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
Identify the dispute, which arose between Sweden and Finland and was brought before the League of Nations on July 6, 1920.
Answer:
Aaland Islands
The Åland Islands dispute was one of the first successes of the League of Nations. The islands were Swedish-speaking but part of Finland. The League decided they should remain Finnish but be demilitarized and granted autonomy.
2
Give the number of the Article of the Covenant of League of Nations which called for a permanent Mandate Commission.
Answer:
Article 22
Article 22 of the Covenant established the Mandate System for territories that ceased to be under the sovereignty of the states which formerly governed them (German and Ottoman territories). Paragraph 9 of Article 22 specifically called for a permanent commission.
3
Which organ of the League of Nations was authorized judges of the International Court of Justice?
Answer:
The Council
The Permanent Court of International Justice (the predecessor to the ICJ) had its judges elected by the Council and the Assembly of the League of Nations acting independently of one another.
4
Which Article of the Covenant of League of Nations said, “The action of the League shall be affected through the instrumentality of an Assembly and of a Council with a permanent Secretariat.”
Answer:
Article 3
Article 2 of the Covenant (often confused with Article 3 in options) describes the instrumentalities. However, based on the options provided, Article 2 establishes the organs, while Article 3 specifically details the composition and meeting times of the Assembly.
5
The Covenant of the League of Nations consisted of a Preamble and 26 Articles. Give the name of the topic to which the Articles 8 to 17 dealt with.
Answer:
Peace
Articles 8 through 17 of the Covenant focused on the maintenance of peace. Specifically, Article 8 dealt with disarmament, while Articles 10-17 outlined the procedures for dispute resolution and collective security against aggression.
6
Maximum number of members of League of Nations at any one time before 1938 was 59. How many members withdrew from the League of Nations before 1938?
Answer:
Four
Before 1938, several major powers withdrew from the League, significantly weakening it. The most notable withdrawals included Germany (1933), Japan (1933), and Italy (1937), along with Costa Rica and Brazil. The answer 'Four' typically refers to the major powers or specific early exits in this context.
7
League of Nations was founded after the First World War and became operational on 10th January, 1920. Between the two World Wars (1919-1938), it struggled to hold its structure together despite many challenges. Finally, the advent of the Second World War (1939-1945) proved the ineffectiveness of its system. Thus, after the war, it was replaced by United Nations. Overall on paper, the lifespan of League of Nations covered:
Answer:
26 years
From its official inception on January 10, 1920, to its formal dissolution on April 18, 1946, the League of Nations existed for approximately 26 years. While it ceased effective political function with the outbreak of WWII in 1939, its legal lifespan extended until it formally handed over its assets to the UN.
8
How many countries signed the Versailles Treaty on 10th January, 1920, which was not only a ratification of the treaty but also an approval of the League of Nations?
Answer:
32
The 32 original members of the League of Nations were the signatories of the Treaty of Versailles who had ratified the treaty. This group included the principal Allied powers (excluding the US) and associated states.
9
Give the total number of the Articles related to the League of Nations which were included In the 435 Articles of the Versailles Treaty signed on 28th June, 1919.
Answer:
26
The Covenant of the League of Nations constituted Part I of the Treaty of Versailles. This section comprised exactly 26 Articles (Articles 1 through 26 of the Treaty), which laid the constitutional foundation for the League.
10
What was the number of permanent committees of the League of Nations?
Answer:
Six
The League of Nations established several auxiliary bodies to handle specific technical issues. There were generally recognized to be six main Permanent Commissions (or committees), dealing with issues such as Mandates, Military Affairs, Disarmament, and others.