Category: class6

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science Civics Chapter 9 Urban Livelihoods

1. Read and discuss the following description of the living conditions of workers who come to the labour chowk.
Most workers that we find at the labour chowk cannot afford permanent accomodation and sleep on pavements near the chowk, or they pay Rs. 6 a night for a bed at a nearby night shelter run by the Municipal Corporation. To compensate for the lack of security, local tea and cigarette shops function as banks, moneylenders and safety lockers, all rolled into one. Most workers leave their tools at these shops for the night for safe keeping and pass on any extra money to them. The shopkeepers keep the money safety and also offer loans to labourers in need.
Source : Aman Sethi, Hindu on-line
Ans: Students are suggested to discuss on the above theme in the class in the presence of their teacher.

2. Complete the following table and discuss how their work is different:

Name	Place of work	Earnings	Security of work	Benefits received	Work on their own or employed
Bachchu Manjhi		Rs 100 a day
Harpreet Vandana					Work on their own
Nirmala			No security
Sudha	Company	Rs. 30,000 p.m.

Ans:

Name	Place of work	Earnings	Security of work	Benefits received	Work on their own or employed
Bachchu Manjhi	Road	Rs 100 a day	No security	No benefits	Work on his own
Harpreet Vandana	Showroom	Flexible	Their job is secured	They are planning to buy a flat and car.	Work on their own
Nirmala	Garment factory	Rs. 80 a day	No security	She can earn extra money by working late.	Employed
Sudha	Company office	She gets regular salary.	Her job is secured	Holidays, medical facilities	Employed

 

3.In what ways is a permanent and regular job different from a casual job? Discuss.
Ans: In a permanent and regular job an employee gets a regular salary every month. Besides, a regular salary he gets other benefits such as savings for old age, holidays, medical facilities for his family, etc. Thus, his job is secured. But casual workers avail no job security. If workers complain about their pay or working conditions, they are asked to leave. They are also expected to work very long hours. They don’t get other benefits like permanent employees.

Q.4.What benejits does Sudha get along with her salary?
Ans: Sudha is a permanent worker with a company. She gets several benefits along with her salary:

• Savings for old age. A part of her salary is kept in a fund with the government. She will earn interests on these savings. When she retires from this job she will get this money in the form of pension.
• Sudha gets off on Sundays and national holidays. She also gets some days as annual leave.
• Medical facilities for her family. The company pays Sudha medical expenses up to a certain amount for her and her family members. She gets medical leave if she falls ill and her salary is not cut if she takes this leave.

5.Fill in the following table to show the services provided by people in markets which you msit frequently.

Name of the shop or office	Nature of the service provided

 

Name of the shop or office	Nature of the service provided
Garment showroom	It provides clothes as per the requirement of the customer.
Shop selling utensils, footwear, electronic goods, etc.	They provide household things.
Banks	They provide security and growth to our money.
Note: Students are suggestec	to add more.

I.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) Vandana is a ……………
(a)Doctor (b) Sales manager
(c) Dress designer                (d) Dentist.

(ii) The authority that issues a licence to the permanent shops is the
(a) Municipal corporation                    (b) Electricity department
(c) Home Ministry                              (d) None of the above.

(iii) Nirmala works in a ……………
(a) Showroom                                      (b) Garment factory
(c) Company                                       (d) Call centre.

(iv)Workers who are employed on casual basis usually get ……………………
(a) Handsome salary                           (b) Poor salary
(c) Medical leave                               (d) Both (a) and (b).

(v) Foreign companies usually set up call centres in India because
(a)They can get people who will work for lower wages
(b)They can get people who can speak English
(c)They can get cheap land to establish the centre
(d)Both (a) and (b).

Ans:(i)—(c), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(b), (iv)—(b), (v)—(d).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

(i) There are almost ……… street vendors in the country working in …………………
(ii) Those who work in government departments get a ……………….. salary every month.
(iii) It is the……… that decides on which day of the week the market has to remain closed.
(iv) Call Centres in ………. cities provide a new form of employment to the people.
(v )Street vending is now recognised as a general benefit and as a………………… of people to earn their ……………  •

Ans. (i) one crore, urban (ii) regular                                   (iii) Municipal Corporation
(iv) big                               (y) right, livelihood.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

(i)A large number of people in the city work on the streets.
(ii)Shops on streets are usually temporary structures.
(iii)Call Centres are usually seen in small towns.
(iv)Casual workers can complain about their pay or working conditions.
(v) Permanent workers get only medical facilities.

Ans. (i)—T, (ii)—T, (iii)—F, (ziv)—F, (v)—F.

IV.MATCHING SKILL

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

Column A                                                                   Column B

(i) Harpreet and Vandana                     (a) Works as a Marketing Manager
(ii) Bachchu Manjhi                                 (b) Works as a tailor
(iii) Sudha                                                    (c) Business persons
(iv) Nirmala                                                 (d) Work as helpers to masons
(v) Daily wage workers                             (e) Rickshaw puller
.
Ans. (i)—(c), (ii)—(e), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(b), (v)—(d).

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Name some activities which are carried out on the streets.
Ans: Vending, hair-cutting, shoe-repairing, flower-selling etc.

2. What was found in a Survey of Ahmedabad city?                                               [V. Imp.]
Ans: In a survey of Ahmedabad city it was found that 12 percent of all the workers in the city were people working on the street.

3. What types of things do vendors usually sell?
Ans: Vendors usually sell things that are often prepared at home by their families who purchase, clean, sort and make them ready to sell.

4. How was street vending looked upon till recently?
Ans.Street vending was till recently looked upon only as an obstruction to traffic and to people walking.

5.How is it looked upon now?
Ans: It is now looked upon as a general benefit and as a right of people to earn their livelihood.

6. Mention two features of business persons.                                                               [Imp.]
Ans: (i)They own their own shops or business.
(ii)They employ a number of workers as supervisors and helpers.

7. What is essential for the permanent shops?                                                        [V. Imp.]
Ans: They must have a licence to do business.

8. Define ‘labour chowk’.
Ans: Labour chowk is a place where daily wage labourers wait with their tools for people to come and hire them for work.

9.What is the normal working day in a garment factory?
Ans: In a garment factory a normal working day begins at 9 a.m. and finishes only by 10 p.m.

10. What is a Call Centre? [V. Imp.]
Ans: A Qall Centre is a centralised office that deals with problems and questions that consumers / customers have regarding goods purchased and services like banking, ticket booking, etc.

11. Mention two features of permanent jobs.
Ans: • Men having permanent jobs get a regular salary with perks and other benefits eveiy month.

• They can expect their job to continue for a long period of time.

 

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How do hawkers manage their work? [V. Imp.]
Ans. Hawkers work on their own. They organise their own work. They know how much to purchase, as well as where and how to set up their shops. Their shops are usually temporary structures. Sometimes just some boards or papers spread over discarded boxes or may be canvas sheet hung up on a few poles. They may also use their own carts or simply a plastic sheet spread on the pavement. They can be asked to dismantle their shops at any time by the police.

2. Mention some drawbacks of casual jobs. [V. Imp.]
Ans. • In casual jobs, workers are not expected to complain about their pay or working
conditions. If they dare to do this, they are instantly asked to leave.

• Casual jobs do not provide security protection if there is ill-treatment.
• Casual workers are expected to do work for long hours.
• Even if they don’t complain, they can be asked to leave when workload is less.

3. What works does Sudha do?
Ans. Sudha works as a Marketing Manager in a company which manufactures biscuits. The factoiy where the biscuits are made is outside the city. Sudha supervises the work of 50 salespersons who travel to different parts of the city. They get orders from shopkeepers and collect payments from them. She has divided the city into six regions and once a week she meets the salespersons of each region. She checks their progress report and discusses problems they face. She has to plan the sales in the entire city and often has to work late and travel to different places.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What are various ways of earning livelihood in the urban areas? Discuss. [V. Imp.]
Ans. People in urban areas are engaged in a variety of activities in order to earn their living. Some are doing the work of a cobbler while some are barbers busy with their work. A number of people earn their livelihood by pulling rickshaw. Vendors are also seen here and there selling household articles. In urban areas showrooms of different items can be seen. These showrooms are run by businesspersons. These people employ a number of workers as supervisors and helpers for their showrooms. Several urban people are engaged in Factories where they work for long hours. They don’t have job security still they continue their work because they don’t have other option. But there are also people who do office work with full job security. They get regular salary and enjoy other benefits of job like savings for old age, holidays, medical facilities etc.

Working in Call Centres is a new form of employment in big cities. It has attracted a large number of young men and women. Thus, we see that with a growing population, job opportunities have also increased and people are availing these opportunities according to their talent and aptitude.

2. Write in brief on ‘Call Centres’.
Ans. Call Centres in big cities are providing new job opportunities to young and enthusiastic men and women. A Call Centre is a centralised office that deals with problems and questions that consumers/customers have regarding goods purchased and services like banking, ticket booking, etc. Call Centres are generally set up as large rooms with work stations that include a computer, a telephone set and supervisor’s stations.
India has become a major centre not only for Indian companies but also foreign companies. They set up Call Centres here as they can get people who can speak english and will work for lower wages.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science Civics Chapter 7 Urban Administration

1. Why did the children go to Yasmin Khala’s house?
Ans: The children broke the street-light while playing cricket. As its replacement was beyond their reach, they were very much upset. They didn’t know whom did the street light belong to. They went to Rehana’s mother who gave them the knowledge that it is the Municipal Corporation of the city that takes care of replacing lights. She also told them that Yasmin Khala would be the best person because she has just retired from the Municipal Corporation. She advised the children to go to Yasmin Khala to get their problem solved.

2. List four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city-dweller.
Ans: List of four ways in which the work of the Municipal Corporation affects the life of a city dweller:

• Cleaning and lighting of streets and thoroughfares.
• Supply of safe drinking water.
• Supply of electricity.
• Traffic control.
• Garbage collection and disposal.
• School, hospital and sanitation facilities.

 3. Who is a Municipal Councillor?
Ans: A Municipal Councillor is an elected representative of a ward. He is also known as Ward Councillor.

 4. What did Gangabai do and why?
Ans: Gangabai collected a large number of women and went to the Municipal Commissioner along with ward councilors to protest against garbage dumps all over the street.

5. How does the Municipal Corporation earn the money to do its work?
Ans: The Municipal Corporation is one of the most important organs of the three-tier government system. It is responsible for the all-round development of its designated area. It undertakes all the public facilities and welfare works like sanitation, water, road, education, health, etc. As these works require funds, so it collects revenue from the residents living in its corporation area. It levies taxes on property, water, and other services. Taxes are fixed on the measurement and consumption of the services. Taxes are levied on education and other amenities like owning a hotel, entertainment, etc.

6. Discuss
In the two photographs, you see different ways of collecting and disposing of garbage.
(i) Which way do you think provides safety to the person disposing of garbage?
(ii)What are the dangers of collecting garbage in the manner shown in the first photograph?
(iii)Why do you think that proper ways of disposing of garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities?


Ans: (i) The way is shown in photo 2 provides safety to the person disposing of garbage,

(ii) Collecting garbage in the manner shown in photo 1 is full of dangers. Children are so close to open garbage that they may fall sick or they may develop symptoms of some deadly disease in the long run. There may be pieces of broken glasses. While collecting garbage in,this manner, their fingers may get injured. We see two stray cows around the garbage searching some eatables. These cows may attack these boys which may take their lives. Thus, there is no safety at all in this way.

