Menu

General Knowledge Quiz 2

General Knowledge Quiz 2

Think you've got a solid grip on the world around you? This ten-question general knowledge quiz spans science, history, geography, and the arts — covering everything from the periodic table to famous painters. It's the perfect quick challenge to see just how well-rounded your knowledge really is.

General Knowledge Quiz 2

68 questions|Mixed

Challenge yourself with this 10-question general knowledge quiz covering science, history, geography, maths, and art. How many can you get right?

What Makes a Great General Knowledge Quiz?

General knowledge quizzes have a special appeal because they reward curiosity over specialisation. Instead of drilling deep into a single subject, they skip across disciplines — one moment you’re recalling high-school chemistry, the next you’re picturing a map of the Canadian coastline. That breadth is exactly what makes them so addictive: almost everyone will nail a few answers and stumble on a few others.

The ten questions in this quiz were chosen to hit a wide spread of topics. You’ll encounter natural science (the remarkable hardness of diamond and the organ responsible for insulin), mathematics (a deceptively simple question about prime numbers), world history (the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989), and even art history (the troubled genius of Vincent van Gogh). No single area dominates, so specialists and generalists start on roughly equal footing.

Surprising Facts Behind the Answers

Some of these topics hide genuinely fascinating stories. Canada’s coastline, for example, stretches over 240,000 kilometres — so long that it accounts for roughly a quarter of all the world’s coastline. Meanwhile, the Beaufort scale, devised by Royal Navy officer Sir Francis Beaufort in 1805, was originally designed to help sailors describe wind conditions at sea without instruments. It wasn’t officially adopted by the Royal Navy until 1838, more than three decades after Beaufort first sketched it out.

Then there’s potassium and its seemingly random chemical symbol, K. It comes from the Latin word kalium, itself derived from the Arabic al-qaly, meaning plant ashes — a nod to the ancient method of extracting the element by leaching wood ash.

Why Quizzes Like This Matter

Beyond the fun factor, general knowledge quizzes encourage a habit of noticing and remembering the small details that make the world interesting. Whether you scored ten out of ten or discovered a gap you want to fill, every round is a reminder that learning never really stops. Share your score, challenge a friend, and see who truly deserves the title of quiz champion.

See all 68 questions and answers Spoilers

  1. What is the name of the process by which plants convert sunlight into food?

    • Respiration
    • ✓ Photosynthesis (correct)
    • Fermentation
    • Osmosis

  2. Which country has the longest coastline in the world?

    • Australia
    • Indonesia
    • ✓ Canada (correct)
    • Russia

  3. What does the Beaufort scale measure?

    • Earthquake intensity
    • ✓ Wind speed (correct)
    • Ocean depth
    • Air pressure

  4. In which year did the Berlin Wall fall?

    • 1987
    • ✓ 1989 (correct)
    • 1991
    • 1985

  5. What is the chemical symbol for potassium?

    • P
    • Po
    • ✓ K (correct)
    • Pt

  6. Which organ in the human body produces insulin?

    • Liver
    • ✓ Pancreas (correct)
    • Kidney
    • Spleen

  7. What is the smallest prime number?

    • 1
    • ✓ 2 (correct)
    • 3
    • 0

  8. Which painter cut off part of his own ear?

    • Paul Gauguin
    • Claude Monet
    • ✓ Vincent van Gogh (correct)
    • Edvard Munch

  9. What is the official currency of Japan?

    • Won
    • Yuan
    • ✓ Yen (correct)
    • Ringgit

  10. How many bones are in an adult human body?

    • 186
    • ✓ 206 (correct)
    • 216
    • 196

  11. What is the chemical symbol for tungsten?

    • Tu
    • ✓ W (correct)
    • Tg
    • Tn

  12. What is the only continent that lies in all four hemispheres?

    • ✓ Africa (correct)
    • Asia
    • South America
    • Europe

  13. In what year was the United Nations founded?

    • 1942
    • ✓ 1945 (correct)
    • 1948
    • 1950

  14. What is the hardest naturally occurring substance on Earth?

    • Quartz
    • Topaz
    • ✓ Diamond (correct)
    • Corundum

  15. Which organ in the human body produces insulin?

    • Liver
    • ✓ Pancreas (correct)
    • Kidney
    • Spleen

  16. What language has the most native speakers in the world?

    • English
    • Spanish
    • Hindi
    • ✓ Mandarin Chinese (correct)

  17. Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?

