Unit 2: Beginning of Historical Age - Practice Quiz

HIS291 — Ancient Indian History And Culture 50 Questions
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1 Which of the following materials was primarily used to manufacture the seals found in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Steatite
B. Gold
C. Iron
D. Limestone

2 The 'Great Bath', a prominent structure of the Indus Valley Civilization, was found at which site?

A. Mohenjo-daro
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Kalibangan

3 Which metal was unknown to the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Copper
B. Gold
C. Iron
D. Bronze

4 The famous bronze statue of the 'Dancing Girl' was discovered at which site?

A. Chanhudaro
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Mohenjo-daro

5 Which Indus Valley site provides the earliest evidence of an artificial dockyard?

A. Surkotada
B. Dholavira
C. Lothal
D. Rakhigarhi

6 The script of the Indus Valley Civilization is best described as:

A. Aramaic
B. Pictographic / Logo-syllabic
C. Brahmi
D. Kharosthi

7 Which pattern of town planning was generally followed in the major Indus Valley cities?

A. Grid system
B. Circular system
C. Radial system
D. Linear system

8 Evidence of a 'ploughed field' was found at which Indus Valley site?

A. Kalibangan
B. Harappa
C. Mohenjo-daro
D. Lothal

9 The 'Pashupati Mahadeva' seal depicts a central figure surrounded by which combination of animals?

A. Horse, Sheep, Goat, and Tiger
B. Elephant, Cow, Peacock, and Snake
C. Lion, Horse, Cow, and Bull
D. Elephant, Tiger, Rhino, Buffalo, and two Deer

10 Which of the following statements regarding Indus Valley architecture is true?

A. They primarily used stone for residential buildings.
B. They constructed large pyramidal temples.
C. They built extensive cave dwellings.
D. They used burnt bricks of a standardized ratio.

11 The Indus Valley Civilization is approximately dated to which period?

A. 2500 BCE – 1750 BCE
B. 600 CE – 1000 CE
C. 1000 BCE – 500 BCE
D. 5000 BCE – 4000 BCE

12 Which site is the only Indus city without a citadel (fortified upper town)?

A. Harappa
B. Chanhudaro
C. Mohenjo-daro
D. Kalibangan

13 What was the main source of the economy for the Indus Valley people?

A. Agriculture and Trade
B. Hunting and Gathering
C. Fishing only
D. Warfare and Conquest

14 The 'Bearded Priest' bust found at Mohenjo-daro is made of which material?

A. Red Sandstone
B. Bronze
C. Steatite
D. Terracotta

15 Which of the following animals is not typically represented on Indus Valley seals?

A. Bull
B. Unicorn
C. Lion
D. Elephant

16 The Harappan civilization was the first to produce which crop?

A. Silk
B. Cotton
C. Maize
D. Tobacco

17 What is the unique water management feature found at Dholavira?

A. A complex system of reservoirs and dams
B. The Great Bath
C. A dockyard
D. Underground canal irrigation

18 In the context of Harappan burial practices, what was found at Lothal?

A. Burial in a sitting position
B. Double burial (Male and Female together)
C. Burial of a dog with a master
D. Cremation urns only

19 The term 'Meluha' in ancient Mesopotamian texts is believed to refer to:

A. Persia
B. The Indus Valley Civilization
C. Egypt
D. China

20 Which technique was used to make the bronze statues in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Hammering
B. Stone carving
C. Chipping
D. Lost-wax (Cire-perdue)

