Life in Prehistoric Times Question and Answers| ICSE Class 6

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Life in Prehistoric Times Question and Answers| ICSE Class 6

A. Answer the following questions:

Question 1: Describe the life of prehistoric humans in the Earliest Times.

Ans: Prehistoric humans in the earliest times were hunter-gatherers who lived in caves, rock shelters, and simple huts. They depended on nature for food and survived by hunting wild animals and collecting fruits, nuts, and roots. They made simple tools from stones and bones and discovered fire, which helped them cook food and stay warm.

Question 2: Name the periods into which the Stone Age can be broadly divided.

Ans: The Stone Age is broadly divided into three periods:

  1. Paleolithic Age (Old Stone Age)
  2. Mesolithic Age (Middle Stone Age)
  3. Neolithic Age (New Stone Age)

Question 3: Describe the tools made by humans in the Paleolithic Age. What purposes did these tools serve?

Ans: In the Paleolithic Age, humans made tools from stones, bones, and wood. These included hand axes, flint knives, scrapers, and spears. These tools were used for hunting, cutting meat, digging roots, making clothes, and building shelters.

Question 4: What did the people of the Old Stone Age eat?

Ans: People of the Old Stone Age were primarily hunter-gatherers. They ate wild fruits, berries, nuts, roots, and hunted animals for meat. They also fished and scavenged for food.

Question 5: Where did early humans live? What did they wear?

Ans: Early humans lived in caves, rock shelters, and simple huts made of wood, leaves, and animal hides. They wore clothes made from animal skins, leaves, and bark to protect themselves from cold and harsh weather conditions.

Question 6: How do we know that early humans were skillful artists?

Ans: Early humans created cave paintings depicting animals, hunting scenes, and daily life, which show their artistic skills. These paintings, found in places like Bhimbetka in India and Lascaux in France, suggest that they used natural colors and had an understanding of artistic representation.

Question 7: How did early humans discover fire? How did this discovery help them?

Ans: Early humans discovered fire by rubbing stones together or by lightning striking dry grass. The discovery of fire helped them cook food, keep warm, protect themselves from wild animals, and light up dark places.

Question 8: What important changes took place in the lifestyle of humans in the New Stone Age?

Ans: In the New Stone Age, humans shifted from hunting and gathering to farming and domesticating animals. They started living in permanent settlements, made better tools, developed pottery, wove cloth, and engaged in trade.

Question 9: Discuss two important occupations of humans in the New Stone Age.

Ans:

  1. Agriculture: Humans started growing crops like wheat, barley, and rice, leading to a stable food supply.
  2. Animal Domestication: They tamed animals like cows, sheep, and goats for milk, meat, and farming purposes.

Question 10: Agriculture and domestication of animals have brought about dramatic changes in the lives of humans. Explain.

Ans: Agriculture and animal domestication led to food surplus, permanent settlements, population growth, and the development of societies. It allowed humans to specialize in different occupations, leading to the rise of trade, governance, and advanced civilizations.

Question 11: How did the invention of the wheel transform the life of the people in the Neolithic Age?

Ans: The invention of the wheel revolutionized transportation, making it easier to carry goods and travel long distances. It also improved pottery-making and led to advancements in agriculture, trade, and construction.

Question 12: Why did early humans make pots? How did the invention of the Potter’s wheel affect the art of pottery making?

Ans: Early humans made pots to store food and water. The invention of the potter’s wheel improved pottery-making by making it easier, faster, and more symmetrical. This led to the production of better-quality and decorative pots.

Question 13: Write short notes on the following:

  1. The Barter System:
     Ans: The barter system was a method of trade in which people exchanged goods and services without using money. For example, a farmer might trade grain for pottery or tools. It was commonly practiced before the invention of currency.
  2. Social life during the Neolithic Age:
     Ans: During the Neolithic Age, people lived in small villages and formed communities. They developed farming, domesticated animals, made better tools, and engaged in trade. Social structures began to develop, and people worked together for mutual benefit.

Question 14: Mention the chief features of the Chalcolithic Age.

Ans: The Chalcolithic Age, or Copper-Stone Age, was a period when humans started using copper along with stone tools. Some key features include:

  • Use of copper tools and weapons.
  • Development of agriculture and pottery.
  • Establishment of permanent settlements.
  • Growth of trade and social organization.

Here is the corrected version of your text with typos fixed:

B: Fill in the Blanks

  1. In the earliest stages of physical development, humans walked on all four limbs.
  2. In the earliest times, humans lived in caves and trees.
  3. The Old Stone Age humans made stone tools such as hammers, scrapers, and axes.
  4. Early humans did not know how to grow crops; they were hunters and gatherers.
  5. To protect themselves from wild animals, early humans began to form small groups.
  6. Primitive humans painted pictures of animals and hunting scenes on cave walls.
  7. The greatest achievement of early humans was the discovery of fire.
  8. The stone tools of the Neolithic Age were well-shaped and polished.
  9. Neolithic humans domesticated dogs, goats, sheep, and cattle.
  10. The invention of the wheel was a major milestone in the evolution of civilization.
  11. The system of exchanging services and goods is known as the barter system.
  12. Copper and stone tools were used during the Chalcolithic Age.

