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History: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Recent History (Questions)

This History quiz is called 'Recent History' and it has been written by teachers to help you if you are studying the subject at elementary school. Playing educational quizzes is an enjoyable way to learn if you are in the 3rd, 4th or 5th grade - aged 8 to 11.

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As elementary school children develop their understanding of different historical figures and times, they will begin to understand that some events happened a very long time ago, and some are more recent. This may only be 30 or 40 years ago, or may even have been during their own lives. This quiz looks at the lives of historical figures of recent times.

Try this quiz to see how much you know about recent history

1. In 1970, a very popular 'boy band' split up for good. Who were they?
[ ] The Rolling Stones
[ ] Take That
[ ] Boyzone
[ ] The Beatles
2. In 1972, the very first what was introduced to the world?
[ ] Video game
[ ] Royal Baby
[ ] Astronaught
[ ] Purple carrot
3. Which war ended in 1975?
[ ] The First World War
[ ] The Second World War
[ ] The War of the Roses
[ ] The Vietnam War
4. In 1979, Britain saw its first what?
[ ] Fishmonger
[ ] Fire fighter
[ ] Librarian
[ ] Female Prime Minister
5. In 1982, Thriller, the biggest selling album in history, was released by who?
[ ] Michael Jackson
[ ] Elvis Presley
[ ] Madonna
[ ] Mozart
6. In 1983, Sally Ride set a first for women. What did she do?
[ ] Won an Oscar
[ ] Wrote a series of novels
[ ] Went into space
[ ] Became a police officer
7. In 1985, what did Coca-Cola do that they probably shouldn't have?
[ ] Added banana flavor to the drink
[ ] Changed the recipe of the drink
[ ] Made a pasta sauce flavored with the drink
[ ] Sold the drink in paper bottles
8. In 1988, what did CDs do to vinyl for the very first time?
[ ] Sounded better than them
[ ] Were made bigger than them
[ ] Had better covers
[ ] Outsold them
9. What happened to the Berlin wall in 1989?
[ ] It was knocked down
[ ] It was painted a different color
[ ] It was rebuilt
[ ] It had windows added to it
10. In 1990, who was freed from jail after 27 years?
[ ] Queen Victoria
[ ] Adolf Hitler
[ ] Tony Blair
[ ] Nelson Mandela
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History: Elementary School: Grades 3, 4 and 5 Quiz - Recent History (Answers)
1. In 1970, a very popular 'boy band' split up for good. Who were they?
[ ] The Rolling Stones
[ ] Take That
[ ] Boyzone
[x] The Beatles
The members went on to have solo careers with differing levels of success
2. In 1972, the very first what was introduced to the world?
[x] Video game
[ ] Royal Baby
[ ] Astronaught
[ ] Purple carrot
The game was called 'Pong' and was released by Atari
3. Which war ended in 1975?
[ ] The First World War
[ ] The Second World War
[ ] The War of the Roses
[x] The Vietnam War
The war has also been called the Second Indochina War and the Vietnam Conflict
4. In 1979, Britain saw its first what?
[ ] Fishmonger
[ ] Fire fighter
[ ] Librarian
[x] Female Prime Minister
Margaret Thatcher was the longest-serving British Prime Minister of the 20th century
5. In 1982, Thriller, the biggest selling album in history, was released by who?
[x] Michael Jackson
[ ] Elvis Presley
[ ] Madonna
[ ] Mozart
It is said to have sold up to 65 million copies worldwide
6. In 1983, Sally Ride set a first for women. What did she do?
[ ] Won an Oscar
[ ] Wrote a series of novels
[x] Went into space
[ ] Became a police officer
She served as mission specialist on a flight of the space shuttle Challenger and became the first American woman in space. The first ever woman in space was the Russian, Valentina Tereshkova, 20 years earlier
7. In 1985, what did Coca-Cola do that they probably shouldn't have?
[ ] Added banana flavor to the drink
[x] Changed the recipe of the drink
[ ] Made a pasta sauce flavored with the drink
[ ] Sold the drink in paper bottles
The public did not receive the new recipe well and it was soon changed back!
8. In 1988, what did CDs do to vinyl for the very first time?
[ ] Sounded better than them
[ ] Were made bigger than them
[ ] Had better covers
[x] Outsold them
CDs were very popular in the 1980s and 1990s but vinyl is making a comeback today
9. What happened to the Berlin wall in 1989?
[x] It was knocked down
[ ] It was painted a different color
[ ] It was rebuilt
[ ] It had windows added to it
The Berlin Wall was a barrier that divided Berlin from 1961 to 1989
10. In 1990, who was freed from jail after 27 years?
[ ] Queen Victoria
[ ] Adolf Hitler
[ ] Tony Blair
[x] Nelson Mandela
Nelson went on to become South Africa's first black president