History – English Medium GCE O/L – MCQ – 2015

This quote is famously attributed to Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of India, reflecting his belief in the importance of understanding history to shape a nation’s future. While E.H. Carr was a historian, and Churchill and Lincoln were major political figures, this specific statement is most closely associated with Nehru.

The pre-historic period is defined by the absence of writing, so inscriptions (1) are from the historic period. Folk tales (2) are unreliable oral traditions. While cave drawings (3) are a pre-historic source, stone tools (4) are the most fundamental and widespread form of archaeological evidence used to define, date, and understand pre-historic societies, their technology, and subsistence strategies.

The Nikāya Samgrahaya is a 14th-century chronicle that specifically details the history of the Buddhist monastic order (Saṅgha) in Sri Lanka, its various sects (nikāyas), and their doctrinal disputes. This makes it a direct and primary literary source for the country’s religious history. The other texts are either political chronicles (Rājāvaliya) or works explaining Buddhist doctrine and stories.

While all options contain an element of truth, the most profound reason for protecting monuments is their role as tangible links to a nation’s history, culture, and identity. Option (3) best encapsulates this core value, as they are a source of national pride and a physical representation of the national heritage. The other reasons are secondary to this fundamental purpose.

The Sigiri Frescoes were painted during the reign of King Kashyapa I in the late 5th century AD, fitting the specified time period perfectly. They provide detailed, contemporary visual evidence of the attire, hairstyles, and jewelry of the era. The other options are from much later historical periods (Polonnaruwa or Kandyan).

The earliest Brahmi inscriptions in Sri Lanka, dating from the 3rd century BCE onwards, are donatory inscriptions found on the drip-ledges of caves (lena) that were prepared and offered to the Buddhist monastic community (Saṅgha). These are known as ‘Len lipi’ and are the most characteristic form of inscription from the early Anuradhapura period.

Across a wide range of foreign accounts from ancient times (Greek, Roman, Chinese, Arab), the most consistent and prominent theme regarding Sri Lanka (then Taprobane or Serendib) was its central role in Indian Ocean trade. Writers focused on its strategic ports and valuable commodities like gems, pearls, spices, and elephants. While some, like Fa-Hsien, wrote on religion, trade was the most common focus.

The Elahära ëla (1), Angamädilla ëla (2), and Minipe ëla (4) are all famous ancient canals designed to divert water from the Mahaweli River system. The Ridībändi ëla (3), however, is part of a different hydraulic system; it was constructed to divert water from the Kala Oya river to augment the great Kala Wewa reservoir.

While the Yoda Ela achieves all the purposes listed in options 2, 3, and 4, its most celebrated feature, which makes it an engineering marvel, is its incredibly precise and gentle gradient. The canal drops only about 10-20 centimeters per kilometer over its entire 87-kilometer length. This remarkable feat of ancient surveying and engineering is the primary reason it is regarded as a great creation.

The correct chronological order is: C. Planting of the Sri Maha Bodhi sapling (c. 3rd century BCE), A. Committing the Tripitaka to writing at Aluvihara (1st century BCE), D. Construction of the Sigiri fortress by King Kashyapa (5th century CE), and B. The invasion of Polonnaruva by Kalinga Magha (1215 CE). This sequence corresponds to C, A, D, B.

During the first part of the Anuradhapura period, migrations were a fundamental and continuous feature. This includes the initial settlement of the island (as per the Vijaya legend) and the subsequent, constant influx of people from South India as traders, artisans, mercenaries, and invaders. This process of migration profoundly shaped the island’s demographics, culture, and politics, making it a highly significant feature of the relationship.

According to the Mahavamsa, the Thuparama stupa was commissioned by King Devanampiya Tissa shortly after the introduction of Buddhism to Sri Lanka in the 3rd century BCE. It was built to enshrine the right collarbone of the Buddha and is considered the first stupa built in the capital, Anuradhapura. Ruwanwelisaya (Ratnamali stupa) was built later by King Dutugemunu.

Nallur was the capital of the medieval Kingdom of Jaffna. As the seat of the Ārya Cakravartti dynasty, it was the political and administrative hub. It is also the location of the famous Nallur Kandaswamy Kovil, the kingdom’s most important Hindu temple, making it the primary religious center as well.

