#1841

In which European capital was the peace treaty concluding the Spanish-American War signed on December 10, 1898?

(a) Brussels

(b) London

(c) Paris

(d) Madrid

Explanation: The Treaty of Paris, signed on December 10, 1898, formally ended the Spanish-American War. Under the terms of the treaty, Spain relinquished its claims to Cuba and ceded Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines to the United States. This event marked the end of the Spanish Empire and the rise of the United States as a significant international power.

#1842

Who was inaugurated as the first democratically elected President of Afghanistan on December 7, 2004?

(a) Hamid Karzai

(b) Pervez Musharaf

(c) Ghazi al-Yawer

(d) Mohammad Zahir Shah

Explanation: Hamid Karzai served as the interim leader of Afghanistan following the fall of the Taliban in 2001 and was subsequently inaugurated as the country's first democratically elected president in December 2004. His presidency was a pivotal period in Afghan history, characterized by international efforts to rebuild state institutions, combat insurgency, and establish a new constitutional order in the post-conflict environment.

#1843

The three-week armed conflict known as the Gaza War, which occurred between December 27, 2008, and January 18, 2009, took place in which of the following locations?

(a) None of these

(b) Both a & b

(c) Gaza Strip

(d) Southern Israel

Explanation: The 2008-2009 conflict, often referred to as Operation Cast Lead by Israel, involved intense military engagements within the Gaza Strip and rocket fire originating from Gaza into Southern Israel. The conflict resulted in significant casualties and infrastructure damage across both areas, drawing international attention to the security dynamics between the Israeli state and Hamas-governed Gaza.

#1844

In his December 1, 2009 address, how long was the deployment period specified by President Barack Obama for the additional 30,000 U.S. troops sent to Afghanistan?

(a) 8 months

(b) 4 months

(c) 9 months

(d) 6 months

Explanation: President Barack Obama announced a surge of 30,000 additional troops to Afghanistan in late 2009. The strategic plan aimed to deploy these forces over a six-month period to stabilize the security situation and counter the Taliban insurgency. This surge was a central component of his administration's revised strategy for the region, intended to create conditions for an eventual transition to Afghan-led security forces.

#1845

What was the primary reason for the United States declaring war on Germany in December 1941?

(a) the American people demanded it.

(b) Germany had declared war on the U.S.

(c) Germany had invaded Britain.

(d) of the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Explanation: Following the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, the United States declared war on Japan. Shortly thereafter, on December 11, 1941, Nazi Germany and Italy declared war on the United States. In response, the U.S. Congress formally declared war on Germany, marking the official entry of the United States into the European theater of World War II.

#1846

Which location was the site of the surprise Japanese military attack on the United States Navy in December 1941?

(a) Philippines

(b) Manila

(c) Hellcats

(d) Pearl Harbor

Explanation: The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service upon the United States naval base in Honolulu, Hawaii, on December 7, 1941. This event led directly to the United States' formal entry into World War II, marking a pivotal shift in the global conflict.

#1847

Which political leader formally announced the dissolution of the Soviet Union in December 1991?

(a) Mikhail Gorbachev

(b) Nikita Krushchev

(c) Boris Yelstin

(d) Vladimir Putin

Explanation: Boris Yeltsin, as the President of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, played a pivotal role in the collapse of the USSR. Following the Belovezha Accords, which declared the Soviet Union effectively dissolved, Yeltsin oversaw the transition of power and the emergence of the Russian Federation as the successor state.

#1848

Under which constitutional article was the special court authorized to sentence General Pervez Musharraf to death in December 2019?

(a) Article 4

(b) Article 7

(c) Article 6

(d) Article 9

Explanation: Article 6 of the Constitution of Pakistan deals with High Treason. It stipulates that any person who abrogates, subverts, suspends, or holds in abeyance the Constitution by use of force or other unconstitutional means is guilty of high treason. The special court invoked this article in the 2019 verdict against the former military ruler for his actions in November 2007.

#1849

Who was responsible for presenting the second draft constitution to the Constituent Assembly on December 22, 1952?

(a) None of these

(b) Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din

(c) Muhammad Ali Bogra

(d) Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan

Explanation: Khawaja Nazimuddin, serving as the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the time, presented the second draft of the constitution to the Constituent Assembly. This event was a critical step in the early constitutional history of Pakistan, reflecting the ongoing efforts to establish a formal governance structure following the country's independence in 1947.

#1850

Who presented the second draft constitution to the Constituent Assembly on December 22, 1952?

(a) None of them

(b) Maulvi Tamizuddin Khan

(c) Muhammad Ali Bogra

(d) Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din

Explanation: Khawaja Nazim-ud-Din, who served as the Prime Minister of Pakistan at the time, presented the second draft of the Basic Principles Committee report to the Constituent Assembly on December 22, 1952. This document was a significant attempt to resolve the ongoing constitutional deadlock by proposing a federal structure based on parity between the two wings.

