Want to test how much you really know about Russia, the largest nation in the world? I have created a set of 50 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) about Russia. If you are a student, competitive examination aspirant, and keen reader, you can learn about some aspect of Russia’s history, geography, politics, economy, and culture. From the Russian Revolution to present day Moscow, from authors such as Tolstoy to global events such as the FIFA World Cup 2018 hosted in Russia, covers every important aspect. These MCQs can be good not only for general knowledge but they are useful for academic preparation, entrance tests and international affairs studies. So, here we go in to the interesting world of Russia using these key questions. To help you study in an effective way, challenge yourself using these key questions. Find below 50 Key MCQs about Rassia.
Top 50 MCQs about Russia
Here are some information about the Russia:
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Moscow |
| Official Language(s) | Russian |
| Currency | Russian Ruble (RUB) |
| Population | Approx. 146 million (2025) |
| Area | 17,098,242 sq km (largest country in the world) |
| Government | Federal Semi-Presidential Republic |
| Famous Personalities | Leo Tolstoy, Fyodor Dostoevsky, Yuri Gagarin, Vladimir Putin |
| Famous Places | Red Square, Lake Baikal, Kremlin, St. Basil’s Cathedral, Siberia |
| Famous Buildings | Winter Palace, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow Kremlin, Hermitage Museum |
| Office of International Organization | Member of BRICS, SCO; Observer at OIC; Permanent seat at UN Security Council |
| Famous Sporting Event | 2014 Winter Olympics (Sochi), 2018 FIFA World Cup |
| Noble Prize laureate | Mikhail Gorbachev (Peace, 1990), Joseph Brodsky (Literature, 1987), Zhores Alferov (Physics, 2000) |
1. Which Russian lake contains around 20% of the world’s unfrozen freshwater reserves?
A. Lake Ladoga
B. Lake Onega
C. Lake Baikal
D. Lake Taimyr
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Explanation: Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest and oldest freshwater lake, containing 20% of the world’s fresh unfrozen water reserves.
2. what is the official residence of the President of Russia?
A. Kremlin Palace
B. Winter Palace
C. St. Basil’s Cathedral
D. Bolshoi Theatre
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Explanation: The Moscow Kremlin serves as the official residence of the Russian President and symbolizes Russian political power.
3. Who was the first human to travel into space, representing Russia?
A. Neil Armstrong
B. Yuri Gagarin
C. Valentina Tereshkova
D. Alexei Leonov
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Explanation:On April 12, 1961, Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit Earth aboard Vostok 1.
4. Which Russian city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics?
A. Moscow
B. St. Petersburg
C. Sochi
D. Kazan
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Explanation: The 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi, making it the first Russian city to host the Winter Games.
5. Which famous Russian novel begins with the line “All happy families are alike”?
A. Crime and Punishment
B. Anna Karenina
C. War and Peace
D. The Brothers Karamazov
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Explanation: Leo Tolstoy’s “Anna Karenina” opens with the iconic line about families, reflecting his deep social and philosophical ideas.
6. Which Russian city is nicknamed the “Venice of the North”?
A. Kazan
B. Novosibirsk
C. St. Petersburg
D. Vladivostok
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Explanation: St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great, is built on canals and rivers, earning it the nickname “Venice of the North.”
7. What is the name of Russia’s famous ballet company?
A. Royal Ballet
B. Bolshoi Ballet
C. Mariinsky Ballet
D. National Ballet of Russia
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Explanation: The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow is one of the oldest and most prestigious ballet companies in the world.
8. Which Russian scientist is known as the father of the Periodic Table?
A. Dmitri Mendeleev
B. Ivan Pavlov
C. Andrei Sakharov
D. Nikolai Lobachevsky
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Explanation: Mendeleev arranged chemical elements into the Periodic Table in 1869, revolutionizing modern chemistry.
9. Which Russian leader won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1990?
A. Vladimir Lenin
B. Mikhail Gorbachev
C. Boris Yeltsin
D. Vladimir Putin
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Explanation: Mikhail Gorbachev received the Nobel Peace Prize for his role in ending the Cold War through reforms like Glasnost and Perestroika.
10. What is the largest cathedral in Russia?
A. St. Basil’s Cathedral
B. Kazan Cathedral
C. Cathedral of Christ the Saviour
D. Trinity Lavra Cathedral
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Explanation: Located in Moscow, the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour is the tallest Orthodox Christian church in the world.