(iii) The proper ways of disposing of garbage are not available to those who work in municipalities because firstly, the government has not done proper arrangements for this as yet. It has provided trucks no doubt but their number is not sufficient. Secondly, the workers working in the municipalities are generally less aware of health and hygiene. They do not bother whether garbage is being disposed of properly or not. Thirdly, the economic condition of the municipalities is not good.

7. Several poor people in the city work as domestic servants as well as work for the Corporation, keeping the city clean. Yet the slums in which they live are quite filthy. This is because these slums seldom have any water and sanitation facilities. The reason often given by the Municipal Corporation is that the land in which the poor have set up their homes does not belong to them and that slum-dwellers do not pay taxes. However, people living in middle-class neighbourhoods pay very little in taxes compared to the amount of money the corporation spends on them in setting up parks, street lighting facilities, regular garbage collection etc. Also as you read in this chapter, the property taxes collected by the Municipality makes up only 25-30 percent of its money. Why do you not think it is important that the Corporation should spend more money on slum localities? Why is it important that the Municipal Corporation provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get?
Ans. I think it is important that the corporation should spend more money on slum localities because slum-dwellers are also a part of our society. They need education, sanitation, rehabilitation, and other facilities as the common people avail. They are also human beings. They lack even basic amenities of life which cause the spread of many diseases among them. They are the citizens of our country. So in order to achieve our constitutional ideals, the Municipal Corporation should provide the poor in the city with the same facilities that the rich get.

I.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statement given below.

(iv) Which one is not the job of the Municipal Corporation?
(a) It keeps the streets and markets clean.
(b) It makes gardens and maintains them.
(c) It builds hotels for the tourists
(d) It runs schools, hospitals, and dispensaries.

(v) The Municipal Council is found in
(a) Big cities
(b) Small towns
(c) villages
(d) Metropolitan cities.

Answer:
(i) – (d), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (c), (iv) – (c), (v) – (b).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. Property taxes form only ……………. percent of the money that a Municipal Corporation earns.
2. Collecting garbage is quite a………… job.
3. The kabaddi wallah plays a major role in ……………….  household plastic and paper.
4. The Ward Councillor is elected by the people of his ………………
5. Gangabai rushed to the house of………………

Answer:

1. 25-30
2. dangerous
3. recycling
4. Ward/area
5. Ward Councillor.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. Gangabai was a timid lady.
2. Yasmin Khala was a retired judge.
3. Pune, being a big city, has a Municipal Corporation.
4. Larger houses have to pay fewer taxes.
5. The Commissioner and the administrative staff implement the decisions taken by the Councillor’s Committees and the councillors.

Answer:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. T

IV.MATCHING SKILL

Ans: (i)-c  (ii)-e   (iii)-a   (iv)-b     (v)-d

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1: Who was Yasmin Khala?
Ans: Yasmin Khala was a Municipal Corporation employee.

2. What had children done to the street light?
Ans: They had broken the streetlight while playing.

3. What did children want to know?
Ans: They wanted to know who did the lights on the streets belong to.

4. Whose duty is it to replace the streetlights?

Ans: It is the duty of the Municipal Corporation of the city to replace the streetlights.

5. Who takes decisions like where a park or a new hospital should go?
Ans: The Ward Councillors usually takes such decisions.

6. What is the difference between the ward Commissioner and the ward Councillors?[V. Imp.]
Ans: The Commissioner is the body elected by the councillors while the Councillors are elected by the general voters of the world.

7. What is a tax?                                                              [V. Imp.]
Ans: A tax is a sum of money that people pay to the government for the services the government provides.

8. What types of taxes people have to pay?
Ans: People have to pay property tax on their homes as well as taxes for water and other services.

9. Name two departments of the Municipal Corporation. [Imp.]
Ans: Water department and garbage collection department,

10. What did the Commissioner advise Gangabai?
Ans: The Commissioner advised Gangabai to get a petition signed by all the adults in the locality saying that garbage was not being collected.

11. How can common people keep their streets clean?
Ans: They can do this by keeping dustbin/dustbins at home.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How are complicated decisions taken? Explain with examples. [V. Imp.]
Ans: (Complicated decisions usually affect the entire city and therefore these decisions are taken by groups of Councillors who form committees to decide and debate issues. For example, if bus stands need to be improved or a crowded market place needs to have its garbage cleared more regularly, etc.

2. Write a short note on the topic ‘Sub-contracting’.                                   [Imp.]
Ans: In recent times, in order to save money the Commissioners of several municipalities across the country had hired private contractors to collect and process garbage. This is known as Sub-Contracting. This means that the work that was earlier being done by government workers is now being done by a private company or agency. These contract workers get low salary and their jobs are temporary.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Explain the Junctions of the Ward Councillor and the Administrative staff.
Ans: The Ward Councillors are elected members. They are responsible for the welfare of the people of their wards. They listen their problems and get them solved. Sometimes, they have to take complicated decisions that affect the entire city. At such moments, groups of councillors who form committees gather together to decide and debate issues. While the Councillor’s Committees and the councillors decide on issues, the Commissioner and the administrative staff implement these decisions.

All of the Ward Councillors meet and they make a budget and the money is spent according to this. The Ward Councillors try and ensure that the particular demands of their wards are placed before the entire council. These decisions are then implemented by the administrative staff.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science History Chapter 4 In the Earliest Cities

1. How do archaeologists know that cloth was used in the Harappan civilization?
Answer:

1. According to archaeologists cotton was probably grown in Mehrgarh about 7,000 years ago.
2. Actual pieces of cloth were found attached to the lid of a silver vase and some copper objects at Mohenjodaro.
3. Archaeologists have also found spindle whorls, made of terracotta and faience. These were used to spin thread.
4. We also have indirect evidence to show how cloth was decorated. For example, a stone statue of an important man found at Mohenjodaro shows him wearing an embroidered garment.

2. Match the columns:
Answer:

3. Why were metals, writing, the wheel and the plough important for the Harappans?
Answer: 

1. Metals: The Harappan made copper tools. They also made ornaments of gold and silver.
2. Writing: Writing was very important for the Harappans. There were scribes, people who knew how to write. Scribes helped prepare the seals and perhaps wrote on other materials that have not survived.
3. Wheel: The Harappans used the wheel in carts. They also used the wheel in spinning. The wheel was used by potters to make or shape pots and other things.
4. Plough: Plough was used to prepare the land for farming by the Harappans.

4. Make a list of all the terracotta toys shown in the lesson. Which do you think children would have enjoyed playing with the most?
Answer: The terracotta toys shown in the lesson are:

5. Make a list of what the Harappans ate, and put a tick mark against the things you eat today.
Answer:

Note: Depending upon where you live, and with the help of your teacher, select the food items eaten by you.

6. Do you think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders you read about in chapter 3? Give reasons for your answer.
Answer:
Yes, I think that the life of farmers and herders who supplied food to the Harappan cities was different from that of the farmers and herders, I read about in the last lesson.
I can give the following reasons for my answer:

1. We know from remains of plants and bones of animals that the contemporary farmers and herders of the Harappans grew more cereals and collected many types of fruits and other things. They grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed and mustard.
2. A new tool, the plough, was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and sowing seeds by the farmers of the Harappan times while real ploughs, which were probably made of wood, have not survived, toy models have been found.
3. As the Harappans’ region did not receive heavy rainfall, some form of irrigation might have been used. This means that water was stored and supplied to the fields when the plants were growing.
4. The Harappans reared cattle: Sheep, goat and buffalo. Water and pastures were available around settlements. However, in the dry summer months, large herds of animals were probably taken to greater distances in search of water and grass by the farmers and herders, mentioned in the last lesson. But the Harappan age people also collected fruits like her, caught fish and hunted wild animals like the antelope.
5. The farmers and herders of the Indus Valley had relations with better or more civilized people who had better houses, roads, drain-system, knowledge of writing, and cities. The farmers and herders of the last chapter (or stone age) did not know the use of metals.

7. Describe three important buildings in your city or village. Are they located in a special part of the settlement (e.g. the centre)? What are the activities that take place in these buildings?
Answer: In our city (or village) the following three important buildings are located:

1. Community Hall or Gram Panchayat Bhawan or Municipal Committee Bhawan
2. School Building
3. Hospital
4. Temple or Mosque or Church or Gurudwara
   (Any three groups or points.)

The following activities take place in these buildings respectively:

1. Community Hall. Marriage Parties or Public Functions.
   Gram Panchayat Bhawan. In this Bhawan (Building) Panchayat holds its meetings and discusses our village problems.
   Municipal Committee Bhawan. In this Bhawan city’s elected members meet under a chairman and discuss problems of the city.
2. School Building. In this building, education is provided to boys and girls of our village or city.
3. Hospital. Here ill people or patients come and consult doctors, compounders or nurses as per their diseases or requirements.
4. Temple or Mosque or Church or Gurudwara. People come and participate in prayer (or Namaz) according to their own religion and faith. (Any three points.)

8. Are there any old buildings in your locality? Find out how old they are and who looks after them.
Answer: Yes, there are some old buildings in our locality. These buildings are looked after by a government department. The name of this department is the Archaeological Survey of India.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The Great Bath has been discovered in ……………….
(a) Lothal
(b) Harappa
(c) Mohenjodaro
(d) Kalibangan.

(ii) Most cities had the western part ………… and …………..
(a) smaller, higher
(b) smaller, lower
(c) larger, higher
(d) larger, lower.

(iii) Which of these groups of people did not usually live in cities, but the countryside?
(a) rulers
(b) craftspersons
(c) farmers and herders
(d)   scribes

(iv) The alloy of tin and ………….  is called bronze.
(a) zinc
(b) copper
(c) gold
(d) platinum.

(v) The city of Lothal was situated beside a river which was a tributary of
(a) Ganga
(b) Sabarmati
(c) Narmada
(d) Kaveri.

(vi) What caused the end of Harappan civilization?
(a) Deforestation
(b) Rulers lost control
(c) Flooding
(d) Reasons unknown to us; but probably those listed in the other three options.

Answer:
(i) – (c), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (c), (iv) – (b), (v) – (b), (vi) – (d).

II. Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. The western part of Harappan cities, which was usually smaller but higher, has been referred to as the ……………..
2. The eastern part of Harappan cities, which was usually larger but lower, has been referred to as the ……………
3. The Great Bath was made water tight with a layer of………………….
4. Scribes were people who knew how to ………………
5. Metals like gold and silver were used to make ……………  and ………….
6. Most Harappan seals are made of………………
7. Archaeologists have found spindle wheels, made of terracotta and ………………….
8. Spindle whorls were used to …………….
9. The Harappans got copper from the present day…………………
10. A tool called……….. was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.
11. …… must have been used by farmers since the region of Harappa did not receive heavy rainfall.
12. Sealings are impressions of seals on ……………

Answer:

1. Citadel
2. lower town
3. natural tar
4. write
5. ornaments, vessels
6. stone
7. faience
8. spin thread
9. Rajasthan
10. plough
11. Irrigation
12. clay.

III. True/False

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The bricks in Harappa were laid in an interlocking pattern and that made the walls strong.
2. Usually, the special buildings were created in the lower town.
3. The houses of Harappa were poorly built.
4. Harappan seals were made of metal
5. People knew about cotton much before Harappa.
6. All raw materials were available locally.
7. The hunter-gatherers used some form of irrigation.
8. The rainfall,was low in the Harappa region.
9. We are not sure about what caused the end of the Harappari civilization.

