1. Who among the following is the author of the “Divine Comedy”?
[A] Goethe
[B] Milton
[C] Dante
[D] Shakespeare
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [ Dante ]
Notes:
The Divine Comedy is an epic poem written by Dante Alighieri between c. 1308 and his death in 1321. It is widely considered the preeminent work of Italian literature, and is seen as one of the greatest works of world literature. The poem’s imaginative and allegorical vision of the afterlife is a culmination of the medieval world-view as it had developed in the Western Church. It helped establish the Tuscan dialect, in which it is written, as the standardized Italian language.
2. On what date World-No Tobacco Day is observed?
[A] May 20
[B] May 30
[C] May 31
[D] June 2nd
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [May 31]
Notes:
In 1988, World Health Assembly of WHO had passed a resolution calling for the celebration of World No Tobacco Day, every year on May 31. Since then WHO has supported the observance of World No Tobacco Day (WNTD) every year.
3. Headquarters of “Asian Clearing Union” are located at:
[A] Manila
[B] Beijing
[C] Tokyo
[D] Tehran
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [Tehran]
Notes:
Asian Clearing Union (ACU) is a payment settlement forum for the transactions clearing that take place within the regions. The Asian Clearing Union, with headquarters in Tehran, Iran. It was established on December 9, 1974.
4. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor on which date during World War-II?
[A] January 7, 1941
[B] December 20, 1941
[C] March 7, 1941
[D] December 7, 1941
Show Answer
Correct Answer: D [December 7, 1941]
Notes:
The attack on Pearl Harbor was a surprise military strike by by Japan on the US naval base at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu on December 7, 1941. Till that date, United States was neutral but entered into Second World War after this.
5. Which among the following is the junior most among all 4 ranks of Indian Air Force?
[A] Wing Commander
[B] Squadron Leader
[C] Flight Lieutenant
[D] Group Captain
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Flight Lieutenant]
Notes:
Among the given options, the junior most rank in the Indian Air Force is Flight Lieutenant. The rank hierarchy in the Indian Air Force from junior to senior among the listed ranks is as follows: Flight Lieutenant, Squadron Leader, Wing Commander, and Group Captain.
6. ‘Brihat Kathamanjari’ was the compostion of whom ?
[A] Padmagupta
[B] Somadeva
[C] Kshmendra
[D] Krishna Mishra
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Kshmendra]
Notes:
During the reign of Kashmir king Ananta (1028-1063 AD) and his son Kalasha (1063-1089 AD), Kshmendra was a great poet of Kashmir. He was a Sanskrit poet who composed many plays, descriptive poems, a satirical novel, etc. Some of his famous works are Brihat kathamanjari, Ramayana Manjari, Suvrittatilaka, Dashavatara Charita (Ten incarnations of Vishnu), Avadana kalpalata, etc.
7. Which one of the following statements regarding the “veto” power in the Security Council is correct according to the United Nations Charter? (UPSC Prelims 1994)
[A] The decisions of the Security Council on all non-procedural matters must be made by an affirmative vote of nine members, including the concurring, votes of the permanent members of the Council
[B] Every permanent member of the Security Council can prevent any decision from being accepted, by vetoing it
[C] The term veto was used in Article 27 of the United Nations Charter to enable any permanent member of the Security Council to prevent any resolution from being passed by the majority
[D] Any member of the Security Council can prevent any resolution from being passed by voting against it
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Every permanent member of the Security Council can prevent any decision from being accepted, by vetoing it]
Notes:
The veto power originates in Article 27 of the United Nations Charter, which states: Each member of the Security Council shall have a vote. Decisions of the Security Council on procedural matters shall be made by an affirmative vote of five members.
8. The book “Sakhian Guru Nanak” is based on the life stories of which religious figure? (UPSC Prelims 2000)
[A] Guru Gobind Singh
[B] Guru Nanak Dev
[C] Guru Hargobind
[D] Guru Amar Das
Show Answer
Correct Answer: B [Guru Nanak Dev]
Notes:
The book “Sakhian Guru Nanak” is a compilation of ‘Janamsakhis’ – biographies of Guru Nanak Dev, the founder of Sikhism. These ‘Janamsakhis’ paint a vivid picture of Guru Nanak Dev’s life and teachings. The book is especially designed for children and is compiled by Jagtarjit Singh. The aim is to familiarize children with Guru Nanak Dev’s principles and to inculcate Sikh values in them from an early age.
9. First World War started in which year?
[A] 1905
[B] 1911
[C] 1914
[D] 1918
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [1914]
Notes:
In the year 1914 (28th July), First World War started and ended in 1918 (11th November). England, France Russia was on a side and Germany, Austria, Hungary and Turkey were on another side.
10. Who is the author of “Poverty and Famines”?
[A] Abhijit Banerjee
[B] J.R.Harris
[C] Amartya Sen
[D] K.N.Raj
Show Answer
Correct Answer: C [Amartya Sen]
Notes:
Amartya Sen’s “Poverty and Famines”, an essay by Sen on Entitlement and Deprivation (1981) is both theoretical and applied for work. In the essay, several famines have been studied in the working of a general theoretical framework from an original angle. He examined various meanings of poverty and drew attention to the incidence of absolute and relative deprivation.
