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History of Singapore Trivia Quiz

This quiz is about the history of Singapore, a country in South East Asia at the tip of the Malay Peninsula.

A multiple-choice quiz by fadedcolours. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
fadedcolours

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
238,710

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
820

Last 3 plays: Guest 118 (5/10), Guest 118 (9/10), Guest 182 (6/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What is generally regarded as the year in which Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with Tengku Hussein, and founded modern Singapore? Hint

1809

1819

1908

1918

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which treaty formally established the status of Singapore as a British colony? Hint

Anglo-Dutch Treaty

Straits Settlements Treaty

Treaty of Temasek

Treaty of Singapore

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Question 3 of 10

3. Besides Singapore, which were the other two settlements that together formed the Straits Settlements? Hint

Malacca and Johore

Malacca and Penang

Johore and Perak

Penang and Perak

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Question 4 of 10

4. In which year did Singapore fall to the Japanese in World War Two? Hint

1943

1945

1944

1942

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Question 5 of 10

5. What was the name that the Japanese invaders gave to Singapore after the British surrender? Hint

Syonan-to

Shigo-to

Jeju-do

Mina-to

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Question 6 of 10

6. In which year did the Japanese Occupation of Singapore end? Hint

1944

1947

1946

1945

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Question 7 of 10

7. Who was the first Chief Minister of Singapore? Hint

David Marshall

Yusof Ishak

Lim Yew Hock

Lee Kuan Yew

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Question 8 of 10

8. How did Singapore merge with Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah? Hint

By civil war, with winning side deciding for Singapore

By British arrangements

By British-Singaporean negotiations

By referendum with majority of votes in favour of merger

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Question 9 of 10

9. What were the main acts of violence committed in Singapore prior to the Separation? Hint

Civil war and rioting

Government capture of pro-Communists

Demonstrations by pro-Communists

'Konfrontasi' by Indonesia and racial riots

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Question 10 of 10

10. When did Singapore gain independence? Hint

August 1965

March 1966

October 1964

September 1967

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 17 2024 : Guest 118: 5/10
Apr 11 2024 : Guest 118: 9/10
Apr 04 2024 : Guest 182: 6/10
Mar 21 2024 : Guest 172: 4/10
Mar 20 2024 : Guest 219: 8/10
Mar 19 2024 : Guest 129: 10/10
Mar 10 2024 : Guest 99: 10/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What is generally regarded as the year in which Sir Thomas Stamford Raffles signed a treaty with Tengku Hussein, and founded modern Singapore?

Answer: 1819

When Raffles landed on the shores of Singapore (or Temasek as it was known then), it was a pretty much uninhabited island. The treaty, signed with Tengku Hussein, allowed the British to set up a port and trading post in Singapore.

2. Which treaty formally established the status of Singapore as a British colony?

Answer: Anglo-Dutch Treaty

The Anglo-Dutch Treaty of 1824 ceded Singapore to the British, and established two spheres of control in the Malay Archipelago, one Dutch, the other British.

3. Besides Singapore, which were the other two settlements that together formed the Straits Settlements?

Answer: Malacca and Penang

The British formed the Straits Settlements in 1826. Initially, it was part of British India but in 1867, the Straits Settlements became a Crown Colony, ruled by a governor.

4. In which year did Singapore fall to the Japanese in World War Two?

Answer: 1942

Singapore fell to the Japanese on 15 February 1942, 8 days after Japanese troops set foot upon the island. The period of Japanese rule was known as the "Japanese Occupation".

5. What was the name that the Japanese invaders gave to Singapore after the British surrender?

Answer: Syonan-to

Syonan-to, loosely translated, means "Light of the South".

6. In which year did the Japanese Occupation of Singapore end?

Answer: 1945

The Japanese Occupation ended following the dropping of the two atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, Japan. This resulted in the Japanese surrender in August 1945.

7. Who was the first Chief Minister of Singapore?

Answer: David Marshall

David Marshall became the first Chief Minister of Singapore after it was granted partial internal self-governance in 1955. He later stepped down when negotiations for complete self-rule with the British government fell through.

8. How did Singapore merge with Malaya, Sarawak and Sabah?

Answer: By referendum with majority of votes in favour of merger

There was much conflict over the issue of merger. The right-wing members of the ruling party People's Action Party were in favour of it and the left-wing (or pro-Communist) members opposed it, fearing that the anti-Communist Malayan government would cause them to lose their power.

9. What were the main acts of violence committed in Singapore prior to the Separation?

Answer: 'Konfrontasi' by Indonesia and racial riots

Indonesia had opposed the merger, as it feared that the merged Federation of Malaysia would cause it to lose economically. Thus, it launched various bomb attacks in Singapore. Meanwhile, unequal treatment of the different races led to racial tension and ultimately to riots.

10. When did Singapore gain independence?

Answer: August 1965

Singapore officially became a republic on 9 August 1965, after separation from the rest of the Federation of Malaysia. Yusof Ishak became the first President, and Lee Kuan Yew the first Prime Minister.

Source: Author fadedcolours

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