MCQs on Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones - CBSE Class 12 History

MCQs on Chapter 1: Bricks, Beads and Bones - CBSE Class 12 History

1. Kalibangan is located at:
a) Gujarat
b) Rajasthan
c) Himachal Pradesh
d) Punjab
Answer: b) Rajasthan
Explanation: Kalibangan is a significant Harappan site located on the banks of the Ghaggar River in Hanumangarh district, Rajasthan. It is known for fire altars and evidence of ploughed fields, indicating early agricultural practices.

2. The Indus Valley Civilization was initially called:
a) Harappa Civilization
b) Mohenjo-daro Civilization
c) Punjab-Sindh Civilization
d) Lothal Civilization
Answer: a) Harappa Civilization
Explanation: The term "Harappan Civilization" was first used after the discovery of the site Harappa in 1921. It became the representative name due to being the first site excavated.

3. Which is the biggest Harappan Civilization site?
a) Ropar
b) Lothal
c) Kalibangan
d) Rakhigarhi
Answer: d) Rakhigarhi
Explanation: Rakhigarhi in Haryana is currently considered the largest Harappan site, covering more than 350 hectares, surpassing even Mohenjo-daro in size.

4. In Sindhi language, the word 'Mohenjo-daro' means:
a) The land of the living
b) Mound of the Dead
c) God's own Land
d) The people of Sindh
Answer: b) Mound of the Dead
Explanation: The name "Mohenjo-daro" comes from Sindhi, meaning "Mound of the Dead," likely referencing its ruined and abandoned state when discovered.

5. 'The Great Bath' & 'The Great Granary' belong to which site?
a) Kalibangan
b) Bhirrana
c) Mohenjo-daro
d) Lothal
Answer: c) Mohenjo-daro
Explanation: Mohenjo-daro features these iconic architectural structures, showing sophisticated planning and importance of ritual and storage facilities.

6. Where is Rakhigarhi located?
a) Gujarat
b) Haryana
c) Rajasthan
d) Afghanistan
Answer: b) Haryana
Explanation: Rakhigarhi is situated in Hisar district, Haryana. It has yielded important evidence of urban planning and burial practices.

7. The 'Priest King' sculpture was found at:
a) Amri
b) Kalibangan
c) Kot Diji
d) Mohenjo-daro
Answer: d) Mohenjo-daro
Explanation: This famous steatite statue represents a bearded male figure, possibly a priest or ruler, and reflects artistic skill of Harappans.

8. Lothal is located at:
a) Ahmedabad
b) Rajasthan
c) Chandigarh
d) Sindh
Answer: a) Ahmedabad
Explanation: Lothal is an important Harappan port town located near Ahmedabad in Gujarat. It featured a dockyard, indicating maritime trade.

9. Banawali is located at:
a) Ahmedabad
b) Rajasthan
c) Chandigarh
d) Haryana
Answer: d) Haryana
Explanation: Banawali lies in Haryana and has remains of both pre-Harappan and Harappan settlements with evidence of planned layout.

10. The first Director-General of A.S.I. was:
a) R. E. M. Wheeler
b) Alexander Cunningham
c) Sir John Marshall
Answer: b) Alexander Cunningham
Explanation: Sir Alexander Cunningham founded the Archaeological Survey of India in 1861 and became its first Director-General.

11. The centre of craft production in Harappan Civilization was:
a) Dholavira
b) Chanhudaro
c) Kalibangan
Answer: b) Chanhudaro
Explanation: Chanhudaro, located in Sindh (now in Pakistan), was exclusively a craft production site with no citadel. It specialized in bead-making, metallurgy, and shell work.

12. Mesopotamian texts refer to Meluhha as a land of:
a) Hunters
b) Seafarers
c) Agriculture
d) None of the above
Answer: b) Seafarers
Explanation: Mesopotamian texts describe Meluhha (believed to be the Harappan region) as a land of skilled maritime traders.

13. The largest city of Harappan Civilization was:
a) Mohenjodaro
b) Lothal
c) Kalibangan
d) Rangpur
Answer: a) Mohenjodaro
Explanation: Mohenjo-daro was one of the largest and most sophisticated urban centers of the Indus Valley, known for grid-pattern streets and drainage.

14. Use of plough has been evidenced at:
a) Kalibangan
b) Lothal
c) Harappa
d) Banawali
Answer: a) Kalibangan
Explanation: Kalibangan provides early evidence of ploughed fields with furrows, indicating knowledge of farming implements.

15. Knowledge about the existence of which of the following animals is doubtful in the Indus Valley Civilization:
a) Dog
b) Cat
c) Bull
d) Horse
Answer: d) Horse
Explanation: While bulls, dogs, and cats are commonly depicted or found in remains, evidence of domesticated horses is very rare and debated among scholars.