World Panorama (UPSC) Part-I

Total Questions: 50

31. Which one among the following languages has largest number of speakers in the world? [2003]

Correct Answer: (a) Bengali
Solution:According to 2005 edition of the National encyklopedin, the largest number of speakers in the world are, Portuguese (213 millikon speakers); Bengali (215 million speakers); Japanese; (127 million speakers); French (130 million speakers). According to 2010 edition of the National encykloped in the largest number of speakers in the world are Portuguese 250 million speakers; Bengali 200 millon speakers; Japanese; 125 millon speakers; French 74 millon speakers.

32. Which among the following countries was the earliest to give women the right to vote? [2003]

Correct Answer: (c) New Zealand
Solution:New Zealand gave the right to vote to women in 1893.
Right to Vote in India:
• The right to vote in India is a fundamental political right granted to all eligible Indian citizens by the Indian Constitution. This right is governed by several articles and laws, including:
• Article 326: This article in the Indian Constitution provides for the universal adult suffrage, stating that “the elections to the House of the People and to the Legislative Assembly of every State shall be on the basis of adult suffrage.”
• Representation of the People Act, 1950: This Act provides for the preparation and revision of electoral rolls, the conduct of elections, and the determination of the qualifications of voters.
• Representation of the People Act, 1951: This Act deals with the conduct of elections, disqualifications for membership of Parliament and State Legislatures, and other related matters.
• The right to vote in India is a fundamental constitutional provision primarily guaranteed by Article 326 of the Indian Constitution.

33. Consider the following international language:

1. Arabic
2. French
3. Spanish

The correct sequence of the language given above in the decreasing order of the number of their speakers is:

Correct Answer: (a) 3, 1, 2
Solution:Total speaker of Spanish in world is 329 million, Arabic speakers are 220 million and French speakers are 200 million. So, the correct sequence in decreasing order of the number of speakers are Spanish, Arabic and French.

34. Match List-I with List-II and select the correct answer using the codes given below: [2004]

AgencyHeadquarters
United Nations Development ProgrammeNew York
United Nations Environment ProgrammeNairobi
United Nations Industrial Development Org.Vienna
Universal Postal UnionBerne

Codes:

ABCD
a.2341
b.4123
c.2143
d.4321
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:The headquarters of United Nations Development Programme is in New york, the headquarters of United National Environment Programme is in Nairobi, The headquaters of United National Industrial Development Organisation is present in Vienna and Headquarters of Universal Postal Union is in Beru.

35. World's longest ruling of government is from: [2004]

Correct Answer: (b) Cuba
Solution:World's longest ruling government is of Fidel Castro of Cuba. Fidel Castro came in power in 1959 following the Cuban revolution and became Prime Minister of Cuba in 1961 and from 1976 he became the President of Cuba till date.

36. Match List-I (State/Province/Overseas Territory) with List-II (Country) and select the correct answer using the codes given below: [2004]

List-IList-II
A. British Columbia1. USA
B. Bavaria2. UK
C. Gibraltar3. Canada
D. Rhode Island4. Germany
5. Denmark

Codes:

ABCD
(a)1253
(b)3421
(c)1423
(d)3251
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:British Columbia is western most provinces of Canada, Bavaria is a state of Germany. Gibralter is the overseas territory of UK and Rhoda Island is the smallest state in USA.

37. Match List-I (New names of the Countries) with List-ll (Old names of the Countries) and select the correct answer using the codes given below: [2004]

List-IList-II
A. Benin1. Nyasaland
B. Belize2. Basutoland
C. Botswana3. Bechuanaland
D. Malawi4. British Honduras
5. Dohomey

Codes:

ABCD
(a)3124
(b)5431
(c)3421
(d)5134
Correct Answer: (b)
Solution:
Current NameOld Name
BeninDahomey
BelizeBritish Honduras
BotswanaBechuanaland
MalawiNyasaland

38. Consider the following statements: [2004]

1. Montenegro and Serbia agreed to a new structure for the Yugoslav Federation

2. Croatin remained under the Hungarian Administration until the end of First World War

3. Claims to Macedonia Territory have long been a source of contention between Belgium and Greece

4. In 1991, Slovenia declared independence from Czechoslovakia

Which of the statements given above are correct?

Correct Answer: (a) 1 & 2
Solution:• Montenegro and Serbia agreed to form the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY) in 1992 (after other republics seceded), a new structure for the remaining parts of the Yugoslav Federation.
• Croatia was part of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and specifically under Hungarian administration as the Kingdom of Croatia-Slavonia, until the empire’s dissolution at the end of the First World War in 1918.
• The claims and contentions over the Macedonia region have long been a source of dispute between Greece and Bulgaria (among others in the Balkans), not Belgium and Greece. Belgium has no historical or territorial claims related to Macedonia.
• In 1991, Slovenia declared independence from Yugoslavia, not Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia dissolved peacefully into the Czech Republic and Slovakia in 1993.

39. Consider the following statements: [2005]

1. The Headquarters of the International Organisation for standardization are located in Rome.
2. ISO 9000 relates to the quality management system and standards.
3. ISO 14000 relates to environmental management system standards.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Correct Answer: (c) 2 & 3
Solution:• ISO (International Organization for Standardization) is an independent, non-governmental international organization with a membership of 168 national standards bodies.
• The ISO story began in 1946 when delegates from 25 countries met at the Institute of Civil Engineers in London.
• Its headquarters is based in Geneva Switzerland.
• Through its members, it brings together experts to share knowledge and develop voluntary, consensus-based, market-relevant International Standards that support innovation and provide solutions to global challenges.
• An International Standard provides rules, guidelines or characteristics for activities or for their results, aimed at achieving the optimum degree of order in a given context.
• ISO standards are internationally agreed upon by experts Think of them as a formula that describes the best way of doing something. It provides standards for various sectors like-
• Quality management
• Environmental management
• Health and Safety
• Energy management
• Food safety
• IT security

40. Which one of the following is not an ASEAN member? [2005]

Correct Answer: (b) China
Solution:• The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) is a regional grouping that aims to promote economic and security cooperation among its members:
• ASEAN Formation: ASEAN was formed on 8 August 1967 in Bangkok, Thailand, with the signing of the ASEAN Declaration (Bangkok Declaration) by the founding members of ASEAN: Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
• Aim: The motto of ASEAN is “One Vision, One Identity, One Community”.
• ASEAN Members: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Timor-Leste.
• ASEAN Secretariat: ASEAN Secretariat is located in Jakarta, Indonesia.