Bricks, Beads and Bones is the opening chapter of NCERT Class 12 History and introduces students to the Harappan (Indus Valley) Civilisation through archaeological evidence. The chapter explains the evolution of Early, Mature and Late Harappan phases, town planning, agriculture, craft production, trade, seals, script and the work of archaeologists in reconstructing the past. These important questions include MCQs, one-word questions, assertion and reason questions and descriptive questions for comprehensive revision.
These NCERT-based questions are highly useful for CBSE Board Exams, CUET, UPSC, SSC, State PSC, Railways and other competitive examinations. The question bank covers all major concepts including Mohenjodaro, Harappa, Great Bath, drainage system, weights, seals, social differences, trade with Mesopotamia, archaeological discoveries and the latest NCERT additions such as archaeogenetic research at Rakhigarhi.
Table of Contents
MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS (1–25)
These MCQs cover the first half of the chapter and are designed to test factual knowledge, conceptual understanding and analytical thinking based strictly on the NCERT.
1. The Harappan Civilization is also known as:
A. Vedic Civilization
B. Indus Valley Civilization
C. Gangetic Civilization
D. Chalcolithic Civilization
Page Reference: 1
2. The name “Harappan Civilization” is derived from:
A. The first ruler
B. The first excavated site
C. The largest city
D. The main river
Page Reference: 1
3. Which phase is considered the urban phase of the Harappan Civilization?
A. Early Harappan
B. Mature Harappan
C. Late Harappan
D. Neolithic
Page Reference: 1
4. The Mature Harappan phase is dated approximately:
A. 7000–5000 BCE
B. 6000–2600 BCE
C. 2600–1900 BCE
D. 1900–1300 BCE
Page Reference: 1
5. Which stone was commonly used to make Harappan seals?
A. Granite
B. Marble
C. Steatite
D. Basalt
Page Reference: 1
6. More than how many Harappan sites have been discovered in the Indian subcontinent?
A. 500
B. 1,000
C. 1,500
D. More than 2,000
Page Reference: 2
7. Which river basin contains nearly two-thirds of Harappan settlements according to the latest NCERT?
A. Indus Basin
B. Ganga Basin
C. Saraswati Basin
D. Godavari Basin
Page Reference: 2
8. Which of the following is NOT one of the five major Harappan cities mentioned in NCERT?
A. Rakhigarhi
B. Harappa
C. Dholavira
D. Banawali
Page Reference: 2
9. Archaeobotanists study:
A. Ancient animals
B. Ancient metals
C. Ancient plant remains
D. Ancient scripts
Page Reference: 2
10. Which crop is relatively rare at Harappan sites?
A. Wheat
B. Barley
C. Rice
D. Sesame
Page Reference: 3
11. Evidence of a ploughed field has been discovered at:
A. Mohenjodaro
B. Harappa
C. Kalibangan
D. Lothal
Page Reference: 3
12. Terracotta models of ploughs have been found at:
A. Banawali and Cholistan
B. Harappa and Mohenjodaro
C. Dholavira and Lothal
D. Kalibangan and Rakhigarhi
Page Reference: 3
13. Traces of canals have been found at:
A. Harappa
B. Mohenjodaro
C. Shortughai
D. Dholavira
Page Reference: 3
14. Which city is regarded as the best example of Harappan urban planning?
A. Harappa
B. Mohenjodaro
C. Kalibangan
D. Banawali
Page Reference: 5
15. Mohenjodaro was divided into:
A. Three sectors
B. Four sectors
C. Citadel and Lower Town
D. Palace and Marketplace
Page Reference: 5–6
16. The Citadel was built on:
A. Stone platforms
B. Sand platforms
C. Mud-brick platforms
D. Wooden platforms
Page Reference: 6
17. Harappan baked bricks generally followed the ratio:
A. 1 : 1 : 1
B. 2 : 2 : 1
C. 4 : 2 : 1
D. 5 : 3 : 2
Page Reference: 6
18. One of the most distinctive features of Harappan cities was:
A. Forts
B. Temples
C. Planned drainage system
D. Palaces
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19. Harappan streets generally intersected:
A. Diagonally
B. In circular form
C. At right angles
D. Randomly
Page Reference: 6
20. Houses at Mohenjodaro were generally built around:
A. A temple
B. A marketplace
C. A courtyard
D. A reservoir
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21. Approximately how many wells have scholars estimated existed in Mohenjodaro?
A. About 100
B. About 300
C. About 500
D. About 700
Page Reference: 7
22. The Great Bath is located in:
A. Harappa
B. Mohenjodaro
C. Kalibangan
D. Rakhigarhi
Page Reference: 8
23. The Great Bath was probably used for:
A. Irrigation
B. Storage of grain
C. Ritual bathing
D. Industrial purposes
Page Reference: 8
24. Which evidence is commonly used by archaeologists to identify social differences in Harappan society?
A. Coins
B. Burials
C. Literature
D. Royal inscriptions
Page Reference: 9
25. Jewellery has been found in Harappan burials of:
A. Only women
B. Only rulers
C. Both men and women
D. Only children
Page Reference: 9
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