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. The Munich pact pertained to the loss of sovereignty of which of the following countries?
[A] Poland
[B] Austria
[C] Czechoslovakia
[D] Hungary
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Czechoslovakia]
Notes:
As Hitler was committing acts of aggression one after another in Rhineland, Sudetenland, Austria, etc. Britain and France were accepting them one after another. This policy was called the policy of appeasement. Hitler’s next demand was to annex entire Czechoslovakia. The worst act of appeasement and shameful betrayal took place when Czechoslovakia was handed over to Germany. In September 1938, a meeting was held in Munich, and it was decided to hand over Czechoslovakia to Germany. In March 1939, Germany marched its troops into the remaining parts of Czechoslovakia and occupied it. So, option c is the correct answer.
42. Consider the following statements with respect to the events in the aftermath of surrender of France in the WWII:
- The part of France that had not been occupied by Germany was called the ‘Vichy France’.
- Under Charles de Gaulle, the ‘Free France Movement’ was organised from Britain.
Which of the above is / are correct?
[A] Only 1
[B] Only 2
[C] Both 1 and 2
[D] None of the above
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Both 1 and 2]
Notes:
In June 1940, France surrendered in the WWII. While the northern France was occupied by the German troops, a French government was allowed to retain control over about half of France. This government moved to Vichy, hence it was called the Vichy government and the area under its control was called the ‘Vichy France’. The Vichy France collaborated with the Nazi Germany and in turn, it was allowed to maintain control over its colonies. So, statement 1 is correct. Charles de Gaulle, who had been a colonel in the French army at the time of the German invasion of France, had escaped to Britain after the surrender by the French government. Under the leadership of de Gaulle, now General de Gaulle, the Free France movement was started and a French army was organised in Britain to fight against the Nazi Germany. Charles de Gaulle later went on to become the President of France. So, statement 2 is correct.
43. The first atomic bomb was thrown over:
[A] Nagasaki
[B] Hiroshima
[C] Tokyo
[D] Hong Kong
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Hiroshima]
Notes:
Hiroshima is the capital of Hiroshima Prefecture, and the largest city in the Chugoku region of western Honshu, the largest island of Japan. It is best known as the first city in history to be targeted by a nuclear weapon when the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) dropped an atomic bomb on it at 8:15 A.M. on August 6, 1945, near the end of World War II. Its name means “Wide Island”.
44. During the Second World War, which one of the following countries was not one of the three Axis Powers, which fought against the Allied Powers?
[A] Germany
[B] Italy
[C] China
[D] Japan
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [China]
Notes:
Axis Powers was the coalition headed by Germany, Italy, and Japan that opposed the Allied Powers in World War II. The alliance originated in a series of agreements between Germany and Italy, followed by the proclamation of an “axis” binding Rome and Berlin (October 1936), followed by The German-Japanese Anti-Comintern Pact against the Soviet Union (November 1936).
45. 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.
46. Boston Tea Party held in:
[A] 1772
[B] 1773
[C] 1774
[D] 1775
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [1773]
Notes:
In 1773, a new Tea Act was passed imposing a tax on import of tea. It was a symbol to show that the British Parliament had the right to tax the colonies. But Americans showed their protest. A group of Americans dressed as Red Indians, climbed on the ships and threw away the tea bundles into the sea at the Boston harbour. This event took place on 16th December 1773 and it was known as the Boston Tea Party. The offenders were punished. In 1774, the British Parliament passed the Intolerable Acts against the Americans in order to prevent such protests.
47. American Declaration of Independence on:
[A] 4th July, 1774
[B] 4th July, 1775
[C] 4th July, 1776
[D] 4th July, 1777
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [4th July, 1776]
Notes:
On 4th July 1776, the American Declaration of Independence was adopted by the Continental Congress. It was prepared by a committee of five led by Thomas Jefferson who included the ideals of human freedom in it.
48. NATO was formed against:
[A] Soviet Union
[B] USA
[C] Germany
[D] Great Britain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: A [Soviet Union]
Notes:
The U.S.A., Canada, Britain, France, Holland, Belgium and Luxemburg, Portugal, Denmark, Italy and Norway became NATO’s members. They had agreed to mutually extend military help in case of an attack on any one of them. It was formed against the Soviet Union.
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. During World War II, which two powers invaded and occupied Poland, leading to its division and suffering throughout the conflict?
[A] United Kingdom and France
[B] Italy and Japan
[C] Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union
[D] United States and Canada
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union]
Notes:
In September 1939, Poland was invaded first by Nazi Germany from the west and then by the Soviet Union from the east, leading to its occupation and division under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. This event marked the beginning of Poland’s struggle and immense suffering during World War II.