Put your overall knowledge to the test with a wide mix of trivia spanning history, science, pop culture, geography, and everyday facts. General knowledge quizzes reveal how broad your understanding of the world really is — great for all ages and skill levels.
No specialist knowledge required. A little of everything goes a long way.
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General Knowledge Quiz: All Questions & Answers
Browse all 50 general knowledge trivia questions with the correct answers and a detailed explanation for each. Use it as a study guide, an answer key, or to read up before you play the timed quiz above. Questions are picked at random each round, so every playthrough is different.
1. What is the capital city of Japan?
- A.Seoul
- B.Tokyo✓ Correct
- C.Beijing
- D.Bangkok
Answer: Tokyo. Tokyo is the capital and most populous city of Japan, home to over 13 million people in the city proper and nearly 38 million in the greater metropolitan area — making it the world's largest urban agglomeration.
2. Who painted the Mona Lisa?
- A.Pablo Picasso
- B.Leonardo da Vinci✓ Correct
- C.Vincent van Gogh
- D.Claude Monet
Answer: Leonardo da Vinci. Leonardo da Vinci painted the Mona Lisa between 1503 and 1519. It is widely considered the world's most famous painting and is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris, attracting around 10 million visitors per year.
3. How many continents are there on Earth?
- A.5
- B.6
- C.7✓ Correct
- D.8
Answer: 7. Earth has 7 continents: Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia (Oceania), Europe, North America, and South America. Some models combine Europe and Asia into 'Eurasia', or the Americas into one, giving 5 or 6 — but the 7-continent model is most widely taught.
4. Which is the largest ocean on Earth?
- A.Atlantic Ocean
- B.Indian Ocean
- C.Arctic Ocean
- D.Pacific Ocean✓ Correct
Answer: Pacific Ocean. The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest of Earth's oceanic divisions, covering about 165 million km² — more than all of Earth's landmass combined. It stretches from the Arctic in the north to the Antarctic in the south.
5. Which element has the chemical symbol 'Au'?
- A.Silver
- B.Gold✓ Correct
- C.Aluminium
- D.Copper
Answer: Gold. Gold's symbol 'Au' comes from the Latin word 'Aurum'. Gold has been prized throughout human history for its rarity, malleability and resistance to corrosion. It is atomic number 79 on the periodic table.
6. What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
- A.Quartz
- B.Corundum
- C.Diamond✓ Correct
- D.Topaz
Answer: Diamond. Diamond scores 10 on the Mohs hardness scale — the highest possible rating. It is a form of carbon where atoms are arranged in a crystal structure called diamond cubic, making it extraordinarily hard and used in cutting tools worldwide.
7. How many strings does a standard guitar have?
- A.4
- B.5
- C.6✓ Correct
- D.7
Answer: 6. A standard guitar has 6 strings, typically tuned E-A-D-G-B-E from the lowest to highest pitch. Bass guitars usually have 4 strings, while 7-string and 12-string variants also exist for extended range playing.
8. Which language has the most native speakers in the world?
- A.English
- B.Spanish
- C.Mandarin Chinese✓ Correct
- D.Hindi
Answer: Mandarin Chinese. Mandarin Chinese has approximately 920 million native speakers, making it the most widely spoken first language. English leads in total speakers (native + second language) with over 1.4 billion, but Mandarin dominates in native-speaker count.
9. What is the longest bone in the human body?
- A.Humerus
- B.Tibia
- C.Femur✓ Correct
- D.Fibula
Answer: Femur. The femur (thigh bone) is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, making up about a quarter of a person's height. It connects the hip to the knee and can withstand forces of up to 1,700 pounds.
10. Which country is home to the Great Barrier Reef?
- A.Brazil
- B.Indonesia
- C.Philippines
- D.Australia✓ Correct
Answer: Australia. The Great Barrier Reef lies off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the world's largest coral reef system, stretching over 2,300 km and comprising over 2,900 individual reefs — so large it is visible from space.
11. How many sides does a hexagon have?
- A.Five
- B.Six✓ Correct
- C.Seven
- D.Eight
Answer: Six. A hexagon has six sides and six angles. Regular hexagons appear throughout nature — most famously in honeycombs, because the shape tiles a plane with the least amount of building material for the most storage space.
