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CBSE · Class 7 · Social Science

New Beginnings: Cities and States

Standard difficulty · 20 questions · 40 marks

Name: Date: Score: ____ / 40

Write full answers in Sections B and C. Answers are on the last page — try every question first!

Section A — Choose the correct answer8 × 1 = 8 marks
1.
The Harappan civilisation is called India’s:
  1. Gupta Age
  2. Mauryan Empire
  3. Second Urbanisation
  4. First Urbanisation
2.
What is meant by “moat”?
  1. a water-filled ditch around a fort or city
  2. an early silver coin with symbols stamped on it
  3. food grown beyond what the farmers themselves need
  4. a strong wall built around a city for defence
3.
Which of these mahajanapadas was a republic?
  1. Vatsa
  2. Avanti
  3. Magadha
  4. Vajji
4.
Which word means food grown beyond what the farmers themselves need?
  1. moat
  2. janapada
  3. surplus
  4. punch-marked coin
5.
Which of these helped the Second Urbanisation?
  1. electric lights in the streets
  2. paper money printed by banks
  3. trade by aeroplane
  4. long trade routes like Uttarapatha
6.
An ancient city was built on a square plan, each side 700 m long, like Shishupalgarh. How long was the wall all round it?
  1. 2,800 m
  2. 2,900 m
  3. 1,400 m
  4. 490,000 m
7.
A farming family with iron tools grows 1,400 kg of grain and eats 800 kg. How much surplus can feed people in the city?
  1. 700 kg
  2. 2,200 kg
  3. 600 kg
  4. 800 kg
8.
A trader pays 5 punch-marked coins for each bundle of cloth. How many bundles can 35 coins buy?
  1. 175 bundles
  2. 35 bundles
  3. 7 bundles
  4. 9 bundles
Section B — Short answer8 × 2 = 16 marks
9.
What is the difference between a janapada and a mahajanapada?
10.
Explain each term: (a) surplus (b) fortification
11.
Was each a kingdom or a republic? (a) Magadha (b) Avanti
12.
Say what each was: (a) Shishupalgarh (b) Dakshinapatha
13.
A square fortified city has sides of 900 m. A moat 50 m wide runs outside the wall. (a) How long is the wall? (b) Why was the moat dug?
14.
A caravan of traders on Uttarapatha covers about 25 km a day. How many days will a 560 km stretch take?
15.
In a village, 52 farming families each produce a surplus of 50 kg of grain. How much surplus does the village produce?
16.
Say whether each mahajanapada was a kingdom or a republic: (a) Magadha (b) Kosala (c) Vajji
Section C — Longer answers4 × 4 = 16 marks
17.
Explain how janapadas grew into mahajanapadas.
18.
Match each with its meaning: (a) moat (b) fortification (c) janapada. Choose from: a water-filled ditch around a fort or city; a strong wall built around a city for defence; a clan territory, “the place where the people have set foot”.
19.
Avanti and Kosala were kingdoms; Malla was a republic. Explain how each was governed, and give one advantage of rule by an assembly.
20.
A farmer grows 4,000 kg of grain and the family eats 1,200 kg. (a) What is the surplus? (b) If it is shared equally among 4 city families, how much does each get? (c) Why was surplus food needed for cities to grow?
AmbifulWorksheets
Practice that never repeats
CBSE · Class 7 · Social Science

Answer key

New Beginnings: Cities and States · AW-7SS-NBC-2026-V1 · For parents — fold back or tear off before handing the sheet to your child.

QAnswerWorking
1(d) First Urbanisation—
2(a) a water-filled ditch around a fort or city—
3(d) Vajji—
4(c) surplus—
5(d) long trade routes like Uttarapatha—
6(a) 2,800 m4 × 700
7(c) 600 kg1,400 − 800
8(c) 7 bundles35 ÷ 5
9A janapada was a clan territory led by a raja; a mahajanapada was a larger state formed when janapadas merged.—
10(a) food grown beyond what the farmers themselves need (b) a strong wall built around a city for defence—
11(a) a kingdom (b) a kingdom—
12(a) capital of Kalinga, on a square plan (b) from near Prayagraj south across the Vindhyas—
13(a) 3,600 m (b) To make it hard for attackers to reach the wall.4 × 900
1423 days560 ÷ 25, rounded up
152,600 kg52 × 50
16(a) kingdom (b) kingdom (c) republic—
17Clans settled in territories called janapadas; over time some grew stronger, merged with or conquered others, and became large states called mahajanapadas, with capitals, armies and taxes.—
18(a) a water-filled ditch around a fort or city (b) a strong wall built around a city for defence (c) a clan territory, “the place where the people have set foot”—
19Avanti: ruled by a king whose power passed in the family. Malla: decisions taken by an assembly (gana or sangha) of representatives. An assembly lets many voices be heard.—
20(a) 2,800 kg (b) 700 kg (c) City people such as craftspeople, traders and soldiers did not grow food, so farmers had to grow extra to feed them.4,000 − 1,200; ÷ 4