World Facts and Geography

Venice, famous for its canals and historic architecture, is built on 118 small islands in the Venetian Lagoon along the Adriatic Sea. The city is connected by numerous bridges and is renowned for its unique water-based urban design. The other options are countries or regions, not cities built on islands in a lagoon.

The abacus is an ancient calculating tool that was first used in China around 2400-2300 BCE. It consists of beads that slide on rods and is used for arithmetic calculations. The abacus spread from China to other parts of the world, including Japan, where it continues to be taught in schools. It was not first used in India, Japan, or the U.K.

The Gibson Desert is located in central Western Australia and is one of the major deserts in the Australian outback. The Sonoran Desert is in North America (Mexico-US border region), and the Patagonian Desert is in South America (Argentina and Chile).

This is the correct answer. Poverty levels in China have come down from 85 percent in 1981 to 14 percent in 2008 to 6 percent in 2011. This has happened as a result of rapid economic growth and massive investments in human resource development.

This is the correct answer as Russia was a socialist country as it was considered that officially, it was non-existent earlier, but it has now resurfaced.

This is the correct answer. Sri Lanka has only 4% of its population living below the UN specified poverty line of $1.25.

Venezuela has the largest proven oil reserves outside the Middle East and is a founding member of OPEC. China is a net oil importer. The USA is a major producer but not the largest exporter globally. South Africa has relatively small oil reserves.

Russia is the largest country in the world by area, spanning 11 time zones and covering over 17 million square kilometers. The USA is third or fourth largest. Australia is sixth largest. China is third or fourth largest.

Vatican City is the smallest independent state in both area (0.44 sq km) and population (around 800). Monaco is the second smallest. Chile is a long, narrow country in South America. Zaire (now Democratic Republic of Congo) is a large African nation.

Zambia was called Northern Rhodesia during British colonial rule until it gained independence in 1964. Zimbabwe was Southern Rhodesia. Congo and Zaire are names for the modern Democratic Republic of Congo.

The United States is the third most populous country with over 330 million people, after China (1.4 billion) and India (1.4 billion). Indonesia is fourth with around 275 million. Russia has a declining population around 145 million. UAE has a small population around 10 million.

Afghanistan has been consistently ranked by the UN as one of the least developed countries globally, and is the least developed outside Africa. Pakistan, Serbia, and Bhutan have higher Human Development Index scores.

Albania became Europe's first predominantly Muslim-majority state following independence from Yugoslavia in 1992, though it had a Muslim majority since Ottoman times. Serbia, Montenegro, and Yugoslavia are associated with Orthodox Christianity.

The Folketing is the name of Denmark's national parliament. Finland's parliament is Eduskunta. Norway's is Storting. Sweden's is Riksdag.

Afghanistan produces approximately 80-90% of the world's illicit opium, dominating the global market. The country's ideal growing conditions for poppy plants and decades of instability have made opium production a major part of its economy and funding source for various groups.