Q 01/05

Roughly what share of the world's population lives in Asia?

A) 70%

B) 80%

C) 90%

D) 60%

Answer · why

D) 60%

About 4.7 billion people, on 30% of Earth's land area.

Q 02/05

What is the highest mountain on Earth above sea level?

A) K2

B) Kangchenjunga

C) Everest

D) Lhotse

Answer · why

C) Everest

Its most recent survey, in 2020, put it at 8,848.86 metres; it is called Sagarmatha in Nepal and Qomolangma in Tibet.

Q 03/05

Peak XV was named after Sir George, the Briton whose surname it now bears. What post had he held?

A) Surveyor General

B) Viceroy

C) Governor of Bengal

D) Royal Society President

Answer · why

A) Surveyor General

He opposed the honour, arguing 'Everest' could not be written in Hindi or pronounced by Indians.

Q 04/05

In which year was the summit of the world's highest peak first reached?

A) 1961

B) 1968

C) 1975

D) 1953

Answer · why

D) 1953

Only about 200 people had reached the top by 1987; by May 2024, 340 people had died on the mountain.

Q 05/05

Which body of water is the deepest in the world, holding around 22-23% of Earth's fresh surface water?

A) Caspian Sea

B) Lake Baikal

C) Lake Tanganyika

D) Lake Superior

Answer · why

B) Lake Baikal

It is a rift lake in southern Siberia, slightly larger than Belgium and 1,642 metres deep at most.