Archaeological evidence has established that a sophisticated water management system supplied the inner city of Anuradhapura. Water from the Tisa Wewa was channeled through a network of underground pipelines to various locations, including the royal pleasure gardens of Ranmasu Uyana and the ornate bathing ponds known as Kuttam Pokuna.

The term ‘Patungam’ (derived from the Tamil ‘pattinam’ and Sanskrit ‘pattana’) specifically refers to a port town or a coastal market town. These settlements were typically located at river mouths or estuaries, which provided safe anchorage for trading ships, making them crucial centers for maritime commerce.

While King Vijayabahu I accomplished all the deeds listed, his single most defining and celebrated achievement was his successful military campaign to expel the Chola invaders. He ended nearly a century of foreign rule and reunified Sri Lanka under a single sovereign in 1070 CE. This act of liberation is the foundation of his historical legacy.

All three activities are the celebrated achievements of Nissanka Alagakkonara (or Alakesvara), a powerful minister during the 14th-century Gampola kingdom. He acted as the de facto ruler under King Vikramabahu III, fortified the city of Kotte, and led the successful resistance against the hegemony of the Jaffna Kingdom in the south.

The Battle of Gannoruwa in 1638 resulted in an overwhelming victory for the Kandyan Kingdom, led by King Rajasinghe II, against the Portuguese. The Portuguese expeditionary force was almost completely annihilated. It is considered one of the most devastating defeats the Portuguese ever suffered in Sri Lanka and is a landmark event in the island’s history of resistance.

The Dutch systematically organized the cultivation and trade of cinnamon (A), making it a lucrative monopoly. They also constructed a network of canals, particularly along the western coast, for the efficient transportation of goods (B). Baila music (C) is a Portuguese legacy, and the spreading of Roman Catholicism (D) was a Portuguese policy, whereas the Protestant Dutch often suppressed it. Thus, A and B are correct.

While Senasammata Vikkramabahu was an early founder, it was Vimaladharmasuriya I who re-established Kandy as a powerful, independent state in the late 16th century. He defeated the Portuguese and their clients, brought the sacred Tooth Relic to Kandy, reformed the Buddhist clergy, and successfully defended the kingdom, thereby founding a new, resilient dynasty.

The Dutch East India Company (VOC) established its administrative capital and main headquarters for its entire Asian trading empire in Batavia (modern-day Jakarta in Indonesia). All other Dutch territories in Asia, including coastal Sri Lanka, were governed from Batavia. Goa was Portuguese, Pondicherry was French, and Madras was British.

The primary strategic reason for the British capture of the island’s maritime provinces from the Dutch was the magnificent deep-water natural harbour at Trincomalee. In the context of the global rivalry with France, controlling this harbour was deemed essential for British naval supremacy in the Indian Ocean and the defense of their interests in India.

Governor Lord Torrington’s administration (1847-1850) introduced several unpopular taxes, including a ‘poll tax’ or body tax, which required males to either pay a tax or perform six days of free labor on roads. These harsh tax policies were a direct cause of the 1848 Matale Rebellion.

The principle of electing members to the Legislative Council based on geographical territories, rather than solely on a communal basis, was a key feature introduced by the Manning Reforms (specifically the Order-in-Council of 1924). This marked a significant departure from the previous communal representation system and was a step towards a more modern form of representative government.

The Soulbury Constitution, which granted independence to Ceylon in 1947, replaced the previous Donoughmore system. The key change was the establishment of a Westminster-style parliamentary system of government, featuring a bicameral legislature, a Prime Minister, and a cabinet responsible to Parliament. The features in options 1, 3, and 4 were all part of the Donoughmore Constitution that was being replaced.

The 1978 Constitution of Sri Lanka introduced the referendum as a mechanism of direct democracy. For certain fundamental issues, approval from the people through a national referendum is required in addition to a parliamentary majority. This is considered the most democratic means as it directly consults the sovereign will of the people, surpassing the authority of their elected representatives on such matters.

