General knowledge can be defined as culturally valued knowledge about any particular topic relating to the social interest of a society, culture, civilization, community or a country, which may be communicated by a range of some non-specialist media. In simple words, general knowledge is the knowledge of every aspect of the human life, which may or may not be a part of his academic studies. It is also evident that this knowledge may or may not be of some great importance to a person and also may not be related to him or his community. There can be various areas identified as different domains of general knowledge like arts, discovery, games, politics, culture, film, medicine, history etc. Hence it would not be wrong to say that general knowledge covers almost all the aspects of human life. However, the main branches of general knowledge can be classified as follows:
- Current affairs
- Fashion
- Family
- Physical Health and Recreation
- Arts
- Science
These are some important branches of the human general knowledge. General knowledge is a very important aspect of the human life. If you don’t know a little about a lot of things going around you or in general things that happened, then you seem to be very stupid, so you really don’t make yourself a part of some healthy discussion, as without proper facts and knowledge you are neither able to contribute your comments and even unable to understand what others speak. Without proper general knowledge, your socialization factor becomes a little constrained. If you don’t have a little knowledge about a lot of things you won’t be able to figure out what it is that you want to be, decision making very difficult without proper knowledge and you have to rely on the advice of the other people. We need to experience the world at least through books, magazines, discussions or other sources before we tie ourselves to one anchor.
General knowledge can be of a great importance to us. These days test based on general knowledge is a part of almost every interview. Moreover, a person with good general knowledge always conquers the discussion that he is part of and wins everyone with his knowledge. Besides these, a good general knowledge gives you a great knowledge of everything going around you and helps you in making some wise decisions also.
Importance of General Knowledge
The importance of general knowledge spans itself way beyond knowing the answers to a trivia and general knowledge quizzes. An individual’s personality can be judged by his up-to-date general knowledge of various subjects and current affairs in different domains that makes him an intelligent person with whom everyone would like to interact and would also like to ask him for some advice. From students to professionals to business owners to homemakers to retirees, this applies to virtually everyone in all walks of life.
General knowledge is something that really helps us to grow both on personal as well as academic level. It narrows our sense of perceiving the world, understands, and analyzes the situations better as one would without proper knowledge. General knowledge opens gateways our thinking, and take it to a level from where the whole world seems to be a better place. It is an unpredictable world and we all need to stay aware and vigilant. An individual who is well aware with current affairs and facts about the world is called an intellectual.
General knowledge also helps to grow your confidence level and may prove to be of some great help during some important events of our lives like interview etc. You may start to talk to any person on any topic, but your knowledge is something that determines your conversation and your impression on the other person, a good knowledge of everything around always impress the people around you. A good general knowledge enables you to be a part of various general quizzes at your school, university and office level, on winning which you tend to gain a lot of respect along with some great rewards.
General knowledge also helps you on the academic front. Almost all competitive exams require a lot of question based on general knowledge and thinking. A major portion of the exams for various high posts including IAS, IPS etc. is dedicated to general knowledge questions, which carry a comparatively high weight age of marks in the exams as compared to other subjects or languages. Even the personal interview session that follows, these exams consist of general knowledge questions. During interviews, the candidates are usually asked about current affairs and also asked about their views on different ongoing current events, which a candidate can only answer if proper knowledge of the event is with him.
General knowledge helps you do everything from planning a garden to balancing a check-book whether deciding about your future or planning a vacation, proper knowledge about everything always helps you in one way or the other. It will make your entire life more meaningful and successful. The more you know about specific things, the more you can connect the individual, separate facts to other facts. This leads to a great understanding of facts and analyzes what is best for you.
Advantages of General Knowledge
- Better Grades: General knowledge can help a student enhance his academic knowledge to a great level. With proper knowledge of various ongoing events and useful events of past an individual tends to have a broad knowledge of some basic facts that are also part of the academic syllabus. You may be able to stand out from the crowd if your knowledge on just about everything within and beyond your coursework is tip top. Besides this, a good knowledge also helps the student to successfully be a part of various quizzes and debate competition, which are an important part of student life. It is common sense to have a good grip over general knowledge and current affairs. Students in school and college are always expected to know what is going around in the world and also this knowledge is tested by the means of various general knowledge tests, scoring which would obviously attract some good grades. God general knowledge would help you get good grades at school and in competitive entrance exams.
