Round 1: History
From ancient civilisations to the 20th century — the round that separates the trivia veterans. · 25 questions
Q1In which year did World War II end?
Fun fact: Germany surrendered on 8 May 1945 (V-E Day) and Japan on 2 September 1945 (V-J Day).
Q2Which empire was ruled by Julius Caesar?
AGreek Empire
BOttoman Empire
CRoman Empire
DByzantine Empire
Fun fact: Caesar was never actually emperor — he held the title "dictator perpetuo." The first Roman Emperor was Augustus.
Q3The Berlin Wall fell in which year?
Fun fact: The wall fell on 9 November 1989, after the East German government announced border controls would be lifted.
Q4Who was the first person to circumnavigate the globe?
AChristopher Columbus
BVasco da Gama
CFerdinand Magellan
DFrancis Drake
Fun fact: Magellan led the expedition but died in the Philippines in 1521. Juan Sebastián Elcano completed the journey.
Q5The French Revolution began in which year?
Fun fact: The storming of the Bastille on 14 July 1789 is the iconic starting point. France still celebrates Bastille Day annually.
Q6Which ancient wonder of the world still stands today?
AThe Colossus of Rhodes
BThe Great Pyramid of Giza
CThe Lighthouse of Alexandria
DThe Temple of Artemis
Fun fact: The Great Pyramid of Giza is the only one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World still largely intact.
Q7Napoleon Bonaparte was exiled to which island after his final defeat?
ACorsica
BElba
CSaint Helena
DMalta
Fun fact: After Waterloo in 1815, Napoleon was exiled to Saint Helena, a remote island in the South Atlantic, where he died in 1821.
Q8The Magna Carta was signed in which year?
Fun fact: King John of England sealed the Magna Carta at Runnymede on 15 June 1215 — a foundational document of constitutional law.
Q9Which country did the United States buy Louisiana from in 1803?
ASpain
BBritain
CFrance
DPortugal
Fun fact: Napoleon sold the Louisiana Territory to the US for $15 million — roughly doubling the size of the young nation.
Q10The ancient city of Pompeii was buried by which volcano?
AMount Etna
BMount Vesuvius
CStromboli
DCampi Flegrei
Fun fact: Mount Vesuvius erupted in 79 AD, burying Pompeii under 4–6 meters of volcanic ash and pumice.
Q11Who was the first US President?
AJohn Adams
BBenjamin Franklin
CGeorge Washington
DThomas Jefferson
Fun fact: George Washington was inaugurated on 30 April 1789 and served two terms. He is the only president elected unanimously.
Q12Which war was ended by the Treaty of Versailles in 1919?
AWorld War II
BThe Crimean War
CThe Boer War
DWorld War I
Fun fact: The Treaty of Versailles formally ended WWI, placing heavy reparations on Germany — a factor many historians link to WWII.
Q13Cleopatra was the ruler of which ancient civilisation?
AGreece
BRome
CEgypt
DPersia
Fun fact: Cleopatra VII was the last active ruler of the Ptolemaic Kingdom of Egypt. She spoke nine languages, including Egyptian.
Q14The Great Wall of China was primarily built to defend against which people?
AMongols
BJapanese
CKoreans
DTibetans
Fun fact: Most of the surviving Great Wall was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) specifically to defend against Mongol raids.
Q15In which year did the Titanic sink?
Fun fact: The RMS Titanic sank on 15 April 1912 after hitting an iceberg. Over 1,500 people died in the disaster.
Q16Which country did Hitler invade first in September 1939?
AFrance
BPoland
CCzechoslovakia
DAustria
Fun fact: Germany invaded Poland on 1 September 1939, prompting Britain and France to declare war two days later.
Q17The Russian Revolution of 1917 overthrew which Tsar?
AAlexander II
BAlexander III
CNicholas I
DNicholas II
Fun fact: Tsar Nicholas II abdicated in March 1917. He and his family were executed by Bolsheviks in July 1918.
Q18Which ancient Greek philosopher was Plato a student of?
AAristotle
BSocrates
CPythagoras
DHeraclitus
Fun fact: Socrates left no written works — almost everything we know about him comes from Plato's dialogues.
Q19The D-Day landings on 6 June 1944 took place on the beaches of which country?
ABelgium
BNetherlands
CFrance
DDenmark
Fun fact: Operation Overlord involved over 156,000 Allied troops landing on five beaches in Normandy, France.
Q20Which explorer first reached India by sea by sailing around the Cape of Good Hope?
AChristopher Columbus
BFerdinand Magellan
CVasco da Gama
DBartolomeu Dias
Fun fact: Vasco da Gama completed the voyage in 1498, opening a direct sea route from Europe to Asia for Portugal.
Q21The Aztec Empire was conquered by which Spanish conquistador?
AFrancisco Pizarro
BHernán Cortés
CPonce de León
DHernando de Soto
Fun fact: Cortés arrived in Mexico in 1519 and, with indigenous allies, toppled the Aztec Empire by 1521.
Q22The American Civil War ended in which year?
Fun fact: Confederate General Robert E. Lee surrendered to Ulysses S. Grant at Appomattox Court House on 9 April 1865.
Q23Which empire built the Colosseum in Rome?
AGreek
BByzantine
COttoman
DRoman
Fun fact: The Colosseum was completed around 80 AD under Emperor Titus. It could hold up to 80,000 spectators.
Q24Neil Armstrong became the first person to walk on the Moon in which year?
Fun fact: Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface on 20 July 1969, saying: "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind."
Q25The Black Death pandemic in 14th-century Europe was primarily caused by which pathogen?
AA virus
BA fungus
CA bacteria
DA parasite
Fun fact: The Black Death was caused by Yersinia pestis bacteria. It killed roughly one-third of Europe's population between 1347–1351.
Round 2: Science & Technology
Molecules, planets, and the machines that changed the world. · 25 questions
Q1What is the chemical symbol for gold?
Fun fact: Au comes from the Latin word "aurum." Gold has been valued for thousands of years partly because it doesn't tarnish or corrode.
Q2How many planets are in our solar system?
Fun fact: Pluto was reclassified as a dwarf planet in 2006, reducing the count from 9 to 8. There is ongoing debate about a possible "Planet Nine."
Q3What is the speed of light in a vacuum?
A299,792 km/s
B199,792 km/s
C399,792 km/s
D150,000 km/s
Fun fact: Light travels at approximately 299,792,458 metres per second — fast enough to circle Earth 7.5 times in one second.
