International GK Questions - General Knowledge

International GK Questions - General Knowledge

    International GK Questions - General Knowledge is a crucial topic for UPSC aspirants. This International GK Questions - General Knowledge of questions and answers is designed to help you prepare for the exam.This set of International General Knowledge questions and answers is a valuable resource for UPSC aspirants. Use it to improve your knowledge and increase your chances of success on the exam.

International GK Questions - General Knowledge

International GK Questions - General Knowledge - Continents and Landforms

1. Which is the largest continent by land area?

a) North America

b) Africa

c) Asia

d) Europe

Answer: c) Asia

Explanation: Asia is the largest continent, covering about 44.58 million square kilometers.

2. Which is the smallest continent by area?

a) Australia

b) Antarctica

c) Europe

d) South America

Answer: a) Australia

Explanation: Australia is the smallest continent, covering about 7.68 million square kilometers.

3. Which continent is known as the “Frozen Continent”?

a) Europe

b) Asia

c) Antarctica

d) North America

Answer: c) Antarctica

Explanation: Antarctica is covered in ice and experiences extremely cold temperatures.

4. Which continent has the highest number of active volcanoes?

a) South America

b) Asia

c) North America

d) Antarctica

Answer: a) South America

Explanation: The Andes mountain range has many active volcanoes, including Cotopaxi and Villarrica.

5. Which continent has the highest average elevation?

a) Asia

b) South America

c) Antarctica

d) North America

Answer: c) Antarctica

Explanation: Antarctica has the highest average elevation due to its thick ice sheets.

6. Which is the highest mountain in the world?

a) K2

b) Mount Everest

c) Kangchenjunga

d) Mont Blanc

Answer: b) Mount Everest

Explanation: Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters) is the highest mountain in the world.

7. In which continent is the Andes mountain range located?

a) Asia

b) South America

c) North America

d) Africa

Answer: b) South America

Explanation: The Andes extend through seven South American countries.

8. Which is the longest river in the world?

a) Amazon

b) Yangtze

c) Nile

d) Mississippi

Answer: c) Nile

Explanation: The Nile River is about 6,650 km long, making it the longest river in the world.

9. Which river has the largest drainage basin in the world?

a) Amazon

b) Congo

c) Yangtze

d) Danube

Answer: a) Amazon

Explanation: The Amazon River has the largest drainage basin, covering about 7 million square km.

10. Which is the deepest ocean in the world?

a) Atlantic Ocean

b) Indian Ocean

c) Pacific Ocean

d) Arctic Ocean

Answer: c) Pacific Ocean

Explanation: The Pacific Ocean contains the Mariana Trench, which has the deepest point (Challenger Deep at 10,994 meters).

International GK Questions - General Knowledge - Deserts and Climate GK

11. Which is the largest hot desert in the world?

a) Gobi Desert

b) Kalahari Desert

c) Sahara Desert

d) Atacama Desert

Answer: c) Sahara Desert

Explanation: The Sahara Desert in North Africa is the largest hot desert, covering approximately 9.2 million square km.

12. Which is the coldest desert in the world?

a) Antarctica Desert

b) Gobi Desert

c) Great Basin Desert

d) Namib Desert

Answer: a) Antarctica Desert

Explanation: The Antarctic Desert is the coldest and driest desert, with extreme subzero temperatures and minimal precipitation.

13. Which continent has the driest place on Earth?

a) Asia

b) South America

c) Africa

d) Antarctica

Answer: d) Antarctica

Explanation: The McMurdo Dry Valleys in Antarctica receive almost no precipitation, making them the driest place on Earth.

14. Which is the driest desert in the world?

a) Kalahari

b) Gobi

c) Atacama

d) Thar

Answer: c) Atacama

Explanation: The Atacama Desert in Chile is the driest desert, with some areas receiving no rainfall for hundreds of years.

15. Which desert spans parts of China and Mongolia?

a) Gobi Desert

b) Kalahari Desert

c) Arabian Desert

d) Great Victoria Desert

Answer: a) Gobi Desert

Explanation: The Gobi Desert covers parts of northern China and Mongolia, experiencing extreme temperature variations.

16. Which desert is located in Southern Africa?

a) Namib Desert

b) Thar Desert

c) Mojave Desert

d) Patagonian Desert

Answer: a) Namib Desert

Explanation: The Namib Desert is one of the oldest deserts in the world, extending along the Atlantic coast of Namibia.

17. Which desert is the largest in Australia?

a) Simpson Desert

b) Great Victoria Desert

c) Tanami Desert

d) Gibson Desert

Answer: b) Great Victoria Desert

Explanation: The Great Victoria Desert is Australia’s largest desert, covering over 348,000 square km.