12. Which is the largest planet in our solar system?
- A.Saturn
- B.Jupiter✓ Correct
- C.Neptune
- D.Earth
Answer: Jupiter. Jupiter is the largest planet, with a diameter of about 140,000 km — more than 11 times that of Earth. It is a gas giant so massive that all the other planets in the solar system could fit inside it.
13. Who wrote the play 'Romeo and Juliet'?
- A.Charles Dickens
- B.William Shakespeare✓ Correct
- C.Mark Twain
- D.Jane Austen
Answer: William Shakespeare. William Shakespeare wrote 'Romeo and Juliet' in the 1590s. The tragedy of the two young 'star-crossed lovers' remains one of the most frequently performed and adapted plays in the world.
14. What is the official currency of Japan?
- A.Won
- B.Yuan
- C.Yen✓ Correct
- D.Ringgit
Answer: Yen. The yen is Japan's official currency, introduced in 1871. It is the third most-traded currency in the world after the US dollar and the euro, and is often used as a 'safe haven' currency by investors.
15. Which big cat is traditionally known as the 'King of the Jungle'?
- A.Tiger
- B.Leopard
- C.Lion✓ Correct
- D.Cheetah
Answer: Lion. The lion earned the title 'King of the Jungle', though it actually lives on savannahs and grasslands rather than jungles. Lions are the only big cats that live in social groups called prides.
16. How many colours are traditionally said to be in a rainbow?
- A.Five
- B.Six
- C.Seven✓ Correct
- D.Nine
Answer: Seven. A rainbow is traditionally described as having seven colours: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet (ROYGBIV). Isaac Newton chose seven to match the notes of the musical scale, though the spectrum is actually continuous.
17. What is the freezing point of water in degrees Celsius?
- A.0°C✓ Correct
- B.10°C
- C.-10°C
- D.32°C
Answer: 0°C. Water freezes at 0°C (32°F) at standard atmospheric pressure. The Celsius scale was designed with 0 as the freezing point and 100 as the boiling point of water, making it intuitive for everyday use.
18. Which planet is known as the 'Red Planet'?
- A.Venus
- B.Mars✓ Correct
- C.Mercury
- D.Jupiter
Answer: Mars. Mars is called the Red Planet because of the iron oxide (rust) that covers its surface, giving it a reddish appearance. It is the second-smallest planet and the target of numerous robotic exploration missions.
19. What is the highest mountain above sea level on Earth?
- A.K2
- B.Mount Kilimanjaro
- C.Mount Everest✓ Correct
- D.Mont Blanc
Answer: Mount Everest. Mount Everest, in the Himalayas on the Nepal–China border, stands at 8,849 m above sea level. Measured from base to summit, however, Hawaii's Mauna Kea is taller — most of it is simply underwater.
20. How many players from one team are on the pitch in a standard football (soccer) match?
- A.9
- B.10
- C.11✓ Correct
- D.12
Answer: 11. Each football team fields 11 players, including the goalkeeper. If a team has more than two players sent off and drops below seven, the match is abandoned.
21. What is the smallest prime number?
- A.0
- B.1
- C.2✓ Correct
- D.3
Answer: 2. 2 is the smallest prime number and the only even one. A prime number has exactly two distinct divisors — 1 and itself; the number 1 only has one divisor, so it is not prime.
22. Which gas, making up about 21% of air, do humans need to breathe to survive?
- A.Nitrogen
- B.Oxygen✓ Correct
- C.Carbon dioxide
- D.Helium
Answer: Oxygen. Oxygen makes up roughly 21% of Earth's atmosphere and is essential for cellular respiration. Although nitrogen is more abundant at 78%, our bodies cannot use it directly from the air.
23. What is the capital city of France?
- A.Lyon
- B.Marseille
- C.Paris✓ Correct
- D.Nice
Answer: Paris. Paris has been the capital of France since the 12th century. Known as the 'City of Light', it is home to landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre and Notre-Dame Cathedral.
24. Which scientist developed the theory of general relativity?
- A.Isaac Newton
- B.Albert Einstein✓ Correct
- C.Niels Bohr
- D.Galileo Galilei
Answer: Albert Einstein. Albert Einstein published his theory of general relativity in 1915, describing gravity as the curving of space and time by mass. Its predictions, such as the bending of starlight, were confirmed during a 1919 solar eclipse.
