- Who supplied food to the people living in Harappan cities?
a) Traders and merchants
b) Farmers and herders from the countryside
c) Kings and rulers
d) Craftsmen and scribesAnswer: b) Farmers and herders from the countryside
Explanation: Farmers and herders living in villages around the cities grew crops and raised animals, providing food for people in urban areas.
- Which crops were grown by Harappans?
a) Wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard
b) Maize, bananas, and sugarcane
c) Tea, coffee, and spices
d) Apples, oranges, and pineapplesAnswer: a) Wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard
Explanation: Remains of these crops have been found at Harappan sites, indicating that they were commonly grown.
- What new tool was introduced by the Harappans for farming?
a) The plough
b) The wheel
c) The sickle
d) The chiselAnswer: a) The plough
Explanation: The Harappans used ploughs to dig the soil and prepare it for planting seeds.
- Why have no real ploughs been found at Harappan sites?
a) They were stolen by invaders
b) They were made of wood and did not survive
c) Harappans never used ploughs
d) They were hidden underground for religious reasonsAnswer: b) They were made of wood and did not survive
Explanation: Since wood decays over time, no real ploughs have been found, but small toy models of ploughs have been discovered.
- What farming method may have been used due to low rainfall in the Harappan region?
a) Large-scale dam construction
b) Underground water pipes
c) Irrigation by storing water
d) Rainwater harvestingAnswer: c) Irrigation by storing water
Explanation: As the Harappan region did not receive much rainfall, people may have stored water and supplied it to fields during dry periods.
- Which animals were commonly reared by the Harappans?
a) Elephants and horses
b) Cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes
c) Tigers and leopards
d) Peacocks and parrotsAnswer: b) Cattle, sheep, goats, and buffaloes
Explanation: These domesticated animals provided milk, meat, and labor for agricultural activities.
- What did farmers do during dry summer months to ensure their animals had enough food?
a) Built water tanks for animals
b) Traded their animals for food
c) Took large herds to distant areas for grass and water
d) Stopped rearing animalsAnswer: c) Took large herds to distant areas for grass and water
Explanation: During the dry season, large herds of cattle and other animals were moved to places where grass and water were available.
- Apart from farming and herding, what other food sources did the Harappans rely on?
a) Buying imported food from Mesopotamia
b) Collecting fruits, catching fish, and hunting wild animals
c) Eating preserved food from previous years
d) Growing crops in underground storageAnswer: b) Collecting fruits, catching fish, and hunting wild animals
Explanation: Harappans supplemented their diet with wild fruits, fish, and animals like antelopes.
- What type of fruit is mentioned as being collected by the Harappans?
a) Mango
b) Ber (Indian jujube)
c) Banana
d) GrapesAnswer: b) Ber (Indian jujube)
Explanation: The Harappans gathered ber, a small fruit still consumed today.
- What do the discoveries of plant remains at Harappan sites tell us about their diet?
a) They mostly ate meat
b) They relied entirely on imported food
c) They cultivated a variety of grains, pulses, and oilseeds
d) They did not grow food and lived only by hunting
Answer: c) They cultivated a variety of grains, pulses, and oilseeds
Explanation: The remains of wheat, barley, pulses, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard confirm that these crops were part of their diet.