18. What type of desert is the Kalahari Desert?

a) Hot Desert

b) Cold Desert

c) Semi-arid Desert

d) Coastal Desert

Answer: c) Semi-arid Desert

Explanation: The Kalahari Desert in Southern Africa is semi-arid, receiving more rainfall than typical deserts.

19. Which desert is known for its sand dunes and located in the Middle East?

a) Syrian Desert

b) Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter)

c) Thar Desert

d) Sonoran Desert

Answer: b) Rub' al Khali (Empty Quarter)

Explanation: The Rub' al Khali, or Empty Quarter, is the largest sand desert in the world, located in Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and Yemen.

20. Which desert is the largest in North America?

a) Sonoran Desert

b) Great Basin Desert

c) Mojave Desert

d) Chihuahuan Desert

Answer: b) Great Basin Desert

Explanation: The Great Basin Desert is the largest desert in North America, covering parts of Nevada, Utah, and surrounding states.

International GK Questions - General Knowledge - Islands and Lakes GK

21. Which is the largest island in the world?

a) Greenland

b) Borneo

c) Madagascar

d) New Guinea

Answer: a) Greenland

Explanation: Greenland is the world’s largest island, covering approximately 2.16 million square km.

22. Which is the second-largest island in the world?

a) Borneo

b) New Guinea

c) Madagascar

d) Sumatra

Answer: b) New Guinea

Explanation: New Guinea (shared by Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) is the second-largest island after Greenland.

23. Which is the largest island in Asia?

a) Sumatra

b) Java

c) Borneo

d) Sri Lanka

Answer: c) Borneo

Explanation: Borneo (shared by Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei) is Asia’s largest island and the third-largest in the world.

24. Which is the largest lake in the world by surface area?

a) Lake Victoria

b) Caspian Sea

c) Lake Superior

d) Lake Baikal

Answer: b) Caspian Sea

Explanation: Though called a “sea,” the Caspian Sea is technically the largest lake by surface area (~371,000 sq km).

25. Which is the deepest lake in the world?

a) Lake Victoria

b) Lake Baikal

c) Lake Tanganyika

d) Lake Superior

Answer: b) Lake Baikal

Explanation: Lake Baikal in Russia is the deepest lake in the world (~1,642 meters deep) and holds 20% of the world’s freshwater.

26. Which is the largest freshwater lake by volume?

a) Lake Victoria

b) Lake Baikal

c) Lake Superior

d) Lake Tanganyika

Answer: b) Lake Baikal

Explanation: Lake Baikal contains the largest volume of freshwater, about 5,670 cubic miles (~23,600 cubic km).

27. Which is the largest lake in North America?

a) Lake Superior

b) Lake Ontario

c) Great Bear Lake

d) Lake Michigan

Answer: a) Lake Superior

Explanation: Lake Superior (shared by the USA and Canada) is the largest freshwater lake in North America by surface area.

28. Which is the longest freshwater lake in the world?

a) Lake Superior

b) Lake Baikal

c) Lake Victoria

d) Lake Tanganyika

Answer: d) Lake Tanganyika

Explanation: Lake Tanganyika (in Africa) is the longest freshwater lake, stretching 673 km (418 miles).

29. Which lake is the largest in Africa by surface area?

a) Lake Victoria

b) Lake Tanganyika

c) Lake Malawi

d) Lake Chad

Answer: a) Lake Victoria

Explanation: Lake Victoria is Africa’s largest lake and the second-largest freshwater lake by surface area in the world (~68,800 sq km).

30. Which is the saltiest lake in the world?

a) Dead Sea

b) Caspian Sea

c) Lake Assal

d) Great Salt Lake

Answer: c) Lake Assal

Explanation: Lake Assal (in Djibouti, Africa) has higher salinity than the Dead Sea, making it the saltiest natural lake in the world.

International GK Questions - General Knowledge-Oceans and Water Bodies GK

31. Which is the smallest ocean in the world?

a) Atlantic Ocean

b) Indian Ocean

c) Pacific Ocean

d) Arctic Ocean

Answer: d) Arctic Ocean

Explanation: The Arctic Ocean is the smallest and shallowest ocean, covering around 14 million square km.

32. Which ocean is the deepest in the world?

a) Indian Ocean

b) Atlantic Ocean

c) Pacific Ocean

d) Southern Ocean

Answer: c) Pacific Ocean

Explanation: The Pacific Ocean contains the Mariana Trench, which has the deepest point (Challenger Deep) at about 10,994 meters.

