The world’s largest monolithic statue of Buddha was installed in:
- (A) Afghanistan
- (B) India
- (C) Nepal
- (D) Sri Lanka
- (A) Afghanistan
The world’s largest single-block Buddha statues, called the Buddhas of Bamiyan, were carved into the sandstone cliffs of the Bamiyan Valley in central Afghanistan. Built between the 4th and 6th centuries CE, the larger statue, named “Salsal”, stood about 55 meters (180 feet) tall. These monumental figures were masterpieces of Gandhara art, combining Hellenistic and Indian styles. They also served as an important pilgrimage site along the ancient Silk Road.
The famous character of “Dracula” was created by:
- (A) George Cukor
- (B) Stanley Kubrick
- (C) James Cameron
- (D) Bram Stoker
- (D) Bram Stoker
The famous character “Dracula” was created by Irish author Bram Stoker in his 1897 Gothic horror novel, Dracula. Stoker took inspiration from Eastern European vampire legends and the 15th-century Romanian prince Vlad the Impaler to develop the iconic vampire. Dracula has since become a key figure in literature and film.
Kim Campbell was the first Prime Minister of:
- (A) Canada
- (B) Congo
- (C) Switzerland
- (D) Portugal
- (A) Canada
Kim Campbell was the first female Prime Minister of Canada. She was the 19th Prime Minister, serving from June 25, 1993, to November 4, 1993. As the leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, she was also the first woman to hold this role.
By how many bones the human skeleton is composed of?
- (A) 202
- (B) 206
- (C) 207
- (D) 210
- (B) 206
A normal adult human skeleton consists of 206 bones. These bones are divided into the axial skeleton (80 bones, including the skull, spine, and rib cage) and the appendicular skeleton (126 bones, including the limbs, shoulders, and pelvis). However, a baby is born with approx. 300 bones.
Blind Dolphins are found in which river of India?
- (A) Jumna
- (B) Ganga
- (C) Narmada
- (D) Godavari
- (B) Ganga
The Ganges River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica), also known as the blind dolphin, is found in the Ganga and Brahmaputra river systems and their tributaries in India. The dolphins got their nickname because of their adaptation to the muddy waters of the rivers. They developed small non-functional eyes and rely on echolocation to navigate and locate food. The Ganges River Dolphin was declared India’s National Aquatic Animal in 2009.
Who said, “The king should be a lion as well as a fox”?
- (A) Bonaparte
- (B) Dante
- (C) Hobbes
- (D) Machiavelli
- (D) Machiavelli
Niccolò Machiavelli, commonly referred to as Machiavelli, proposed in his famous book, “The Prince”, that a leader should be both a lion and a fox. According to Machiavelli, a leader should be a fox to detect danger and a lion to fend off danger.
Which of the following is used as a cathode?
- (A) Copper
- (B) Nickel
- (C) Tungsten
- (D) Iron
- (B) Nickel
Nickel appears quite frequently as a cathode material, particularly in alkaline water electrolysis and large-scale electrochemical systems. It is appreciated for its resistance to alkaline environments and its high catalytic activity in hydrogen evolution reactions. In the current state of battery technology, nickel is an essential component of cathode active materials (NCM or NCA, for example), as it directly influences the energy density and capacity of the cell. And if you look at older vacuum tube technology, the cathode was often made of a nickel tube coated with oxide electron emitters.
International Airport “Alexander the Great” is in:
- (A) Syria
- (B) Qatar
- (C) Greece
- (D) Egypt
- (C) Greece
Kavala International Airport, or “Alexander the Great” (KVA), is located in Greece, close to the village of Chryssoupoli in East Macedonia and Thrace. It is used for Kavala and is also known as Kratikós Aeroliménas Kaválas “Mégas Aléxandros” in Greek. It must not be confused with Skopje Airport, which was formerly known as Alexander the Great Airport.
Which continent has the highest birth rate in the world?
- (A) Africa
- (B) Asia
- (C) Europe
- (D) Australia
- (A) Africa
Africa is unique in that it has the largest crude birth rate and total fertility rate among all the continents. The current birth rate in Africa is estimated to be 31-32 per 1,000, which is significantly higher than the average rate of 16-17 births per 1,000 people. In terms of fertility rates, women in Africa have an average of 4.1 to 4.6 children, compared to the global average of 2.3. Sub-Saharan Africa is particularly unique in that it represents 27 of the 30 countries with the highest fertility rates in the world.
The colour of light is determined by its:
- (A) Intensity
- (B) Speed
- (C) Wavelength
- (D) Amplitude
(C) Wavelength
The colour of light depends on its wavelength. In the visible spectrum, the eye detects colors corresponding to various wavelengths:
- – Red light has the longest wavelength, approximately 700 nm.
- – Violet light has the shortest wavelength, approximately 400 nm.