Important Questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 3 - In The Earliest Cities

Very Short Answer Questions: 1 Mark

1. Fill in the blanks- 

(i) The first railway track was laid down in ______.

Ans: Punjab - The Punjab Railway was founded soon after the Scinde Railway Act of Parliament was approved in July 1855.

(ii) Harappan cities were developed around ______ years ago.

Ans: 4700 - Around 4700 years ago, the Harappan Civilization arose.

(iii)People who planned the construction of the special buildings were ______.

Ans: Kings - Because they were expected to look after their subjects, they reasoned that constructing such facilities for their use and comfort would be valued by them. 

(iv) Craft persons were making all kinds of things either in their ____ or _____.

Ans: Homes, Workshops – The individual craftsman had his workshop in his home worked with the members of his family and usually sold his wares at his doors. 

2. State true and false. 

(i) Things found in the Harappan civilization are mostly made of metals, stone, and shell. 

Ans: True - Materials such as terracotta, metal, and stone were used to make art, seals, ceramics, and jewellery by the Harappans.

(ii) Beads were made from carnelian.

Ans: True - Indus etched carnelian beads dated from 2600–2450 BCE were discovered in the Royal Cemetery of Ur's tombs.

(iii) Stone weights were made to weigh grains.

Ans: False - The majority of Harappan weights were constructed of stone and marble. 

(iv) Important persons were wearing embroidered garment.

Ans: True - Embroidered clothing, religious artefacts, and household items are all symbols of wealth and thread embroidery in China dates back to 3500 B.C.

3. Match the following

Ans: 

1. Gold - Karnataka 

Gold from the Kolar mine in Karnataka, South India, reached Indus Valley sites in what is now Pakistan during the Indus Valley Civilization (7380 BC-1500 BC).

2. Precious stone - Gujarat 

All of these were discovered at Mohenjo-daro and are made of steatite or steatite paste.

3. Copper – Rajasthan 

A minor amount of Harappa's copper minerals may have come from sources in northern Rajasthan.

4. Tin – Afghanistan

Afghanistan and Iran supplied the tin.

4. Choose the correct option

(i) Cotton cultivation took place approximately ___ years ago.

1. 10000 years ago

2. 5000 years ago 

3. 7000 years ago

4. 8000 years ago

Ans: (c) 7000 years ago - Cotton was originally farmed in the Old World by the residents of the Indus Valley Civilization around 7,000 years ago.

(ii) Pyramids are the situated in____.

1. Egypt

2. Africa

3. Afghanistan

4. China

Ans: (a) Egypt – The Great Pyramid of Giza (also known as the Pyramid of Khufu or the Pyramid of Cheops) is the oldest and largest of the Giza pyramid complex, which borders modern-day Giza in Egypt.

5. Define the Following

(i) Citadel 

Ans: The citadel was a smaller but higher section of the buildings.

(ii) Irrigation

Ans: The process of watering farms and plants is known as irrigation.

Short Answer Questions                                                                    2 Marks

6. What did the people of Harappan civilization grow?

Ans: Barley, wheat, rice, peas, mustard, linseed, and sesame were grown by the Harappans.

7. What were the features of great bath?

Ans: Interlocking baked bricks were used to construct the huge bath. To preserve it from dust and water, it was eventually coated with a natural tar plaster.

8. What were the uses of Harappan seals?

Ans: An inscription was found on a Harappan seal. This inscription depicted an animal associated with a marshy, wet area.

Rhinoceros, elephants, and tigers were among the animals that were placed.

9. In Mehrgarh, when was cotton first used?

Ans: Cotton was first farmed in the village of Mehrgarh some 7000 years ago. In Mehrgarh, agricultural activities were also carried out for the first time.

10. List the main sites of Harappan civilization.

Ans: The following are the major Harappan civilization sites:-

1. Dholavira – Gujarat

The Archeological Survey of India excavated Dholavira on the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat in 1967, and it belonged to the mature Harappan phase.

2. Khadir Bet – Rann of kutch

Dholavira is situated on Khadir Beyt, an island in Gujarat's Great Rann of Kutch.

3. Lothal – Besides the tributary of Sabarmati

The archaeological remnants of the Harappa port-town of Lothal may be found in the Gulf of Khambhat, along the Bhogava river, a tributary of the Sabarmati.

Short Answer Question                       3 Marks

11. Which metals were mainly used to make tools in the earlier cities?

Ans: Tools were mostly made up of four different metals. Weapons, pots, jewellery, and tools were all made out of bronze and copper. Vessels and jewellery were usually made of silver and gold.

