Turkey is a place where the East meets the West that combining a deep past with modernity. Turkey’s specific importance in the world’s politics goes back to the Byzantine and Ottoman empires, to its position today. My specially devised “50 Key MCQs about Turkey” has obscured truths, cultural inheritances, geographical economics, and historically forgetful facts—the information that we seldom encounter in the everyday assumptions of travel guides. These “50 Key MCQs” will not only be useful for students and competitive exam aspirants to develop expertise for those who have come to Turkey and face a geographic place with rich histories and do not know its different cultural world of meanings, values, beliefs, and significance in global affairs. So, find below 50 Key MCQs about Turkey.
Key Fact Sheet about Turkey
| Fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capital | Ankara |
| Official Language(s) | Turkish |
| Currency | Turkish Lira (TRY) |
| Population | Approx. 85 million (2025) |
| Area | 783,356 sq. km |
| Government | Unitary presidential constitutional republic |
| Famous Personalities | Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, Orhan Pamuk, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan |
| Famous Places | Istanbul, Cappadocia, Pamukkale, Troy |
| Famous Buildings | Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace, Blue Mosque |
| Office of International Organizations | Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) Headquarters in Istanbul |
| Famous Sporting Event | Istanbul hosted the UEFA Champions League Final 2023 |
| Nobel Prize laureate | Orhan Pamuk (Literature, 2006) |
Important MCQs about Turkey
1. What is the capital city of Turkey?
A. Istanbul
B. Ankara
C. Izmir
D. Bursa
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Explanation: Although Istanbul is Turkey’s largest city, Ankara was chosen as the capital in 1923 by Atatürk to symbolize modernization and central governance.
2. Which strait connects the Black Sea to the Sea of Marmara in Turkey?
A. Bosporus
B. Dardanelles
C. Gibraltar
D. Hormuz
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Explanation: The Bosporus Strait divides Istanbul into its European and Asian sides and is one of the most strategic waterways in the world.
3. Who was the founder of the Republic of Turkey?
A. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
B. Suleiman the Magnificent
C. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
D. Mehmed II
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Explanation: Atatürk founded the Republic in 1923, abolished the Ottoman Sultanate, and introduced sweeping reforms.
4. Which Turkish city is famous for its unique rock formations and hot-air balloon rides?
A. Antalya
B. Cappadocia
C. Konya
D. Bursa
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Explanation: Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys and underground cities attract millions of tourists each year.
5. Which sea borders Turkey to the north?
A. Mediterranean Sea
B. Black Sea
C. Aegean Sea
D. Caspian Sea
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Explanation: Turkey has coastlines on the Black Sea, Aegean Sea, and Mediterranean Sea, making it geographically strategic.
6. What was the ancient name of Istanbul?
A. Troy
B. Constantinople
C. Antioch
D. Ephesus
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Explanation: Istanbul was known as Byzantium and later Constantinople until it was renamed after the Turkish Republic.
7. Which empire had its capital in Istanbul before the Turkish Republic?
A. Byzantine Empire
B. Roman Empire
C. Ottoman Empire
D. Persian Empire
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Explanation: Istanbul (then Constantinople) served as the capital of the Ottoman Empire until 1923.
8. Which UNESCO World Heritage site in Turkey is known for its terraces of white mineral-rich waters?
A. Mount Ararat
B. Pamukkale
C. Cappadocia
D. Troy
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Explanation: Pamukkale, meaning “cotton castle,” is famous for its natural hot springs and white travertine terraces.
9. What is the name of Turkey’s parliament?
A. Majlis
B. Grand National Assembly
C. Senate
D. People’s Assembly
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Explanation: The Grand National Assembly of Turkey is the unicameral legislature based in Ankara.
10. Which Turkish city is located on both Europe and Asia?
A. Ankara
B. Antalya
C. Istanbul
D. Izmir
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Explanation: Istanbul is the only transcontinental city in the world, spanning two continents.
11. Which mountain is traditionally believed to be the resting place of Noah’s Ark in Turkey?
A. Mount Ararat
B. Mount Taurus
C. Mount Erciyes
D. Mount Uludağ
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Explanation: Mount Ararat, near the Armenian border, is biblically associated with Noah’s Ark.
12. Which famous ancient city in Turkey is linked to the Trojan War?
A. Pergamon
B. Troy
C. Ephesus
D. Sardis
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Explanation: The ruins of Troy, near Çanakkale, are tied to Homer’s Iliad and the Trojan War.
13. What is the official currency of Turkey?
A. Turkish Pound
B. Turkish Lira
C. Ottoman Rial
D. Euro
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Explanation: The Turkish Lira (TRY) is the official currency, symbolized as ₺.
14. Which Turkish leader introduced the Latin alphabet in place of Arabic script?
A. Sultan Abdulhamid II
B. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
C. Turgut Özal
D. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
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Explanation: Atatürk’s language reform in 1928 replaced Arabic script with Latin-based Turkish alphabet.
