World History

31. Consider the following statements concerning the Russian Revolution:

Consider the following statements concerning the Russian Revolution:

  • 1. The Bolsheviks believed that in a repressive society like Tsarist Russia, the party should be disciplined and should control the number of its members.
  • 2. The Mensheviks believed that the party should be opened to all (as in Germany).

Which of the statement/s given above is/are correct ?

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1 only
2 only
Both 1 and 2
Neither 1 nor 2
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Both statements accurately describe the differing organizational philosophies of the Bolshevik and Menshevik factions of the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP). The Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, advocated for a tightly controlled, disciplined party of professional revolutionaries, particularly suited for underground work in the autocratic Tsarist regime. The Mensheviks, led by Martov, favoured a broader, more inclusive party membership, similar to the mass social democratic parties in Western Europe, like the Social Democratic Party of Germany.
– Bolsheviks: Disciplined, exclusive party of revolutionaries, favoured in repressive environments.
– Mensheviks: Broad, inclusive party, open to wider membership, inspired by Western European models.
– These differences contributed significantly to the split within the RSDLP in 1903.
The split between Bolsheviks and Mensheviks occurred at the Second Congress of the RSDLP in 1903. While the initial disagreements were seemingly minor points of party organization (specifically, Article 1 of the party rules regarding membership), they reflected deeper philosophical differences about the nature of the revolutionary party and its role in bringing about socialism in Russia. These differences had profound implications for the course of the Russian Revolution.

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32. When did the Stamp Act Congress consisting of delegates from 9 of the

When did the Stamp Act Congress consisting of delegates from 9 of the 13 colonies of America meet in New York City?

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1763
1764
1765
1766
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The Stamp Act Congress met in New York City in C) 1765.
The Stamp Act, which imposed a tax on various paper documents in the British colonies in America, was passed by the British Parliament in March 1765. In response to this act and the principle of “taxation without representation,” representatives from nine of the thirteen colonies met for the Stamp Act Congress in New York City in October 1765.
The Stamp Act Congress issued a Declaration of Rights and Grievances, protesting the Stamp Act and asserting that only colonial legislatures had the power to tax the colonies. This event was a significant step towards colonial unity and resistance against British policies, contributing to the growing tensions that would eventually lead to the American Revolution. The Stamp Act was repealed in 1766, but it was soon followed by other acts aimed at taxing the colonies.

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33. Who among the following used the term Industrial Revolution for the fi

Who among the following used the term Industrial Revolution for the first time in English to describe the changes that occurred in the British industrial development between 1760 and 1820 ?

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Friedrich Engels
Eric Hobsbawm
Arnold Toynbee
Georges Michelet
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Arnold Toynbee, a British historian and economist, is credited with using the term “Industrial Revolution” in English for the first time in a systematic and widely influential manner to describe the major economic and social changes in Britain between roughly 1760 and 1820. His lectures on the subject, delivered in 1880-81 and published posthumously as “Lectures on the Industrial Revolution in England”, popularized the term in English academic circles. While the term had been used earlier by others (like Georges Michelet in French or Engels in German/English), Toynbee’s work defined the specific period and context commonly associated with the term in English historical scholarship.
Arnold Toynbee’s lectures and subsequent book (1884) were instrumental in establishing the concept and terminology of the “Industrial Revolution” in English historical discourse.
Friedrich Engels used the term in “The Condition of the Working Class in England” (1845). Georges Michelet, a French historian, is believed to have used the term in 1846 in his book “Le Peuple”. However, Toynbee’s work specifically focused on and popularized the term for the British context of the late 18th and early 19th centuries within English academia.

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34. The cylindrical stone seals were used in which civilization ?

The cylindrical stone seals were used in which civilization ?

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Harappan
Egyptian
Roman
Mesopotamian
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Cylindrical stone seals are a distinctive feature of the Mesopotamian civilization, particularly from periods like the Akkadian and Babylonian empires onwards. These seals were rolled over clay tablets to create an impression, often used for administrative and legal purposes. While seals were used in other ancient civilizations, the widespread use and characteristic form of cylindrical seals are most strongly associated with Mesopotamia.
Mesopotamian cylindrical seals are famous for their intricate carvings and their method of use (rolling). They served as personal identifiers and administrative tools.
The Harappan civilization primarily used square or rectangular stamp seals with carvings of animals and scripts. There was trade contact between the Harappan and Mesopotamian civilizations, and some cylindrical seals have been found in the Indus Valley, but these are often considered imports or local adaptations influenced by Mesopotamian contact rather than a primary form of Harappan seals.

