CHAPTER 2: Contemporary Centres of Power PYQS
Previous Year Questions
From the CUET 2024 Political Science Question Paper
1. Question: Which of the following countries have not accepted the Euro as the common currency?
● (1) Denmark and Sweden
● (2) Spain and Portugal
● (3) Greece and Germany
● (4) France and Austria
Answer: (1) Denmark and Sweden
Explanation: The Euro (€) is the official currency of 20 out of the 27 member states of the European Union (EU). This group of states is known as the eurozone. However, some EU members, notably Denmark and Sweden, have exercised their opt-out clauses and retained their national currencies for reasons of economic sovereignty and public opinion.
2. Question: The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) established in 1994, is the organization that carries out the coordination of:
● (1) Trade and Finance
● (2) Friendship and Solidarity
● (3) Security and Foreign Policy
● (4) Investment and Labour
Answer: (3) Security and Foreign Policy
Explanation: The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) was established in 1994 as a key platform for security dialogue in Asia. It complements the main objectives of ASEAN by providing a setting in which members and other regional players can discuss current security issues and develop cooperative measures to enhance peace and security in the region.
3. Question: Which of the following nations adopted an ‘Open Door’ policy and economic reforms in 1978?
● (1) South Korea
● (2) China
● (3) USA
● (4) Japan
Answer: (2) China
Explanation: In 1978, under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, China initiated its policy of “Reform and Opening Up”. This “Open Door Policy” marked a significant shift in its economic ideology, moving away from a centrally planned economy towards a market-based one. This involved opening the country to foreign trade and investment, which became the foundation for its rapid economic growth.
From the CUET 2022 Political Science Question Paper
1. Question: Arrange the following events in the correct sequence.
(A) Establishment of ASEAN
(B) China takeover of Tibet
(C) Open door policy adopted in China
(D) End of Second World War
(E) European Union was established
● (1) (A), (C), (D), (B), (E)
● (2) (D), (A), (B), (E), (C)
● (3) (A), (B), (C), (D), (E)
● (4) (D), (B), (A), (C), (E)
Answer: (4) (D), (B), (A), (C), (E)
Explanation: The correct chronological order is:
● (D) End of Second World War (1945)
● (B) China takeover of Tibet (1950-51)
● (A) Establishment of ASEAN (1967)
● (C) Open door policy adopted in China (1978)
● (E) European Union was established (1992, Maastricht Treaty)
2. Question: To introduce a market economy in the 1970s, China did not adopt:
● (1) Open door policy
● (2) Privatisation of Agriculture & Industry
● (3) Foreign direct investments & creation of special economic zones
● (4) The USSR model of Shock Therapy
Answer: (4) The USSR model of Shock Therapy
Explanation: China’s economic reforms were gradual and phased, starting with agriculture and then moving to industry, while creating Special Economic Zones (SEZs). It purposefully avoided the ‘Shock Therapy’ approach—a rapid and radical transition to capitalism—that was implemented in post-Soviet Russia with largely negative consequences.
3. Question: ‘Marshall Plan’ refers to:
● (1) South-Asian Trade Act
● (2) International forum for war criminals
● (3) America’s massive financial help to Europe
● (4) Cooperation with the developing countries
Answer: (3) America’s massive financial help to Europe
Explanation: The Marshall Plan, officially the European Recovery Program, was a U.S. initiative in 1948 that provided massive financial aid to help rebuild Western European economies after World War II. It was also instrumental in the creation of the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC) in 1948, which helped pave the way for the European Union.
4. Question: The full form of OECD is:
● (1) Organization for Export Co-operation and Development
● (2) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
● (3) Organization for Energy Co-operation and Development
● (4) Organization for Europe Co-operation and Development
Answer: (2) Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development
Explanation: The OECD stands for the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. It was founded in 1961 to stimulate economic progress and world trade. It succeeded the Organisation for European Economic Co-operation (OEEC), which was formed in 1948 to administer the Marshall Plan.
5. Question: ASEAN was established in the year:
● (1) 1965
● (2) 1967
● (3) 1970
● (4) 1972
Answer: (2) 1967
Explanation: The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) was established on 8 August 1967, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (also known as the Bangkok Declaration) by its five founding members: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand.
Practice questions
Questions:
1. After the end of the bipolar structure of world politics in the early 1990s, which two regional organizations emerged as significant centers of political and economic power?
a) NATO and SAARC
b) European Union (EU) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN)
c) BRICS and G7
d) OPEC and NAFTA
2. The ‘Marshall Plan’ was extended by America to revive Europe’s economy after World War II. What was the name of the organization established in 1948 to channel this aid?
a) European Economic Community (EEC)
b) Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC)
c) Council of Europe
d) North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)
3. When was the European Union (EU) officially established?
a) 1957
b) 1992
c) 1948
d) 2002
4. What does the circle of twelve gold stars on the European Union flag symbolize?
a) The original twelve founding members of the EU.
b) Perfection, completeness, and unity among the peoples of Europe.
c) The twelve economic zones within Europe.
d) The twelve official languages of the EU.