15. Which Turkish city is known as the “Pearl of the Aegean”?
A. Izmir
B. Antalya
C. Bursa
D. Konya
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Explanation: Izmir, Turkey’s third-largest city, is a key Aegean port and trade hub.
16. Which world wonder was located in Bodrum, Turkey?
A. Great Pyramid
B. Mausoleum at Halicarnassus
C. Hanging Gardens
D. Lighthouse of Alexandria
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Explanation: The Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, one of the Seven Wonders, was built for King Mausolus.
17. Which Turkish Nobel laureate won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 2006?
A. Aziz Sancar
B. Orhan Pamuk
C. Elif Shafak
D. Yaşar Kemal
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Explanation: Orhan Pamuk, author of “Snow” and “My Name is Red,” won the Nobel Prize in 2006.
18. Which sea lies to the south of Turkey?
A. Caspian Sea
B. Aegean Sea
C. Mediterranean Sea
D. Black Sea
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Explanation: Turkey’s southern border touches the Mediterranean Sea, making Antalya a famous resort city.
19. What is the name of the famous market in Istanbul, one of the largest covered markets in the world?
A. Spice Bazaar
B. Grand Bazaar
C. Kapalıçarşı
D. Suleymaniye Market
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Explanation: The Grand Bazaar in Istanbul, established in the 15th century, has over 4,000 shops.
20. Which empire preceded the Ottoman Empire in Anatolia?
A. Byzantine Empire
B. Persian Empire
C. Seljuk Empire
D. Roman Empire
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Explanation: The Seljuks ruled Anatolia before the rise of the Ottoman Empire in the late 13th century.
21. Which Turkish city is a pilgrimage site for followers of Rumi, the Sufi poet?
A. Bursa
B. Konya
C. Izmir
D. Edirne
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Explanation: Rumi’s mausoleum is in Konya, where Whirling Dervishes still perform.
22. Which treaty officially ended the Ottoman Empire and established modern Turkey?
A. Treaty of Versailles
B. Treaty of Sèvres
C. Treaty of Lausanne
D. Treaty of Berlin
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Explanation: The 1923 Treaty of Lausanne recognized the sovereignty of the Republic of Turkey.
23. What does the red background of the Turkish flag symbolize?
A. Blood of martyrs
B. Ottoman Empire
C. Sunrise
D. Unity
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Explanation: The red color represents the blood of martyrs, while the crescent and star are Islamic symbols.
24. Which ancient city in Turkey had the Temple of Artemis, another wonder of the world?
A. Pergamon
B. Ephesus
C. Antioch
D. Smyrna
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Explanation: The Temple of Artemis at Ephesus was one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
25. What is the most popular sport in Turkey?
A. Wrestling
B. Basketball
C. Football (Soccer)
D. Volleyball
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Explanation: Football is Turkey’s most loved sport, with clubs like Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş.
26. Which Turkish scientist won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 2015?
A. Aziz Sancar
B. Orhan Pamuk
C. Oktay Sinanoğlu
D. Canan Dağdeviren
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Explanation: Aziz Sancar received the Nobel Prize for his work on DNA repair.
27. What is the highest mountain in Turkey?
A. Mount Ararat
B. Mount Erciyes
C. Mount Taurus
D. Mount Kaçkar
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Explanation: Mount Ararat, at 5,137 meters, is Turkey’s highest peak.
28. Which Turkish city is called the “Green City” due to its gardens and mosques?
A. Konya
B. Antalya
C. Bursa
D. Izmir
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Explanation: Bursa, the first Ottoman capital, is famous for its greenery, mosques, and silk trade.
29. Which Turkish strait connects the Aegean Sea to the Sea of Marmara?
A. Bosporus
B. Dardanelles
C. Corinth Canal
D. Suez Canal
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Explanation: The Dardanelles (Çanakkale Strait) was crucial in World War I’s Gallipoli Campaign.
30. Which UNESCO site in Turkey is famous for early Christian cave churches?
A. Göbekli Tepe
B. Cappadocia
C. Pergamon
D. Mount Nemrut
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Explanation: Cappadocia’s rock-cut churches and monasteries date back to the early Christians.
31. Which Ottoman architect designed the famous Süleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul?
A. Sinan
B. Mimar Kemaleddin
C. Sedefkar Mehmed Agha
D. Hayreddin Barbarossa
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Explanation: Mimar Sinan, the chief Ottoman architect, designed the Süleymaniye Mosque in the 16th century.
32. What is the Turkish word for Parliament?
A. Cumhuriyet
B. Meclis
C. Devlet
D. Millet
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Explanation: The Turkish Grand National Assembly is called “Türkiye Büyük Millet Meclisi.”