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35. In the 19th century, the majority of the workers in Japan’s modern ind

In the 19th century, the majority of the workers in Japan’s modern industries were mainly

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Japanese men and children
Japanese women and Chinese men
women
Japanese and Chinese men
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The correct answer is women.
During the rapid industrialization of Japan in the 19th century (Meiji Era), the burgeoning textile industry, particularly silk reeling and cotton spinning, became a major sector employing a vast number of workers. The majority of these workers were young women from rural areas.
Women constituted a significant portion, often the majority, of the workforce in early Japanese modern industries, especially textiles, which was a key driver of industrial growth. They were often recruited from peasant families and worked in factories, frequently living in factory dormitories. While men were employed in heavier industries and other sectors, women dominated the textile sector workforce. Chinese men were not a significant part of the workforce in Japan’s domestic modern industries in the 19th century.

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36. Although used earlier by French and German writers, the term ‘Industri

Although used earlier by French and German writers, the term ‘Industrial Revolution’ in English was first popularized by

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Adam Smith
Arnold Toynbee
James Mill
Bertrand Russell
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The correct answer is Arnold Toynbee.
While the term ‘Industrial Revolution’ was used earlier by French writers like Adolphe Jérôme Blanqui and German writers, it was popularized in English by the British economic historian Arnold Toynbee through his posthumously published “Lectures on the Industrial Revolution in England” (1884).
Arnold Toynbee’s lectures provided one of the first systematic analyses of the economic and social changes that occurred in Britain during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, solidifying the term’s use and meaning in the English-speaking world. Adam Smith is known for his work on classical economics, particularly “The Wealth of Nations” (1776), which predates the full swing of the Industrial Revolution and its conceptualization as such. James Mill was a historian and philosopher associated with Utilitarianism. Bertrand Russell was a 20th-century philosopher, logician, and social critic.

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37. The industrial revolution in England had a profound impact on the live

The industrial revolution in England had a profound impact on the lives of people. Which of the following statements are correct about that ?

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  • 1. Women were the main workers in the silk, lace-making and knitting industries
  • 2. Factory managers were well aware of the health risks of industrial work on children
  • 3. Children were often employed in textile factories
  • 4. The novel ‘Hard Times’ by Charles Dickens was a severe critique of the horrors of industrialization

Select the correct answer using the code given below :

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1 and 3 only
1 and 2
1, 3 and 4
3 and 4 only
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The Industrial Revolution significantly changed social structures and work life in England.
Statement 1: Women and children were heavily employed in the textile industry, including silk, lace, and knitting, where their smaller hands were sometimes considered advantageous for certain tasks, and they could be paid less than men. This is a correct statement.
Statement 2: While the health risks were severe (poor air quality, dangerous machinery, long hours), factory managers and owners were largely driven by profit and were not primarily concerned with the well-being of workers, especially children. Awareness of health risks in the modern sense, leading to protective measures, came much later, often driven by reforms. This statement is incorrect.
Statement 3: Children were indeed widely employed in textile factories during the early Industrial Revolution, working long hours in dangerous and unhealthy conditions. This is a correct statement.
Statement 4: Charles Dickens was a prominent critic of the social conditions brought about by industrialization. His novel ‘Hard Times’ specifically critiques the harsh realities of industrial life, the treatment of workers, and the prevailing utilitarian philosophy. This is a correct statement.
The correct statements are 1, 3, and 4. Option C includes statements 1, 3, and 4.
The Industrial Revolution led to mass employment in factories, including women and children, often in harsh conditions. Social critics highlighted these negative impacts.
Conditions in early factories were often unsafe and unsanitary. The exploitation of child labor was a major issue. Reforms addressing working hours, safety, and child labor gradually emerged later in the 19th century due to social pressure and legislation.

38. Which of the following was/were the reasons for the defeat of British

Which of the following was/were the reasons for the defeat of British during the American War of Independence ?

