General Knowledge

The Intelligence Bureau (IB) is the oldest intelligence agency in Pakistan, established before the Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and Military Intelligence (MI). It was originally formed during British rule and continued after Pakistan's independence.

Tipu Sultan is historically known as the “Tiger of Mysore” due to his fierce resistance against British colonial forces and his leadership in the Kingdom of Mysore.

The official theme for World AIDS Day 2018 was "Know Your Status." This theme emphasized the importance of HIV testing and encouraged everyone to learn their HIV infection status. The theme "Together we will end AIDS" was for 2012, and "Zero Discrimination" was for 2013. Therefore, the correct answer is A: "Know Your Status."

The Leaning Tower of Pisa is a famous freestanding bell tower located in Pisa, Italy, known worldwide for its unintended tilt.

ISPR stands for Inter-Services Public Relations, which is the media and public relations wing of the Pakistan Armed Forces. Option C correctly reflects this full form.

The ancient city of Byzantium is the historical name for what is now Istanbul, Turkey. It was later renamed Constantinople before becoming Istanbul.

Alluvial soil in the Indus Valley was commonly used for making bricks due to its fine texture and composition, which is suitable for brick-making. This was a significant material in the construction of buildings and structures in the Indus Valley Civilization.

The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) was founded on 25th March 1981, making option B the correct answer. This date marks the official establishment of the organization by its member states.

The Twelve Apostles are a famous collection of limestone stacks off the shore of the Port Campbell National Park, by the Great Ocean Road in Victoria, Australia.

St. George Fort was built in Madras (now Chennai) by the British East India Company in 1644, making option B the correct answer.

The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) was established in 1989 to develop policies to combat money laundering and terrorist financing. Therefore, option B (1989) is the correct answer.

Suman Bodani has been appointed as Pakistan's first female Hindu Civil Judge, marking a significant milestone in the country's judiciary system. This appointment is widely reported and recognized.

Turkey celebrates its Republic Day on 29 October, marking the proclamation of the Republic of Turkey in 1923.

The Hagia Sophia Museum is located in Istanbul, Turkey. It is a historic architectural landmark that has served as a cathedral, mosque, and museum.

King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia died on 23rd January 2015. This is confirmed by multiple reliable sources including Wikipedia and other authoritative references. The other dates listed (2011 and 2013) are incorrect for King Abdullah of Saudi Arabia's death. The confusion in the original explanation is due to contradictory statements, but the verified correct date is 23rd January 2015, which corresponds to option B.

The hagfish is known for having four hearts, a single nostril, no jaws, and no stomach, distinguishing it from other fish species listed. This unique anatomy supports its scavenging lifestyle.

The world's oldest person to skydive is Alfred “Al” Blaschke from Texas, who completed a tandem skydive at the age of 106 years and 327 days in November 2023. However, the question asks for the name of the world's oldest skydiver without specifying gender or type of jump. Irene O'Shea is recognized as one of the oldest female skydivers, but the absolute oldest recorded skydiver is Alfred Blaschke. Since the options do not include Alfred Blaschke, and Irene O'Shea is the only known oldest skydiver among the options, option A is the best available answer. Other options do not correspond to known oldest skydivers.

The International Space Station (ISS) was launched on November 20, 1998. Therefore, on November 20, 2018, it turned 20 years old, making option D correct. However, the options given include 22 years (A), 21 years (B), 19 years (C), and 20 years (D). Since 2018 minus 1998 equals 20, the correct answer is D, not A. The original correct_answer was D, which is correct. The explanation was missing, so it has been added. The topic and difficulty were missing and have been added appropriately.

There is no official national sweet designated by the government of Pakistan. While sweets like Barfi, Gulab jamun, and Jalebi are popular in Pakistan, none of these has been officially recognized as the national sweet. Therefore, the correct answer is 'D' (None of these).

Park Güell is a famous public park located in Barcelona, Spain, designed by the architect Antoni Gaudí. Therefore, the correct answer is Spain.

The national flower of Belgium is the Red Poppy (Papaver rhoeas). It is widely accepted as Belgium's national flower due to its historical significance, especially related to World War I battles in the Flanders region where red poppies grew among the graves of fallen soldiers. The Golden Lily (Fleur-de-lis) is a traditional symbol associated more with French heritage and heraldry, not Belgium specifically. Therefore, the correct answer is the Red Poppy, not the Golden Lily.

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) of Pakistan was formally established on 13 January 1975, when the FIA Act (Act‑VIII of 1975) was promulgated, creating the agency as a distinct federal investigative body. This is confirmed by the official FIA historical perspective document from the FIA website and other authoritative sources. Therefore, the correct founding date is 13 January 1975, which corresponds to option B.

Bahadur Shah II, also known as Bahadur Shah Zafar, was the last Mughal emperor who ruled until 1857, marking the end of the Mughal Empire after the Indian Rebellion of 1857.

The Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan on 24 December 1979, marking the beginning of a decade-long conflict known as the Soviet-Afghan War.

The Indus Valley Civilization is primarily associated with the Bronze Age, which is a part of the Metal Age, as it involved the use of bronze tools and weapons. It does not belong to the Stone Age or Neolithic Age exclusively, so option B (Metal Age) is correct.