UPSC Essentials | Daily subject-wise quiz : International Relations MCQs on Balloon Festival, Greenland and more (Week 90)

1. It was once a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark.

2. It is located in the South Atlantic Ocean.

3. Its strategic importance rose during the Cold War, and the US had a large air base in Greenland.

4. It is rich in rare earth minerals.

How many of the statements given above are correct?

(a) Only one

(b) Only two

(c) Only three

(d) All four

Explanation

— US President-elect Donald Trump has once again expressed interest in buying Greenland, and Greenland has again stated it is not for sale.

— Greenland was once a Danish colony and is now an autonomous province of Denmark. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— It is located in the North Atlantic Ocean, between Europe and North America, across the Baffin Bay from Canada. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

— Its strategic importance grew during the Cold War, and the United States maintains a massive air base there, the Pituffik Space Base, formerly the Thule Air Base. The United States can monitor and prevent any missiles approaching Greenland from Russia, China, or possibly North Korea. Similarly, it is easier to fire missiles and ships from Greenland to Asia or Europe. Hence, statement 3 is correct.

— Greenland is rich in rare earth minerals, which are used to make mobile phones, electric vehicles, and other consumer electronics, as well as bombs and other weaponry. Currently, China is a major supplier of these minerals. In 2021, Greenland approved legislation prohibiting uranium mining. Hence, statement 4 is correct.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 2

With reference to the H-1B visa, consider the following statements:

1. The H-1B visa programme allows US employers to hire immigrant workers in speciality occupations that require “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”.

2. UAE citizens accounted for the majority of H-1B visa holders in 2023.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Explanation

— The recent selection of Chennai-born Sriram Krishnan as the Donald Trump administration’s senior policy adviser on artificial intelligence has revived the issue over skilled immigration in the United States, causing uproar in right-wing quarters.

— Immigration is one of the most divisive political issues in the United States. According to a YouGov poll conducted in October, 14.6% of registered voters believed it was the most significant issue confronting the United States, a figure that has progressively increased over the past decade from only 2.1% in 2012.

— According to the US Department of Labour, the H-1B visa program allows US firms to hire immigrant workers in speciality jobs that demand “a high level of skill” and “at least a bachelor’s degree”. H-1B visas can be awarded for up to six years at a time. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— “The H-1B provisions intend to help employers who cannot otherwise obtain needed business skills and abilities from the US workforce by authorising the temporary employment of qualified individuals who are not otherwise authorised to work in the United States,” according to the department’s online presence.

— According to US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), Indians account for 72.3% (2.79 lakh out of 3.86 lakh) of H-1B visa holders in fiscal year 2023. Hence, statement 2 is not correct.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 3

With reference to the Panama Canal, consider the following statements:

1. It was built between 1904 and 1914.

2. It is the artificial waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.

3. The Panama Canal is now under the control of Colombia.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 3 only

(b) 2 only

(c) 1, 2 and 3

(d) 1 and 2 only

Explanation

— US President-elect Donald Trump accused Panama of demanding excessive fees for allowing US ships to use the Panama Canal, an artificial waterway that connects the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Hence, statement 2 is correct.

— The Panama Canal had long been envisioned, owing to the high expense and time required to get from one ocean to the other by circumnavigating South America.

— It was constructed between 1904 and 1914, primarily because to US contributions. Until then, the region’s distinctive terrain made building a canal problematic. France had already abandoned similar projects due of their enormous cost. Hence, statement 1 is correct.

— Colombia ruled Panama until 1903, when a US-backed coup helped the country gain independence. The Hay-Bunau-Varilla Treaty of 1903 granted the United States rights to build and maintain the canal, as well as permanent rights over the Panama Canal Zone. Hence, statement 3 is not correct.

— However, according to the US government’s Office of the Historian website, the Panamanian delegate entered the treaty negotiations without formal government approval and had not lived in Panama for 17 years. This prompted many Panamanians to dispute the treaty’s legality.

Therefore, option (d) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 4

Three Gorges Dam was in the news. It is located in:

(a) China

(b) United States

(c) Russia

(d) Bangladesh

Explanation

— China has approved the construction of the world’s largest hydropower dam, beginning off a massive project on the eastern rim of the Tibetan plateau that might affect millions downstream in India and Bangladesh.

— The dam, which will be built in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River, is expected to generate 300 billion kilowatt-hours of energy per year by 2020, according to the Power Construction Corp of China.

— This would more than triple the designed capacity of central China’s Three Gorges Dam, which is currently the world’s largest at 88.2 billion kWh.

— According to the official Xinhua news agency, the project will help China fulfil its carbon peaking and neutrality objectives, as well as encourage associated businesses like engineering and create jobs in Tibet.

Therefore, option (a) is the correct answer.

QUESTION 5

Which of the following countries is hosting the inaugural International Balloon Festival?

(a) China

(b) India

(c) Nepal

(d) U.A.E

Explanation

— Pokhara, Nepal’s tourism capital, has elevated adventure tourism to new heights with the inaugural International Balloon Festival.

— The nine-day event, which runs from December 24, 2024 to January 2, 2025, takes place in the Pame region, which is noted for its scenic beauty and adventure options.

— The BYD International Balloon Festival has attracted participants from 30 nations, including over 20 international pilots and more than two dozen balloon enterprises.

— The event provides daily hot air balloon flights with amazing views of the Annapurna, Machhapuchhre, and Dhaulagiri mountain ranges.

Therefore, option (c) is the correct answer.

Previous Daily Subject-Wise-Quiz

Daily Subject-wise quiz — History, Culture, and Social Issues (Week 89)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Polity and Governance (Week 90)

Daily subject-wise quiz —  Science and Technology (Week 90)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Environment and Geography (Week 90)

Daily subject-wise quiz — Economy (Week 90)

Daily subject-wise quiz – International Relations (Week 89)

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