33. Which Turkish city was historically known as Smyrna?
A. Bursa
B. Izmir
C. Antalya
D. Edirne
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Explanation: Izmir, a key Aegean port, was historically known as Smyrna.
34. What is the national animal of Turkey?
A. Grey Wolf
B. Eagle
C. Horse
D. Lion
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Explanation: The Grey Wolf is Turkey’s national animal, symbolizing independence and resilience.
35. Which major battle in 1453 marked the fall of Constantinople?
A. Battle of Ankara
B. Battle of Gallipoli
C. Fall of Constantinople
D. Battle of Manzikert
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Explanation: In 1453, the Ottomans under Mehmed II captured Constantinople, ending the Byzantine Empire.
36. Which Turkish city is famous for its hot springs and white travertine terraces?
A. Pamukkale
B. Antalya
C. Cappadocia
D. Bodrum
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Explanation: Pamukkale, a UNESCO site, is known as the “Cotton Castle” for its calcium-rich terraces.
37. What is the national dish of Turkey?
A. Manti
B. Kebab
C. Baklava
D. Pilaf
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Explanation: While Turkey has many iconic dishes, kebab is considered the national dish.
38. Which Turkish leader was called “Father of the Turks”?
A. Suleiman the Magnificent
B. Mustafa Kemal Atatürk
C. Selim I
D. Mehmed II
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Explanation: Mustafa Kemal was given the surname “Atatürk,” meaning “Father of the Turks.”
39. Which Turkish city is known as the “City of Sultans”?
A. Edirne
B. Bursa
C. Istanbul
D. Ankara
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Explanation: Bursa was the first capital of the Ottoman Empire and is called the “City of Sultans.”
40. Which Turkish lake is the largest in the country?
A. Lake Tuz
B. Lake Van
C. Lake Beyşehir
D. Lake Sapanca
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Explanation: Lake Van, a saline soda lake in eastern Turkey, is the country’s largest lake.
41. Which famous Ottoman sultan was nicknamed “The Lawgiver”?
A. Selim I
B. Mehmed II
C. Suleiman I
D. Murad IV
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Explanation: Suleiman the Magnificent was known as “Kanuni” or the Lawgiver for his legal reforms.
42. Which Turkish city is home to Mount Nemrut’s giant stone heads?
A. Mardin
B. Adıyaman
C. Erzurum
D. Diyarbakır
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Explanation: Mount Nemrut in Adıyaman features colossal statues built by King Antiochus I of Commagene.
43. Which Turkish strait separates Asia from Europe in Istanbul?
A. Dardanelles
B. Bosporus
C. Marmara
D. Gibraltar
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Explanation: The Bosporus Strait divides Europe and Asia, making Istanbul a transcontinental city.
44. Which Turkish island is the largest?
A. Bozcaada
B. Gökçeada
C. Imbros
D. Büyükada
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Explanation: Gökçeada, in the Aegean Sea, is the largest Turkish island.
45. Which Turkish city hosted the Battle of Gallipoli in World War I?
A. Çanakkale
B. Edirne
C. Bursa
D. Samsun
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Explanation: The Gallipoli Campaign took place in Çanakkale in 1915 during World War I.
46. Which traditional Turkish sport involves oil wrestling?
A. Karakucak
B. Yağlı Güreş
C. Cirit
D. Sepak Takraw
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Explanation: Oil wrestling (Yağlı Güreş) is Turkey’s national sport and has been practiced for centuries.
47. Which sea is Lake Tuz in Turkey connected to?
A. Mediterranean Sea
B. Black Sea
C. It is an inland salt lake
D. Aegean Sea
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Explanation: Lake Tuz is a large inland salt lake in central Turkey, not connected to any sea.
48. Which Turkish city is famous for its carpets and whirling dervishes?
A. Antalya
B. Konya
C. Izmir
D. Gaziantep
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Explanation: Konya is known for its high-quality carpets and as the center of the Whirling Dervishes.
49. Which Turkish island is known as the “Island of Princes”?
A. Bozcaada
B. Büyükada
C. Gökçeada
D. Imbros
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Explanation: Büyükada, the largest of the Princes’ Islands near Istanbul, was a summer retreat for royalty.
50. Which Turkish airline is the national flag carrier?
A. SunExpress
B. Pegasus Airlines
C. AnadoluJet
D. Turkish Airlines
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Explanation: Turkish Airlines, based in Istanbul, is Turkey’s national flag carrier and a leading global airline.
This collection of 50 Key MCQs about Turkey is dedicated to presenting the most relevant yet truly unknown facts that can give value to your understanding of Turkey. If you are studying for upcoming exams, increasing your general awareness, or simply interested in the past and present of Turkey, this collection will give you a clear understanding of Turkey. Continue to discover more MCQs from around the world, and on other topics, to keep learning global knowledge and increasing your knowledge bank, while supporting you to be ahead of the curve with researched and unique information.
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