Indus Valley Civilization MCQ: Harappan Society, Government & Theories of Decline

Attempt the quiz above first, then review every question with its correct answer and a short explanation below.

1. Q1.Did the Harappans worship the Cow?

   • A.Yes, it was the most important animal.
   • B.No, the cow was not depicted on seals.✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Yes, cow seals are common.
   • D.Only bulls were worshipped.

   Explanation: The cow was not depicted on the seals and terracotta art of the Harappan cultures, unlike the bull which was commonly depicted.

2. Q2.What type of society was the Indus Valley Civilization likely to be?

   • A.Matriarchal✓ Correct Answer
   • B.Patriarchal
   • C.Tribal
   • D.Nomadic

   Explanation: Many pieces of evidence of worshipping of Mother Goddess from Indus Valley have been found, suggesting a matriarchal society.

3. Q3.Which animal is NOT depicted on the Pashupati seal?

   • A.Tiger
   • B.Elephant
   • C.Lion✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Rhino

   Explanation: The Pashupati seal depicts a rhino, buffalo, elephant, and tiger. The lion is not depicted on it.

4. Q4.What was the main characteristic of Harappan pottery?

   • A.Blue and White
   • B.Red clay with black painting✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Grey ware
   • D.Black polished ware

   Explanation: The Harappan pottery is typically bright or dark red with designs painted in black.

5. Q5.Which game was likely known to the Harappans based on archaeological evidence?

   • A.Chess
   • B.Polo
   • C.Dice / Board games✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Cricket

   Explanation: Archaeologists have found dice and gaming boards at sites like Harappa and Mohenjodaro.

6. Q6.The Harappan script is classified as:

   • A.Brahmi
   • B.Kharosthi
   • C.Pictographic and undeciphered✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Aramic

   Explanation: The Harappan script consists of depictive expressions (pictographic) and has not yet been successfully deciphered.

7. Q7.Which site shows a continuous cultural sequence from Stone Age to Harappan?

   • A.Kalibangan
   • B.Mehrgarh✓ Correct Answer
   • C.Dholavira
   • D.Kot Diji

   Explanation: The cultural remains from Stone Age to Harappan Civilization have been found in Mehrgarh.

8. Q8.What was the probable nature of the Harappan government?

   • A.Theocratic
   • B.Democratic
   • C.Secular with no organized religion dominating✓ Correct Answer
   • D.Military rule

   Explanation: Indus Valley Civilization is considered to be a secular civilization with no trace of theocratic or organized religion dominating the administration.

9. Q9.Match the Site with the River: (A) Harappa (B) Mohenjodaro (C) Lothal (D) Kalibangan (1) Indus (2) Ravi (3) Ghaggar (4) Bhogava

   • A.A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
   • B.A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3✓ Correct Answer
   • C.A-3, B-4, C-2, D-1
   • D.A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

   Explanation: Correct match: Harappa-Ravi, Mohenjodaro-Indus, Lothal-Bhogava, Kalibangan-Ghaggar.

10. Q10.Which of the following is NOT a Harappan site?

    • A.Chanhudaro
    • B.Kot Diji
    • C.Sohgaura✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Desalpur

    Explanation: Sohgaura is a village in Gorakhpur (UP) known for a Mauryan copper plate, but it is not a Harappan site.

11. Q11.Assertion (A): The Harappans had an advanced drainage system. Reason (R): They used burnt bricks for construction.

    • A.Both A and R are true and R explains A.
    • B.Both A and R are true but R does not explain A.✓ Correct Answer
    • C.A is true but R is false.
    • D.A is false but R is true.

    Explanation: Both statements are factually correct. However, using burnt bricks is not the direct 'reason' for the existence of an advanced drainage system design, though it facilitated it.

12. Q12.Which site yielded a "Terracotta replica of a plough"?

    • A.Dholavira
    • B.Banawali✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Kalibangan
    • D.Lothal

    Explanation: A toy plough (terracotta replica) has been found at Banawali.

13. Q13.The "Great Bath" was found at which site?

    • A.Harappa
    • B.Mohenjodaro✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Lothal
    • D.Chanhudaro

    Explanation: The most important public place of Mohenjodaro is the Great Bath.

14. Q14.The "Pani" class in Rigveda (often associated with Harappan traders) were:

    • A.Priests
    • B.Goldsmiths
    • C.Traders✓ Correct Answer
    • D.Soldiers

    Explanation: "Pani" during the Rigvedic period were a class of traders.

15. Q15.Where was a hoard of jewellery found in a Harappan context in Western UP?

    • A.Hulas
    • B.Mandi✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Alamgirpur
    • D.Sonauli

    Explanation: A hoard of jewellery at Mandi was discovered during an excavation carried out by D.V. Sharma.

16. Q16.Which archaeologist held the view that the "Idea of civilization" migrated from Western Asia?

    • A.Mortimer Wheeler✓ Correct Answer
    • B.Amalananda Ghosh
    • C.Rafiique Mughal
    • D.S.R. Rao

    Explanation: Mortimer Wheeler considered that the Harappan civilization was the result of the migration of the 'idea of civilization' from Western Asia.

17. Q17.Who proposed the "Climate Change" theory for the decline of the civilization?

    • A.Marshall
    • B.Aurel Stein✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Wheeler
    • D.Dales

    Explanation: Aurel Stein and Amalananda Ghosh attributed the decline to climate change.

18. Q18.According to IIT Kharagpur, how many years of drought led to the fall of the civilization?

    • A.200 years
    • B.900 years✓ Correct Answer
    • C.500 years
    • D.100 years

    Explanation: According to the reports of IIT Kharagpur, continuous low rainfall for 900 years was the cause of the fall.

19. Q19.Which site revealed evidence of "Double Burial"?

    • A.Harappa
    • B.Kalibangan✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Dholavira
    • D.Banawali

    Explanation: The evidence of double burial has been found from Kalibangan (and also Lothal).

20. Q20.A triangular terracotta cake with a horned deity was found at:

    • A.Mohenjodaro
    • B.Kalibangan✓ Correct Answer
    • C.Harappa
    • D.Lothal

    Explanation: A triangular terracotta cake found at Kalibangan had a carving of a horned deity.