Category: Social

NCERT Solutions for Class 6 Social Science Geography Chapter 5 Major Domains of the Earth

1. Answer the following questions briefly.
(a) What are the four major domains of the earth?
(b) Name the major continents of the earth.
(c) Name the two continents that lie entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.
(d) Name the different layers of the atmosphere.
(e) Why is the earth called the ‘blue planet’?
(f ) Why is the Northern Hemisphere called the land Hemisphere?
(g) Why is the biosphere important for living organisms?
Answers:
(a) Major Domains of the Earth

• Lithosphere
• Atmosphere
• Hydrosphere
• Biosphere

(b) Major continents of the Earth

• Asia
• Europe
• Africa
• North America
• South America
• Australia
• Antarctica

(c) Two continents lying entirely in the Southern hemisphere are:

• Australia and
• Antarctica

(d) Layers of (the) Atmosphere

• Troposphere
• Stratosphere
• Mesosphere
• Thermosphere
• Exosphere

(e) The Earth is called the blue planet because,

• it is the only planet (so far) which has water,
• it looks blue from the sky because of presence of water on it.

(f) The Northern Hemisphere is called the Land Hemisphere because of the following reasons:

• Greater part of the landmass lies in the Northern Hemisphere. It is more than 70% of the total area.
• Water bodies area is smaller in this Hemisphere. It is only 30% of the total area of the Northern Hemisphere.

(g) Importance of Biosphere

• Biosphere sustains all life forms.
• It provides food to them.
• It provides stage to all forms of life to act upon.
• It should be pollution free because pollution is injurious to life forms.

2. Tick the correct answer.

(a) The mountain range that separates Europe from Asia is
(i) the Andes                         (ii) the Himalayas                        (iii) the Urals.

(b) The continent of North America is linked to South America by
(i) an Isthmus                        (ii)   a Strait                            (iii)   a Canal.

(c) The major constituent of the atmosphere by percent is
(i) Nitrogen                              (ii)   Oxygen                                  (iii)   Carbon dioxide.

(d) The domain of the earth consisting of solid rocks is
(i) the Atmosphere           (ii)   the Hydrosphere             (iii)   the Lithosphere.

(e) Which the largest continent?
(i) Africa                           (ii)   Asia                                 (iii)   Australia

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

3. Fill in the blanks.

1. The deepest point on the earth is ……….. in the Pacific Ocean.
2. The……… Ocean is named after a country.
3. The……… is a narrow contact zone of land, water and air that supports life.
4. The continents of Europe and Asia together are known as…………….
5. The highest mountain peak on earth is…………….

Answers:

1. Mariana Trench
2. Indian
3. Biosphere
4. Eurasia
5. Everest

Things to do

1. Cut the outline of the continents from an outline map of the world and arrange them according to their decreasing sizes.
Answer:
For’ self-attempt.

2. Cut the outline of the continents from an outline map of the world and try to fit them together as a jig-saw puzzle.
Answer:
For self-attempt.

3. Collect pictures of expeditions to the Himalayas. Write about the kind of equipment carried by the climbers for protection against sunshine, temperature, and the lack of air.
Answer:
The mountaineers carry oxygen cylinders to be able to breathe at high altitudes. They wear a special jacket to avoid temperature. They also wear sunglasses and cap to save themselves from the scorching heat of the sun.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the sentences given below:
(i) Life exists in this zone:
(a) Lithosphere                                  (b) Biosphere
(c) Hydrosphere                                 (d) Atmosphere.

(ii) It is the only continent through which the tropic of Cancer, the Equator, and the Tropic of Capricorn pass:
(a) Asia                                             (b) Europe
(c) Africa                                          (d) North America.

(iii) It is the world’s longest mountain range
(a) The Mt. Everest                             (b) The Ural Mountains
(c) The Karakoram range                  (d) The Andes.

