Ancient India

Geography and Settlement

100

Because of its large size and its position in relation to large masses of land and water, India is called:

1. a plateau.
2. an isthmus.
3. an ecosystem.
4. a subcontinent.

• a subcontinent.

200

During the summer in India, the monsoon brings

1. heavy rain.
2. dust storms.
3. unbearable heat.
4. pleasant mornings.

 

• heavy rain.

300

Which phrase best describes the Eastern and Western Ghats? 

1. fertile plains
2. sandy beaches
3. mountain ranges
4. marshy wetlands

• mountain ranges

400

The lower Indus River (the part nearer the sea) flows through what is now the country of   

1. Iran.
2. Tibet.
3. Nepal.
4. Pakistan.

• Pakistan.

500

Which of the following parts of India has the most fertile farmland? 

1. the Hindu Kush
2. the Deccan Plateau
3. the Himalaya Mountains
4. the plains along the Ganges

• the plains along the Ganges

Mohenjodaro

100

Harappan civilization, which included ancient Mohenjodaro, developed in the

 

1. Western Ghats.
2. Deccan Plateau.
3. Indus River valley.
4. Ganges River valley.

• Indus River valley.

200

How did modern scholars learn that Mohenjodaro had ever existed? 

1. Astronauts saw it from space.
2. Historians read ancient scrolls.
3. Archaeologists found its ruins.
4. Geographers studied old maps.

• Archaeologists found its ruins.

300

Part of Mohenjodaro was raised and surrounded by a wall. What does this suggest about the city?

1. It had traders who stayed near the roads.
2. It had religious leaders who lived separately.
3. It had rich people who owned the best homes.
4. It had enemies who might attack the residents.

 

• It had enemies who might attack the residents.

400

The discovery of a scale, stone weights, and a marked rod suggests that the people of Mohenjodaro 

1. had uniform ways to measure.
2. knew how to make tools of iron.
3. traded with people from far away.
4. started a new kind of mathematics.

• had uniform ways to measure.

500

Which feature of Mohenjodaro was quite different from other settlements of that time?

1. high wall
2. dirt roads
3. brick homes
4. sewer system

 

• sewer system

Hinduism

100

The roots of Hinduism are found in the Vedas, which are 

1. a collection of sacred texts.
2. a group of people from Europe.
3. the three most important deities.
4. the temples where rituals were performed.

• a collection of sacred texts.

200

Why did Mahatma Gandhi criticize the caste system's ideas of discrimination? 

1. The caste system did not evolve from the jatis.
2. The caste system did not align with Hindu teachings.
3. The caste system prevented Gandhi from increasing his power.
4. The caste system allowed Hindus to marry Catholics.

• The caste system did not align with Hindu teachings.

300

To certain Hindus, the soul, or atman, is a part of

1. Shiva.
2. the sun.
3. Brahman.
4. the ocean.

 

• Brahman.

400

In some Hindu traditions, Brahma creates and Vishnu preserves. What does Shiva do? 

1. teaches
2. perfects
3. enlarges
4. transforms

• transforms

500

Hindus believe that acquiring good karma is needed to 

1. maintain the rigid caste system.
2. perform yoga properly.
3. destroy a Hindu's social status.
4. achieve freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

• achieve freedom from the cycle of rebirth.

Buddhism

100

The king chose to prevent his son from seeing suffering because 

1. he wanted his son to follow ascetics.
2. he was afraid his son would become ill.
3. he wanted his son to become a king.
4. he was preparing his son to become a priest.

• he wanted his son to become a king.

200

Who was Siddhartha Gautama? 

1. the prince who became the Buddha
2. the priest who taught about the Buddha
3. the enemy who was defeated by the Buddha
4. the leader who organized the Buddha's followers

• the prince who became the Buddha

300

What troubled the Buddha on his first few trips out into the world?   

1. inequality of wealth
2. aging, sickness, and death
3. prejudice against lower castes
4. cruelty, evil, and lack of caring

• aging, sickness, and death

400

If you decided to live as an ascetic, what would you have to do?   

1. abandon your religion
2. become ruler of a kingdom
3. give up most of what you own
4. become a parent of a large family

• give up most of what you own

500

Which of the following is one of the Four Noble Truths? 

1. Study leads to wisdom.
2. Joy is achieved by praying.
3. Only death can end cravings.
4. Suffering is caused by desires.

• Suffering is caused by desires.

Unification

100

What was the main achievement of the Maurya family?

1. to unify India
2. to impose Buddhism
3. to build famous temples
4. to improve the lives of peasants

 

• to unify India

200

Which of these would you not consider an achievement under Chandragupta Maurya’s rule? 

1. He created a strong central government.
2. He used torture and spies to make people obey.
3. He made sure farmers had water for their crops.
4. He built a royal road more than one thousand miles long.

• He used torture and spies to make people obey.

300

Why was Chandragupta Maurya poor in his later years? 

1. He put a stop to foreign trade.
2. He was overthrown by his son.
3. He decided to live as an ascetic.
4. He lost the conquered territories.

• He decided to live as an ascetic.

400

Which experience led to a deep change in Ashoka’s values? 

1. marrying a Buddhist
2. seeing a very bloody battle
3. hearing Buddha's first sermon
4. discovering old age and illness

• seeing a very bloody battle

500

How did Chandragupta Maurya’s rule differ from Ashoka’s? 

1. Chandragupta Maurya had a larger empire than Ashoka did.
2. Chandragupta Maurya used Buddhism to keep his people happy.
3. Chandragupta Maurya made laws that were fairer than Ashoka's laws.
4. Chandragupta Maurya used force to be sure no one threatened his power.

• Chandragupta Maurya used force to be sure no one threatened his power.