Answer:

1. T
2. F
3. F
4. F
5. T
6. F
7. F
8. T
9. T.

IV. Matching Skill
Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

V. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. When and how was the site of Harappa first encountered? [Imp.]
Answer:  Around a hundred and fifty years ago, when railway lines were being laid in Punjab, engineers stumbled upon the site of Harappa.

2. How old are Harappa cities believed to be?
Answer: Harappa and other such cities are believed to have developed 4700 years ago.

3. What was the citadel?
Answer: The western part of most cities was smaller but higher, described as ‘citadel’ by archaeologists.

4. Give some important features of the Great Bath. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Great Bath was lined with bricks, Coated with plaster, and made water tight with natural tar.

5. Name two cities which had fire altars.
Answer:  Lothal and Kalibangan were cities with fire altars.

6. What were the three mayor categories of people in a Harappan city?
Answer: In Harappan cities, rulers, Crafts-persons and scribes were the three categories of people.

7. What were objects in Harappan cities made of?
Answer: Most Harappan objects were made of stone, shell and metal.

8. How do we know that cotton was grown in Mohenjodaro? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Archaeologists have found pieces of cloth with vases and other objects in Mohenjodaro. So cotton must have been grown.

9.Who was a ‘specialist’ in Harappan context? –
Answer: A specialist was one who was trained to do one kind of work, e.g. cutting stone, polishing beads, or carving seals.

10. Define ‘raw material.
Answer: Raw materials are substances that are either found naturally or produced by farmers or herders.

11. Name some foreign countries from where raw materials were imported.
Answer: Raw materials were imported from Oman, Afghanistan, Iran, etc.

12. What was the use of the plough? [V. Imp.]
Answer: A plough was used to dig the earth for turning the soil and planting seeds.

13. Give one point of difference between Dholavira and other Harappan cities.
Answer: Unlike other Harappan cities which were divided into two parts, Dholavira was divided into three.

14. Where did people move to from Sind?
Answer: People moved into newer and smaller settlements to the east and the south.

VI. Short Answer Type Questions 

1. Describe the two parts of a typical Harappan city. [V. Imp.]
Answer: A Harappan city was usually divided into two or more parts. The part to the west was smaller but higher. It is called ‘citadel’. The part to the east was larger but-lower. Archaeologists call it the lower town.

2. How were bricks laid in houses of Harappan cities?
Answer: Bricks were so well made that they have lasted for thousand of years. They were laid in an interlocking pattern and this made the walls strong. Many of these bricks were taken away by engineers about a hundred and fifty years ago.

3. Describe the drains of the cities.   [V. Imp.]
Answer: Most cities had covered drains. They were laid out carefully in straight lines. Each drain had a gentle slope. Thus, water could flow easily through it. Drains in houses were connected to those on the streets and smaller drains led to bigger ones.

4. Write a short note on the craft practised by Harappan.
Answer: Harappan objects were made of stone, shell and metal. Copper and bronze were used to make tools, weapons, ornaments and vessels. Gold and silver were used to make ornaments and vessels. Harappans also made stone seals. They made pots with beautiful black designs.

5. Where did the Harappan get the raw materials from?
Answer: The Harappans got the raw materials from various places. They got copper probably from present-day Rajasthan, and also from Oman. Tin was brought from Afghanistan and Iran. Gold was brought may be from Karnataka. Precious stones were brought from Gujarat, Iran and Afghanistan.

6. Write a short note on the city of Lothal. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Lothal was a city on the banks of a tributary of the Sabarmati. It was an important centre for making stone, shell and metal objects. There was a store house in the city. Fire altars have been found here.

VII. Long Answer Type Questions

1. Describe the people of Harappan cities. [V. Imp.]
Answer: There were three basic occupations of people living in Harappan cities.
(i) They planned the construction of special buildings in the city.They probably sent people to distant lands to get raw material. They kept the most valuable objects for themselves.

(ii) Scribes were people who knew how to write. They prepared the seals.

(iii) Crafts-persons. People who made all kinds of things were called Crafts- persons.
Besides these three categories, there were farmers and herders who lived outside the city and provided food to the people.

2. Write a short note on farming methods and rearing done by Harappan farmers and herders.
Answer: (i) Harappans grew wheat, barley, pulses, peas, rice, sesame, linseed, and mustard. A new tool called plough was used to dig earth for turning the soil and planting seeds. Due to little rainfall, a method of irrigation was probably used.

(ii) The Harappan reared cattle, sheep, goat, and buffalo. Water and pastures were present around many sites. People collected fruits like ‘ber’, caught fish and hunted wild animals.

3. What could have been the possible reasons behind the end of the Harappan civilization? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The Harappan civilization suddenly seems to have started to end, around 3900 years ago. People stopped living in many cities. Writing, seals and weights became ‘extinct’. Raw materials were now rarely imported.

Some scholars suggest that this happened due to the drying of rivers. Some others have explained it with deforestation. In some areas there were floods. The floods could have been a reason for the end.

Rulers might also have lost control. Consequently, People abandoned sites in Sind and Punjab and moved to newer, smaller settlements to the east and the south.

NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 12 Buildings, Paintings and Books

1. Read the story on page 130. In what ways in the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 6 and 11?

Ans: The monkey king in the story on page 130 is similar to the kings mentioned in chapters 6 and 11. The monkey king like the other kings has a huge army.

He himself is wise, diplomatic and brave. He has the virtue of taking right moment. When he observes the situation of the attack on his community by the king’s men, he makes a quick plan to save his army. First, he let all of them cross the river. As he is the last, he gets tired and exhausted, he falls down and is dead. In this way, he sacrifices his life for the safety of his kingdom. This is the supreme virtue of a king. So, he is in no way different from the other human kings.

2. Find out more and tell a story from one of the epics.

Ans: We have a number of stories in our epics that inspire us in many ways. They guide us and teach us the ideals of life. Such epics are the Mahabharata and Ramayana.

In the Mahabharata, we have one such story. The battle was finalized between Kauravas and Pandavas. Both the parties were making efforts’ to win the favour of their relatives and another king. Krishna who was related to both was considered as a superman, possessing the qualities of gods. So, Duryodhana, the eldest of the Kauravas approached him. On the same day Arjuna, one of the five Pandavas, also went to Krishna. Duryodhana was a proud fellow. He sat on the head-side of Krishna who was sleeping at that time. Arjuna, a humble fellow, reached thereafter Duryodhana. But he sat at the feet side of Krishna and began pressing his feet.

As Krishna opened his eyes, he saw Aijuna. Krishna had already promised them that he would be from the side of the man who would reach him first. As Krishna saw Arjuna first he said that he would be in favour of Arjuna. Duryodhana opposed it because he had reached there first. Krishna said that those who want to get something from anyone then should be humble and courteous. Here, Duryodhana lost Krishna. We learn from this story that we should not show our arrogance to those from whom we ask for something.

3. Match the following:

Stupa	Place where the image of the deity is installed.
Shikhara	Mound.
Mandapa	Circular path around the stupa.
Garbhagrika	Place in temples where people could assemble.
Pradakshina Patha	Tower.

Answer:

Stupa	Mound.
Shikhara	Tower.
Mandapa	Place in temples where people could assemble.
Garbhagriha	Place where the image of the deity is installed.
Pradakshina patha	Circular path around the stupa.

4. Fill in the blanks:

1. ………. was a great astronomer.
2. Stories about gods and goddesses are found in the ……….
3. ……… is recognized as the author of the Sanskrit Ramayana.
4. ……….. and ……….. are two Tamil epics.

Answer:

1. Aryabhatta
2. Puranas
3. Valmiki
4. Silappadikaram, Manimekalai.

5. Make a list of the chapters in which you find mention of metalworking. What are the metals objects mentioned or shown in those chapters?
Answer:
(a) List of the chapters in which we find mention of metalworking:

1. In the earliest cities.
2. What Books and Burials Tell us.
3. Kingdoms, Kings, and The Early Republic.
4. Vital Villages, Thriving Towns.
5. Traders, Kings, and Pilgrims.
6. New Empires and Kingdoms.
7. Buildings, Paintings and Books.

(b) Following metals objects are mentioned or shown in these chapters:

1. Tin
2. Copper
3. Bronze
4. Ivory
5. Silver
6. Gold
7. Iron.

6. Read the story on page 130 (NCERT book). In what ways is the monkey king similar to or different from the kings you read about in Chapters 6 and 11?
Answer:
The Monkey King was a great king, who lived on the banks of the Ganga River in the Himalayas. He was having 80,000 followers. They fed on the fruit of a special mango tree, which was very sweet. The kings we have read about in chapters 6 and 11, they used to have permanent armies but some of their soldiers were supplied by Samantas. This army did not eat fruit but used to eat wheat, rice, etc. They occupied the highest position in society.

In these chapters, we came to know about bigger states, known as Janapadas and Mahajanpadas. In both types of states, the position of the king was hereditary. But the king had to feel the pulse of the public. He used to work for the welfare of his subjects, otherwise, he could be removed when the situation demanded.

Question 5.
Find out more and tell a story from one of the epics.
Answer:
The Ramayana is an epic written by Adi Rishi Valmiki. This epic is about Rama, a prince of Kosala, who was sent into exile for fourteen years. His wife Sita was abducted by the King of Lanka, named Ravana, and Rama had to fight a battle to get her back. He won and returned to Ayodhya, the capital of Kosala, after his victory.

I.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The iron Pillar is situated at………………
(a) Junagarh
(b) Mehrauli
(c) Aihole
(d) Ahmedabad.

(ii) The height of the Iron Pillar is …………….
(a) 7.2 m
(b) 8.2 m
(c) 9.2 m
(d) 10.2 m.

(iii) The small box placed at the centre or heart of the stupa is known as a………………………
(a) Relic casket
(b) Sacred box
(c) Trunk
(d) None of the above.

(iv) The Puranas contained stories about …………………
(a) Kings and queens
(b) Gautam Buddha
(c) Mahatma Gandhi
(d) Gods and goddesses.

(v)  Sanskrit Ramayana is written by ………………
(a) Valmiki
(b) Vyasa
(c) Tulsidas
(d) Vishnu Sharma.

Answer:
(i) – (b), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (a), (iv) – (d), (v) – (a).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. The ……….  at Aihole was built about 1400 years ago
2. The small box placed at the centre of the stupa contains bodily remains of the  and his followers.
3. The……. were recited in temples by priests and people came to listen to them.
4. Both the……….. and the…………. are supposed to have been composed by Vyasa.
5. developed a scientific explanation for eclipses.

Answer:

1. Durga temple
2. Buddha
3. Vedas
4. Puranas, Mahabharata
5. Aryabhatta

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. Most temples of this period had a hall like structure known as the mandapa.
2. Mahabalipuram and Aihole are known for the finest stone temples.
3. Merchant and farmers usually decided to build stupas and temples during this period.
4. The Tamil epic the Silappadikaram was composed by a poet named Ilango.
5. Meghaduta is a famous poem composed by Tulsidas.
6. Women and Shudras could hear the stories of the Puranas.
7. It was Ravana who abducted Rama’s wife Sita.
8. The Jatakas and the Panchatantra are collections of stories told by birds and animals.
9. Aryabhatta was a famous story-letter.
10. The Bhagavad Gita is a part of the Ramayana.

