Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: Sanya
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
This question is about the BRICS grouping of emerging economies and the evolution of its summits. Originally the group comprised Brazil, Russia, India and China as BRIC. When South Africa joined, the group became BRICS. The first summit held after this expansion is a common topic in general knowledge and international relations questions, because it marks the beginning of the five country format of BRICS meetings.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
South Africa joined the BRIC group to form BRICS around 2010. The first summit with South Africa as a full member took place in 2011 in Sanya, a city in China. Earlier summits of the original BRIC grouping had been held in places such as Yekaterinburg in Russia and Brasilia in Brazil, while Durban in South Africa hosted a later summit. The approach is therefore to recall the timeline of summits and identify Sanya as the first host city for the five country BRICS summit.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that BRIC became BRICS when South Africa joined as the fifth member.
Step 2: Remember that the first summit after this inclusion was held in 2011.
Step 3: Identify the host country for the 2011 summit, which was China.
Step 4: Recall that Sanya, a coastal city in China, was the venue of this BRICS summit.
Step 5: Check the options and find Sanya listed among them.
Step 6: Confirm that Brasilia and Yekaterinburg were venues of earlier BRIC summits and Durban was a later BRICS summit venue.
Step 7: Select Sanya as the correct answer.
Verification / Alternative check:
An alternative way to verify is to recall the order of summits: the 2009 summit in Yekaterinburg as BRIC, a subsequent summit in Brasilia, and then the 2011 summit in Sanya with South Africa included. Later, South Africa itself hosted a BRICS summit in Durban, but that was not the first one after its inclusion. Linking Sanya with China and the year 2011 helps confirm that this city hosted the first full BRICS meeting with all five countries.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Brasilia: Capital of Brazil, which hosted an early BRIC summit before South Africa joined; not the first BRICS summit after expansion.
Yekaterinburg: Hosted an early summit of the original BRIC grouping, but that was before South Africa became a member.
Durban: A South African city that hosted a later BRICS summit, but not the first one following South Africa inclusion.
Common Pitfalls:
Students sometimes focus on the fact that South Africa is the newest member and assume that the first expanded summit must have been held in a South African city such as Durban. Another mistake is to confuse earlier BRIC summits with the first BRICS summit. To avoid these errors, it helps to remember that the first summit after South Africa entry was in China at Sanya in 2011, and that Durban hosted a later meeting. Keeping a small timeline of key BRICS summits aids quick and accurate recall.
Final Answer:
The first BRICS Summit after the inclusion of South Africa as a member was held in Sanya.
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