21 The writing direction of the Indus script is generally believed to be:

A. Left to right only
B. Diagonal
C. Top to bottom
D. Boustrophedon (Right to left, then left to right)

22 Which tree was frequently depicted on seals and is believed to have been worshipped?

A. Neem
B. Pipal
C. Mango
D. Banyan

23 Which site yielded the evidence of a clay model of a plough?

A. Dholavira
B. Banawali
C. Harappa
D. Ropar

24 Harappa is located on the banks of which river?

A. Ravi
B. Indus
C. Ghaggar
D. Sutlej

25 Which of the following was a standard feature of Indus Valley houses?

A. Absence of courtyards
B. Large windows facing the street
C. Entrance from the main street
D. Entrance from side lanes

26 The weights used by the Harappans generally followed a binary system in the lower denominations, based on the number:

A. 12
B. 20
C. 10
D. 16

27 Who led the excavation that discovered the ruins of Mohenjo-daro in 1922?

A. John Marshall
B. R.D. Banerji
C. Daya Ram Sahni
D. S.R. Rao

28 Evidence of a 'bead-making factory' was found at which sites?

A. Ropar and Alamgirpur
B. Harappa and Mohenjo-daro
C. Kalibangan and Dholavira
D. Lothal and Chanhudaro

29 Which mythical animal is most frequently depicted on Indus seals?

A. Griffin
B. Unicorn
C. Dragon
D. Sphinx

30 What does the name 'Mohenjo-daro' mean in the Sindhi language?

A. City of Gold
B. The Great Port
C. Garden of God
D. Mound of the Dead

31 Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Indus Valley pottery?

A. It was mostly wheel-made.
B. It was primarily Blue Glazed ware.
C. It contained geometric patterns.
D. It is often referred to as Red and Black ware.

32 The drainage system of the Indus Valley Civilization was remarkable for:

A. Open drains running through the center of the street
B. Using bamboo pipes
C. Draining directly into drinking wells
D. Underground drains covered with stone slabs or bricks

33 Which stone was imported from Afghanistan by the Harappans for making beads and jewelry?

A. Emerald
B. Lapis Lazuli
C. Diamond
D. Granite

34 Evidence of 'Fire Altars' suggests the practice of fire cults at which site?

A. Harappa
B. Kalibangan
C. Dholavira
D. Mohenjo-daro

35 The male torso statue found at Harappa is made of:

A. Red Sandstone
B. Bronze
C. Grey Stone
D. Terracotta

36 What is the most likely reason for the absence of temples in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. They only worshipped in open fields.
B. They worshipped kings instead of gods.
C. They were atheists.
D. Worship was likely personal or nature-based, or temples have not survived/been identified.

37 Which contemporary civilization traded with the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Roman
B. Aztec
C. Mayan
D. Mesopotamian

38 The easternmost site of the Indus Valley Civilization is:

A. Sutkagen Dor
B. Alamgirpur
C. Manda
D. Daimabad

39 Which animal remains found at Surkotada are considered controversial among historians?

A. Horse
B. Elephant
C. Cow
D. Camel

40 What was the purpose of the 'Granaries' found at Harappa and Mohenjo-daro?

A. Housing soldiers
B. Religious ceremonies
C. Workshops for artisans
D. Storing grains for tax/emergencies

41 A distinct feature of the 'Priest-King' statue's garment is the:

A. Checkered pattern
B. Trefoil pattern
C. Animal print
D. Plain drape

42 Terracotta figurines of women found in large numbers are believed to represent:

A. Slaves
B. Queens
C. Merchants
D. Mother Goddess

43 The Indus Valley Civilization is often referred to as the Harappan Civilization because:

A. Harappa was the capital.
B. Harappa was the port city.
C. Harappa was the largest city.
D. Harappa was the first site to be discovered.

44 Evidence of lipstick and vanity cases was found at:

A. Kalibangan
B. Harappa
C. Lothal
D. Chanhudaro

45 Which of the following was not a method of disposal of the dead in the IVC?

A. Fractional burial (after exposure)
B. Complete burial
C. Mummification
D. Post-cremation burial

46 The famous signboard with ten large-sized signs of the Indus script was found at:

A. Banawali
B. Dholavira
C. Mohenjo-daro
D. Rakhigarhi

47 Which material was used to make 'Faience' pots?

A. Carved stone
B. Ground sand or silica mixed with color and gum, then fired
C. Natural clay only
D. Beaten metal

48 The social structure of the Indus Valley Civilization was likely:

A. Strictly caste-based
B. Feudal
C. Divided by occupation/class
D. Egalitarian

49 What is the shape of the majority of Indus seals?

A. Circular
B. Square / Rectangular
C. Triangular
D. Cylindrical

50 The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is attributed to:

A. Plague
B. Mongol invasion
C. Ecological changes, floods, and tectonic shifts
D. Aryan Invasion only