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
11
The 'epoch' of the Hebrew calendar (Anno Mundi) refers to:
Answer:
The biblical creation of the world
The Hebrew calendar counts years from the calculated date of the creation of the world (Anno Mundi).
12
Which civilization developed the 'Haab' (solar) and 'Tzolkin' (sacred) calendars?
Answer:
Maya
The Maya civilization used the Haab (365 days) and the Tzolkin (260 days) in a combined system.
13
The name of the month 'January' comes from the Roman god Janus, who is the god of:
Answer:
Beginnings, gates, and transitions
Janus is the two-faced god looking both to the past and the future, symbolizing beginnings and transitions.
14
In the ISO 8601 standard, which day is considered the first day of the week?
Answer:
Monday
The international standard ISO 8601 defines Monday as the first day of the week.
15
What is the primary flaw of the Julian calendar compared to the Gregorian?
Answer:
It estimates the solar year as exactly 365.25 days, which is slightly too long.
The Julian calendar assumes a year is exactly 365.25 days. The actual solar year is slightly shorter (365.2425), causing a drift of about 3 days every 400 years.
16
Which of these calendars is the oldest still in continuous use?
Answer:
Chinese
The Chinese calendar (in various forms) has been in continuous use for several millennia, though the specific rules have evolved.
17
The Baha'i calendar consists of:
Answer:
19 months of 19 days
The Baha'i calendar uses a unique structure of 19 months, each consisting of 19 days (plus intercalary days).
18
In the Buddhist calendar used in Thailand, the years are counted relative to:
Answer:
The Parinirvana (Death) of Buddha
The Thai solar calendar counts years in the Buddhist Era (BE), which starts from the Parinirvana of the Buddha (approx 543 BCE).
19
How many days were 'skipped' when the British Empire switched from Julian to Gregorian in 1752?
Answer:
11 days
By 1752, the Julian calendar had drifted 11 days off. The British Parliament skipped 11 days to align with the Gregorian calendar.
20
The Nanakshahi calendar is associated with which religion?
Answer:
Sikhism
The Nanakshahi calendar is a tropical solar calendar used in Sikhism to determine the dates of important Sikh events.