History · General Awareness

Early Human and Prehistoric Cultures

1,788 Questions

Early human and prehistoric cultures focus on the lifestyle and evolution of humans before written records. This includes the Paleolithic and Neolithic eras, focusing on inventions, agriculture, and migration patterns. These questions are a core part of ancient history in civil services exams.

Paleolithic eraNeolithic revolutionEarly human migrationInvention of agriculturePrehistoric social structuresMesolithic societies

Early Human and Prehistoric Cultures Questions

Multiple choice

Some of the following give forth many ingredients that define money. Which one of them can be taken as the chief ingredient?

Directions: Answer the given question based on the following passage:

 

The history of money and coins takes us back to when man first felt the need to exchange goods and services. Early palaeolithic man lived by hunting and fishing, sharing the flesh or fish obtained by the members of a group, each a self-sufficient unit in clash or conflict with neighbouring groups, from whom things of value could be had only through robbery or violence. With more peaceful forms of contact, trade began as simple barter of commodities; and gradually, instead of jealously guarding their resources, men began to go in search of products of other tribes and regions.


In India a form of barter of goods and services survived till recently in its jajmani system, where services rendered by members of hereditary castes of potters, carpenters, masons, weavers of goods, barbers, washer men, weavers, cooks, pundits and astrologers were traditionally paid for in kind—gram, oil, raw sugar, dairy products etc.But barter had its limitations: there had to be a simultaneous need to buy and sell and there had to be some standards of value. It therefore gave way, as the market place developed and widened choices, to a more precise way of using some durable products of intrinsic value. A seller could accept in exchange a product, which although he did not need to buy then, or not at all, could be used as a store of value and medium of exchange in the future.

Limestone money was in use in the Yap Islands till after the Second World War. Not cheap by current standards, a stone ‘a foot in diameter cost about seventy-five US dollars. A stone man-high was worth many villages and plantations, and a stone two-men high was beyond price’, according to William Price. He adds, ‘our experience in trying to make United States dollars legal tender on Yap is somewhat humbling. Yesterday it was the Japanese; today it is the Americans; tomorrow it could be somebody else.

Shells, particularly cowries, remained in universal use in Asia, China, Africa and Europe till not so long ago. In the Punjab, till the late 1920s, cowries valued at much less than a pice (sixty-four to a rupee) were sold by old women in markets from heaps piled in front of them as a subsidiary currency for marginal adjustment of prices. The cowry shell had a special value for rituals and ceremonies, for warding off the evil eye because of its resemblance to an eye, and a as a symbol of fertility and reproduction for its shape.

 

 

  1. That money should be a product of intrinsic value.

  2. That it must have the properties of being used as a store of value.

  3. That it should be capable of being used as a medium of exchange.

  4. That it must have decorative or aesthetic value for those using it.

  5. That it must comprise of preferred commodities.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

(1) This is important in the sense that a thing of intrinsic value can lead to its acceptability because in the ultimate analysis it is the acceptability which is important, not the intrinsic value by itself. (2) It is a very important ingredient of money as it can be store of value for use in future. (3) Money must be an effective medium of exchange. It may have all the ingredients, but without exchangeability it cannot be called money. (4) This does not add to the bartering quality of money. Money can be an effective instrument even if it does not have decorative or aesthetic value. (5) This was one of the requirements when the system of money as is known now had not evolved.

Multiple choice

Man discovered fire in the ______ Age.

  1. Metal

  2. Prehistoric

  3. New Stone

  4. Old Stone
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The discovery of fire dates back to the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age, which lasted from about 2.5 million years ago to around 10,000 BCE. The Metal Age came much later, while New Stone Age (Neolithic) was when agriculture began. Prehistoric is a broad term, not a specific age.

