FEDERAL PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION
COMPETITIVE EXAMINATION FOR
RECRUITMENT TO POSTS IN BS-17
UNDER THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, 2011
BRITISH HISTORY, PAPER-I
TIME ALLOWED: THREE HOURS
(PART-I MCQs) 30 MINUTES MAXIMUM MARKS: 20
(PART-II) 2 HOURS & 30 MINUTES MAXIMUM MARKS: 80
NOTE: (i) First attempt PART-I (MCQs) on separate Answer Sheet which shall be taken back after 30 minutes.
(ii) Overwriting/cutting of the options/answers will not be given credit.
(PART-I MCQs) (COMPULSORY)
Q.1. Select the best option/answer and fill in the appropriate box on the Answer Sheet. (1 x 20=20)
(i) Robert Walpole played a prominent role in defusing which major crisis?
(a) The Potato Famine (b) The Free Trade Debate (c) The South Sea Bubble (d) The 7 years War (e) None of these
(ii) The First Lord of the Treasury was responsible for which portfolio?
(a) Naval/Fleet Affairs (b) Foreign Affairs (c) Colonial Affairs (d) The Bank of England (e) None of these
(iii) The British Upper House of Parliament comprised which group of people?
(a) The Lords Temporal and Ecclesiastical (b) The Lords Imperial (c) The Businessmen and Industrialists (d) The Landlords (e) None of these
(iv) Which of the following wars led to the collapse of the French military threat to Britain?
(a) The War of the Roses (b) The 30 Years War (c) The Napoleonic Wars (d) The War of Austrian Succession (e) None of these
(v) A dominion of settlement refers to:
(a) A territory conquered by the British (b) A territory colonized by the British (c) A protectorate of the British (d) An ally of the British (e) None of these
(vi) The Glorious Revolution of 1688 is called “Glorious” because:
(a) It led to the violent deaths of thousands of enemies of the constitutional monarchy (b) It achieved British independence (c) It destroyed Catholic power in Britain (d) It placed Britain on the path to world power status (e) None of these
(vii) The rise of France under Louis XIV threatened Britain primarily because:
(a) France wanted to conquer England (b) Louis XIV was a diehard Catholic (c) Louis XIV wanted to dominate continental Europe (d) The French were Pursuing a Great Game (e) None of these
(viii) Britain is home to Adam Smith, the author of which one of the following works?
(a) The Decline and Fall of the Roman Empire (b) Force and Statecraft (c) The Poverty of Nations. (d) Das Kapital (e) None of these
(ix) By joining anti-French alliances between 1688 and 1815 the British wanted to:
(a) Ensure Prussian domination of Europe (b) Conquer France and turn it into a colony of the British Empire (c) Punish Austria (d) Maintain a balance of power in Europe (e) None of these
(x) The British Empire was formally founded on:
(a) June 15, 1215 (b) Christmas Day, 1688 (c) New Years Day, 1815 (d) Empire Day, 1800 (e) None of these
(xi) Colonial Policy refers to:
(a) Policy towards European countries (b) Policy toward the balance of power (c) Policy towards overseas conquest, settlement and trade (d) Policy toward communism (e) None of these
(xii) Free Trade is:
(a) A system of commercial exchange that is strictly regulated by governments (b) An economic policy that is based on minimal interference in the working of internal and external markets (c) A system of government in which only the wealthy are allowed to vote (d) A global system for mobilizing resources to achieve humane goals. (e) None of these
(xiii) Industrialization began in Britain around what time period?
(a) 1750 – 1800 (b) 1800 – 1815 (c) 1800 – 1850 (d) 1825 – 1850 (e) None of these
(xiv) Catholic Emancipation occurred in which year?
(a) 1776 (b) 1825 (c) 1829 (d) 1810 (e) 1815
(xv) The Reform Act of 1832 turned Britain into:
(a) A constitutional monarchy (b) An egalitarian republic (c) A communist dictatorship (d) A more open parliamentary oligarchy (e) None of these
(xvi) William Lovett authored “The People’s Charter” in:
(a) 1832 (b) 1838 (c) 1836 (d) 1840 (e) 1830
(xvii) The Tories and Whigs were:
(a) Rival churches (b) Rival pressure groups (c) Rival political parties (d) Comrades (e) None of these
(xviii) Lord Palmerston was Foreign Secretary of Britain from:
(a) 1830 – 1841 (b) 1835 – 1842 (c) 1800 – 1810 (d) 1815 – 1820 (e) None of these
(xix) Queen Victoria ascended the throne in:
(a) 1836 (b) 1837 (c) 1838 (d) 1839 (e) None of these
(xx) The French Commander of the Expeditionary Force in the American Revolution was:
(a) Burgoyne (b) De Tocqueville (c) Marquis de Custine (d) Marquis de Lafayette (e) None of these
PART-II
NOTE:(i) PART-II is to be attempted on separate Answer Book.
(ii) Attempt ONLY FOUR questions from PART-II. All questions carry EQUAL marks.
(iii) Extra attempt of any question or any part of the attempted question will not be considered.
Q.2. Why did the Industrial Revolution begin in England? What were the implications of this development for England’s role in the world? Discuss. (20)
Q.3. Robert Walpole is regarded as the first Prime Minister of Britain. Why is this so? What factors facilitated and encouraged his emergence as the first Prime Minister? Did this have any constitutional
implications? (20)
Q.4. How did the social structure of Britain change between 1750 and 1832? Discuss at least three distinct social structural changes that occurred during this period. (20)
Q.5. How did Britain financial strength and capital resources help it to prevail against France during their struggles in the 18th century? Demonstrate precisely how financial strength enabled Britain win with reference to the conflicts of this period. (20)
Q.6. What was the impact of the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Wars on British? ( 5 x 4 = 20)
(a) Politics (b) Military power (c) Economic strength (d) Diplomatic role.
Q.7. What were the different opinions regarding policy towards Continental Europe after 1815? Which opinion eventually became the official policy? Why? (20)
Q.8. How did the Reform Act of 1832 move Britain closer towards popular government? Discuss with reference to the provisions of the Act and the subsequent popular demands. (20)