MCQs on Indus Valley Civilization

Q. Where was the Indus Valley Civilization located?

A. Egypt

B. China

C. India and Pakistan

D. Mesopotamia

Ans: C. India and Pakistan

Q. What is another name for the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Aryan Civilization

B. Harappan Civilization

C. Mesopotamian Civilization

D. Egyptian Civilization

Ans: B. Harappan Civilization

Q. Which river was the Indus Valley Civilization primarily based around?

A. Nile

B. Tigris

C. Ganges

D. Indus

Ans: D. Indus

Q. The city of Harappa is located in which modern-day country?

A. India

B. Pakistan

C. Afghanistan

D. Bangladesh

Ans: B. Pakistan

Q. Which was the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Harappa

B. Lothal

C. Mohenjo-Daro

D. Dholavira

Ans: C. Mohenjo-Daro

Q. What type of government is believed to have existed in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Democracy

B. Monarchy

C. Theocracy

D. Unclear

Ans: D. Unclear

Q. What is the most notable feature of the Indus Valley cities?

A. Temples

B. Granaries

C. Well-planned streets and drainage systems

D. Palaces

Ans: C. Well-planned streets and drainage systems

Q. Which of the following materials was used by the Indus people for making tools?

A. Iron

B. Bronze

C. Steel

D. Gold

Ans: B. Bronze

Q. The script of the Indus Valley Civilization was?

A. Alphabetic

B. Pictographic

C. Cuneiform

D. Hieroglyphic

Ans: B. Pictographic

Q.  Which of these animals was domesticated by the Indus Valley people?

A. Horse

B. Elephant

C. Camel

D. Cow

Ans: D. Cow

Q. What was the main occupation of the people of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Agriculture

B. Trading

C. Pottery

D. Weaving

Ans: A. Agriculture

Q. Which of the following was NOT found in the Indus Valley cities?

A. Seals

B. Coins

C. Pottery

D. Beads

Ans: B. Coins

Q. The Great Bath was discovered at which Indus Valley site?

A. Harappa

B. Mohenjo-Daro

C. Lothal

D. Kalibangan

Ans: B. Mohenjo-Daro

Q. Which modern-day state in India contains the site of Lothal?

A. Punjab

B. Gujarat

C. Haryana

D. Maharashtra

Ans: B. Gujarat

Q. What was the primary mode of transport for long-distance trade in the Indus Valley?

A. Bullock carts

B. Horses

C. Ships

D. None of the above

Ans: C. Ships

Q. Which metal was extensively used by the Indus Valley people?

A. Copper

B. Iron

C. Aluminium

D. Silver

Ans: A. Copper

Q. The decline of the Indus Valley Civilization is attributed to?

A. Invasion by the Aryans

B. Earthquakes

C. Floods

D. All of the above

Ans: D. All of the above

Q. The city of Dholavira is located in which modern-day Indian state?

A. Punjab

B. Gujarat

C. Rajasthan

D. Haryana

Ans: B. Gujarat

Q. Which Indus Valley site is known for having a dockyard?

A. Mohenjo-Daro

B. Harappa

C. Lothal

D. Dholavira

Ans: C. Lothal

Q. Which of the following items were exported by the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Textiles and spices