While North-western India is defined by great mountain ranges (3) like the Hindu Kush, these mountains acted largely as a barrier. The crucial features that enabled relations (trade, invasion, migration) with the outside world (Central Asia, Persia, etc.) were the mountain passes (1), such as the Khyber, Bolan, and Gomal passes. These passes served as the gateways through the mountain barrier.

The correct chronological sequence is: B. Bimbisara of the Haryanka dynasty annexes Anga (c. 5th century BCE). C. The capital is shifted to Pataliputra by Bimbisara’s successor’s successor, Udayin. A. The subsequent Nanda dynasty, under Dhanananda, expands the empire (c. 4th century BCE). D. Chandragupta Maurya overthrows the Nandas to establish the Mauryan dynasty (c. 322 BCE). This order is B, C, A, D.

A defining and celebrated characteristic shared by both the Mauryan Emperor Asoka and the Mughal Emperor Akbar was their policy of religious tolerance and reconciliation. Asoka promoted his syncretic code of Dhamma, respecting all faiths. Akbar pursued his policy of Sulh-i-Kul (peace with all) and encouraged inter-religious dialogue. This shared approach is a famous parallel in Indian history.

Georgy Plekhanov is known as the “father of Russian Marxism.” In the 1880s, he founded the first Russian Marxist group, the Emancipation of Labour, and was the foremost theorist who translated and adapted Marxist ideas for the Russian context. While Lenin (1) was the revolutionary leader who put these ideas into practice, Plekhanov was the intellectual pioneer who introduced them.

The political ideology of Adolf Hitler and his party is specifically known as Nazism, a shorthand for National Socialism (Nationalsozialismus). While Nazism is a variety of Fascism (3), “Nazism” is the more precise and correct term for this specific ideology, distinguished by its racial antisemitism and the Führerprinzip.

The Industrial Revolution created a new economic system based on factory production. This system led to the emergence of two new primary social classes: the capitalists (or bourgeoisie), who owned the means of production (factories, machinery, capital), and the industrial working class (or proletariat), who sold their labor for wages. This class division is a hallmark of industrial society.

The overthrow of the Qing dynasty in 1911, an event in which Sun Yat-sen’s party (the precursor to the Kuomintang/Kuo Mintang) was instrumental, marked the end of over 2000 years of imperial rule. This fundamental break with the traditional system shattered the old order and initiated a period of intense and rapid change, including civil war and revolution. The other events listed were consequences of this initial, profound transformation.

The People’s Republic of China (PRC) was founded in 1949. Mao Zedong (Mao-Tse-Tung), as the leader of the victorious Communist Party, became the first head of state, with the title Chairman of the Central People’s Government. Sun-Yat-Sen (1) was the first provisional president of the Republic of China, the state that preceded the PRC on the mainland.

Japan’s feudal system was formally dismantled during the Meiji Restoration, which began in 1868. This period of rapid modernization and centralization was led by a group of oligarchs in the name of Emperor Mutsuhito (Emperor Meiji). Key reforms included the abolition of the feudal domains (han) and the samurai class, ending the power of the shogun and daimyo.

The National Diet is the official name of Japan’s bicameral legislature. It consists of the House of Representatives (lower house) and the House of Councillors (upper house).

The North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) was formed in 1949 as a collective defense alliance of North American and Western European countries. It was established under the leadership of the USA to provide security against the perceived threat of the Soviet Union and its allies during the Cold War. The WARSAW Pact was the Soviet-led counterpart.

The question asks to match the agencies to the countries in the order listed (i, ii, iii). (i) CIA is from (D) United States of America. (ii) MOSSAD is from (A) Israel. (iii) K.G.B. was from (B) Soviet Russia. Therefore, the correct sequence of country codes is D, A, B.

The ideas of the French Enlightenment philosophers—Montesquieu (separation of powers), Voltaire (freedom of speech and religion), and Rousseau (social contract and popular sovereignty)—provided the crucial intellectual and ideological framework for the French Revolution. Their writings directly criticized the absolutist monarchy and privileged orders of the French Ancien Régime.

The question has a minor error; the Balfour Declaration was in 1917, and the state was established in 1948. The 1917 Balfour Declaration was a British statement of support for the establishment of a “national home for the Jewish people” in Palestine. This declaration was a key step that, after the British Mandate period, led to the creation of the State of Israel in 1948.