Secretaries & History — Set 4

Correct Answer: C. 193

There are 193 member states, with South Sudan being the most recent country to join in 2011. Membership is open to all 'peace-loving states' that accept the obligations of the UN Charter. Vatican City and the State of Palestine are the only two non-member observer states.

Correct Answer: D. Gladwyn Jebb

Gladwyn Jebb of the United Kingdom served as the acting Secretary-General from October 1945 until the first official appointment in February 1946. He oversaw the initial administrative setup of the organization. Trygve Lie is usually listed as the 'first' because he was the first permanent appointee.

Correct Answer: D. 1945

The UN was officially established on October 24, 1945, at the end of World War II. This date is now celebrated globally as UN Day to mark the beginning of its operations. Its primary goal was to prevent another global conflict like the two previous world wars.

Correct Answer: B. U Thant

U Thant of Burma (Myanmar) was the third Secretary-General and the first from an Asian nation. He is widely praised for his quiet but effective diplomacy that helped defuse the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962. He served the longest tenure of any Secretary-General to date.

Correct Answer: B. Olive branches

The UN flag features a map of the world surrounded by two olive branches. In ancient Greek culture, olive branches were a universal symbol for peace and harmony. This design represents the organization's core mission to maintain international peace.

Correct Answer: B. General Assembly

The General Assembly is the main representative and policy-making organ of the UN. Unlike the Security Council, where some nations have more power, every country in the Assembly has exactly one vote. It meets annually in New York for its main session.

Correct Answer: A. Kofi Annan

Kofi Annan of Ghana was the seventh Secretary-General and received the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. He was the first person to rise through the ranks of the UN Secretariat staff to become its head. His leadership is remembered for the 'Global Compact' and focus on global health issues.

Correct Answer: B. New York City

The permanent headquarters of the United Nations is situated in Manhattan, New York City. The land was donated by John D. Rockefeller Jr. and is considered an international zone. While the UN has other major offices, the Secretariat and most principal organs are based here.

Correct Answer: B. 5

There are five permanent members: China, France, Russia, the UK, and the USA. These nations have the power to veto any substantive resolution, which significantly influences the selection of the Secretary-General. The Council also has 10 non-permanent members elected for two-year terms.

Correct Answer: B. António Guterres

António Guterres of Portugal became the ninth Secretary-General in January 2017. He previously served as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees for a decade. He is currently serving his second five-year term which began in 2022.