B. Cotton and precious stones

C. Horses and ivory

D. Wheat and barley

Ans: B. Cotton and precious stones

Q. What type of houses did the Indus Valley people live in?

A. Wood

B. Stone

C. Mud-brick

D. Bamboo

Ans: C. Mud-brick

Q. Which of the following was the primary deity worshipped in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Shiva

B. Vishnu

C. Mother Goddess

D. Indra

Ans: C. Mother Goddess

Q. Which discovery suggests that the Indus Valley Civilization had knowledge of measurement and weights?

A. Seals

B. Terracotta figurines

C. Cubical weights

D. Pottery

Ans: C. Cubical weights

Q. The Harappan seals often depicted which animal?

A. Horse

B. Tiger

C. Unicorn-like figure

D. Elephant

Ans: C. Unicorn-like figure

Q. What was the main grain cultivated by the Indus Valley people?

A. Wheat

B. Rice

C. Barley

D. Millet

Ans: A. Wheat

Q. What was the name of the Harappan ruler?

A. King

B. Pharaoh

C. Raja

D. No name has been identified

Ans: D. No name has been identified

Q. Which Indus Valley site had fire altars?

A. Harappa

B. Kalibangan

C. Mohenjo-Daro

D. Rakhigarhi

Ans: B. Kalibangan

Q. What is the estimated time period of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. 3000–1500 BCE

B. 5000–4000 BCE

C. 1000–500 BCE

D. 1500–500 BCE

Ans: A. 3000–1500 BCE

Q. Which type of burial practice was prevalent in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Cremation

B. Extended burials

C. Mummification

D. Both cremation and burial

Ans: D. Both cremation and burial

Q. Which civilization is contemporary to the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Chinese Civilization

B. Mesopotamian Civilization

C. Mayan Civilization

D. Greek Civilization

Ans: B. Mesopotamian Civilization

Q. Which of the following crops was cultivated by the Indus Valley people?

A. Sugarcane

B. Cotton

C. Tea

D. Coffee

Ans: B. Cotton

Q. Which material was most commonly used to make seals in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Clay

B. Stone

C. Bronze

D. Copper

Ans: B. Stone

Q. Which Indus Valley site is located in modern-day Haryana, India?

A. Mohenjo-Daro

B. Kalibangan

C. Rakhigarhi

D. Lothal

Ans: C. Rakhigarhi

Q. The term “Citadel” in the context of the Indus Valley Civilization refers to?

A. The ruler’s palace

B. The lower residential area

C. A fortified area on raised ground

D. The temple

Ans: C. A fortified area on raised ground

Q. Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Urban planning

B. Use of iron

C. Use of bronze

D. Seals with inscriptions

Ans: B. Use of iron

Q. Which of these was a significant export item of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Iron tools

B. Spices

C. Cotton textiles

D. Tea

Ans: C. Cotton textiles

Q. Which of the following animals was NOT represented in the Indus Valley seals?

A. Horse

B. Bull

C. Elephant

D. Tiger

Ans: A. Horse

Q. What was the main function of the Great Bath in Mohenjo-Daro?

A. Residential

B. Storage of grain

C. Ritualistic bathing

D. Gathering place

Ans: C. Ritualistic bathing

Q. Which modern-day river flows close to the ancient Harappan city of Harappa?

A. Ganges

B. Indus

C. Ravi

D. Yamuna

Ans: C. Ravi

Q. Which of the following regions is NOT associated with the spread of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Punjab

