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Singapore - History Trivia Quiz

A quiz about Singapore's history.

A multiple-choice quiz by meifeng. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
meifeng

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
252,291

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
1876

Last 3 plays: Johnmcmanners (15/15), Guest 42 (14/15), Guest 219 (11/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. What was Singapore originally known as? Hint

Temasek

Johor Lama

It had no name

Palembang

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Question 2 of 15

2. The name Singapore was attributed to this 14th century Sumatran prince. What was his name? Hint

Hayam Wuruk

Sang Nila Utama

Iskanda Shah

Srivijaya

3. Singapore became prominent about 1390 when this prince broke off allegeiance to the Majapahit and was granted asylum in Temasek. He murdered his chieftain host, and made himself the island's new ruler. Who was he? Hint

Iskanda Shah

Radan Wijaya

Adityawarman

Temagi

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Question 4 of 15

4. Which European is credited with the founding of modern Singapore in 1819? Hint

Sir Francis Light

John Crawford

William Farquhar

Sir Stamford Raffles

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Question 5 of 15

5. Singapore was incoporated with Malacca and Penang to form which territory? Hint

Malayan Union

Federated Malay States

The Straits Settlements

Malaya

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Question 6 of 15

6. In 1851, Singapore was under the control of the Governor-General of which country? Hint

Australia

India

Malaysia

Ceylon (Sri Lanka)

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Question 7 of 15

7. What year during World War 2 saw the beginning of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore? Hint

1940

1941

1942

1943

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Question 8 of 15

8. Which battle saw the defeat of the British forces in Malaya and the subsequent surrender of Singapore to the Japanese? Hint

The Battle of Pasir Panjang

The Battle of Malaya

The Battle of Singapore

The Battle of Bukit Timah

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Question 9 of 15

9. This Conference held in London in 1957, agreed in principle that Singapore should become a state and receive full internal self-government. Hint

The Constitutional Conference

The Self-Government Conference

The Independence Conference

The Straits Conference

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Question 10 of 15

10. The proposed formation of Malaysia was to include which countries and/or state(s)? Hint

Sarawak and Brunei

The Federation of Malaya

All of these

Singapore and North Borneo

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Question 11 of 15

11. In what year did Singapore become a fully independent and sovereign nation on separation from Malaysia? Hint

1963

1966

1964

1965

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Question 12 of 15

12. Who was the first president of the Republic of Singapore? Hint

Benjamin Henry Sheares

Yusof bin Ishak

Chengara Veetil Devan Nair

Wee Kim Wee

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Question 13 of 15

13. Who was Singapore's first Prime Minister? Hint

Singapore does not have a Prime Minister

Goh Chok Tong

Lee Kwan Yew

Lee Hsien Loong

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Question 14 of 15

14. What did Lee Kwan Yew and his administration do during his term as prime minister? Hint

Curb unemployment

Developed the country's ecnomic infrastructure

Raised the standard of living and implemented a large scale public housing program

All of these

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Question 15 of 15

15. Which political party has dominated and won every election since self-government in 1959? Hint

The Worker's Party of Singapore (WP)

Singapore Democratic Alliance (SDA)

Singapore Democratic Party (SDP)

The People's Action Party (PAP)

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Most Recent Scores

Dec 05 2024 : Johnmcmanners: 15/15
Dec 04 2024 : Guest 42: 14/15
Nov 23 2024 : Guest 219: 11/15
Nov 17 2024 : Guest 182: 13/15
Nov 09 2024 : hellobion: 14/15
Nov 09 2024 : Guest 58: 7/15
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 103: 11/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was Singapore originally known as?

Answer: Temasek

Temasek or "Sea Town" was mentioned in the Javanese Nagarakretagama of 1365. A third century Chinese account described Singapore as Pu-luo-cheng or the "island at the end of a peninsula".

2. The name Singapore was attributed to this 14th century Sumatran prince. What was his name?

Answer: Sang Nila Utama

Sang Nila Utama landed on the island after a storm and renamed it after spotting an auspicious beast identified as a lion. "Singa" means "lion" and "pura" means "city" in Malay. Hayam Wuruk was a ruler of the Majapahit empire. Iskanda Shah was a prince of Palembang. Srivijaya was an ancient Sumatran kingdom.

Answer: Iskanda Shah

Adityawarman was a Majapahit prince who was given the responsibility of ruling island of Sumatra. Radan Wijaya was the first Majapahit king. Temagi was the murdered chieftain.

4. Which European is credited with the founding of modern Singapore in 1819?

Answer: Sir Stamford Raffles

Raffles signed a treaty with the Sultan of Johor on behalf of the British East India Company to establish a trading colony. Francis Light was the founder of the British colony of Penang. William Farquhar and John Crawford were, respectively, the First and Second Resident of Singapore.

5. Singapore was incoporated with Malacca and Penang to form which territory?

Answer: The Straits Settlements

The Federated Malay States were protectorates composed of native princely states. The Malayan Union was a confederation of the Malay states and the Straits Settlements excluding Singapore formed by the
British in 1946.

6. In 1851, Singapore was under the control of the Governor-General of which country?

Answer: India

Control of Singapore was transferred to the Colonial Office in 1867.

7. What year during World War 2 saw the beginning of the Japanese Occupation of Singapore?

Answer: 1942

When the Imperial Japanese Army invaded, the ill-prepared British were defeated in 6 days and surrendered the island to General Tomoyuki Yamashita on Febuary 15, 1942. It was one of the most disastrous British defeats in World War II.

8. Which battle saw the defeat of the British forces in Malaya and the subsequent surrender of Singapore to the Japanese?

Answer: The Battle of Singapore

The Battle of Bukit Timah and Pasir Panjang occured before the Battle of Singapore. The Battle of Malaya was a conflict between British Commonwealth forces and the Japanese Imperial Army from December 8, 1941 to January 31, 1942.

9. This Conference held in London in 1957, agreed in principle that Singapore should become a state and receive full internal self-government.

Answer: The Constitutional Conference

Although it received full internal self-government, responsibility for external affairs and defence, and the ultimate right to suspend the Constitution lay in the hands of the United Kingdom government. I made up the rest of the answers.

10. The proposed formation of Malaysia was to include which countries and/or state(s)?

Answer: All of these

It was proposed by the Malayan Prime Minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman.

11. In what year did Singapore become a fully independent and sovereign nation on separation from Malaysia?

Answer: 1965

August 9th to be exact. With the formation of Malaysia in 1963, Singapore became independent within the Federation of Malaysia. She was expelled two years later after heated ideological conflict between the state PAP (People's Action Party) and the Federal Kuala Lumpur government.

12. Who was the first president of the Republic of Singapore?

Answer: Yusof bin Ishak

Sheares was the second president; Nair the third and Wee the fourth. Prior to 1991, the president was the constitutional head of state, with duties similar to that of the British Monarch. The first directly elected President was Ong Teng Cheong.

13. Who was Singapore's first Prime Minister?

Answer: Lee Kwan Yew

He served from 1959-1990. Goh Chok Tong succeeded Lee. Lee Hsien Loong, eldest son of Lee Kwan Yew, became the third prime minister in 2004.

14. What did Lee Kwan Yew and his administration do during his term as prime minister?

Answer: All of these

The threat of racial tension was also curbed. His administration also created an independent national defence system centered around compulsory male military service.

15. Which political party has dominated and won every election since self-government in 1959?

Answer: The People's Action Party (PAP)

Many analysts consider Singapore more an illiberal democracy or "procedural" democracy rather than a true democracy.

Source: Author meifeng

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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