Final answer:
Thomas Hardy's 'Channel Firing' alludes to the themes of World War I, as it was published shortly before the conflict began. The Industrial Revolution significantly divided Western Europe/America from the rest of the world. In 1492, Columbus's voyage, the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain, and the end of the Reconquista all took place.
Step-by-step explanation:
The poem "Channel Firing" by Thomas Hardy, which was written in April 1914, reflects on the imminent outbreak of World War I. Although the poem itself does not directly predict the war, it was published just months before the war started, and its themes of death and violence are often interpreted in the context of the brewing conflict in Europe, which indeed turned into the First World War. Therefore, the correct answer to which major historical event "Channel Firing" predicts is a) World War I.
As for the other questions, the event that created a significant divide between Western Europe/America and the rest of the world would be a. The Industrial Revolution. This period saw dramatic changes in manufacturing, transportation, and technology, leading to a shift in global economic power and social structures. And, regarding the important event(s) that took place in 1492, the correct answer is d. All of the above, as Columbus's voyage, the expulsion of Jews and Muslims from Spain, and the end of the Reconquista all occurred in that year.