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1. Which route points to the vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural links between distant parts of the world?
A. Silk Routes
B. Trans-Saharan Route
C. Cape Route
D. Spice Route
Answer: A. Silk Routes
Explanation: Silk routes are a good example of vibrant pre-modern trade and cultural links connecting Asia with Europe and northern Africa.
2. Which food item was introduced in Europe and Asia after Christopher Columbus discovered America?
A. Potato
B. Wheat
C. Rice
D. Sugarcane
Answer: A. Potato
Explanation: Many common foods like potatoes, maize, tomatoes, chilies, and sweet potatoes were introduced to Europe and Asia after Columbus discovered America.
3. What deadly disease carried by Spanish conquerors decimated the native populations of America?
A. Smallpox
B. Cholera
C. Plague
D. Malaria
Answer: A. Smallpox
Explanation: Smallpox proved to be a deadly weapon because native Americans had no immunity against diseases originating from Europe.
4. What were the 'Corn Laws' in 19th-century Britain?
A. Laws restricting the import of corn into Britain
B. Laws promoting export of corn from Britain
C. Laws fixing the price of corn
D. Laws banning corn cultivation
Answer: A. Laws restricting the import of corn into Britain
Explanation: Under pressure from landed groups, the British government restricted the import of corn through laws commonly known as 'Corn Laws'.
5. What was the impact of the abolition of Corn Laws in Britain?
A. Food could be imported into Britain more cheaply than it could be produced
B. Food prices increased dramatically
C. British agriculture expanded rapidly
D. Import of food was banned completely
Answer: A. Food could be imported into Britain more cheaply than it could be produced
Explanation: After Corn Laws were abolished, imported food became cheaper than domestic production, leading to large-scale imports and lower food prices.
6. What fast-spreading cattle disease devastated livelihoods and the local economy in Africa in the 1890s?
A. Rinderpest
B. Foot-and-mouth disease
C. Anthrax
D. Cowpox
Answer: A. Rinderpest
Explanation: Rinderpest (cattle plague) arrived in Africa in the late 1880s and killed 90% of the cattle, devastating the African economy and livelihoods.
7. Most Indian indentured workers came from which of the following regions?
A. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Central India
B. Punjab and Haryana
C. Kerala and Tamil Nadu
D. Maharashtra and Gujarat
Answer: A. Eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Central India
Explanation: Most Indian indentured labourers came from present-day regions of eastern Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, central India, and dry districts of Tamil Nadu.
8. Indentured labour system was often described by contemporaries as a:
A. New system of slavery
B. Golden opportunity for workers
C. Voluntary employment scheme
D. Free trade migration
Answer: A. New system of slavery
Explanation: In the 19th century, indentured labor was referred to as a 'new system of slavery' due to harsh working conditions and lack of rights for workers.
9. What was 'Hosay' celebrated in Trinidad?
A. A riotous Muharram procession transformed into a carnival
B. A Hindu religious festival
C. A European sports event
D. A harvest celebration
Answer: A. A riotous Muharram procession transformed into a carnival
Explanation: In Trinidad, the annual Muharram procession was transformed into a riotous carnival called Hosay, in which workers of all races and religions joined.
10. When was indentured labour migration officially abolished by the Indian government?
A. 1921
B. 1914
C. 1930
D. 1947
Answer: A. 1921
Explanation: Indian nationalist leaders opposed indentured labor recruitment as cruel and degrading, leading to its official abolition in 1921.
11. Who were the Shikaripuri Shroffs and Nattukottai Chettiars?
A. Indian bankers and traders who financed export agriculture in Central and SE Asia
B. British government officials in India
C. Indentured laborers in the Caribbean
D. Textile manufacturers in Western India
Answer: A. Indian bankers and traders who financed export agriculture in Central and SE Asia
Explanation: They were among the prominent groups of Indian bankers and financiers who funded agriculture and trade across Southeast Asia.
12. The First World War (1914–1918) was fought mainly between which two power blocs?
A. Allies and Central Powers
B. Axis Powers and Allied Powers
C. Triple Entente and League of Nations
D. NATO and Warsaw Pact
Answer: A. Allies and Central Powers
Explanation: The First World War was fought between two blocs: the Allies (Britain, France, Russia, later USA) and the Central Powers (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Turkey).
13. Which country emerged as an international debtor to an international creditor after the First World War?
A. United States of America
B. Great Britain
C. Germany
D. France
Answer: A. United States of America
Explanation: War transformed the US from an international debtor into an international creditor as foreign countries borrowed heavily from US banks and citizens.
14. Who pioneered the mass production of cars using assembly line method in Detroit, USA?
A. Henry Ford
B. Andrew Carnegie
C. John D. Rockefeller
D. J.P. Morgan
Answer: A. Henry Ford
Explanation: Henry Ford adapted the assembly line technique at his car plant in Detroit to achieve mass production of cars (T-Model Ford).
15. What was the main cause of the Great Depression that began around 1929?
A. Agricultural overproduction and collapse of US stock market
B. Outbreak of a global disease
C. World War II breaking out
D. Severe drought in Europe
Answer: A. Agricultural overproduction and collapse of US stock market
Explanation: Agricultural overproduction remained a major problem leading to falling prices, combined with the US financial crash in late 1929.
