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Question

Direction: Read the following passage and answer the questions given after it.

India was one of the first places where human civilization started, around 5000 years BC this civilization was located around the Indus River. Hence it is known as Indus Valley civilization It is also known as the Harappan Civilization because records show one of the city's names was Harappa. It was 1 of 1500 cities in the Indus River Valley another well-known city being Mohenjo-Daro, It wasn't until 1920 that the civilization was discovered at all.

There were four known major cities, Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, Mehrgarh, and Lothal. Mohenjo-Daro was not only the largest city of the Indus Valley Civilization but also one of the world's earliest major urban centers. Much of the cities were made from clay bricks baked in a furnace known as a kiln. The cities were advanced for their time, having their own wells and water drainage systems as well as having grid-style roads in the cities. They were also noted for clusters of large, nonresidential buildings. But most people did not live in the urban areas and instead lived in the local farming villages.

Though little is known about the Indus Valley people, we do know a little about their farming habits. They had domesticated peas, wheat, melons, dates, sesame seeds, as well as cotton. They had advanced knowledge of the process of drying wheat, and a large granary was discovered, a building whose sole purpose is to hold and dry large amounts of wheat. They also created some large structures, one of the largest being a public pool known as the Great Bath that was 40 feet long, 10 feet deep, and 20 feet wide.

Which discovery indicated that people of Indus valley stored large amount of grain?

This question was previously asked in
SSC Selection Post 2021 Question Paper (09-Feb-2022) (Shift-1)
The correct answer is

The granary

Understanding Indus Valley Civilization Discoveries

The question asks about the specific discovery in the Indus Valley Civilization that indicated the storage of large amounts of grain by its people. To answer this, we need to carefully read the provided passage and identify the relevant information.

Analyzing the Passage for Clues

The passage discusses various aspects of the Indus Valley Civilization, including its cities, construction materials, infrastructure, and farming habits. We should look for sentences that mention agriculture, storage, or specific buildings related to food grains.

Reading through the passage, we find the following key sentence:

"They had advanced knowledge of the process of drying wheat, and a large granary was discovered, a building whose sole purpose is to hold and dry large amounts of wheat."

This sentence directly connects the discovery of a "large granary" with the purpose of holding and drying "large amounts of wheat." This strongly suggests that the granary is the structure indicating large-scale grain storage.

Evaluating the Options

Let's examine each option based on the information given in the passage:

  • Option 1: The Great Bath
    The passage describes the Great Bath as "a public pool that was 40 feet long, 10 feet deep, and 20 feet wide." It is mentioned as a large structure, but its purpose is recreational or ritualistic, not related to grain storage.
  • Option 2: Clusters of non residential buildings
    The passage mentions that the cities were "noted for clusters of large, nonresidential buildings." While these were important structures, the passage does not specify their purpose as grain storage.
  • Option 3: The granary
    The passage explicitly states that "a large granary was discovered, a building whose sole purpose is to hold and dry large amounts of wheat." This directly links the granary to the storage of large quantities of grain.
  • Option 4: Brick houses
    The passage mentions that "Much of the cities were made from clay bricks baked in a furnace known as a kiln." This refers to the construction material for houses and other buildings but doesn't specifically indicate large-scale grain storage.

Identifying the Correct Discovery

Based on the analysis of the passage, the discovery of the large granary is the direct evidence mentioned that indicates the people of the Indus Valley Civilization stored large amounts of grain. The passage clearly defines the granary's purpose as holding and drying large amounts of wheat.

Conclusion on Indus Valley Grain Storage

The evidence from the passage points clearly to the granary as the discovery that demonstrates the practice of storing large quantities of grain by the Indus Valley people. This finding highlights their advanced agricultural practices and ability to manage resources.

Revision Table: Key Indus Valley Discoveries from Passage

Discovery Mentioned Purpose/Significance (as per passage) Indicates Large Grain Storage?
Indus Valley Civilization (General) Human civilization starting around 5000 BC near Indus River No
Cities (Harappa, Mohenjo-Daro, etc.) Major urban centers, made from clay bricks, grid roads No
Wells and Water Drainage Systems Advanced city infrastructure No
Clusters of non residential buildings Large structures in cities Not specified as grain storage
Farming Villages Where most people lived No
Domestication of Crops (peas, wheat, etc.) Farming habits Indicates farming, but not necessarily large storage
Advanced knowledge of drying wheat Farming practice Related to grain, but not a physical structure for storage
Large Granary Building whose sole purpose is to hold and dry large amounts of wheat Yes
The Great Bath Large public pool No

Additional Information on Indus Valley Civilization

The Indus Valley Civilization, also known as the Harappan Civilization, was a Bronze Age civilization located in the northwestern regions of South Asia. It flourished from 2600 to 1900 BCE. The discovery of sites like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa revealed a sophisticated urban culture with well-planned cities, advanced drainage systems, and standardized weights and measures. The presence of granaries in key cities like Mohenjo-Daro and Harappa suggests centralized control over agricultural produce and the ability to store surplus grain, possibly for trade or to manage periods of scarcity. These granaries were often located near the citadel area, hinting at their importance within the city's administration.

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Similar Questions

  1. Match the people with the dishes they liked.

    People Dishes they liked

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    b. Rahul’s mother 2. Peas and paneer

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