Answer:

1. True
2. True
3. False
4. True
5. False
6. True
7. True
8. False
9. False
10. False.

IV.MATCHING SKILL

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

Ans. (i)—(b), (ii)—(d), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(e), (v)—(c).

V. VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. When was the Iron Pillar made?
Ans: It was made about 1500 years ago.

2. Mention the most striking feature of the Iron Pillar.
Ans: The Pillar has not rusted in all these years.

3. What do you mean by the word ‘Stupa’? [V. Imp.]
Ans: The word Stupa means a mound. It is a Buddhist religious building.

4. Why did devotees walk around the stupa in a clockwise direction?
Ans: They did so to show their devotion.

5. Why was Amaravati famous?
Ans: Amaravati was a place where a magnificent stupa once existed.

6. Marne the deities worshipped in the earliest Hindu temples.
Ans: Vishnu, Shiva, and Durga.

 7. What was the garbhagriha?
Ans: It was a room in the temple during this period.

8. Why was the garbhagriha so important? [V. Imp.]
Ans: The image of the chief deity was placed in the garbhagriha. Also, the priests performed religious rituals here.

9. What was the shikhara?
Ans:It was a tower built on the top of the garbhagriha to mark this out as a sacred place.

 10. What do you know about the monolithic temples at Mahabalipuram?
Ans: Each of these temples was carved out of a huge, single piece of stone.

11. Why did only Kings or queens decide to build stupas and temples?
Ans: Building stupas and temples was an expensive affair. Ordinary people could not think about it.

12. How were the gifts brought by the devotees used?
Ans: The gifts brought by the devotees were used to decorate stupas and temples.

 13. How were paintings done in the dark caves?
Ans: The caves were dark. Therefore paintings were done there in the torchlight.

14. What are epics? Give examples. ‘ [V. Imp.]
Ans: Epics are grand, long compositions about the heroic deeds of men and women, They include stories about gods as well. Example—the Mahabharata, the Ramayana.

 15. Which gods and goddesses were mentioned in the stories of the Puranas?
Ans:  Vishnu, Shiva, Durga or Parvati were mentioned in the stories of the Puranas.

16. How were the Puranas different from the Vedas?
Ans: Women and Shudras were not allowed to study the Vedas but these people could read and hear the verses of the Puranas.

 17. Where are the stories told by ordinary people preserved? [V. Imp.]
Ans: The stories told by ordinary people are preserved in the Jatakas and the Panchatantra.

18. Name the book written by Aryabhatta In which language is it written?
Ans:  This book is Aryabhatiyam. It is written in Sanskrit.

VI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a few lines on the Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli, Delhi
Ans: 

• The Iron Pillar located at Mehrauli, Delhi was made about 1500 years ago.
• It is made of iron. Its height is 7.2 m and its weight is over 3 tones.
• It was probably built during the Gupta dynasty.
• It is amazing that the pillar has not rusted in all these years.
• The pillar is a remarkable example of the skill of Indian craftspeople.
• The pillar is famous all over the world.

2. How were stupas and temples built? [V. Imp.]
Ans: Building stupas and temples was not an ordinary job. It needed huge wealth which only kings or queens could afford. There were several stages in building a stupa or a temple. Firstly, the good quality stone had to be found, quarried, and transported to the place that was often carefully selected for the new building. Secondly, these rough blocks of stone had to be shaped and covered into pillars, and panels for walls, floors, and ceilings. Thirdly, these had to be placed in precisely the right position. Kings and queens spend money from their treasury to pay the craftspersons.

3. What are the main features of Ajanta paintings?                                                       [V. Imp.]
Ans: 

• The paintings of Ajanta are world-famous. Ajanta is a place where several caves were hollowed out of the hills over centuries.
• Most of these were Buddhist monasteries while some of them were decorated with paintings.
• The caves are dark inside and therefore most of these paintings were done in the light of torches.
• The colours are vivid even after 1500 years.
• These colours were made of plants and minerals.

4. Write in brief about Kalidasa’s Meghaduta. [Imp.]
Ans:  Kalidasa’s Meghaduta is the best-known poem. It is one of his best literary creations. It is in Sanskrit. It was written during the Gupta reign. There is a description of monsoon in this famous book. The monsoon cloud is imagined to be a messenger between lovers who are separated from one another.

The poet beautifully describes the breeze that will carry the cloud northwards. It is a cool breeze. It blows with the fragrance of the earth. It is delightful, swollen by the cloud’s showers. Elephants inhale it deeply. It causes the wild figs to ripen. It blows gently with the cloud. This description is very sensuous and appealing. It creates a real picture of the cloud and the breeze. Kalidasa was really a poet at par.

5. What are Puranas? Mention some of their features.
Ans: The term Purana literary means old. The Puranas are collections of old Hindu religious stories. Here are some of their features:

• They contain stories about gods and goddesses such as
• Vishnu, Shiva, Durga, or Parvati.
• .They also contain details on how these deities were to be worshipped.
• There are accounts as well about the creation of the world and about kings.
• Puranas unlike Vedas could be read and heard by everybody including women and Shudras

6. Describe the contribution of Aryabhatta to Science. [V. Imp.]
Ans: The name of Aryabhatta emerged during this period. He became famous as a mathematician and astronomer. He wrote a book in Sanskrit known as the Aryabhatiyam. He stated that day and night were caused by the rotation of the earth on its axis, even though it seems as if the sun is rising and setting everybody. He developed a scientific explanation for eclipses as well. He also found a way of calculating the circumference of a circle, which is nearly as accurate as the formula we use today.

VII. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

 1. What are stupas? Mention some of their striking features.
Ans: Stupas are Buddhist religious buildings made of brick and stone. There are several kinds of stupas.

• Some are round and tall while some are big and small. Here are some striking features of stupas.
• There is a small box, known as a relic casket, placed at the centre or heart of the stupa. The box contains bodily remains of the Buddha or his followers, or things they used, as well as precious stones and coins.
• This box was covered with earth. Later, a layer of mud brick or baked brick was added on top. And then, the dome-like structure was sometimes covered with carved stone slabs.         ‘

• A path called the pradakshina patha was laid around the stupa. This was surrounded by railings. The entrance to the path was through gateways.
• Devotees walked around the stupa in a clockwise direction, as a mark of devotion.

2. Describe the earliest Hindu temples.
Ans: Some Hindu temples were also built during this period. The deities worshipped in these shrines were Vishnu, Shiva and Durga. The most important part of the temples was the garbhagriha, which was a room where the image of the chief deity was placed. It was at this place that priests performed religious rituals and devotees offered worship to the deity.

The garbhagriha had a tower known as the shikhara built on its top. This marked the place as a sacred one. Building shikharas require careful planning. Most temples also had a mandapa. This was a hall like structure meant for the common people to assemble.

Mahabalipuram and Aihole in south India were famous for their temples. These were stone temples. The monolithic temples of Mahabalipuram were very beautiful. Each of these temples was carved out of a huge, single piece of stone. It is therefore they are known as monoliths. The Durga temple at Aihole was built about 1400 years ago.

3. Describe the two Sanskrit epics the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
Or Why are the epics like Mahabharata and Ramayana so popular even today?
Ans. The Mahabharata and Ramayana are the most popular of the epics and other religious books of the Hindus. They are also famous among the followers of other religions. The causes of their popularity are almost the same. The story of the Mahabharata tells family drama followed by a great war between the two groups of the same family, the Kauravas, and Pandavas.

Here, we learn how are fights for the right cause. The Pandavas are dethroned and banished diplomatically by their cousin Duryodhana. They are always subjected to humiliation and injustice. Finally, they are put in a great battle to get their own right.

In the Mahabharata, we know how much tolerance one should have, how one can fight for a justified cause, how we should respect our elders, etc. There are so many teachings of the ideal life in it. The Gita, which constitutes a part of the Mahabharata is in itself considered a great epic. It unfolds all the mysteries of life, the life before, and life after.

In the same way, the Ramayana, written in the most popular language of the time, teaches us the high ideals of life. Rama, the most prominent character, shows how a man should follow the ideals of life. He possesses all the virtues of a highly idealistic and realistic human being. He follows the system in a humble way. He fights for justice and his right. This story is told in a very realistic way. It seems to be the story of a common man. So, it has a great appeal in our society today.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 8 Ashoka The Emperor Who Gave Up War

 1. Make a list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire.
Ans:
A list of the occupations of the people who lived within the Mauryan empire:

1. Trade or Commerce
2. Jobs with emperor
3. Crafts
4. Agriculture
5. Animal rearing
6. Forest produce-gathering
7. Hunting animals for food
8. Fishing.

2. Complete the following sentences:

1. Officials collected…….. from the area under the direct control of the ruler.
2. Royal princes often went to the provinces as………….
3. The Mauryan rulers tried to control…….. and……….. which were important for transport.
4. People in forested regions provided the Mauryan officials with…………

Ans: 

1. taxes
2. governors
3. roads, rivers
4. elephants, timber, honey, and wax.

3. State whether true or false:

1. Ujjain was the gateway to the north-west.
2. Chandragupta’s ideas were written down in the Arthashastra.
3. Kalinga was the ancient name of Bengal
4. Most Ashokan inscriptions are in the Brahmi script.

Ans:

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. True.

4. What were the problems that Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing ‘dhamma’?
Ans:
The problems Ashoka wanted to solve by introducing dhamma were:

1. Communalism (He wanted communal harmony within his state).
2. Violence or killing of animals (He wanted animal protection or Ahimsa or Non-violence).
3. Cruelty (He liked mercy or kindness towards slaves and servants).
4. To maintain peace in families and among neighbours.
5. Respecting one’s elders.
6. Treating all creatures with compassion.
7. Giving gifts to brahmins and monks.
8. Show respect to other religions too.
9. Try to understand the main ideas of other religions.

5. What were the means adopted by Ashoka to spread the message of ‘dhamma’?
Ans: Ashoka appointed officials (called ‘dhamma mahamatta’) to go from place to place and tell people about ‘dhamma’. Ashoka got his messages inscribed on rocks and pillars too, in a language called as Prakrit which was comprehensible to all. Messengers were also sent to other parts of the world.

6. Why do you think slaves and servants were ill-treated? Do you think the orders of the emperor would have improved their condition? Give reasons for your answer.
Ans:

1. I think that slaves and servants were ill-treated because no political authority or socio-economic organisation had favoured proper treatment for slaves and servants. They were supposed to do all manual and hard work but they were not allowed to participate in some rituals and not permitted to recite Vedas or for taking education.
2. Yes, I think the orders of the emperor would have improved condition of slaves and servants. We can give the following reasons:
   • Slaves and servants would have got proper wages and better treatment.
   • Their duty hours and working conditions would have improved.

7. Write a short paragraph explaining to Roshan why the lions are shown on our currency notes. List at least one other object on which you see them.
Ans: The lions are part of the Lion Capital in Samath. These lions are shown on our currency notes in honour of one of the greatest kings of India, Ashoka, who built the Capital. Moreover, on independence, the lion was recognized as the national animal, so the notes also showed the Lion Capital.
Another object which has the lions are shown are the coins of our currency.

8. Suppose you had the power to inscribe your orders, what four commands would you like to issue?
Ans: I would like to issue the following four orders:

1. Everyone should respect the elders and elders should love their youngers.
2. Everyone should respect the other’s religion. One should try to understand the main ideas of another’s religion and respect it.
3. Be kind to your servants and employees.
4. Be loyal to your motherland.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The founder of the Maurya empire was ………….,
(a) Ashoka
(b) Chandragupta
(c) Bimbisara
(d) Chanakya.

