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
Why does a flight from New York to London take less time than the return trip?
Answer:
Jet Stream winds
High-altitude Jet Stream winds blow from West to East. Flights to London (East) get a tailwind, while flights to NY (West) face a headwind.
2
Regions within the Antarctic Circle experience what phenomenon in June?
Answer:
Polar Night
In June (Southern Winter), the Antarctic Circle is tilted away from the sun, resulting in 24-hour darkness (Polar Night).
3
Which African country is crossed by the Prime Meridian?
Answer:
Ghana
The Prime Meridian passes through Ghana (specifically near the city of Tema) in West Africa.
4
The 'Null Island' buoy is located at:
Answer:
0° N, 0° E
Null Island is the humorous name for the point at 0° latitude and 0° longitude, often used as a default location for mapping errors.
5
Which continent lies in the Southern, Western, and Eastern Hemispheres but not the Northern?
Answer:
Antarctica
Antarctica is entirely south of the Equator (Southern Hemisphere) and spans all longitudes (Eastern and Western Hemispheres).
6
If a country is at UTC+14 (Line Islands, Kiribati), it is:
Answer:
The first to experience the new day
UTC+14 is the furthest forward time zone, meaning these islands are the first part of the world to enter a new calendar date.
7
What happens to the length of a degree of longitude as you approach the Equator?
Answer:
It gets longer
Degrees of longitude are widest at the Equator (approx 111km) and shrink to zero at the poles.
8
The difference between 'Magnetic North' and 'True North' is important for:
Answer:
Compass navigation
Maps align to True North (geographic pole), but compasses point to Magnetic North. Navigators must account for the difference (declination).
9
Which US state is located in the Hawaiian-Aleutian Time Zone?
Answer:
Hawaii
Hawaii does not use Daylight Saving Time and is in the Hawaii-Aleutian Standard Time zone (UTC-10).
10
UTC is the successor to which time standard?
Answer:
GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
UTC replaced GMT as the world standard for time in 1972, though they are essentially the same time in practice (without DST adjustments).