History: Archeological Discoveries 3

– Mohenjo-Daro –

“The enigmatic ruins of Mohenjo-Daro, nestled within the fertile Indus Valley in modern-day Pakistan, present a mesmerizing window into a prodigious civilization that thrived approximately 4500 years ago. Mohenjo-daro, which translates to the “Mound of the Dead,” was an urban epicenter of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. This civilization is acclaimed for its ingenious urban planning and architectural prowess, exemplified by the Great Bath and the granary.

The systematic grid layout of Mohenjo-daro showcases an advanced understanding of urban planning. Streets intersected at right angles, with buildings constructed from uniform, sun-dried bricks. Notably, the city was equipped with an intricate drainage system, with channels connecting individual dwellings to public drains.

The city’s most captivating feature, the Great Bath, is believed to have been utilized for religious rituals. A watertight pool, made impermeable through bitumen seals, was supplied with water from adjacent wells.

While the city was discovered in 1922, the decline of this once-vibrant civilization remains shrouded in mystery. Theories ranging from climate change to foreign invasions have been posited.”

Choose NO MORE THAN TWO words from the text for each answer.

Mohenjo-Daro is nestled within a _______ region known as the Indus Valley.
The ancient city is renowned for its _______ urban design and architectural skills.
The streets of Mohenjo-daro intersected at _______ angles.
The dwellings were connected to public drains through a(n) _______ drainage system.
The Great Bath, with its watertight pool, is conjectured to have been used for _______ ceremonies.
The demise of Mohenjo-daro is still _______ in mystery, with various theories suggested.

Choose NO MORE THAN ONE word from the text for each answer.

Mohenjo-daro, situated in the fecund Indus Valley of present-day Pakistan, provides an enthralling glimpse into an ancient civilization that _______ around 4500 years ago. Acclaimed for its sophisticated city planning and architectural finesse, the city is a _______ of the ancient Indus Valley Civilization. Its uniform brick structures and streets intersecting at right angles epitomize the civilization’s urban _______. Mohenjo-daro was also endowed with an elaborate drainage system, connecting homes to communal _______. Among its most intriguing features is the Great Bath, believed to be a site for ritualistic practices; its watertight pool was rendered impermeable by _______ seals and was provisioned with water from nearby wells. The reasons behind the city’s decline are still _______ in enigma, with theories from climate change to invasions postulated.

Vocabulary Builder

Find the synonyms (words with the same or similar meaning) to these 9 words from the original passage.

Original Word	Variants Used
nestled	_______________________
fertile	_______________________
acclaimed	_______________________
urban planning	_______________________/ _______________________
advanced	_______________________/ _______________________
buildings	_______________________/ _______________________
intricate	_______________________
religious	_______________________
shrouded	_______________________

Reveal answer (9 More Words)

Original Word	Variants Used
nestled	situated
fertile	fecund
acclaimed	renowned
urban planning	city planning, urban design
advanced	sophisticated, elaborate
buildings	structures, dwellings
intricate	elaborate
religious	ritualistic
shrouded	enveloped