Introduction
These Paths to Modernisation Important Questions cover the most important MCQs, one-word questions, assertion and reason questions and descriptive questions from NCERT Class 11 History Chapter 7. The questions are prepared from NCERT concepts and important exam-oriented topics for quick revision and practice.
This page is useful for UPSC, SSC, PSC, Railway, CUET and Class 11 History preparation, helping students revise important reforms, political movements, modernisation processes and historical developments in Japan, China and Korea.
Table of Contents
1. Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
These MCQs from Paths to Modernisation are designed for quick objective revision and competitive exam preparation. The questions cover important personalities, reforms, political movements and modernisation processes discussed in the NCERT chapter.
MCQ 1: Which country dominated East Asia at the beginning of the nineteenth century?
A. Japan
B. Korea
C. China
D. Vietnam
Answer: C. China (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 2: Which dynasty ruled China during the nineteenth century?
A. Ming Dynasty
B. Qing Dynasty
C. Han Dynasty
D. Sung Dynasty
Answer: B. Qing Dynasty (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 3: Which country successfully built a modern nation-state in East Asia?
A. China
B. Mongolia
C. Japan
D. Tibet
Answer: C. Japan (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 4: Japan incorporated Taiwan into its empire in:
A. 1868
B. 1894
C. 1895
D. 1910
Answer: C. 1895 (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 5: Japan defeated Russia in:
A. 1900
B. 1905
C. 1910
D. 1890
Answer: B. 1905 (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 6: The Chinese Communist Party emerged victorious in:
A. 1911
B. 1937
C. 1949
D. 1956
Answer: C. 1949 (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 7: By the end of the 1970s, Chinese leaders introduced:
A. Military rule
B. Land redistribution
C. Economic reforms
D. Isolationism
Answer: C. Economic reforms (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 8: Which country occupied Japan after World War II?
A. USSR
B. Germany
C. USA
D. China
Answer: C. USA (Page Reference: Page 153)
MCQ 9: Who is considered the greatest historian of early China?
A. Liang Qichao
B. Marco Polo
C. Sima Qian
D. Kume Kunitake
Answer: C. Sima Qian (Page Reference: Page 154)
MCQ 10: The Meiji government established a bureau to collect records in:
A. 1853
B. 1868
C. 1869
D. 1871
Answer: C. 1869 (Page Reference: Page 154)
MCQ 11: Who wrote the book ‘On China’?
A. Liang Qichao
B. Naito Konan
C. George Sansom
D. Mateo Ricci
Answer: B. Naito Konan (Page Reference: Page 154)
MCQ 12: Which river is the third longest in the world?
A. Pearl River
B. Huang He
C. Yangtse River
D. Mekong River
Answer: C. Yangtse River (Page Reference: Page 155)
MCQ 13: The dominant ethnic group in China is:
A. Tibetan
B. Hui
C. Han
D. Uighur
Answer: C. Han (Page Reference: Page 155)
MCQ 14: Which cuisine is best known outside China?
A. Szechuan cuisine
B. Cantonese cuisine
C. Tibetan cuisine
D. Northern cuisine
Answer: B. Cantonese cuisine (Page Reference: Page 155)
MCQ 15: Japan consists mainly of:
A. Desert regions
B. River valleys
C. Mountainous islands
D. Grasslands
Answer: C. Mountainous islands (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 16: The four largest islands of Japan include:
A. Okinawa
B. Taiwan
C. Honshu
D. Sakhalin
Answer: C. Honshu (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 17: The ruling military leader in Japan was known as:
A. Samurai
B. Daimyo
C. Shogun
D. Ronin
Answer: C. Shogun (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 18: Members of which family held the position of shogun from 1603 to 1867?
A. Meiji family
B. Tokugawa family
C. Fujiwara family
D. Qing family
Answer: B. Tokugawa family (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 19: The warrior class in Japan was known as:
A. Daimyo
B. Samurai
C. Merchants
D. Monks
Answer: B. Samurai (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 20: The capital Edo is known today as:
A. Kyoto
B. Osaka
C. Tokyo
D. Hiroshima
Answer: C. Tokyo (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 21: What was used for printing in Japan?
A. Metal blocks
B. Wood blocks
C. Copper plates
D. Stone tablets
Answer: B. Wood blocks (Page Reference: Page 156)
MCQ 22: Which Japanese silk industry became famous worldwide?
A. Osaka silk
B. Kyoto silk
C. Nishijin silk
D. Edo silk
Answer: C. Nishijin silk (Page Reference: Page 157)
MCQ 23: Which literary work became central to Japanese fiction?
A. Kojiki
B. Tale of the Genji
C. Pillow Book
D. Nihon Shoki
Answer: B. Tale of the Genji (Page Reference: Page 157)
MCQ 24: Who wrote the ‘Tale of the Genji’?
A. Murasaki Shikibu
B. Liang Qichao
C. Naito Konan
D. Mateo Ricci
Answer: A. Murasaki Shikibu (Page Reference: Page 157)
MCQ 25: Who arrived in Japan in 1853 demanding trade relations?
