India: Climate Vegetation and Wildlife — Social Studies STD 6 — Question

Read the following paragraph and answer the questions that follows.
Early humans faced many challenges from nature and lived in bands or groups to help each other. They were constantly seeking shelter and food, and were mainly hunters and gatherers; this means that they relied on hunting and collecting edible plants and fruits for their survival.

Our early ancestors also had certain beliefs about the natural elements and possibly also some notion of afterlife. These groups lived in temporary camps, rock shelters or caves, and communicated with each other using languages that are now lost. They used fire and started making objects that made their lives easier, like improved stone axes and blades, arrowheads and other tools.

Aspects of their life are visible in rock paintings found in hundreds of caves all over the world. Some of those paintings depict simple figures or a few symbols; others are more detailed and represent scenes with animals or humans. In time, these early humans learned to make simple ornaments such as stone or shell beads, pendants made of animal teeth, and sometimes exchanged them with other groups.

(i) What might be the reason early humans lived in groups or bands rather than alone ?
(a) To establish permanent settlements
(b) To ensure better protection and cooperation in finding food and shelter
(c) To develop complex languages
(d) To practice agriculture

(ii) What might have been the purpose of the rock paintings created by early humans ?
(a) To decorate their living spaces
(b) To record their daily activities, beliefs or significant events
(c) To serve as blueprints for construction
(d) To document agricultural techniques

(iii) Why is it likely that early humans began to improve tools such as stone axes and blades ?
(a) They had access to better materials over time
(b) Improved tools made hunting and gathering more efficient
(c) They were influenced by other cultures
(d) They needed to build permanent homes

(iv) The early humans used to do painting on their rock caves. What could be the possible reasons for this activity ?
(a) They wanted to beautify their walls
(b) They draw to mark the sign of authority
(c) They draw to make sure animals stay away from their shelters
(d) They used to draw to mark the ceremonies, gathering or their achievements

Make a list of activities performed by Tribesmen, WA, children and both by men and women.

Read the following source and answer the questions that follow.
Harappa and Mohenjo-daro, now in Pakistan, were the first two cities of this civilisation to be discovered; their identification goes back to 1924, a century ago. Several sites followed in the Indus plains, which is why the civilisation was initially called ‘Indus Valley civilisation’. The larger Harappan cities were built according to precise plAnswer: They had wide streets, which were often oriented to the cardinal directions. Most cities seem to have been surrounded by fortifications and had two distinct parts – the ‘upper town’, where the local elite probably lived, and the ‘lower town’, where common people lived.
Some large buildings seem to have been used for collective purposes – for instance, warehouses where goods to be transported were stored. Individual houses of various sizes lined the streets and smaller lanes. Interestingly, the quality of construction was the same for small and big houses. All those buildings were generally made of bricks.

(i) Why might the discovery of Harappa and Mohenjo-daro have been significant ?
(ii) How do the city layouts of Harappan cities reflect their planning and organisation ?
(iii) Why might it be important that Harappan cities had similar construction quality for all buildings ?

In Mohenjo-daro, about 700 wells built with bricks have been counted. They seem to have been regularly maintained and used for several centuries. Discuss the implications.

Choose another region in India and do a similar study of the historical and geographical factors that influence the diversity found there. Are these historical and geographical factors connected to each other? How?

Read the following news item :
Nimone is a village on the Chauphula-Shirur Road. Like many others, this village has also been facing a severe water shortage for the last few months and villagers depend on tankers for all their needs. Bhagavan Mahadeo Lad (35) of this village was beaten with sticks, iron rods, and axes by a group of seven men. The incident came to light when some villagers brought a badly injured Lad to the hospital for treatment. In the FIR recorded by the police Lad said that he was attacked when he insisted that the water in the tanker must be emptied into the storage tanks constructed as part of the water supply scheme by Nimone Gram Panchayat so that there would be equal distribution of water. However, he alleged that the upper caste men were against this and told him that the tanker water was not meant for the lower castes.
1. Why was Bhagavan beaten ?
2. Do you think that the above is a case of discrimination? Why ?

What are the major types of landforms and their significance to life and culture?

Rehana's house was the closest and they ran and told her mother what had happened. Rehana's mother said, "I don't really know these things in great detail but I do know that it is the Municipal Corporation of the city that takes care of replacing lights. The best person to ask would be Yasmin Khala. She just retired from the Municipal Corporation. Go and ask her, and Rehana come back home soon."
Yasmin Khala lived in the same lane and she and Rehana's mother were good friends. The children ran to Khala's house and when she opened the door they began to tell her what had happened all at once! When they asked about the street light, Yasmin Khala laughed and said, "There is no one person that you can pay the money to. There is a big organisation called the Municipal Corporation that takes care of street lights, garbage collection, water supply, keeping the streets and the market clean."
"I've heard about the Municipal Corporation. They've put up signs around the city to inform people about Malaria," said Mala.
"Yes, you are quite right. The Municipal Corporation is also responsible for ensuring that diseases do not break out in the city. It also runs schools, hospitals, and dispensaries. And makes gardens and maintains them," said Yasmin Khala. Then she added, "Our city Pune is a big city and so here it is called a Municipal Corporation. In smaller towns, it is called a Municipal Council."
List at least four different tasks that the Municipality does :

Find following places in map.
(a) Sarnath
(b) Mathura
(c) Mahabalipuram
(d) Aihole

Describe the Panchayati Raj system in India and its impact on rural governance.