History Objective Questions Section
1.Visible or abstract things that help in the study of history are known as
A. artefacts
B. folklore
C. legends
D. sources of history
E. textbooks
2.Historical sources that are readily available to historians are classified as
A. archaeological sources
B. oral sources
C. primary sources
D. private sources
E. secondary sources
3.Records of the past concerning government activities are preserved in
A. archives
B. books
C. libraries
D. ministries
E. museums
4.The two major sources of history are
A. archival and library
B. folklore and artefacts
C. legends and eyewitnesses
D. museums and books
E. primary and secondary
5.Objects made and used by man in the past are called
A. artefacts
B. articles
C. folklore
D. legends
E. myths
6.Stories about animals and people told with the aim of teaching the culture of a people are known as
A. folklore
B. legends
C. myths
D. oral traditions
E. private records
7.The following are secondary sources of history except
A. diaries
B. documentaries
C. letters
D. newspapers
E. oral tradition
8.Which of the following is not an importance of history to an individual?
A. Actualising self-discovery
B. Encouraging loyalty to the state
C. Enhancing one’s pride
D. Enhancing societal development
E. Projecting self-respect
9.The Atlantic slave trade started in the fifteenth century with the arrival of the
A. Dutch
B. British
C. Italians
D. Portuguese
E. Spanish
10.The earliest contact of Nigeria with the outside world was through
A. diplomacy
B. education
C. religion
D. trade
E. wars
11.The British were able to secure more territories in Nigeria as a result of
A. anti-slavery activities
B. explorers
C. ex-servicemen
D. missionaries
E. Royal Niger Company’s activities
12.The exploration of Africa in the 15th century by Europeans was possible due to
A. availability of manpower
B. missionary activities
C. invention of navigation instruments
D. support of African leaders
E. trading activities
13.The legitimate trade introduced in the 19th century by Europeans replaced the trade in
A. agricultural products
B. copper
C. gold
D. industrial items
E. slaves
14.The society for the abolition of the Atlantic slave trade was formed in
A. America
B. Britain
C. France
D. Portugal
E. Spain
15.The first Portuguese explorers that visited Nigeria made contact with the people of Benin and
A. Badagry
B. Bonny
C. Brass
D. Calabar
E. Warri
16.The first European nation to legislate against the slave trade in 1804 was
A. Britain
B. Belgium
C. France
D. Portugal
E. Spain
17.The religious and political head of pre-colonial Oyo Kingdom was the
A. Alaafin
B. Arole
C. Kabiyesi
D. Ooni
E. Oyo-mesi
18.According to Yoruba traditions, Old Oyo was founded by
A. Lamurudu
B. Obatala
C. Oduduwa
D. Oranmiyan
E. Orisa-oke
19.The cradle of Yoruba civilization is
A. Ibadan
B. Ile-Ife
C. Ijebu
D. Owo
E. Oyo
19.The following were centralized states in pre-colonial Nigeria except
A. Benin
B. Efik
C. Ibibio
D. Ijaw
E. Itsekiri
20.Which of the following was not a feature of centralized states in pre-colonial Nigeria?
A. Able and energetic leaders
B. Central taxation system
C. Concentration of industries
D. Fertile agricultural lands
E. Large population with diverse interests
21.The following factors contributed to the emergence of centralized states in pre-colonial Nigeria except
A. availability of charismatic leaders
B. availability of mineral resources
C. availability of processing industries
D. flat terrain for easy movement
E. population concentration
22.The largest centralized state in pre-colonial Nigeria was
A. Benin
B. Jukun
C. Kanem-Borno
D. Nupe
E. Oyo
23.Societies celebrate their heroes and heroines because of
A. their good deeds
B. their wealth
C. their high social class
D. not meeting them alive
E. their bravery
25.History is important to society in the following ways except that it helps
A. guide against repetition of past mistakes
B. leadership training
C. identity discovery
D. developing good citizenship
E. encouraging ethnic rivalry
26.The findings of Nok culture were mostly of human and animal
A. bones
B. heads
C. skins
D. feeds
E. skeleton
27.Which of these statements is not correct about the importance of history to man?
