Daily Static Quiz (History) March 12, 2025
Daily Static Quiz
1. Which of the following Indus Valley Civilization sites is known for having the first manmade port and dockyard?
a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-daro
c) Lothal
d) Dholavira
2. Which of the following statements about the Indus Valley Civilization is correct?
a) The civilization was primarily based on pastoralism.
b) The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro was used for ritualistic purposes.
c) The Indus Valley Civilization was characterized by a lack of social hierarchy.
d) The civilization’s economy was heavily dependent on maritime trade.
3. The geographical extent of the Indus Valley Civilization stretched from:
a) Sutkagengor in the West to Alamgirpur in the East
b) Mandu in the North to Daimabad in the South
c) Both a) and b)
d) Neither a) nor b)
4. Which of the following features is characteristic of the urban planning in the Indus Valley Civilization?
a) Random layout of houses and streets
b) Use of iron tools for construction
c) Presence of a sophisticated drainage system
d) Absence of public buildings
5. The Chalcolithic Age in India is characterized by which of the following?
Use of both stone and copper tools
First use of iron implements
Settled village life
Development of urban centers similar to Harappan cities
Select the correct answer using the code given below:
a) 1 and 3 only
b) 2 and 4 only
c) 1, 3 and 4 only
d) 1, 2, 3 and 4
6. Archaeological excavations have revealed Chalcolithic settlements in South India with which of the following features?
a) Extensive use of iron tools alongside copper implements
b) Megalithic burial practices and Black-and-Red Ware pottery
c) Large urban centers with grid-pattern streets
d) Exclusive use of stone tools with no evidence of metallurgy
7. Which of the following Chalcolithic cultures was predominantly found in the southern parts of India?
a) Jorwe Culture
b) Ahar or Banas Culture
c) Malwa Culture
d) Savalda Culture
8. Which of the following Vedic texts is primarily concerned with the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of life?
a) Samhitas
b) Brahmanas
c) Upanishads
d) Puranas
9. Which of the following statements about the Vedas is correct?
a) The Sama Veda is the oldest of the four Vedas
b) The Yajur Veda primarily consists of melodies derived from the Rig Veda
c) The Atharva Veda contains spells and incantations for everyday life
d) The Rig Veda primarily deals with medical knowledge and healing practices
10. Which of the following statements about Vedic literature is NOT correct?
a) The Upanishads are also known as Vedanta or the end of the Vedas
b) The Puranas contain historical and cultural insights about ancient India
c) The Vedangas were developed to understand and preserve the Vedic texts
d) The Brahmanas preceded the Samhitas in chronological order
Answers with Explanations
1. Answer: c) Lothal
Explanation: Lothal, located in Gujarat, is significant for having the first known dockyard and port in the Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeological evidence suggests it was an important center for maritime trade. The presence of a dockyard indicates the advanced engineering skills and maritime activities of the Harappan people. According to excavations, Lothal is known for several unique findings including ivory weight balance, copper dog, and rice husk.
2. Answer: b) The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro was used for ritualistic purposes.
Explanation: The Great Bath at Mohenjo-daro is believed to have been used for ritualistic purposes, possibly for purification or ceremonial activities. The Indus Valley Civilization was primarily based on agriculture and trade, not pastoralism (option a is incorrect). There is evidence of social hierarchy in the civilization, as indicated by the varying sizes of houses and the presence of public buildings (option c is incorrect). While maritime trade was significant, it was not the sole basis of the economy (option d is incorrect).
3. Answer: c) Both a) and b)
Explanation: The Indus Valley Civilization had an extensive geographical spread. It extended from Sutkagengor (in Baluchistan) in the West to Alamgirpur (Western UP) in the East; and from Mandu (Jammu) in the North to Daimabad (Ahmednagar, Maharashtra) in the South. This vast territorial extent made it one of the largest ancient civilizations, covering parts of present-day Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northwestern India.
4. Answer: c) Presence of a sophisticated drainage system
Explanation: The Indus Valley Civilization is renowned for its sophisticated urban planning, which included a well-developed drainage system. This system was characterized by covered drains and public baths, indicating a high level of civic engineering. The layout of houses and streets was not random but rather well-planned with grid patterns (option a is incorrect). The civilization did not use iron tools for construction; they were primarily made of baked bricks and mud (option b is incorrect). Public buildings like the Great Bath were present, indicating a level of civic organization (option d is incorrect).
5. Answer: a) 1 and 3 only
Explanation: The Chalcolithic Age, also known as the Copper-Stone Age, is characterized by the use of both stone and copper tools (statement 1 is correct). It predates the Iron Age, so iron implements were not used during this period (statement 2 is incorrect). The Chalcolithic period saw the emergence of settled village life with early agriculture and domestication of animals (statement 3 is correct). Unlike the Harappan Civilization, Chalcolithic settlements were primarily rural and did not develop large urban centers (statement 4 is incorrect).
6. Answer: b) Megalithic burial practices and Black-and-Red Ware pottery
Explanation: Chalcolithic settlements in South India are characterized by megalithic burial practices and Black-and-Red Ware pottery. These cultures represent the transition from Neolithic to early metal age in the southern peninsula. While copper tools were used, iron was not yet prevalent (option a is incorrect). Unlike the Harappan Civilization, these settlements were not large urban centers with grid-pattern planning (option c is incorrect). As the name “Chalcolithic” (Copper-Stone Age) suggests, these cultures used both stone and copper tools, not exclusively stone implements (option d is incorrect).
7. Answer: a) Jorwe Culture
Explanation: The Jorwe Culture was a significant Chalcolithic culture found in the Deccan region, particularly in Maharashtra and parts of Southern India. It is named after the type site Jorwe in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. The Ahar or Banas Culture was found in South-Eastern Rajasthan, Malwa Culture in Western Madhya Pradesh and parts of Maharashtra, and Savalda Culture in the Western part of Maharashtra. These cultures represent regional variations within the broader Chalcolithic tradition in India.
8. Answer: c) Upanishads
Explanation: The Upanishads are primarily concerned with the philosophical and metaphysical aspects of life, exploring concepts of ultimate reality, the nature of the self (Atman), and the universe (Brahman). The Samhitas are collections of hymns and mantras (option a is incorrect). The Brahmanas provide explanations and commentaries on rituals and sacrifices (option b is incorrect). The Puranas contain stories about gods, goddesses, and historical events but are not primarily philosophical (option d is incorrect).
9. Answer: c) The Atharva Veda contains spells and incantations for everyday life
Explanation: The Atharva Veda indeed contains spells, incantations, and formulas for various aspects of everyday life, including healing, prosperity, and protection. The Rig Veda, not the Sama Veda, is considered the oldest of the four Vedas and consists of hymns to various deities. The Sama Veda contains melodies for chanting during rituals (not the Yajur Veda), while the Yajur Veda provides instructions for performing religious sacrifices. The Rig Veda primarily contains hymns to deities, not medical knowledge.
10. Answer: d) The Brahmanas preceded the Samhitas in chronological order
Explanation: The statement that “The Brahmanas preceded the Samhitas in chronological order” is incorrect. In the chronological development of Vedic literature, the Samhitas (collections of mantras or hymns) came first, followed by the Brahmanas (texts explaining the rituals and providing commentary on the Samhitas). The Upanishads are indeed known as Vedanta or “the end of the Vedas” (both in terms of being the concluding portion and the culmination of Vedic knowledge). The Puranas do contain historical and cultural insights, and the Vedangas were auxiliary sciences developed to understand and preserve Vedic texts.