World History MCQs
World History Multiple Choice Quiz Questions (MCQs) on Ancient World History, Medieval World History and Modern World History for various UPSC, PCS and other Competitive Examinations.
41. Name the first ever female prime minister in the world.
[A] Indira Gandhi
[B] Sirimavo Bandaranaike
[C] Golda Meir
[D] Elisabeth Domitien
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Sirimavo Bandaranaike]
Notes:
Sirimavo Bandaranaike was a Sri Lankan states woman. She became the world’s first non-hereditary female head of government in modern history, when she was elected Prime Minister of Sri Lanka in 1960. She served three terms: 1960–1965, 1970–1977 and 1994–2000.
42. Opium wars were fought between the British and:
[A] China
[B] Bhutan
[C] Myanmar (Burma)
[D] Afghanistan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [China]
Notes:
The first Opium War (1839–42) was fought between China and Britain, and the second Opium War (1856–60), also known as the Arrow War or the Anglo-French War in China, was fought by Britain and France against China. In each case the foreign powers were victorious and gained commercial privileges and legal and territorial concessions in China.
43. Cold War refers to:
[A] tension between East and West
[B] ideological rivalry between Capitalist and Communist world
[C] tension between Superpowers
[D] All of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [tension between East and West]
Notes:
The Cold War, often dated from 1947 to 1991, was a sustained state of political and military tension between powers in the Western Bloc, dominated by the United States with NATO among its allies and powers in the Eastern Block, dominated by the Soviet Union along with Warsaw Pact.
44. Who discovered and named Pacific Ocean?
[A] Christopher Columbus
[B] Vasco da Gama
[C] Amerigo Vespucci
[D] Ferdinand Magellan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Ferdinand Magellan]
Notes:
The fleet of Ferdinand Magellan in 1519 crossed an arduous 373-mile long passage on the southern end of South America. This strait is now named the Strait of Magellan. Then he entered an ocean which was calmer than the Atlantic. Therefore, he named it the Pacific Ocean.
45. Who led Taiping Rebellion in 1851?
[A] Hung Hsiu-chüan
[B] Hung Kun-Shu
[C] Hung Shimi Ki Ho
[D] Hung Konchu Hon
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Hung Hsiu-chüan]
Notes:
Thus, the western countries established their supremacy in China. China was partitioned into many economic zones controlled by western powers. This is known as “the cutting of the Chinese Melon” (ie., cutting China into many pieces). The failure of Manchu dynasty led to the Taiping Rebellion (1851-1864) in China. It was led by Hung Hsiu-chüan.
46. An independent state of Isreal established for Jews in:
[A] 1948
[B] 1945
[C] 1946
[D] 1947
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [1948]
Notes:
After the end of the First World War, Palestine had been handed over to Great Britain under the mandate system. But the struggle arose between the Arabs and the Jews which created disturbance and tension in Palestine. After the Second World War U.N.O. appointed a special committee to study the problem of Palestine. The Committee recommended immediate partition of Palestine into three parts – an Arab State, a Jewish State and the City of Jerusalem which was to be governed by the Trusteeship Council of the U.N.O. Thus, an independent state of Israel was established for the Jews in 1948.
47. Warsaw Pact was signed in:
[A] 10th May 1955
[B] 24th May 1955
[C] 14th May 1955
[D] 7th May 1955
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [14th May 1955]
Notes:
In response to the western military pacts, the Soviet Union concluded the Warsaw Pact on 14th May 1955 with her satellite powers. During this phase a number of military pacts were concluded, but the tension between East and West was somewhat reduced.
48. The Nuclear plantation by USA and Soviet Union ended with signing:
[A] Nuclear Test Ban Treaty
[B] No Nuclear Treaty
[C] Banned War Treaty
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Nuclear Test Ban Treaty]
Notes:
After 1960, the U.S.A. and the U.S.S.R. had developed equality in nuclear weapons. Thus any nuclear war would lead to co-destruction. This awareness led both the super powers to believe in the inevitability of peaceful co-existence. They were, therefore, prompted to conclude the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in 1963. This treaty was followed by a ‘Hot Line Agreement’ between Washington and Kremlin.
49. The Berlin War separated East Germany from:
[A] European provinces
[B] Asia
[C] Georgia
[D] West Germany
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [West Germany ]
Notes:
After the Second World War, Germany was divided into two separate nations. East Germany was fully under the control of the U.S.S.R. West Germany was supported by the U.S.A. and her allies. A wall was erected across Berlin to separate these two German territories. It was the famous Berlin Wall. But with the collapse of U.SS.R, the German reunification took place on October 3, 1990.
50. The Papua New Guinea got independence in 1975 from which nation?
[A] U.K
[B] U.S.A
[C] Australia
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Australia]
Notes:
The PNG attained independence from Australia on 16 september , 1975. It remained under Australia from 1906 as a British Possession until 1975. Britain, Australia , Germany occupied PNG until 1975.