General Knowledge: UPSC Previous Year Questions (Prelims)

Explanation

Friedrich Engels, a German philosopher, social scientist, and journalist, is best known for his close collaboration with Karl Marx. Their intellectual partnership resulted in the development of what is known as Marxism, a social, political, and economic philosophy. Engels’s contributions were substantial, providing both intellectual and financial support to Marx. He co-authored several key works with Marx, most notably "The Communist Manifesto" (1848), which laid out the principles of communism and called for a revolutionary overthrow of capitalism. Engels’s own works, such as "The Condition of the Working Class in England," also provided critical insights into the social and economic realities of industrial capitalism.

Explanation

Wole Soyinka, a Nigerian playwright, poet, novelist, and essayist, a prominent figure in literature. He is widely recognized for his profound and insightful exploration of African identity, political themes, and the human condition. Soyinka’s contributions to literature have earned him numerous accolades, culminating in the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1986. This prestigious award recognized his significant impact on the literary world and his role as a leading voice from Africa. The Nobel Committee cited his "wide cultural perspective and poetic overtones which fashion the drama of existence." Soyinka’s Nobel Prize solidified his position as one of the most important and influential writers of his time.

Explanation

Pair (1) is correctly matched: Adobe Systems India develops creative and multimedia software like Photoshop and Acrobat.

Pair (2) is correctly matched: Sasken Technologies specializes in communication technology, offering R&D and software solutions for telecom.

Pair (3) is incorrectly matched: Genpact is a global professional services firm focusing on BPO and IT services, not software development.

Pair (4) is correctly matched: Synthite Industries is a leading exporter of spices, involved in processing and distribution.

Explanation

List-I (Name) List-II (Designation) Harold Pinter Literature: most influential modern British dramatists with a writing career that spanned more than 50 years Jacques Diouf Former Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization Jose Manuel Barroso Former President of the European Commission Raymond Lafitte World Bank appointed expert for adjudicating on the Baglihar Hydel Project

Explanation

Pair (1) is correctly matched: Sigmund Freud, founder of psychoanalysis, emphasized the unconscious mind and early childhood in shaping personality.

Pair (2) is correctly matched: Anna Freud, his daughter, contributed to child psychoanalysis, focusing on ego defense mechanisms.

Pair (3) is correctly matched: Milton Friedman, a key figure in the Chicago school of economics, advocated free markets and contributed to monetary theory.

Pair (4) is incorrectly matched: Eric R. Kandel, a neuroscientist, studied molecular mechanisms of learning and memory, not psychology.

Explanation

Netherlands holds the distinction of being the first country in the world to legalize euthanasia. This landmark legislation, enacted in 2002 and taking effect in 2002, established a regulated framework under which physicians can administer euthanasia or assisted suicide to patients who meet specific criteria. These criteria typically include unbearable suffering with no prospect of improvement, a voluntary and well-considered request from the patient, and consultation with another physician.

Explanation

Pair (1) is correctly matched: Sir Christopher Cockerell, a British engineer, is credited with the invention of the hovercraft. His innovative design utilized a cushion of air to lift the craft above the surface of both land and water, allowing for high-speed travel.

Pair (2) is correctly matched: David Bushnell, an American inventor, designed and built an early submarine known as the Turtle during the American Revolutionary War. This vessel, while rudimentary by modern standards, was a significant advancement in underwater technology.

Pair (3) is incorrectly matched: J. C. Perrier, a self-taught French engineer and businessman who, with his brother, founded the Compagnie des eaux de Paris doing a period of great stock market speculation under Louis XVI. He is known for having introduced James Watt’s steam engine to France in 1779 and for having built the first double-acting engine in 1789.

Explanation

Davos, the venue of the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum, is located in Switzerland. It is a town nestled in the Swiss Alps, specifically within the canton of Graubünden in eastern Switzerland. It’s renowned for its picturesque setting, surrounded by majestic mountains and offering stunning views.

Explanation

Statement (1) is correct: The Richter scale is a logarithmic scale. An increase of 1 unit in magnitude corresponds to 10 times the increase in amplitude of seismic waves.

Statement (2) is incorrect: The energy released in an earthquake increases approximately by a factor of 32 for each 1 unit increase in magnitude, not 100 times.

Explanation

The United Kingdom is not a member of the Nordic Council.