History Quiz / Part 2

1.	Which Greek Historian has often been called the ‘father of history’?	Herodotus (c. 484 – c. 425 B. C.) His work included not only a history of the Persian Empire but a great wealth of detail about the ancient world as he knew it.
2.	From the point of view of the archaeologist and the historian, what was unique about the condition of Pompeii when it was excavated?	Everything in the city had suddenly been buried in fine volcanic ash, which with moisture (rain, dew, etc.), had acted like clay, preserving the shape of everything covered – even to the bakers’ ovens with loaves of bread still in them. Pompeii and Herculaneum were the two great cities buried under volcanic ash when Vesuvius erupted in A. D. 79. The ruins were rediscovered in 1748.
3.	In which country did the Boxer Rebellion take place in 1900?	China. The ‘Boxers’ were an officially supported secrete Chinese society bent on driving foreigners out. ‘Boxers’ was name given to the I-ho Ch’uan group which practiced certain boxing and callisthenic rituals believing it gave them supernatural powers.
4.	What were the crusades and in which period did they take place?	They wee the expeditions or Holy Wars undertaken by European Christians during the 11th – 13th centuries for the purpose of taking back the Holy Land, and Jerusalem in particular, from Islam. It was on his return from such a crusade that Richard the Lion-Heart was imprisoned while travelling through Europe and, according to legend, traced by his minstrel, Blodin.
5.	Which war ended with the signing of the Treaty of Paris?	The Cremian War. Fought between Great Britain, Turkey, and Sardinia on the one sie, and Russia on the other. Most of the battles were fought in the Black Sea peninsula of the Crimea.
6.	For what will the name of Jean Henri Dunant always be remembered?	The foundation of the Red Cross in 1864. Dunant (1828 – 1910) was an eyewitness to the appalling casualties (40,0000 of the Battle of solferina in 1859. He organized emergency aid for the wonded Austrians and French. Later, in the pamphlet Un Souvenir de Solferino, he proposed the formation of voluntary relied societies in all countries for the prevention and alleviation of suffering in war without distinction of creed or race. He also proposed an international agreement specifically to cover war wounded. He was also a founder of the world Young Men’s Christian Association and was a co-winner of the first Nobel prize for Peace in 1901.
7.	What were, or are, the Geneva Conventions?	A series of international treaties concluded in Geneva, Switzerland, between 1864 and 1949 for the purpose of providing humane treatment for all sick, injured or captive personnel both military and civilian, and the protection of all who attend upon them ; as well as providing immunity against destruction for all establishments, temporary or permanent, genuinely used for their treatment.
8.	In which year was the league of nations founded?	1919. To promote world peace and cooperation by the treaty of Versailles. It was dissolved in April 1946
9.	Who were the signatories of the Atlantic Charter, signed on August 14th, 1941?	President Roosevelt of the USA and Winston Churchill of the UK when they met at sea off the coast of Newfoundland. It was a statement of fundamental principles for the post-war world and was valuable as propaganda for it demonstrated to the Axis Powers the growing collaboration between Britain and the USA which was then at peace.
10.	Which three Countries were the first signatories to the Nuclear Test Ban Treaty?	The Soviet Union, USA and Britain. Signed in Moscow on August 5th 1963.
11.	The First World War officially came to an end on November 11th, 1918, at 11 a.m. what do we call this day?	Armistice Day. In a world which longed for peace after years of war, it was hoped it would mark the end of  ‘a war to end wars’ .’
12.	Which twelve European countries were monarchies at the outbreak of World War II?	Belgium , Britain, Bulgaria, Denmark, Greece, Holland, Italy, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Yugoslavia, Hungary was technically a monarchy but had no monarch. Albania missed being included as she was occupied by Italy in April, 1939. Today only six remain monarchies.
13.	How many nations were directly engaged in World War II and what was the approximate number of military killed?	57 nations and approximately 15,600,000militay dead. Not including the full total of victims of genocides it is estimated that the staggering number of 5,800,000.
14.	What was the name of the sea battle that took place from June 3-6, 1942, when the U. S. fleet decisively beat the Japanese?	The Battle of midway, which known as one of the decisive naval victories of World War II.
