**Title: The Ancient City of Mohenjo-Daro: An Archaeological Insight**
[Paragraph 1]
In the realm of archaeology, few sites capture the imagination as powerfully as Mohenjo-Daro. This ancient metropolis, nestled in the fertile Indus Valley, thrived over 4,000 years ago, a testament to the sophisticated urban planning of the Indus Valley Civilization. Archaeological studies of Mohenjo-Daro have revealed advanced concepts of city planning, architecture, and societal organization. They tell us a story of a civilization that was remarkably advanced for its time.
[Paragraph 2]
Mohenjo-Daro stands apart due to its highly structured layout. The city was divided into two sections: the Citadel, a raised area that housed public and ceremonial buildings, and the Lower City, where most residents lived. This distinction suggests an organized social structure, with certain parts of the city reserved for specific activities and social classes.
[Paragraph 3]
One of the key architectural marvels discovered at Mohenjo-Daro is the Great Bath. Measuring approximately 12 meters long and 7 meters wide, the Great Bath was likely used for ritual purification. It boasted sophisticated waterproofing and a system for supplying fresh water, demonstrating impressive engineering skills of the time.
[Paragraph 4]
In the Lower City, archaeologists uncovered a network of private homes, shops, and workshops. Each home had access to a private well and an elaborate drainage system. These dwellings indicate a significant emphasis on cleanliness and hygiene, an attribute that was not commonly seen in other civilizations of the same era.
[Paragraph 5]
Despite the remarkable findings, many mysteries about Mohenjo-Daro remain. The lack of monumental structures, such as palaces or temples, deviates from what is seen in other ancient cities. Furthermore, there is no evidence of a ruling monarchy or a central government. These intriguing anomalies suggest an egalitarian society, where power and wealth may have been distributed more evenly than in other contemporary societies.
[Paragraph 6]
Another enigma is the script of the Indus Valley Civilization. Numerous inscriptions have been discovered in Mohenjo-Daro, but they remain undeciphered to this day. Without the ability to interpret this language, a comprehensive understanding of the society's beliefs, culture, and administration remains elusive.
[Paragraph 7]
Today, Mohenjo-Daro provides a precious window into a bygone era. The city's meticulously planned streets, innovative drainage systems, and unique societal structure set it apart from other archaeological sites. As excavations continue, every artifact and structure unearthed adds to our understanding of this unique civilization.
[Paragraph 8]
However, the preservation of Mohenjo-Daro is a significant concern for archaeologists and historians worldwide. Climate change and improper conservation methods threaten this invaluable heritage site. Efforts are ongoing to preserve Mohenjo-Daro, a symbol of human innovation and testament to a civilization that left its mark on history, even without leaving written records for posterity.
#1 Vocabulary: The word 'metropolis' in paragraph 1 is closest in meaning to...
A) wilderness
B) vast desert
C) large city
D) small town
#2 Factual Information (Detail): According to paragraph 2, what was the structure of Mohenjo-Daro city?
A) The city was divided into four quadrants.
B) The city was split into two sections: the Citadel and the Lower City.
C) The city had a random layout with no clear structure.
D) The city was arranged in a circular pattern.
#3 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): In paragraph 3, why does the author discuss the Great Bath?
A) To highlight the religious beliefs of the civilization.
B) To emphasize the sophisticated engineering and architectural skills of the Indus Valley Civilization.
C) To point out the recreational activities of the people.
D) To show the lack of technological advancement.
#4 Negative Factual Information (Negative Detail): All of the following are mentioned in paragraph 4 EXCEPT
A) a network of private homes.
B) the presence of an elaborate drainage system.
C) every home had a private garden.
D) each home had access to a private well.
#5 Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing): Which of the following best expresses the essential information in the highlighted sentence in paragraph 5: "These intriguing anomalies suggest an egalitarian society, where power and wealth may have been distributed more evenly than in other contemporary societies."?
A) The distinct characteristics of Mohenjo-Daro suggest it might have been a society where power and wealth were shared equally.
B) Mohenjo-Daro had more power and wealth than other societies.
