Important Questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 10 - Buildings, Paintings and Books

Very Short Answer Questions: 1 Mark

Fill in the blanks- 

(i) Aryabhata was a great_____. 

Ans: Astronomer - From the classical age of Indian mathematics and astronomy, Aryabhata was the first of the most important mathematician-astronomers.

(ii) Puranas tell the story of ______and _____. 

Ans: Goddesses, Gods - Puranas are legends of gods and goddesses such as Vishnu, Shiva, Brahma, and Durga, and they literally mean "ancient." The Puranas discuss the origins of the world as well as various forms of worship.

(iii) _____ is the writer of Sanskrit Ramayan.

Ans: Valmiki - Maharishi Valmiki is the author of the sanskrit Ramayan. He had divided it into two parts: the Ramayan and the Uttar Ramayan.

(iv) Silappadikarma is a Tamil______.

Ans: Epic - It's a 5,730-line poem written almost entirely in akaval metre. Kannaki and her husband are the protagonists of the epic, which tells the sad love story of an ordinary couple.

2. State true and false. 

(i) The word Stupa means mound. 

Ans: True - Stupa is a Buddhist term for a mound. Stupas come in a variety of shapes and sizes, including round and tall, large and little.

(ii) Building of Shikharas or towers need a careful planning. 

Ans: True - Shikhara or tower construction necessitates meticulous planning.

Shikhara is a Sanskrit word that literally means "mountain peak," and it refers to the rising tower in Hindu temple building in North India, as well as in Jain temple architecture.

(iii) Grabhagriha was not an important place in the temple. 

Ans: False - This is the most important and sacred part in any Hindu temple since it houses the god.

(iv) Mandapa was a hall.

Ans: True - The mandapa is a porch-like building that leads to the Hindu temple through the (gopuram) (ornate gateway). It is part of the fundamental temple compound and is used for religious dancing and music.

3. Match the following :-

Ans: 

(i). Mound - A stupa is a mound-like or hemispheric construction that contains relics and is utilised as a meditation site.

(ii). Tower - The uppermost pointed piece of a temple is called a shikhara.

(iii). Place in temples where people could assemble - Mandapa is a pillared hall or pavilion used for public rites in Indian architecture, particularly Hindu temple construction.

(iv). assemble Circular path around the stupa - When we do pradakshina, or circumambulation, we acknowledge that our deeds and thoughts must constantly be directed toward God.

4. Choose the correct option 

(i) Beginning of Stupa building started- 

1. 2300 years ago 

2. 2400 years ago 

3. 2500 years ago 

4. 2200 years ago 

Ans: (a) 2300 years ago - A stupa is a stone-faced soil burial mound. Because the oldest stupas in Buddhism held fragments of the Buddha's ashes, the stupa became connected with the Buddha's body.

(ii) Kalidas was born- 

1. (a)1700 years ago 

2. (b) 1800 years ago 

3. (c) 1600 years ago 

4. (d) 1900 years ago

Ans: (c) 1600 years ago - 1600 years ago, Kalidas was born.

Mahakavi Kalidas was born in India before the sixth century CE.

5. Define the Following 

(i) Ayurveda 

Ans: Ayurveda is a well-known medical system that originated in ancient India.

(ii) Zero 

Ans: Aryabhata, a prominent Indian mathematician, developed the number zero.

Short Answer Questions 2 Marks 

6. What are Puranas? 

Ans: Puranas are Sanskrit texts that contain stories about goddesses and gods, as well as details on how goddesses and gods were to be worshipped and descriptions of the world's creation and monarchs.

7. Give an insight of Meghaduta. 

Ans: Kalidasa is the author of Meghaduta. Kalidasa has explained love in meghaduta. Clouds are figuratively described as messengers in a poem by Meghduta Kalidasa.

8. What do you mean by ilango Adigal? 

Ans: Ilango Adigal was a Chera dynasty prince. This dynasty ruled in what is now Kerala. Kerala is a state in India's south.

9. Give an example of Mauryan arts. 

Ans: The Mauryans were known for their art and architecture. The Sarnath pillar, which was constructed by Muryan monarch Ashoka, is a well-known Varanasi landmark.

10. Explain about the temples of Mahabalipuram. 

Ans: Mahabalipuram's temples are monolithic structures. These temples were cut from a single gigantic, massive block of stone.

