1 Indian History and Culture Harappan Civilisation 1. Regarding the Indus Valley Civilisation, consider the following statements 1. It was predominantly a secular civilisation and the religious element, though present, did not dominate the scene. 2. During this period, cotton was used for manufacturing textiles in India. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? [IAS 2011] (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 2. What is the Vedic name of river Ravi? [HPPSC 2012] (a) Purushni (b) Chandrabhaga (c) Arjikiya (d) Satadru 3. The Indus Valley Civilisation flourished during [SSC (10+2) 2009] (a) 5000 3500 BC (b) 3000 1500 BC (c) 2500 1750 BC (d)1500 500 BC 4. Which was the first metal used by man? (a) Copper (b)silver (c) Bronze (d)brass 5. The greatest stylistic forms of temple architecture during the early medieval period were the Nagara, the Dravida and the Vesara. Which of the following was the geographical spread of the Dravida style? [NDA/NA 2013] (a) Between Vindhyan and Krishna rivers (b) Between Krishna and Cauvery rivers (c) Between Vindhyan and Cauvery rivers (d) Between Godavari and Krishna rivers 6. Which of the following characterises /characterise the people of Indus Valley Civilisation? 1. They possessed great palaces and temples. 2. The worshipped both male and female deities. 3. They employed horse-drawn chariots in warfare. Select the correct statement/statements using the codes (a) 1 and 2 (b) Only 2 (c) 1, 2 and 3 (d) None of these 7. The main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation was [Astt Comm 2005] (a) agriculture (b) cattle rearing (c) hunting (d) trade 8. The Indus Valley people had trade relations with (a) Egypt (b) Greece (c) Ceylon (d) Mesopotamia 9. The main channels of our knowledge about the Indus Valley Civilisation are (a) inscriptions [CDS 2010] (b) coins (c) palm and barch leaf manuscripts (d) archaeological excavations 1. (c) 2. (a) 3. (c) 4. (a) 5. (d) 6. (b) 7. (d) 8. (d) 9. (d)
2 Objective General Knowledge 2750+ 10. With reference to the Indus Valley Civilisation, consider the following animals 1. Bull 2. Elephant 3. Rhinoceros The figure / figures of which of the above animal(s) is/are found on the Indus seals? (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 [IAS 2009] 11. Which one among the following statement regarding Jorwe Culture is not correct? [CDS 2012] (a) Pravara-Godavari Valley was the nuclear zone of Jorwe Culture (b) The main sites of Jorwe Culture are Daimabad, Inamgaon, Jorwe and Nevasa (c) At Daimabad one gets archaeological evidences of symbolic burial (d) Practically all Jorwe settlements in the Northern Deccan were suddenly deserted 12. Which one of the following was not an Indus Valley Civilisation site? [NDA 2000] (a) Lothal (b) Patliputra (c) Rangpur (d) Suktagendor 13. Rice cultivation is associated with Harappan site of (a) Kalibangan (b) Harappa (c) Ropar (d) Lothal 14. Which of the following Harappan sites had a dock? (a) Harappa (b) Mohenjodaro (c) Lothal (d) Alamgirpur 15. The famous figure of a dancing girl found in the excavations of Harappa was made up of (a) terracotta (b) steatite (c) bronze (d) red limestone 16. The Indus Valley people knew the use of [CDS 2000] (a) gold, silver, copper, bronze but not iron (b) copper, iron, gold but not bronze (c) silver, lead, iron but not gold (d) gold, tin, bronze but not copper 17. The Indus Valley Civilisation was discovered in [RRB 2011] (a) 1902 (b) 1921 (c) 1922 (d) 1932 18. The main characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilisation was (a) town planning (b) drainage system (c) well laid out roads (d) pacca house 19. The Indus Valley Civilisation is known as Pre-Aryan Civilisation