(iv)Which ocean is ‘S’ shaped?
(a) The Pacific Ocean                       (b)    The Atlantic Ocean
(c) The Indian Ocean                       (d)    The Arctic Ocean.

(v) Which one is not the layer of the Atmosphere?
(a) The Biosphere                             (b)    The Troposphere                •
(c) The Stratosphere                        (d)    The Mesosphere.

(vi) It is called an island continent
(a) South America                           (b)    Antarctica
(c) Africa                                           (d)    Australia.

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

II. Fill in the Blanks

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

1. The South Pole lies almost at the centre of………………..
2. Africa is the second largest continent after ……………..
3. The world’s longest river the Nile flows through ………………
4. The hydrosphere comprises water in the form of ………………., water and ………….
5. The Arctic Ocean is connected with the Pacific Ocean by a narrow stretch of shallow water known as ……………
6. The Pacific Ocean is ………….  in shape.
7. The Coastline of the Atlantic Ocean is high……………….
8. Europe lies to the ………….  of Asia.

Answers:

1. Antarctica
2. Asia
3. Africa
4. ice, water vapour
5. Berring Strait
6. circular
7. indented
8. west.

III. True/False
State whether these sentences are true (T) or false (F).

1. The shape of the Pacific Ocean is almost triangular.
2. A very small part of Africa lies in the Northern Hemisphere.
3. The level of seawater remains the same everywhere.
4. Air moves from low pressure to high pressure.
5. Carbon dioxide is an important constituent of air.
6. The atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen.

Answers:

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

IV. Matching Skill

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

Major Domains Of The Earth Class 6 Geography Chapter 5 Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Which is larger—Europe or Australia?
Answer: Europe is larger than Australia.

2. How is nitrogen a significant gas?
Answer: Nitrogen helps in the growth of living organisms.

3. What is the Junction of carbon dioxide?
Answer: Carbon dioxide absorbs the heat radiated by the earth and thus keeps the planet warm.

4. What is the height of the Mt. Everest?
Answer: The height of the Mt. Everest is 8,848 metres.

5. In which Hemisphere does Asia lie?
Answer: Asia lies in the Eastern Hemisphere.

6. Name the world’s largest hot desert. Where is it located?
Answer: The Sahara desert. It is located in Africa.

7. How is North America linked to South America? [Imp.]
Answer: North America is linked to South America by a narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama.

8. Name the Oceans that surround the continent—North America.
Answer: The Pacific Ocean, the Atlantic Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.

9. Which two oceans surround South America on the east and the west?
Answer: On the east—the Atlantic Ocean On the west—the Pacific Ocean.

10. Name the research stations of India in Antarctica.
Answer: Maitri and Dakshin Gangotri.

11. What percent of the earth is covered with water?   [Imp.]
Answer: More than 71 per cent of the earth is covered with water.

12. What percent of earth is covered with land?
Answer: 29 per cent of earth is covered with land.

13. How much of the earth’s water is found in the oceans?
Answer: More than 97 percent of the earth’s water is found in the ocean.

14. Why is the ocean water not fit for human use?   [Imp.]
Answer: It is because the ocean water is very salty.

15. Why do the mountaineers carry with them oxygen cylinders?[Imp*]
Answer: The mountaineers carry with them oxygen cylinders so that they can easily breathe at high altitudes.

16. What is the nature of the temperature?
Answer: The temperature decreases as we go upwards.

17. Name the continents that surround the pacific ocean.
Answer: Asia, Australia, North America and South America.

18. Which is the busiest ocean from the point of view of commerce?
Answer: The Atlantic ocean is the busiest ocean from the point of view of commerce.

19. Mention two reasons of fast removal of soil from stops.      [V. Imp.l
Answer: (i)Cutting of forests for wood.
(ii)Clearing land for agriculture.

20. What happened to Andaman and Nicobar islands during Tsunami? [V. Imp.]
Answer: Parts of these islands were submerged under water during Tsunami.

