Template
General knowledge quiz template (20 questions)
A mixed-topic pack that works for almost any room: geography, science, history, sport, culture and language. Nothing here needs local knowledge, and no answer changes over time.
- questions
- 20
- Length
- About 25 minutes at 20 seconds per question
- Difficulty
- Mixed: 7 easy, 8 medium, 5 harder
- Best for
- Any mixed group
1. Round 1 — Warm-up
1. Which planet is closest to the Sun?
- AVenus
- BMercury(correct)
- CMars
- DEarth
Mercury orbits the Sun at an average distance of about 58 million km.
2. What is the capital city of Canada?
- AToronto
- BVancouver
- COttawa(correct)
- DMontreal
Ottawa has been the capital since 1857; Toronto is the largest city.
3. How many sides does a hexagon have?
- AFive
- BSix(correct)
- CSeven
- DEight
Hexa- is the Greek prefix for six.
4. Which ocean lies between Europe and North America?
- APacific
- BIndian
- CArctic
- DAtlantic(correct)
5. What is the chemical symbol for gold?
- AGo
- BAu(correct)
- CAg
- DGd
Au comes from the Latin aurum. Ag is silver.
2. Round 2 — Science and nature
1. Which gas do plants absorb from the air for photosynthesis?
- AOxygen
- BNitrogen
- CCarbon dioxide(correct)
- DHydrogen
2. What is the largest animal alive today?
- AAfrican elephant
- BBlue whale(correct)
- CGiraffe
- DWhale shark
Blue whales reach around 30 metres and are the largest animals known to have lived.
3. How many bones does an adult human skeleton normally contain?
- A186
- B206(correct)
- C226
- D246
4. Water freezes at which temperature at sea-level pressure?
- A0 °C(correct)
- B4 °C
- C-10 °C
- D10 °C
5. Which part of the eye controls how much light enters it?
- ARetina
- BCornea
- CIris(correct)
- DLens
The iris opens and closes the pupil.
3. Round 3 — History and geography
1. In which year did the Second World War end in Europe?
- A1943
- B1944
- C1945(correct)
- D1946
Germany surrendered in May 1945.
2. Which river runs through Budapest?
- ADanube(correct)
- BRhine
- CElbe
- DVistula
3. Which country has the most inhabited islands?
- AJapan
- BPhilippines
- CIndonesia(correct)
- DGreece
Indonesia has roughly 6,000 inhabited islands out of more than 17,000.
4. The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a tomb for which pharaoh?
- ATutankhamun
- BKhufu(correct)
- CRamesses II
- DAkhenaten
5. Which mountain range separates Europe from Asia in the east?
- AAlps
- BCarpathians
- CCaucasus
- DUrals(correct)
The Ural mountains are the conventional eastern boundary of Europe.
4. Round 4 — Culture and sport
1. How many players from one team are on a football pitch at kick-off?
- ANine
- BTen
- CEleven(correct)
- DTwelve
2. Who wrote the play 'Romeo and Juliet'?
- AChristopher Marlowe
- BWilliam Shakespeare(correct)
- CBen Jonson
- DJohn Webster
3. Which instrument has 88 keys in its standard modern form?
- AOrgan
- BPiano(correct)
- CHarpsichord
- DAccordion
4. In chess, which piece may only move diagonally?
- ARook
- BKnight
- CBishop(correct)
- DKing
5. How often are the modern Summer Olympic Games held?
- AEvery two years
- BEvery three years
- CEvery four years(correct)
- DEvery five years
Before you use this pack
- Every answer here is stable: no question depends on a current record holder, ranking or office holder.