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
91
The 'Thesaurus' was invented by which British physician and lexicographer?
Answer:
Peter Mark Roget
Roget published his 'Thesaurus of English Words and Phrases' in 1852 to help people find the right word to express an idea.
92
Who wrote 'A Dictionary of Modern English Usage' (1926), a style guide that became a household name in Britain?
Answer:
H.W. Fowler
Fowler's guide is famous for its wit and firm opinions on style, usage, and grammar.
93
What is the primary characteristic of 'Webster's Third New International Dictionary' (1961) that caused a major controversy?
Answer:
It was purely descriptive, including slang like 'ain't' without judgment.
Critics attacked the dictionary for abandoning 'prescriptive' standards and validating 'incorrect' usage, sparking a culture war over language.
94
Which Persian linguist is known as the 'father of Arabic grammar' for his book 'Al-Kitab'?
Answer:
Sibawayh
Sibawayh (8th century) wrote the first comprehensive book on Arabic grammar, which remains the authority on the subject.
95
Which 18th-century bishop and grammarian is largely responsible for the rule against ending sentences with prepositions?
Answer:
Robert Lowth
In his 'Short Introduction to English Grammar' (1762), Lowth applied Latin rules to English, criticizing the placement of prepositions at the end of sentences.
96
Who is the ancient Indian grammarian famous for his treatise 'Ashtadhyayi', which codified Sanskrit grammar?
Answer:
Panini
Panini's work (c. 4th century BCE) is considered the most complete and scientific grammar of any language in antiquity, anticipating modern linguistics.
97
The first monolingual English dictionary, 'A Table Alphabeticall' (1604), was written by:
Answer:
Robert Cawdrey
Cawdrey's work was a small list of 'hard words' intended to help women and other uneducated people understand distinct terms.
98
Who was the primary editor of the 'Oxford English Dictionary' (OED) when it began its massive compilation in the late 19th century?
Answer:
James Murray
James Murray led the OED project, organizing thousands of volunteer slips to trace the history of every word in the English language.
99
Which American lexicographer is responsible for simplified spellings like 'color' (vs. colour) and 'center' (vs. centre)?
Answer:
Noah Webster
Noah Webster sought to create a distinct American language separate from British English, publishing his 'American Dictionary of the English Language' in 1828.
100
Who published the first major 'Dictionary of the English Language' in 1755, famous for its wit and use of literary quotations?
Answer:
Samuel Johnson
Dr. Samuel Johnson's dictionary was a monumental achievement that set the standard for English dictionaries for over a century until the OED appeared.