Microtheme: Advent of Europeans —
11 questions asked in Prelims in the past.

1. [2025] Consider the following fruits:
   I. Papaya
   II. Pineapple
   III. Guava
   How many of the above were introduced in India by the Portuguese in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries?
   • (a) Only one
   • (b) Only two
   • (c) All the three
   • (d) None
   Correct Answer: (C) All the three
2. [2023] Who among the following rulers of medieval Gujarat surrendered Diu to Portuguese?
   • (a) Ahmad Shah
   • (b) Mahmud Begarha
   • (c) Bahadur Shah
   • (d) Muhammad Shah
   Correct Answer: (C) Bahadur Shah
3. [2022] With reference to Indian history, consider the following statements :
   1. The Dutch established their factories/warehouses on the east coast on lands granted to them by Gajapati rulers.
   2. Alfonso de Albuquerque captured Goa from the Bijapur Sultanate.
   3. The English East India Company established a factory at Madras on a plot of land leased from a representative of the Vijayanagara empire.
   Which of the statements given above are correct ?
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (B) 2 and 3 only
4. [2021] Consider the following statements
   1. St. Francis Xavier was one of the founding members of the Jesuit Order.
   2. St. Francis Xavier died in Goa and a church is dedicated to him there.
   3. The Feast of St. Francis Xavier is celebrated in Goa each year.
   Which of the statements given above are correct?
   • (a) 1 and 2 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 1 and 3 only
   • (d) 1, 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (C) 1 and 3 only
5. [2021] In the first quarter of the seventeenth century, in which of the following was/were the factory/factories of the English East India Company located?
   1. Broach
   2. Chicacole
   3. Trichinopoly
   Select the correct answer using the code given below:
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 1 and 2
   • (c) 3 only
   • (d) 2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (A) 1 only
6. [2020] Which of the following statements correctly explains the impact of Industrial Revolution on India during the first half of the nineteenth century?
   • (a) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
   • (b) Machines were introduced in the Indian textile industry in large numbers.
   • (c) Railway lines were laid in many parts of the country.
   • (d) Heavy duties were imposed on the imports of British manufactures.
   Correct Answer: (A) Indian handicrafts were ruined.
7. [2012] Consider the following:
   1. Assessment of land revenue on the basis of nature of the soil and the quality of crops.
   2. Use of mobile cannons in warfare.
   3. Cultivation of tobacco and red chillies.
   Which of the above was/were introduced into India by the English?
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 1 and 2 only
   • (c) 2 and 3 only
   • (d) None
   Correct Answer: (D) None
8. [2010] With reference to Pondicherry (now Puducherry), consider the following statements
   1. The first European power to occupy Pondicherry were the Portuguese
   2. The second European power to occupy Pondicherry were the French
   3. The English never occupied Pondicherry
   Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
   • (a) 1 only
   • (b) 2 and 3 only
   • (c) 3 only
   • (d) 1,2 and 3
   Correct Answer: (A) 1 only
9. [2009] With whose permission did the English set up their first factory in Surat ?
   • (a) Akbar
   • (b) Jahangir
   • (c) Shahjahan
   • (d) Aurangzeb
   Correct Answer: (B) Jahangir
10. [2008] During the time of which Mughal Emperor did the English East India Company establish its first factory in India?
    • (a) Akbar
    • (b) Aurangzeb
    • (c) Jahangir
    • (d) Shah Jahan
    Correct Answer: (C) Jahangir
11. [2007] Who among the following Europeans were the last to come to pre-independence India as traders?
    • (a) Dutch
    • (b) English
    • (c) French
    • (d) Portuguese
    Correct Answer: (C) French