25. What is the largest animal known to have ever lived?
- A.African elephant
- B.Blue whale✓ Correct
- C.Colossal squid
- D.Brachiosaurus
Answer: Blue whale. The blue whale can reach up to 30 m long and weigh around 180 tonnes, making it the largest animal ever known — bigger even than the largest dinosaurs. Its heart alone is roughly the size of a small car.
26. How many degrees are there in a right angle?
- A.45
- B.90✓ Correct
- C.180
- D.360
Answer: 90. A right angle measures exactly 90 degrees, forming a perfect 'L' shape. Four right angles make a full 360-degree turn, which is why the corners of a square each measure 90°.
27. What is the chemical symbol for sodium?
- A.So
- B.Sd
- C.Na✓ Correct
- D.S
Answer: Na. Sodium's symbol 'Na' comes from its Latin name 'Natrium'. It is a soft, highly reactive metal that reacts violently with water, and is best known as half of table salt — sodium chloride (NaCl).
28. Which country gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States?
- A.United Kingdom
- B.France✓ Correct
- C.Spain
- D.Italy
Answer: France. France gave the Statue of Liberty to the United States in 1886 as a symbol of friendship and shared ideals of liberty. It was designed by sculptor Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, with its internal structure engineered by Gustave Eiffel.
29. What is the official language of Brazil?
- A.Spanish
- B.Portuguese✓ Correct
- C.French
- D.English
Answer: Portuguese. Brazil is the only Portuguese-speaking country in the Americas, a legacy of Portuguese colonisation beginning in 1500. It is the largest Portuguese-speaking nation in the world by population.
30. In which year did World War II end?
- A.1918
- B.1939
- C.1945✓ Correct
- D.1950
Answer: 1945. World War II ended in 1945, with victory in Europe (VE Day) in May and Japan's surrender in September following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It remains the deadliest conflict in human history.
31. What is the largest organ of the human body?
- A.Liver
- B.Brain
- C.Skin✓ Correct
- D.Lungs
Answer: Skin. The skin is the body's largest organ, covering an area of about 2 square metres in adults. It protects against infection, regulates temperature and allows the sense of touch.
32. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
- A.Venus
- B.Mercury✓ Correct
- C.Earth
- D.Mars
Answer: Mercury. Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun and the smallest in the solar system. Despite its proximity, it is not the hottest planet — that title belongs to Venus, whose thick atmosphere traps heat.
33. Miso, a staple of Japanese cuisine, is a paste made by fermenting which ingredient?
- A.Rice
- B.Soybeans✓ Correct
- C.Seaweed
- D.Fish
Answer: Soybeans. Miso is made by fermenting soybeans with salt and a mould called koji, often together with rice or barley. The result is a savoury, umami-rich paste used in soups, marinades and sauces.
34. How many bones are there in the adult human body?
- A.206✓ Correct
- B.256
- C.180
- D.300
Answer: 206. An adult human has 206 bones. Babies are born with around 300, but many fuse together as they grow — for example, the bones of the skull and the sacrum knit together over time.
35. What is the smallest country in the world by area?
- A.Monaco
- B.Nauru
- C.Vatican City✓ Correct
- D.San Marino
Answer: Vatican City. Vatican City covers just 0.49 km² and has a population of around 800, making it the smallest country in the world by both area and population. It is an independent city-state surrounded by Rome, Italy.
36. In website addresses, what does 'www' stand for?
- A.World Web Wide
- B.World Wide Web✓ Correct
- C.Web World Wide
- D.Wide World Web
Answer: World Wide Web. 'www' stands for the World Wide Web, the system of interlinked web pages accessed via the internet. It was invented by Sir Tim Berners-Lee in 1989 while he was working at CERN.
37. Which vitamin does the human body produce when the skin is exposed to sunlight?
- A.Vitamin A
- B.Vitamin C
- C.Vitamin D✓ Correct
- D.Vitamin K
Answer: Vitamin D. The body produces vitamin D when skin is exposed to ultraviolet B rays from sunlight. Vitamin D helps the body absorb calcium and is essential for healthy bones; deficiency can lead to conditions like rickets.
38. What is the scientific study of weather called?
- A.Geology
- B.Meteorology✓ Correct
- C.Astronomy
- D.Ecology
Answer: Meteorology. Meteorology is the science of the atmosphere and weather. Meteorologists use data from satellites, radar and weather stations to forecast conditions and study phenomena like storms and climate patterns.