Short Answer Question 3 Marks 

11. What were the contributions of Aryabhata to science? 

Ans: In the reign of Samudragupta, Aryabhatta was a mathematician. Even though it appears that the sun rises and sets every day, Aryabhata claimed that day and night were created by the earth's rotation on its axis. He hired a scientist to come up with a scientific explanation for eclipses and devised a method for calculating the diameter of a circle.

12. What are Grabhagrihas? 

Ans: Garbhagriha refers to a temple's sanctum sanctorum. The primary deity's idol is installed in this little section of the temple, which is located in the temple's centre. Shikhara is the most obvious and visible section of a Hindu temple in North India, where the presiding deity is enshrined. It is known as 'vimana' in South India.

13. Why Dussehera is celebrated in India? 

Ans: Ravana was the ruler of Lanka. Ravana drew Sita out of the bush. To free his wife from Ravana, Rama started a fight against him. Rama defeated Ravana and his empire in battle. This war is commemorated throughout India as the victory of Dharma over evil, and it is known as Dussehra.

14. What are some important features of Stupa? 

Ans: The Buddhist and Mauryan arts are best represented by the stupas. Stupas are made of a circular foundation that supports a large solid dome. The entire Stupa is ringed by a path known as Pradakshina Patha. This route is encircled by railings. A massive entrance gate stands in front of the route leading to the Stupa. There are four entrances to Sachi Stupa.

15. What are the uses of paper? 

Ans: Paper is used for a variety of purposes, including writing, wrapping and packaging products, wiping away dirt and other contaminants, and drying and cleaning hands. Paper can also be used to build attractive decorations, a technique known as origami. Paper is also used to manufacture paper clay, which is used to construct dolls. Paper mache is a type of clay made from paper.

Long Answer Questions 5 Marks 

16. Name the chapters in which you find mention of objects of metals. 

Ans: Metal working or metal things were addressed in the following chapters:-

1. Buildings, Paintings and books - There are references to an iron pillar and gold jewellery.

2. Traders, Kings and Pilgrims - Gold is mentioned in the context of presents.

3. Vital villages and Thriving towns - Many iron implements are discussed here.

4. Kingdoms, kings and early republic - Mines were mentioned by them.

5. What Books and Burials Tells us - Golden jewellery, iron utensils, and iron weaponry are all listed here.

6. In the earliest cities - Copper was used to produce tools. Ornaments were made of gold and silver.

17. Tell a story from any epics. 

Ans: There are several stories that teach us valuable lessons and inspire us. The Mahabharatha contains one such narrative. Dronacharya, the Pandava and Kauravas' guru, once placed a wooden bird on a tree branch and instructed each of his followers to aim for the bird's eye. When he asked his students what they had seen, all of them, except Arjun, said they had seen a lot. Arjun was the only one who saw the bird's eye and nothing else. Arjun was able to do it right when Dronacharya instructed him to shoot the fowl in the eye. This demonstrates the level of focus required to complete any work successfully.

18. Have you ever visited any place mentioned in this chapter? If yes, explain your thoughts. 

Ans: The place which I have visited is Mahabalipuram. There were many monolithic temples built . I would love to go and visit this place again and would like to see those temples again. They have been carved from top to bottom. They are being maintained quite well now. Stone temples fascinate me, and I love to visit them. Also, it is close to the seashore, so seeing that area so close to the water was even more amazing. 

19. Read the story of Monkey King. How do you think the story of chapter Kingdom, Kings and Early Republic different from the chapter New Empires and Kingdoms? 

Ans: Between the monkey king and the kings we've read, there are some differences and some similarities. Some of the commonalities between them include:-

1. The monkey king, like previous kings, recognised the public's needs.

2. Like all rulers, the monkey king made every effort to safeguard his subjects and supporters.

Below are some of the differences between them :-

1. The monkey king and his people lived by eating mangoes. The monarchs, on the other hand, get to consume a lot of good cuisine.

2. The monkey king did not declare war on the king or attempt to assassinate him. The other kings, on the other hand, usually go to war or try to capture others in order to fulfil their demands or demonstrate their strength.

20. How can we make the visiting of monuments and building easily available for differently abled people? 

Ans: We can make visiting monuments and sites accessible to differently abled people in the following ways:-

1. There should be some type of wheelchair available in the complex, as well as individuals who can assist them with it.

2. To have low-cost guides who can describe the monuments to them and make them feel as if they are actually experiencing them.

3. There should be an unique entrance and services for persons who are differently abled.

4. Any building or monument can be equipped with lifts to transport people up and down it.

5. If at all possible, have some makeshift lifts that can transport people to the upper levels so that they may fully appreciate the monuments.