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
1
What creates the 'Subtropical High' pressure belts (around 30° latitude) responsible for many of the world's deserts?
Answer:
Descending dry air from the Hadley Cell
[attachment_3](attachment) Air rises at the equator, cools, loses moisture, moves poleward, and sinks at 30° latitude. This sinking air is dry and inhibits cloud formation, creating deserts.
2
The zone of latitude roughly between 23.5°N and 23.5°S is known as:
Answer:
The Tropics
The Tropics are defined as the region between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn, where the sun can be directly overhead.
3
What is 'Dendroclimatology'?
Answer:
Using tree rings to study past climate
Dendroclimatology is the science of determining past climates from trees (primarily properties of the annual tree rings).
4
Which area is an example of a cold desert?
Answer:
Gobi
The Gobi Desert (Mongolia/China) is a cold desert (BWk) because it is located at a high latitude and high elevation, leading to freezing temperatures in winter.
5
A 'Maritime' climate is characterized by:
Answer:
High humidity and low temperature range
Maritime (oceanic) climates are influenced by the ocean, leading to higher humidity and a smaller difference between summer and winter temperatures compared to continental climates.
6
Volcanic eruptions can temporarily cool the global climate by:
Answer:
Releasing sulfur dioxide and ash that block sunlight
Large eruptions inject aerosols (sulfur dioxide) into the stratosphere, which increase the Earth's albedo and reflect sunlight, causing temporary global cooling (e.g., Mt. Pinatubo 1991).
7
The Köppen classification 'Cfb' refers to:
Answer:
Marine West Coast, mild winter, warm summer, no dry season
C = Temperate, f = no dry season, b = warm summer. This is the code for the Marine West Coast climate found in places like Western Europe and the Pacific Northwest.
8
In which climate zone would you find 'Xerophytic' vegetation?
Answer:
Desert
Xerophytes (like cacti) are plants adapted to survive in an environment with little liquid water, such as a desert.
9
What defines an 'Arid' climate versus a 'Semi-Arid' climate?
Answer:
The degree of moisture deficit
Arid (Desert) climates have a greater moisture deficit than Semi-Arid (Steppe) climates. Steppes receive enough rain for short grasses, while deserts support very little vegetation.
10
Which continent is the only one without a tropical climate?
Answer:
Europe
Europe is located entirely in the temperate and polar zones; it does not extend south enough to include any Tropical (Group A) climates.