Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 MCQs: The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

In this chapter you are going to study in detail about Harappan or Indus Valley Civilisation which is one of the world’s earliest urban cultures. The MCQs, true false, fill in the blanks and assertion-reason questions cover important topics like town planning, agriculture, trade, crafts, art, and reasons for decline. The exam-style questions is going to help students test their knowledge and prepare effectively for class tests and Olympiads.

30 MCQ Questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Question 1: The Harappan or Indus civilisation is also known as the ___ civilisation.

a) Sindhu-Sarasvatī
b) Ganga-Yamuna
c) Mesopotamian
d) Egyptian

Answer:

a) Sindhu-Sarasvatī — It was spread across the Indus and Sarasvatī basins.

Question 2: Which feature is considered essential for a society to be called a civilisation?

a) Hunting and gathering
b) Absence of trade
c) Urbanism and town planning
d) Nomadic lifestyle

Answer:

c) Urbanism and town planning — Along with government, writing, agriculture, crafts, and trade.

Question 3: The earliest Indian civilisation began around which year?

a) 6000 BCE
b) 4000 BCE
c) 2600 BCE
d) 1200 BCE

Answer:

c) 2600 BCE — It lasted till about 1900 BCE.

Question 4: Why are the inhabitants of this civilisation called ‘Harappans’?

a) Harappa was the capital city
b) Harappa was the first site excavated
c) Harappa was the largest city
d) Harappa was a trading hub

Answer:

b) Harappa was the first site excavated in 1920–21.

Question 5: Which river mentioned in the Rig Veda is associated with this civilisation?

a) Yamuna
b) Sarasvatī
c) Ganga
d) Brahmaputra

Answer:

b) Sarasvatī — Worshipped as both a goddess and a river.

Question 6: Which Harappan site is located in Gujarat and had three town zones?

a) Harappa
b) Dholavira
c) Rakhigarhi
d) Mohenjo-daro

Answer:

b) Dholavira — Known for its stone foundations and reservoirs.

Question 7: The Great Bath was found at which Harappan city?

a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-daro
c) Lothal
d) Rakhigarhi

Answer:

b) Mohenjo-daro — It was a unique tank with waterproofing.

Question 8: Which feature was common to most Harappan cities?

a) Wooden houses
b) Underground drainage system
c) Stone temples
d) Large pyramids

Answer:

b) Underground drainage system — Showing advanced water management.

Question 9: At Dholavira, the largest reservoir measured about ___ metres in length.

a) 33
b) 50
c) 73
d) 100

Answer:

c) 73 — Demonstrating Harappan engineering skills.

Question 10: Which crop was first grown in Eurasia by the Harappans?

a) Cotton
b) Rice
c) Sugarcane
d) Tea

Answer:

a) Cotton — Used for making clothes.

Question 11: A small clay model of a plough was found at –

a) Lothal
b) Banawali
c) Dholavira
d) Harappa

Answer:

b) Banawali — Evidence of agriculture tools.

Question 12: Which semi-precious stone from Gujarat was used in Harappan ornaments?

a) Jade
b) Carnelian
c) Turquoise
d) Amethyst

Answer:

b) Carnelian — Crafted into beads and jewellery.

Question 13: Which Harappan site had a dockyard for maritime trade?

a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-daro
c) Lothal
d) Kalibangan

Answer:

c) Lothal — Its dockyard was 217 metres long.

Question 14: Harappan seals were usually made of –

a) Bronze
b) Steatite
c) Gold
d) Marble

Answer:

b) Steatite — A soft stone hardened by heating.

Question 15: What did Harappan seals usually depict?

a) Soldiers and battles
b) Animals with symbols
c) Kings and queens
d) Hunting scenes

Answer:

b) Animals with symbols — Linked to trade and writing.

Question 16: Which figurine is famously called the ‘Dancing Girl’?

a) A stone statue from Harappa
b) A bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro
c) A terracotta doll from Dholavira
d) A copper statue from Lothal

Answer:

b) A bronze figurine from Mohenjo-daro — Only 10.8 cm tall.

Question 17: The so-called ‘Priest King’ statuette was found at –

a) Harappa
b) Mohenjo-daro
c) Dholavira
d) Rakhigarhi

Answer:

b) Mohenjo-daro — Identity of the figure remains debated.

Question 18: The Harappans used bronze by mixing copper with –

a) Lead
b) Silver
c) Tin
d) Iron

Answer:

c) Tin — Producing a harder alloy.

Question 19: The Harappans designed many toys, including –

a) Stone temples
b) Terracotta whistles and game boards
c) Gold rings
d) Painted murals

Answer:

b) Terracotta whistles and game boards — Found at sites like Dholavira.

Question 20: What do the 700 wells at Mohenjo-daro suggest?

a) Importance of religious rituals
b) Availability of advanced iron tools
c) Efficient water supply and civic sense
d) Use of stepwells only

Answer:

c) Efficient water supply and civic sense — Maintained for centuries.

Question 21: Which Harappan site is in Haryana and one of the largest known cities?

a) Rakhigarhi
b) Lothal
c) Kalibangan
d) Dholavira

Answer:

a) Rakhigarhi — A major Harappan centre in Haryana.

