Difficulty: Medium
Correct Answer: Apple
Explanation:
Introduction / Context:
The term most valuable company usually refers to the company with the highest market capitalisation on global stock markets at a given point in time. This figure is calculated as the total number of outstanding shares multiplied by the share price. Competitive examinations sometimes ask which company held this top position during a particular period, especially when a firm reaches historic milestones such as crossing the one trillion United States dollar mark in valuation.
Given Data / Assumptions:
Concept / Approach:
For several years around the late 2010s, Apple was frequently at or near the top of global rankings by market capitalisation and became the first publicly traded United States company to reach a valuation of one trillion United States dollars. While companies like Amazon, Microsoft and Alphabet (Google parent) sometimes overtook one another in short time windows, most general knowledge books and question banks for that period captured the headline that Apple was the world most valuable company. Therefore, Apple is the expected correct option in this static GK question.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recall that Apple share price surged significantly, making it the first big technology company to cross the one trillion United States dollar valuation mark.
Step 2: Remember that many news articles and exam notes summarised this by saying Apple became the world most valuable company.
Step 3: Recognise that Amazon and Microsoft also achieved high valuations, but their periods at number one were often shorter and are less commonly used as static GK statements.
Step 4: Note that Google, through its parent Alphabet, is extremely valuable but was not the focus of the specific milestone often quoted in older GK material.
Step 5: Based on this, choose Apple as the company most likely intended by the question setter.
Verification / Alternative check:
If you look at historical financial news from around the time these questions were typically compiled, you will find repeated references to Apple as the most valuable publicly traded company in the world, especially when it first crossed the trillion dollar mark. Static general knowledge books often freeze such facts at the time of publication, so Apple remains the correct answer in those contexts even if market rankings change later.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Amazon briefly overtook Apple in valuation at certain moments, but this change was not as widely fixed in exam oriented GK as Apple historic milestone.
Microsoft has also been extremely valuable and at times ranked first, but many question banks written for that specific period still highlight Apple as the top company.
Google, represented by Alphabet, is a major technology giant but was not the main company linked with the first trillion dollar headline in general knowledge notes.
Common Pitfalls:
One common pitfall is to treat this as a live current affairs question and try to recall the absolute latest market rankings, which change frequently over time. However, static general knowledge questions in printed books usually reflect the situation at the time of writing. Another mistake is to misinterpret most valuable as referring to brand value or revenue instead of stock market capitalisation. Carefully reading the context of your study materials helps you avoid such confusion.
Final Answer:
At the time this question was framed, the company regarded as the world most valuable by market capitalisation was Apple.
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