Who wrote the novel 'In Search of Lost Time'?
- Marcel Proust
- James Joyce
- Franz Kafka
- Thomas Mann
Answer: Marcel Proust
Marcel Proust wrote 'In Search of Lost Time' (À la recherche du temps perdu), a monumental seven-volume novel.
Hard Level – GK Questions
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Who wrote the epic poem 'The Divine Comedy'?
- Dante Alighieri
- Geoffrey Chaucer
- John Milton
- Virgil
Answer: Dante Alighieri
Dante Alighieri wrote 'The Divine Comedy' in the early 14th century. It describes Dante's journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise.
Who is the author of the Kannada novel 'Samskara'?
- Kuvempu
- U.R. Ananthamurthy
- Shivaram Karanth
- Girish Karnad
Answer: U.R. Ananthamurthy
U.R. Ananthamurthy wrote 'Samskara' in 1965. It deals with caste and ritual purity in a Brahmin community.
Who wrote the novel 'Ulysses'?
- James Joyce
- Virginia Woolf
- T.S. Eliot
- Marcel Proust
Answer: James Joyce
James Joyce, an Irish modernist writer, published 'Ulysses' in 1922. It is a landmark novel paralleling Homer's Odyssey.
Who wrote the play 'Waiting for Godot'?
- Samuel Beckett
- Eugene Ionesco
- Harold Pinter
- Jean-Paul Sartre
Answer: Samuel Beckett
Samuel Beckett, an Irish avant-garde novelist and playwright, wrote 'Waiting for Godot', a key work in the Theatre of the Absurd.
Who was the first Indian to win the Sahitya Akademi Award?
- R.K. Narayan
- Premchand
- Sri Aurobindo
- It is awarded to multiple authors in the first year (1955)
- None of the above
Answer: It is awarded to multiple authors in the first year (1955)
The Sahitya Akademi Award was first given in 1955 to 24 writers across various Indian languages. There wasn't a single 'first' winner.
Who wrote the epic poem 'Paradise Lost'?
- John Milton
- John Keats
- Lord Byron
- Percy Shelley
Answer: John Milton
John Milton published 'Paradise Lost' in 1667. It is an epic poem in blank verse concerning the biblical story of the Fall of Man.
Who is the author of the Bengali novel 'Pather Panchali'?
- Rabindranath Tagore
- Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
- Sharat Chandra Chattopadhyay
- Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay
Answer: Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay
Bibhutibhushan Bandyopadhyay wrote 'Pather Panchali' in 1929. It was later adapted into a famous film by Satyajit Ray.
India's first-ever T20 International was played against which team in 2006?
- Australia
- South Africa
- England
- Pakistan
Answer: South Africa
India played first T20I vs South Africa in Johannesburg on December 1, 2006. Won by 6 wickets. Virender Sehwag scored 52. Format was experimental pre-2007 WC.
True or False: FIH mandates minimum stick length for senior field hockey.
- True
- False
Answer: False
FIH specifies MAXIMUM length (105cm) but no minimum. Players choose shorter sticks for dribbling/control or longer for reach/power based on preference.
True or False: A player receiving ball directly from opponent's deliberate play cannot be offside.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Law 11: No offside if ball received directly from opponent's deliberate play (not deflection/save). Resets phase of play. Clarified in 2022 IFAB guidelines.
India won their first Test series in New Zealand in which year?
- 1967-68
- 1975-76
- 2008-09
- 2019-20
Answer: 2008-09
Under MS Dhoni, India won 1-0 in New Zealand in 2009. Gautam Gambhir scored double century; VVS Laxman crucial innings. First series win there in 41 years.
True or False: Field hockey ball diameter is larger than tennis ball diameter.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Hockey ball diameter: 71.3-74.8mm vs tennis ball: 65.4-68.6mm. Hockey ball is slightly larger despite similar weight range. Material differs significantly.
Who was the first Indian woman swimmer to qualify for Olympics via 'A' standard?
- Maana Patel
- Srihari Nataraj
- Dhinidhi Desinghu
- None achieved A standard yet
Answer: None achieved A standard yet
As of 2024, no Indian woman swimmer has qualified via Olympic 'A' cut. Srihari Nataraj (male) achieved A standard for Tokyo 2020. Women have qualified via universality/B cuts.
India's first-ever ODI match was played against which team in 1974?
- Australia
- West Indies
- England
- Pakistan
Answer: England
India played first ODI vs England at Headingley, Leeds on July 13, 1974. Lost by 4 wickets. Ajit Wadekar captained. ODI format was experimental then.
True or False: Modern field hockey sticks can be made entirely of carbon fiber.
- True
- False
Answer: True
FIH permits composite materials including 100% carbon fiber sticks. Provide stiffness, power, and durability superior to wood. Elite players prefer high-carbon sticks.
True or False: A player cannot be offside in their own half of the field.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Law 11 states offside position requires being in opponent's half. Player in own half cannot be offside regardless of positioning relative to defenders.
India won their first Test series in West Indies in which year?
- 1971
- 1976
- 1983
- 2006
Answer: 1971
Under Ajit Wadekar, India won 1-0 in West Indies in 1971. Dilip Sardesai scored century; Sunil Gavaskar made debut with 774 runs in series.
True or False: Field hockey ball circumference is larger than cricket ball circumference.
- True
- False
Answer: True
Hockey ball circumference: 224-235mm vs cricket ball: 224-229mm. Hockey ball can be slightly larger though weights are nearly identical (156-163g both).
Sajan Prakash qualified for Tokyo 2020 Olympics via which standard?
- B Standard
- A Standard
- Universality Place
- Continental Quota
Answer: A Standard
Sajan Prakash achieved Olympic 'A' cut in 200m butterfly at Belgrade 2021, becoming first Indian swimmer to qualify directly via A standard. Historic milestone.