CBSE Class 6 Social Science The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation Worksheet Set 01

Fill in the Blanks

Question. The Great Bath ruins of the Indus Valley Civilisation are located at _________.
Answer: Mohenjo-daro (or Sindh province / Indus Valley site)
Explanation: The famous Great Bath was built in the ancient city of Mohenjo-daro so people could take baths together during special ceremonies.

Question. Goods to be transported were kept in __________.
Answer: warehouses
Explanation: Traders needed large, secure storehouses called warehouses to safely protect their trade items before sending them away on journeys.

Question. The five chief tributaries of Indus river are _________ and _________.
Answer: Jhelum, Sutlej, Beas, Ravi and Chenab
Explanation: Tributaries are smaller rivers that flow into a bigger river, helping provide plenty of fresh water for farming and daily life.

Question. Around __________ the Sindhu-Sarasvati civilisation began to collapse.
Answer: 1900 BCE
Explanation: Long ago, around 1900 BCE, changes in weather and drying rivers caused these ancient cities to slowly empty out.

Question. The Harappan Civilisation is also recognized as the __________ Civilisation.
Answer: Indus-Sarasvati Civilisation
Explanation: It is given this name because hundreds of its towns were built close to both the Indus and Sarasvati rivers.

Question. _________ was the initial city to show evidence of cotton cultivation in the Harappan civilisation.
Answer: Mohenjo-daro
Explanation: Mohenjo-daro is where archaeologists discovered ancient woven cloth, showing that people there were already growing cotton.

True or False

Question. Most of the residences in Harappa had separate bathing areas.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harappans loved cleanliness, so nearly every brick home had its own neat, paved bathroom with a drain.

Question. The Indus valley seals exhibit the “Swastika” symbol.
Answer: True
Explanation: Ancient stamps made of clay and stone featured auspicious symbols, including the swastika.

Question. The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro was a large reservoir for holding drinking water.
Answer: False
Explanation: The Great Bath was not for drinking; it was a special bath used for royal or sacred bathing ceremonies.

Question. The Harappans could have imported copper in exchange for exported goods.
Answer: True
Explanation: Harappan traders exchanged their beads and cotton textiles to bring back useful metals like copper from other lands.

Question. Up to this day, no concrete reasons have been uncovered for the decline of Harappan cities.
Answer: True
Explanation: Scientists and historians have several good theories, like drying rivers and climate change, but nobody knows the exact single cause for sure.

Question. Harappan towns in the province of Gujarat have been found in Dholavira and Lothal.
Answer: True
Explanation: Lothal with its famous dockyard and Dholavira with its giant stone water tanks are both situated in Gujarat.

Assertion and Reason Questions

Question. Assertion (A): The Harappan Civilisation possessed a complex system of urban planning.
Reason (R): The cities were built with wide streets oriented to cardinal directions and had detailed drainage systems.
(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 correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Straight roads aligned north-south and east-west, along with smart drains, prove how thoughtfully their cities were planned.

Question. Assertion (A): The Harappans were recognized for their advanced water management techniques.
Reason (R): They built large reservoirs and had intricate systems of drainage in their cities.
(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 correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Constructing huge water reservoirs and underground drainage networks showed their mastery over managing clean water.

Question. Assertion (A): The Harappans were involved in active trade, not only within their own civilisation, but with other civilisations and cultures within and outside India.
Reason (R): They exported ornaments, timber, some objects of daily use, probably also gold and cotton, and possibly some food items.
(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 correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (A) Both (A) and (R) are true and (R) is the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Selling valuable goods like timber, cotton, and jewelry to faraway lands explains why their trade network was so bustling.

Question. Assertion (A): The Harappans established many of their settlements along the banks of large or small rivers.
Reason (R): They were also the first in Eurasia to grow cotton, which they used to weave into clothes.
(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 correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (B) Both (A) and (R) are true but (R) is not the correct explanation of (A).
Explanation: Both statements are true facts, but growing cotton does not explain why they chose to live right next to rivers.

Question. Assertion (A): The Harappans paid little importance to water management and cleanliness.
Reason (R): In Mohenjo-daro, people drew water from hundreds of wells made of bricks.
(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 correct but (R) is wrong.
(D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Answer: (D) (A) is wrong but (R) is correct.
Explanation: Harappans cared deeply about cleanliness, making Assertion A completely false, while they truly built hundreds of wells.