5. Which of the following is NOT an attribute that makes the European Union act more like a nation-state?
a) It has its own flag and anthem.
b) It has a common foreign and security policy.
c) Its attempts to have a Constitution have been successful.
d) It has a single currency (Euro).
6. In what year did the Euro, the new currency of the European Union, come into force in 12 EU members?
a) 1992
b) 1995
c) 2002
d) 2007
7. Which agreement abolished border controls among the EEC members in June 1985?
a) Maastricht Treaty
b) Treaties of Rome
c) Schengen Agreement
d) Lisbon Treaty
8. What is the approximate projected GDP of the European Union in the year 2024, as stated in the text?
a) $15 trillion
b) $19.35 trillion
c) $25 trillion
d) $10 trillion
9. What is a key characteristic of the ‘ASEAN Way’ as described in the text?
a) A highly centralized and supranational decision-making process.
b) A form of interaction that is informal, non-confrontationist, and cooperative, with respect for national sovereignty.
c) A military alliance aimed at collective defense against external threats.
d) A policy of economic protectionism to shield member states’ industries.
10. When was the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) established and by which declaration?
a) 1967, by the Jakarta Accord
b) 1973, by the Kuala Lumpur Declaration
c) 1967, by the Bangkok Declaration
d) 1984, by the Singapore Agreement
11. What do the ten stalks of paddy (rice) in the ASEAN logo represent?
a) The ten founding members of ASEAN.
b) The agricultural importance of the region.
c) The ten Southeast Asian countries bound together in friendship and solidarity.
d) The ten key economic sectors of ASEAN.
12. In 2003, ASEAN agreed to establish an ASEAN Community comprising three pillars. Which of the following is NOT one of these pillars?
a) The ASEAN Security Community
b) The ASEAN Economic Community
c) The ASEAN Political Community
d) The ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community
13. Which organization, established in 1994, carries out coordination of security and foreign policy for ASEAN?
a) ASEAN Economic Community (AEC)
b) ASEAN Security Community (ASC)
c) ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF)
d) World Trade Organisation (WTO)
14. When did the ASEAN-India Free Trade Area (FTA) come into effect?
a) 1990
b) 2000
c) 2010
d) 2014
15. What was the basis of China’s economy after the inception of the People’s Republic of China in 1949?
a) A capitalist, market-driven model.
b) A Soviet model, focusing on state-owned heavy industries from agricultural capital.
c) An export-oriented economy reliant on foreign direct investment.
d) A decentralized agricultural economy with minimal industrialization.
16. Which leader announced the ‘open door’ policy and economic reforms in China in 1978?
a) Mao Zedong
b) Zhou Enlai
c) Deng Xiaoping
d) Hu Jintao
17. What was a significant consequence of the privatization of agriculture in China in 1982?
a) A decline in rural incomes and agricultural production.
b) A remarkable rise in agricultural production and rural incomes.
c) An immediate full-scale privatization of all industries.
d) Increased reliance on imported agricultural goods.
18. When did China accede to the World Trade Organization (WTO)?
a) 1978
b) 1992
c) 2001
d) 2004
19. Which of the following is NOT mentioned as a negative consequence of China’s economic reforms?
a) Rising unemployment.
b) Increased environmental degradation and corruption.
c) A rise in economic equality between rural and urban residents.
d) Poor female employment and working conditions.
20. The border conflict between China and India in 1962 was principally over which two regions?
a) Sikkim and Bhutan
b) Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region of Ladakh
c) Nepal and Pakistan border areas
d) Jammu and Kashmir and Tibet
21. What was the slogan popular in India and China for a brief while after their independence, symbolizing hope for cooperation?
a) ‘Asia for Asians’
b) ‘Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai’
c) ‘Long Live Indo-Chinese Friendship’
d) ‘East-West Unity’
22. Which Indian Prime Minister’s visit to China in December 1988 provided the impetus for an improvement in India-China relations?
a) Jawaharlal Nehru
b) Indira Gandhi
c) Rajiv Gandhi
d) Narendra Modi
23. Which country, despite having very few natural resources, became the third largest economy in the world in 2017 and is the only Asian member of the G-7?
a) China
b) South Korea
c) India
d) Japan
24. What is a unique aspect of Japan’s post-World War II constitution, particularly Article 9, mentioned in the text?
a) It mandates a high percentage of GDP for military spending.
b) It renounces war as a sovereign right and the threat or use of force.
c) It allows for unlimited military expansion for self-defense.
d) It requires mandatory military service for all citizens.
25. South Korea’s rapid economic development between the 1960s and 1980s is termed as what?
a) ‘The East Asian Miracle’
b) ‘The Miracle on the Han River’
c) ‘The Seoul Success Story’
d) ‘The Economic Tiger’s Ascent’
26. What was a primary objective of ASEAN at its establishment, besides promoting regional peace and stability?
a) To establish a common military defense against communism.
b) To accelerate economic growth and through that ‘social progress and cultural development’.
c) To form a political union similar to the European Union.
d) To create a single currency for all member states.