15.	‘Operation overload’ was the code name of which military operation of World War II?	The Allied invation of Normandy ofn June 6th, 1944.
16.	Which country declared war on Japan two days after the dropping of the first atomic bomb?	The Soviet Union
17.	At the end of the second world war, into how many zones was Germany divided?	Four – French, British, American and Russian.
18.	In Indian History, what was meant by Asvamedha?	The king, wishing to establish the right to rule a territory, sent a horse to wander at will for a specified period. If, during that time, there was no opposition and the horse returned safely, the king’s sovereignty was held to be undisputed. The horse was then sacrificed. The rite was performed by many kings mentioned in the Epics.
19.	What was the name of the port city at the head of the Gulf of Cambay during the period of the Indus Valley civilization, c.2,500 B. C.?	Lothal, it was close to the present town of Dhalewa in Kathiawar. Mohenjo-daro is the best known and most famous city of this civilization.
20.	Which important metal was obviously unknown to the civilization of Mohenjodaro?	Iron, for not a scrap of it has been found. Copper, silver, gold and ivory were used in the making of ornaments for both men and women and although vessels of bronze, porcelain, silver and copper were known, they were rarely used. Defensive armour, shields, swords, helmets, etc are conspicuous by their absence.
21.	By whom was the Maurya Empire founded?	Chandragupta Maurya (reigned c 321 to 297 B. C.) and the first emperor to unify most of India. Tradition ascribes that the derivation of ‘Maurya’ fro Mura, who was either his mother or grandmother, the wife of a Nanda king. ( It has also been suggested that it came from the tribe of Moryas or Moreis, as mentioned by the Greeks.
22.	After his defeat by Alexander the Great, which Indian king when asked how he would like to be treated answered : ‘Like a king!’	Porus, the Paurava king who ruled over Jhelum. Alexander treated his gallant adversary generously and gave him back his kingdom.
23.	Which Kushan invader established the Saka Era in India?	Kanishka, the greatest of the king of the Kushan Dynasty through inheritance and conquest. His kingdom covered an area extending from Bukhara to patna and the Pamirs to Central India. Usually regarded as the successor of Vima Kadphises the date of his accession is uncertain – estimates vary between A. d. 78 and 144.
24.	Which great Chinese scholar spent several years in India during the reign of Chandragupta II Vikramaditya (A.D. 375-413)?	Fa-Hsien (Fa-Hien), who was greatly impressed by all he saw under the emperor’s rule He spoke highly of the system of government and the efficiency and mildness of the administration of a country where people were free to come and go as they liked. Royal officers were paid regular salaries; there were many charitable institutions including free hospitals, and good rest houses were provided for travelers.
25.	In Indian History what are the Rock Edicts?	The principles of his government proclaimed by Asoka in a series of edicts engraved on rocks. The minor Rock Edicts, 1 – 14 rock edicts wre included in those proclaimed in the 17th and 18th years of his reign. The several Pillar Edicts were not composed until 243 B. C. and reiterated earlier teaching.

SBI Clerk Exam

1. Which of the following has been selected for best parliamentarian of the year award 2007 ?
a) Priya Ranjan Das Munshib) Mani Shankar Aiyyar
c) P.Chidambaram
d) Sushama Swaraj
ANS : a
2. Fernando Lugo’s name was in news recently as he has taken over as the president of
a) Paraguay
b) Sudan
c) Afghanistan
d) Pakistan
ANS : a
3. ISRO has launched successfully ten satellites through PSLV-C9 on –
A. 15th March,2008
B. 30th March,2008
C. 28th April,2008
D. 4th May,2008
ANS : c
4. The newly constituted National Knowledge Commission is headed by
a) C. Rangarajan
b)Prof. R. S. Sharma
c) Sam Pitroda
d) Ms. Girija Vyas
ANS : c
5. India enacted an important event of Indian National Movement celebrating the seventy- fifth anniversary. Which was it?