B. Gujarat

C. Rajasthan

D. Bengal

Ans: D. Bengal

Q. The earliest evidence of silver in the Indus Valley Civilization comes from which site?

A. Harappa

B. Mohenjo-Daro

C. Chanhudaro

D. Dholavira

Ans: C. Chanhudaro

Q. Which Indus Valley site is known for the discovery of a bronze statue of a dancing girl?

A. Harappa

B. Lothal

C. Kalibangan

D. Mohenjo-Daro

Ans: D. Mohenjo-Daro

Q. Which of the following was used by the Indus Valley people to build their homes?

A. Limestone

B. Mud bricks

C. Wood

D. Granite

Ans: B. Mud bricks

Q. Which was an important port city of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Harappa

B. Lothal

C. Mohenjo-Daro

D. Kalibangan

Ans: B. Lothal

Q. Which system of writing did the Indus Valley people use?

A. Brahmi

B. Hieroglyphics

C. Indus Script

D. Phoenician Script

Ans: C. Indus Script

Q. Which item is not found in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Painted pottery

B. Gold jewelry

C. Iron tools

D. Cotton cloth

Ans: C. Iron tools

Q. Which Indus Valley site showed evidence of both pre-Harappan and Harappan cultures?

A. Kalibangan

B. Mohenjo-Daro

C. Harappa

D. Dholavira

Ans: A. Kalibangan

Q. The seals of the Indus Valley often contained inscriptions in what form?

A. Long prose writings

B. Short pictographic scripts

C. Large paragraphs

D. Syllabic writing

Ans: B. Short pictographic scripts

Q. Which river is associated with the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Yamuna

B. Saraswati

C. Ganges

D. Kaveri

Ans: B. Saraswati

Q. Which of the following occupations was least likely practiced by the people of the Indus Valley?

A. Farming

B. Metalworking

C. Priesthood

D. Hunting

Ans: D. Hunting

Q. Which of the following is NOT a feature of Indus Valley urban planning?

A. Grid pattern streets

B. Sewage system

C. Pyramids

D. Public baths

Ans: C. Pyramids

Q. Which of the following was the main method of water management in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Canals

B. Underground reservoirs

C. Step wells

D. Dams

Ans: B. Underground reservoirs

Q. The Indus Valley Civilization is considered to be a part of which age?

A. Stone Age

B. Iron Age

C. Bronze Age

D. Golden Age

Ans: C. Bronze Age

Q. Which type of pottery was commonly found in the Indus Valley sites?

A. Painted Grey Ware

B. Black and Red Ware

C. Polished Pottery

D. Buff Ware

Ans: D. Buff Ware

Q. Which modern country does the ancient site of Mohenjo-Daro belong to?

A. India

B. Pakistan

C. Bangladesh

D. Afghanistan

Ans: B. Pakistan

Q. The people of the Indus Valley Civilization worshipped nature in the form of?

A. Rivers and animals

B. Stars and planets

C. Fire and wind

D. Water and wind

Ans: A. Rivers and animals

Q. Which item was used as a form of currency in trade in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Metal coins

B. Barter system

C. Seals

D. None of the above

Ans: B. Barter system

Q. What is the term used for the practice of farming in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Dry farming

B. Irrigated farming

C. Terrace farming

D. Shifting cultivation

Ans: B. Irrigated farming

Q. What was the purpose of the granaries in the Indus Valley cities?

A. Religious rituals

B. Military storage

C. Storage of grains

D. Shelter for people

Ans: C. Storage of grains

Q. Which Indus Valley site is known for its evidence of bead-making?

A. Harappa

B. Dholavira

C. Chanhudaro

D. Lothal

Ans: C. Chanhudaro

Q. Which characteristic of the Indus Valley Civilization indicates they had contact with Mesopotamia?

A. Similar pottery styles

B. Similar seals

C. Use of cuneiform script

D. Discovery of Mesopotamian artifacts in Indus cities

Ans: D. Discovery of Mesopotamian artifacts in Indus cities

Q. Which is the southernmost Indus Valley Civilization site?

A. Harappa

B. Lothal

C. Dholavira

D. Rangpur

Ans: B. Lothal

Q. Which of the following was NOT a significant factor in the decline of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Climate change

B. Aryan invasion

C. Floods

D. Deforestation

Ans: D. Deforestation

Q. Which material was widely used by the Indus Valley Civilization for making beads and ornaments?

A. Terracotta

B. Ivory

C. Lapis lazuli

D. Jade

Ans: C. Lapis lazuli

Q. Which of the following was used by the Indus Valley Civilization for long-distance transportation?

A. Horses

B. Camels

C. Boats

D. Elephants

Ans: C. Boats

Q. Which animal appears frequently on the seals of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Horse

B. Bull

C. Elephant

D. Deer

Ans: B. Bull

Q. What type of political system did the Indus Valley Civilization most likely have?

A. Centralized monarchy

B. City-states

C. Theocratic state

D. Tribal chiefs

Ans: B. City-states

Q. Which was the primary method of cooking in the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Open fire

B. Clay ovens

C. Gas stoves

D. Charcoal

Ans: B. Clay ovens

Q. Which of the following modern-day cities is closest to the site of Harappa?

A. Karachi

B. Lahore

C. Delhi

D. Mumbai

Ans: B. Lahore

Q. Which of the following was NOT part of the technological advancements of the Indus Valley Civilization?

A. Pottery

B. Iron tools

C. Brick-making

D. Drainage systems

Ans: B. Iron tools