11. Which Russian city is known as the cultural capital of the country?
A. Moscow
B. Saint Petersburg
C. Kazan
D. Novosibirsk
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Explanation: Saint Petersburg is considered Russia’s cultural capital, famous for the Hermitage Museum, theaters, and palaces.
12. What is the currency of Russia?
A. Ruble
B. Lira
C. Franc
D. Yen
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Explanation: The Russian Ruble (RUB) is the official currency of the Russian Federation.
13. Which Russian leader introduced the policy of “Glasnost” and “Perestroika”?
A. Joseph Stalin
B. Nikita Khrushchev
C. Mikhail Gorbachev
D. Vladimir Lenin
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Explanation: Mikhail Gorbachev introduced Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) in the 1980s.
14. Which famous Russian space mission sent the first human into space?
A. Vostok 1
B. Soyuz 1
C. Sputnik 1
D. Mir-1
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Explanation: Vostok 1 carried Yuri Gagarin, the first human in space, in 1961.
15. What is the highest mountain in Russia?
A. Mount Everest
B. Mount Elbrus
C. Mount Ararat
D. Mount Kazbek
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Explanation: Mount Elbrus, in the Caucasus Mountains, is the highest peak in Russia and Europe at 5,642 meters.
16. Which Russian novel is written by Leo Tolstoy?
A. Crime and Punishment
B. The Brothers Karamazov
C. War and Peace
D. Doctor Zhivago
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Explanation: Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is one of the greatest novels in world literature.
17. Which Russian city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics?
A. Moscow
B. Saint Petersburg
C. Sochi
D. Kazan
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Explanation: The 2014 Winter Olympics were held in Sochi, Russia, on the Black Sea coast.
18. Which famous river flows through Moscow?
A. Volga
B. Moskva
C. Lena
D. Don
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Explanation: The Moskva River flows through Moscow, giving the city its name.
19. Who was the last Tsar of Russia?
A. Ivan IV
B. Nicholas II
C. Peter the Great
D. Alexander II
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Explanation: Nicholas II was the last Tsar of Russia, overthrown in the 1917 Revolution.
20. Which sea is located to the north of Russia?
A. Caspian Sea
B. Black Sea
C. Arctic Ocean
D. Baltic Sea
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Explanation: The Arctic Ocean lies to the north of Russia, covering its long northern coastline.
21. What is the largest lake in Russia by surface area?
A. Lake Baikal
B. Lake Ladoga
C. Lake Onega
D. Caspian Sea
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Explanation: Lake Ladoga, near Saint Petersburg, is the largest lake in Europe by surface area.
22. Which Russian lake is the deepest in the world?
A. Lake Ladoga
B. Lake Baikal
C. Lake Onega
D. Lake Tanganyika
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Explanation: Lake Baikal in Siberia is the world’s deepest freshwater lake at 1,642 meters.
23. Which famous ballet company is based in Moscow?
A. Bolshoi Ballet
B. Mariinsky Ballet
C. Kirov Ballet
D. Royal Ballet
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Explanation: The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow is one of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world.
24. What is the longest railway line in Russia?
A. Moscow-Kazan Line
B. Siberian Express
C. Trans-Siberian Railway
D. Moscow–Saint Petersburg Line
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Explanation: The Trans-Siberian Railway stretches about 9,289 km from Moscow to Vladivostok.
25. Which Russian scientist is known as the father of the Periodic Table?
A. Dmitri Mendeleev
B. Ivan Pavlov
C. Andrei Sakharov
D. Sergey Korolev
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Explanation: Dmitri Mendeleev created the first periodic table of chemical elements in 1869.
26. Which Russian city is called the “Window to Europe”?
A. Moscow
B. Saint Petersburg
C. Vladivostok
D. Kaliningrad
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Explanation: Saint Petersburg is often called the “Window to Europe” due to its European architecture and culture.
27. Which Russian leader is known as “Peter the Great”?
A. Ivan IV
B. Peter I
C. Catherine II
D. Alexander I
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Explanation: Peter I, known as Peter the Great, modernized Russia and established Saint Petersburg as the capital.
28. What is the main religion in Russia?
A. Roman Catholicism
B. Islam
C. Russian Orthodox Christianity
D. Buddhism
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Explanation: The Russian Orthodox Church is the dominant religion in Russia.