Questions / Short Question Answers

Question. What spice was discovered in Harappan cooking pots?
Answer: Turmeric.
Explanation: Scientists tested ancient clay pots and found tiny traces of yellow turmeric, which shows Harappan people loved tasty food just like we do today!

Question. The Harappan cities were well organized cities. Do you agree? Explain.
Answer: Yes we agree to the above statement that the Harappans cities were well planned cities because
1. The main streets ran parallel to each other cut at right angles by smaller streets dividing the cities into rectangular blocks.
2. The main roads were straight and very wide. The streets were, often paved with baked bricks.
3. Dwelling houses were building that people live in. They were in different sizes. They were made of baked bricks of very good quality.
Explanation: The cities were designed neatly like a giant checkerboard with straight roads, strong brick houses, and organized blocks.

Question. Which river provides water to the fields in Punjab and Sindh?
Answer: The Indus River.
Explanation: The Indus River acts like a giant natural hose that brings water from the mountains to help farmers grow food in Punjab and Sindh.

Question. Discuss the sophisticated water management systems of the Harappan Civilization, using examples like Mohenjo-Daro and Dholavira.
Answer: Harappans excelled in water management. Mohenjo-Daro had numerous wells and covered drains. Dholavira featured at least six large stone-cut reservoirs with interconnected drains for efficient water harvesting and distribution. This highlights their engineering skills and focus on water conservation and sanitation.
Explanation: Harappan people were great engineers who built giant stone water tanks in Dholavira and covered street drains in Mohenjo-Daro to keep clean water coming in and dirty water going out.

Question. What substance did the Harappans use to make beads?
Answer: A reddish stone called carnelian.
Explanation: Carnelian is a beautiful, shiny red stone that craftspeople carefully drilled and polished to make pretty necklaces and bracelets.

Question. How did the Harappans keep their cities hygienic?
Answer: The Harappans had underground drainage systems that carried waste water away from homes and streets, keeping their cities clean and well-organised.
Explanation: Every house had drains that carried dirty bath and toilet water through underground brick pipes so the streets stayed clean and smelling fresh.

Question. What structure is widely known in Mohenjo-Daro?
Answer: The Great Bath.
Explanation: The Great Bath looks like a huge, waterproof swimming pool built out of tight bricks and natural tar thousands of years ago.

Question. The Harappan civilization seems to have been a relatively peaceful civilization. Analyse the evidence that supports this assertion.
Answer: This statement is supported by the general lack of weapons of war found in excavations, absence of extensive battle-related fortifications (though cities were walled), and few artistic depictions of conflict. The focus seems to have been on trade, crafts, and civic amenities.
Explanation: Archaeologists did not dig up swords, armor, or pictures of soldiers fighting, showing that these people preferred trading and crafting over fighting wars.

Question. What kind of farming did the Harappans practise?
Answer: Large-scale farming with river water.
Explanation: Farmers used the water and rich soil from the rivers to grow huge fields of crops to feed thousands of townspeople.

Question. What defines a civilisation?
Answer: A Civilisation is a complex society with the following key features :
• Urbanisation : Cities as centers of population and activity.
• Social Hierarchy : Organised social structures with different roles and statuses.
• Advanced Technology : Tools and knowledge beyond basic survival needs.
• Writing Systems : Developed methods for recording information.
• Complex Economy : Systems for trade, production, and distribution of goods.
• Government and Laws : Organised systems for leadership and maintaining order.
• A Productive Agriculture : To feed people in the civilisation.
Explanation: A civilization is an advanced human group where people live together in planned cities, follow rules, do different jobs, and have writing and trade.

Question. How do animal bones and food remains help us understand about Harappan diets?
Answer: The discovery of animal bones and food remains, like traces of spices in pots, helps us understand what the Harappans ate. These remains show that they ate a variety of foods, including meat, fish, dairy products, and plants. The presence of spices like turmeric and ginger suggests that their diet was both diverse and flavourful.
Explanation: Leftover seeds, fish bones, and spices stuck inside old pots tell scientists the tasty menu that ancient people ate every day.

Question. What was unique about Lothal in the Harappan trade?
Answer: It had a big dockyard for ships and trade.
Explanation: Lothal had a special brick basin where boats and trading ships could dock safely to load and unload goods from across the sea.