The Drains Beneath Mohenjo-daro
Written by Studio AM.
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In the ancient city now called Mohenjo-daro, streets followed an organized layout and many buildings were made from standardized baked bricks. Archaeologists have also found numerous wells, bathing areas, and covered drains. Wastewater could move from some houses into channels along the streets.
These features reveal careful planning and repeated maintenance. Brick covers allowed sections of drain to be opened, while settling spaces could catch solid material before it blocked a channel. Water management was not confined to a single palace. Its structures appeared through residential parts of the city.
The remains, however, do not answer every social question. Similar brick sizes suggest shared standards, but they do not identify the officials or craftspeople who set them. A large bathing structure shows organized construction, yet its exact ceremonies or rules remain uncertain. Drains demonstrate capacity; they do not by themselves prove that every resident received equal service.
Mohenjo-daro belonged to the Indus civilization, whose script has not been securely deciphered. Without readable administrative records, buildings carry much of the evidence. The city's waterworks show technical coordination and daily concern with water, while gaps in the evidence leave questions about how the city was governed.
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Questions
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Question 1 of 4
What is the main idea of the passage?
The answer is B: Mohenjo-daro's waterworks show extensive urban coordination, while archaeological remains leave important social questions unanswered.
The passage presents substantial structural evidence, then repeatedly marks what that evidence cannot establish.
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Question 2 of 4
Why are the drain covers important evidence of maintenance?
The answer is C: Workers could remove them to reach and clear sections of the channel.
The second paragraph connects openable brick covers with access to drain sections.
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Question 3 of 4
What does “confined” mean in the second paragraph?
The answer is D: limited to one place or group
The next sentence contrasts a single palace with structures spread through residential areas.
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Question 4 of 4
What material was used for many buildings?
The answer is A: standardized baked bricks
The opening sentence describes numerous buildings made from standardized baked bricks.
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