29. Which Russian port city is located on the Pacific Ocean?
A. Sochi
B. Vladivostok
C. Murmansk
D. Kaliningrad
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Explanation: Vladivostok is Russia’s major Pacific port, near China and North Korea.
30. Who wrote the novel “Crime and Punishment”?
A. Anton Chekhov
B. Leo Tolstoy
C. Fyodor Dostoevsky
D. Maxim Gorky
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Explanation: Dostoevsky’s “Crime and Punishment” is one of the greatest Russian novels exploring psychology and morality.
31. Which sea is located to the south of Russia?
A. Black Sea
B. Baltic Sea
C. Caspian Sea
D. Adriatic Sea
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Explanation: The Black Sea lies to Russia’s south, near the Crimean Peninsula and Caucasus region.
32. What is the national animal of Russia?
A. Tiger
B. Brown Bear
C. Eagle
D. Wolf
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Explanation: The brown bear is considered the national symbol of Russia, representing strength and resilience.
33. Which Russian city is known as the “Window to Europe”?
A. Moscow
B. St. Petersburg
C. Kazan
D. Novgorod
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Explanation:St. Petersburg, founded by Peter the Great, was designed to connect Russia culturally and politically with Europe.
34. When did the Soviet Union officially dissolve?
A. 1985
B. 1989
C. 1991
D. 1995
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Explanation: The USSR officially dissolved in December 1991, leading to the independence of 15 republics.
35. Which famous Russian scientist proposed the periodic table of elements?
A. Pavlov
B. Mendeleev
C. Tsiolkovsky
D. Sechenov
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Explanation: Dmitri Mendeleev created the periodic table in 1869, revolutionizing chemistry.
36. Which mountain range divides Europe and Asia in Russia?
A. Caucasus
B. Ural
C. Altai
D. Himalayas
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Explanation: The Ural Mountains form the natural boundary between European Russia and Asian Russia.
37. What is the longest river in Russia?
A. Volga
B. Yenisei
C. Lena
D. Amur
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Explanation: The Volga River is the longest river in Europe and a vital waterway for Russia.
38. Who wrote the famous Russian novel “War and Peace”?
A. Fyodor Dostoevsky
B. Anton Chekhov
C. Leo Tolstoy
D. Maxim Gorky
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Explanation: Leo Tolstoy’s “War and Peace” is considered one of the greatest novels ever written.
39. Which famous cathedral is located in Moscow’s Red Square?
A. St. Isaac’s Cathedral
B. St. Basil’s Cathedral
C. Christ the Savior Cathedral
D. Kazan Cathedral
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Explanation: St. Basil’s Cathedral is a symbol of Moscow, built by Ivan the Terrible in the 16th century.
40. What is Russia’s main export product?
A. Wheat
B. Oil and Gas
C. Machinery
D. Diamonds
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Explanation: Russia is one of the world’s largest exporters of oil and natural gas, contributing heavily to its economy.
41. Which Russian leader initiated the policy of Glasnost and Perestroika?
A. Vladimir Putin
B. Joseph Stalin
C. Mikhail Gorbachev
D. Nikita Khrushchev
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Explanation: Gorbachev introduced Glasnost (openness) and Perestroika (restructuring) in the 1980s to reform the USSR.
42. Which Russian cosmonaut was the first human to walk in space?
A. Yuri Gagarin
B. Alexei Leonov
C. Valentina Tereshkova
D. Sergey Korolev
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Explanation: In 1965, Alexei Leonov became the first human to conduct a spacewalk.
43. Which is the largest lake in Russia by volume?
A. Baikal
B. Ladoga
C. Onega
D. Caspian Sea
➥ Show Answer
Explanation: Lake Baikal is the world’s deepest and largest freshwater lake by volume, containing 20% of the planet’s fresh water.
44. Which Russian leader was overthrown during the 1917 Revolution?
A. Nicholas I
B. Nicholas II
C. Alexander II
D. Alexander III
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Explanation: Tsar Nicholas II was the last emperor of Russia and was overthrown during the Bolshevik Revolution of 1917.
45. Which Russian scientist is known as the father of rocketry and astronautics?
A. Pavlov
B. Tsiolkovsky
C. Lomonosov
D. Kurchatov
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Explanation: Konstantin Tsiolkovsky laid the theoretical foundations of rocket science and space travel.