(ii)The capital of the Mauryan empire was………….
(a) Pataliputra
(b) Rajagriha
(c) Ujjain
(d) Taxila.

(iii) According to the Arthashastra, blankets of………… India was famous.
(a) north
(b) north-west
(c) south
(d) north-east.

(iv) The script used for inscription was ……………
(a) Brahmi
(b) Prakrit
(c) Tamil
(d) Roman.

(v) Ashoka was a ………………
(a) Hindu
(b) Jaina
(c) Buddhist
(d) None of these.

Ans.
(i)—(b), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(b), (iv)—(a), (v)—(c).

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. Ashoka was Chandragupta’s ……………………………….
2. Chanakya was …….. ’s minister.
3. The Arthashastra was written by………….
4. …….. was the gateway to the northwest of the empire.
5. ……… were sent as governors to other provincial capitals.
6. South India was important for ………….
7. Ashoka gave up war after winning over…………
8. ‘Dhamma’ is the Prakrit word for the Sanskrit word
9. Ashoka appointed ……..  to spread ‘dhamma’.

Answer:

1. grandson
2. Chandragupta
3. Chanakya
4. Taxila
5. Royal princes
6. gold and other precious stones
7. Kalinga
8. ‘Dharma’
9. officials.

III. TRUE/FALSE
State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The lions on the currency notes come from the Rampurwa bull capital,
2. Ashoka founded the Mauryan empire.
3. Royal princes were sent as governors to provinces.
4. Ashoka gave up war after losing in Kalinga.
5. Ashoka himself went from place to place to preach ‘dhamma’.
6. The ‘dhamma’ also reached other countries.

Ans.

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. F
5. F
6. T

IV. MATCHING SKILL
Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Who was Chanakya?
Ans:  Chanakya (or Kautilya) was a wise man who served Chandragupta Maurya.

2. Who lived in the Mauryan cities?
Ans: Merchants, officials, and craftspersons lived in Mauryan cities.

3. Giue one point of difference between empires and kingdoms.
Ans:  Empires need more resources than kingdoms do as they are larger,

4. Give one point of information given by the Arthashastra
Ans:  The Arthashastra tells that the northwest of the Mauryan empire was important for blankets, and south for stones,

5. What all was given as tribute by people in forested areas?
Ans: People living in the forested areas gave elephants, timber, honey, wax, etc. as a tribute.

6. What was special about Ashoka as a ruler?  [V. Imp.]
Ans: Ashoka was the first ruler who tried to take his message to his subject through inscriptions.

7. What change came upon Ashoka after the Kalinga war?[V. Imp.]
Ans: Ashoka saw that there was a lot of violence in the war and many people were killed. So he decided he would not fight any more wars,

8.What was the purpose of Ashoka’s ‘dhamma’?       [V. Imp.]
Ans:  Ashoka wished to instruct his subjects, for which he introduced his ‘dhamma’.

9. Name some countries where Ashoka spread his ‘dhamma’.
Ans: Ashoka’s ‘dhamma’ reached Syria, Egypt, Greece and Sri Lanka among other sounds.          ,

10. Where has the Rampurwa Bull been placed now?
Ans:  The Rampurwa Bull is now In the Rashtrapati Bhavan.                    •

IV.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note to describe the Mauryan people.
Ans:  The Mauryan cities had mainly merchants, officials and craftspersons. In the village farmers and herders lived. In forested areas, people gathered forest produce and hunted animals for food. People in different parts of the empire used various different languages. They also probably ate diverse kinds of food and the same can be said about the clothes they wore.

2. How was Ashoka unique? [V. Imp.]
Ans:  Ashoka was the most famous Mauryan ruler. He was known to take his message amongst the people through inscriptions. His inscriptions were in the people’s language Prakrit. Ashoka also remains the only king in history who gave up war after winning one. This he did after he observed the violence in the Kalinga war. Ashoka then became a Buddhist and got the idea of the ‘dhamma’.

VII. LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Describe governance in the Mauryan empire. [V. Imp.]
Ans:  The Mauryan empire consisted of severed different parts which were ruled over differently.

• The Empire’s capital. The areas adjacent to Pataliputra, the capital of the empire, were under the direct control of the emperor. Officials were supposed to collect taxes from the inhabitants in strict obedience of the ruler’s order.
• The Provincial capitals. There were provinces with their own capitals, e.g. Taxila and Ujjain in the northwest and central India respectively. There was obviously some amount of control from the emperor in Pataliputra: Royal princes were sent as governors.
• Other areas. In the other areas, the Mauryans controlled roads and rivers, , which were vital for transport. Resources, whatever available, were collected as a tribute.

VIII. MAP WORK

1.On the outline map of India Locate and label the following Mauryan cities/regions.
(i) Pataliputra  (ii) Ujjain   (iii) Taxila   (iv) Sanchi   (v) Samath  (vi) Lumbini  (vii) Rampurwa   (viii) Kaushambi           (ix) Meerut    (x)Kalinga.
Ans: 

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 8 India Climate Vegetation and Wildlife

1. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a)Which winds bring rainfall in India? Why is it so important?
(b)Name the different seasons in India.
(c)What is natural vegetation?
(d)Name the different types of vegetation found in
(e)What is the difference between evergreen forest and deciduous forest?
(f)Why is tropical rainforest also called evergreen forest?
Answers:
(a) Monsoon winds bring rainfall in India. Agriculture in India depends on rains. Good monsoons mean sufficient rain and a good crop. Hence, monsoon winds Eire very importantly. Our prosperity depends on these winds.

(b) The different seasons in India are:

• Cold Weather Season (Winter)
• Hot Weather Season (Summer)
• Southwest Monsoon Season (Rainy)
• Season of retreating Monsoon (Autumn).

(c) Natural Vegetation
Grasses, shrubs, and trees which grow of their own without any interference or help from mankind constitute natural vegetation.

(d) Different types of vegetation found in India

• Tropical Rain Forests
• Tropical Deciduous Forests
• Thorny Forests
• Mountain Vegetation
• Mangrove Forests

(f) Tropical rainforest is also called evergreen forest because they (the trees) do not shed their leaves in a particular season.

2. Tick the correct answer.
(a) The world’s highest rainfall occurs in …………
(i) Mumbai                         (ii)    Asansol                           (iii)    Mawsyuram.

(b) Mangrove forests can thrive in………
(i) saline water                   (ii)    freshwater                     (iii)polluted water.

(c) Mahogany and rosewood trees are found in………..
(i) mangrove forests
(ii) tropical deciduous forests
(iii) tropical evergreen forests

(d) Wild goats and snow leopards are found in…………
(i) Himalayan region      (ii)Peninsular region            (iii)    Gir forests.

(e) During the South-west monsoon period, the moisture-laden winds blow from
(i) land to sea                     (ii)    sea to land                      (iii)    plateau to plains.

Answers:
(a)—(iii), (b)—(i), (c)—(iii), (d)—(i), (e)—(ii).

3. Fill in the blanks.

1. Hot and dry winds are known as………… blow during the day in summers.
2. The states of Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu receive a great amount of rainfall during the season of…………..
3. ……. forest in Gujarat is the home of……………
4. …………… is a well-known species of mangrove forests.
5. …………. are also called monsoon forests.

Answer:

1. loo
2. retreating monsoon
3. Gir, Asiatic lions
4. Sundari
5. Tropical deciduous forests.

I. Multiple Choice Questions
Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:
(i) Sundarbans is in ………..
(a) Andaman and Nicobar Islands
(b) West Bengal
(c) Orissa
(d) Madhya Pradesh.

(ii) Which one forms the group of migratory birds?
(a) Siberian Crane, Flamingo and Crow
(b) Sparrow, Crow, and Stork
(c) Stork, Siberian Crane, and Flamingo
(d)Duck, Bulbul and geese.

(iii) These places experience moderate climate ………………
(a) Mumbai and Kolkata
(b) Patna and Lucknow
(c) Bikaner and Jaisalmer
(d) Ranchi and Asansol.

(iv) Elephants and one-homed rhinoceroses are found in the forests of……………………
(a) Assam
(b) Gujarat
(c) Kerala
(d)Karnataka

(v) Wildlife week is observed every year in the first week of _________
(a) November
(b) August
(c) September
(d) October.

Answers:
(i)—(b), (ii)—(c), (iii)—(a), (iv)—(a), (v)—(d).

II. Fill in the Blanks
Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. Camels and wild asses are found in the ……….. and the ……….
2. ………  in Rajasthan receives the least rainfall.
3. Tropical Rain Forests occur in the areas which receive …………..  rainfall.
4. Cold weather season remains from………… to ………..
5. The climate of India has been described as …………..  type.
6. The roots of the plants kind the………….., thus, they control soil erosion.
7. Parrots, pigeons, geese, etc. are examples of ……….. birds.

Answer:

1. Great Indian Desert, Rann of Kuchchh
2. Jaisalmer
3. heavy
4. December,   February
5. Monsoon
6. bind
7. common

III.True/False

State whether these sentences are true (I) or false (F).

1. During the winter season, the sun rays fall directly in the region.
2. Due to India’s location in the tropical region, most of the rain is brought by monsoon winds.
3. Tropical rainforests are not very dense.
4. Tropical rainforests are also called monsoon forests.
5. Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country.
6. Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, etc. migrate to our country in the winter season every year.

Answer:

1. False
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. True
6. True.

IV.Matching Skill
Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Geography Chapter 8 Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. What happens in the season of the retreating monsoons? [Imp.]
Answer:   Winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of Bengal.                                  ,

2. What is climate?
Answer:
Climate is the average weather condition, which has been measured over many years.

3. Name the factors that affect the climate of a place.  [Imp.]
Answer:
The climate of a place is affected by its location, altitude, distance from the sea and relief.

4. Name the two regions of Rajasthan which are very hot.
Answer:
Jaisalmer and Bikaner.

5. Name the two regions of Jammu and Kashmir which are very cold or freezing cold.
Answer:
Drass and Kargil.

6. What do you mean by moderate climate? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Moderate climate refers to the climate which is neither very hot nor very cold.

7. What are called bushes?
Answer:
Small plants are called bushes.

8. Where are thorny bushes found?
Answer:
Thorny bushes are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Eastern slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat.

9. What is the special feature of mountain vegetation?
Answer:
The trees are conical in shape.

10. Why is Van Mahotsav arranged?   [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Van Mahotsav is arranged to awaken people to plant more and more trees.

11. Why are several species of wildlife of India declining? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Due to the cutting of forests and hunting, several species of wildlife of India are declining.

12. Name the project started by the government to protect tigers? [Imp.]
Answer:
Project Tiger.

13. Name some migratory birds.
Answer:
Pelican, Siberian Crane, Stork, Flamingo, Pintail, Duck and Curlew.

India Climate Vegetation and Wildlife Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 8 Short Answer Type Questions

1. Explain the cold weather season and hot weather season.
Answer:
During the cold-weather season (winter), the sun rays do not fall directly in the region. As a result, the temperatures are quite low in northern India. In the hot weather season (summer), the sun rays fall directly in the region. Hence, the temperature becomes very high. Hot and dry winds called loo blow during the day time.