Multiple choice

What is the structure of the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.
Some scholars believe that the Neanderthals died out at the hands of the more graceful, more intelligent and more numerous Homo sapiens. These scholars also seem to take an almost perverted pleasure in projecting the beetle browed Neanderthals as being oafish and dim witted, and go on to propose that the modern humans survived because of their superior mental prowess. However, recent research suggests that the Neanderthals had a brain size that rivaled modern humans, and were physically fitter too. Neanderthals are believed to have been present in Europe and in a large part of Eurasia while all of the Homo sapiens are believed to have evolved from ancestors that came mainly out of Central Africa. One does feel like saying Hail Hitler to all the racists, Ku Klux Klan members, and the assorted White supremacists at that. If populations of both these races were not very sizeable, as is a reason to believe, it leads one to the belief that it could not have been a struggle for resources or land that would have lead to a clash between them
Another theory contends that the Neanderthals were the victims of a rapid change in their environs. It is hypothesized that Europe was suddenly overrun with several volcanic eruptions and perhaps the earth also went through a gelid period and both these reasons combined with other reasons to cause the obliteration of the Neanderthals. The theory contends that the erstwhile denizens were caught off guard and that even though they were quite accustomed to the extremely cold environs of the continent at that time, the magnitude and the sheer scale of the metamorphosis was too extreme to handle. Neanderthals were also let down by their societal makeup. All members of the society were involved in hunting big and mid sized game, and that activity resulted in a lot of falls and breaks. As there was no division of labor that could have resulted in women and children trapping small game and otherwise be engaged in innocuous pursuits, there was no insulation for their children or for the procreators of the race and that in itself played a preeminent part in the untimely demise of the race. There is always a serpent in paradise and even this explanation has unsurprisingly found its fair share of detractors. The naysayer tribe points to the fact that there is no credible evidence that there was a spurt in volcanic activity concomitantly in the region that the Neanderthals were supposed to have originated from and mostly lived and hunted in.

  1. The passage advances two mutually contradictory theories about human evolution.

  2. The passage first gives reasons why Neanderthals died out and then explains why Homo sapiens survived.

  3. The passage advances divergent theories about human evolution and then highlights their inconsistencies.

  4. The passage tears apart two improbable explanations for the extinction of Neanderthals.

  5. The passage first enlists the reasons for mental superiority of Homo sapiens over Neanderthals and then refutes those reasons.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. The passage talks of two dissimilar theories about evolution of humans and then finds error with both of them.

Multiple choice

What can be determined about the turn of events of the era described in the passage?

Directions: Read the following passage and answer the question.
Some scholars believe that the Neanderthals died out at the hands of the more graceful, more intelligent and more numerous Homo sapiens. These scholars also seem to take an almost perverted pleasure in projecting the beetle browed Neanderthals as being oafish and dim witted, and go on to propose that the modern humans survived because of their superior mental prowess. However, recent research suggests that the Neanderthals had a brain size that rivaled modern humans, and were physically fitter too. Neanderthals are believed to have been present in Europe and in a large part of Eurasia while all of the Homo sapiens are believed to have evolved from ancestors that came mainly out of Central Africa. One does feel like saying Hail Hitler to all the racists, Ku Klux Klan members, and the assorted White supremacists at that. If populations of both these races were not very sizeable, as is a reason to believe, it leads one to the belief that it could not have been a struggle for resources or land that would have lead to a clash between them
Another theory contends that the Neanderthals were the victims of a rapid change in their environs. It is hypothesized that Europe was suddenly overrun with several volcanic eruptions and perhaps the earth also went through a gelid period and both these reasons combined with other reasons to cause the obliteration of the Neanderthals. The theory contends that the erstwhile denizens were caught off guard and that even though they were quite accustomed to the extremely cold environs of the continent at that time, the magnitude and the sheer scale of the metamorphosis was too extreme to handle. Neanderthals were also let down by their societal makeup. All members of the society were involved in hunting big and mid sized game, and that activity resulted in a lot of falls and breaks. As there was no division of labor that could have resulted in women and children trapping small game and otherwise be engaged in innocuous pursuits, there was no insulation for their children or for the procreators of the race and that in itself played a preeminent part in the untimely demise of the race. There is always a serpent in paradise and even this explanation has unsurprisingly found its fair share of detractors. The naysayer tribe points to the fact that there is no credible evidence that there was a spurt in volcanic activity concomitantly in the region that the Neanderthals were supposed to have originated from and mostly lived and hunted in.

  1. The emigration of Homo sapiens triggered off events that changed ancient history as we know it.

  2. The Neolithic humans lost the plot due to their lack of pliancy.

  3. Ineffectual somatic abilities precipitate mortal capitulation.

  4. Old order changeth yielding place to new.

  5. In the struggle for survival, there can be but one winner.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Correct; though the reasons aren't clear, it is true that Neanderthals made way for modern humans.

Multiple choice

Egypt was one of the first countries in ancient Africa to face the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, which has made it an ideal site for excavating for ancient weapons and armaments.