21. What makes the water of lakes and rivers unsuitable for human use?
Answer: Discharge of waste material into lakes and rivers makes the water unsuitable for human use.

22. Mention any two reasons of air pollution.
Answer: (i) Emission from industries
(ii)Emission from vehicles.

Major Domains Of The Earth Class 6 Geography Chapter 3 Short Answer Type Questions

1. Mention the three main components of the environment. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The three main components of the environment are – the lithosphere, the atmosphere and the hydrosphere. The lithosphere is the solid portion of the earth. The gaseous layers that surround the earth is the atmosphere. The atmosphere is made up of oxygen, nitrogen, carbondioxide and other gases. The hydrosphere refers to the big area of water that covers the earth’s surface. This water is in the forms of ice, water and water vapour.

2. Write a short note on the ‘hydrosphere’.
Answer: The hydrosphere refers to the water bodies that are found on the earth’s surface. More than 71% of the earth is covered with water. This water is found in all its forms—ice, water and water vapour. Running water in oceans and rivers and in lakes, ice in glaciers, underground water and the water vapour in atmosphere. More than 97% of the earth’s water is found in oceans. The ocean water is very salty, hence not of human utility. A large proportion of the rest of water is in the form of the icesheets and glaciers or under the ground. A very small percentage (0.03%) is available as fresh water. It is this water that we use.

3. Explain biosphere—the domain of life. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The biosphere is a narrow zone of the earth where land, water and air interact with each other to support life. It is in this zone that life exists. There are several species of organisms that vary in size from microbes and bacteria to large mammals. All living organisms including humans are linked to each other and to the biosphere for survival.

4. Give an account of the composition of the atmosphere. Also, discuss the importance of the components. [V. Imp.]
Answer: The atmosphere is composed mainly of nitrogen and oxygen. Together they make up about 99% of clean, dry air. Nitrogen 78% and oxygen 21%. Apart from these two major gases, there are other gases too in the atmosphere. These gases include carbon dioxide, argon and others comprise 1% by volume.

Oxygen is the breath of life while nitrogen helps in the growth of living organisms. Carbon dioxide absorbs heat radiated by the earth. In this way, it keeps the planet warm. It is also essential for the growth of plants.

5. What is atmosphere? Write about its different layers.
Answer: The atmosphere is a thin blanket of air that surrounds the earth. It provides us with the air we breathe and protects us from the harmful effects of sun’s rays. The atmosphere extends up to a height of about 1,600 km. The atmosphere is divided into five layers based on composition, temperature and other properties. These layers are—the troposphere, the stratosphere, the mesosphere, the thermosphere and the exosphere.

NCERT Solutions For Class 6 Geography Chapter 5 Long Answer Type Questions

1. Give the details of all the major continents. [V. Imp.]
Answer: There are seven major continents—Asia, Europe, Africa, North America, South America, Australia and Antarctica.
1. Asia is the largest continent. It covers about one-third of the total land area of the earth. It lies in the Eastern Hemisphere. The Tropic of Cancer passes through this continent. Asia is separated from Europe by the Ural mountains on the west. The combined land mass of Europe and Asia is called Eurasia (Europe + Asia).

2.Europe.This continent lies to the west of Asia. The Arctic circle passes through it. It is bound by water bodies on three sides.

3.Africa.It is the second largest continent after Asia. The Equator or 0° latitude runs almost through the middle of the continent. A large part of Africa lies in the Northern Hemisphere. It is the only continent through which the Tropic of Cancer, the Equator and the Tropic of Capricorn pass. It is bound on all sides by oceans and seas. The world’s largest hot desert, i.e. the Sahara Desert lies in this continent. The world’s longest river the Nile flows through it.

4.North America. It is the third largest continent of the world. It is linked to South America by a very narrow strip of land called the Isthmus of Panama. This continent lies completely in the Northern and Western Hemisphere.