39. Who was the first person to walk on the Moon?
- A.Buzz Aldrin
- B.Yuri Gagarin
- C.Neil Armstrong✓ Correct
- D.Michael Collins
Answer: Neil Armstrong. Neil Armstrong became the first human to walk on the Moon on 20 July 1969 during NASA's Apollo 11 mission, declaring 'That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' Buzz Aldrin followed minutes later.
40. What is the largest desert in the world?
- A.Sahara Desert
- B.Antarctic Desert✓ Correct
- C.Arabian Desert
- D.Gobi Desert
Answer: Antarctic Desert. A desert is defined by low precipitation, not heat — so the Antarctic Desert, at about 14 million km², is the world's largest. The Sahara is the largest hot desert, but it is less than half the size of Antarctica.
41. Which is the only metal that is liquid at room temperature?
- A.Mercury✓ Correct
- B.Gallium
- C.Lead
- D.Sodium
Answer: Mercury. Mercury is the only metal that is liquid at standard room temperature, freezing only at -39°C. Its mobility and silvery sheen earned it the nickname 'quicksilver'; it was once widely used in thermometers before its toxicity was understood.
42. Which planet is famous for its prominent system of rings?
- A.Jupiter
- B.Saturn✓ Correct
- C.Uranus
- D.Neptune
Answer: Saturn. Saturn is renowned for its spectacular rings, made mostly of ice particles with some rocky debris. While Jupiter, Uranus and Neptune also have faint rings, Saturn's are by far the largest and brightest.
43. What is the SI unit of electric current?
- A.Volt
- B.Watt
- C.Ampere✓ Correct
- D.Ohm
Answer: Ampere. The ampere (or 'amp') is the SI base unit of electric current, named after French physicist André-Marie Ampère. The volt measures potential difference, the watt measures power, and the ohm measures resistance.
44. Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
- A.Raphael
- B.Donatello
- C.Michelangelo✓ Correct
- D.Leonardo da Vinci
Answer: Michelangelo. Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling in the Vatican between 1508 and 1512, including the famous 'Creation of Adam'. He worked largely alone on the scaffolding, painting over 300 figures across the vast vaulted ceiling.
45. What is the largest internal organ in the human body?
- A.Heart
- B.Liver✓ Correct
- C.Kidney
- D.Stomach
Answer: Liver. The liver is the largest internal organ, weighing around 1.5 kg. It performs over 500 functions, including filtering toxins from the blood, producing bile and storing energy — and it is the only human organ that can regenerate.
46. As of 2023, which country has the largest population in the world?
- A.China
- B.India✓ Correct
- C.United States
- D.Indonesia
Answer: India. In 2023, India overtook China to become the world's most populous country, with over 1.4 billion people. The shift reflected China's declining birth rate alongside India's younger, still-growing population.
47. Approximately how fast does sound travel through air at sea level?
- A.343 m/s✓ Correct
- B.150 m/s
- C.1,200 m/s
- D.30 m/s
Answer: 343 m/s. Sound travels through air at roughly 343 metres per second (about 1,235 km/h) at 20°C. It moves faster in denser media like water and steel, and its speed in air increases slightly as temperature rises.
48. Which of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World is the only one still largely standing?
- A.Hanging Gardens of Babylon
- B.Great Pyramid of Giza✓ Correct
- C.Colossus of Rhodes
- D.Lighthouse of Alexandria
Answer: Great Pyramid of Giza. The Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World and the only one still largely intact. Built around 2560 BC, it was the tallest human-made structure on Earth for nearly 4,000 years.
49. What is the term for animals that eat only plants?
- A.Carnivores
- B.Herbivores✓ Correct
- C.Omnivores
- D.Insectivores
Answer: Herbivores. Herbivores are animals that eat only plants, such as cows, deer and rabbits. Carnivores eat meat, omnivores eat both plants and animals, and insectivores specialise in eating insects.
50. How many time zones does Russia span?
- A.3
- B.7
- C.11✓ Correct
- D.15
Answer: 11. Russia spans 11 time zones, more than any other country, stretching from Kaliningrad in the west to Kamchatka in the east. When it is morning in Moscow, it is already evening in Russia's far east.