Political Geography MCQs set 3 for OTS Tourism & Culture Dept Geography — 20 solved questions.
Q1. What is the currency of Sri Lanka?
Answer: Rupee
Explanation: The currency of Sri Lanka is the Sri Lankan Rupee (LKR), used since independence in 1948. The Taka belongs to Bangladesh, the Ngultrum to Bhutan, and the Rufiyaa to the Maldives - all South Asian currencies with distinct names despite geographic proximity.
Q2. What is the capital of Mauritius?
Answer: Port Louis
Explanation: Port Louis is the capital and largest city of Mauritius, situated on the northwestern coast of the island. It serves as the country's main commercial and administrative centre.
Q3. Which landlocked country in Africa has Ouagadougou as its capital?
Answer: Burkina Faso
Explanation: Ouagadougou is the capital and largest city of Burkina Faso, a landlocked Sahelian country in West Africa formerly known as Upper Volta. Mali's capital is Bamako, Niger's is Niamey, and Chad's is N'Djamena.
Q4. Which city is the capital of Tajikistan?
Answer: Dushanbe
Explanation: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan, serving as the country's political, economic, and cultural centre since the Soviet era. Ashgabat is the capital of Turkmenistan, Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan, and Tashkent of Uzbekistan - all Central Asian capitals that are commonly confused.
Q5. La Paz is the seat of government of which South American country?
Answer: Bolivia
Explanation: La Paz (officially Nuestra Señora de La Paz) serves as the seat of government (executive and legislative capital) of Bolivia, housing the presidential palace and parliament, while Sucre is the constitutional and judicial capital. Bolivia is the only South American country with two official capital cities serving different governmental functions.
Q6. Which country has the highest capital city in the world?
Answer: Bolivia
Explanation: La Paz, Bolivia, serves as the seat of government and is the highest capital city in the world at approximately 3,640 metres above sea level (the constitutional capital, Sucre, sits at about 2,750 m). Quito (Ecuador) and Kathmandu (Nepal) are also high capitals, but both sit well below La Paz in elevation.
Q7. What is the capital of East Timor (Timor-Leste)?
Answer: Dili
Explanation: Dili (also spelled Díli) is the capital and largest city of Timor-Leste (East Timor), located on the northern coast of the island of Timor and serving as the seat of government since independence in 2002.
Q8. What is the currency of the Maldives?
Answer: Rufiyaa
Explanation: The Rufiyaa (MVR) is the official currency of the Maldives, subdivided into 100 laari. The Taka belongs to Bangladesh, the Rupee to several South Asian nations, and the Ngultrum to Bhutan.
Q9. What is the capital city of Kazakhstan?
Answer: Astana
Explanation: Astana is the capital city of Kazakhstan, renamed from Nur-Sultan in 2022 (and previously Astana before 2019). Kazakhstan moved its capital from Almaty to Astana (then called Akmola) in 1997 for strategic and developmental reasons, as Almaty sits near an earthquake-prone zone and the government sought to develop the country's northern steppe region.
Q10. Where is the headquarters of the United Nations located?
Answer: New York
Explanation: The United Nations headquarters is located in New York City, on the east side of Manhattan along the East River, and has been there since the UN Charter entered into force in 1945. While Geneva hosts many UN specialized agencies and offices, New York is the seat of the General Assembly, Security Council, and Secretariat.
Q11. Where is the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO) located?
Answer: Geneva
Explanation: The World Health Organization (WHO) is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, where it was established in 1948 as a specialized agency of the United Nations. Geneva hosts numerous international organizations due to Switzerland's tradition of neutrality and its status as a centre for international diplomacy.
Q12. Where is the headquarters of NATO located?
Answer: Brussels
Explanation: NATO's headquarters, known as SHAPE (Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe) for military command and the political headquarters in Brussels, are both located in Belgium. The alliance moved its political HQ to Brussels in 1967 after France withdrew from NATO's integrated military command.
Q13. What is the capital city of Turkmenistan?
Answer: Ashgabat
Explanation: Ashgabat is the capital and largest city of Turkmenistan, a Central Asian nation bordered by Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Iran. The city is known for its extensive white marble architecture and was rebuilt substantially after a devastating earthquake in 1948.
Q14. What is the capital city of Uzbekistan?
Answer: Tashkent
Explanation: Tashkent is the capital and largest city of Uzbekistan, serving as the country's political, economic, and cultural centre. Samarkand and Bukhara are historically important Silk Road cities but are not the national capital.
Q15. Where is the headquarters of the OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) located?
Answer: Jeddah
Explanation: The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), founded in 1969 and comprising 57 member states, has its permanent secretariat and headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. It is the second largest intergovernmental organisation after the United Nations and serves as the collective voice of the Muslim world on political, economic, and social issues.
Q16. What is the capital city of Tajikistan?
Answer: Dushanbe
Explanation: Dushanbe is the capital and largest city of Tajikistan, with a population of approximately 850,000. The name "Dushanbe" means "Monday" in Tajik, as the city grew around a Monday market that was held at the site before Soviet urbanisation transformed it into the republic's administrative centre.
Q17. What is the capital city of Qatar?
Answer: Doha
Explanation: Doha is the capital and largest city of Qatar, a small peninsular state in the Arabian Gulf, and serves as the country's political, economic, and cultural centre. Qatar hosted the 2022 FIFA World Cup, with most venues located in and around Doha.
Q18. What is the capital city of Azerbaijan?
Answer: Baku
Explanation: Baku is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, situated on the Absheron Peninsula along the Caspian Sea. It serves as the country's political, economic, and cultural centre and is known for its historic Old City (Icherisheher) and its oil industry.
Q19. Where is the headquarters of UNESCO located?
Answer: Paris
Explanation: UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization) has its headquarters in Paris, France, where it was established in 1945. Geneva hosts other UN agencies such as WHO and ILO, while New York is home to the UN General Assembly headquarters.
Q20. What is the capital city of Armenia?
Answer: Yerevan
Explanation: Yerevan is the capital and largest city of Armenia, with a history stretching back nearly 2,800 years, making it one of the world's oldest continuously inhabited cities. Gyumri and Vanadzor are Armenia's second and third largest cities respectively.