33. Which ocean is the warmest in the world?

a) Pacific Ocean

b) Indian Ocean

c) Atlantic Ocean

d) Arctic Ocean

Answer: b) Indian Ocean

Explanation: The Indian Ocean has the warmest average surface temperature due to its tropical and equatorial positioning.

34. Which ocean has the longest coastline?

a) Atlantic Ocean

b) Indian Ocean

c) Pacific Ocean

d) Arctic Ocean

Answer: c) Pacific Ocean

Explanation: The Pacific Ocean has the longest coastline due to its large size and numerous islands.

35. Which is the second-largest ocean in the world?

a) Indian Ocean

b) Atlantic Ocean

c) Southern Ocean

d) Arctic Ocean

Answer: b) Atlantic Ocean

Explanation: The Atlantic Ocean is the second-largest, covering about 106 million square km.

36. What is the longest river in North America?

a) Missouri River

b) Mississippi River

c) Colorado River

d) Rio Grande

Answer: a) Missouri River

Explanation: The Missouri River (3,767 km) is the longest river in North America, longer than the Mississippi River.

37. Which sea is the largest enclosed inland body of water?

a) Black Sea

b) Caspian Sea

c) Red Sea

d) Mediterranean Sea

Answer: b) Caspian Sea

Explanation: The Caspian Sea is the largest inland body of water, often called a “sea” due to its size and salinity.

38. Which is the saltiest sea in the world?

a) Red Sea

b) Mediterranean Sea

c) Arabian Sea

d) Dead Sea

Answer: d) Dead Sea

Explanation: The Dead Sea has the highest salinity (~33.7%), making it one of the saltiest water bodies on Earth.

39. Which ocean current is the strongest and fastest in the world?

a) Gulf Stream

b) Kuroshio Current

c) Antarctic Circumpolar Current

d) Labrador Current

Answer: c) Antarctic Circumpolar Current

Explanation: The Antarctic Circumpolar Current (ACC) is the strongest and fastest ocean current, flowing around Antarctica.

40. Which is the longest river in Europe?

a) Danube

b) Volga

c) Rhine

d) Seine

Answer: b) Volga

Explanation: The Volga River (3,530 km) is the longest river in Europe, flowing through Russia into the Caspian Sea.

International GK Questions - General Knowledge-Miscellaneous Geography GK

41. Which is the longest mountain range in the world?

a) Himalayas

b) Rocky Mountains

c) Andes

d) Alps

Answer: c) Andes

Explanation: The Andes Mountains in South America are the longest mountain range, stretching about 7,000 km.

42. Which is the tallest mountain in the world?

a) K2

b) Mount Everest

c) Kangchenjunga

d) Lhotse

Answer: b) Mount Everest

Explanation: Mount Everest (8,848.86 meters) in the Himalayas is the tallest mountain above sea level.

43. Which is the flattest continent in the world?

a) Africa

b) Australia

c) South America

d) Europe

Answer: b) Australia

Explanation: Australia has the lowest average elevation and lacks high mountain ranges, making it the flattest continent.

44. Which is the most populous continent?

a) Africa

b) North America

c) Asia

d) Europe

Answer: c) Asia

Explanation: Asia is the most populous continent, home to over 4.7 billion people, about 60% of the world’s population.

45. Which country has the most natural lakes?

a) Canada

b) Russia

c) United States

d) Brazil

Answer: a) Canada

Explanation: Canada has the largest number of natural lakes, with over 879,000 lakes covering 9% of its land area.

46. Which country has the longest coastline in the world?

a) United States

b) Russia

c) Canada

d) Australia

Answer: c) Canada

Explanation: Canada has the longest coastline, measuring about 202,080 km, due to its many islands and Arctic waters.

47. Which country spans the most time zones?

a) United States

b) France

c) Russia

d) Australia

Answer: b) France

Explanation: France spans 12 time zones due to its numerous overseas territories around the world.

48. Which is the highest navigable lake in the world?

a) Lake Victoria

b) Lake Titicaca

c) Lake Baikal

d) Great Slave Lake

Answer: b) Lake Titicaca

Explanation: Lake Titicaca (shared by Peru and Bolivia) is the highest navigable lake, sitting at 3,812 meters above sea level.

49. Which country is known as the “Land of a Thousand Lakes”?

a) Canada

b) Norway

c) Finland

d) Sweden

Answer: c) Finland

Explanation: Finland is called the "Land of a Thousand Lakes", though it actually has about 188,000 lakes.

50. Which is the largest peninsula in the world?

a) Arabian Peninsula

b) Indian Peninsula

c) Scandinavian Peninsula

d) Malay Peninsula

Answer: a) Arabian Peninsula

Explanation: The Arabian Peninsula is the largest peninsula, covering about 3.2 million square km, including Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman, and more.