2. Why do we experience regional differences in the climate of India? Explain with examples. [V. Imp.]
Answer:
We experience regional differences in the climate of India due to these factors— location of a place, altitude, distance from the sea and relief. For examples, Jaisalmer and Bikaner in the desert of Rajasthan are very hot while Drass and Kargil in Jammu and Kashmir are very cold. Coastal places like Mumbai and Kolkata experience moderate climate. It means these places are neither very hot nor very cold. Mawsynram in Meghalaya receives the world’s highest rainfall, while Jaisalmer receives least rainfall.

3. Mention the periods of various seasons of India.[Imp.]
Answer:

• Cold weather season, i.e. winter remains from December to February.
• Hot weather season, summer ranges from March to May.
• Southwest monsoon season, i.e. the rainy season remains from June to September.
• Season of retreating monsoon, Le. autumn occurs in the month of October and lasts upto the month of November.

4. Mention the main features of thorny bushes.
Answer:

1. Thorny bushes are found in dry areas of the country.
2. The leaves are in the form of spines to reduce the loss of water.
3. Cactus, khair, babool, keekar are important thorny bushes.
4. They are found in the states of Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, Eastern slopes of Western Ghats and Gujarat.

5. Write a note on mountain vegetation.
Answer:
Mountains are homes of various species of trees. They are found according to the variation in height. With an increase in height, the temperature falls. At a height between 1500 metres and 2500 metres most of the trees are conical in shape. Such trees are called coniferous trees. Mountain vegetation includes trees such as chir, pine and deodar.

6. How are forests important for us? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Forests play a vital role in the life of human beings and in their absence, we can’t imagine a life. Plants release oxygen that we breathe and absorb carbon dioxide. The roots of the plants bind the soil and in this way check soil erosion. We get several things from the forests, such as wood for furniture, fuel, fodder, medicinal herbs, honey, lac, gum, fruits etc. Forests provide natural habitat to wildlife, such as lions, tigers, elephants, monkeys, etc. As forests are so beneficial for us, we must make efforts to conserve it.

7. What should we do to conserve wildlife? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
We must not involve in the hunting and poaching of wild animals. We can refuse to buy things made from parts of the bodies of animals such as their bones, horns, fur, skins, and feathers. It will be an effective way to conserve wildlife. We should participate in the wildlife week which falls in the first week of October and try to create awareness of conserving the habitats of the animal kingdom.

NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Geography Chapter 8 Long Answer Type Questions

1. Explain different types of seasons found in India
Answer:
Four major seasons are found in India:
(i) Cold Weather Season (Winter). This season occurs in the month of December and lasts upto the month of February. During this season temperature remains cold in northern India because the sun rays do not fall directly in the region.            ,

(ii) Hot weather season (Summer). This season starts in the month of March and ends in the month of May. During this season temperature becomes very hot because the sun rays fall directly in the region. Hot and dry winds called loo blow during the day time.

(iii) Southwest monsoon season (Rainy season). This season is marked by the advent and advance of the monsoon. The winds blow from the Arabian Sea and Bay of Bengal towards the land. They carry moisture with them. When these winds strike the mountain barriers it begins raining.

(iv) Season of retreating monsoon (Autumn). This is the season of retreating monsoons. During this season winds move back from the mainland to the Bay of Bengal. The southern parts of India receive rainfall in this season.

2. Mention different types of vegetation found in India.  [V. Imp.)
Answer:
Five different types of vegetation are found in India:
(i) Tropical rain forests. These forests are found in the areas which receive heavy rainfall. They are very dense and sunlight never reach the ground. The trees of these forests shed their leaves at different times of the year. Therefore, they always appear green are called evergreen forests. Important trees of these forests are mahogany, ebony, and rosewood. They are found in Andaman and Nicobar Islands, parts of North-Eastern states, and a narrow strip of the western slope of the Western Ghats.

(ii) Tropical deciduous forests. These forests are also known as monsoon forests and are found in a large part of the country. They are less dense. They shed their leaves at a particular time of the year. Sal, teak, neem, peepal and shisha are important trees found in these forests. Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Orissa, etc. are home of these forests.

(iii) Thorny bushes. They are found in the dry areas. Cactus, khair, babool, and Keekar are important thorny bushes. They are found in Rajasthan, Punjab, Haryana, etc.

(iv) Mountain Vegetation. A variety of trees are found in the mountains. They are conical in shape. Hence trees are called conical trees. Chir, pine, and deodar are important trees of these forests.

(v) Mangrove Forests. These forests grow in saline water. They are found in Sundarbans in West Bengal and in the Andaman and Nicobar islands. Sundari is a well-known species of trees in mangrove-forests.

3. Describe the wildlife of India [V. Imp.]
Answer:  Forests are home to wildlife, which include several species of animals and a variety of reptiles, amphibians, mammals, birds, insects, and worms.

The tiger, our national animal, is found ip various parts of the country. Gir forest in Gujarat is the home of Asiatic lions. Elephants and one-homed rhinoceroses are found in the forests of Assam. Elephants are found in Kerala and Karnataka. Camels and wild asses are found in the Great Indian desert and the Rann of Kuchchh respectively. Wild goats, snow leopards, bears, etc. are found in the Himalayan region. Besides these, monkeys, wolf, jackal, nilgai, cheetah, etc. are other animals found in our country.

Our country is rich in birdlife too. Peacock is our national bird. Other common birds are parrots, pigeons, mynah, geese, bulbul, and ducks. Several bird sanctuaries have been established to protect different species of birds.,
There are hundreds of species of snakes found in India. Cobras and Kraits are important among them.

NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 9 Vital Villages, Thriving Towns

Question-1
Fill in the blanks:

1. ……. was a word used for large landowners in TamiL
2. The ‘gramabhojaka’ often got his land cultivated by the…………………..
3. Ploughmen were known as ………….. in Tamil                                                    .
4. Most ‘grihapatis’ were………….

Answer:

1. ‘Vellalar’
2. slaves and workers
3. ‘uzhavar’
4. smaller.

Question-2 
Describe the Junctions of the ‘gramabhojaka’. Why do you think he was powerful?
Answer:
I. The Functions of the Gramabhojaka.

1. In the northern part of India, the village headman was known as the gramabhojaka.
2. He owned a very large piece of land and got it cultivated by his slaves and hired workers.
3. He used to collect taxes from the village, by the order of the king.
4. He also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman.

II. Gramabhojaka as a powerful man:

1. His post was hereditary. Usually, men from the same family held the position for generations.
2. The gramabhojaka was generally the largest landowner.
3. Generally, he had slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land.
4. Besides, as he was powerful, the king often used him to collect taxes from the village.
5. The gramabhojaka also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman.

Question-3
List the crafts persons who would have been present in both villages and cities.
Answer:
The list of craftspersons who would have been present in both villages and cities is:

1. Goldsmiths
2. Blacksmiths
3. Weavers
4. Carpenters
5. Perfumers
6. Garland makers
7. Basketmakers
8. Statue makers.

Question-4
Choose the correct answer:
(a) Ring wells were used for:
1. bathing
2. washing clothes
3. irrigation
4. drainage.

(b) Punch marked coins were made of:
1. Silver
2. gold
3. tin
4. ivory.

(c) Mathura was important:
1. village
2. port
3. religious centre
4. forested area.

(d) ‘Shrines’ were associations of:
1. rulers
2. crafts persons
3. farmers
4. herders.

Answer:
(a) drainage
(b) silver
(c) religious centre
(d) crafts persons.

Question-5
Which of the iron tools shown on page 87 (of the NCERT textbook) would have been important for agriculture? What would the other tools have been used for?
Answer:
The iron tools shown on page 87 are sickle, tongs, and axe. The ones that would have been used for agriculture were—sickle and axe.

Tongs would have been used to hold things without actually touching them.

Question-6
Compare the drainage system in your locality with that of the cities mentioned in the lesson. What similarities and differences do you notice?
Answer:
In our locality, the drainage system includes pipes and drains.
In the lesson, it is mentioned that irrigation projects/things that were built during the time (which we have studied in the chapter) include ring wells and drains.
Comparison:

1. Similarities. I live in a city. Our locality has a good drainage system. Every individual house or building also has a good drainage system. Archaeologists have also found some drains and garbage dumps in each of the city/town or site mentioned in the chapter and in an individual house.
2. Differences or Dissimilarities. Nowadays, everything (project or work) is well- maintained and made up of good raw materials. But in early cities mud bricks and thatch had been used which might not have been survived long. We use separator and filters with modem technology which was not there earlier.

Question-7
If you have seen craftspersons at work, describe in a short paragraph what they do.
[Hint. How do they get the raw materials, what kind of equipment do they use, how do they work, what happens to the finished product.]
Answer:
Craftspersons at Work:
(a) Different crafts persons work in villages and cities. For example, blacksmiths, goldsmiths, carpenters, potters, weavers, etc.

(b) Craftsmen get the raw material from villages, nearby cities, and even import from far regions of India as well as from other countries.

(c) Crafts persons use different types of equipment, as required for their crafts. For example, a potter uses potter’s wheel, spade, a stick, a spin-thread, a bright-fire burning or furnace, heating, and beating metal rods.
A blacksmith uses iron and other metals, a furnace, a hammer, a big-iron rod, etc. A weaver uses a spinning wheel, cotton, needle, scissors, dye-colors, dying-vessels, etc.
A carpenter uses wood, iron, a hand-ax, borer, iron-blade, nails.

(d) How do/did they work?
Most of the craftsmen worked at their own cottage or home. Other family members used to help him. Many craftspersons formed associations known as Shrenis. Shrenis of crafts persons provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product.

(e) What happened to the finished products?
After keeping a small part by the craftspersons for their own or their family’s use, they took the remaining part of production (or surplus production) to local markets or neighbour-merchants. These merchants or traders used to take the products to those parts of the country or to other countries where they were demanded by the people or foreign traders or nationals.

Question-8
List (he Junctions performed by men and women who live in your city and village. In what ways are these similar to those performed by people who lived in Mathura? In what ways are they different?
Answer:
In our city (or in our village) different types of functions such as domestic, officials, related with government posts or departments are performed by men and women as their daily routine.

Mathura. It was (and even today) an important religious city about 2500 years ago. It was also important because this city was located at the two main trade and travel routes. The city is known for several temples and shrines. Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food items etc. to the citizens who lived in the city.

Similar. In our city or village, people work as traders or merchants or farmers, as the men of the old city of Mathura performed. The women did a lot of work at home as the domestic wives or ladies perform in modem cities and villages.

Differences. People in Mathura did work for the kings and their family-members but now in cities or villages people do work to meet their daily needs or expenses.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The use of iron in the Indian Subcontinent began about.
(a) 2000 years ago
(b) a million years ago
(c) 3000 years ago
(d) 500 years ago.

(ii) VeUalar was the term used for
(a) Large landowners
(b) Small farmers
(c) Common people
(d) Slaves.

(iii) Grambhojaka was a powerful man. He also worked as a
(a) Judge
(b) Policemen
(c) Councillor
(d) Both (a) and  (b)

(iv) Mathura is an important centre for worship of
(a) Lord Rama
(b) Lord Krishna
(c) Lord Vishnu
(d) Both (a) and (b).

(v) Between 2200 and 1900 years ago, Arikamedu was a
(a) Coastal settlement
(b) Monastery
(c) Religious place
(d) None of the above.
Answer:
(i)—(c), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(d), (iv)—(b), (v)—(a).