because of the evidence of (a) art (b) copper (c) pottery (d) script 20. Match the following [IFS 1991] (Harappan Site) (State) A. Kalibangan 1. Haryana B. Mohenjodaro 2. Rajasthan C. Banwali 3. Gujarat D. Surkotda 4. Sind (a) 2 1 3 4 (b) 2 4 1 3 (c) 3 4 2 1 (d) 4 2 1 3 21. Use of plough has been evidenced at (a) Kalibangan (b) Lothal (c) Harappa (d) Banwali 22. The Stone Age people had the first domestic [IAS 1990] (a) asses (b) dogs (c) horses (d) sheep 23. Nomad man started settling in [CRPF 2002] (a) Palaeolithic Age (b) Mesolithic Age (c) Neolithic Age (d) None of these 24. Match the following [IES 2009] A. Pleistocene 1. Ice Age B. Palaeolithic 2. Old Stone Age C. Neolithic 3. New Stone Age D. Mesolithic 4. Middle Stone Age E. Chalcolithic 5. Copper Stone Age A B C D E A B C D E (a) 1 2 3 4 5 (b) 5 4 3 2 2 (c) 3 2 1 4 5 (d) 4 1 3 5 2 25. The earliest evidence of silver in India is found in the [IAS 1994] (a) Harappan culture (b) Chalcolithic cultures of Western India (c) Vedic texts (d) Silver punch marked coins 26. During the Neolithic Age in India, the only metal known to the people was [RRB 2010] (a) iron (b) copper (c) gold (d) silver 27. Statement I Mahavira initially joined a group of ascetics called Nirgranthas. Statement II The sect was founded 200 years earlier by Parsva. [Bank PO 2012] (a) Both the statements are true and Statement II is the correct explanation of Statement I (b) Both the statements are true, but Statement II is not the correct explanation of Statement I (c) Statement I is true, but Statement II is false (d) Statement I is false, but Statement II is true
Harappan Civilisation 3 28. Out of the following remains excavated in Indus Valley, which one indicates the commercial and economic development? (a) Pottery (b)seals [CPO SI 2002] (c) Boats (d)houses 29. On the basis of available evidence, the Indus Valley Civilisation contributed two important things to mankind which were (a) mathematics and decimal system (b) script and language [IAS 2003] (c) wheat and cotton (d) rearing animal 30. Which of the following crops were grown by the people of the Indus Valley Civilisation? [SSC (10+2) 2011] 1. Wheat 2. Barley 3. Cotton 4. Peas (a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 1, 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 1, 2 and 3 31. Which one of the following archaeologists initially discovered the Mohenjodaro site of the Indus Valley Civilisation? (a) Sir John Marshall (b) Rakhal Das Bannerji (c) Daya Ram Sahni (d) Sir Martimer Wheeler 32. Match the following [IAS 2007] (Harappan Settlement) (River) A. Mohenjodaro 1. Indus B. Ropar 2. Ghaggar C. Kalibangan 3. Sutlej D. Harappa 4. Ravi (a) 1 3 2 4 (b) 2 4 1 3 (c) 1 4 2 3 (d) 2 3 1 4 33. From the scattered skeletal remains of the Harappans found at different sites, the most appropriate conclusion to be drawn would be that there was [IAS 2003] (a) mass execution (b) casual burial of human bodies (c) some kind of military assault (d) great epidemic 34. Which of the following are Indus Valley sites in India? [SSC (10+2) 2009] 1. Rangpur 2. Banwali 3. Suktangendor 4. Alamgirpur (a) 1 and 4 (b) 1, 2 and 3 (c) 1, 2 and 4 (c) All of these 35. There are similarities between the seals found at Mohenjodaro and (a) Egypt (b) China (c) Sumeria (d) Afghanistan 36. The script of Indus Valley Civilisation was/is (a) Persian (b) Dravidian (c) Sanskrit (d) Undeciphered 37. Which of the following animals were domesticated by the Harappans? [IES 2006] (a) Goat, oxen, pig, buffalo (b) Oxen, elephant, horse, pig (c) Buffalo, sheep, dog, pig (d) Camel, oxen, buffalo, pig 38. The tools and weapons of Harappan Civilisation were mostly made of [IFS 2003] (a) stone (b) stone and copper (c) copper, bronze and iron (d) copper, tin and bronze 39. Which of the following was/were not related to Buddha's life? [Bank PO 2012] 1. Kanthaka 2. Alara Kalama 3. Channa 4. Goshala Maskariputra (a) Only 1 (b) Only 4 (c) 1 and 2 (d) 3 and 4 40. The Harappan site showing evidence of two cultural phases, Harappan and pre-harappan is [IES 1993] (a) Kalibangan (b) Mohenjodaro (c) Chanhudaro (d) Banwali 41. Consider the following statements 1. Lime mortar was never used at Mohenjodaro in the construction of dwellings. 