ADeoxyribonucleic Acid
BDeoxyribose Nucleic Array
CDiribonucleic Acid
DDinucleic Amino Acid
Fun fact: The double-helix structure of DNA was described by Watson and Crick in 1953, based in large part on X-ray data from Rosalind Franklin.
Q5What is the most abundant gas in Earth's atmosphere?
AOxygen
BCarbon dioxide
CArgon
DNitrogen
Fun fact: Nitrogen makes up about 78% of the atmosphere. Oxygen is second at 21%. All other gases, including CO₂, make up the remaining 1%.
Q6Which scientist formulated the theory of general relativity?
AIsaac Newton
BNiels Bohr
CAlbert Einstein
DMax Planck
Fun fact: Einstein published his general theory of relativity in 1915. It describes gravity as the curvature of spacetime caused by mass.
Q7The periodic table was created by which scientist?
AMarie Curie
BAntoine Lavoisier
CDmitri Mendeleev
DJohn Dalton
Fun fact: Mendeleev published his periodic table in 1869. He left gaps for undiscovered elements — and correctly predicted their properties.
Q8What is the powerhouse of the cell?
ANucleus
BRibosome
CMitochondria
DGolgi apparatus
Fun fact: Mitochondria produce ATP (adenosine triphosphate), the cell's main energy currency, through a process called cellular respiration.
Q9Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
AVenus
BJupiter
CSaturn
DMars
Fun fact: Mars appears red due to iron oxide (rust) on its surface. Its two moons, Phobos and Deimos, are named for the Greek gods of fear and dread.
Q10What is the atomic number of carbon?
Fun fact: Carbon has 6 protons. It is the basis of all known life on Earth and can form millions of different compounds.
Q11Alexander Graham Bell is credited with inventing which device?
ATelegraph
BRadio
CTelephone
DTelevision
Fun fact: Bell received the patent for the telephone in 1876. Whether he truly "invented" it is disputed — Elisha Gray filed a similar patent the same day.
Q12What is the name of the force that keeps planets in orbit around the sun?
AMagnetism
BElectromagnetism
CGravity
DNuclear force
Fun fact: Isaac Newton described gravitational force in 1687. Einstein later refined our understanding with general relativity.
Q13Which element has the highest melting point?
AIron
BTitanium
CTungsten
DPlatinum
Fun fact: Tungsten melts at 3,422°C (6,192°F) — the highest of any pure element. That's why it's used in light bulb filaments.
Q14The World Wide Web was invented by whom?
ABill Gates
BSteve Jobs
CTim Berners-Lee
DVint Cerf
Fun fact: Tim Berners-Lee invented the WWW in 1989 while working at CERN in Switzerland. He made it royalty-free to ensure it remained open.
Q15What is the boiling point of water at sea level in Celsius?
Fun fact: Water boils at 100°C (212°F) at standard atmospheric pressure. At high altitude, lower air pressure means water boils at a lower temperature.
Q16Which blood type is known as the universal donor?
Fun fact: O− red blood cells can be given to patients of any blood type in emergencies. About 6–7% of people have type O− blood.
Q17How many bones are in the adult human body?
Fun fact: Babies are born with around 270–300 bones; many fuse together as we grow, leaving adults with 206 bones.
Q18The first iPhone was released by Apple in which year?
Fun fact: Steve Jobs unveiled the iPhone on 9 January 2007. It combined a phone, an iPod, and an internet browser — and changed the industry forever.
Q19What is the closest star to Earth (after the Sun)?
ASirius
BBetelgeuse
CProxima Centauri
DVega
Fun fact: Proxima Centauri is 4.24 light-years away. Even at the speed of light, it would take over four years to reach it.
Q20What does the "E" in Einstein's famous equation E=mc² stand for?
AElectricity
BEnergy
CEntropy
DElectron
Fun fact: E=mc² states that energy equals mass times the speed of light squared — revealing the enormous energy locked in matter.
Q21Penicillin, the first widely-used antibiotic, was discovered by whom?
ALouis Pasteur
BRobert Koch
CAlexander Fleming
DJoseph Lister
Fun fact: Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 when he noticed mould killing bacteria in a petri dish he had accidentally left open.
Q22Which part of the brain controls balance and coordination?
ACerebrum
BCerebellum
CMedulla oblongata
DHippocampus
Fun fact: The cerebellum (Latin for "little brain") coordinates voluntary movements, balance, and fine motor skills.
Q23What is the chemical formula for water?
Fun fact: H₂O means two hydrogen atoms bonded to one oxygen atom. H₂O₂ is hydrogen peroxide — a completely different compound.
Q24The theory of evolution by natural selection was proposed by which scientist?
AGregor Mendel
BCharles Darwin
CJean-Baptiste Lamarck
DAlfred Wallace
Fun fact: Darwin published On the Origin of Species in 1859. Alfred Wallace independently developed the same theory — both men presented it jointly in 1858.
Q25Which gas is produced when baking soda and vinegar are combined?
AOxygen
BHydrogen
CCarbon dioxide
DNitrogen
Fun fact: The acid-base reaction between acetic acid (vinegar) and sodium bicarbonate (baking soda) releases CO₂ gas — the classic volcano experiment.
Round 3: Music
From chart classics to one-hit wonders — how well do you know your music? · 25 questions
Q1Which band released the album "Abbey Road" in 1969?
AThe Rolling Stones
BThe Who
CThe Beatles
DLed Zeppelin
Fun fact: Abbey Road was the last album The Beatles recorded together. The iconic zebra-crossing photo was taken outside the real Abbey Road Studios in London.
Q2Michael Jackson's "Thriller" was released in which year?
Fun fact: Thriller (1982) remains the best-selling album of all time, with estimated sales of 66–70 million copies worldwide.
Q3"Bohemian Rhapsody" is a song by which band?
ADavid Bowie
BQueen
CElton John
DLed Zeppelin
Fun fact: Freddie Mercury wrote "Bohemian Rhapsody" in 1975. At nearly 6 minutes, many radio executives said it was too long to be a hit — it reached #1 anyway.
Q4How many strings does a standard guitar have?
Fun fact: A standard guitar has 6 strings, tuned E-A-D-G-B-e from low to high. Bass guitars typically have 4 strings.
Q5What is the name of Beyoncé's 2016 visual album?
ARenaissance
BLemonade
CDangerously in Love
DB'Day
Fun fact: Lemonade was released as a 65-minute film on HBO before the album dropped. It debuted at #1 in over 40 countries.
Q6Which country does the band ABBA come from?
ANorway
BDenmark
CFinland
DSweden
Fun fact: ABBA's name is an acronym: Agnetha, Björn, Benny, and Anni-Frid. They won Eurovision in 1974 with "Waterloo."