46. Which Russian ice hockey team is the most famous internationally?
A. Dynamo Moscow
B. SKA St. Petersburg
C. CSKA Moscow
D. Spartak Moscow
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Explanation: CSKA Moscow, often called the “Red Army Team,” is world-famous for its dominance in ice hockey.
47. Which peninsula in Russia is known for its volcanoes and geysers?
A. Kola Peninsula
B. Yamal Peninsula
C. Kamchatka Peninsula
D. Taman Peninsula
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Explanation: The Kamchatka Peninsula is famous for its volcanic activity and geothermal features.
48. Which Russian ballet company is the oldest in the world?
A. Bolshoi Ballet
B. Mariinsky Ballet
C. Moscow Ballet
D. Imperial Ballet
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Explanation: The Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow is one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious ballet companies.
49. What is the national flower of Russia?
A. Chamomile
B. Tulip
C. Rose
D. Sunflower
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Explanation: The chamomile flower symbolizes health and beauty and is recognized as the national flower of Russia.
50. Which sea forms Russia’s northern coastline?
A. Barents Sea
B. Bering Sea
C. Laptev Sea
D. Kara Sea
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Explanation: The Barents Sea is part of the Arctic Ocean and forms Russia’s northern maritime boundary.
51. What is the Russian holiday celebrated on June 12?
A. Victory Day
B. Russia Day
C. Constitution Day
D. Defender of the Fatherland Day
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Explanation: Russia Day, celebrated on June 12, marks the declaration of sovereignty from the USSR in 1990.
52. Which famous Russian scientist was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology for work on digestion?
A. Ivan Pavlov
B. Dmitri Mendeleev
C. Ilya Mechnikov
D. Andrei Sakharov
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Explanation: Pavlov received the Nobel Prize in 1904 for his research on digestive processes and conditioned reflexes.
53. Which city is known as Russia’s “Third Capital”?
A. Sochi
B. Kazan
C. Vladivostok
D. Yekaterinburg
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Explanation: Kazan, the capital of Tatarstan, is often referred to as Russia’s “Third Capital” after Moscow and St. Petersburg.
54. Which Russian leader was known as the “Iron Curtain” architect?
A. Joseph Stalin
B. Nikita Khrushchev
C. Leonid Brezhnev
D. Vladimir Lenin
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Explanation: Joseph Stalin’s policies after World War II created the East-West divide known as the “Iron Curtain.”
55. Which famous Russian physicist received the Nobel Prize for superconductivity?
A. Kapitsa
B. Sakharov
C. Landau
D. Prokhorov
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Explanation: Pyotr Kapitsa was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1978 for his work on low-temperature physics and superconductivity.
56. Which Russian port city is located on the Pacific Ocean?
A. Murmansk
B. Vladivostok
C. Arkhangelsk
D. Kaliningrad
➥ Show Answer
Explanation: Vladivostok is a key Pacific port city and the terminus of the Trans-Siberian Railway.
57. Which Russian leader promoted the policy of “De-Stalinization”?
A. Khrushchev
B. Brezhnev
C. Yeltsin
D. Putin
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Explanation: Nikita Khrushchev initiated “De-Stalinization” in the 1950s to reduce repression and reform governance.
58. Which Russian city hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics?
A. Moscow
B. Kazan
C. Sochi
D. Vladivostok
➥ Show Answer
Explanation: Sochi hosted the 2014 Winter Olympics, showcasing Russia on the global sports stage.
59. Which famous Russian novel begins with the line “Happy families are all alike…”?
A. Crime and Punishment
B. The Brothers Karamazov
C. Anna Karenina
D. Doctor Zhivago
➥ Show Answer
Explanation: Leo Tolstoy’s novel “Anna Karenina” begins with the famous line about happy and unhappy families.
60.Which Russian scientist developed the theory of continental drift before it was globally accepted?
A. Vernadsky
B. Wegener
C. Lomonosov
D. Dokuchaev
➥ Show Answer
Explanation: Vladimir Vernadsky contributed ideas about earth sciences and biosphere, anticipating continental drift concepts.
I hope these Russia MCQs with answers and explanations helped you learn more about this remarkable country. Whether you are preparing for an exam, interview, quiz competition, or just want to expand your knowledge, these questions provide a solid foundation. Russia’s vast geography, rich history, strong cultural heritage, and global influence make it a country worth studying in detail. For more MCQs on countries, politics, history, and international organizations, explore our complete MCQ series. Keep practicing and improving your knowledge day by day!
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