    • Jupiter
    • ✓ Saturn (correct)
    • Uranus
    • Neptune

  18. What does the Beaufort scale measure?

    • Earthquake intensity
    • ✓ Wind speed (correct)
    • Ocean depth
    • Air pressure

  19. Which ancient civilization built Machu Picchu?

    • The Maya
    • The Aztec
    • ✓ The Inca (correct)
    • The Olmec

  20. What is the smallest bone in the human body?

    • ✓ Stapes (correct)
    • Malleus
    • Incus
    • Hyoid

  21. What is the largest organ in the human body?

    • ✓ Skin (correct)
    • Liver
    • Lungs
    • Small intestine

  22. Which country gifted the Statue of Liberty to the United States?

    • United Kingdom
    • ✓ France (correct)
    • Spain
    • Netherlands

  23. What is the chemical symbol for gold?

    • Go
    • Gd
    • ✓ Au (correct)
    • Ag

  24. In which ocean is the Mariana Trench located?

    • Atlantic Ocean
    • Indian Ocean
    • ✓ Pacific Ocean (correct)
    • Arctic Ocean

  25. What type of celestial body is Halley's, which is visible from Earth roughly every 75-76 years?

    • Asteroid
    • ✓ Comet (correct)
    • Meteor
    • Dwarf planet

  26. Which composer became almost completely deaf yet continued to create some of his greatest works, including his Ninth Symphony?

    • Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
    • ✓ Ludwig van Beethoven (correct)
    • Johann Sebastian Bach
    • Frédéric Chopin

  27. What is the hardest naturally occurring mineral on the Mohs scale?

    • Topaz
    • Quartz
    • ✓ Corundum (correct)
    • Talc

  28. Which blood type is known as the 'universal donor'?

    • A positive
    • ✓ O negative (correct)
    • AB positive
    • B negative

  29. What ancient wonder of the world was located in the city of Alexandria?

    • The Colossus of Rhodes
    • ✓ The Lighthouse of Alexandria (correct)
    • The Hanging Gardens
    • The Temple of Artemis

  30. Which scientist formulated the three laws of motion?

    • Galileo Galilei
    • ✓ Isaac Newton (correct)
    • Albert Einstein
    • Nikola Tesla

  31. What is the chemical symbol for mercury?

    • ✓ Hg (correct)
    • Me
    • Mc
    • Mr

  32. Which country is home to the ancient city of Petra, carved into rose-red cliffs?

    • ✓ Jordan (correct)
    • Egypt
    • Lebanon
    • Syria

  33. What type of animal is a barramundi?

    • ✓ Fish (correct)
    • Reptile
    • Amphibian
    • Mammal

  34. In which decade was the first successful human heart transplant performed?

    • 1950s
    • ✓ 1960s (correct)
    • 1970s
    • 1980s

  35. What is the longest river in Europe?

    • Danube
    • Rhine
    • ✓ Volga (correct)
    • Thames

  36. Which philosopher wrote 'The Republic', envisioning an ideal state ruled by philosopher-kings?

    • Aristotle
    • Socrates
    • ✓ Plato (correct)
    • Seneca

  37. What gas makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere?

    • Oxygen
    • ✓ Nitrogen (correct)
    • Carbon dioxide
    • Argon

  38. Which artist sculpted 'The Thinker'?

    • Michelangelo
    • ✓ Auguste Rodin (correct)
    • Donatello
    • Gian Lorenzo Bernini

  39. What is the smallest country in South America by area?

    • Uruguay
    • ✓ Suriname (correct)
    • Guyana
    • Ecuador

  40. Which vitamin is also known as ascorbic acid?

    • Vitamin A
    • Vitamin B12
    • ✓ Vitamin C (correct)
    • Vitamin D

  41. What is the capital of Bhutan?

    • ✓ Thimphu (correct)
    • Kathmandu
    • Lhasa
    • Paro

    test

  42. What is the capital city of Mongolia?

    • ✓ Ulaanbaatar (correct)
    • Astana
    • Bishkek
    • Dushanbe

  43. What pigment gives flamingos their pink color?

    • Melanin
    • ✓ Carotenoids (correct)
    • Chlorophyll
    • Hemoglobin

  44. In music, how many strings does a standard cello have?

    • ✓ 4 (correct)
    • 5
    • 6
    • 3

  45. What is the tallest type of grass in the world?

    • Sugarcane
    • ✓ Bamboo (correct)
    • Pampas grass
    • Elephant grass

  46. Which artist painted 'Girl with a Pearl Earring'?

    • Rembrandt van Rijn
    • ✓ Johannes Vermeer (correct)
    • Peter Paul Rubens
    • Frans Hals

  47. What is the only continent that lies in all four hemispheres?

    • ✓ Africa (correct)
    • Asia
    • South America
    • Europe

  48. What unit of measurement is used to express the purity of gold?

    • Carat
    • ✓ Karat (correct)
    • Troy ounce
    • Grain

  49. Which organ in the human body is primarily responsible for filtering blood and producing urine?

    • Liver
    • ✓ Kidney (correct)
    • Spleen
    • Bladder

  50. What is the longest river in South America?

    • Orinoco
    • ✓ Amazon (correct)
    • Paraná
    • São Francisco

    The Amazon River, flowing through Brazil, Peru, and Colombia, is the longest river in South America and carries the largest volume of water of any river in the world.

