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
The deadliest flood in history occurred in 1931 along which river?
Answer:
Yangtze River
The 1931 China floods, affecting the Yangtze and Huai rivers, are estimated to have killed between 1 million and 4 million people.
82
The 'Great Chicago Fire' of 1871 was famously (but falsely) blamed on:
Answer:
Mrs. O'Leary's cow
The fire was rumored to have started when a cow kicked over a lantern in a barn, a story admitted to be fabricated by a reporter years later.
83
Which US space shuttle exploded 73 seconds after liftoff in 1986?
Answer:
Challenger
The Space Shuttle Challenger broke apart 73 seconds into its flight on January 28, 1986, due to the failure of an O-ring seal in its right solid rocket booster.
84
The deadliest tropical cyclone on record, the Bhola Cyclone of 1970, struck:
Answer:
East Pakistan (Bangladesh)
The 1970 Bhola cyclone struck East Pakistan (now Bangladesh) and India's West Bengal, killing an estimated 300,000 to 500,000 people.
85
The 1989 Exxon Valdez disaster involved a massive oil spill in:
Answer:
Prince William Sound, Alaska
The oil tanker Exxon Valdez struck Prince William Sound's Bligh Reef, spilling hundreds of thousands of barrels of crude oil.
86
The worst aviation accident in history occurred in 1977 on the runway of which island?
Answer:
Tenerife
The Tenerife airport disaster involved a collision between two Boeing 747s (KLM and Pan Am) on the runway at Los Rodeos Airport.
87
Which volcanic eruption in 1815 caused the 'Year Without a Summer'?
Answer:
Mount Tambora
The eruption of Mount Tambora in Indonesia was the most powerful recorded in history, causing global climate anomalies and crop failures in 1816.
88
The 1917 Halifax Explosion, the largest man-made explosion before the atomic bomb, occurred when two ships collided in:
Answer:
Canada
The SS Mont-Blanc, a French cargo ship laden with explosives, collided with the Norwegian vessel SS Imo in Halifax Harbour, Nova Scotia, Canada.
89
Which space shuttle disintegrated upon re-entry in 2003?
Answer:
Columbia
The Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occurred on February 1, 2003, when the shuttle disintegrated as it re-entered the atmosphere, killing all seven crew members.
90
The 'Great Smog of London' in 1952 was primarily caused by:
Answer:
Coal burning and weather conditions
A period of cold weather combined with an anticyclone and windless conditions collected airborne pollutants, mostly arising from the use of coal, to form a thick layer of smog.