Difficulty: Easy
Correct Answer: France
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
Paris is one of the most famous cities in the world, known for its culture, history and landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower and the Louvre Museum. It is also the capital of a major European country. Questions like this are very common in general knowledge and school level exams, checking whether you know the basic pairing of a world famous city with its country.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
Paris is widely recognised as the capital of France. It is located in Western Europe and is both the political and cultural centre of that country. Norway has Oslo as its capital, Canada has Ottawa, Greece has Athens and Belgium has Brussels. The approach is to recall or confirm each country's capital and then match Paris to the correct one. Due to the strong media presence and tourism importance of Paris, most learners will directly remember that it belongs to France.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Paris is in Western Europe and is historically associated with France.Step 2: Remember that France is a major European nation whose capital and largest city is Paris.Step 3: Check the other options: the capital of Norway is Oslo, not Paris.Step 4: Note that Canada, in North America, has Ottawa as its capital.Step 5: Recognise that Greece has Athens as its capital city.Step 6: Remember that Belgium uses Brussels as its capital, not Paris.Step 7: Conclude that the only country for which Paris is the capital is France.
Verification / Alternative check:
You can verify by thinking of common travel phrases and news headlines. People frequently speak about French culture and tourism in Paris, referring to it as the French capital. International events like climate conferences and political meetings are also often described as taking place in the French capital, Paris. By contrast, when news mentions the capitals of Norway, Canada, Greece or Belgium, it uses Oslo, Ottawa, Athens and Brussels respectively. This consistent association in media and textbooks confirms that Paris is the capital of France.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Norway is a Nordic country whose capital is Oslo, so it cannot have Paris as its capital. Canada is a North American country and its capital is Ottawa, not Paris. Greece, known for its ancient history, has Athens as its capital. Belgium has Brussels as both its national capital and the de facto capital of the European Union institutions. Therefore, none of these countries matches Paris as its capital city, leaving France as the only correct choice.
Common Pitfalls:
Because Paris is such a famous city, some learners might overthink the question and wonder if it could belong to another country in a trick option. Others may confuse large cities with capitals, such as thinking that Toronto or Montreal are the capitals of Canada rather than Ottawa. The best way to avoid mistakes is to memorise the basic list of major European capitals and repeatedly revise them so that pairs like France–Paris and Greece–Athens become automatic in your mind.
Final Answer:
Paris is the capital city of France.
Discussion & Comments