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
11
Which of the following is a 'Landlocked State' in South America?
Answer:
Paraguay
Paraguay (along with Bolivia) is one of the only two landlocked countries in South America.
12
Which geological scale measures the 'Intensity' of an earthquake based on observed effects and damage?
Answer:
Modified Mercalli Scale
The Mercalli Scale measures the *intensity* of an earthquake (effect on people/structures) at a specific location, whereas Richter/Moment Magnitude measure the *energy* released.
13
The Commonwealth of Nations is primarily composed of:
Answer:
Former British Colonies
The Commonwealth is a political association of 56 member states, the vast majority of which are former territories of the British Empire.
14
What is the primary difference between Magma and Lava?
Answer:
Location (underground vs. surface)
Magma is molten rock stored in the Earth's crust (underground). Once it reaches the surface through a volcano or vent, it is called Lava.
15
A 'Unitary State' is characterized by:
Answer:
Power concentrated in a central government
In a Unitary State (e.g., France, Japan), the central government is supreme, and administrative divisions exercise only powers that the central government has delegated to them.
16
Which type of rock forms the majority of the Continental Crust?
Answer:
Granite
Continental crust is felsic and primarily granitic in composition, which is less dense than the basaltic oceanic crust.
17
The Spratly Islands dispute involves which primary resource of interest?
Answer:
Oil and Natural Gas
The Spratly Islands in the South China Sea are disputed largely due to the potential for vast reserves of oil and natural gas, as well as strategic shipping lanes.
18
The Great Rift Valley in East Africa is an example of a:
Answer:
Divergent Boundary on land
The Great Rift Valley represents a divergent boundary where the African plate is in the process of splitting into two new tectonic plates (Nubian and Somali).
19
A political movement intended to reclaim and reoccupy a 'lost' or 'unredeemed' area (often due to ethnic ties) is called:
Answer:
Irredentism
Irredentism is a political and popular movement in which members claim, reclaim, and seek to occupy territory which they consider 'lost' (or 'unredeemed'), based on history or legend.
20
Which layer of the Earth is the thickest, making up about 84% of Earth's volume?
Answer:
Mantle
The Mantle is the thickest layer of the Earth, extending from the base of the crust to the top of the core, roughly 2,900 km thick.