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
81
Who was the US President during the Cuban Missile Crisis?
Answer:
John F. Kennedy
John F. Kennedy managed the crisis, opting for a naval quarantine (blockade) rather than an immediate airstrike or invasion.
82
The Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 involved a confrontation between the US and USSR over:
Answer:
Soviet nuclear missiles in Cuba
The crisis brought the world to the brink of nuclear war when the US discovered Soviet nuclear missiles being installed in Cuba.
83
The Berlin Wall was constructed in which year?
Answer:
1961
The German Democratic Republic (East Germany) began construction of the Berlin Wall in August 1961 to stop the brain drain and mass emigration to West Berlin.
84
The 'Bay of Pigs' invasion was a failed attempt to overthrow:
Answer:
Fidel Castro
In 1961, a CIA-sponsored paramilitary group of Cuban exiles failed to invade Cuba and overthrow the communist government of Fidel Castro.
85
The 'U-2 Incident' of 1960 involved:
Answer:
An American spy plane shot down over the USSR
An American U-2 spy plane piloted by Francis Gary Powers was shot down while performing photographic aerial reconnaissance deep inside Soviet territory.
86
The 'Sputnik' launch in 1957 marked the beginning of:
Answer:
The Space Race
Sputnik 1 was the first artificial Earth satellite, launched by the USSR, shocking the US and triggering the Space Race.
87
Which Soviet leader succeeded Joseph Stalin?
Answer:
Nikita Khrushchev
Nikita Khrushchev emerged as the leader of the Soviet Union after Stalin's death in 1953 and initiated a process of 'de-Stalinization'.
88
The 'Domino Theory' suggested that:
Answer:
If one country falls to communism, its neighbors will follow
This theory was a prominent feature of US foreign policy during the Cold War, used to justify intervention in Vietnam and other regions.
89
Who was the leader of the Communist forces in the Chinese Civil War?
Answer:
Mao Zedong
Mao Zedong led the Chinese Communist Party to victory in 1949, establishing the People's Republic of China.
90
The '38th Parallel' divides which two countries?
Answer:
North and South Korea
The 38th Parallel was the pre-war boundary between North and South Korea and remains the approximate location of the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) after the Korean War.