Q7What instrument does Elton John primarily play?
AGuitar
BViolin
CPiano
DDrums
Fun fact: Elton John began learning piano at age three and won a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music at age eleven.
Q8Ed Sheeran's debut album was titled what?
Fun fact: Ed Sheeran's debut album "+" (Plus) was released in 2011. His albums are all named after mathematical symbols.
Q9Which artist holds the record for the most Grammy wins?
ABeyoncé
BJay-Z
CGeorg Solti
DQuincy Jones
Fun fact: Beyoncé has won 32 Grammy Awards as of 2024, surpassing Georg Solti's long-standing record of 31.
Q10The song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is by which band?
APearl Jam
BSoundgarden
CAlice in Chains
DNirvana
Fun fact: Released in 1991, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" became the anthem of the grunge movement. Kurt Cobain said the title came from a friend's offhand comment.
Q11What nationality was Freddie Mercury?
ABritish
BIndian
CZanzibar-born British
DPakistani
Fun fact: Freddie Mercury was born Farrokh Bulsara in Stone Town, Zanzibar (now Tanzania) in 1946. He moved to England as a teenager.
Q12Which music streaming platform launched in 2008?
AApple Music
BTidal
CSpotify
DSoundCloud
Fun fact: Spotify launched in Sweden on 7 October 2008. By 2024, it had over 600 million monthly active users.
Q13How many keys does a standard piano have?
Fun fact: A standard modern piano has 88 keys — 52 white and 36 black, spanning just over 7 octaves.
Q14"Like a Rolling Stone" is a landmark 1965 song by which artist?
AThe Rolling Stones
BBob Dylan
CElvis Presley
DChuck Berry
Fun fact: Bob Dylan's "Like a Rolling Stone" was named the greatest song of all time by Rolling Stone magazine in 2004.
Q15Which rapper's real name is Shawn Corey Carter?
AKanye West
BDrake
CJay-Z
DEminem
Fun fact: Jay-Z co-founded Roc-A-Fella Records and Roc Nation, and has won 24 Grammy Awards. He is married to Beyoncé.
Q16The jazz standard "Take Five" is associated with which musician?
AMiles Davis
BJohn Coltrane
CDave Brubeck
DThelonious Monk
Fun fact: "Take Five" by the Dave Brubeck Quartet (1959) became the best-selling jazz single of all time. It's written in an unusual 5/4 time signature.
Q17Taylor Swift's album "1989" is named after what?
AA famous year in history
BHer birth year
CA famous address
DThe year she signed her first deal
Fun fact: Taylor Swift was born on 13 December 1989. The album was a deliberate rebrand from country to synth-pop.
Q18Which band performed at Live Aid in 1985 and stole the show with a legendary 20-minute set?
AU2
BQueen
CDavid Bowie
DDire Straits
Fun fact: Queen's Live Aid performance at Wembley Stadium is widely considered the greatest live rock performance of all time.
Q19What is the highest note on the musical scale?
Fun fact: B is the seventh and highest note in the C major diatonic scale before returning to C an octave higher.
Q20"Lose Yourself" is a rap song by which artist?
A50 Cent
BEminem
CSnoop Dogg
DDr. Dre
Fun fact: "Lose Yourself" from the 2002 film 8 Mile won Eminem the Academy Award for Best Original Song — the first rap song to win an Oscar.
Q21What is the name of the musical scale that uses all five notes?
ADiatonic scale
BChromatic scale
CPentatonic scale
DWhole-tone scale
Fun fact: The pentatonic scale is found in folk music worldwide — from blues guitar solos to Chinese classical music.
Q22Which artist released the album "Purple Rain" in 1984?
AMichael Jackson
BMadonna
CPrince
DDavid Bowie
Fun fact: Purple Rain was both an album and a semi-autobiographical film. It spent 24 weeks at #1 on the Billboard 200.
Q23Which country is the home of reggae music?
ATrinidad
BBarbados
CJamaica
DCuba
Fun fact: Reggae developed in Jamaica in the late 1960s, evolving from ska and rocksteady. Bob Marley brought it to global audiences.
Q24The song "Hotel California" is by which band?
AFleetwood Mac
BThe Eagles
CCrosby Stills & Nash
DThe Doobie Brothers
Fun fact: "Hotel California" (1977) is one of the best-selling singles of all time. The guitar solo was voted the greatest of all time in multiple polls.
Q25What genre of music is primarily associated with the city of Nashville, Tennessee?
Fun fact: Nashville is known as "Music City" and has been the heart of country music since the Grand Ole Opry launched in 1925.
Round 4: Movies & TV
Blockbusters, cult classics, and the shows everyone is talking about. · 25 questions
Q1Which film won the first Academy Award for Best Picture?
AGone with the Wind
BWings
CSunrise
DThe Jazz Singer
Fun fact: "Wings" (1927) won the first Best Picture Oscar at the inaugural Academy Awards ceremony in 1929. It is a World War I epic.
Q2Who directed the film "Pulp Fiction"?
AMartin Scorsese
BSteven Spielberg
CQuentin Tarantino
DCoen Brothers
Fun fact: Pulp Fiction (1994) won the Palme d'Or at Cannes and revived John Travolta's career. Its non-linear storytelling influenced countless films.
Q3"May the Force be with you" is a line from which film franchise?
AStar Trek
BStar Wars
CDune
DThe Matrix
Fun fact: The line first appears in Star Wars (1977). George Lucas said the concept of "the Force" was inspired by multiple world religions.
Q4Which actress played Clarice Starling in "The Silence of the Lambs"?
ASigourney Weaver
BMeryl Streep
CJodie Foster
DHolly Hunter
Fun fact: Jodie Foster won her second Academy Award for Best Actress for the role. Anthony Hopkins won Best Actor for only 16 minutes of screen time.
Q5The highest-grossing film of all time (not adjusted for inflation) is?
ATitanic
BAvengers: Endgame
CAvatar
DTop Gun: Maverick
Fun fact: Avatar (2009) crossed $2.9 billion worldwide. James Cameron also directed Titanic — giving him both the #1 and former #2 spots.
Q6Breaking Bad is set in which US city?
APhoenix
BDenver
CAlbuquerque
DEl Paso
Fun fact: Creator Vince Gilligan chose Albuquerque partly for New Mexico's film production tax incentives — and partly for its vast, open landscapes.
Q7Who played Tony Stark / Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe?
AChris Evans
BChris Hemsworth
CRobert Downey Jr.
