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
71
Minamata disease, discovered in Japan in 1956, was caused by industrial wastewater containing:
Answer:
Methylmercury
The disease is a severe neurological syndrome caused by severe mercury poisoning from eating contaminated fish.
72
The 1966 Aberfan disaster in Wales involved the collapse of:
Answer:
A coal spoil tip
A colliery spoil tip collapsed after heavy rain, sliding down a hill and engulfing a junior school and other buildings, killing 116 children and 28 adults.
73
The 1985 eruption of Nevado del Ruiz in Colombia caused the Armero tragedy due to:
Answer:
Lahars (mudflows)
The eruption melted the mountain's glaciers, sending massive lahars (volcanic mudflows) down the slopes, burying the town of Armero and killing over 20,000.
74
The 1979 Three Mile Island accident was the most significant accident in the commercial nuclear power plant history of:
Answer:
USA
The accident occurred in Pennsylvania, involving a partial meltdown of reactor number 2.
75
Which maritime disaster in 1945 involves the greatest loss of life in a single ship sinking?
Answer:
Wilhelm Gustloff
The MV Wilhelm Gustloff was sunk by a Soviet submarine while evacuating civilians and personnel; an estimated 9,000+ people died.
76
The Great Potato Famine (1845–1852), which caused mass starvation and emigration, occurred in:
Answer:
Ireland
The famine was caused by potato blight (Phytophthora infestans), which decimated the potato crop that the population relied on.
77
The 1947 Texas City disaster began with a fire on board a ship carrying:
Answer:
Ammonium Nitrate
The SS Grandcamp, docked in Texas City, detonated its cargo of ammonium nitrate, causing a chain reaction of fires and explosions.
78
The 'Dust Bowl' of the 1930s was a period of severe dust storms damaging the ecology and agriculture of:
Answer:
The American and Canadian prairies
Severe drought and failure to apply dryland farming methods caused wind erosion (Aeolian processes) that created massive dust storms.
79
The 1908 Tunguska event, a massive explosion believed to be a meteor air burst, occurred in:
Answer:
Siberia, Russia
The Tunguska event flattened 2,000 square kilometers of forest in Siberia but caused no known human casualties due to the remote location.
80
Which ship was sunk by a German submarine in 1915, influencing the US entry into WWI?
Answer:
RMS Lusitania
The sinking of the Lusitania by a German U-boat off the coast of Ireland caused public outrage in the United States.