27. The ‘four modernisations’ proposed by Premier Zhou Enlai in 1973 focused on which four areas?
a) Agriculture, industry, education, and healthcare
b) Agriculture, industry, science and technology, and military
c) Trade, finance, infrastructure, and urban development
d) Politics, economy, culture, and society
28. Which year marked the Referendum in Britain where 51.9 per cent of voters decided that Britain would exit (Brexit) from the EU?
a) 2009
b) 2012
c) 2013
d) 2016
29. Which of the following countries was an ‘Older Member’ of the European Union, according to the provided map in the chapter?
a) Poland
b) Estonia
c) Germany
d) Bulgaria
Explanations
1. b) European Union (EU) and Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN): The chapter’s overview explicitly states that after the bipolar structure ended, the EU in Europe and ASEAN in Asia emerged as significant forces.
2. b) Organisation for European Economic Cooperation (OEEC): The text mentions that the OEEC was established in 1948 to channel the aid under the Marshall Plan to West European states.
3. b) 1992: The European Union was officially established with the signing of the Treaty of Maastricht on February 7, 1992.
4. b) Perfection, completeness, and unity among the peoples of Europe: The chapter states that the twelve gold stars on the EU flag symbolize “perfection, completeness, and unity.”
5. c) Its attempts to have a Constitution have been successful: The chapter explicitly states that “the attempts to have a Constitution for the EU have failed,” contradicting this option. Other options are listed as attributes that make the EU act like a nation-state.
6. c) 2002: The timeline of European Integration in the chapter indicates that the Euro was introduced in 12 EU members in January 2002.
7. c) Schengen Agreement: The timeline states that in “1985 June: The Schengen Agreement abolishes border controls among the EEC members.”
8. b) $19.35 trillion: The chapter states, “The European Union’s GDP is projected to be approximately $19.35 trillion in the year 2024.”
9. b) A form of interaction that is informal, non-confrontationist, and cooperative, with respect for national sovereignty: The ‘ASEAN Way’ is characterized by these principles, emphasizing consensus and non-interference, unlike the supranational tendencies of the EU.
10. c) 1967, by the Bangkok Declaration: ASEAN was established in 1967 by Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, and Thailand through the signing of the Bangkok Declaration.
11. c) The ten Southeast Asian countries bound together in friendship and solidarity: The chapter explains that the ten stalks of paddy in the ASEAN logo represent the ten Southeast Asian countries united in friendship and solidarity.
12. c) The ASEAN Political Community: The three pillars of the ASEAN Community agreed upon in 2003 are the ASEAN Security Community, ASEAN Economic Community, and ASEAN Socio-Cultural Community. A separate ‘Political Community’ is not listed as one of these pillars.
13. c) ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF): The text specifies that “The ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), which was established in 1994, is the organisation that carries out coordination of security and foreign policy.”
14. c) 2010: The chapter mentions that “The ASEAN-India FTA came into effect in 2010.”
15. b) A Soviet model, focusing on state-owned heavy industries from agricultural capital: After 1949, China adopted the Soviet economic model, building heavy industries using capital from agriculture.
16. c) Deng Xiaoping: Deng Xiaoping announced the ‘open door’ policy and economic reforms in China in 1978.
17. b) A remarkable rise in agricultural production and rural incomes: The privatization of agriculture in 1982 led to a significant increase in agricultural output and rural incomes.
18. c) 2001: China acceded to the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001.
19. c) A rise in economic equality between rural and urban residents: The chapter highlights that a negative consequence of China’s reforms was a rise in economic inequality between rural and urban residents, and coastal and inland provinces, not equality.
20. b) Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin region of Ladakh: The 1962 border conflict between China and India was primarily over territorial claims in these two regions.
21. b) ‘Hindi-Chini bhai-bhai’: This slogan, meaning ‘Indians and Chinese are brothers’, was popular for a brief period after their independence.
22. c) Rajiv Gandhi: Rajiv Gandhi’s visit to China in December 1988 is credited with providing the impetus for an improvement in India-China relations.
23. d) Japan: The text identifies Japan as having very few natural resources, being the third-largest economy in the world in 2017, and the only Asian member of the G-7.
24. b) It renounces war as a sovereign right and the threat or use of force: Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution is unique for its pacifist clause, where Japan renounces war.
25. b) ‘The Miracle on the Han River’: South Korea’s rapid economic development between the 1960s and 1980s is commonly referred to by this term.
26. b) To accelerate economic growth and through that ‘social progress and cultural development’: The primary objectives of ASEAN at its establishment were economic growth, social progress, and cultural development, along with regional peace.
27. b) Agriculture, industry, science and technology, and military: Premier Zhou Enlai proposed the ‘four modernisations’ in these four specific areas in 1973.
28. d) 2016: The timeline explicitly states that in 2016, a referendum in Britain led to 51.9 per cent of voters deciding to exit (Brexit) from the EU.
29. c) Germany: Based on the map in the chapter, Germany is marked as an “Older Member” of the European Union (purple color in the map legend).
