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
31
Which 1989 disaster in the UK involved a fatal crowd crush at a football stadium?
Answer:
Hillsborough disaster
The Hillsborough disaster occurred during an FA Cup semi-final, resulting in the deaths of 97 Liverpool fans due to overcrowding in standing pens.
32
The 1911 Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire led to major reforms in:
Answer:
Workplace safety and labor laws
The fire in NYC killed 146 garment workers who were locked inside; the tragedy catalyzed the labor movement and modern fire safety codes.
33
The 'Great Molasses Flood' of 1919 occurred in which city?
Answer:
Boston
A large storage tank burst in Boston's North End, sending a wave of molasses rushing through the streets at 35 mph, killing 21 people.
34
The 1963 Vajont Dam disaster in Italy was caused by:
Answer:
A massive landslide into the reservoir
A landslide fell into the reservoir, creating a megatsunami that overtopped the dam (which remained intact) and wiped out the town of Longarone below.
35
The 1991 eruption of Mount Pinatubo, which cooled global temperatures by 0.5°C, occurred in:
Answer:
Philippines
The eruption of Mount Pinatubo was the second-largest terrestrial eruption of the 20th century and ejected massive amounts of sulfur dioxide aerosols.
36
Which 1980 volcanic eruption in the USA is famous for its massive lateral blast (landslide)?
Answer:
Mount St. Helens
The eruption of Mount St. Helens in Washington State involved a massive debris avalanche and lateral blast that removed the top 1,300 feet of the volcano.
37
The 1902 eruption of Mount Pelée destroyed the city of Saint-Pierre in:
Answer:
Martinique
The eruption of Mount Pelée on the Caribbean island of Martinique killed nearly all 30,000 inhabitants of Saint-Pierre within minutes due to pyroclastic flows.
38
The 1988 Piper Alpha disaster, the deadliest offshore oil rig accident in history, occurred in the:
Answer:
North Sea
Piper Alpha, an oil production platform in the North Sea operated by Occidental Petroleum, was destroyed by explosions and fire, killing 167 men.
39
Which maritime disaster in the Baltic Sea in 1994 resulted in the loss of 852 lives?
Answer:
MS Estonia
The MS Estonia sank in heavy seas in 1994 after its bow visor failed, marking one of the worst maritime disasters of the 20th century.
40
The sinking of the ferry MV Le Joola in 2002, which resulted in more deaths than the Titanic, occurred off the coast of:
Answer:
Senegal
The MV Le Joola capsized off the coast of Senegal. It was designed for 580 passengers but was carrying nearly 2,000, resulting in 1,863 deaths.