DMark Ruffalo
Fun fact: Robert Downey Jr. first played Iron Man in 2008. His casting was controversial at the time due to his personal history, but proved transformative for the MCU.
Q8The TV show "Friends" is set in which US city?
ALos Angeles
BChicago
CBoston
DNew York City
Fun fact: Friends ran for 10 seasons (1994–2004) and was primarily filmed at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank, California — not New York.
Q9"Here's looking at you, kid" is a famous line from which film?
AGone with the Wind
BCasablanca
CSunset Boulevard
DRoman Holiday
Fun fact: Humphrey Bogart's line in Casablanca (1942) is ranked as the #5 movie quote of all time by the American Film Institute.
Q10Which streaming service premiered the show "Stranger Things"?
AHBO Max
BAmazon Prime
CHulu
DNetflix
Fun fact: Stranger Things premiered on Netflix on 15 July 2016. It was reportedly rejected by 15–20 networks before Netflix picked it up.
Q11Who directed the Lord of the Rings trilogy?
ARidley Scott
BPeter Jackson
CSteven Spielberg
DJames Cameron
Fun fact: Peter Jackson filmed all three Lord of the Rings films simultaneously in New Zealand between 1999–2000. Return of the King won 11 Oscars.
Q12In "The Lion King," what is the name of Simba's father?
Fun fact: "The Lion King" is loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet. Mufasa's death scene is often cited as one of the most emotionally devastating in animation history.
Q13Which film features the line "You're going to need a bigger boat"?
AThe Abyss
BJaws
CDeep Blue Sea
DThe Perfect Storm
Fun fact: Roy Scheider's improvised line in Jaws (1975) is #35 on the AFI's list of greatest movie quotes. Director Spielberg thought it was too funny.
Q14Game of Thrones is based on a book series by which author?
AJ.R.R. Tolkien
BGeorge R.R. Martin
CPatrick Rothfuss
DTerry Brooks
Fun fact: The book series is called "A Song of Ice and Fire." The first novel, A Game of Thrones, was published in 1996.
Q15The film "Schindler's List" was directed by which filmmaker?
AMartin Scorsese
BFrancis Ford Coppola
CSteven Spielberg
DOliver Stone
Fun fact: Spielberg shot Schindler's List in black and white. He refused his director's salary, calling it "blood money," and donated it to Holocaust-related charities.
Q16In which year did the first Toy Story film release?
Fun fact: Toy Story (1995) was the first feature-length computer-animated film. It was made by Pixar and distributed by Disney.
Q17Who played Katniss Everdeen in The Hunger Games film series?
AEmma Watson
BShailene Woodley
CJennifer Lawrence
DKristen Stewart
Fun fact: Jennifer Lawrence was 21 when the first film released in 2012. She won an Oscar for Silver Linings Playbook the same year.
Q18Which actor played James Bond the most times?
ASean Connery
BRoger Moore
CDaniel Craig
DPierce Brosnan
Fun fact: Roger Moore played Bond 7 times from 1973 to 1985. Sean Connery played Bond 6 times (plus once in an unofficial film).
Q19The TV series "The Office" (US) is set in which fictional company?
AInitech
BDunder Mifflin
CVandelay Industries
DBluth Company
Fun fact: Dunder Mifflin Paper Company is set in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The US version ran for 9 seasons (2005–2013).
Q20Which animated film features the songs "Let It Go" and "Do You Want to Build a Snowman?"
ABrave
BMoana
CFrozen
DTangled
Fun fact: Frozen (2013) became the highest-grossing animated film at the time. "Let It Go" won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.
Q21"To infinity and beyond!" is a catchphrase from which character?
ABuzz Lightyear
BWoody
CRex
DMr. Incredible
Fun fact: Buzz Lightyear is voiced by Tim Allen in the Toy Story franchise. The phrase reflects Buzz's deluded belief that he is a real space ranger.
Q22Which film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 2020?
A1917
BJoker
CThe Irishman
DParasite
Fun fact: Parasite (Bong Joon-ho, 2019) became the first non-English-language film to win Best Picture. It also won Best Director, Best Original Screenplay, and Best International Film.
Q23The character Hannibal Lecter first appeared in a book by which author?
AStephen King
BThomas Harris
CJohn Grisham
DJames Patterson
Fun fact: Thomas Harris introduced Hannibal Lecter in "Red Dragon" (1981). Anthony Hopkins' portrayal in The Silence of the Lambs (1991) is considered one of cinema's greatest villain performances.
Q24What is the name of the fictional African nation in the Marvel film "Black Panther"?
AGenosha
BSokovia
CWakanda
DLatveria
Fun fact: Wakanda, home of vibranium, was first mentioned in Marvel Comics in 1966. Black Panther (2018) was nominated for 7 Oscars, winning 3.
Q25Which HBO series is set in the fictional city of Baltimore and focuses on drug trade and law enforcement?
AOz
BThe Sopranos
CThe Wire
DDeadwood
Fun fact: The Wire (2002–2008) was created by David Simon, a former Baltimore Sun journalist. It is consistently ranked as one of the greatest TV dramas ever made.
Round 5: Sports
Records, champions, and the moments that defined sporting history. · 25 questions
Q1How many players are on a standard football (soccer) team?
Fun fact: Each association football team fields 11 players, including the goalkeeper. The rules were codified by the Football Association in 1863.
Q2Which country has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?
AGermany
BArgentina
CItaly
DBrazil
Fun fact: Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup 5 times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). They are the only team to have played in every tournament.
Q3How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
Fun fact: The five interlocking rings represent the five continents of the world united by the Olympic movement. The flag was designed in 1912.
Q4In tennis, what is the term for winning a game without the opponent scoring a point?
AAce
BLove game
CBagel
DWhitewash
Fun fact: A "love game" means the loser scored zero points. The word "love" in tennis is believed to derive from the French "l'oeuf" (the egg) representing zero.
Q5Michael Jordan won how many NBA Championships with the Chicago Bulls?
Fun fact: Jordan won 6 NBA titles with the Bulls (1991–93, 1996–98) and was Finals MVP all six times. He briefly retired to play baseball in between.
Q6Who holds the record for the most career Grand Slam tennis titles (men's singles)?
ARoger Federer
BRafael Nadal
CNovak Djokovic
DPete Sampras
Fun fact: Novak Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles as of 2024, surpassing Federer and Nadal's totals of 20 and 22 respectively.
Q7In which sport would you perform a "slam dunk"?
