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
4731
The 'Gathas' are:
Answer:
The 17 hymns attributed to Zoroaster himself
They form the core of the Yasna liturgy and are the most archaic part of the Avesta.
4732
The 'Westcar Papyrus' contains stories about:
Answer:
Miracles performed by magicians for Pharaoh Khufu
It is a text of ancient Egyptian storytelling, framing tales told at the court of the builder of the Great Pyramid.
4733
In the Popol Vuh, the Hero Twins play a deadly ballgame against:
Answer:
The Lords of Xibalba (The Underworld)
Hunahpu and Xbalanque defeat the lords of the underworld through wit and skill in the ballgame.
4734
Snorri Sturluson is famous for writing the 'Prose Edda', which was intended as:
Answer:
A manual for poets (skalds) to understand mythology
Writing in Christian Iceland, Snorri wanted to preserve the complex metaphors (kennings) of old poetry which required knowledge of pagan myths.
4735
The 'Lament for Ur' is a Sumerian poem describing:
Answer:
The destruction of the city of Ur by Elamites
It is one of the oldest known examples of the 'city lament' genre, mourning the fall of the great city.
4736
What is the 'Dream of the Rood'?
Answer:
An Old English dream vision poem where the Cross speaks
It is one of the earliest Christian poems in English, featuring the Cross narrating the crucifixion.
4737
The 'Nihon Shoki' (Chronicles of Japan) differs from the 'Kojiki' because:
Answer:
It is written in Classical Chinese and focuses more on history
While the Kojiki focuses on myths and legends, the Nihon Shoki was an official history modeled on Chinese dynastic chronicles.
4738
Caedmon's Hymn is significant because it is:
Answer:
The oldest recorded poem in the English language
Composed in the 7th century, it is a short praise poem to God by an illiterate cowherd named Caedmon.
4739
The 'Exeter Book' is the largest known collection of:
Answer:
Old English poetry and riddles
It contains famous poems like 'The Wanderer' and 'The Seafarer', along with nearly 100 riddles.
4740
Which ancient Persian king commissioned the Behistun Inscription, a crucial text for deciphering cuneiform?
Answer:
Darius the Great
The inscription is a multilingual text (Old Persian, Elamite, and Babylonian) that served as the Rosetta Stone for cuneiform.