Which of the following is the capital of Belarus?
- A.Baku
- B.Minsk
- C.Moroni
- D.Brussels
Correct answer
B. Minsk
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Minsk. Minsk is the capital and largest city of Belarus, a landlocked country of Eastern Europe that shares borders with Russia, Ukraine, Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. Belarus became independent when the Soviet Union broke up in 1991, its currency is the Belarusian rouble, and Minsk also houses the headquarters of the Commonwealth of Independent States. The city gave its name to the Minsk agreements on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which is why it appears in the news. A is wrong because Baku is the capital of Azerbaijan, a port on the Caspian Sea. C is wrong because Moroni is the capital of Comoros, an island country off the eastern coast of Africa. D is wrong because Brussels is the capital of Belgium and the seat of the European Union and NATO. Exam tip: Belarus - Minsk; Belgium - Brussels; Azerbaijan - Baku; Comoros - Moroni. The similar-sounding country names are the trap here.
Practice Questions
View allWhen was the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) established in India?
- A.1948
- B.1952
- C.1939
- D.1927
Show answer
Correct answer: D. 1927
Explanation
The correct answer is D, 1927. The Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry was set up in 1927 by G.D. Birla and Purshottamdas Thakurdas on the advice of Mahatma Gandhi, so that Indian business would have a voice of its own during the freedom struggle. It is the oldest and largest apex business organisation in the country, a non-government body funded by its member companies and chambers, with its head office in New Delhi. Its well known arms include the FICCI Frames media conference and its ladies' organisation, FLO. Option A is wrong because 1948 is the year of the first Industrial Policy Resolution, not of FICCI. Option B is wrong because 1952 saw the first Parliament meet after the general election. Option C is wrong because 1939 is the year the Second World War began. Exam tip: FICCI 1927 with its head office in New Delhi; CII traces itself to 1895 and ASSOCHAM to 1920.
In which year was the Arms Act passed in India?
- A.1951
- B.1955
- C.1959
- D.1964
Show answer
Correct answer: C. 1959
Explanation
The correct answer is C, 1959. Parliament passed the Arms Act in 1959, and it came into force in 1962 along with the Arms Rules. It replaced the colonial Indian Arms Act of 1878, which the British had brought in after the Revolt of 1857 to disarm Indians while exempting Europeans. The 1959 Act governs who may acquire, keep, carry, make, sell or import firearms and ammunition, and it makes a licence necessary for almost all of them. An amendment in 2019 cut the number of licensed firearms a person may hold from three to two and raised the punishment for illegal manufacture and trade. Option A is wrong because 1951 is the year of the first general election and the first constitutional amendment. Option B is wrong because 1955 gave India the Citizenship Act and the Hindu Marriage Act. Option D is wrong because no arms law was enacted in 1964. Exam tip: Indian Arms Act 1878 was colonial; the Arms Act 1959 is the law in force, amended in 2019.
The headquarters of the World Bank is located in which country?
- A.England
- B.USA
- C.Japan
- D.Russia
Show answer
Correct answer: B. USA
Explanation
The correct answer is B, USA. The World Bank has its headquarters at Washington DC in the United States of America.
The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund were both set up after the Bretton Woods conference of 1944 and began work in 1945, and both have their offices in Washington DC. The Bank lends for long-term development - roads, power, irrigation, schools and health - while the IMF looks after exchange rates and short-term balance of payments trouble. The World Bank Group has five arms, of which the IBRD and the IDA together form the World Bank, and India was a founder member.
Option A is wrong because London holds the Commonwealth Secretariat and the International Maritime Organisation, not the World Bank. Option C is wrong because Tokyo is the seat of the United Nations University, while the Asian Development Bank is at Manila. Option D is wrong because Moscow hosts no such global lender.
Exam tip: World Bank and IMF at Washington DC, WTO at Geneva, ADB at Manila.
What is meant by ABS?
- A.Avoid brake system
- B.Actual brake system
- C.Anti-lock braking system
- D.Automatic brake system
Show answer
Correct answer: C. Anti-lock braking system
Explanation
The correct answer is C, Anti-lock braking system. ABS stands for anti-lock braking system, a safety device that keeps the wheels from locking during hard braking. Sensors at the wheels watch how fast each one is turning, and when a wheel is about to stop turning the control unit releases and applies the brake pressure many times a second. Because the wheels keep rolling, the tyres hold their grip on the road, so the driver can still steer while braking hard and the vehicle usually stops in a shorter distance. A locked wheel simply skids and goes wherever it was already going. ABS is now required by law on cars and on larger two-wheelers in India. Option A is wrong because 'avoid brake system' is not a term used for any vehicle part. Option B is wrong because 'actual brake system' has no meaning in engineering. Option D is wrong because an automatic braking system is a different feature in which the vehicle applies the brakes by itself to avoid a crash. Exam tip: ABS prevents wheel lock and keeps steering control; it does not replace the brakes.
Where is the famous temple of Angkor Wat located?
- A.Vietnam
- B.Cambodia
- C.Thailand
- D.Philippines
Show answer
Correct answer: B. Cambodia
Explanation
The correct answer is B, Cambodia. Angkor Wat stands near Siem Reap in Cambodia and is the largest religious monument in the world. It was built in the early twelfth century by King Suryavarman II of the Khmer empire as a temple of Vishnu, and it later became a Buddhist place of worship. The temple faces west, is ringed by a wide moat, and its towers are shaped like lotus buds; UNESCO put the whole Angkor complex on the World Heritage list in 1992. Angkor Wat also appears on the national flag of Cambodia, which is the only national flag in the world that carries a building. Option A is wrong because Vietnam is known for Ha Long Bay and the My Son Cham temples. Option C is wrong because Thailand's best known temple is Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok. Option D is wrong because the Philippines is known for its rice terraces and baroque churches. Exam tip: Angkor Wat, Cambodia, built by Suryavarman II and shown on that country's flag.