AVolleyball
BAmerican football
CBasketball
DWater polo
Fun fact: The slam dunk was officially named in the 1970s. It was briefly banned by the NCAA from 1967 to 1976, largely because of Lew Alcindor (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar).
Q8The Kentucky Derby is a famous race in which sport?
ADog racing
BHorse racing
CCycling
DPowerboat racing
Fun fact: The Kentucky Derby has been held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky since 1875. It is the first leg of US thoroughbred racing's Triple Crown.
Q9Usain Bolt set the 100m world record at the 2009 World Championships with what time?
Fun fact: Bolt ran 9.58 seconds in Berlin on 16 August 2009. He also holds the 200m world record of 19.19 seconds set at the same championships.
Q10How many players are on each side in an American football game?
Fun fact: American football fields 11 players per side. Each play begins with a snap from the center to the quarterback.
Q11Which golfer is nicknamed "The Golden Bear"?
AArnold Palmer
BTiger Woods
CJack Nicklaus
DGary Player
Fun fact: Jack Nicklaus won 18 major championships during his career — still the all-time record. Tiger Woods has 15 majors.
Q12In which year did England win the FIFA World Cup?
Fun fact: England won the World Cup on home soil at Wembley on 30 July 1966, defeating West Germany 4–2 in the final. It remains England's only major international trophy.
Q13How many events are in a decathlon?
Fun fact: The decathlon consists of 10 track and field events over two days: 100m, long jump, shot put, high jump, 400m, 110m hurdles, discus, pole vault, javelin, and 1500m.
Q14Which country hosted the 2016 Summer Olympic Games?
AChina
BJapan
CAustralia
DBrazil
Fun fact: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil hosted the 2016 Summer Olympics — the first Games held in South America.
Q15Pelé is widely regarded as one of the greatest footballers of all time. Which country did he represent?
AArgentina
BPortugal
CColombia
DBrazil
Fun fact: Pelé won three World Cups with Brazil (1958, 1962, 1970) and scored over 1,000 career goals. He is the only player to win three FIFA World Cups.
Q16What is the maximum score in a single game of ten-pin bowling?
Fun fact: A perfect game of 300 requires 12 consecutive strikes. The first recorded perfect game was in 1902 by Ernest Fosberg in Chicago.
Q17Which swimmer has won the most Olympic gold medals in history?
AMark Spitz
BMichael Phelps
CRyan Lochte
DIan Thorpe
Fun fact: Michael Phelps has won 23 Olympic gold medals — more than any country has ever won in total at the Summer Olympics.
Q18The Tour de France cycle race primarily takes place in which country?
ABelgium
BItaly
CSpain
DFrance
Fun fact: The Tour de France has been held annually since 1903 (with breaks for the World Wars). It covers approximately 3,500 km over 21 stages.
Q19In cricket, how many runs is a "six" worth?
Fun fact: A six is scored when the ball clears the boundary without bouncing. A four is scored when it reaches the boundary after bouncing.
Q20Who was the first gymnast to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics?
AMary Lou Retton
BOlga Korbut
CNadia Comaneci
DSimone Biles
Fun fact: Nadia Comaneci scored the first perfect 10 at the 1976 Montreal Olympics at age 14. The scoreboard wasn't designed for it and displayed "1.00."
Q21Which sport uses the term "birdie"?
ABadminton
BGolf
CCricket
DBaseball
Fun fact: In golf, a "birdie" is one stroke under par for a hole. "Eagle" is two under, and "albatross" (or double eagle) is three under.
Q22Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, and Novak Djokovic are known collectively by what nickname?
AThe Three Musketeers
BThe Big Three
CThe Grand Slam Kings
DThe Tennis Titans
Fun fact: The "Big Three" dominated men's tennis from 2003 to the early 2020s, collectively winning 64 of the 85 Grand Slam titles available in that period.
Q23How many holes are in a standard round of golf?
Fun fact: The 18-hole standard was established by the Royal and Ancient Golf Club of St Andrews in 1858, essentially because their course had 18 holes.
Q24The "Miracle on Ice" refers to the US hockey team defeating which country at the 1980 Winter Olympics?
ACanada
BSweden
CCzechoslovakia
DSoviet Union
Fun fact: The amateur US team defeated the heavily favoured professional Soviet team 4–3 on 22 February 1980 — considered one of the greatest upsets in sports history.
Q25In which city is the Wimbledon tennis tournament held?
ABirmingham
BManchester
CLondon
DEdinburgh
Fun fact: Wimbledon is held at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club in southwest London. It has been played since 1877, making it the world's oldest tennis tournament.
Round 6: Food & Drink
From Michelin stars to bar snacks — the round everyone secretly thinks they will win. · 25 questions
Q1Which country is the origin of the dish "paella"?
AItaly
BPortugal
CSpain
DGreece
Fun fact: Paella originated in Valencia, Spain. The traditional version includes rice, saffron, rabbit, and chicken — not seafood, which is a later adaptation.
Q2What is the main ingredient in guacamole?
ATomato
BAvocado
CJalapeño
DLime
Fun fact: Guacamole has been made in Mexico for over 500 years. The Aztecs called it "ahuacamolli" — a combination of the Nahuatl words for avocado and sauce.
Q3Which spirit is the primary base ingredient of a Margarita?
Fun fact: A classic Margarita is tequila, lime juice, and triple sec. There are over 50 claimed stories about who invented it.
Q4Which country produces the most coffee in the world?
AColombia
BVietnam
CEthiopia
DBrazil
Fun fact: Brazil has been the world's largest coffee producer for over 150 years, accounting for roughly one-third of global production.
Q5Camembert cheese originated in which country?
ABelgium
BSwitzerland
CFrance
DItaly
Fun fact: Camembert originates from Normandy, France. Legend credits Marie Harel with its creation around 1791. The small round boxes were designed to ship it safely by rail.
Q6What is the key flavouring in a traditional Mojito cocktail?
ABasil
BRosemary
CMint
DThyme
Fun fact: A classic Mojito is white rum, lime juice, sugar, soda water, and fresh mint. It originated in Havana, Cuba, and is one of Ernest Hemingway's favourite drinks.
Q7Sushi originates from which country?
AChina
BSouth Korea
CJapan
DVietnam
Fun fact: Modern sushi developed in Tokyo (then called Edo) in the early 19th century as a fast street food. The word "sushi" actually refers to the vinegared rice, not the fish.
Q8How many calories are in a gram of alcohol?
Fun fact: Alcohol provides 7 kcal per gram — more than protein (4) or carbohydrates (4), but less than fat (9). These are called "empty calories" because alcohol has no nutritional value.