A. George Sansom
B. Matthew Perry
C. Marco Polo
D. Luis Frois
Answer: B. Matthew Perry (Page Reference: Page 157)
2. One-Words
These one-word and factual questions help students quickly revise important terms, movements, personalities and events from the chapter. The section is especially useful for UPSC, SSC, PSC and other objective examinations.
| Question | Answer | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Name the dynasty ruling China in the nineteenth century. | Qing Dynasty | Page 153 |
| Which country defeated Russia in 1905? | Japan | Page 153 |
| In which year did the Chinese Communist Party come to power? | 1949 | Page 153 |
| Who was the greatest historian of early China? | Sima Qian | Page 154 |
| Which government established a bureau for official records in 1869? | Meiji Government | Page 154 |
| Name the Italian traveller who visited China. | Marco Polo | Page 154 |
| Which language is the major language in China? | Putonghua | Page 155 |
| Which river is also called Chang Jiang? | Yangtse River | Page 155 |
| Which ethnic group dominates China? | Han | Page 155 |
| Which cuisine includes dim sum? | Cantonese cuisine | Page 155 |
| Name the southernmost island chain of Japan. | Okinawan chain | Page 156 |
| Which crop is the staple food of Japan? | Rice | Page 156 |
| What was the ruling military title in Japan? | Shogun | Page 156 |
| What were Japanese feudal lords called? | Daimyo | Page 156 |
| Name the warrior class in Japan. | Samurai | Page 156 |
| What is the modern name of Edo? | Tokyo | Page 157 |
| Which industry was developed in Nishijin? | Silk industry | Page 157 |
| Which famous Japanese novel was written by Murasaki Shikibu? | Tale of the Genji | Page 157 |
| Which Western nation traded with Japan before 1853? | Holland | Page 157 |
| Who forced Japan to open trade relations in 1853? | Matthew Perry | Page 157 |
3. Assertion and Reason Questions
These assertion and reason questions test conceptual understanding and logical interpretation of important developments discussed in Paths to Modernisation. They are useful for analytical revision and exam-oriented practice.
Question 1
Assertion (A): Japan emerged as a modern industrial nation in the nineteenth century.
Reason (R): Japan successfully adopted modernisation while preserving aspects of its traditions.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 153)
Question 2
Assertion (A): China quickly adapted to Western colonial challenges.
Reason (R): China effectively reformed its imperial system immediately.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: D
(Page Reference: Page 153)
Question 3
Assertion (A): Chinese leaders introduced economic reforms in the late 1970s.
Reason (R): They believed the ideological system slowed economic growth.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 153)
Question 4
Assertion (A): History was considered important in China and Japan.
Reason (R): Rulers used historical records as standards for governance.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 154)
Question 5
Assertion (A): Japan is largely mountainous.
Reason (R): Japan lies in an active earthquake zone.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: B
(Page Reference: Page 156)
Question 6
Assertion (A): Samurai formed the ruling elite in Japan.
Reason (R): Samurai served the shoguns and daimyo.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 156)
Question 7
Assertion (A): Edo became one of the world’s most populated cities in the seventeenth century.
Reason (R): Commercial growth and urbanisation expanded rapidly.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 156)
Question 8
Assertion (A): The Japanese economy began using money and stock markets.
Reason (R): Economic development was taking place in new ways.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 157)
Question 9
Assertion (A): The Tale of the Genji was written in Chinese script.
Reason (R): Women writers in Japan generally used Japanese script.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: D
(Page Reference: Page 157)
Question 10
Assertion (A): Matthew Perry’s arrival affected Japanese politics.
Reason (R): The emperor re-emerged as an important political figure.
Options:
A. Both A and R are true and R is the correct explanation
B. Both A and R are true but R is not the correct explanation
C. A is true but R is false
D. A is false but R is true
Correct Option: A
(Page Reference: Page 157)
4. Important Exam-Based Concept Questions
These important questions focus on the most frequently asked concepts and analytical topics from Paths to Modernisation. The section is useful for revision, answer-writing practice and competitive examination preparation.
- 1. Explain how Japan modernised successfully while China faced political instability.
- 2. Analyse the role of nationalism in Japan’s modernisation.
- 3. Discuss the impact of Western imperialism on East Asia.
- 4. Explain the significance of the Meiji Restoration in Japanese history.
- 5. Compare the political systems of Tokugawa Japan and Qing China.
- 6. How did urbanisation contribute to economic growth in Japan?
- 7. Explain the role of trade and commerce in Tokugawa Japan.
- 8. Discuss the contribution of historians and scholars to the understanding of China and Japan.
- 9. Analyse the importance of the Tale of the Genji in Japanese society.
- 10. Explain the impact of Commodore Perry’s arrival on Japanese politics and foreign policy.
- 11. Discuss the economic reforms introduced in China in the late twentieth century.
- 12. Explain how geography influenced Japanese society and economy.
- 13. Why did Japan seek to reduce silk imports from China?
- 14. Explain the importance of official historical records in East Asian societies.
- 15. Compare Chinese and Japanese responses to Western influence.