C: Match the Following

  1. Paleolithic Age → Crude stone tools
  2. Neolithic Age → Polished stone tools
  3. Nomadic Life → Search for food
  4. Division of Labour → Specialization
  5. Barter System → Exchange of goods
  6. Chalcolithic Age → Bronze

D: True or False

  1. The Old Stone Age people were hunters and food gatherers. → True
  2. Fire was discovered in the Neolithic Age. → False (Fire was discovered in the Paleolithic Age.)
  3. The Neolithic humans used digging sticks and stone sickles. → True
  4. Humans did not know spinning and weaving in the New Stone Age. → False (Spinning and weaving began in the Neolithic Age.)
  5. Copper is harder and stronger than stone. → True (Copper is harder and stronger than stone but softer than bronze and iron.)

Board Exam Important Questions

Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark)

  1. Q: What does “domestication” mean?
    A: Taming of wild plants and animals for human use.
  2. Q: Name any two Neolithic tools.
    A: Polished axe and sickle.
  3. Q: Where is Mehrgarh located?
    A: In present-day Pakistan (Balochistan).
  4. Q: What were pit-houses?
    A: Houses dug into the ground with steps – found in Burzahom.
  5. Q: Which grain was found at Koldihwa (UP)?
    A: Rice.
  6. Q: Write the full form of “YA” used in dates.
    A: Years Ago.
  7. Q: What is a mortar and pestle used for?
    A: Grinding grains.

Short Answer Questions (3 Marks)

  1. Q: Why did hunter-gatherers move from place to place? Give three reasons.
    A: (1) Animals moved away (2) Plants became scarce (3) Water sources dried up seasonally.
  2. Q: How did domestication lead to village life?
    A: Domestication gave regular food → people didn’t need to move → built permanent houses → villages formed → population grew.
  3. Q: What evidence tells us that Mehrgarh people grew crops?
    A: Archaeologists found charred seeds of wheat and barley, and storage pits in houses.

Long Answer Questions (5 Marks)

  1. Q: Compare the lifestyle of hunter-gatherers and early farmers.
    A: (Write in table form) Aspect Hunter-Gatherers Early Farmers Movement Nomadic Settled Food Wild animals & plants Domesticated crops & animals Tools Chipped stone Polished stone Shelter Caves, rock shelters Mud-brick houses, pit-houses Storage No Yes (pottery, pits)
  2. Q: Describe the findings at Mehrgarh that show it was an early farming village.
    A: Mehrgarh (8000 years ago) had:
    • Mud-brick houses (4–6 rooms)
    • Storage pits for grain
    • Charred seeds of wheat and barley
    • Bones of domesticated sheep, goat, cattle
    • Polished stone tools & bone tools
    • Burials with goats and tools (belief in afterlife)

Competency-Based Questions

  1. Q: “Farming was a better way of life than hunting-gathering.” Do you agree? Justify.
    A: Yes – farming gave regular food, allowed permanent homes, larger families, stored food for bad times, and led to villages and trade.
  2. Q: If you lived 10,000 years ago, would you choose to be a hunter-gatherer or a farmer? Why?
    A: (Open-ended) Farmer – safer food supply, don’t have to walk long distances, can live with family.

Assertion and Reason Questions

  1. Assertion (A): Hunter-gatherers moved frequently.
    Reason (R): Animals and plants were not available in the same place all year.
    Answer: Both A and R are true, and R is the correct explanation of A.
  2. Assertion (A): Mehrgarh is one of the earliest villages in South Asia.
    Reason (R): It had mud-brick houses, storage pits, and domesticated plants/animals.
    Answer: Both A and R are true, and R supports A.

Source-Based (Picture/Passage) Question

Passage:
“At Mehrgarh, archaeologists found square and rectangular houses made of mud-brick. Each house had 4–6 rooms. In some houses, they found storage pits filled with charred grains of wheat and barley.”

Q1: What were houses made of?
A: Mud-brick.

Q2: How do we know they stored grains?
A: Storage pits with charred grains.

Q3: Name the grains found.
A: Wheat and barley.

MCQs with Answers

  1. Which animal was domesticated first?
    a) Cow b) Dog c) Goat d) Pig
    Ans: b) Dog
  2. Daojali Hading is in which state?
    a) Kashmir b) Bihar c) Assam d) UP
    Ans: c) Assam
  3. What is jadeite?
    a) A tool b) A green stone c) A grain d) A house type
    Ans: b) A green stone
  4. Which site has pit-houses?
    a) Mehrgarh b) Burzahom c) Daojali Hading d) Koldihwa
    Ans: b) Burzahom
  5. The word “Neolithic” means:
    a) Old Stone b) New Stone c) Middle Stone d) Metal
    Ans: b) New Stone

HOTS Questions (Higher Order Thinking)

  1. What if farming had never been discovered?
    Hint: Humans would still be hunter-gatherers – no cities, no schools, no technology.
  2. Why did people in Burzahom build pit-houses?
    Ans: To protect from extreme cold of Kashmir winters.

Case Study Question

Case Study – Mehrgarh Burials:
At Mehrgarh, bodies were buried with goats, stone tools, and bead necklaces. One burial had 8 goats placed around the body.

Q1: What does this suggest about their belief system?
A: They believed in an afterlife – the person would need animals and tools.

Q2: Why were goats chosen?
A: Goats were domesticated and valuable – a sign of wealth or love.

Q3: How does this differ from hunter-gatherer burials?
A: Hunter-gatherers buried with fewer items; farmers showed social differences.

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