12. Describe about the roads in Indus Valley Civilization

Ans: The Indus Valley civilization had vast highways. They used to cut each other at a straight angle in the corners. There was a drainage system alongside the highways for the residents of the Indus Valley Civilization to pass used water. To prevent any accidents, the drainage system was completely covered.

13. Why Lothal was an important site of Harappan civilization?

Ans: To comprehend the significance of Lothal in Harappan culture, consider the following factors:-

1. This location had an abundance of semi-precious stone raw resources.

2. Stone, metal, and shell objects were created and exported.

3. There were factories that made tools and other products in this area.

14. What were the salient features of Indus Valley Civilization?

Ans: Baked bricks were used to construct buildings during the Indus Valley Civilization. These structures were well-built, and the bricks were covered in natural tar plaster to make them more secure and long-lasting. The bricks were laid out in an interlocking manner, resulting in stronger walls.

15. Write the important architectural features of Dholavira.

Ans: Dholavira was situated in the Rann of Kutch, which is now part of Gujarat. Dholavira's land was extremely fertile. Unlike many other ancient ruins, it was divided into three sections rather than two. There were entrance gates and enormous stone walls in each section. There was a vast open area where public ceremonies may possibly be held.

Long Answer Questions   5 Marks 

16. Why were the wheels, metals, and plough important to the Harappans?

Ans: Metals, writing, the plough, and the wheel were all very essential to the Harappans in various ways. They made tools and weapons for them out of metals. Metals were employed to make utensils, decorations, and seals. The Harappans utilised writing to keep track of their trade records and many other things. As a potter's wheel, the wheel was quite beneficial. It was also used as a wheel in transportation carts to move from one location to another and to deliver products. The plough was used to till the land for agriculture.

17. How was the life of Harappan farmers and herders different from hunter gatherers?

Ans: Hunter-gatherers' lives were very different from the lives of the farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities. Harappan farmers and herders were more organised in their agricultural and animal herding. They had the tools to plough the soil, such as the plough. Their tools were fashioned of wood, whereas hunter-gatherers' activity was disorganised and they relied on bone implements. Farmers in Harappa kept their food in specially constructed granaries. They produced food for everyone, whereas hunter-gatherers only produced food for themselves. Irrigation was employed by Harappan farmers and herders, but not by hunter-gatherers.

18. Describer about the building in your area. On what locations they are built? What activities do take place in the buildings?

Ans: We have an old school in our community that consists of two brick structures. A large playground is located in front of the building.

Each of the buildings has two levels. This is a primary school where students in grades 1 through 5 attend. An antique library is located near that structure. This structure is even older than the school. This is only one modest structure. The roof is made of thatch. There are numerous sections of books in the library. It has a good book collection. In general, people gather here to read newspapers. The post office is housed in a historic structure. People come here to have their letters written and mailed. All of these structures are located in the heart of our village.

19. At the place you reside, is there any old building? How old are these? Describe something about it.

Ans: Our village's post office is the oldest of all the structures. It is said to have been built in 1956. It was first opened in 1956, according to a stone plaque on one of the walls. The postmaster in charge of the post office is a postmaster. He stated that they receive funds from the government to paint the post office and make necessary repairs. The post office used to be a place where people could mail and receive letters, gifts, and other stuff, but now it also serves as a bank. It allows users to deposit and withdraw funds. It was really beneficial to those like us who live in remote villages.

20. How did archaeologists find out that cloth was first used in Harappa?

Ans: Harappan culture made use of cloth. This is known because archaeologists have discovered bits of fabric attached to the lids of silver vases as well as textiles attached to copper artefacts while excavating. Mohenjodaro is where these were discovered. Furthermore, archaeologists discovered spindle whorls, which were used to spin threads. All of these demonstrate that individuals in Harappan culture knew how to produce clothes and had used them.

Conclusion 

Vedantu's provision of important questions for CBSE Class 6 Social Science Our Past Chapter 3, "In the Earliest Cities," is an invaluable aid for students exploring the origins of urban civilization. These questions are strategically curated to reinforce key historical concepts, fostering a deeper understanding of early city life and societal developments. They encourage critical thinking, historical analysis, and examination readiness. Vedantu's commitment to quality education is evident, as these important questions empower students to excel in their social science studies. By practising these questions, students can fortify their historical knowledge, revision, and exam preparedness, ultimately contributing to their academic success and providing valuable insights into the intriguing world of ancient cities.