#1

8 March is celebrated worldwide as which day?

(a) World Health Day

(b) Women’s Day

(c) World Water Day

(d) Human Rights Day

Explanation: International Women’s Day on March 8 recognizes women’s achievements and struggles for equality. It is observed globally with events and campaigns. Other listed days fall on different dates.

#2

22 March is observed internationally as?

(a) Women’s Day

(b) World Health Day

(c) Human Rights Day

(d) World Water Day

Explanation: World Water Day on March 22 raises awareness of water conservation and scarcity. It was established by the UN in 1993. The other observances occur on different dates.

#3

What is the approximate current population of the world (as of late 2023/early 2024)?

(a) 7.5 Billion

(b) 8.1 Billion

(c) 9.0 Billion

(d) 7.9 Billion

Explanation: The world population reached $8$ billion in late 2022, and is estimated to be approximately $8.1$ billion as of early 2024.

#4

Approximately what is the current world population (as of 2024)?

(a) 7.5 billion

(b) 8.2 billion

(c) 9.0 billion

(d) 7.0 billion

Explanation: The global population reached approximately **8.2 billion** people in 2024, continuing its growth trajectory, although the annual growth rate has slowed down over the past decades. The 7 billion mark was crossed around 2011.

#5

As of recent estimates (2024), which country has the largest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by nominal value?

(a) China

(b) Germany

(c) United States

(d) Japan

Explanation: The **United States** maintains its position as the world's largest economy by nominal GDP (approximately $25.43 trillion as of 2024 estimates), followed by China in second place. GDP is the total monetary value of all finished goods and services made within a country during a specific period.

#6

The global average life expectancy at birth is approximately what number (as of 2024)?

(a) 68 years

(b) 73 years

(c) 78 years

(d) 81 years

Explanation: The worldwide average life expectancy at birth for the total population stands at approximately **73 years** (with some variations by source and exact year, often quoted as 73.3 years in 2024). This figure is significantly higher than a century ago, reflecting advances in global health.

#7

Which country transitioned from being the world's most populous to the second most populous nation in 2023-2024?

(a) Indonesia

(b) China

(c) United States

(d) Brazil

Explanation: **China** was surpassed by India in 2023/2024 to become the world's second most populous nation. This shift is primarily due to China's decades of low fertility rates and India's continued population growth.

#8

According to the IMF’s 2024 forecast, what is the approximate global headline inflation rate expected to be for the year?

(a) 2.5%

(b) 5.9%

(c) 8.1%

(d) 3.2%

Explanation: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) projected in its late-2024 outlook that global headline inflation is forecast to decline steadily to approximately $5.9\%$ in 2024, down from higher rates in 2023, reflecting global monetary policy tightening.

#9

Approximately what percentage of the world's population is estimated to be using the Internet in 2024?

(a) 55%

(b) 68%

(c) 75%

(d) 85%

Explanation: The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) estimated that approximately $5.5$ billion people, or about $68\%$ of the world's population, are using the Internet in 2024. This highlights the growing, though still uneven, global connectivity.

#10

Which country is the world's largest total consumer of electricity (in Terawatt-hours, TWh) as of recent 2024 data?

(a) United States

(b) India

(c) China

(d) Germany

Explanation: China is the largest consumer of electricity globally by a wide margin, with its consumption (over $10,000$ TWh in 2024 forecasts) driven by its massive manufacturing sector and large population. It accounts for roughly one-third of global electricity use.

#11

Which country, already the largest consumer, has the largest operational solar power capacity (MWac) globally, leading by a massive margin in 2024?

(a) India

(b) United States

(c) Germany

(d) China

Explanation: China dominates the solar sector, holding both the largest operational solar capacity (over $440,000$ MWac) and the largest prospective pipeline, far exceeding the combined capacity of the next few largest markets.

#12

What is the global statistic for the average number of women in national parliaments (as of 2024)?

(a) Around $15\%$

(b) Around $27\%$

(c) Around $35\%$

(d) Around $50\%$

Explanation: The global average percentage of women in single or lower houses of national parliament reached approximately $27\%$ in 2024. While progress is steady, it is slow, and significant disparities remain.

#13

Which island in the Maldives faced flooding risks in 2024?

(a) Fuvahmulah

(b) Addu

(c) Gan

(d) Malé

Explanation: Malé, the capital island of the Maldives, faced increased flooding risks in 2024 due to rising sea levels, threatening its low-lying coral atoll structure and dense population.

#14

The Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore collapsed in 2024 after being struck by which container ship?

(a) Ever Given

(b) Dali

(c) Cosco Busan

(d) Maersk Alabama

Explanation: The container ship 'Dali' lost power and struck a support pier of the Francis Scott Key Bridge on March 26, 2024, causing a total collapse of the main spans.

#15

Which 2024 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula on New Year's Day?

(a) Japan

(b) Indonesia

(c) Taiwan

(d) Chile

Explanation: A magnitude 7.6 earthquake struck the Noto Peninsula in Japan on January 1, 2024, causing significant damage and a tsunami.

#16

Which desert experienced significant flooding due to rare rainfall in 2024?

(a) Sahara Desert

(b) Atacama Desert

(c) Arabian Desert

(d) Thar Desert

Explanation: In 2024, parts of the Sahara Desert, particularly in Morocco and Algeria, experienced rare heavy rainfall, causing unprecedented flooding in typically arid regions, highlighting climate variability.

#17

Which strait in Malaysia faced armed robbery incidents in 2024?

(a) Singapore Strait

(b) Johor Strait

(c) Malacca Strait

(d) Tebrau Strait

Explanation: The Malacca Strait reported four armed robbery incidents in 2024, targeting bulk carriers’ engine spares, underscoring ongoing security challenges despite reduced piracy.

#18

Which strait in the Red Sea was a focus of Houthi attacks in 2024?

(a) Perim Strait

(b) Strait of Tiran

(c) Gubal Strait

(d) Bab-el-Mandeb

Explanation: Bab-el-Mandeb, connecting the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden, faced Houthi attacks on shipping in 2024, disrupting trade routes and raising global security concerns.

#19

The 'Salt March' (1930) was a protest led by Gandhi against:

(a) The tax on textiles

(b) The British salt monopoly

(c) The partition of Bengal

(d) World War II

Explanation: Gandhi marched 240 miles to the sea to make his own salt, defying the British law that made it illegal for Indians to collect or sell salt.

#20

The 'Long March' (1934-1935) is a significant event in the history of:

(a) Vietnam