Current Affairs MCQs – Page 62 (Q611-620)

Ottawa is the capital city of Canada, chosen in 1857 by Queen Victoria partly as a compromise location between the rival, larger cities of Toronto and Montreal, and partly for its more defensible inland position near the border between English and French Canada. It is home to the Canadian Parliament and numerous national museums and government institutions. Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver are tempting distractors as other major Canadian cities, with Toronto serving instead as the country's largest city and financial hub. Ottawa's central Parliament Hill and its iconic Peace Tower remain iconic symbols of Canadian government and history.

Canberra is the capital city of Australia, a purpose-built city established in the early 20th century specifically as a compromise capital between the country's two largest and rival cities, Sydney and Melbourne. It is home to Australia's Parliament House and numerous national institutions, including the Australian War Memorial. Melbourne, Sydney and Perth are tempting distractors as other major Australian cities, with Sydney and Melbourne in particular being far larger and more internationally recognized than Canberra. Canberra was carefully planned by American architect Walter Burley Griffin, whose winning design was selected through an international competition in 1912.

Brasilia is the capital city of Brazil, a strikingly modernist planned city constructed in the late 1950s and officially inaugurated as the nation's new capital in 1960, replacing Rio de Janeiro in that role. Its distinctive futuristic architecture, largely designed by Brazilian architect Oscar Niemeyer, has earned the city UNESCO World Heritage status. Salvador, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are tempting distractors as other major Brazilian cities, with Sao Paulo serving instead as Brazil's largest city and financial hub. Brasilia's relocation from the coast to Brazil's interior was intended to help stimulate development in the country's underpopulated central regions.

Cairo is the capital city of Egypt, the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, serving as Egypt's political, economic and cultural center for over a thousand years. It lies near the ancient pyramids of Giza, though the pyramids themselves are technically located in the separate city of Giza just across the Nile. Luxor, Giza and Alexandria are tempting distractors as other significant Egyptian cities, with Alexandria notably having served as Egypt's capital during the earlier Hellenistic and Roman periods. Cairo's historic Islamic quarter is recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its rich concentration of medieval architecture.

Ankara is the capital city of Turkey, chosen as the country's capital in 1923 by Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the founder of the modern Turkish republic, replacing Istanbul, the former Ottoman imperial capital, largely for strategic and symbolic reasons tied to the new secular republic. It serves as Turkey's political center, housing the Grand National Assembly and other government institutions. Antalya, Istanbul and Izmir are tempting distractors as other major Turkish cities, with Istanbul remaining the country's largest city and its primary economic and cultural hub. Ankara's more central, defensible location in Anatolia was seen as symbolically distancing the new republic from the old imperial past centered on Istanbul.

Riyadh is the capital city of Saudi Arabia, the country's largest city and its political, economic and administrative center, located in the central Najd region of the Arabian Peninsula. It has grown dramatically in recent decades alongside Saudi Arabia's oil wealth and modernization efforts. Medina, Mecca and Jeddah are tempting distractors, with Mecca and Medina instead being Islam's two holiest cities, and Jeddah serving as a major commercial hub and gateway for pilgrims traveling to Mecca. Riyadh has increasingly positioned itself as a global business and diplomatic center as part of Saudi Arabia's broader Vision 2030 development plan.

Tehran is the capital city of Iran, the country's largest city and its political, cultural and economic center, located at the foot of the Alborz mountain range in northern Iran. It became Iran's capital in the late 18th century under the Qajar dynasty, replacing earlier historic capitals such as Isfahan and Shiraz. Shiraz, Isfahan and Tabriz are tempting distractors as other historically significant Iranian cities, with Isfahan in particular renowned for its stunning Islamic architecture from an earlier era as Persia's capital. Tehran's population has grown enormously over the past century, now numbering in the many millions across its metropolitan area.

Baghdad is the capital city of Iraq, a historic city founded in the 8th century that once served as the flourishing capital of the Abbasid Caliphate and a leading global center of learning, science and culture during the Islamic Golden Age. It remains Iraq's largest city and its political and administrative center today. Basra, Mosul and Erbil are tempting distractors as other major Iraqi cities, with Basra serving as Iraq's key southern port city and Erbil as the capital of the semi-autonomous Kurdistan Region. Baghdad's historic House of Wisdom was once among the most important intellectual centers in the medieval world before its destruction during the Mongol invasion of 1258.

Seoul is the capital city of South Korea, the country's largest city and its political, economic and cultural center, home to over nine million people within the city proper and many more across its wider metropolitan area. It has served as Korea's capital for over six centuries, dating back to the Joseon dynasty founded in 1392. Daegu, Busan and Incheon are tempting distractors as other major South Korean cities, with Busan serving as the country's second-largest city and a major port. Seoul hosted the Summer Olympics in 1988, a milestone event symbolizing South Korea's rapid postwar economic development.

Pyongyang is the capital city of North Korea, the country's largest city and its political, administrative and cultural center, serving as the seat of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea and the Kim family's government. The city has been extensively rebuilt with grand, monumental architecture following its near-total destruction during the Korean War in the early 1950s. Kaesong, Hamhung and Nampo are tempting distractors as other North Korean cities, with Kaesong notably located near the demilitarized zone bordering South Korea. Pyongyang remains tightly controlled and largely closed off to independent foreign visitors and journalists.