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
191
What was the old name of Faisalabad, Pakistan?
Answer:
Lyallpur
Faisalabad was called Lyallpur until 1979, named after Sir James Lyall, renamed to honor King Faisal. Unlike Montgomery, Sargodha, or Multan, Lyallpur was Faisalabad’s colonial name.
192
Which country was formed by merging Zanzibar and Tanganyika?
Answer:
Tanzania
Tanzania was formed in 1964 by merging Zanzibar and Tanganyika, with Tanganyika as its mainland colonial name. Unlike Kenya, Uganda, or Burundi, Tanganyika’s merger created Tanzania.
193
Which city was previously named Stalingrad?
Answer:
Volgograd
Volgograd was called Stalingrad from 1925 to 1961, named after Joseph Stalin, notably during World War II. Unlike Moscow, Kazan, or Nizhny Novgorod, Stalingrad was Volgograd’s Soviet-era name.
194
What is the new name of South West Africa?
Answer:
Namibia
Namibia was known as South West Africa under German and South African administration until independence in 1990. Unlike Angola, Botswana, or Lesotho, South West Africa was Namibia’s colonial name.
195
Which country was formerly known as Siam?
Answer:
Thailand
Thailand was known as Siam until 1939 (and briefly post-WWII), a name reflecting its historical kingdom. Unlike Laos, Cambodia, or Vietnam, Siam was the pre-modern name for Thailand.
196
What was the old name of the Hawaiian Islands?
Answer:
Sandwich Islands
The Hawaiian Islands were called the Sandwich Islands by Captain James Cook in 1778, after the Earl of Sandwich. Unlike Polynesian, Pacific, or Aloha Islands, Sandwich Islands was the historical Western name.
197
Which city was previously called Salisbury?
Answer:
Harare
Harare, the capital of Zimbabwe, was known as Salisbury during British colonial rule until 1982. Unlike Lusaka, Gaborone, or Maputo, Salisbury was the colonial name for Harare.
198
What is the new name of Saigon?
Answer:
Ho Chi Minh City
Saigon was renamed Ho Chi Minh City in 1976 after Vietnam’s reunification, honoring the communist leader. Unlike Hanoi, Da Nang, or Hue, Saigon was the colonial and pre-1976 name for this city.
199
Which country is historically known as Hispaniola?
Answer:
Haiti
Hispaniola is the historical name for the island now shared by Haiti and the Dominican Republic, named by Columbus. Unlike Cuba, Jamaica, or Puerto Rico, Hispaniola refers to Haiti’s island, though the document specifies Haiti.
200
Which city was formerly known as Peking?
Answer:
Beijing
Beijing was known as Peking in Western languages until the adoption of Pinyin romanization in the mid-20th century. Unlike Shanghai, Guangzhou, or Nanjing, Peking was the historical Western name for Beijing.