📚 Past Year Questions (PYQs) 2019-2024
This section contains 35 authentic questions from CBSE board exams (2019 to 2024) for Chapter 3: The Making of a Global World. Organized by marks category with model answers. Master these to excel in the board exam.
🌍 Chapter 3 Focus Areas
This chapter carries 8-10 marks in board exams. High-weightage topics: Pre-modern globalization, Silk Routes, 19th century global economy, Corn Laws, Great Depression, Bretton Woods institutions, and G-77 demands.
Most Repeated: Silk Routes (4 times), Great Depression (5 times), Bretton Woods (3 times)
Conceptual Focus: Understand flows of trade, labor, capital
Tricky Area: Different phases of globalization and their characteristics
PART A: Very Short Answer Questions (1 Mark Each)
Answer in one word or one sentence. Precision matters most.
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Name any two countries which approached the World Bank for loans after the Second World War. [CBSE 2024]
Answer: Japan and West Germany.
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What were 'Canal Colonies'? [CBSE 2023]
Answer: Irrigated areas in Punjab developed for wheat cultivation.
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Which disease spread like wildfire in Africa in the 1890s? [CBSE 2023]
Answer: Cattle plague or rinderpest.
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What is meant by 'Bretton Woods Agreement'? [CBSE 2022]
Answer: Post-WWII international monetary system establishing IMF and World Bank.
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What were 'Corn Laws'? [CBSE 2022]
Answer: British laws restricting import of corn to protect landlords.
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What is meant by 'Indentured Labour'? [CBSE 2021]
Answer: Contracted labor migration from India to plantation colonies.
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Name the economist who thought that India gold exports promoted world trade. [CBSE 2021]
Answer: John Maynard Keynes.
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What were the main destinations of Indian indentured migrants? [CBSE 2020]
Answer: Caribbean islands, Mauritius, Fiji, and Ceylon.
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What is meant by 'El Dorado'? [CBSE 2020]
Answer: Fabled city of gold in South America.
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Which food traveled from South America to Europe in the 19th century? [CBSE 2019]
Answer: Potatoes.
PART B: Short Answer Questions (3 Marks Each)
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Explain any three effects of the Great Depression of 1929 on the Indian economy. [CBSE 2024, 3 marks] ⚠️ High Probability
Answer: Effects: (1) Agricultural prices fell by 50%. (2) Peasants' debt increased. (3) Exports declined sharply. (4) Peasants sold gold/land to pay revenue. (5) Industrial production declined due to reduced purchasing power.
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Why were the Corn Laws abolished? Explain any three reasons. [CBSE 2023, 3 marks]
Answer: Reasons: (1) Industrialists wanted cheap food for workers. (2) Urban dwellers demanded cheaper food grains. (3) Anti-Corn Law movement by liberals. (4) Abolition would increase British manufacturing exports.
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Explain the impact of 'Rinderpest' on people's livelihoods in Africa in the 1890s. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 3 marks]
Answer: Impact: (1) Destroyed 90% of cattle. (2) African livelihoods dependent on cattle ruined. (3) Forced Africans into labor market. (4) Enabled European colonization by weakening African economy. (5) Created famine and poverty.
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Describe the role of 'technology' in shaping the 19th century world. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
Answer: Role of technology: (1) Railways, steamships, telegraph connected world. (2) Refrigerated ships enabled meat trade. (3) Faster transportation reduced travel time. (4) Facilitated colonial control and trade. (5) Enabled mass production and global markets.
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Explain any three effects of the First World War on the world economy. [CBSE 2022, 3 marks]
Answer: Effects: (1) Britain borrowed heavily from US, becoming debtor. (2) US emerged as creditor and industrial power. (3) Production disrupted in Europe. (4) Agricultural economies suffered. (5) War debts caused economic instability.
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How did the 'Silk Routes' help in linking the world? Explain with examples. [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
Answer: Silk Routes linked: (1) Trade routes connecting Asia, Europe, Africa. (2) Exchanged goods: Chinese silk, Indian textiles, spices. (3) Cultural exchange: Buddhism spread to Asia. (4) Technological exchange: Paper-making technology spread. (5) Linked diverse civilizations for centuries.
