Q 01/05

Which two Boer republics fought the British Empire from 1899 to 1902?

A) Transvaal and Orange Free State

B) Natal and Cape Colony

C) Transvaal and Rhodesia

D) Zululand and Basutoland

Answer · why

A) Transvaal and Orange Free State

The Transvaal was formally the South African Republic; both were annexed in 1900 and became British colonies.

Q 02/05

What does the word 'Boer' mean?

A) Settler

B) Farmer

C) Hunter

D) Soldier

Answer · why

B) Farmer

It is the common name for Afrikaans-speaking white South Africans descended from Dutch East India Company settlers.

Q 03/05

Which name for the conflict is official in the country where it was fought?

A) The Anglo-Transvaal War

B) The Gold War

C) The War of the Republics

D) The South African War

Answer · why

D) The South African War

Most scholars prefer the name because it acknowledges that black South Africans were affected and took part.

Q 04/05

What term did the Boers use for the mostly British foreigners drawn to the gold fields?

A) Voortrekkers

B) Uitlanders

C) Hensoppers

D) Bittereinders

Answer · why

B) Uitlanders

They could vote only after 14 years' residence, a grievance that became Britain's pretext for war.

Q 05/05

The world's largest gold deposit was discovered in 1884 on which ridge near Pretoria?

A) Drakensberg

B) Witwatersrand

C) Magaliesberg

D) Waterberg

Answer · why

B) Witwatersrand

The name means 'white water ridge'; Johannesburg sprang up as a shanty town almost overnight.