  51. In which country was the game of chess invented?

    • China
    • Persia
    • ✓ India (correct)
    • Egypt

    Chess originated in India around the 6th century AD, where it was known as 'chaturanga.' It later spread to Persia, then to the Arab world, and eventually to Europe.

  52. Which planet is known as the Red Planet?

    • Jupiter
    • Venus
    • ✓ Mars (correct)
    • Mercury

    Mars is called the Red Planet because its surface is covered with iron oxide (rust), giving it a reddish appearance visible from Earth.

  53. Who wrote the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'?

    • Charlotte Brontë
    • ✓ Jane Austen (correct)
    • George Eliot
    • Mary Shelley

    Jane Austen published 'Pride and Prejudice' in 1813. The novel follows Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy and is one of the most celebrated works in English literature.

  54. What is the capital city of Australia?

    • Sydney
    • Melbourne
    • Brisbane
    • ✓ Canberra (correct)

    Canberra is the capital of Australia, chosen as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. It was purpose-built as the capital and officially became so in 1927.

  55. Which element has the atomic number 1?

    • Helium
    • Oxygen
    • ✓ Hydrogen (correct)
    • Carbon

    Hydrogen is the lightest and most abundant element in the universe, with atomic number 1. It consists of one proton and one electron in its most common isotope.

  56. Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?

    • Leonardo da Vinci
    • Raphael
    • Donatello
    • ✓ Michelangelo (correct)

    Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling between 1508 and 1512, commissioned by Pope Julius II. The iconic work includes the famous 'Creation of Adam' scene.

  57. What is the longest bone in the human body?

    • Tibia
    • Humerus
    • Fibula
    • ✓ Femur (correct)

    The femur, or thigh bone, is the longest and strongest bone in the human body, typically measuring 45–50 cm in a typical adult.

  58. Which planet in our solar system is closest to the Sun?

    • Venus
    • Earth
    • ✓ Mercury (correct)
    • Mars

    Mercury is the innermost planet, orbiting the Sun at an average distance of about 57.9 million kilometres. Despite being closest to the Sun, it is not the hottest planet — that distinction belongs to Venus.

  59. Who is credited with inventing the telephone in 1876?

    • Thomas Edison
    • Nikola Tesla
    • Guglielmo Marconi
    • ✓ Alexander Graham Bell (correct)

    Alexander Graham Bell received the first patent for the telephone in March 1876. His famous first words spoken over the device were reportedly 'Mr. Watson, come here — I want to see you.'

  60. Which country is home to the Great Barrier Reef?

    • Indonesia
    • Philippines
    • ✓ Australia (correct)
    • Papua New Guinea

    The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 2,300 km off the coast of Queensland, Australia. It is the world's largest coral reef system and a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

  61. What is the largest internal organ in the human body by weight?

    • Lung
    • Brain
    • ✓ Liver (correct)
    • Heart

    The liver weighs approximately 1.4–1.6 kg in an adult and performs over 500 vital functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and bile production.

  62. What is the world's largest hot desert?

    • Gobi
    • Arabian
    • Kalahari
    • ✓ Sahara (correct)

    The Sahara Desert spans approximately 9.2 million square kilometres across North Africa, making it the largest hot desert on Earth. Antarctica is technically a larger desert overall but is classified as a cold desert.

  63. What is the official language of Brazil?

    • Spanish
    • French
    • Italian
    • ✓ Portuguese (correct)

    Brazil is the only country in South America colonised by Portugal, giving it Portuguese as its official language. It has the world's largest Portuguese-speaking population.

  64. In what year did the RMS Titanic sink?

    • 1908
    • ✓ 1912 (correct)
    • 1916
    • 1920

    The RMS Titanic sank on April 15, 1912, after striking an iceberg in the North Atlantic on her maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. Over 1,500 lives were lost.

  65. Who was the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize?

    • Florence Nightingale
    • Ada Lovelace
    • Rosalind Franklin
    • ✓ Marie Curie (correct)

    Marie Curie won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1903, becoming the first woman to receive the honour. She went on to win a second Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911, making her the only person to win Nobel Prizes in two different sciences.

  66. What is the longest river in Africa?

    • Congo
    • Niger
    • ✓ Nile (correct)
    • Zambezi

    The Nile River stretches approximately 6,650 km (4,130 miles) through northeastern Africa, making it the longest river on the continent and one of the longest in the world.

  67. Who wrote the play 'Romeo and Juliet'?

    • Christopher Marlowe
    • ✓ William Shakespeare (correct)
    • Ben Jonson
    • John Milton

    William Shakespeare wrote 'Romeo and Juliet' around 1594–1596. It is one of his most famous tragedies, telling the story of two young star-crossed lovers.

  68. What gas do plants absorb from the atmosphere during photosynthesis?

    • Oxygen
    • Nitrogen
    • ✓ Carbon dioxide (correct)
    • Hydrogen

    Plants absorb carbon dioxide (CO₂) from the atmosphere during photosynthesis and convert it into glucose using sunlight and water, releasing oxygen as a byproduct.