5.South America. It lies mostly in the Southern Hemisphere. The Andes, world’s longest mountain range, runs through its length from north to south. The world’s largest river, the Amazon flows through this continent.

6. Australia. It is the smallest continent. It lies entirely in the Southern Hemisphere.

7. Antarctica.It lies completely in the Southern Hemisphere. It is a large continent. The South Pole lies almost at the centre of this continent It is permanently covered with thick ice sheets because it is located in the South Polar region. Permanent human settlement is not found here.

2. Write about the major oceans of the world.
Answer: There are four major oceans in the world—the Pacific Ocean the Atlantic Ocean, the Indian Ocean and the Arctic Ocean.
1.The Pacific Ocean. It is the largest ocean and is spread over one-third of the earth. Mariana Trench, the deepest part of the earth, lies under the Pacific Ocean. This ocean is circular in shape. Asia, Australia, North and South Americas surround it.

2.The Atlantic Ocean. It is the second largest ocean in the world. It is ‘S’ shaped. It is flanked by the North and South Americas on the Western side and Europe and Africa on the eastern side. The coastline of this ocean is highly indented. It is the ideal location for natural harbours and ports. Commercially, it is the busiest ocean.

3.The Indian Ocean. It is the only ocean named after country, that is, India. The shape of the ocean is triangular. It is bound by Asia in the north, by Africa in the west and by Australia in the east.

4.The Arctic Ocean. It is located within the Arctic Circle and surrounds the North Pole. It is connected with the Pacific Ocean by a narrow stretch of shallow water known as Bering Strait. See the map given in the previous question.

NCERT Solutions

NCERT Solutions for Class 6th Social Science History Chapter 3 From Gathering to Growing Food

1. Why do people who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time?
Answer:

• People who grow crops have to stay in the same place for a long time to look after plants-protecting them from birds, animals and their other fellows so that they could grow and crops or seeds could-ripen safely.
• Settled life is useful and essential to lead a civilized life.
• People grow crops to meet their daily food and some other needs.

2. Look at the table on page 25 of the textbook/ If Neinuo wanted to eat rice, which are the places she would have visited?
Answer: Neinuo would have visited these places if she wanted to eat rice:
(i) Koldihwa in present-day Uttar Pradesh, and (ii) Mahagara in present-day Uttar Pradesh.

3. Why do archaeologists think that many people who lived in Mehrgarh were hunters to start with and that herding became more important later?
Answer: On excavation, archaeologists have found bones of wild animals in the lowermost levels. On upper levels, they found cattle bones. This means that hunting wild animals was important much before herding was.

4. State whether true or false?
(a) Millets have been found at Hallur.
(b) People in Burzahom lived in rectangular houses.
(c) Chirand is a site in Kashmir.
(d) Jadeite, found in Daojali Hading, may have been brought from China
Answer: (a) True, (b) False, (c) False, (d) True.

5. List three ways in which the lives of farmers and herders would have been different from that of hunter-gatherers.
Answer:
The lives of farmers and herders had been different in the following ways:

• They started leading a settled life instead of a nomadic life, like that of hunter-gatherers.
• They became food producers instead of food gatherers. The domestication of plants and animals became part and parcel of the people of the Neolithic stage.
• Different types of houses were built by farmers and herders. They used tools of different forms from the earlier Palaeolithic stage people. These include tools that were polished to give a fine cutting edge and mortars and pestles used for grinding grain and other plant produce.
• Generally, farmers ate cooked and well-prepared foods, while on the other hand hunter-gatherers ate uncooked and raw food.

6. Make a list of all the animals mentioned in the table on page 25 of the textbook. For each one, describe what they may have been used for.
Answer: 

1. Sheep might have been used for meat, milk, and wool.
2. Goat might have been used for meat and milk.
3. Buffalo for meat and milk.
4. Ox for drawing cart, chariot, and plough.
5. Pig for meat.
6. Dog was domesticated for safety and taking his help in hunting some of the wild animals.
7. Other animals like horse, ox, camel, donkey, etc., were called packed animals because they were used for carrying load/carts with people.