A. It deepens people’s knowledge about their society
B. It enables individuals to recognise their potentials
C. It helps people to avoid repeating past mistakes
D. It helps people to know the truth about their past
E. It helps people to know and appreciate themselves
28.Which desert did traders cross during the Trans-Saharan Trade?
A. Kalahari
B. Sahara
C. Gobi
D. Namib
E. Arabian
29.Traders used ______ to cross the desert safely.
A. Horse
B. Camel
C. Donkey
D. Mule
E. Cart
30.Gold was mostly exchanged for
A. cocoa
B. coffee
C. salt
D. rubber
E. pepper
31.Which of these goods was NOT common in the Trans-Saharan Trade?
A. Gold
B. Salt
C. Diamond
D. Slaves
E. Horses
32.Traders moved together in groups called
A. armies
B. caravans
C. camps
D. missions
E. parties
33.Rulers who controlled trade routes collected ______ from traders.
A. cloth
B. food
C. taxes
D. camels
E. slaves
34.Why did local rulers want horses from traders?
A. For farming
B. For transport
C. For military strength
D. For food
E. For sale
35.One major reason the Trans-Saharan Trade declined was that
A. Islam spread
B. camels died out
C. sea routes were opened
D. the Sahara became wet
E. caravans increased
36.Which trade route connected Libya to Borno?
A. Tripoli–Borno
B. Sudan–Kano
C. Fezzan–Borno
D. Lagos–Kano
E. Borno–Fezzan
37.Islam helped the Trans-Saharan Trade by
A. blocking roads
B. causing wars
C. promoting peace and trust
D. destroying towns
E. reducing trade
38.Which European country first explored West Africa by sea?
A. Spain
B. France
C. Belgium
D. Portugal
E. Britain
39.Who inspired early Portuguese exploration?
A. Prince George
A. King John
C. Prince Henry
D. Prince Charles
E. King Edward
40.The Portuguese reached the Nigerian coast in
A. 1372
B. 1472
C. 1572
D. 1672
E. 1772
41.Which Nigerian kingdom did the Portuguese first visit?
A. Ife
B. Sokoto
C. Benin
D. Kanem
E. Hausa
42.The Portuguese built the first church in
A. Lagos
B. Warri
C. Kano
D. Katsina
E. Calabar
43.The African Association was formed in
A. 1678
B. 1788
C. 1888
D. 1988
E. 2008
44.Mungo Park discovered that River Niger flows
A. east to west
B. north to south
C. south to north
D. west to east
E. north-east
45.Hugh Clapperton linked River Niger with
A. Lake Victoria
B. River Benue
C. River Congo
D. Lake Chad
E. Lake Volta
46.Richard and John Lander traced River Niger to the
A. Pacific Ocean
B. Indian Ocean
C. Atlantic Ocean
D. Mediterranean Sea
E. Red Sea
47.Who formed the United African Company?
A. John Holt
B. George Goldie
C. Mungo Park
D. Prince Henry
E. Hugh Clapperton
48.The Royal Niger Company mainly controlled ______ Nigeria.
A. Eastern
B. Southern
C. Northern
D. Western
E. Central
49.Nigeria was transferred to Britain for the sum of
A. £50,000
B. £100,000
C. £200,000
D. £500,000
E. £865,000
50.What product did John Holt mainly export from Nigeria?
A. Gold
B. Palm oil
C. Salt
D. Silver
E. Cotton
51.The Igbo generally practised a ______ system of political organization.
A. controlled
B. military
C. segmentary
D. unitary
E. centralized
52.The missionary who preached against the killing of twins in Nigeria was
A. Bishop Ajayi Crowther
B. Henry Townsend
C. Mary Slessor
D. Thomas Birch Freeman
E. Samuel Crowther
SECTION B – THEORY QUESTIONS
1.Explain two benefits local rulers gained from the Trans-Saharan Trade.
2.State two reasons for the decline of the Trans-Saharan Trade.
3.Describe two impacts of Portuguese exploration on West Africa.
4.Compare the achievements of Mungo Park and Hugh Clapperton.
5.Explain how George Goldie’s treaties helped British control of Nigeria.
6.Differentiate between the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade and Legitimate Trade.