New Beginnings: Cities and States – MCQs with Answers and Explanations
Class 7
Social Science — Chapter 3: New Beginnings: Cities and States
CBSE Board Examination — Suggested Presentation
- Section A — Objective / MCQs (1 mark each)
- Section B — Short Answers (2–3 marks)
- Section C — Long / Case-Based (4–6 marks)
Click “Show Answer & Explanation” to reveal the correct option and a concept-clearing explanation.
Topic 1: Janapadas and Mahajanapadas
1. What does the term 'janapada' literally mean?
Correct: B. Land of a people
'Janapada' comes from jana (people) + pada (foot/place) meaning the territory inhabited by a people, not just a town or market.
2. Which of the following is an example of a mahajanapada?
Correct: B. Magadha
Magadha was one of the prominent mahajanapadas (large states) known for its resources and strategic position; Harappa and Lothal belong to earlier urban cultures.
3. Which factor most directly helped some janapadas expand into mahajanapadas?
Correct: B. Control of trade routes and resources
Economic control (trade, resources like iron) provided wealth to raise armies and administration, enabling political expansion into mahajanapadas.
4. The availability of iron in a region primarily influenced:
Correct: B. Agricultural tools and weapons
Iron improved ploughs and tools for agriculture and made stronger weapons, boosting productivity and military capability.
5. Which geographical advantage helped Magadha rise to power?
Correct: B. Proximity to fertile plains and rivers
Fertile land and river access supported agriculture, transport and trade — key factors in Magadha's growth.
6. Mahajanapadas are generally dated to around which century BCE?
Correct: B. 6th century BCE
Mahajanapadas developed around the 6th century BCE when larger political entities emerged across the subcontinent.
7. Which of these was NOT a typical feature of a mahajanapada?
Correct: C. Complete absence of trade
Trade was important for mahajanapadas; the absence of trade would not characterise these states.
8. Janapadas were primarily made up of:
Correct: B. Collections of villages and towns
A janapada consisted of many settlements — villages and towns — forming a territorial community.
Topic 2: Towns, Trade and Crafts
9. What role did towns mainly serve in early states?
Correct: B. Centres for trade, crafts and administration
Towns were hubs for markets, workshops, governance and cultural activities connecting rural producers with consumers.
10. Specialisation in crafts leads to:
Correct: B. Increased expertise and production
When people specialise (e.g., pottery, weaving), their skills improve and output rises, supporting trade and urban growth.
11. What evidence is commonly used to show craft production in towns?
Correct: A. Pottery kilns and workshops
Archaeological finds like kilns, furnaces and tool remains indicate organised craft production in towns.
12. Fortification of towns indicates:
Correct: B. Need for protection and political power
Walls and gates show concern for security of people, goods and authority, reflecting competition and wealth accumulation.
13. Which route was important for long-distance trade in ancient India?
Correct: A. River routes
Rivers were major channels for transporting goods, connecting markets and enabling trade across regions.
14. Craftsmen typically passed on skills to:
Correct: B. Apprentices and family members
Training within families or apprenticeship systems preserved craft knowledge and ensured quality across generations.
15. Markets in towns mainly functioned to:
Correct: A. Exchange goods and services
Markets connected farmers, artisans and traders allowing buying, selling and distribution of goods.
16. Long-distance trade often led to:
Correct: A. Cultural exchange and wealth accumulation
Trade not only moved goods but also ideas, artistic styles and religious practices, enriching societies.
Topic 3: Varna and Jati — Social Organisation
17. Which group in Varna were priests and scholars?
Correct: C. Brahmins
Brahmins performed rituals, taught and preserved sacred knowledge — the priestly class in Varna system.
18. Jati is best described as:
Correct: B. A sub-group based on birth and occupation
Jatis are community groups tied to specific occupations and social rules, often hereditary.
19. Which Varna primarily included warriors and rulers?
Correct: C. Kshatriyas
Kshatriyas were responsible for protection, governance and warfare.