7. List the cereals that you eat.
Answer:
Some cereals eaten by us are listed below :

1. Wheat
2. Rice
3. Maize
4. Millets
5. Barley
6. Lentil
7. Grains.

8. Do you grow the cereals you have listed in answer no. 7? If yes, draw a chart to show the stages in growing them. If not, draw a chart to show how these cereals reach you from the farmers who grow them
Answer:
I. Yes, we live in a village and we grow some of the cereals.
Chart showing the stages in growing:

1. We prepare the ground.
2. We sow the seeds.
3. We look after the growing plants.
4. We water them by a tube-well.
5. We harvest the grain.
6. We thresh and separate husk.
7. We grind some grain, such as wheat and barley.

II. We live in a big city. We do not grow grain. We get the grains indirectly from the farmers.

1. Farmers bring their produce to market.
2. The grain traders buy cereals.
3. We as customers go and purchase cereals.

I. Multiple Choice Questions

Choose the correct option to complete the statements given below:

(i) The first animal to be tamed was ………………..
(a)the goat as we know today
(b) the dog as we know today
(c) the dog’s wild ancestor
(d) the goat’s wild ancestor.

(ii) Which of these Is the correct order of what early man did?
(a) hunter → gatherers skilled → gatherers → herders
(b) herders → skilled → gatherers → hunter→ gatherers
(c) skilled-gatherers → herders → hunter → gatherers
(d) skilled-gatherers → hunter → gatherers → herders.

(iii) Which was not a way of storing grains in the early days?
(a) boxes
(b) woven baskets
(c) clay pots
(d) pits in the ground.

(iv) Grains like wheat and barley have been found in ……………………
(a) Koldihwa
(b) Mahagara
(c) Mehrgarh
(d) Hallur.

(v) A site in present-day Andhra Pradesh is …………………
(a) Hallur
(b) Mahagara
(c) Mehrgarh
(d) Burzahom.

(vi) Pit-houses were made in ……………….
(a) Burzahom
(b) Mehrgarh
(c) Mahagara
(d) Hallur.

(vii) Archaeologists have found levels having ………………..
A. Bones of wild animals
B. Cattle bones
C. Bones of sheep and goat
What order do these levels indicate of what happened first and what happened later?
(a) A B C
(b) A C B
(c) C B A
(d) B C A.

(viii) The dead people in Mehrgarh were buried with ………………….
(a) Cows
(b) Buffaloes
(c) Goats
(d) Dogs.

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

II. Fill in the Blanks

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

1. Jadeite is a…………, probably brought from China.
2. Ancient wood that has hardened into stone is called………………………..
3. Bolan Pass is an important route into ……………….
4. Remains of square or rectangular houses have been found in ………..
5. ……… and ……….  lived in groups called tribes.
6. Rice requires ………..  water than wheat and barley, (more/less)
7. Grain was used as ………….., ………, and ………….
8. Animals were a source of……………. and meat.

Answer:

1. stone
2. fossil wood
3. Iran
4. Mehrgarh
5. Farmers,  herders
6. more
7. seed, food,  gift
8. milk.

III. True/False

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

1. Daojali Hading is located close to the route to Iran.
2. Sheep and goat are more comfortable in dry, hilly environments than cattle are.
3. Hunter-gatherers made and used pots.
4. Upper levels found by archaeologists reveal older objects.
5. Palaeolithic tools were still made and used in the Neolithic Age.
6. Paiyampalli is a Neolithic site in Madhya Pradesh.
7. Levels found in Mehrgarh indicate hunting came after herding.

Answer:

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

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

V. Very Short Answer Type Questions

1. Why do farmers grow some crops in some areas_/ and not in other areas?
Answer: Farmers do this because different plants grow in different conditions.

