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
21
The 2021 Surfside condominium collapse occurred in which US state?
Answer:
Florida
The Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Florida (near Miami), partially collapsed, killing 98 people.
22
The Brumadinho dam disaster (2019) in Brazil released:
Answer:
Iron ore tailings (mud)
A tailings dam at an iron ore mine collapsed, releasing a mudflow that killed 270 people.
23
Which 2019 event destroyed the roof and spire of a famous Parisian landmark?
Answer:
Notre-Dame fire
A structural fire broke out in the roof space of Notre-Dame de Paris cathedral, collapsing its spire and roof.
24
The 2000 Kursk submarine disaster involved the sinking of a submarine belonging to:
Answer:
Russia
The nuclear-powered submarine Kursk sank in the Barents Sea after an internal torpedo explosion, killing all 118 personnel on board.
25
The 1937 New London School explosion in Texas led to the mandatory addition of what to natural gas?
Answer:
Odorants (Mercaptan)
Since natural gas is odorless, the leak went undetected. After the disaster killed 295 students/teachers, adding a smell (Mercaptan) became law.
26
The 2015 Tianjin explosions in China occurred at a storage facility for:
Answer:
Hazardous chemicals
A series of explosions occurred at a container storage station at the Port of Tianjin containing hazardous chemicals like nitrocellulose and sodium cyanide.
27
Which chemical was stored in the warehouse that exploded in Beirut in 2020?
Answer:
Ammonium Nitrate
2,750 tonnes of ammonium nitrate stored unsafely at the port exploded, causing one of the largest non-nuclear explosions in history.
28
The 2011 Joplin Tornado is significant for being:
Answer:
The costliest tornado in US history
The EF5 tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri, caused damage amounting to nearly $3 billion (2011 dollars), making it the costliest single tornado in U.S. history.
29
The 'Tri-State Tornado' of 1925 holds the record for:
Answer:
Longest continuous track on the ground
The Tri-State Tornado traveled 219 miles across Missouri, Illinois, and Indiana, killing 695 people.
30
The 2022 Halloween crowd crush that killed over 150 people occurred in the Itaewon district of:
Answer:
Seoul
The disaster occurred in a narrow alleyway in Seoul, South Korea, during Halloween festivities.