General Knowledge MCQs
Topic Notes: General Knowledge
MCQs and preparation resources for competitive exams, covering important concepts, past papers, and detailed explanations.
Plato
- Biography: Ancient Greek philosopher (427–347 BCE), student of Socrates and teacher of Aristotle, founder of the Academy in Athens.
- Important Ideas:
- Theory of Forms
- Philosopher-King
- Ideal State
1
Who was the first Chinese national to win the Nobel Prize in Literature?
Answer:
Mo Yan
Mo Yan won in 2012. (Gao Xingjian won in 2000, but he had become a French citizen by then, making Mo Yan the first Chinese citizen).
2
What is the first known pastoral romance in English?
Answer:
As You Like It
Sir Philip Sidney's 'The Countess of Pembroke's Arcadia' (late 16th century) is the premier pastoral romance of the English Renaissance.
3
Who wrote the first biography in English (Life of Thomas More)?
Answer:
William Roper
William Roper's 'The Life of Sir Thomas More' (written c. 1557) is considered the first biography in Modern English.
4
What was the first play by George Bernard Shaw to be banned?
Answer:
Mrs. Warren's Profession
'Mrs. Warren's Profession' was banned by the Lord Chamberlain in 1893 due to its frank discussion of prostitution.
5
Who was the first Nobel laureate from Latin America?
Answer:
Gabriela Mistral
Gabriela Mistral, a Chilean poet, became the first Latin American author to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1945.
6
The first Hercule Poirot novel written by Agatha Christie was:
Answer:
The Mysterious Affair at Styles
Published in 1920, 'The Mysterious Affair at Styles' was Christie's debut novel and the first to feature Hercule Poirot.
7
Who was the first writer to win the Booker of Bookers (Best of the Booker winners)?
Answer:
Salman Rushdie
Salman Rushdie's 'Midnight's Children' won the 'Booker of Bookers' in 1993 (and the 'Best of the Booker' in 2008).
8
What is considered the first Western autobiography?
Answer:
Parallel Lives
Written between 397 and 400 AD, St. Augustine's 'Confessions' is generally accepted as the first Western autobiography.
9
Who was the first person to use the term 'Stream of Consciousness' in a literary context?
Answer:
May Sinclair
While William James coined the term in psychology, May Sinclair was the first to apply it to literature in 1918 when reviewing Dorothy Richardson's novels.
10
Which ancient civilization produced the first known library classification system?
Answer:
Sumerians
The Sumerians (ancient Mesopotamia) are credited with the earliest catalogs and classification of clay tablets.