Q9Which herb is the main ingredient in a traditional pesto sauce?
AOregano
BBasil
CParsley
DRosemary
Fun fact: Classic Genovese pesto is made with fresh basil, pine nuts, Parmesan, garlic, and olive oil. "Pesto" comes from the Italian word for "to pound."
Q10The Bloody Mary cocktail is primarily made with which spirit?
AGin
BWhiskey
CTequila
DVodka
Fun fact: The Bloody Mary is vodka mixed with tomato juice and seasonings. It was reportedly invented in the 1920s or 1930s — several people claim credit.
Q11Worcestershire sauce originated in which English city?
ABristol
BBirmingham
CWorcester
DGloucester
Fun fact: Worcestershire sauce was created by chemists Lea & Perrins in Worcester in 1837. The exact recipe is still a trade secret. It ferments for 18 months before bottling.
Q12Which country is famous for inventing the croissant?
AFrance
BAustria
CBelgium
DSwitzerland
Fun fact: The croissant's predecessor, the "kipferl," originated in Austria. The French perfected it with laminated dough in the 19th century, but the Austrians invented the concept.
Q13What type of pasta is shaped like small rice grains?
AOrzo
BFarfalle
CFusilli
DOrecchiette
Fun fact: Orzo comes from the Italian word for "barley." Despite looking like rice, it is made from semolina wheat and is a common pasta in soups and salads.
Q14Which country does Guinness beer originate from?
AEngland
BScotland
CIreland
DWales
Fun fact: Arthur Guinness signed a 9,000-year lease on the St. James's Gate Brewery in Dublin in 1759 at £45 per year. The rent was still being paid in the early 2000s.
Q15What is the main flavour of the liqueur Cointreau?
ALemon
BOrange
CRaspberry
DCherry
Fun fact: Cointreau is a triple sec liqueur made from sweet and bitter orange peels. It was created by Edouard Cointreau in Angers, France, in 1875.
Q16Which spice gives curry its distinctive yellow colour?
ACumin
BCoriander
CTurmeric
DFenugreek
Fun fact: Turmeric contains curcumin, a compound with a deep yellow pigment. It has been used in South Asian cooking and medicine for thousands of years.
Q17In cooking, what does "al dente" mean?
AWell cooked
BSlightly undercooked
CFirm to the bite
DVery soft
Fun fact: "Al dente" is Italian for "to the tooth." It refers to pasta that is cooked through but still has a slight firmness when bitten.
Q18Champagne can legally only come from which French region?
ABurgundy
BBordeaux
CAlsace
DChampagne
Fun fact: By EU law, only sparkling wine from the Champagne region can be called "Champagne." Monk Dom Pérignon is often (inaccurately) credited with inventing it.
Q19What nut is used to make marzipan?
AWalnut
BCashew
CAlmond
DHazelnut
Fun fact: Marzipan is made from ground almonds and sugar. Lübeck in Germany and Toledo in Spain both claim to have invented it.
Q20Which country is the world's largest producer of olive oil?
AItaly
BGreece
CSpain
DMorocco
Fun fact: Spain produces around 40–50% of the world's olive oil, mostly from Andalusia. Greece has the highest per-capita olive oil consumption.
Q21Which part of the vanilla plant do vanilla pods come from?
Fun fact: Vanilla pods are the fruit of the Vanilla planifolia orchid. The tiny black seeds (specks) inside the pod contain most of the flavour.
Q22What is the base spirit in a classic Negroni cocktail?
Fun fact: A Negroni is equal parts gin, Campari, and sweet vermouth. It was allegedly invented in Florence in 1919 when Count Camillo Negroni asked for a stronger Americano.
Q23The dish "moussaka" is associated with which cuisine?
ATurkish
BLebanese
CGreek
DMoroccan
Fun fact: Greek moussaka layers aubergine, minced meat, and béchamel sauce. The modern recipe was standardised by Greek chef Nikolaos Tselementes in the 1920s.
Q24What is the name of the Japanese rice wine?
Fun fact: Sake has been brewed in Japan for at least 2,000 years. Despite being called rice wine, it is made through a brewing process more similar to beer.
Q25Foie gras is a luxury food product made from the liver of which animal?
APig
BCow
CDuck or goose
DChicken
Fun fact: Foie gras ("fatty liver" in French) is produced by force-feeding ducks or geese to enlarge their livers. It has been produced for over 4,500 years, originally in ancient Egypt.
Round 7: Geography
Capitals, borders, and the facts that make you rethink the atlas. · 25 questions
Q1What is the capital city of Australia?
ASydney
BMelbourne
CBrisbane
DCanberra
Fun fact: Canberra became Australia's capital in 1913 as a compromise between rival cities Sydney and Melbourne. It was purpose-built and designed by American architects Walter and Marion Griffin.
Q2Which is the world's largest country by land area?
ACanada
BUnited States
CChina
DRussia
Fun fact: Russia covers 17.1 million km² — more than the entire continent of South America. It spans 11 time zones.
Q3The Amazon River flows primarily through which country?
AColombia
BPeru
CBrazil
DVenezuela
Fun fact: About 60% of the Amazon Basin lies within Brazil. The Amazon carries approximately 20% of all fresh water that flows into the world's oceans.
Q4Mount Everest is located on the border of which two countries?
AIndia and China
BNepal and China
CNepal and India
DTibet and Bhutan
Fun fact: Mount Everest straddles the border of Nepal and the Tibet Autonomous Region of China. It was named after British surveyor George Everest.
Q5Which is the smallest country in the world by area?
AMonaco
BSan Marino
CLiechtenstein
DVatican City
Fun fact: Vatican City covers just 0.44 km² and has a population of around 800. It became a sovereign state under the Lateran Treaty of 1929.
Q6What is the capital of Canada?
AToronto
BVancouver
COttawa
DMontreal
Fun fact: Ottawa became Canada's capital in 1857, chosen by Queen Victoria partly because it was inland (and thus harder to attack). Toronto and Montreal were the larger candidates.
Q7The Sahara Desert is located on which continent?
AAsia
BAustralia
CSouth America
DAfrica
Fun fact: The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, covering about 9.2 million km² across 11 North African countries. It is roughly the same size as the United States.
Q8Which country has the most natural lakes in the world?
ARussia
BUnited States
CCanada
DFinland
Fun fact: Canada has over 2 million lakes — about 60% of the world's total. This is more lakes than all other countries combined.
Q9The Nile River flows through how many countries?
Fun fact: The Nile passes through 11 countries: Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, DRC, Kenya, Ethiopia, Eritrea, South Sudan, Sudan, and Egypt.
