General Knowledge MCQs
Topic Notes: General Knowledge
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
20421
The **Achaemenid Empire** (First Persian Empire) was founded by which great conqueror?
Answer:
Cyrus the Great
Cyrus II of Persia, known as Cyrus the Great, founded the Achaemenid Empire, the first of the Persian Empires, around 550 BCE. He is renowned for his respect for the customs and religions of the conquered peoples, most notably for freeing the Jewish exiles from Babylonian captivity.
20422
Which early hominid species is commonly associated with the mastery of fire and the use of the Acheulean hand-axe?
Answer:
Homo Erectus
Homo Erectus, meaning 'upright man,' is an extinct species of hominid that lived from about 1.9 million to 143,000 years ago. They are widely credited by archaeologists with the systematic use of fire and the production of the distinctive Acheulean tool industry, characterized by bifacial, teardrop-shaped hand-axes.
20423
The concept of **Karma** (action, work, or deed) is a central doctrine in Hinduism and:
Answer:
Buddhism
Karma is a fundamental concept in both Hinduism and Buddhism (as well as Jainism and Sikhism). It refers to the spiritual principle of cause and effect where the intent and actions of an individual (cause) influence their future (effect) in the current life and in future lives (reincarnation).
20424
The **Twelve Tables** were the first codification of law for the common people of which ancient state?
Answer:
Ancient Rome (Republic)
The Law of the Twelve Tables was a set of laws inscribed on 12 bronze tablets created in 451 and 450 BCE. They were the earliest attempt by the Romans to create a code of law, providing the basis for their legal system and establishing basic rights and duties for Roman citizens, particularly the plebeians.
20425
What engineering marvel was built by the Inca Empire, stretching over 40,000 kilometers across mountains and deserts?
Answer:
The Inca Road System (*Qhapaq Ñan*)
The *Qhapaq Ñan*, or Inca Road System, was an extensive and highly sophisticated transportation network that formed the backbone of the Inca Empire in the Andes Mountains. It consisted of two main north-south roads and many branches, facilitating communication, troop movements, and trade across one of the most challenging geographical regions on Earth.
20426
The ancient Greek system of government where a small group of wealthy and powerful individuals rules is known as a(n):
Answer:
Oligarchy
An oligarchy (from Greek *oligoi*, meaning 'few,' and *arkhein*, meaning 'to rule') is a form of government in which power rests with a small number of people, typically those of wealth, noble birth, or military control. Ancient Sparta is a prominent example of a powerful Greek city-state governed by an oligarchy.
20427
Which river is often referred to as 'China's Sorrow' due to its history of devastating floods?
Answer:
The Yellow River (Huang He)
The Yellow River, or Huang He, is the second-longest river in China and is considered the cradle of Chinese civilization. However, its historically frequent and massive floods, caused by the buildup of fine silt (*loess*) that raises its riverbed, have led to immense devastation and earned it the somber nickname 'China's Sorrow'.
20428
The **Sumerians** were the first people of Mesopotamia to develop which of the following?
Answer:
The first known urban civilization
The Sumerians, who inhabited the southern part of Mesopotamia, are widely recognized as establishing the world's first urban civilization around the 4th millennium BCE. They founded independent city-states like Uruk and Ur, complete with organized labor, monumental architecture (Ziggurats), and a standardized writing system (Cuneiform).
20429
What natural disaster is believed by many archaeologists to have contributed to the decline and disappearance of the Minoan civilization?
Answer:
A destructive eruption of the Thera volcano (Santorini)
Around 1600 BCE, the massive eruption of the volcano on the island of Thera (Santorini) created huge tsunamis and ash clouds that are believed to have severely damaged the Minoan settlements on nearby Crete, weakening the civilization and making it vulnerable to later invasions from the Mycenaeans.
20430
The **Zoroastrian** religion, one of the world's oldest monotheistic faiths, developed in which ancient civilization?
Answer:
Ancient Persia
Zoroastrianism is an ancient Persian religion and philosophy that originated with the prophet Zoroaster (Zarathustra) sometime before the 6th century BCE. It is characterized by its dualistic cosmology of a continual battle between the benevolent god Ahura Mazda (Good) and the malevolent spirit Angra Mainyu (Evil).