General Knowledge Quiz

A synapse is a specialized junction between two neurons (or between a neuron and a target cell) where electrical or chemical signals are transmitted from one cell to the next. This is the fundamental connection point in neural communication.

Ornithology is the branch of zoology specifically dedicated to the study of birds, including their behavior, physiology, classification, and ecology. Entomology studies insects, paleontology studies fossils, and herpetology studies reptiles and amphibians.

Hemophilia is an X-linked recessive genetic disorder caused by deficiency in clotting factors (Factor VIII or IX), passed from parents to offspring. Typhoid is an infectious bacterial disease, while blood cancers and bone cancers are typically acquired (not inherited) conditions.

Nepal is the only country that has officially declared Hinduism as its state religion, though it became a secular republic in 2007. Historically, Nepal was the world's only Hindu kingdom. India is secular with Hinduism being the majority religion but not official, while Myanmar and Burma (the same country) are predominantly Buddhist.

The headquarters of INTERPOL (International Criminal Police Organization) is located in Lyon, France. It has been headquartered there since 1989. Geneva is home to the UN and Red Cross, Budapest is in Hungary, and Bern is the capital of Switzerland.

Thomas Alva Edison founded the General Electric Company (GE) in 1892 through the merger of his Edison General Electric Company with Thomson-Houston Electric Company. Alexander Graham Bell was involved with AT&T, Edward Jenner developed the smallpox vaccine, and John D. Rockefeller was in oil.

The Preamble to the Indian Constitution begins with 'We the people of India...', indicating that the Constitution is adopted and enacted by the people of India. The President is the constitutional head, Gandhi was a freedom fighter, and Dr. B.R. Ambedkar was the Chairman of the Drafting Committee.

Yuri Gagarin (note spelling) became the first human in space aboard Vostok 1 on April 12, 1961. Alan Shepard became the first American in space on Mercury-Redstone 3 (Freedom 7) on May 5, 1961. Apollo 9 was a later Earth-orbital mission, Discovery is a space shuttle, and Ranger was an unmanned lunar probe program.

The chemical symbol Au comes from the Latin word 'aurum' meaning gold. Ag is silver, Go and Gu are not standard chemical symbols. The symbol relates to the element's Latin name, not English.

Zn is the chemical symbol for Zinc. Zirconium is Zr, Uranium is U, and 'None of above' is incorrect since Zinc (option A) is the right answer. Chemical symbols are standardized internationally.

Plaster of Paris is calcium sulphate hemihydrate with the formula CaSO4·0.5H2O. It is formed by heating gypsum. Calcium phosphate is found in bones, calcium chloride is a different salt used for de-icing.

H2SO4 is the chemical formula for sulphuric acid, a strong mineral acid. The 'H' represents hydrogen (2 atoms), 'S' represents sulphur (1 atom), and 'O4' represents oxygen (4 atoms). Nitric acid is HNO3 and hydrochloric acid is HCl.

C6H5OH is the molecular formula for phenol, an aromatic organic compound. It consists of a benzene ring (C6H5) with a hydroxyl group (-OH) attached. Ethanol is C2H5OH and benzene is C6H6.

Pegasus was the immortal winged horse in Greek mythology, born from Medusa's blood. Bellerophon tamed and rode Pegasus with the help of Athena's golden bridle. Chrysaor was a giant (Pegasus' brother), Chimera was a monster, and Tarsus is unrelated.

The 12 Labors of Hercules were: 1) Nemean Lion, 2) Lernaean Hydra, 3) Ceryneian Hind, 4) Erymanthian Boar, 5) Augean Stables, 6) Stymphalian Birds, 7) Cretan Bull, 8) Mares of Diomedes, 9) Girdle of Hippolyta, 10) Cattle of Geryon, 11) Apples of Hesperides, 12) Capture Cerberus. After labor 9 (Girdle), labor 10 was the Cattle of Geryon.

Penelope was Odysseus' faithful wife who waited 20 years for his return from the Trojan War. She fended off 108 suitors by claiming she would remarry only after finishing weaving a shroud (which she secretly unraveled each night). Persephone was Hades' wife, Periboea was various figures, and Artemis was the goddess of hunt.

Theseus, the founder-king of Athens, killed the Minotaur in the Labyrinth at Knossos, Crete. He used Ariadne's thread to navigate back out. Hercules fought many monsters but not the Minotaur; Odysseus and Achilles were different heroes.

Cerberus was the three-headed dog guarding the entrance to the Underworld, which was ruled by Hades. Hercules' final labor (12th) was to capture Cerberus. Zeus ruled the heavens, Hephaestus was the god of fire/forge, and Poseidon ruled the seas.