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
6271
In the context of CENTO, what did 'METO' stand for?
Answer:
Middle East Treaty Organization
METO was the initial name of the alliance before it was rebranded as CENTO following Iraq's departure.
6272
Which British possessions in the Mediterranean were strategically important to CENTO?
Answer:
Akrotiri and Dhekelia (Cyprus)
The British Sovereign Base Areas in Cyprus allowed the UK to project air power in support of the CENTO alliance commitments.
6273
Who was the Secretary-General that announced the end of CENTO?
Answer:
Kamuran Gurun
Kamuran Gurun, a Turkish diplomat, was the final Secretary-General who presided over the dissolution of the organization.
6274
Which Egyptian leader was the most vocal critic of the Baghdad Pact/CENTO?
Answer:
Gamal Abdel Nasser
Nasser viewed the pact as an instrument of Western imperialism attempting to divide the Arab world and vigorously campaigned against it.
6275
The CENTO microwave telecommunications network connected which three capitals?
Answer:
Ankara, Tehran, Karachi
One of CENTO's successes was the establishment of a microwave telecommunications link connecting the capitals of Turkey, Iran, and Pakistan.
6276
Which country signed a bilateral defense agreement with the US in 1959 to compensate for the US not joining CENTO fully?
Answer:
Pakistan
To reassure the regional members (Pakistan, Iran, Turkey) after the Iraq revolution, the US signed bilateral cooperation agreements with them in March 1959.
6277
Unlike NATO, CENTO lacked which key operational component?
Answer:
A unified military command structure
CENTO never established a unified command structure like NATO, nor did it have permanent combat forces assigned to it.
6278
Where was the CENTO Institute of Nuclear Science established?
Answer:
Tehran
The Institute was originally in Baghdad but moved to Tehran, Iran, where it trained scientists from member states in the peaceful application of nuclear science.
6279
Which term refers to the US policy of forming multiple alliances like NATO, SEATO, and CENTO during the 1950s?
Answer:
Pactomania
Critics and historians often referred to the Dulles era of establishing ring-fencing alliances around the Communist bloc as 'Pactomania'.
6280
What was the formal date of CENTO's dissolution?
Answer:
March 16, 1979
Following the withdrawal of Iran and Pakistan, the organization was formally dissolved in March 1979.