Q10What is the tallest mountain in Africa?
AMount Kenya
BKilimanjaro
CMount Stanley
DRas Dashen
Fun fact: Kilimanjaro in Tanzania stands at 5,895 m. It is a dormant stratovolcano and the highest free-standing mountain in the world.
Q11Which ocean is the largest by area?
AAtlantic Ocean
BIndian Ocean
CSouthern Ocean
DPacific Ocean
Fun fact: The Pacific Ocean covers about 165 million km² — larger than all of Earth's land combined. Its name means "peaceful sea," coined by Magellan.
Q12The Grand Canyon is located in which US state?
AUtah
BNevada
CArizona
DColorado
Fun fact: The Grand Canyon in Arizona is up to 1.6 km deep and 29 km wide. It was carved by the Colorado River over 5–6 million years.
Q13What is the capital of Japan?
AOsaka
BKyoto
CTokyo
DHiroshima
Fun fact: Tokyo became Japan's capital in 1869 when Emperor Meiji moved there from Kyoto. The greater Tokyo area is the most populous metropolitan area in the world, with 37+ million people.
Q14Which river flows through Paris?
Fun fact: The Seine flows 775 km from the Langres Plateau to the English Channel. The Île de la Cité, where Notre-Dame Cathedral stands, is a natural island in the river.
Q15How many continents are there on Earth?
Fun fact: The seven continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia/Oceania, Europe, North America, and South America. Some models combine Europe and Asia into "Eurasia."
Q16Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
ANorway
BUnited States
CRussia
DCanada
Fun fact: Canada's coastline is approximately 202,080 km — by far the longest in the world. This is partly due to thousands of islands and deep fjords.
Q17The Strait of Gibraltar connects the Atlantic Ocean to which sea?
ABlack Sea
BRed Sea
CCaspian Sea
DMediterranean Sea
Fun fact: The Strait of Gibraltar is only 14 km wide at its narrowest point, separating Spain from Morocco. It is one of the world's busiest shipping lanes.
Q18Which city is known as the "City of Love"?
ARome
BParis
CVenice
DBarcelona
Fun fact: Paris earned this nickname due to its romantic reputation, literature, and films set there. The city receives over 38 million tourists annually.
Q19Which African country has the largest population?
AEthiopia
BSouth Africa
CEgypt
DNigeria
Fun fact: Nigeria has over 220 million people — Africa's most populous nation. It is projected to become the third most populous country in the world by 2050.
Q20Lake Titicaca, the highest navigable lake in the world, borders which two countries?
AChile and Bolivia
BPeru and Bolivia
CArgentina and Peru
DEcuador and Colombia
Fun fact: Lake Titicaca sits at 3,812 m above sea level on the Andes border of Peru and Bolivia. The Uru people have lived on floating reed islands on the lake for centuries.
Q21The island of Greenland is an autonomous territory of which country?
ANorway
BIceland
CCanada
DDenmark
Fun fact: Despite being the world's largest island, Greenland has only about 57,000 inhabitants. It has been a Danish territory since 1721.
Q22Which desert is the largest cold desert in the world?
AGobi Desert
BPatagonian Desert
CAntarctic Desert
DGreat Basin Desert
Fun fact: The Antarctic Desert covers 14.2 million km², making it larger than the Sahara. Cold deserts are defined by their extremely low precipitation, not just temperature.
Q23The Andes mountain range runs along the western side of which continent?
ANorth America
BAfrica
CSouth America
DAsia
Fun fact: The Andes stretch 7,000 km along South America's Pacific coast — the world's longest continental mountain range. Aconcagua (6,961 m) is its highest peak.
Q24Istanbul is the largest city in Turkey. What was it previously known as?
ASmyrna
BNicaea
CConstantinople
DByzantium
Fun fact: Istanbul was renamed from Constantinople in 1930. It had previously been called Byzantium. It is the only major city in the world that spans two continents.
Q25The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of which country?
ANew Zealand
BIndonesia
CAustralia
DPhilippines
Fun fact: The Great Barrier Reef off Queensland, Australia, is the world's largest coral reef system — stretching over 2,300 km. It is visible from space.
Round 8: Pot Luck
Everything else — from famous quotes to odd world records. The wildcard round. · 30 questions
Q1How many sides does a hexagon have?
Fun fact: Hexagons are found throughout nature — honeycomb cells, snowflakes, and basalt columns are all hexagonal. They tessellate perfectly without gaps.
Q2"To be, or not to be, that is the question" is from which Shakespeare play?
AMacbeth
BOthello
CKing Lear
DHamlet
Fun fact: Hamlet's soliloquy in Act 3, Scene 1 is probably the most quoted passage in all of English literature. "To be or not to be" — to live or to die.
Q3Which planet rotates on its side with an axial tilt of about 98 degrees?
ANeptune
BSaturn
CUranus
DVenus
Fun fact: Uranus is thought to have been knocked onto its side by a massive collision early in the solar system's history. Its seasons each last about 21 years.
Q4Who painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling?
ALeonardo da Vinci
BRaphael
CDonatello
DMichelangelo
Fun fact: Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512, working lying on his back on scaffolding. He reportedly disliked the project intensely.
Q5What is the longest word in the English language (excluding technical/scientific terms)?
AAntidisestablishmentarianism
BFloccinaucinihilipilification
CPneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis
DSupercalifragilisticexpialidocious
Fun fact: Pneumonoultramicroscopicsilicovolcanoconiosis (45 letters) is a lung disease caused by inhaling fine silica dust. It was coined in 1935 specifically to be the longest word.
Q6What is the name of the world's largest ocean trench?
AJava Trench
BMariana Trench
CPuerto Rico Trench
DTonga Trench
Fun fact: The Mariana Trench in the Pacific Ocean reaches a depth of 11,034 m at Challenger Deep. That is deeper than Mount Everest is tall.
Q7Which language has the most native speakers in the world?
AEnglish
BSpanish
CMandarin Chinese
DHindi
Fun fact: Mandarin Chinese has approximately 920 million native speakers. English is the most widely spoken language by total speakers (native + second language).
Q8What is the official currency of Japan?
Fun fact: The Japanese yen has been the official currency since 1871. "Yen" means "circle" or "round" in Japanese, referring to the circular coins.
Q9Who wrote the novel "1984"?
AAldous Huxley
BGeorge Orwell
CRay Bradbury
DArthur Koestler
Fun fact: George Orwell wrote 1984 in 1948 and published it in 1949. He named it by reversing the last two digits of the year he wrote it. "Big Brother is watching you."