  1. Egypt was one of the first countries in ancient Africa to face the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, which has made it

  2. Egypt was one of the first countries in ancient Africa to have faced the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, and that has made it

  3. As it was one of the first countries in ancient Africa to face the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, Egypt is

  4. Because Egypt was the first of the countries of Ancient Africa which faced the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, it is

  5. Because Egypt was one of the first countries of Ancient Africa to face the wrath of Zionist warrior tribes, it is
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
E Correct answer
Explanation

Correct. By introducing 'Because' as an introduction for a reason already known, the sentence makes better sense. The option also removes the error of dangling modifier by removing 'which has' so that the pronoun 'it' unambiguously refers to Egypt.

Multiple choice

The main occupation of the Paleolithic was

  1. hunting and gathering food

  2. animal husbandry

  3. fishing

  4. making statues
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Paleolithic period (Old Stone Age) was characterized by a hunter-gatherer economy. Early humans had not developed agriculture or animal domestication - those came in the Neolithic revolution. Hunting wild animals and gathering wild plants, fruits, and nuts was the primary means of subsistence. Fishing was practiced but was not the main occupation. Making statues came much later in human civilization.

Multiple choice
Directions: Read the paragraph and answer the question that follows.
The Human species, according to the best theory I can form of it, is composed to two distinct races, the men who borrow, and the men who lend. To these two original diversities may be reduced all those impertinent classifications of Gothic and Celtic tribes, white men, black men, red men. All the dwellers upon earth, “Parthians, and Medes, and Elamites,” flock hither, and do naturally fall in with one or other of these primary distinctions. The infinite superiority of the former, which I choose to designate as the great race, is discernible in their figure, port, and a certain instinctive sovereignty. The latter are born degraded. “He shall serve his brethren.” There is something in the air of one of this cast, lean and suspicious; contrasting with the open, trusting, generous manners of the other.
What is the theme of the passage?

  1. The type of borrower whose appeal is the greatest.

  2. The two races with an impression of the greatness of the borrower.

  3. The kingly, undeniable greatness of the lender is being emphasized.

  4. Gothic and Celtic tribes are composed of the two distinct races.
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

(1) “Type of borrower” in (1) is not referred in the passage and thus, it is ruled out. (2) “The two races” is the highlight of this passage (first sentence provides the clue) and the greater race is that of borrowers (“The infinite _ _ _ _ _ _ _ sovereignty gives the clue). Therefore, (2) sums up the theme of passage, and hence is the answer. (3) “Undeniable greatness of the lender” is contrary to the passage, hence ruled out. (4) According to author, not only Gothic and Celtic tribes are composed of these two races but even white men, black men, red men, all seem to be reduced to this diversity. Therefore, this statement is incomplete. Moreover, it is the direct reference from the passage and in no way sums up the idea of the passage, hence is ruled out. Hence, (2) is the answer.

Multiple choice

The original inhabitants of New Zealand are known as

  1. Maoris

  2. Bedouins

  3. Magyars

  4. Tartars
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

The Maori are the indigenous Polynesian people of New Zealand, having arrived from East Polynesia around 1280 AD. Bedouins are Arab nomads, Magyars are Hungarians, and Tartars are Turkic peoples - none of whom are native to New Zealand.

Multiple choice

The excavation of Ropar is related to

  1. Buddha period civilization

  2. Vedic age civilization

  3. Indus Valley Civilization

  4. None of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

The archaeological excavation at Ropar (Rupnagar) in Punjab revealed Indus Valley Civilization remains. The site contains characteristic features like planned streets, drainage systems, and standardized bricks typical of Harappan culture, distinct from Buddhist or Vedic period settlements.

Multiple choice

What was the Shelter for primitive man?

  1. Huts

  2. Igloos

  3. Caves

  4. Sheds
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Caves were the natural shelters used by primitive humans during the Paleolithic period. They provided protection from weather, predators, and other dangers. While huts and other structures were developed later, caves were among the earliest and most accessible shelters. Igloos are specific to Arctic regions.

Multiple choice

The ancient Chinese custom of permanently changing the foot shape of daughters by tightly wrapping them with cloth in early childhood is an example of

  1. developmental adjustment

  2. long-term acclimatization

  3. seasonal acclimatization

  4. all of the above
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

This cultural practice had the effect of permanently altering the shape, size and position of foot bones so that their feet were smaller and subsequently, more attractive to the Chinese. This is a classic example of developmental adjustment.