C) The society of Mohenjo-Daro was structured around wealth and power.
D) Inequalities were more prevalent in Mohenjo-Daro than in other societies.
#6 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): In paragraph 6, why does the author mention the undeciphered script of the Indus Valley Civilization?
A) To question the intellectual capabilities of the civilization.
B) To highlight the inability of modern scholars to understand ancient scripts.
C) To underscore the challenges faced in fully understanding the culture, beliefs, and administration of the society.
D) To indicate that the civilization did not have a language.
#7 Vocabulary: The word 'elusive' in paragraph 6 is closest in meaning to...
A) clear
B) hard to understand
C) easily attained
D) prevalent
#8 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): In paragraph 7, why does the author describe Mohenjo-Daro as a 'precious window'?
A) To compare it to other historical sites.
B) To highlight its role in providing unique insights into a bygone era and civilization.
C) To suggest that the site is fragile and can be easily damaged.
D) To illustrate the financial value of the archaeological site.
#9 Vocabulary: The word 'testament' in paragraph 8 is closest in meaning to...
A) protest
B) document
C) proof
D) contract
#10 Prose summary: An introductory sentence for a brief summary of the passage is provided below. Complete the summary by selecting the THREE answer choices that express the most important ideas in the passage. Exclude sentences that do not belong in the summary as they express ideas not presented in the passage or are minor ideas.
- "The passage discusses the ancient city of Mohenjo-Daro, providing an in-depth analysis of its architectural and societal organization, while also highlighting the challenges and mysteries surrounding its study and preservation."
A) Mohenjo-Daro was a city in the Indus Valley with a structured layout and advanced concepts of city planning.
B) The site had unique gaming arenas for the civilization's entertainment.
C) The undeciphered script of the Indus Valley Civilization remains a significant hurdle to fully understanding the society.
D) The Great Bath, private homes, and shops all had a unique communication system in place.
E) The city suggests an egalitarian society, deviating from the norms of other ancient societies.
F) Efforts to preserve Mohenjo-Daro face challenges due to climate change and improper conservation methods.
#1 Vocabulary: The correct answer is C) large city. 'Metropolis' refers to a very large city, often the most important city in a large area or country.
#2 Factual Information (Detail): The correct answer is B) The city was split into two sections: the Citadel and the Lower City. In paragraph 2, the text states, "The city was divided into two sections: the Citadel... and the Lower City..."
#3 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): The correct answer is B) To emphasize the sophisticated engineering and architectural skills of the Indus Valley Civilization. The Great Bath is described as an architectural marvel with sophisticated waterproofing and a fresh water system.
#4 Negative Factual Information (Negative Detail): The correct answer is C) every home had a private garden. Paragraph 4 doesn't mention anything about private gardens in the homes.
#5 Sentence Simplification (Paraphrasing): The correct answer is A) The distinct characteristics of Mohenjo-Daro suggest it might have been a society where power and wealth were shared equally. This option best summarizes the sentence from paragraph 5 without adding or losing information.
#6 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): The correct answer is C) To underscore the challenges faced in fully understanding the culture, beliefs, and administration of the society. The author mentions the undeciphered script as a roadblock in fully comprehending the civilization's culture and administration.
#7 Vocabulary: The correct answer is B) hard to understand. 'Elusive', in this context, refers to something that is difficult to find or achieve.
#8 Rhetorical Purpose (Author’s Purpose): The correct answer is B) To highlight its role in providing unique insights into a bygone era and civilization. The author uses the term 'precious window' to highlight the importance of Mohenjo-Daro in understanding the past.
#9 Vocabulary: The correct answer is C) proof. A 'testament' in this context refers to something that serves as a sign or evidence of a specified fact.
#10 Prose summary: The correct answers are A) Mohenjo-Daro was a city in the Indus Valley with a structured layout and advanced concepts of city planning, C) The undeciphered script of the Indus Valley Civilization remains a significant hurdle to fully understanding the society, and F) Efforts to preserve Mohenjo-Daro face challenges due to climate change and improper conservation methods. These three options most accurately capture the central ideas discussed in the passage.
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