Try to Conquer This General Trivia Quiz!



By: Robin Tyler

6 Min Quiz

Image: Thomas Barwick / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Fancy yourself as a bit of a general knowledge expert, do you? Well, if you love general questions covering a wide range of topics, then you certainly are in the right place to test your gray matter!

Like us, do you have a range of weird facts, answers to obscure question and loads of interesting information sitting in your head just waiting to be unleashed? Well, those might certainly come in very useful when attempting to get the better of this imposing general knowledge quiz, one of our most interesting yet.

In fact, a score of about 70 percent would put you right near the top of the leaderboard for this quiz. It's that tough. Achieve it, and you can certainly call yourself a general knowledge expert.  And while there are a range of questions covering just about anything, as a trivia expert, you should have most of them covered; the rest you can guess or if you get really stuck, use our wickedly clever clues to help you along. Don't worry; we won't tell anyone. So what are you waiting for? The only way to show us how good you are is to dive right in and get that brain working!

Good luck!

From the options below, pick the nickname of the flag of the United States of America.

Most people know the flag of the United States as the "Stars and Stripes." It is also often referred to as "Old Glory" or the "Star Spangled Banner." The 50 stars represent the country's 50 states.


Former U.S. president Barack Obama was born in which state?

Barack Obama was indeed born in Hawaii, the only president to be born outside of the continental United States. He was born on August 4, 1961, at the Kapiolani Medical Center in Honolulu.


Released in 1964, which song begins with the line, "Hello darkness, my old friend"?

What an absolute classic! To this day, "The Sound of Silence" is still a staple on radio stations around the world. Released on Simon & Garfunkel's first album in 1964, it was a commercial failure. A 1965 remix, however, which added drums and more instruments proved popular, so much so that it went to No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100.


Which sporting event from the options below is held every four years?

The first Summer Olympic games were held in 1896 and every four years after that, except during World War I and World War II. Perhaps the highlight of the games is the men's 100m sprint event, a race dominated by Usain Bolt in 2008, 2012 and 2016. He also won gold in the 200m in those years as well.


Who wrote the "Jungle Book"?

"The Jungle Book," which introduces us to Mowgli, was written by journalist and novelist Rudyard Kipling in 1894. The book is actually a collection of stories. Of course, Hollywood has made many film versions of this classic.


In Christianity, who was the religious leader who proclaimed the coming of Jesus Christ and later baptized him?



True or False? President Ronald Reagan was a famous Hollywood cowboy before becoming a politician.

Yes, indeed. Ronald Reagan was a Hollywood actor. He appeared in more than 80 different productions between 1937 and 1964, including many cowboy movies.


True or False? German automaker Mercedes-Benz formed in 1926 as a result of a merger.

One of the most famous car brands in the world, Mercedes-Benz came about as a result of a merger in 1926. The rest, as they say, is history, as today, Mercedes-Benz produces some of the best cars in the world.


According to the proverb, which of these is mightier than the sword?

"The pen is mightier than the sword," or so the proverb tells us. You would have to write a very convincing letter to a sword-wielding assailant to convince them, however. This phrase was first heard in the play, "Richelieu; Or the Conspiracy" written by Edward Bulwer-Lytton in 1839.


Eleven years after World War II and with relations between the West and Communist countries at an all-time low, which politician famously said, "We will bury you," to a group of Western diplomats?

Nikita Khrushchev, leader of the U.S.S.R., famously said these words on November 18, 1956, to a room full of Western diplomats, who then left the room. At that point, the Cold War got a little frostier!


Which is the only country in the world where the Giant Panda is found?

Pandas are only found in China. There are close to 2,000 in the wild, with numbers increasing from just 1,000 or so in the 1970s. Did you know that they live on a diet of bamboo?


How many elements feature on the periodic table?

The periodic table consists of 118 elements, including precious metals, such as gold, various gases, including oxygen, and many other elements. A Russian chemist, Dmitri Mendeleev, started the table in 1869, ordering known elements by their atomic mass. As new elements were found, they were added.


In 1956, which American icon appeared on TV in an event that was watched by 82.6 percent of the households in the country?

Yes, Elvis' TV appearance on "The Ed Sullivan Show" was watched by practically every American household at the time! It made him a national star and soon-to-be international star.​


Can you name the man behind the magazine, Playboy?

Playboy was first published by Hugh Hefner in December 1953. And who was the first Playboy bunny? Well, it was none other than Marilyn Monroe. The first edition sold 50,000 copies! Playboy went on to be one of the biggest men's magazines in the world. Did you know a braille edition has been published since 1970?


What gives blood cells their red coloring?

Hemoglobin, which is effectively the level of iron in your blood, is the reason blood is colored red. This comes from the reaction between the oxygen and iron in the blood and is why someone with a lighter red blood color has a low iron count.


In the 1950s, which of these was invented, much to the delight of schoolchildren and even secretaries around the world.

Liquid paper was invented in 1956. The inventor was a secretary named Bette Nesmith Graham and it was originally called "Mistake Out."


Name the canal that connects the Mediterranean with Indian Ocean via the Red Sea.