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Explain any three reasons for the attraction of Europeans to Africa in the 19th century. [CBSE 2021, 3 marks]
Answer: Attractions: (1) Vast resources: Minerals (gold, diamonds). (2) Land for plantation agriculture. (3) Market for European goods. (4) Strategic ports for trade routes. (5) Missionary activities and "civilizing mission".
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Explain the three types of movements or flows within international economic exchange in the 19th century. [CBSE 2020, 3 marks]
Answer: Three flows: (1) Trade flow: Goods like cloth, wheat. (2) Labor flow: Migration of indentured labor. (3) Capital flow: Investments for plantations, mines, railways. These interconnected flows created global economy.
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How did the Great Depression of 1929 affect the Indian farmers? Explain. [CBSE 2020, 3 marks] ⚠️ Repeated
Answer: Effects on farmers: (1) Agricultural prices fell by 50%. (2) Couldn't sell produce. (3) Revenue demands continued. (4) Forced to sell gold/land. (5) Indebtedness increased. (6) Widespread poverty and distress.
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Describe the role of 'trade' in linking the world in the 19th century. [CBSE 2019, 3 marks]
Answer: Role of trade: (1) Connected distant markets. (2) Created international specialization. (3) Colonies produced raw materials, Europe manufactured. (4) Food traveled across continents (wheat, rice). (5) Created global interdependence. (6) Led to international division of labor.
PART C: Long Answer Questions (5 Marks Each)
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Explain the role of 'New International Economic Order' (NIEO) and 'Group of 77' in improving the position of developing countries. [CBSE 2024, 5 marks]
Answer: NIEO (1970s) demanded: (1) Real control over natural resources. (2) Better access to developed markets. (3) Reduced cost of technology transfer. (4) Increased development assistance.
G-77 role: (1) Collective bargaining by developing countries. (2) Demanded reform of Bretton Woods institutions. (3) Sought fair global trade terms. (4) Though limited success, gave voice to Global South.
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Describe the factors that led to the end of the Bretton Woods system and the beginning of globalization. [CBSE 2023, 5 marks]
Answer: End of Bretton Woods: (1) US dollar weakness (1971). (2) US suspended dollar convertibility to gold. (3) Floating exchange rates replaced fixed rates. (4) Oil shocks of 1970s.
Globalization beginning: (1) New financial system. (2) Multinational corporations expanded. (3) Technological advances (IT revolution). (4) IMF/World Bank promoted free market policies. (5) China's economic reforms.
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Explain how the global transfer of disease in the pre-modern world helped in colonisation of Americas. [CBSE 2023 Compartment, 5 marks]
Answer: Disease transfer: (1) Europeans carried germs (smallpox) to which Native Americans had no immunity. (2) 90-95% Native American population died by 1600. (3) Created labor shortage, leading to African slave trade. (4) Enabled European conquest with minimal resistance. (5) Destroyed indigenous societies and cultures.
This biological warfare was unintended but crucial for colonization success.
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Compare the economic conditions of the world in the 19th century and the late 20th century. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
Answer:
Aspect 19th Century Late 20th Century Dominant Power Britain (industrial) USA, multinational corporations Trade System Colonial trade, protectionism WTO, free trade globalization Labor Movement Indentured labor, migration Service sector, IT professionals Financial System Gold standard Floating exchange rates Technology Railways, steamships Internet, telecommunications
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Describe the role of 'Bretton Woods' institutions in the post-World War II world. [CBSE 2022, 5 marks]
Answer: Bretton Woods (1944) created: (1) IMF: Maintain exchange rate stability, provide loans. (2) World Bank: Finance post-war reconstruction, development projects.
Role: (1) Fixed exchange rates pegged to US dollar. (2) US as dominant economic power. (3) Reconstruction of Europe (Marshall Plan). (4) Control over developing countries through loans. (5) Promoted Western capitalist model worldwide.
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Explain the impact of the Great Depression on the world economy during the early 20th century. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks] ⚠️ Most Important
Answer: Impact: (1) Agricultural prices collapsed worldwide. (2) Mass unemployment (US: 25% unemployed). (3) Banking system collapsed. (4) International trade declined by 60%. (5) Political radicalization (rise of Nazism). (6) Colonies suffered due to export dependency. (7) Led to economic nationalism and protectionism.
