- Why is the title of the book “Our Pasts” written in the plural form?
a) Because different people have different pasts
b) Because history is always written in multiple books
c) Because history is the same everywhere
d) Because all historical events happened at the same timeAnswer: a) Because different people have different pasts
Explanation: The word “pasts” is used in the plural to indicate that the past was different for different groups of people. Farmers, kings, merchants, and craftspersons all had different experiences.
- Which of the following is an example of how the past was different for different groups?
a) Farmers and herders lived the same way as kings
b) Merchants and craftspersons had the same lives
c) The lives of rulers and common people were different
d) Everyone in history followed the same customsAnswer: c) The lives of rulers and common people were different
Explanation: Rulers maintained records of their victories, whereas ordinary people such as hunters and gatherers did not keep records. Their lives were also shaped by different circumstances.
- What is one reason why we know more about kings and battles than ordinary people?
a) Kings wrote detailed autobiographies
b) Rulers kept records of their achievements
c) Ordinary people were illiterate
d) Archaeologists never studied ordinary peopleAnswer: b) Rulers kept records of their achievements
Explanation: Kings and rulers maintained records of their victories and policies, which were inscribed on stones and written in manuscripts. Ordinary people did not leave many records.
- Which group of people is most likely to have left written records in history?
a) Hunters and gatherers
b) Kings and scholars
c) Farmers and herders
d) Fishermen and tradersAnswer: b) Kings and scholars
Explanation: Kings, scholars, and religious figures often kept written records, while most common people relied on oral traditions.
- Which of the following is an example of how people followed different practices in the past?
a) Everyone ate the same food
b) People in different regions had different occupations and customs
c) Everyone followed the same religion
d) All people dressed the same wayAnswer: b) People in different regions had different occupations and customs
Explanation: People in different regions of India had varied ways of life, such as fishing in coastal areas and farming in river valleys.
- Why do historians rely on archaeology to learn about common people?
a) Archaeology helps find records written by kings
b) Common people rarely wrote about their own lives
c) Archaeology only studies battles and wars
d) Archaeologists do not study ordinary peopleAnswer: b) Common people rarely wrote about their own lives
Explanation: Unlike kings, common people such as farmers and traders did not maintain written records, so historians rely on archaeological evidence to understand their lives.
- Which of the following best describes the difference between past and present customs?
a) People in the past had the same lifestyle as today
b) The way people obtained food in the past was different from today
c) There were no differences between past and present practices
d) People in the past always depended on agricultureAnswer: b) The way people obtained food in the past was different from today
Explanation: In the past, many people hunted, gathered, and farmed for food, whereas today, most people rely on markets and supply chains.
- Which statement is true about historical records?
a) All historical records were written in Sanskrit
b) Some past events are known from archaeological findings
c) We have complete information about every event in history
d) Only kings’ lives are studied in historyAnswer: b) Some past events are known from archaeological findings
Explanation: Archaeological discoveries like tools, coins, and buildings provide information about past civilizations and ordinary people.
- How do historians learn about people who did not keep written records?
a) By guessing how they lived
b) By relying on oral traditions and archaeology
c) By reading books written by kings
d) By assuming their lives were the same as todayAnswer: b) By relying on oral traditions and archaeology
Explanation: Since common people did not write much, historians use archaeological discoveries and oral traditions to understand their lives.
- Why do some historical events remain unknown to us?
a) Not everything was recorded, and some records were lost
b) Historians do not study common people
c) History only focuses on major battles
d) Only modern events are studied in history
Answer: a) Not everything was recorded, and some records were lost
Explanation: Many events were not documented, and some records were destroyed over time, making it difficult for historians to learn about certain aspects of the past.