- Makes Conversation Interesting: Sometimes it can become really difficult holding a conversation with a friend, colleague, acquaintance or even a stranger if you don't share common interests. General knowledge and current affairs can instant conversation starters and can help you in those typical awkward moments of silence whether during an important professional meeting or mushy first date talk and good knowledge of current issues and general knowledge present you as an intelligent person, with whom everyone likes to talk. Being up-to-date on general knowledge will save you from weird situations when neither you nor someone else has anything to say or discuss. Your boundaries of conversation will extend much beyond your core areas on interests. This will allow you to start conversations with virtually anyone and everyone and convert your conversation into something meaningful. Hence this also helps you in making a social impact on your social circle and everyone wants to talk to you for an intellectual talk.
- Better Decision Making: General knowledge as all about keeping yourself updated with the knowledge from every field. The importance of general knowledge and the current affair is far beyond the ability to get good grades and making a social impact. Having good general knowledge makes you smart in every sense and helps you take well some important decisions in life. For example, if a person wants to take a decision regarding his career prospects, then only if he has proper knowledge of various options available for him and requirements, then only he can take a better decision regarding his future. In the same way, a person looking for a home may be taken on by a property consultant if he does not have proper knowledge about various prevailing rates of property in the area of his interest. Hence good knowledge has always got a lot of things to offer in the one way or the other.
- Helps Parents to Guide their Children: It would be a really awkward situation if your child comes to you with a simple question of science or English and you won’t have an answer for that question. If a person wants to set an example for their kids then he/she should also have a good knowledge so that they may help their children with their topics whenever some help is needed. As a parent, it is important for you to display good general knowledge and impart the same to your kids. There are many topics and projects of the school where children do need help from their elders so having a good knowledge not only enables you to be able to help your kids with projects and homework instead you will also be able to keep up with their state of mind if you are updated with the latest trends. Moreover, children get to learn a lot from their parents even during general parent-child talk.
- Effective Interaction: Having a sound knowledge of different cultures and communities promote effective interaction among people of different culture. A person having a good knowledge can easily adjust in the people of different communities if he has a prior knowledge about their culture and region. Also interaction with different people becomes really easy and enjoyable when you have proper knowledge about them. General knowledge plays a pivotal role in a day and age where cities are thriving multicultural hubs. Adults too may be able to better interact with people from different cultures and save themselves from embarrassment by having common knowledge about various cultural etiquette.
- Enhance your Public Skills: Yet another advantage is that strong command over general knowledge and current affairs will help you get rid of the fear of public speaking as you will no longer be worried about filling the long pauses and gaps. You tend to gain confidence and become really easy picking up new topics and speaking about them once you have good knowledge and vocabulary. From being able to speak about interesting facts about a subject to holding a discussion with the audience, general knowledge is something which helps speaker a lot in winning the interest of his audience. A person armed with well-rounded knowledge can give his confidence a solid boost before and during a public speech.
Ways to Improve General Knowledge
General knowledge and information on current affairs are interrelated to each other. The news of today is general knowledge of tomorrow. Even other areas are also important simply because they put you in the wise light. Parents should insist on the need for acquiring general knowledge gradually right from an early age and emphasize the different ways to improve general knowledge among their children. This general knowledge acquired is not helpful only in the field of education but also in enhancing the overall personality of the child and competitive spirit in him. People tend to look up to you because you are knowledgeable and wise and can talk about most things they want to get information on. Acquiring knowledge can be done in many ways and few of these are listed below:
- Reading: The first and foremost way to improve your general knowledge is by reading. Expansion of knowledge occurs through constant reading either in the means of books, magazines or newspaper. Most important means of knowledge enhancement is by a newspaper. There is no hard and fast rule on the source of information. Any book, magazine, journal or just about anything in black and white can offer knowledge in some form or the other. It is evident that you tend to forget with time but if done with interest; a lot of information can be retained for longer intervals. However, it is of much benefit to inculcate reading as a habit if you really intend to enhance your knowledge.
- Socialize: Socialization is yet another way of improving your general knowledge of various issues. The bigger your circle of friends, acquaintances and professional contacts and higher the number of informative conversations you have, the larger will be your sources to gain more and more information. This informal and casual way is perhaps one of the best ways to improve your general knowledge of various issues and different areas. This is a proven fact that informal conversations and discussions tend to stay in our minds better than information gathered through any other method since these are the things that we enjoy while doing hence tendency to retain is more.
- Make Notes: Writing is the most effective way of learning and retaining the facts. You learn most by writing down the things that you studied or you watched and you tend to retain these facts for a long time once you practice by writing or made notes.
- Media: Media of all kinds which can either be in form of the newspapers or television, offers information, entertainment and many other individual desirables or undesirables. Watching and retaining while you get entertainment is an effective way, whatever you want is a choice you need to make. And when you do so, you are at a beneficial end and to learn something that you retain lifelong.