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. The post of grambhojaka was …………….
2. There were independent farmers also who were known as ……………………
3. …… literature was popular in Tamil Nadu.
4. The Jatakas were stories preserved by …………………
5. The associations of craftspersons and merchants were known as ……………………….
6. Stamped red-glazed pottery was known as ……………….  ware.

Answer:

1. hereditary
2. grihpatis
3. Sangam
4. Buddhist    monks
5. shrines
6. Arretine.

III. TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The plough share was used to increase agricultural production.
2. Most of the grihpatis were large landowners.
3. Extremely fine pottery was found in the southern part of the sub-continent,
4. Shrines also served as banks where rich men and women deposited money,
5. Arretine Ware was named after a city in Germany.

Answer:

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False.

IV. MATCHING SKILL

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
Where were some of the largest collections of iron tools found?
Answer:
These were found in the megalithic burials,

Question-2
What was the use of iron tools?
Answer:
Iron tools were used for clearing forests.

Question-3
What did irrigation works include?
Answer:
Irrigation works included canals, wells, tanks and artificial lakes,

Question-4
Mention any one function that was performed by the grama bhojaka
Answer:
The grama bhojaka collected taxes from the village for the king.

Question-5
How did the dasa karmakara earn a living?
Answer:
They used to work on the fields owned by others.

Question-6
What do you know about Jatakas?
Answer:
Jatakas were stories composed by ordinary people and preserved by Buddhist monks.

Question-7
What were ring wells?
Answer:
Rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other came to be known as ring wells.

Question-8
How did people use ring wells?
Answer:
People used ring wells as toilets. They also used them as drains and garbage dumps.

Question-9
How does wealth measured during early times?
Answer:
Wealth was measured in terms of coins during early times.

Question-10
What do you know about punch-marked coins?
Answer:
The earliest coins were punch-marked coins, they came to be known like this because the designs were punched on to the metal like silver or copper.

Question-11
How can you say that Mathura was a religious place?
Answer:
One could find Buddhist monasteries and Jaina shrines in Mathura. Mathura was also a place where Lord Krishna was worshipped by the people.

Question-12
Mention the occupations of people who lived in Mathura
Answer:
Goldsmiths, blacksmiths, weavers, basket makers, garland makers, and perfumers.

Question-13
Why were Varanasi and Madurai famous?
Answer:
Varanasi and Madurai were famous for the manufacture of cloth.

Question-14
What do you know about Arikamedu?
Answer:
Between 2200 and 1900 years ago Aricamedu was a coastal settlement where ships unloaded goods from distant lands.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
What steps were taken to increase agricultural production?   [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Iron tools such as axes and iron ploughshare began to be used. Axes were used for clearing forests and the ploughshare was useful for increasing agricultural production. Apart from these new tools, irrigation was also used for this purpose. Irrigation works that were built during this time included canals, wells, tanks, and artificial lakes.

Question-2
Who was the grama bhojaka? Write about him in brief.
Answer:
The grama bhojaka was the village headman in the northern part of the country. His post was hereditary. He was the largest landowner in the village who kept slaves and hired workers to cultivate the land. He collected taxes from the village for the king. He also functioned as a judge and sometimes as a policeman

Question-3
What do you know about Sangam literature? [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Some of the earliest works in Tamil came to be known as Sangam literature. These earliest works were composed around 2300 years ago. These texts were called Sangam because they were supposed to have been composed and compiled in assemblies of poets. These assemblies were known as Sangams. They were held in the city of Madurai.

Question-4
What kind of information do we get from several inscriptions found in Mathura?
Answer:
The inscriptions found in Mathura record gifts made by men and women to monasteries and shrines. These were made by kings and queens, officers, merchants and craftspeople who lived the city. The inscriptions from Mathura make us aware that people were engaged in several occupations such as— weaving, basket making, garland making etc. There were also goldsmiths and blacksmiths.

Question-5
What were shrenis? What functions did shrenis of crafts persons perform?[Imp.]
Answer:
Shrenis were associations of craftspersons and merchants. The shrenis of crafts persons performed various functions. They provided training, procured raw material, and distributed the finished product. Then came shrenis of merchants who organised the trade. Shrenis also performed the role of banks where rich men and women deposited money.

Question-6
Write a short note on Arikamedu.
Answer:
Arikamedu, located in Pondicherry, was a coastal settlement between 2200 and 1900 years ago. It was a place where ships unloaded goods from distant lands. A massive brick structure which is supposed to be a warehouse was found at the site. Other discoveries include pottery from the Mediterranean region. For example, amphorae which were tall double-handled jars that contained liquids and stamped red-glued pottery, known as Arretine Ware. It was named after a city in Italy.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

Question-1
Describe several ways of finding out about early cities. [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Several ways of finding out about early cities include Jatakas, sculpture, archaeology and travellers. Jatakas were stories composed by ordinary people and preserved by Buddhist monks. Sculptures carved scenes depicting peoples’ lives in towns and villages as well as in the forest. Many of these sculptures were used to decorate railings, pillars and gateways of buildings that were visited by people.

In many cities, archaeologists have found rows of pots or ceramic rings arranged one on top of the other. These are known as ring wells, which were used as toilets and as drains and garbage dumps. These ring wells are usually found in individual houses. The accounts of sailors and travellers also help us to know about early cities. One of the most detailed accounts that has been found was by an unknown Greek Sailor. He described all the ports he visited.

Question-2
Mathura was a city with many Junctions. Explain. [V. Imp.]
Answer:
Mathura has been an important city for more than 2500 years. It was important for various reasons.
It was located at the crossroads of two major routes of travel and trade – from the northwest to the east and from north to south.

• There were fortifications around the city and several shrines. Farmers and herders from adjoining areas provided food for the city people.
• Mathura was also a centre where some extremely find sculpture was produced.
• Around 2000 years ago, Mathura became the second capital of the Kushanas.
• Mathura was a religious centre also. There were Buddhist monasteries and Jaina shrines. It was also an important centre for the worship of Lord Krishna.

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NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 5 What Books and Burials Tell Us

 1. Match the columns: 

Ans.

2. Megalith Complete the sentences:

1. Slaves were used for…………….
2. Megaliths are found in……………
3. Stone circles or boulders on the surface were used to………………..
4. Port-holes were used for……………
5. People at Inamgaon ate…………….

Answer:

1. Work
2. South India, north-east and Kashmir
3. indicate the exact place of burial
4. burying the other member of the same family at the same place
5. wheat, barley, rice, pulses, millets, peas, sesame, etc.

3. In what ways are the books we read today different from the Rigveda?
Ans: The books we read today are written and printed. The Rigveda was recited and heard rather than read. For many years from generation to generation, the process continued. It was written down several centuries after it was first composed and printed less than 200 years ago.

4. What kind of evidence from burials do archaeologists use to find out whether there were social differences amongst those who were buried?
Ans:
Sometimes, archaeologists find a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone standing on the ground. These are the only indications that there are burials beneath.

All these burials have some common features. Generally, the dead were buried with distinctive pots, which are called Black and Red Ware. Also found are tools and weapons of iron and sometimes, skeleton of horses, horse equipment and ornaments of stone and gold.

Several kinds of evidences from burials do archaeologists use to find out that there were social differences amongst those who were buried underneath the megaliths. They think that objects found with a skeleton probably belonged to the dead person. Sometimes more objects were found in one grave than in another. For instance in Brahmagiri, one skeleton was buried with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles and one conch shell. Other skeletons had only a few pots. Perhaps there were differences in status amongst the people who were buried. Perhaps some were rich, others poor, some chiefs, others followers.

5. In what ways do you think that the life of a ‘raja’ was different from that of a ‘dasa’ or ‘dasi’?
Ans: In the society, ‘raja’ was one of the highest civil positions. ‘Rajas’ were the kings of the community, whereas the ‘dasas’/’dasis’ were the lowest position in society. The ‘dasas’/’dasis’ were slaves who were used for work. They were treated as the property of their owners. They were captured in war.

6. Find out whether your school library has a collection of books on religion, and list the names of five books from this collection.
Ans: Do yourself with the help of your subject-teacher and school librarian. A sample set of five such books:

• The Mahabharata
• The Ramayana
• The Bible
• The Bhagwad Gita
• The Quran

7. Write down a short poem or song that you have memorised. Did you hear or read the poem or song? How did you learn it by heart?
Ans:  Do yourself.

8.  In the Rigveda, people were described in terms of the work they did and the languages they spoke. In the table below, JiR in the names of six people you know, choosing three men and three women. For each of them, mention the work they do and the language they speak. Would you like to add anything else to the description?

Ans. Do yourself.

I. MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The Ghoda is a tributary of the …………….
(a) Ganga
(b) Narmada
(c) Krishna
(d) Bhima

(ii) Brahmagiri is a site in modem ……………..
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar.

(iii) Which of these was not a category of people in the society?
(a) Shudra
(b) Brahmin
(c) Raja
(d) Dasa.

(iv) Inamgaon is situated on the river
(a) Ghod
(b) Bhima
(c) Son
(d) Narmada.

(v) The Ghoda is a tributary of the …………………
(a) Ganga
(b) Narmada
(c) Krishna
(d) Bhima.

(vi) Brahmagiri is a site in modem ……………..
(a) Andhra Pradesh
(b) Kerala
(c) Uttar Pradesh
(d) Bihar.

Answer:
(i) – (b), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (a), (iv) – (b), (v) – (d), (vi) – (a).

II. FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence:

1. The oldest of the Vedas is ………..
2. The Rigveda was composed about …….. years ago.
3. The hymns in the Vedas have been referred to as ………….. which means …………….
4. The major gods praised in the hymns of the Rigveda were: ……………………….and …………
5. Sanskrit is part of the …………..  family of languages.
6. In a hymn in the Rigveda, Vishvamitra used the word ‘sisters’ for the two rivers ……and…….
7. ‘Brahmins’ and ‘Rajas’ were two groups of people in terms of…………………..
8. Slaves were captured during………………..
9. Stone boulders used for marking burial sites are called …………………
10. Black and Red Ware are words used for…………….. that were buried with the dead.

Answer:

1. the Rigveda
2. 3500
3. ‘Sukta’, well-said
4. Indra, Agni, Soma
5. Indo-European
6. Beas, Sutlej
7. Work
8. war
9. megalithsMpots.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The Rigveda was written for the first time by hand about 3500 years ago.
2. Soma was the warrior god.
3. The Rigveda contains prayers for cattle, children, and horses.
4. Battles were fought for land, water, and to capture people.
5. Sons automatically succeeded fathers as ‘rajas’.
6. Megaliths were used to mark burial sites.
7. Members of families were usually buried together.
8. In a hymn in the Rigveda, Vishvamitra has a dialogue with Beas and Sutlej, which were two women.
9. Sanskrit and Tamil belong to the same family of languages.

Answer:

1. F
2. F
3. T
4. T
5. F
6. T
7. T
8. F
9. F

IV. MATCHING SKILL
Match the items given in column A correctly with those given in column B

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Name the four Vedas.
Ans: The four Vedas are:

1. Rigveda
2. Samaveda
3. Yajurveda
4. Atharvaveda                                                         ‘

2. In what language has the Rigveda been composed?
Ans: The Rigveda is in Vedic Sanskrit.

3. What were the various purposes of fighting battles as depicted by the Rigveda?
Ans: Battles were fought for cattle, land, water, and for capturing people.

