Geography and History of India

What word means fortified (protected) area?

• river valley

• monsoon

• granary

• citadel

It is a large landmass that is set apart from the rest of the continent by the mountains to the north and the water to the south.

• continent

• Asia

• subcontinent

• elephant

Where did the first civilization of India arise?

• along the Ganges River

• along the Indus and Saraswati rivers

• near the coast of the subcontinent

• on the central plateau

What is a monsoon, and why did early farming villages in India depend on them in the summer?

• A monsoon is a seasonal drought that affects the Indian subcontinent.

• A monsoon is a seasonal wind that brings rain to the Indian subcontinent.

• A monsoon is a type of storm that occurs in the Indian Ocean.

• A monsoon is a type of flood that affects the Indian subcontinent.

What caused the Indus Valley civilization to disappear?

• heavy flooding

• drought

• foreign invaders

• no known cause

Name two examples of mathematical achievements from the Indus Valley civilization.

• Gridded city streets and advanced weights and measurements

• Pyramids and hieroglyphics

• Astronomy and algebra

• Geometry and calculus

How did the location of the ancient cities of Harappa and Mohenjo-Daro contribute to their development?

• Their location was near major trade routes.

• Their location near rivers provided rich soil that produced plentiful crops.

• Their location allowed crops to receive enough rainfall.

• Their location provided abundant natural resources and little need to trade.

A fixed social class into which a person is born is a _______________.

• caste

• varna

• jati

• Vedas

A grouping based on one’s skill is called a _______________.

• caste

• varna

• jati

• Vedas

A caste based on occupation is a _______________.

• caste

• varna

• jati

• Vedas