2. At Dholavira, stone was never used in the construction of dwellings. Which of the statement (s) given above is/are correct? [IAS 2009] (a) Only 1 (b) Only 2 (c) Both 1 and 2 (d) Neither 1 nor 2 42. The Indus Valley houses were built of (a) bamboos (b) bricks (c) wood (d) stone 43. During the Indus Valley Civilisation period the dominant number used for weights and measures was (a) 6 (b) 8 (c) 12 (d) 16 44. The Indus Valley Civilisation belongs to the [IES 1994] (a) Neolithic Age (b) Palaeolithic Age (c) Chalcolithic Age (d) Mesolithic Age 10. (d) 11. (d) 12. (b) 13. (c) 14. (c) 15. (a) 16. (b) 17. (a) 18. (d) 19. (b) 20. (a) 21. (b) 22. (c) 23. (a) 24. (a) 25. (b) 26. (b) 27. (b) 28. (c) 29. (b) 30. (b) 31. (a) 32. (d) 33. (c) 34. (c) 35. (d) 36. (c) 37. (d) 38. (b) 39. (a) 40. (d) 41. (b) 42. (c) 43. (d) 44. (c)
4 Objective General Knowledge 2750+ 45. At which Harappan site have traces of a horse been found? (a) Kalibangan (b) Lothal (c) Surkotada (d) Suktagendor 46. Which of the following distinguishes the Harappan from other contemporary Civilisation of the world? [IAS 2003] (a) Science and technology (b) Religion and social structure (c) Town planning and drainage (d) Uniform weights and measures 47. Consider the following persons 1. John Marshall 2. SR Rao 3. RD Bannerji 4. Dayaram Sahni Who among these were associated with the first excavations carried out at Harappa and Mohenjodaro? [CDS 2005] (a) 1, 2 and 3 (b) 2, 3 and 4 (c) 1, 3 and 4 (d) 1, 2 and 4 48. Match the following [CDS 2001] (Important Find) (Site) A. Dockyard 1. Harappa B. Ploughed field 2. Lothal C. Horse 3. Kalibangan D. Great Bath 4. Surkotada 5. Mohenjodaro (a) 1 4 2 5 (b) 2 3 4 5 (c) 4 3 5 1 (d) 2 5 4 3 49. Knowledge about the existence of which of the following animals is doubtful in the Indus Valley Civilisation? (a) Dog (b) Cat (c) Bull (d) Horse 50. Which of the following can definitely be said to be beliefs and practices of the Indus people? [IAS 2003] 1. Worship of nature 2. Phallic and yonic worship 3. Belief in ghosts and spirits 4. Belief in life after death (a) 1, 2 and 4 (b) 1, 3 and 4 (c) 2, 3 and 4 (d) All of the above 51. Man passed from the food gathering stage to the food producing stage in the (a) Palaeolithic Age (b) Mesolithic Age (c) Neolithic Age (d) Chalcolithic Age 52. Match the following [IAS 2002] (Ancient Site) (Archeological Finding) A. Lothal 1. Ploughed field B. Kalibangan 2. Dockyard C. Dholavira 3. Terracotta replica of a plough D. Banwali 4. An inscription comprising ten large sized signs of the Harappan script (a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 2 1 4 3 (c) 1 2 4 3 (d) 2 1 3 4 53. Of the following Harappan sites those not in India are [RRB 2011] (a) Mohenjodaro and Harappa (b) Banwali and Ropar (c) Lothal and Kalibangan (d) Lothal and Ropar 54. The Harappans extensively used burnt bricks because [IAS 2003] 1. stone was not available. 2. they provided defence against floods. 3. they provided security and longevity. 4. its import was easy. (a) 1 and 2 (b) 1, 2 and 3 55. Match the following (Important Find) (Site) A. Practice of the fire cult 1. Lothal B. Lower town fortified 2. Kalibangan C. Granary 3. Harappa D. Shipbuilding 4. Surkotada (a) 1 2 3 4 (b) 4 3 2 1 (c) 2 4 3 1 (d) 4 2 3 1 56. Consider the given statements [IAS 2007] 1. The inhabitants of Harappa grew and used cotton. 2. The inhabitants of Harappa had no knowledge of copper and bronze. 3. The standard Harappan seals were made of clay. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? (a) Only 1 (b) 1 and 2 57. Which of the following is not an Indus Valley Civilisation site? [MPPSC 2014] (a) Kalibangan (b) Ropar (c) Patliputra (d) Lothal
