Pakistan Studies/Affairs MCQs
Topic Notes: Pakistan Studies/Affairs
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
131
Which scholar is credited with being the first to use the term 'Indus Civilization'?
Answer:
John Marshall
Sir John Marshall, who was the Director-General of the Archaeological Survey of India, was the first scholar to officially use the term 'Indus Civilization'. He oversaw the excavations that revealed the civilization's existence to the world.
132
Who is the male deity depicted on seals, often associated with a prototype of Lord Shiva?
Answer:
Pashupati (Proto-Shiva)
The Indus people worshipped a male deity often referred to as 'Pashupati' or 'Proto-Shiva'. He is depicted on seals seated in a yogic posture, surrounded by animals, which parallels the later Hindu concept of Shiva as the Lord of Animals (Pashupati).
133
Which deity is considered to be the primary female figure of worship in the Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer:
Mother Goddess
The discovery of numerous terracotta figurines depicting a female form suggests that the worship of a Mother Goddess was prevalent. This indicates a reverence for fertility and nature, a common characteristic of ancient agricultural societies.
134
What was the primary construction material used for residential houses in the Indus Valley cities?
Answer:
Baked bricks
Unlike many contemporary civilizations that used sun-dried mud bricks, the Indus people extensively used standardized baked (burnt) bricks for construction. Houses were well-planned, often multi-storied, and built along grid-patterned roads.
135
Which factors are believed to have contributed to the decline and eventual end of the Indus Valley Civilization?
Answer:
All of the above
The decline of the Harappan culture around 1500 BC is attributed to a combination of complex factors rather than a single event. These include environmental shifts like recurrent floods, tectonic activity (earthquakes) that altered river courses, and potential external pressures such as the migration or invasion of Aryan groups.
136
The archaeological site of Harappa is situated in which district of the Punjab province in Pakistan?
Answer:
Montgomery (Sahiwal)
Harappa is located in the Montgomery district (now Sahiwal) of Punjab, Pakistan. It was the first site to be excavated, which is why the Indus Valley Civilization is alternatively known as the Harappan Civilization.
137
Which major settlement of the Indus Valley Civilization is located in the Larkana district of Sindh, Pakistan?
Answer:
Mohenjo-Daro
Mohenjo-Daro is situated in the Larkana district of Sindh. The name translates to 'Mound of the Dead' in the local Sindhi language. It was one of the largest and most sophisticated settlements of the ancient civilization, renowned for its urban planning and the Great Bath.
138
Which Indus Valley city is renowned for having the most advanced drainage system of its time?
Answer:
Mohenjo-daro
The Mohenjo-daro drainage system was highly sophisticated, featuring covered drains along the main streets, connected to individual houses. This level of urban sanitation was unparalleled in contemporary civilizations.
139
The craftsmen of the Harappan civilization were unaware of the use of which metal?
Answer:
Iron
The Harappan Civilization existed during the Bronze Age. Iron technology was not developed in the Indian subcontinent until the later Vedic period (roughly after 1000 BC), long after the decline of the Harappan cities.
140
Which of the following statements accurately reflects a cultural aspect of the Harappan Civilization?
Answer:
'Pashupati' (Lord of Animals) was venerated.
The 'Pashupati' seal, showing a seated figure surrounded by animals (elephant, tiger, rhino, buffalo), indicates the veneration of a 'Lord of Animals' deity, closely linked to the later Hindu god Shiva.