Q11) Which of the following is NOT a Paleolithic tool?
a) Hand-axe
b) Scraper
c) Blade
d) Ploughshare
Explanation: The ploughshare is an agricultural implement and belongs to the Neolithic age when farming began. Paleolithic tools were primarily hunting and gathering implements like hand-axes, scrapers, cleavers, and blades. Agriculture had not yet been discovered.
Q12) Cleavers, a typical Paleolithic tool, were mainly used for:
a) Sewing clothes
b) Cutting and chopping
c) Building houses
d) Writing
Explanation: Cleavers are large bifacial tools with a straight edge used mainly for cutting meat and chopping wood. These were characteristic of the Lower Paleolithic phase in India. They represent human adaptability to survive using efficient stone tools.
Q13) The main difference between Lower and Middle Paleolithic tools is:
a) Size and technique
b) Use of metal
c) Agricultural use
d) Polishing
Explanation: Lower Paleolithic tools like hand-axes and cleavers were large and made by core flaking. Middle Paleolithic tools were smaller, made mainly from flakes, and included scrapers and borers. This difference marks technological progress in tool-making efficiency.
Q14) In India, evidence of Paleolithic bone tools is mostly found in:
a) Rajasthan
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Kashmir Valley
d) Tamil Nadu
Explanation: The Kashmir Valley has yielded evidence of Paleolithic bone tools, showing that early humans also experimented with organic materials. Bone tools were especially significant during the Upper Paleolithic phase, reflecting more specialized and advanced tool-making.
Q15) Which of the following best describes Paleolithic technology?
a) Polished, ground stone tools
b) Chipped stone tools
c) Metal alloy tools
d) Fired pottery
Explanation: Paleolithic technology is defined by chipped stone tools created through flaking. These tools were rudimentary but effective for survival. Polished stone tools belong to the Neolithic age, while metal tools came much later in human history.
Q16) The earliest evidence of stone tools in India is traced back to around:
a) 1.5 million years ago
b) 2.6 million years ago
c) 50,000 years ago
d) 10,000 years ago
Explanation: The earliest stone tools in India date back to approximately 1.5–2 million years ago. These belong to the Lower Paleolithic phase and were mainly hand-axes and cleavers. Sites like Attirampakkam in Tamil Nadu provide significant evidence of such early tool-making traditions.
Q17) Which Indian state provides the richest evidence of Paleolithic tools?
a) Kerala
b) Madhya Pradesh
c) Rajasthan
d) Gujarat
Explanation: Madhya Pradesh has the richest collection of Paleolithic tools, especially in the Narmada and Son valleys. Several Lower Paleolithic hand-axes, cleavers, and flakes have been found here. The abundance of raw material and rivers made it a favorable region for prehistoric humans.
Q18) Upper Paleolithic paintings in India often depict tools along with:
a) Animals and hunting scenes
b) Farming activities
c) Trade and markets
d) Written texts
Explanation: Cave paintings of the Upper Paleolithic period, such as those in Bhimbetka (Madhya Pradesh), often show hunting scenes where humans are carrying stone tools and weapons. These paintings provide cultural evidence of how tools were used in daily life, especially for hunting animals.
Q19) Which of the following is a microlithic tool that developed towards the end of Paleolithic?
a) Chopper
b) Burin
c) Cleaver
d) Plough
Explanation: Burins are sharp-edged microlithic tools that developed in the Upper Paleolithic and Mesolithic phases. They were used for engraving and working with bone and wood. This innovation indicates growing specialization and sophistication in tool-making traditions.
Q20) Hand-axes of India are most similar to those found in:
a) Mesopotamia
b) Africa
c) China
d) Europe
Explanation: Acheulian hand-axes found in India are remarkably similar to those discovered in Africa. This shows a cultural connection and parallel evolution of early humans across continents. Africa is also considered the cradle of humankind, from where Homo erectus migrated to other regions.