20. Which statement about Varna and Jati is true?
Correct: B. Jati governed everyday life and occupations
Varna provided broad categories; Jati determined specific social rules, marriage and occupations in daily life.
21. Which Varna included traders and farmers?
Correct: B. Vaishyas
Vaishyas engaged in commerce, agriculture and related economic activities.
22. Social mobility under the jati system was:
Correct: B. Often limited but sometimes possible
While jati could be restrictive, economic success, marriage and changing roles sometimes enabled mobility.
23. Which of the following regulated marriage rules in communities?
Correct: B. Jati (endogamy)
Many jatis practiced endogamy (marriage within the group), shaping social structure and alliances.
24. The Shudras were mainly associated with:
Correct: B. Service and labor
Shudras generally performed various service tasks and manual labor supporting society's functioning.
Topic 4: Early Democratic Traditions and Assemblies
25. What were 'Sabha' and 'Samiti'?
Correct: B. Early assemblies or councils
Sabha and Samiti were gatherings where discussions about public issues, war and leadership took place.
26. 'Gana' and 'Sangha' refer to:
Correct: B. Republican or collective political groups
Gana and Sangha functioned with collective decision-making and sometimes elected or selected leaders—early republican forms.
27. Assemblies in ancient India were usually composed of:
Correct: A. Elders, clan leaders or notable members
Membership varied, but assemblies often included local elites who could discuss community matters.
28. One significance of early assemblies is that they:
Correct: B. Show consultative and collective governance
Assemblies demonstrate that ancient Indian political life included debate, advice and collective decision-making, not just autocratic rule.
29. Gana-sanghas are often compared to:
Correct: B. Republics
Gana-sanghas resembled small republics where leadership and decisions were collective, similar in concept to republican governance.
30. Assemblies could influence rulers by:
Correct: A. Advising and legitimising decisions
Assemblies provided counsel and approval, which added legitimacy to rulers' actions and sometimes constrained arbitrary rule.
31. Not all people had equal access to assemblies; membership often excluded:
Correct: B. Lower jatis and women in many cases
Assembly membership was often limited to elites; broad sections like lower jatis and women were frequently excluded from decision-making.
32. The existence of assemblies suggests that ancient political systems were:
Correct: B. Diverse and plural in form
India's political landscape included monarchies, assemblies and republican forms — a variety of institutions and governance models co-existed.
Topic 5: Sources, Archaeology and Everyday Life
33. Which of the following is an archaeological source mentioned in the chapter?
Correct: A. Pottery
Pottery, tools and ruins are key archaeological finds that help reconstruct daily life and production.
34. Inscriptions help historians by providing:
Correct: A. Names of rulers and official acts
Inscriptions record donations, grants, rulers and events and are invaluable for dating and historical facts.
35. Coins found at a site can tell us about:
Correct: A. Rulers, trade and economic links
Coins bear names, symbols and often indicate trade connections and monetary systems of the period.
36. Which finds would most directly tell us about daily food habits?
Correct: A. Cooking pots and animal bones
Kitchenware and food remains reveal diet, cooking methods and food procurement strategies of past people.
37. Combining texts and archaeology is important because:
Correct: A. It allows cross-checking and fuller understanding
Texts provide terms and narratives; archaeology gives material evidence. Together they give a balanced historical picture.
38. Festivals and rituals mentioned in sources help historians understand:
Correct: A. Social cohesion and cultural practices
Rituals and festivals show community ties, religious life and seasonal cycles important for social identity.
39. Which of the following reflects economic interdependence between town and countryside?
Correct: A. Villages supplying food; towns supplying manufactured goods
This mutual exchange supported urban markets and rural livelihoods, creating economic networks.
40. A key exam tip for this chapter is to:
Correct: B. Understand concepts, use examples and cite sources like archaeology/texts
Good answers combine clear definitions, examples (Magadha, sabha, jati) and mention the types of evidence used to study the past.
Note: All MCQs and explanations are based on NCERT Class 7 Chapter 3: New Beginnings and designed for CBSE-level practice.