16. Which country was worst affected by the Great Depression in terms of industrial and financial collapse?
A. United States of America
B. Soviet Union
C. Japan
D. India
Answer: A. United States of America
Explanation: The US was severely hit; thousands of banks went bankrupt, factories closed, and unemployment skyrocketed during the Great Depression.
17. How did the Great Depression affect India's trade?
A. India's exports and imports were nearly halved between 1928 and 1934
B. India's trade doubled due to high demand
C. India stopped trading with Britain completely
D. Peasant incomes increased substantially
Answer: A. India's exports and imports were nearly halved between 1928 and 1934
Explanation: The depression immediately affected Indian trade. Between 1928 and 1934, India's exports and imports were halved.
18. The Bretton Woods Conference in July 1944 established which two international financial institutions?
A. IMF and World Bank
B. United Nations and UNESCO
C. WTO and GATT
D. Asian Development Bank and BRICS Bank
Answer: A. IMF and World Bank
Explanation: The United Nations Monetary and Financial Conference held at Bretton Woods established the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank.
19. The Bretton Woods system was based on fixed exchange rates linked to which currency?
A. US Dollar
B. British Pound
C. Gold directly
D. French Franc
Answer: A. US Dollar
Explanation: National currencies were pegged to the US dollar at a fixed exchange rate, and the dollar itself was anchored to gold at $35 per ounce.
20. What does G-77 stand for?
A. A group of developing nations demanding a New International Economic Order (NIEO)
B. A group of 77 industrialized rich nations
C. An alliance formed during First World War
D. A trade bloc of 77 European countries
Answer: A. A group of developing nations demanding a New International Economic Order (NIEO)
Explanation: Most developing countries organized themselves as the Group of 77 (G-77) to demand a New International Economic Order (NIEO).
21. What technology revolutionized the transport of meat across long distances to Europe in the late 19th century?
A. Refrigerated ships
B. Steam locomotives
C. Air transport
D. Canning factories
Answer: A. Refrigerated ships
Explanation: The development of refrigerated ships enabled meat to be transported alive or processed from America/Australia to Europe at lower costs.
22. Where was European powers' conference held in 1885 to carve up Africa among themselves?
A. Berlin
B. Paris
C. London
D. Vienna
Answer: A. Berlin
Explanation: In 1885, big European powers met in Berlin to complete the division of Africa among themselves.
23. What was 'El Dorado' famous as in Spanish legends?
A. Fabled city of gold
B. Famous spice island
C. Lost kingdom of silver
D. Legend of ancient sea trade
Answer: A. Fabled city of gold
Explanation: El Dorado was imagined as a fabled city of gold, prompting many European expeditions in South America.
24. What was the 'trade surplus' that Britain enjoyed with India used for?
A. To balance its trade deficits with other countries and pay 'Home Charges'
B. To fund Indian education system
C. To build railways in South America
D. To pay off US loans
Answer: A. To balance its trade deficits with other countries and pay 'Home Charges'
Explanation: Britain used its trade surplus with India to balance trade deficits with other countries and to pay private remittances, pensions, and interest on debt ('Home Charges').
25. What was the name given to forced indentured labourers sent to the Caribbean islands from India?
A. Girmitiyas
B. Coolies
C. Jahazis
D. Sepoys
Answer: A. Girmitiyas
Explanation: In India, indentured laborers were known as 'Girmitiyas', derived from the word 'agreement'.
26. What shift caused relocation of industry to low-wage countries like China in the late 1970s?
A. Collapse of Bretton Woods system and rising production costs in West
B. Discovery of oil in China
C. Outbreak of cold war
D. Abolition of tariffs worldwide
Answer: A. Collapse of Bretton Woods system and rising production costs in West
Explanation: Low wages in countries like China attracted MNCs seeking lower cost of production after the collapse of the Bretton Woods system.
27. Which of the following was NOT an Allied Power during the Second World War?
A. Germany
B. Britain
C. Soviet Union
D. USA
Answer: A. Germany
Explanation: Germany, along with Italy and Japan, formed the Axis Powers during WWII, opposing the Allied forces.
28. What major change occurred in global production with the collapse of the Soviet Union?
A. Integration of Eastern Europe and Soviet-bloc countries into the world economy
B. End of international trade
C. Revival of mercantilism
D. Closure of World Bank
Answer: A. Integration of Eastern Europe and Soviet-bloc countries into the world economy
Explanation: The collapse of the Soviet Union brought these economies into the global capitalist economy, speeding up globalization.
29. What was the Chutney music popular in Trinidad and Guyana a result of?
A. Cultural fusion of Indian indentured workers' traditions with local Caribbean culture
B. British classical music influence
C. African folk songs brought by slaves
D. Spanish opera traditions
Answer: A. Cultural fusion of Indian indentured workers' traditions with local Caribbean culture
Explanation: Chutney music is a creative cultural expression of the Indo-Caribbean community resulting from cultural blending.
30. Why did China cut itself off from post-fifteenth-century world contact for centuries?
A. China restricted overseas contacts and retreated into isolation
B. It was conquered entirely by European powers
C. Severe famine destroyed its trade ships
D. It lost access to the Silk Route
Answer: A. China restricted overseas contacts and retreated into isolation
Explanation: From the 15th century, China restricted overseas contacts and isolated itself, shifting the centre of world trade westward toward Europe.
This page contains a chapter-wise objective practice set. Try the questions without checking the answer first, then use the explanation to understand the point you missed. The current page contains 30 questions, so you can practise in smaller sets when you are revising.
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