4. What were the groups of people in terms of their work?
Ans: There were two groups of people in terms of their work—the ‘brahmins’ and the ‘rajas’.

5. Who were the ‘Aryas’ and the ‘Dasas’?    [V. Imp.]
Ans: People who composed the hymns called themselves Aryans and they called their opponents ‘Dasas’.

6. What were megaliths?  [Imp.]
Ans: Stone boulders used to mark burial sites are known as megaliths.

7. Name some areas where megaliths were prevalent.
Ans: Megaliths were prevalent in the Deccan, South India, in the North-east, and Kashmir.

8. How is it known that burial spots were meant for families?
Ans: Sometimes megaliths contain more than one skeleton. This indicates that families were buried together.

9. Where is Inamgaon situated?
Ans: Inamgaon is a site on the river Ghod, a tributary of the river Bhima.

VI.SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Write a short note on the Rigveda. [V. Imp.]
Ans: The Rigveda is the oldest of the Vedas. It indicates over a thousand hymns in Vedic (old) Sanskrit. These hymns (called ‘Sukta’ — well said) are in praise of various gods and goddesses, mainly: Agni, Indra and Soma. These hymns were composed by sages, who learned them and made their children learn. Finally, they were printed about 200 years ago.

2. Describe in brief about how the Rigveda depicts cattle, horses, chariots, and battles.
Ans: Rigveda has prayers for cattle and horses. Horses were used in battles. Battles were fought for cattle, land, people and water. Most men took part in wars. There was not any regular army. There were assemblies where people met and discussed matters of war and peace. They chose brave warriors as their leaders.

3. Write a short note on megaliths.
Ans: Megaliths are stone boulders used to mark burial sites. They were prevalent around 3000 years ago in the Deccan, South India, in the northeast and in Kashmir. Some megaliths are seen on the surface and some are underground. Sometimes a circle of stone boulders or a single large stone is found standing on the ground, to indicate the position of burials.

4. How do megaliths show that there were social differences? [V. Imp.]
Ans: Sometimes, more objects are in found in one grave than in another. This indicates that people were buried according to their social status. In Brahmagiri, a skeleton was found with 33 gold beads, 2 stone beads, 4 copper bangles, and a conch shell. Whereas other skeletons have only few pots.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How have people in society been depicted in the Rigveda?    [V. Imp.]
Ans: According to the Rigveda, there are two groups of people in terms of their work: (i) The priests, called Brahmins, and (ii) The ‘rajas’.

The priests performed various vituals while the ‘rajas’ ruled. These rajas’ did not, however, have capital cities, palaces or armies, nor did they collect taxes. Two words were used to refer to the people of the community as a whole — those wo^ds were ‘jana’ and Vish’.

The people who composed the hymns referred to themselves using the word ‘Aryas’ and called their opponents ‘Dasas’ or ‘Dasyus’, The ‘dasas’ were later slaves and were treated as the property of their owners.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science Civics Chapter 2 Diversity and Discrimination

1. Match the following statements in a way that challenges stereotypes:

Ans:  (a).3.Remark. Many people have formed a stereotype that people living in cities or having influential jobs like surgeon are busy and do not give time to their family. But this example proves that feelings for the family are universal and the surgeon wanted to talk to her daughter.

(b).4.Remark. This challenges the stereotype that crippled children are good for nothing. But the truth is that they have only one, or probably two defective organs, but they can still use their mind and talent and win prizes like this boy. .
(c).1.Remark. This challenges the stereotype that chronic asthma patients can not run fast or take part in sports.
(d).(2)Remark. This challenges the stereotype that only influential and high- class people can dream big. Even poor people can dream big and prove themselves.

2. How can the stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affects the life of a daughter? Imagine this situation and list at least Jive different effects that this stereotype can have on the way daughters get treated in the house.
Ans:
The Stereotype that girls are a burden on their parents affect the life of a daughter in the following ways:

• They are not properly cared for.
• They are not given preference for higher education.
• They are not allowed to attend/join schools.
• They are married early.
• They are not provided nourishing food.
• They are engaged early in household works/chores.

3. What does the Constitution say with regard to equality? Why do you think it is important for all people to be equal?
Ans: Our Constitution provides that the state shall not discriminate against any citizen on the basis of religion, race, caste, sex, or region. It is important for all people to be equal because only then our society would develop in the true sense of the term. It is our right to be treated equally. It is our right to be given due respect. It is our right to be given equal opportunities. In absence of all these, our life would be hell. Our personality would be suppressed. Hence, we need equality so that we may go ahead without any hindrances. We may prove ourselves helpful in the development of the society and country.

4. Sometimes people make prejudiced comments in our presence. We are often not in a position to do anything about this because it is difficult to say something right then and there. Divide the class into groups and each group discuss what they could do in one of the following situations:

1. A friend begins to tease a classmate because he is poor.
2. You are watching TV with your family and one of them makes a prejudicial comment about a particular religious community.
3. Children in your class refuse to share their food with a particular person because they think she is dirty.
4. Someone tells you a joke that makes fun of a community because of their accent.
5. Some boys make remarks about girls not being able to play games as well as them.

Discuss in class what the different groups have suggested for the above situations, and also talk about the problems that can come up when raising the issue.

Ans:

1. The Classmate needs to be advised not to do so.
2. would stop him or her at the first instance.
3. They would be asked to see her qualities of head and heart and not of her dirtiness.
4. Advice.
5. They would be asked not to do so.
   Now discuss this yourself in the class in groups.

I.MULTIPLE CHOICE QUESTIONS

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The number of major religions in the world is …………………
(a) six
(b) seven
(c) eight
(d) nine.

(ii) An important reason why Muslim girls do not attend a school or drop out of school after a few years is ………….
(a) poverty
(b) superstition
(c) lack of willingness to go to school
(d) None of the above.

(iii) ……… the community was treated as untouchables in the Bombay Presidency.
(a) Koli
(b) Mahar
(c) Nayar
(d) Munda.

(iv)……… is known as the leader of the Dalits.
(a) Dr. Rajendra Prasad
(b) Guru Teg Bahadur
(c) Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
(d) Sardar Valla Bhai Patel
 

(v) India is a secular country—It means ………………
(a) People of different religions have the freedom to practise their religion with any discrimination.
(b) People of a single religion, i.e. Hinduism are allowed to live in the country.
(c) People of India have the freedom to live in any part of the country.
(d) All Indians are equal on the basis of caste and creed.

Answer:
(i) – (c), (ii) – (a), (iii) – (b), (iv) – (c), (v) – (a).

II.FILL IN THE BLANKS

Fill in the blanks with appropriate words to complete each sentence.

1. ……… fought for the rights of the Dalits.
2. The upper castes did not give the so-called ………………..  the same rights as they enjoyed.
3. If you do something to put other people down, you are ……………….  against them.
4. People usually form certain altitudes and opinions about others who Eire not them.
5. ……. stop us from looking at each person as a unique individual with his/her own special qualities and skills that are different from others.

Answer:

1. Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar
2. untouchables
3. discriminating
4. like
5. Stereotypes.

III.TRUE/FALSE

State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. We have more than 1600 languages that are people’s mother tongue.
2. We feel secure with people who are very different from us.
3. Dalits are referred to as Scheduled Tribe (ST).
4. Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar belonged to the Mahar caste which was considered untouchable.
5. Government jobs are open to the people who come from the upper caste.

Answer:

1. True
2. False
3. False
4. True
5. False.

I.MATCHING SKILL

Match the items in column A correctly with those given in column B.

Ans. (i)—(c), (ii)—(a), (iii)—(d), (iv)—(c).

V.VERY SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. How do we feel in the company of the people who are very much like us?
Ans: We feel safe and secure in the company of such people.

2. Define the term ‘prejudice’ with an example.
Ans: Prejudice means to judge other people negatively or see them as inferior. For example, if we think that Hindi is the best language and other languages are not important, we are judging these other languages negatively.

3. How do parents often console boys when they fall and hurt themselves?
Ans. Parents say, “Boys are brave, they don’t cry”. ‘

4. Mention one drawback of stereotypes. [Imp.]
Ans: Stereotypes prevent us from doing certain things that we might otherwise be good at.

5. ‘Some people may experience both kinds of discrimination. ’ What do you mean by ‘both kinds of discrimination’? . [V. Imp.]
Ans: Some people are poor and they belong to groups whose culture is not valued.

6. Mention some activities which are considered less valued.
Ans: Activities like cleaning, washing, cutting hair, picking garbage are considered less valued.

7. Who was Bhim Rao Ambedkar?
Ans: He was a noted Dalit leader. He himself was a Dalit and fought for the rights of the Dalits.

8. What is it that can unite all Indians? [V. Imp.]
Ans: It is equality of all persons that can unite all Indians.

9. What responsibility has been placed on the government by the Constitution?
Ans: It is the responsibility of the government to take specific steps to realise the right to equality for poor and other marginal communities.

10. ‘India is a secular country’. What does this mean?
Ans: This means that people of different religions and faiths have the freedom to practise and follow their religion without any fear of discrimination.

Q.11. What does the first page of our Constitution proclaim?
Ans: All Indians are entitled to equality of status and opportunity.

VI. SHORT ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. What do you mean by difference and prejudice? [V. Imp.]
Ans: Difference is the variation in the use of language, status, religion, educational background or geographical setting. It is natural. Prejudice is an idea which is affected with a negative feeling for those who are different from us.

2. What is the demerit of the ‘stereotype’ view?
Ans: Stereotype is a negative quality. It does not allow us to think or view a person as a unique individual. We ignore all his good qualities. We don’t think about that individual beyond the set image otherwise he/she is good.

3. How does discrimination occur?                              [V. Imp.]
Ans: Discrimination is a negative aspect in a social set up. It occurs if we act on prejudices or stereotypes. It promotes ignorance of a particular class or individual in society. Such class or individual is debarred from all opportunities.

VII.LONG ANSWER TYPE QUESTIONS

1. Differentiate between inequality and discrimination. [V. Imp.]
Ans: Inequality and discrimination are the two different concepts. But they are related closely to each other. Inequality may be the difference between caste, creed, culture, language, region, economic status, educational background, etc. Every one differs from the other in society. Discrimination takes place when one acts against an individual or a community on the basis of difference.

A whim or a prejudice works behind it. If one tries to exploit the other’s individual who is down in status in any way it is called discrimination. That discriminated individual or community is devoid of the common opportunity or facility provided by the society. It is not at all healthy for a good society.

2. What are the Constitutional provisions for establishing equality in Indian society? Do you think these are enough?                                                                                          ,
Ans: Right from the beginning of the social set-up, India has been a victim of inequality and discrimination. Society was divided into four main castes. All the opportunities were confined to the upper class. Some of the castes were considered so low that people even scared of their shadow. It created a great disparity in society. With the spread of education, a consciousness against this evil system was aroused. After getting independence the Constitution makers had strong arguments against this system. So, it was declared a crime in our Constitution.

It was declared that the Constitution would provide equality and right against discrimination to the citizens of India. The reservation was provided for those discriminated people in every field of life. But still, it is a fact the system persists. Only Constitutional provisions are not enough. It is observed that even after reservation, these people lay behind. They prefer earning their livelihood than going to school. A compulsory educational system should be developed. Mass consciousness is needed otherwise, we can’t hope more.

NCERT SolutionsMathsScienceSocialEnglishHindiSanskritRD Sharma