The Suez Canal opened in 1872 and is one of the oldest canals in the world. In 1956, it was nationalized by Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser which led to a major international crisis as he intended to toll ships using it. This led to England, France and Israel invading parts of Egypt to secure the canal. It also led to the first U.N. peacekeeping force to be deployed once the hostilities ceased.


The mountain, K2, is part of which mountain chain?

The Himalayas have some tall mountains in the range. In fact, a little more than 50 mountains in the range are 7,200 meters or higher, including K2, the second-highest mountain in the world after Everest.


In the world of music, which of these is a famous rock guitarist?

Angus Young is the lead guitarist for the rock band, AC/DC. Hailing from Australia, Young is known for his punch style of play, along with his schoolboy uniform which he wears on stage. Young almost always plays a Gibson SG guitar.


Which Hollywood star famously said "Live fast, die young, leave a good-looking corpse?"

James Dean's star was on the rise in Hollywood and around the world. Not only was he handsome but he could act as well! Sadly, life ended in the same way as his quote. Dean died in a head-on vehicle crash while driving his Porsche Spyder on September 30, 1955. He was 24.


How many sides does a pentagon have?

A pentagon is a five-sided shape. If the sides of pentagon intersect, the pentagon is referred to a pentagram or star pentagon. Perhaps the most famous pentagon is the building of the same name which is the home of the United States Department of Defense, built in 1943 and officially the largest office building on the planet.


True or False? The King Cobra is the only snake in the world that will provide a nest for its eggs and offspring.

While many people think that snakes do indeed construct nests for their eggs to hatch in, this is a common mistake when it comes to our slithery reptile friends. The only snake to do so is the King Cobra. This nest is not only to protect eggs but to incubate them as well Only 70 percent of the 3,000 snake species found on our planet lay eggs.


Who is the man credited with inventing Coca-Cola?

A pharmacist, John Stith Pemberton invented Coca-Cola in 1886. Initially, he was trying to make a medicine but when his syrup was paired with carbonated water, it proved to be a refreshing drink. He sold the rights to his invention and died shortly thereafter,​ in 1888.


In the 1950s, 3-point safety belts as we know them today were introduced by which vehicle manufacturer?

In1959, Swedish auto manufacturer Volvo was the first to introduce the three-point seat belt. Volvo never took out a patent on the devices, allowing other vehicle manufacturers to use them in their vehicles as well. Good guy, Volvo!


A full-sized human skeleton has how many bones in its foot?

There are 26 bones in the human foot. This complex appendage also has more than 100 muscles and tendons and more than 30 different joints. Babies have more bones in their feet when they are born but many of them use together.


The cryptocurrency Bitcoin began in which year?

Bitcoin, a cryptocurrency, was started in 2009 by Satoshi Nakamoto. This is not one person but an unknown group. Today, it is one of the biggest and most famous cryptocurrencies in the world.


Which two bodies of water are connected by the Northwest Passage?

The world's two largest oceans, the Atlantic and Pacific, are connected by a route known as the Northwest Passage. This is found near the northern coasts of the North American continent. The passage itself passes through various routes along the Canadian Arctic Archipelago.


Which South American country has the longest coastline?

As the biggest country in terms of surface area in South America, you would expect Brazil to have the longest coastline. And it does with a coastline measuring 7,941 kilometers. Next longest is the coastline of Chile at 6,435 kilometers. Argentina comes in third place at 4,989 kilometers.


What is the national rugby team of New Zealand called?

The national rugby team of New Zealand, the current world champions, is called the All Blacks. They are called the All Blacks thanks to their all-black kit.


Can you name the boxer who retired undefeated in 49 fights?

Many consider Rocky Marciano to be the greatest fighter ever and with that record, it's not difficult to see why. And 43 of his victories came via knockout. Now, that's incredible.


Name the European singing competition held each year in which representatives from all European nations now participate.

Although Eurovision is now a massive competition with representatives from all European countries, the first event, held in the mid-1950s, only saw seven countries go for gold. Perhaps the most famous ever winners were ABBA, who took home the honors in 1974 with "Waterloo." Celine Dion also won the title for Switzerland in 1988.


From large to small, cars come in all shapes and sizes. What is the tiniest car ever made?

First released in 1962, the Peel P50 was a micro car that was just 134 cm in length and only 99 cm wide. With a height of 100 cm, it wasn't exactly tall people friendly. Jeremy Clarkson of "Top Gear" fame once drove one through the offices of the BBC!


How many miles are there in 1 kilometer?

In each kilometer, there are 0.62 miles. One hundred miles is therefore equivalent to 160 km or 16,000 meters.


Who is credited with inventing the internal combustion engine as we know it today?

German engineer, Nicolaus Otto, built his first combustion engine which ran on petroleum in 1861. His invention allowed for a more practical propulsion system over steam and was quickly adapted for use in early motor vehicles.


Who wrote the book, "Gulliver's Travels"?

Penned by Irishman Jonathan Swift, "Gulliver's Travels" was first published in 1726. Swift was actually a clergyman. Although we know it by its shortened name, the book is actually entitled "Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships."


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