallurgy - worked with copper and bronze • Developed special techniques to drill carnelian beads • Created sophisticated shell bangles from conch shells • First in Eurasia to grow and weave cotton (v) Agricultural Innovation: • Cultivated diverse crops: wheat, barley, millets, rice, pulses • Developed farming tools including the plough (still used today) • Used spices like turmeric and ginger (vi) Civic Sense and Social Equality:

• Same quality of construction for all houses • Individual bathrooms in most houses showing concern for hygiene • Well-balanced society with minimal rich-poor divide These achievements show the Harappan Civilisation was one of the most advanced of its time.

SECTION E - Answers to Case Study Based Questions

Ans 19.
(a) The two types of trade that Harappans engaged in were: (i) Internal trade - within their own civilisation with nearby and far away cities (ii) External trade - with other civilisations and cultures within and outside India
(b) Carnelian was a reddish semiprecious stone that was used to make ornamental beads, which were the most favoured items for trade.
(c) Carnelian was mostly found in Gujarat.
(d) Harappan craftspeople needed to drill beads so that a string could pass through them, allowing the beads to be worn as necklaces or bracelets.

Ans 20.
(a) There were hundreds of wells (approximately 700) in Mohenjo-daro, all made of bricks.
(b) The length of the largest reservoir at Dholavira was 73 metres.
(c) At least six large reservoirs were built at Dholavira.
(d) The reservoirs at Dholavira were connected through underground drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution.