LAT General Knowledge Syllabus

When and where was the United Nations (UN) founded?

The UN was founded on 24 October 1945, with its charter signed in San Francisco; headquarters in New York City.

Name the six principal organs of the United Nations.

General Assembly, Security Council, Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), Trusteeship Council, International Court of Justice (ICJ), and the Secretariat.

How many permanent members does the UN Security Council have, and who are they?

Five permanent members (P5): USA, UK, France, Russia, and China — each holds veto power.

Where is the International Court of Justice (ICJ) located?

The Hague, Netherlands.

Who is the chief administrative officer of the UN, and how is the position filled?

The UN Secretary-General, appointed by the General Assembly on the recommendation of the Security Council (5-year term).

What does SAARC stand for, and where is its secretariat?

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation; secretariat in Kathmandu, Nepal.

What does ASEAN stand for, and where is its secretariat located?

Association of Southeast Asian Nations; secretariat in Jakarta, Indonesia.

What does the EU stand for, and what is its common currency?

The European Union; its common currency is the Euro (used by Eurozone members).

What does OIC stand for, and where is its headquarters?

Organisation of Islamic Cooperation; headquarters in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

What does NATO stand for, and where is its headquarters?

North Atlantic Treaty Organization; headquarters in Brussels, Belgium.

What does the IMF do, and where is it headquartered?

The International Monetary Fund promotes global monetary stability and provides loans to member states; headquartered in Washington, D.C.

What is the main purpose of the World Bank, and where is it based?

It provides loans and grants for development projects to lower- and middle-income countries; based in Washington, D.C.

What does WTO stand for, and where is its headquarters?

World Trade Organization; headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.

What is OPEC, and where is its headquarters?

Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries; coordinates oil policy among members; headquarters in Vienna, Austria.

Where is the headquarters of the World Health Organization (WHO)?

Geneva, Switzerland.

Where is the headquarters of UNESCO, and what is its focus?

Paris, France; it promotes education, science, and culture.

Where is the headquarters of Interpol located?

Lyon, France.

How many bones are there in the adult human body?

206 bones.

How many chambers does the human heart have, and what are they?

Four chambers: two atria (upper) and two ventricles (lower).

What is the largest organ of the human body?

The skin.

Which organ filters blood and produces urine in the human body?

The kidneys.

What is the normal human body temperature in Celsius?

About 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 degrees Fahrenheit).

State Newton's First Law of Motion (the law of inertia).

An object remains at rest or in uniform motion in a straight line unless acted upon by an external force.

What is the formula for speed in terms of distance and time?

Speed = Distance / Time.

What is the approximate speed of light in a vacuum?

About 300,000 km/s (3 x 10^8 metres per second).

What is the chemical formula of water, and what elements does it contain?

H2O — two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom.

What is the pH value of a neutral solution, and what does a pH below 7 indicate?

Neutral pH is 7; a pH below 7 indicates an acid (above 7 indicates a base).

What gas do plants absorb and what gas do they release during photosynthesis?

They absorb carbon dioxide (CO2) and release oxygen (O2).

Who invented the telephone, and who is credited with the electric light bulb?

Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone; Thomas Edison is credited with the practical electric light bulb.

Who discovered penicillin, and who proposed the theory of gravity?

Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin; Sir Isaac Newton proposed the law of universal gravitation.