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
The 'Peak Oil' theory suggests that:
Answer:
Oil production will reach a maximum rate and then irreversibly decline
Peak Oil is the hypothetical point in time when the maximum rate of extraction of petroleum is reached, after which it is expected to enter terminal decline.
2
Magnesium metal is commercially extracted primarily from:
Answer:
Seawater and Brines
Magnesium is the third most abundant mineral dissolved in seawater, making electrolysis of magnesium chloride from brine a major production method.
3
Which country is the largest producer of farmed (cultured) pearls?
Answer:
China
China produces the vast majority of the world's freshwater cultured pearls.
4
Oud (Agarwood) is a dark, resinous heartwood formed in Aquilaria trees when they become:
Answer:
Infected with mold
The tree produces the dark, aromatic resin as a defense mechanism against a specific mold infection; healthy wood is odorless.
5
Limestone is the primary raw material for manufacturing:
Answer:
Cement
Limestone (Calcium Carbonate) is heated in a kiln to produce clinker, the main ingredient in Portland cement.
6
Rhenium, used in high-temperature jet engines, is usually obtained as a by-product of mining:
Answer:
Copper and Molybdenum
Rhenium is one of the rarest elements and is extracted from the flue dusts of molybdenum roasters (which are often byproducts of copper mining).
7
Bamboo is technically classified as:
Answer:
A Grass
Bamboo is a giant woody grass in the Poaceae family and is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world.
8
What is the main source of Iodine production globally?
Answer:
Caliche ore in Chile
While iodine can be found in brine and seaweed, Chile's caliche deposits (nitrate ores) are the largest commercial source.
9
Cochineal, a natural red dye, is extracted from:
Answer:
Scale insects on cacti
Cochineal dye, used in food and cosmetics (Carmine), comes from the female cochineal insect which feeds on prickly pear cacti.
10
Which valuable resin produced by the Lac insect is used to make shellac?
Answer:
Lac
Lac is the scarlet resinous secretion of a number of species of lac insects, processed to make shellac.