Soon after the Second World War, the United Nations adopted a landmark human rights document. In which year did the United Nations adopt the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, often referred to as its key human rights resolution?

Introduction / Context:
Human rights are a core concern of the United Nations. After the horrors of the Second World War, the UN adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights as a foundational document setting out basic rights and freedoms for all people. Many general knowledge questions refer to this document as a landmark human rights resolution and ask for the year in which it was adopted. Knowing this year is essential for understanding the evolution of international human rights law.

Given Data / Assumptions:

The focus is on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN.
We are asked to identify the year of adoption of this landmark human rights document.
The options provided are 1945, 1946, 1947 and 1948.
We assume the question refers to the final adoption by the United Nations General Assembly, which is a well documented event in history.

Concept / Approach:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in the late 1940s, after the UN itself was founded in 1945. The correct year is 1948. This declaration is often called a milestone in human rights and has influenced many constitutions and human rights treaties. Therefore, to answer the question, we must recall the association between the year 1948 and the adoption of this historic document.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Remember that the UN was formed in 1945, and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights came after a few years of drafting and debate. Step 2: The declaration was finally adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, which is the key year tested in exams. Step 3: Among the options, 1948 is the only year that matches this widely known historical fact. Step 4: Years 1945, 1946 and 1947 relate to earlier stages of UN activity and post war reconstruction, but not to the final adoption of the declaration. Step 5: Therefore, choose 1948 as the correct answer.

Verification / Alternative check:
Verification is straightforward using any reliable history or civics book, which will clearly state that the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted in 1948. Many exam preparation guides also include a table of important UN declarations and conventions with their years of adoption. In such tables, the Universal Declaration of Human Rights consistently appears with the year 1948, confirming this as the correct choice.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
1945: This is the year in which the United Nations itself was founded, not the year of the declaration.

1946: This year falls within the early period of UN functioning but does not correspond to the adoption of the Universal Declaration.

1947: This year is close in time but still one year earlier than the actual adoption date and is therefore incorrect.

Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to confuse the year the UN was created with the year the Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted, leading some candidates to pick 1945. Others may guess 1947 simply because it is near 1948. To avoid these errors, students should form an ordered timeline in their minds: 1945 for creation of the UN, 1948 for adoption of the Universal Declaration and later years for major covenants on civil, political, economic, social and cultural rights.

Final Answer:
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights was adopted by the United Nations in the year 1948.