Pastoralism and Food Production – UGC NET History – Practice Questions

Neolithic Phase

1. The term ‘Neolithic’ was coined by:
(A) V. Gordon Childe
(B) C. J. Thomsen
(C) Sir John Lubbock
(D) Robert Braidwood

2. The Neolithic Age is generally associated with:
(A) Nomadic hunting only
(B) Discovery of iron technology
(C) Agriculture and domestication of animals
(D) Use of bronze weapons

3. Match the following scholars with their contributions:

(A) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(B) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(C) A-3, B-1, C-2, D-4
(D) A-4, B-3, C-1, D-2

4. Assertion (A): Neolithic culture completely replaced hunting and gathering.
Reason (R): Hunting, gathering, and fishing continued to supplement food production.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

5. In India, the Neolithic Age began approximately around:
(A) 10,000 BCE
(B) 8,000 BCE
(C) 6,000 BCE
(D) 3,000 BCE

6. Which of the following was a major characteristic of the Neolithic Age?
(A) Iron tools
(B) Bronze metallurgy
(C) Polished stone tools and agriculture
(D) Permanent use of caves only

7. Match the following prehistoric periods with chronology:

(A) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3
(B) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(C) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(D) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

8. The term ‘Neo’ in Neolithic means:
(A) Agriculture
(B) Village
(C) New
(D) Stone

9. Assertion (A): Pottery emerged during the Neolithic period.
Reason (R): Food storage requirements increased due to food production.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

10. Which climatic transition significantly influenced Neolithic cultures?
(A) Holocene to Pleistocene
(B) Medieval Warm Period
(C) Late Pleistocene to Holocene
(D) Ice Age to Industrial period

11. Which scholar coined the term “Neolithic Revolution” in 1941?
(A) Lewis Binford
(B) Kent Flannery
(C) V. Gordon Childe
(D) Trevor Watkins

12. Match the following theories regarding origin of agriculture with scholars:

(A) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(B) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(C) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(D) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

13. According to V. Gordon Childe, farming began in:
(A) Ganga Valley
(B) Mesoamerica
(C) Fertile Crescent of South-West Asia
(D) Northern Europe

14. Assertion (A): Robert Braidwood rejected Childe’s theory of sudden climatic change.
Reason (R): He proposed gradual evolution in nuclear zones with abundant resources.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

15. Lewis R. Binford considered which factor as central to the origin of farming?
(A) Religious transformation
(B) Trade networks
(C) Population pressure
(D) Metal technology

16. Match the following scholars with their arguments:

(A) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(B) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2
(C) A-2, B-1, C-3, D-4
(D) A-1, B-2, C-4, D-3

17. Which of the following is NOT generally associated with Neolithic culture?
(A) Animal domestication
(B) Permanent settlements
(C) Pottery making
(D) Iron smelting

18. Assertion (A): All Neolithic communities were completely sedentary.
Reason (R): Some Neolithic communities remained semi-sedentary or partly nomadic.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

19. The earliest evidence of agriculture and domestication is found in:
(A) Europe
(B) Central Africa
(C) South-West Asia
(D) Japan

20. Which region in India first witnessed Neolithic culture?
(A) Kashmir Valley
(B) South India
(C) North-western India
(D) Assam region

21. Match the following regions with Neolithic traditions:

(A) A-2, B-4, C-1, D-3
(B) A-3, B-1, C-4, D-2
(C) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(D) A-4, B-2, C-1, D-3

22. Which among the following Indian states did NOT witness a major Neolithic culture according to the passage?
(A) Karnataka
(B) Andhra Pradesh
(C) Kerala
(D) Assam

23. Assertion (A): Neolithic cultures of India were isolated cultural units.
Reason (R): They were contemporary with Harappan and Chalcolithic cultures.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true

24. The first Neolithic celt in India was found by:
(A) John Lubbock
(B) Robert Bruce Foote
(C) Le Mesurie
(D) F. R. Allchin

25. Which site is regarded as the earliest evidence of transition from hunting-gathering to farming in South Asia?
(A) Burzahom
(B) Koldihwa
(C) Mehrgarh
(D) Chirand

26. Match the following North-Western Neolithic sites with locations:

(A) A-4, B-3, C-2, D-1
(B) A-2, B-1, C-4, D-3
(C) A-1, B-2, C-3, D-4
(D) A-3, B-4, C-1, D-2

27. Mehrgarh is located near the river:
(A) Indus
(B) Ravi
(C) Bolan
(D) Sutlej

28. Assertion (A): Mehrgarh Period I is known as a pre-pottery Neolithic phase.
Reason (R): Pottery was absent despite the use of polished stone tools and farming.

(A) Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation of A
(B) Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation of A
(C) A is true but R is false
(D) A is false but R is true