a) Quit India Movement
b) Delhi Chalo Movement
c) Civil Disobedience Movement
d) Non – Cooperation Movement
ANS :c
6. Pope Benedict XVI belongs to which country?
a) Italy
b) Germany
c) France
d) Poland
ANS : b
7. The media campaign “ The World Is Waiting” is related to which of the following companies?
a) Lufthansa
b) Qatar Airways
c) Indian Airlines
d) British Airways
ANS : d
8. Who among the following has been elected as President of the International Council of Science Union?
a) E. Sreedharan
b) N. Ram
c) M. G. K. Menon
d) Goverdhan Mehta
ANS : d
9. Which of the following countries launched the smallest combat aircraft in the world?
a) Germany
b) India
c) Russia
d) USA
ANS : b
10. Who among the following British Governor- Generals shifted India’s capital from Calcutta to Delhi in 1911?
a) Lord Louis Mountbatten
b) Lord Canning
c) Lord Hardinge
d) Warren Hastings
ANS : c
11. “Golden Handshake” is the term associated with
a) Share market
b) Retirement benefits
c) Voluntary retirement benefits
d) Smuggling
ANS : c
12. Which of the following is the first surface- to- surface missile in India?
a) Prithvi
b) Trishul
c) Agni
d) Naag
ANS : a
13. Which country will be host 15th SAARC Summit in 2008 ?
a) Maldives
b) Sri Lanka
c) India
d) Pakistan
ANS : b
14. Mist is caused by
a) Dry ice
b) Ice at low temperature
c) Water vapours at low temperature
d) Carbon- monoxide in solid form
ANS : c
15. Who among the following has been chosen the Miss India Universe for the year 2008 ?
a) Parvathy Omanakuttan
b) Simaran Kaur Mundi
c) Amrita Thapar
d) Tanvi Vyas
ANS : b
16. Who among the following was the author of “Rajtarangini”, commonly regarded as the first genuine history of India written by an Indian?
a) Banbhatta
b) Ravikirti
c) Pushpadanta
d) Kalhana
ANS : d
17. Who among the following advocated Scientific Socialism?
a) Robert Owen
b) Proudhon Pierre Joseph
c) Karl Marx
d) Saint Simon Henri Claude
ANS : c
18. Which of the following Articles of the Indian Constitution deal with the Directive Principles of State Policy?
a) 26 to 41
b) 31 to 56
c) 36 to 51
d) 41 to 66
ANS: c
19) Which one of the following travelers is not associated with the description of the glories of Vijayanagar kingdom?
a) Abdur Razzaq
b) Paes
c) Ibn Batutah
d) Nuniz
ANS : c :
Abdur Razzaq- Deva Raya II
Paes- Krishna Deva Raya
Ibn Batutah- Harihara I
Nuziz- Achyut Deva Raya
20. The Chinese pilgrim Fa – Hien visited India during the reign of
a) Kanishka
b) Chandragupta I
c) Chandragupta II
d) Harshavardhana
ANS : c
21. Which of the following is the economic growth percentage projected in the 11th Five Year Plan draft that was approved by the Planning Commission in November 2007?
a) 8%
b) 9%
c) 9.5%
d) 10%
ANS : b
22. The Indian Navy’s only sailing ship, which returned to Kochi after a 10- month voyage around the globe is,
a) INS Vibhuti
b) INS Tarangini
c) INS Prabhat
d) INS Viraat
ANS : b
23) Who among the following is the Director General of International Monetary Fund (IMF) ?
a) Thaksin Shinawatra
b) Liang Guanglie
c) Dominique Strauss Kahn
d) Paul Wolfowitz
ANS : c
24) Who is the author of the book “Super Star India : From Incredible to Unstopable”?
a) Shobha De
b) Hillory Clinton
c) Dalai Lama
d) Imran Khan
ANS : a
25) What does CECA stand for?
a) Community Enabled Cooperative Arrangement
b) Comprehensive Ecological Cooperation Agreement
c) Comprehensive Ecological Cooperation Arrangement
d) Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement
ANS : d
26) John wheeler was associated with –
a) Physics
b) Chemistry
c) Botany
d) History
Ans : a