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  • 1. The remoteness of the American Continent and the lack of good roads
  • 2. The British authorities failed to rally the loyalist Americans
  • 3. The Americans benefited from the extraordinary military leadership of George Washington
  • 4. The Americans had access to superior arms and ammunition
1, 2 and 4
3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Several factors contributed to the British defeat in the American War of Independence.
Statement 1: The vast distance across the Atlantic and the poor infrastructure in America created significant logistical challenges for transporting troops, supplies, and maintaining communication for the British army. This is a correct reason.
Statement 2: The British failed to effectively mobilize and utilize the support of loyalist Americans, who constituted a significant portion of the population. This lack of broad internal support weakened the British effort. This is a correct reason.
Statement 3: The strategic leadership, perseverance, and ability of George Washington to keep the Continental Army intact and motivated throughout the long war, coupled with key tactical victories, were crucial for the American success. This is a correct reason.
Statement 4: While the Americans eventually received aid from France and other European powers (including arms), they generally did not possess superior arms and ammunition compared to the well-equipped British army throughout the war. They often faced shortages. This statement is incorrect.
Statements 1, 2, and 3 are correct reasons for the British defeat. Option D includes statements 1, 2, and 3.
Factors contributing to American victory included geographical challenges for Britain, British strategic errors, American leadership, foreign aid (especially from France), and strong American motivation.
Other factors included British strategic miscalculations, the costly nature of the war for Britain, and effective diplomacy by American figures like Benjamin Franklin in securing foreign alliances.

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39. Which of the following was/were the feature(s) of Lenin’s New Economic

Which of the following was/were the feature(s) of Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP) for the Soviet Union ?

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  • 1. Private retail trading was strictly forbidden
  • 2. Private enterprise was strictly forbidden
1, 2 and 4
3 only
2 and 3 only
1, 2 and 3
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Lenin’s New Economic Policy (NEP), introduced in 1921, was a temporary move away from strict state control to revive the economy.
Statement 1: “Private retail trading was strictly forbidden”. This was a feature of War Communism (1918-1921), not NEP. NEP *allowed* small-scale private retail trade.
Statement 2: “Private enterprise was strictly forbidden”. This was largely a feature of War Communism. NEP *allowed* small-scale private enterprise.
Statement 3: “State control was maintained over heavy industry and banking”. This is a correct feature of NEP. The state retained control over the “commanding heights” of the economy (heavy industry, banking, foreign trade).
Statement 4: “Peasants were allowed to sell their surplus produce”. This is a correct feature of NEP. The system of forced requisitioning (prodrazvyorstka) from War Communism was replaced by a tax in kind (prodnalog), allowing peasants to sell their surplus on the market.
The correct features among the typical statements are 3 and 4. Looking at the provided options, only option B (“3 only”) consists solely of a correct feature (Statement 3), given that statements 1 and 2 are incorrect features of NEP. Although statement 4 is also a correct feature, it is not offered as “3 and 4 only”, and is included in option A which contains incorrect statements.
NEP allowed limited private trade and enterprise (small scale), replaced grain requisitioning with a tax allowing surplus sales, and maintained state control over major industries and finance.
NEP was a pragmatic policy aimed at increasing agricultural and industrial output by reintroducing market mechanisms. It was successful in reviving the Soviet economy in the 1920s but was eventually phased out under Stalin with the implementation of five-year plans and collectivization.

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40. Who among the following invented the powerloom that revolutionized the

Who among the following invented the powerloom that revolutionized the cotton textile industry ?

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Edmund Cartwright
Samuel Crompton
Richard Arkwright
James Hargreaves
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The correct answer is A. The power loom was invented by Edmund Cartwright.
Edmund Cartwright, an English clergyman and inventor, patented the first power loom in 1785. This invention mechanized the process of weaving, significantly increasing the speed and efficiency of cloth production and playing a key role in the Industrial Revolution, particularly in the cotton textile industry.
Samuel Crompton invented the spinning mule (combined features of spinning jenny and water frame), Richard Arkwright invented the water frame, and James Hargreaves invented the spinning jenny. These were all crucial inventions in the spinning process of the textile industry, preceding or coinciding with the invention of the power loom, which mechanized the weaving process.

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