Arrange the following events in China's economic development history in correct chronological sequence and select the correct option :
I. Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.
II. Great leap forward
III. Introduction of Economic Reforms
IV. Launch of the First Five Year Plan
Arrange the following events in China's economic development history in correct chronological sequence and select the correct option :
I. Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.
II. Great leap forward
III. Introduction of Economic Reforms
IV. Launch of the First Five Year Plan
Options
The correct chronological order is Option (B): IV, II, I, III.
- IV. Launch of the First Five Year Plan — 1953, China's first centralised planning phase.
- II. Great Leap Forward — 1958-1961, a failed attempt at rapid industrialisation and collectivisation.
- I. Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution — 1966-1976, a socio-political upheaval under Mao Zedong.
- III. Introduction of Economic Reforms — 1978 onward, under Deng Xiaoping, opening China to market-oriented reforms.
Marking Scheme
- 11 mark for selecting Option (B) with the fully correct sequence; no partial credit.
Hint
Anchor each event to its decade: First Five Year Plan (1950s start), Great Leap Forward (late 1950s), Cultural Revolution (mid-1960s to 1970s), Economic Reforms (1978).
Quick Oral Answer
The correct chronological order is the First Five Year Plan (1953), Great Leap Forward (1958), Cultural Revolution (1966), and Economic Reforms (1978).
Analysis & Explanation
This question tests recall of the timeline of China's economic development from the chapter comparing India, China and Pakistan.
Why (B) is correct
- China's First Five Year Plan began in 1953, focusing on Soviet-style centralised industrial planning.
- The Great Leap Forward (1958-1961) followed, attempting rapid collectivisation and industrial growth but resulting in economic and humanitarian disaster.
- The Cultural Revolution (1966-1976) came next, a period of political turmoil that further disrupted the economy.
- Economic Reforms began in 1978 under Deng Xiaoping, moving China towards an open, market-oriented economy — the most recent of the four events.
Why the distractors fail
- (A) incorrectly places the Great Leap Forward before the First Five Year Plan, reversing their actual order.
- (C) makes the same error as (A), placing II before IV.
- (D) incorrectly places the Cultural Revolution (1966) before the Great Leap Forward (1958), reversing their true sequence.
A common exam trap is confusing the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution's timing, since both are turbulent Mao-era episodes — remembering the specific decades (1958 vs. 1966) is essential.
Common Mistakes
- 1Reversing the order of the Great Leap Forward (1958) and the First Five Year Plan (1953), assuming reforms/plans always precede large mobilisation campaigns.
- 2Confusing the Cultural Revolution (1966-76) with the Great Leap Forward (1958-61) since both are associated with Mao-era economic disruption.
Interesting Facts
China's Great Leap Forward (1958-61) led to one of the deadliest famines in recorded history, with estimates of tens of millions of excess deaths.
China's 1978 economic reforms under Deng Xiaoping introduced the 'Open Door Policy' and Special Economic Zones, transforming China into the world's fastest-growing major economy in subsequent decades.
China's First Five Year Plan (1953-57) was modelled closely on the Soviet Union's central planning system, prioritising heavy industry.
Spotted a mistake or something unclear?
Tell us — we fix reported answers fast.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did China introduce its economic reforms?
China introduced market-oriented economic reforms starting in 1978 under the leadership of Deng Xiaoping, moving away from a purely centrally planned economy.
What was the Great Leap Forward?
The Great Leap Forward (1958-1961) was Mao Zedong's campaign to rapidly transform China from an agrarian economy into an industrialised one through mass collectivisation, which instead caused severe economic decline and famine.