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
21
Who was the Indian soldier who fired the first shot of the 1857 Mutiny?
Answer:
Mangal Pandey
Mangal Pandey was a sepoy in the Bengal Native Infantry who attacked his British officers, sparking the wider rebellion.
22
The 'Trail of Tears' refers to the forced relocation of:
Answer:
Native Americans (Cherokee)
Under the Indian Removal Act, thousands of Native Americans died during the forced march to 'Indian Territory' (Oklahoma).
23
Which commodity did Britain use to fix its trade imbalance with China?
Answer:
Opium
Britain grew opium in India and smuggled it into China to pay for tea and silk, leading to widespread addiction and the Opium Wars.
24
The 'Thin Red Line' is a famous description of British soldiers at the Battle of:
Answer:
Balaclava (Crimean War)
The 93rd Highlanders held off a Russian cavalry charge in a two-deep line, symbolizing British discipline.
25
The 'Maximilian Affair' involved France trying to install a puppet emperor in:
Answer:
Mexico
Napoleon III installed Archduke Maximilian as Emperor of Mexico while the US was distracted by the Civil War; the Mexicans later executed him.
26
Who was the founder of the 'Young Italy' movement opposing Austrian rule?
Answer:
Mazzini
Giuseppe Mazzini was an Italian nationalist whose activism helped inspire the unification of Italy against foreign (Austrian) dominance.
27
Which crop was forcibly cultivated in the Dutch East Indies under the 'Culture System'?
Answer:
Cash crops (Coffee, Sugar, Indigo)
The Dutch forced Javanese farmers to use a portion of their land to grow cash crops for export instead of food for themselves.
28
The 'Treaty of Waitangi' established British governance in:
Answer:
New Zealand
Signed in 1840 between the British Crown and Maori chiefs, it is the founding document of New Zealand.
29
The 'Partition of Bengal' in 1905 was a controversial administrative division by:
Answer:
Lord Curzon
Viceroy Curzon partitioned Bengal to make it easier to govern (and to divide Hindu/Muslim unity), triggering massive nationalist protests.
30
The 'Rough Riders' were a volunteer cavalry unit led by whom during the Spanish-American War?
Answer:
Theodore Roosevelt
Teddy Roosevelt resigned as Assistant Secretary of the Navy to lead the Rough Riders in Cuba, becoming a war hero.