Current Affairs MCQs – Page 61 (Q601-610)

Washington D.C. is the capital city of the United States, established as the nation's capital in 1790 as a specially created federal district not belonging to any state, named in honor of the country's first president, George Washington. It is home to the White House, the Capitol Building and the Supreme Court, the seats of the country's three branches of government. Chicago, Los Angeles and New York are tempting distractors as other large, globally famous American cities, but none serves as the nation's capital. Washington D.C.'s location along the Potomac River was chosen as a compromise between northern and southern states during the country's early years.

London is the capital city of the United Kingdom, a global center of finance, culture and politics that has served as England's and later Britain's capital for nearly two millennia, dating back to Roman times. It is home to the UK Parliament, Buckingham Palace and numerous other iconic historic and governmental landmarks. Manchester, Liverpool and Birmingham are tempting distractors as other major English cities, but none is the country's capital. London's population of around nine million makes it one of the largest and most influential cities in Europe.

Paris is the capital city of France, renowned worldwide for its rich history, art, architecture and cultural influence, and often referred to as the City of Light. It is home to landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum and Notre-Dame Cathedral, drawing millions of tourists each year. Nice, Lyon and Marseille are tempting distractors as other major French cities, but none serves as the nation's capital. Paris has also hosted the Summer Olympics three times, most recently in 2024, matching London as one of the few cities to host the Games multiple times.

Berlin is the capital city of Germany, a city with a complex and dramatic modern history, having been divided by the Berlin Wall between 1961 and 1989 during the Cold War before German reunification restored it as the unified nation's capital. It remains a major center of politics, culture and history in Europe. Frankfurt, Munich and Hamburg are tempting distractors as other major German cities, with Frankfurt notably serving as the country's financial hub instead. Remnants of the Berlin Wall remain preserved today as memorials and popular tourist attractions throughout the city.

Rome is the capital city of Italy, often called the Eternal City due to its status as the historic center of the ancient Roman Empire and its continuous habitation for nearly three millennia. It is also home to Vatican City, an independent city-state and the spiritual center of the Roman Catholic Church, located entirely within Rome's boundaries. Milan, Naples and Turin are tempting distractors as other major Italian cities, with Milan in particular serving as Italy's leading financial and fashion hub. Rome's ancient landmarks, including the Colosseum and the Roman Forum, attract millions of visitors from around the world each year.

Madrid is the capital city of Spain, located roughly at the geographic center of the Iberian Peninsula, and serves as the country's political, economic and cultural hub. It is home to the Royal Palace, the Prado Museum and numerous other major cultural institutions. Valencia, Seville and Barcelona are tempting distractors as other major Spanish cities, with Barcelona in particular often rivaling Madrid in size and international prominence. Madrid became Spain's capital in 1561 under King Philip II, replacing the previous itinerant royal court system.

Moscow is the capital city of Russia, the country's largest city and its political, economic and cultural center, home to the Kremlin and Red Square, iconic symbols of Russian governance and history. It has served as Russia's capital for most of its history, apart from a period when St. Petersburg held that role under the Russian Empire. St. Petersburg, Kazan and Novosibirsk are tempting distractors as other major Russian cities, with St. Petersburg notably having served as the imperial capital from 1712 to 1918. Moscow remains one of the largest cities in Europe by population, with over 12 million residents.

Beijing is the capital city of China, a role it has held for most of the past several centuries, serving as the seat of numerous Chinese dynasties and, since 1949, the People's Republic of China. It is home to landmarks including the Forbidden City, Tiananmen Square and sections of the Great Wall of China nearby. Guangzhou, Shanghai and Shenzhen are tempting distractors as other major Chinese cities, with Shanghai in particular serving as the country's largest city and leading financial center instead. Beijing became the first city to host both the Summer and Winter Olympics, staging the Games in 2008 and 2022 respectively.

Tokyo is the capital city of Japan, one of the largest and most densely populated metropolitan areas in the world, serving as the country's political, economic and cultural center. It became Japan's capital in 1868 during the Meiji Restoration, when the emperor's seat moved from Kyoto, the former imperial capital for over a thousand years. Kyoto, Osaka and Yokohama are tempting distractors as other major Japanese cities, with Kyoto notably having served as the historic imperial capital before Tokyo's rise. Tokyo hosted the Summer Olympics twice, in 1964 and again in 2020, delayed to 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

New Delhi is the capital city of India, a planned city built by the British colonial government in the early 20th century and inaugurated as the capital of British India in 1931, later becoming the capital of independent India in 1947. It houses the Parliament of India, the Rashtrapati Bhavan presidential residence and numerous government ministries. Mumbai, Bengaluru and Kolkata are tempting distractors as other major Indian cities, with Mumbai serving instead as India's largest city and financial capital. New Delhi is technically part of the larger National Capital Territory of Delhi, a distinct administrative division within India.