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Written by the Olly English team · How we build our tests
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All B1 listening questions for “B1 English Listening: The History of Saudi Arabia (Video + Quiz)”, each with the correct answer and a short explanation. Listen to the audio above, try the interactive exercises, then check your answers here.
1. In which year was the modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia founded?
Answer: 1932
The modern Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was officially founded in 1932 by King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud.
2. Who is considered the founder of modern Saudi Arabia?
Answer: Abdulaziz Ibn Saud
King Abdulaziz Ibn Saud — often called Ibn Saud — unified the country and founded the Kingdom in 1932.
3. What is the capital city of Saudi Arabia?
Answer: Riyadh
Riyadh, in the central Najd region, is the capital and largest city of Saudi Arabia.
4. Which resource, discovered in 1938, transformed the country’s economy?
Answer: Oil
Large oil reserves were discovered in 1938, turning Saudi Arabia into one of the world’s biggest oil exporters.
5. The first Saudi state began in 1744 with an alliance formed in which town?
Answer: Diriyah
The first Saudi state (the Emirate of Diriyah) began in 1744 with the alliance between Muhammad ibn Saud and Muhammad ibn Abd al-Wahhab in Diriyah.
6. Which two main regions were unified to form the kingdom?
Answer: Najd and Hejaz
The kingdom united the central region of Najd with the western region of Hejaz, home to the holy cities.
1. Which two holy cities are located in Saudi Arabia?
Answer: Mecca and Medina
Mecca and Medina, the two holiest cities in Islam, are both located in Saudi Arabia.
2. On which peninsula is Saudi Arabia located?
Answer: The Arabian Peninsula
Saudi Arabia occupies most of the Arabian Peninsula.
3. Before oil, what was a major source of income connected to the holy cities?
Answer: The annual pilgrimage (Hajj)
Before oil, income from pilgrims travelling to Mecca for the Hajj was a key part of the economy.
4. Which empire controlled parts of the region before the Saudi state expanded?
Answer: The Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman Empire controlled parts of Arabia, especially the Hejaz, before the modern Saudi state expanded.
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