Harappan Civilisation 5 58. The script of the Harappan people consisted of (a) a family of quasi-pictographic writings (b) a family of geometrical shapes (c) a combination of both pictures and geometrical shapes (d) None of the above 59. The script of the Indus Valley civilisation is [SSC (10 + 2) 2013] (a) Brahmi (b) Tamil (c) Kharosthi (d) undeciphered 60. Which of the following presents the most significant feature of Indus Valley Civilisation? [SSC CGL 2010] (a) Burnt brick building (b) Art and architecture (c) Buildings of worship (d) First true arches 61. The primary purpose of seal in the Indus Valley Civilisation was probably (a) to signify royalty (b) as a medium of exchange in trade (c) to signify ownership of property (d) to indicate social status Directions (Q.Nos. 62-64) In the questions are two statements labelled as Assertion (A) and Reason (R). In the context of the two statements, which one of the following is correct? (a) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A (b) Both A and R are true, but R is not the correct explanation of A (c) A is true, but R is false (d) A is false, but R is true 62. Assertion (A) Indus Valley people knew the art of navigation. Reason (R) Indus Valley seals indicate prevalence of overseas trade. 63. Assertion (A) The Harappans had commercial links with Mesopotamia. Reason (R) Many Harappan seal have been discovered in Mesopotamia. [IAS 2008] 64. Assertion (A) The Harappans did not believe in any religion. Reason (R) No temples have been found at any Harappan site as yet. 65. Which one of the following statements regarding Harappan Civilisation is correct? [CDS 2010] (a) The standard Harappan seals were made of clay (b) The inhabitants of Harappa had neither knowledge of copper nor bronze (c) The Harappan Civilisation was rural based (d) The inhabitants of Harappa grew and used cotton 66. Match the following [IAS 2006] (Harappa s Settlement) A. Alamgirpur 1. Indus B. Kalibangan 2. Ghaggar C. Harappa 3. Hindon D. Mohenjodaro 4. Ravi (Bank of rivers on which located) A B C D (a) 3 2 4 1 (b) 4 1 3 2 (c) 3 1 4 2 (d) 4 2 3 1 67. From which one of the following sites, was the famous Bull-Seal of Indus Valley found? (a) Harappa (b) Chanhudaro (c) Lothal (d) Mohenjodaro 68. Near the banks of which of the following rivers excavations have brought to light that Indus Valley Civilisation percolated to far South? (a) Godavari (b) Mahanadi (c) Cauvery (d) Krishna 69. With which of the following periods do we associate the 'microlith' implements? (a) Palaeolithic (b) Mesolithic (c) Neolithic (d) Chalcolithic 70. The site of Harappa is located on the bank of river [CDS 2012] (a) Saraswati (b) Indus (c) Beas (d) Ravi 71. Which one among the following Indus cities was known for water management? [CDS 2012] (a) Lothal (b) Mohenjodaro (c) Harappa (d) Dholavira 72. Who among the following was not associated with the excavation of Harappa and Mohenjodaro? [BPSC 2015] (a) RD Banerjee (b) KN Dikshit (c) MS Vats (d) VA Smith 45. (c) 46. (c) 47. (b) 48. (b) 49. (d) 50. (c) 51. (b) 52. (a) 53. (c) 54. (c) 55. (a) 56. (d) 57. (c) 58. (d) 59. (d) 60. (c) 61. (a) 62. (a) 63. (d) 64. (d) 65. (a) 66. (d) 67. (d) 68. (b) 69. (d) 70. (d) 71. (d) 72. (b)