General Knowledge Quiz - Animals, Sports & Literature

Dante Alighieri composed the 'Divine Comedy' in the early 14th century, describing his journey through Hell, Purgatory, and Paradise. This epic poem is foundational to Italian literature and remains one of the most influential works in the Western canon.

Salim Ali, India's most renowned ornithologist, penned 'The Fall of a Sparrow' (1985) as his autobiography documenting his life's work studying birds. The book offers insights into ornithology, conservation, and the development of scientific institutions in India.

Rabindranath Tagore authored 'Gitanjali' (1912), a collection of 103 English poems translated from his Bengali works. This masterpiece earned Tagore the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1913, making him the first non-European laureate.

Gone With the Wind is a classic American novel set during the American Civil War and Reconstruction. Margaret Mitchell wrote this Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, which was also adapted into an iconic film. The other options are notable authors but not associated with this work.

Lajja (Shame) is a controversial novel by Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen that critiques religious fundamentalism and the treatment of women. The book was banned in Bangladesh and led to death threats against the author, forcing her into exile. The other options are prominent Indian figures but not authors of this work.

Macbeth is one of William Shakespeare's most famous tragedies, exploring themes of ambition, guilt, and moral corruption. The play tells the story of a Scottish general who murders King Duncan to seize the throne. The other authors listed wrote significant works but not this particular play.

Saint Joan is a play by George Bernard Shaw about the life and trial of Joan of Arc. Shaw, an Irish playwright, uses this historical figure to explore themes of nationalism, religion, and individual conscience. The other options are famous authors but not associated with this particular work.

War and Peace is Leo Tolstoy's epic novel set during Napoleon's invasion of Russia. The masterpiece explores themes of history, free will, and the human experience through multiple interconnected storylines. The other options are significant writers but not the author of this specific work.

In Search of Gandhi refers to Richard Attenborough's acclaimed film Gandhi, which chronicles the life of Mahatma Gandhi. While not a literary work in the traditional sense, it's a significant cultural work about Gandhi's philosophy of non-violence and his role in India's independence. Attenborough directed and wrote the screenplay for this Academy Award-winning film.

The Iliad and Odyssey are ancient Greek epic poems attributed to the poet Homer. These foundational works of Western literature tell stories of the Trojan War and Odysseus's journey home respectively. The other options are significant authors from different time periods and traditions.

Basketball is played with 5 players on each side on the court at any given time. This standard team size is used in professional, collegiate, and most organized basketball games worldwide. The other options don't match the official rules of the sport.

Rugby Union is played with 15 players on each side, which is the standard for international and most professional rugby matches. Rugby League has 13 players, but the question refers to traditional Rugby Union rules. The other options are incorrect for standard rugby.

Volleyball is played with 6 players on each side in standard competition play. This team size is used in international, professional, and most organized volleyball matches. The other options don't match the official rules of the sport.

Water polo is played with 7 players on each side, including 6 field players and 1 goalkeeper. This team size is standard for international and competitive water polo matches. The other options don't match the official rules of this aquatic sport.

A toenail typically takes about 6 months to grow completely from the base (matrix) to the tip. Fingernails grow faster, while toenails grow at approximately 1mm per month.

Dolphins sleep with one eye open as part of their unihemispheric slow-wave sleep. This allows them to maintain consciousness for breathing and predator detection while resting.

Flies have two large compound eyes and three smaller simple eyes called ocelli on top of their head, totaling five eyes. This is characteristic of true flies (order Diptera).