Lasted from 1929 to mid-1930s, worst economic crisis of capitalism.
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Describe the role of 'Indentured Labour' in the development of plantation economies. [CBSE 2021, 5 marks]
Answer: Indentured labor (1834-1920): (1) Indians migrated to Caribbean, Mauritius, Fiji. (2) 5-year contracts, low wages. (3) Worked in sugar, tea, rubber plantations.
Role in development: (1) Provided cheap labor for colonies. (2) Enabled plantation agriculture profitability. (3) Created Indian diaspora communities. (4) Cultural fusion in host countries. (5) Harsh conditions with high mortality rates.
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Explain the role of 'technology' in the 19th century globalization. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
Answer: Technological role: (1) Railways: Connected interiors to ports (India: 1869). (2) Steamships: Reduced Atlantic crossing from weeks to days. (3) Telegraph: Instant communication across oceans. (4) Refrigeration: Allowed meat trade from Americas to Europe. (5) Canals: Suez (1869) and Panama (1914) shortened routes.
Impact: Created global market, enabled colonial control, reduced transport costs by 90%.
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Describe the effects of 'Rinderpest' on African society in the 1890s. [CBSE 2020, 5 marks]
Answer: Rinderpest effects: (1) Arrived with infected cattle from Asia (1880s). (2) Killed 90% of African cattle by 1890s. (3) Destroyed pastoral economy. (4) Forced Africans into European labor market. (5) Enabled colonization by weakening resistance.
Social impact: (1) Loss of wealth and status. (2) Famine and poverty. (3) Dependence on Europeans. (4) Changed land use patterns. (5) Ecological imbalance.
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Explain how the 'Silk Routes' are a good example of pre-modern trade and cultural links between distant parts of the world. [CBSE 2019, 5 marks]
Answer: Silk Routes (2nd century BCE-15th century CE): (1) Network linking Asia, Europe, Africa. (2) Trade: Chinese silk, Indian spices/textiles, Roman gold. (3) Cultural exchange: Buddhism to China, Christianity to Asia. (4) Technology: Paper-making spread from China. (5) Food: Noodles from China to West.
Significance: First phase of globalization, connected civilizations, cultural fusion, foundation for modern globalization.
PART D: Map-based Questions (2 Marks Each)
Note: These are world map locations. Practice on outline world map.
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On the outline world map, identify: (i) Caribbean Islands (ii) West Indies [CBSE 2023, 2 marks]
Answer: (i) Caribbean Islands: Sea between North and South America. (ii) West Indies: Same region, includes Caribbean islands.
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Locate: (i) Suez Canal (ii) Panama Canal [CBSE 2022, 2 marks]
Answer: (i) Suez Canal: Egypt, connects Mediterranean and Red Sea. (ii) Panama Canal: Central America, connects Atlantic and Pacific.
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Identify: (i) Mauritius (ii) Fiji [CBSE 2021, 2 marks]
Answer: (i) Mauritius: Indian Ocean, east of Madagascar. (ii) Fiji: South Pacific Ocean.
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Locate: (i) China (ii) India on Silk Route [CBSE 2020, 2 marks]
Answer: (i) China: Eastern end of Silk Route. (ii) India: Southern branch of Silk Route through Taxila.
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Identify: (i) Europe (ii) Africa in Atlantic slave trade [CBSE 2019, 2 marks]
Answer: (i) Europe: Slave trade destination (Americas via Europe). (ii) Africa: Source of slaves (West Africa mainly).
🌍 Chapter 3 Exam Strategy
Phases of Globalization: Memorize 4 phases: Pre-modern (Silk Routes), 19th century (industrial), Inter-war (collapse), Post-1945 (Bretton Woods)
Causes-Effects: Be ready for cause-effect questions on Great Depression, Rinderpest, etc.
Institutions: IMF vs World Bank functions must be clear
Map Practice: World map with canals, migration routes, major countries
Common Mistake: Don't confuse G-77 (developing countries) with G-7 (developed countries)
⚠️ Warning: 60% of questions from this chapter ask about economic concepts (Depression, Bretton Woods, Globalization). Focus on understanding rather than rote learning.