Question 22: Scientific examination of Harappan pots revealed remains of –

a) Only dairy products
b) Wheat and barley only
c) Turmeric, ginger and banana
d) Iron particles

Answer:

c) Turmeric, ginger and banana — Along with dairy products.

Question 23: Which Harappan settlement is in Rajasthan?

a) Kalibangan
b) Mohenjo-daro
c) Harappa
d) Ganweriwala

Answer:

a) Kalibangan — Along the Sarasvatī basin.

Question 24: The Harappans did not seem to have –

a) An army or weapons of war
b) Seals and writing
c) Agricultural surplus
d) Stone weights

Answer:

a) An army or weapons of war — Evidence shows a peaceful civilisation.

Question 25: Which factor contributed to the decline of the Harappan civilisation?

a) Invasion by Aryans
b) Lack of trade routes
c) Climate change and drying of Sarasvatī River
d) Earthquake destruction

Answer:

c) Climate change and drying of Sarasvatī River — Agriculture became difficult.

Question 26: The Harappans exported ornaments, timber, gold and cotton. They likely imported –

a) Iron
b) Silver
c) Copper
d) Bronze

Answer:

c) Copper — Since it was scarce in their region.

Question 27: The Harappan writing system found on seals is –

a) Fully understood today
b) Still undeciphered
c) Similar to Sanskrit
d) Alphabet-based

Answer:

b) Still undeciphered — Symbols’ meanings are not yet clear.

Question 28: What does the uniformity of bricks in Harappan houses suggest?

a) No system of government
b) Central planning and standardisation
c) Individual preferences
d) Foreign influence

Answer:

b) Central planning and standardisation — Both small and big houses had similar quality.

Question 29: Which cultural practice seen in the Harappan ‘Dancing Girl’ figurine continues today in parts of Gujarat and Rajasthan?

a) Turban tying
b) Bangle-wearing up to the arm
c) Face painting
d) Head veils

Answer:

b) Bangle-wearing up to the arm — Evident in the bronze figurine.

Question 30: Even after the decline of Harappan cities, their culture and technology –

a) Completely vanished
b) Were adopted in Mesopotamia only
c) Survived and influenced later Indian civilisation
d) Were forgotten forever

Answer:

c) Survived and influenced later Indian civilisation — Many techniques were passed on.

Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 Fill in the Blanks with Answers – The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

1. The Harappan civilisation is also called the ___ civilisation because it developed along two major rivers.

Answer:

Sindhu-Sarasvatī

2. A key feature of any civilisation is the presence of ___ and town planning.

Answer:

urbanism

3. The Harappan civilisation began around ___ BCE and lasted till about 1900 BCE.

Answer:

2600

4. Harappa, the first site discovered, was excavated in the years _–_.

Answer:

1920–21

5. The Rig Veda mentions the river ___, worshipped as both a goddess and a river.

Answer:

Sarasvatī

6. The Harappan site of ___ in Gujarat is known for its stone reservoirs and three town zones.

Answer:

Dholavira

7. The Great Bath, a unique public tank, was discovered at ___.

Answer:

Mohenjo-daro

8. The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow ___, which they used for making cloth.

Answer:

cotton

9. A clay model of a plough was discovered at ___, showing evidence of agriculture.

Answer:

Banawali

10. The semi-precious stone ___, found in Gujarat, was used for making Harappan ornaments.

Answer:

carnelian

11. The Harappan site of ___ in Gujarat had a dockyard, showing evidence of maritime trade.

Answer:

Lothal

12. Harappan seals were usually made of ___, a soft stone that was hardened by heating.

Answer:

steatite

13. The famous bronze figurine known as the ‘Dancing Girl’ was found at ___.

Answer:

Mohenjo-daro

14. The Harappan writing system remains ___ to this day.

Answer:

undeciphered

15. One major reason for the decline of the Harappan civilisation was climate change and the drying of the river ___.

Answer:

Sarasvatī

True or False type Questions for Class 6 Social Science Chapter 6 The Beginnings of Indian Civilisation

Question 1. The Harappan civilisation is also known as the Indus Valley Civilisation. (True/False)

Answer:

True

Question 2. The Harappan civilisation began around 1200 BCE. (True/False)

Answer:

False

Question 3. Harappa was the first Harappan site to be excavated in 1920–21. (True/False)

Answer:

True

Question 4. Mohenjo-daro is famous for the Great Bath, a unique public water tank. (True/False)

Answer:

True

Question 5. The Harappans were the first in Eurasia to grow rice. (True/False)

Answer:

False

Question 6. Lothal in Gujarat had a dockyard, showing that Harappans were engaged in maritime trade. (True/False)

Answer:

True

Question 7. The famous bronze ‘Dancing Girl’ figurine was found at Harappa. (True/False)

Answer:

False

Question 8. Harappan seals were made of steatite and often carried animal motifs. (True/False)

Answer:

True

Question 9. The Harappan script has been fully deciphered by historians. (True/False)

Answer:

False

Question 10. One of the reasons for the decline of the Harappan civilisation was the drying up of the Sarasvatī River. (True/False)

Answer:

True