Q10The Eiffel Tower was built for which World's Fair?
A1878 Paris Exposition
B1889 Paris Exposition
C1893 Chicago World's Fair
D1900 Paris Exposition
Fun fact: The Eiffel Tower was built for the 1889 Exposition Universelle, celebrating the centennial of the French Revolution. Gustave Eiffel designed it. Many Parisians hated it at first.
Q11In the phonetic alphabet, what does "A" stand for?
Fun fact: The NATO phonetic alphabet (Alpha, Bravo, Charlie...) was developed in the 1950s to reduce miscommunication over radio. Each word was chosen because it sounds distinct in multiple languages.
Q12Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" is displayed in which museum?
AThe Vatican Museums
BThe Uffizi Gallery
CThe Louvre
DThe Prado
Fun fact: The Mona Lisa has been at the Louvre since 1797. The painting became world-famous partly after it was stolen from the Louvre in 1911 and recovered in 1913.
Q13What does "PDF" stand for?
APrinted Document File
BPortable Document Format
CPersonal Data File
DProtected Document File
Fun fact: PDF was developed by Adobe in 1992. It is now an open standard (ISO 32000) and is one of the most widely used file formats on the planet.
Q14What is the most expensive spice in the world by weight?
AVanilla
BCardamom
CSaffron
DTruffle
Fun fact: Saffron can cost over $10,000 per kilogram. It must be hand-harvested from the stigmas of Crocus sativus flowers — each flower produces only three stigmas.
Q15Which animal is the fastest land animal on Earth?
ALion
BPronghorn
CGreyhound
DCheetah
Fun fact: A cheetah can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in under 3 seconds and reach a top speed of about 120 km/h. However, it can only sustain this for about 30 seconds.
Q16How many zeros are in one trillion?
Fun fact: One trillion is 1,000,000,000,000 — a 1 followed by 12 zeros. The US national debt surpassed $1 trillion for the first time in 1981.
Q17Who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize?
ARosalind Franklin
BAda Lovelace
CMarie Curie
DDorothy Hodgkin
Fun fact: Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903 and in Chemistry in 1911 — making her the first person to win two Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.
Q18In which country was the World Wide Web invented?
AUnited States
BUnited Kingdom
CSwitzerland
DGermany
Fun fact: Tim Berners-Lee invented the WWW in 1989 at CERN in Geneva, Switzerland. He proposed it as a way to share information among researchers.
Q19What is the national animal of Scotland?
ARed deer
BGolden eagle
CUnicorn
DRed squirrel
Fun fact: Scotland's national animal is the unicorn — a symbol of purity and power in Celtic mythology. It has appeared on the Scottish coat of arms since the 12th century.
Q20How many colours are in a standard rainbow?
Fun fact: ROYGBIV: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet. Isaac Newton identified these 7 colours in 1666 by passing sunlight through a glass prism.
Q21The novel "Pride and Prejudice" was written by which author?
ACharlotte Brontë
BEmily Brontë
CGeorge Eliot
DJane Austen
Fun fact: Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813, originally under the title "First Impressions." She published it anonymously — credited only to "A Lady."
Q22What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
AQuartz
BCorundum
CDiamond
DTopaz
Fun fact: Diamond scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the highest possible. Diamonds are made of carbon atoms arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic.
Q23The word "emoji" comes from which language?
AChinese
BKorean
CJapanese
DEnglish
Fun fact: Emoji comes from Japanese: "e" (picture) + "moji" (character). The first emoji were created by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999 for a Japanese mobile internet platform.
Q24How long does it take light from the Sun to reach Earth?
AAbout 4 minutes
BAbout 8 minutes
CAbout 12 minutes
DAbout 20 minutes
Fun fact: Sunlight takes approximately 8 minutes and 20 seconds to travel 150 million km from the Sun to Earth. This means we always see the Sun as it was 8 minutes ago.
Q25Which ancient Greek mathematician famously said "Eureka!" when he discovered his principle in a bathtub?
APythagoras
BEuclid
CArchimedes
DAristotle
Fun fact: Archimedes allegedly shouted "Eureka!" (I have found it!) when he realised he could determine the purity of gold using water displacement — now called Archimedes' Principle.
Q26How many bones are there in the human ear?
Fun fact: The three smallest bones in the human body are in the ear: the malleus, incus, and stapes (hammer, anvil, and stirrup). They transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.
Q27What is the rarest blood type in humans?
Fun fact: AB negative is the rarest blood type, found in less than 1% of people. AB positive is the universal recipient for red blood cells — they can accept any type.
Q28Which element is liquid at room temperature?
AGallium
BMercury
CBoth gallium and mercury
DNeither
Fun fact: Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard room temperature (25°C). Gallium melts at about 30°C — just above room temperature.
Q29How many time zones does China officially use?
Fun fact: Despite spanning a geographic area that covers five natural time zones, China uses just one official time zone (UTC+8, Beijing Time) for national unity.
Q30What does the "S" in Harry S. Truman stand for?
ASamuel
BSolomon
CStephen
DNothing — it was just the letter "S"
Fun fact: The "S" in Harry S. Truman does not stand for anything. It was a compromise between his grandfathers' names: Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young.
Frequently asked questions
How do I host a pub quiz night?
You need: 8-10 rounds of 10 questions each (this page has enough material for multiple nights), a scoring sheet, a way to reveal answers, and ideally a live display. Use Chooseday to run each round as an online poll — teams vote on their answer, and you reveal results after each question. It removes the need for paper scoring entirely.
How many questions should a pub quiz have?
A typical pub quiz runs for about 90 minutes. With 8 rounds of 10 questions each (80 questions total), allowing 30-45 seconds per question, plus answer reveal time, that fills the session perfectly. If you want a shorter quiz, 5 rounds of 8 questions (40 questions) works well for a one-hour event.
What is a good pub quiz format for a team event?
For work team events, try: 5 rounds of 10 questions, teams of 3-5 people, 30 seconds to discuss and submit each answer, display results between rounds on a shared screen, and a tiebreaker round for tied teams. Use Chooseday so everyone votes from their phone without paper.
Can I use these questions for a free pub quiz?
Yes — all questions on this page are completely free to use for any purpose, including commercial events, charity quiz nights, school events, and pub quiz nights. No attribution required.
What is the best pub quiz round to start with?
Start with a fun, accessible round that gets everyone engaged — Pop Culture or Food & Drink work well. Save History and Science (harder rounds) for the middle when teams are warmed up. End with a Pot Luck wildcard round to keep the final scores unpredictable.