2.Which was the first animal to be tamed?
Answer: The first animal to be tamed was the wild ancestor of the dog.

3. Which animals were considered relatively gentle?
Answer: Sheep, goat, cattle, and pig were considered relatively gentle.

4. Mention the two purposes for which grains had to be stored.
Answer: Grains had to be stored for food and seed.

5. What did people do to store grains?
Answer: People made large clay pots or wove baskets, or dug pits into the ground.

6. Name some important sites where archaeologists have found evidence of farmers and herders.
Answer: These sites can be found in the north-west, in present-day Kashmir and in east and South India.

7. How do scientists help in finding out whether the discovered sites were settlements of farmers and herders?
Answer: Scientists study evidence of plants and animal bones, in order to find out whether the discovered sites were settlements of farmers and herders.

8. Name two sites found in Andhra Pradesh.
Answer: Two sites found in Andhra Pradesh are :
(i) Paiyampalli                                                  (ii) Hallur.

9. What were pit-houses and where have they been found?
Answer: Pit-houses were built by people by digging into the ground, with steps leading into them. They have been found in Burzahom.

10. Name two Neolithic tools which are used to grind grain even today.
Answer: Mortars and pestles are Neolithic tools used even today for grinding grain.

11. What are ‘tribes’ in the context of farmers and herders?
Answer: Farmers and herders usually lived in groups and these groups are called tribes.

12. Give one feature houses in Mehrgarh.
Answer: Houses at Mehrgarh were usually square or rectangular.

13. Why were people buried with animals, like goats?
Answer: Dead people were buried with goats, which were supposed to serve as food after death.

VI. Short Answer Type Questions 

1. How did people become farmers? [V. Imp.]
Answer: When the climate of the world was changing, people observed places where edible plants are found, about seeds, plants, etc. They started growing their own plants. And thus, they became farmers.

2. How did people become herders?
Answer: People saw that they could attract and tame animals by leaving food for them. The first animal to be tamed was the ancestor of the dog. They started rearing sheep, goats, cattle, etc. People often protected these animals from attacks by other wild animals. This is how people became herders.

3.Name some sites of settlement of farmers and herders and also the grains found there.
Answer:

4.Describe tools used by farmers and herders. [V. Imp.]
Answer: Stone tools have been found from many sites. They are often different from the Palaeolithic tools and are called ‘Neolithic’. There were tools that were polished so as to give a fine cutting edge, and mortars and pestles were used for grinding grain and other plant produce. However, Palaeolithic tools were still used for some purposes. Some tools were also made of bone.

VII. Long Answer Type Questions

1. How did the changing climate affect the life of humans? [V. Imp.]
Answer: The climate of the world had major changes around 12,000 years ago. There was a shift to relatively warm conditions. Grasslands developed in many areas. Plants and animals also developed in the meantime. Humans observed the places where edible plants were found, they wondered how seed broke off stalks, fell on the ground, and new plants sprouted from them. They became farmers due to these changes.

They also learned how to get the attention of animals by taming them and providing them food. People tamed the wild ancestor of the dog. They also started rearing sheep, goats, cattle, etc. and this made them herders. Grasslands had allowed many animals which lived on the grass to grow in number.

2. Describe the site of Mehrgarh.
Answer: Mehrgarh is a site located in a fertile plain, near the Bolan Pass, one of the most important routes into Iran. It was one of the first places where people grew barley and wheat and reared sheep, and goat. In fact, it is one of the earliest known villages.

Archaeologists have found evidence of animal bones here on excavation. They have found remains of houses here. Most houses were square or rectangular. They usually had four or more compartments, some of which may have been used for storage. Several burial sites have also been found in Mehrgarh.

VIII. Map Skills

1. On the outline map of India, mark these sites : Burzahom, Mehrgarh, Koldihwa, Chirand, Mahagara, Daojali Hading, Hallur. Paiyarnpalli.
Answer:

NCERT Solutions

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 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.

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