#1851

Following the declaration by the leaders of Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus in December 1991, what entity replaced the Soviet Union?

(a) Association of Independent States

(b) Commonwealth of Nation

(c) Organization of Independent States

(d) Commonwealth of Independent States

Explanation: The Belovezha Accords, signed in December 1991, declared the dissolution of the USSR and established the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS). The CIS was created as a loose regional organization to facilitate cooperation among the former Soviet republics. The source answer is factually incorrect as the correct name is the Commonwealth of Independent States, not the Association of Independent States.

#1852

Where was the sixth World Trade Organization (WTO) ministerial conference held in December 2005?

(a) None of the above

(b) Hongkong

(c) Geneva

(d) Mexico

Explanation: The sixth WTO Ministerial Conference took place in Hong Kong from December 13 to 18, 2005. This conference was a significant event in international trade negotiations, focusing on the Doha Development Agenda. It brought together trade ministers from member countries to address issues related to agricultural subsidies, industrial tariffs, and services, aiming to facilitate global trade liberalization and economic development.

#1853

In which city was the inaugural G20 summit held in December 1999?

(a) Geneva

(b) Berlin

(c) None of these

(d) Mexico

Explanation: The first meeting of the G20 finance ministers and central bank governors took place in Berlin, Germany, in December 1999. This meeting was convened in the wake of the 1997 Asian financial crisis to foster international cooperation on global economic stability and to include emerging market economies in the dialogue previously dominated by the G7.

#1854

According to United Nations projections, what was the estimated average global life expectancy by 2025?

(a) 54

(b) 46

(c) 71

(d) 80

Explanation: The United Nations has historically tracked global demographic trends, including life expectancy. The figure of 71 years was a widely cited projection for the mid-2020s, reflecting improvements in global health, nutrition, and medical technology over the preceding decades.

#1855

According to United Nations projections, what is the estimated global average life expectancy by the year 2025?

(a) 71

(b) 54

(c) 80

(d) 46

Explanation: The United Nations has projected that by 2025, the average life expectancy worldwide will reach 71 years, indicating a steady increase in human lifespan due to advances in healthcare and living standards.

#1856

Which urban center is projected to be the most populous megacity by the year 2025?

(a) New York

(b) Mumbai

(c) Beijing

(d) Tokyo

Explanation: Tokyo has historically maintained its status as the world's most populous metropolitan area for several decades. Demographic projections consistently identified it as the largest megacity leading up to 2025 due to its massive urban sprawl and high population density, despite shifts in global growth patterns.

#1857

Which metropolitan area is projected to maintain the largest population by 2025?

(a) Mumbai

(b) Beijing

(c) Tokyo

(d) New York

Explanation: According to United Nations demographic projections, Tokyo is expected to remain the world's most populous megacity by 2025. This status is attributed to its sustained role as a global economic hub, high density, and the continued concentration of human and capital resources within the Greater Tokyo Area, despite Japan's overall aging population trends.

#1858

The energy supplied to a hospital by the electricity board during an average December week day was 40 GWh. If this power could be attained by the annihilation of matter, how much mass would have to be consumed?

(a) 1.6 g

(b) 1.8 g

(c) 3.5 g

(d) 2.5 g

Explanation: Using E=mc^2 and converting 40 GWh to joules gives m = E/c^2 ≈ 1.6 grams, so option A matches.

#1859

Consider the following statements about the US-Pakistan trade negotiations as of July 2026: 1. Pakistan successfully negotiated a reduction in the initial IEEPA-based tariff from 29 per cent to 19 per cent in 2025. 2. The temporary global tariff of 10 per cent imposed under Section 122 is scheduled to expire on July 24, 2026. 3. India is currently facing a lower proposed tariff under Section 301 than Pakistan. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(c) 1 and 3 only

(d) All three

Explanation: Statement 1 is correct regarding the 2025 tariff reduction. Statement 2 is correct as the Section 122 tariff has a 150-day statutory limit expiring on July 24, 2026. Statement 3 is incorrect because India faces a 12.5% tariff, which is higher than Pakistan's 10%. [Source: https://www.dawn.com/news/2016679/finance-minister-aurangzeb-arrives-in-us-on-3-day-visit-expected-to-hold-talks-on-trade-finance-investment, 19 Jul 2026]

#1860

Consider the following statements about the BPS-2026 notification: 1. The new pay scales apply to federal civil employees paid from both civil and defence estimates. 2. Employees posted abroad are eligible to receive the Ad hoc Relief Allowance-2026 during their foreign tenure. 3. The 2022 and 2025 ad hoc relief allowances were abolished upon the implementation of the new scales. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?