Final answer:
The Inferno describes Hell as being divided into seven circles, each with its own unique punishments.
Step-by-step explanation:
The answer to your question is a) 7. In The Inferno, a poem written by Dante Alighieri, Hell is described as being divided into nine concentric circles. Each circle is reserved for different sins and has its own unique punishments. The deeper into the circles one goes, the more severe the punishments become.
For example, the first circle, Limbo, is for people who lived virtuous lives but were not baptized. They are not subjected to any physical torment but are separated from the presence of God. On the other end of the spectrum, the final circle, the 9th circle, is reserved for the worst sinners, specifically traitors. In this frozen lake known as Cocytus, they are hopelessly trapped in ice, with Satan himself residing at its center.
So, in summary, there are seven circles of Hell in The Inferno.