Can You Answer These General Knowledge Questions Every Adult Should Know?

By: Isadora Teich
Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Can You Answer These General Knowledge Questions Every Adult Should Know?
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About This Quiz

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Are you ready to put your general knowledge to the test? From science to health to politics and more, this quiz covers a wide range of topics for common knowledge questions. Don't be fooled by what you think you know - some common knowledge facts are actually incorrect!

In today's world, we are bombarded with information from social media and other sources. It can be hard to know what is true and where all this information is coming from. Testing your knowledge with this quiz can help you separate fact from fiction and see if you truly have your facts straight.

If you consider yourself a general knowledge expert, it's time to prove it! Challenge yourself with this quiz and see if you have what it takes to answer these trivia questions that every adult should know. Don't miss out on the chance to test your knowledge and learn something new!

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What country is sushi from?
Thailand
Japan
India
France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sushi comes from Japan. A traditional appetizer or main course, it features vinegared rice, cooked or raw seafood, vegetables and seaweed.

According to the Old Testament, how many days did it take God to create the world?
1
6
7
11
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In Genesis, God creates the world in 6 days. He rests on the 7th day.

Which is the world's most populous country?
China
America
India
Brazil
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

India is home to roughly 1.44 billion people, making it the world's most populous country. China is in a close second with roughly 1.43 billion people.

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About what percentage of the earth's surface is water?
10%
50%
70%
95%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

About 70% of the earth's surface is covered with water, about 96% of which is contained in the world's oceans. The earth's surface is about 30% land.

Is Washington, D.C. a state?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Washington, D.C. is a federal district and not a state. It's the capital of the U.S.

When should you take antibiotics?
For viruses
For bacterial infections
Never
Whenever you feel sick
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Antibiotics are effective at treating bacterial infections. They should not be taken if you have a virus because they cannot kill viruses.

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Is it true that the shape of a pregnant belly can help parents predict the sex of their baby?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A popular myth is that if you carry your baby low, it's a boy and if it's higher up it's a girl. This is not true. If a woman is carrying her baby up higher she either has strong abdominal muscles or has not been pregnant before.

Is Africa a country?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Africa is a continent containing 54 countries. It is the second-largest and second most populous continent on earth after Asia.

Why are French, Spanish and Italian called Romance languages?
They sound romantic.
They have roots in Latin, which was spoken by Romans.
They are only spoken by the Romani.
They were spread by those who roam.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A number of languages which developed in Europe descended from the Latin spoken by Ancient Romans. These include Italian, Portuguese, Spanish, French, Romanian and a few others.

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How many moons does the earth have?
0
1
2
5
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Earth has only 1 moon. It plays a role in ocean tides.

About how many countries are there in the world?
50
100
200
400
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 195 countries on earth today. 193 of them are members of the United Nations.

Is cancer usually contagious?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cancer itself is not contagious. You cannot catch breast cancer, leukemia or any other type of cancer from someone who has it. However, certain types of viruses, which can be spread from person to person, can potentially result in cancer.

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Which of these is not a major world ocean?
Arctic
Pacific
Indian
American
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 5 oceans which contain the majority of the world's water. These are the Arctic, Atlantic, Indian, Pacific and Southern.

What is the official language of the U.S.?
English
Latin
Spanish
There isn't one.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At the federal level, there is no official language of America. However, English is the official language in some states.

Is it true that only very pale people need to wear sunscreen?
No
Yes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Regardless of your skin tone, you need to wear sunscreen with SPF. People of all skin tones can experience negative health effects of too much sun.

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Can you drink ocean water?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ocean water is so salty that it will cause you to eventually die of dehydration. This is because, in order for your body to process the salty ocean water, you have to urinate more than you drink.

How many planets are there in the solar system?
2
8
9
11
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 8 planets in our solar system. These are Earth, Jupiter, Neptune, Mars, Saturn, Uranus, Venus and Mercury.

Is the death penalty legal in all U.S. states?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The death penalty is legal in 31 U.S. states and illegal in 19 states and Washington, D.C. In certain states, death row inmates can choose various ways to be executed.

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Where is the country of Egypt?
South America
Africa
Europe
Asia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Egypt is a country in the northern part of Africa. The famous Nile River runs through it.

The Koran is the holy book of which religion?
Christianity
Hinduism
Judaism
Islam
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Koran is the holy book of Islam. It is believed to be the word of God as dictated to Muhammad by archangel Gabriel.

Can most adults digest milk?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The majority of adults on earth are lactose intolerant. The ability to digest the lactose in milk as an adult is actually a genetic mutation that occurs in less than 40% of the world's adults.

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Is it true that it is more dangerous to fly on a plane than drive?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Statistically, it is far more dangerous to drive than fly. In 2015 alone, car accidents resulted in 35,000 deaths. Airline accidents resulted in 0 deaths in the U.S.

Which of these rivers is often cited as the longest river on earth?
Nile
Delaware
Ganges
Yamuna
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Nile is a north-flowing river in northeast Africa. It is over 4,000 miles long.

If a religion is polytheistic, it has:
1 God
Angels
Martyrs
Multiple gods
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A polytheistic religion has many gods. Hinduism is the most popular polytheistic religion on the planet.

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Which of these things causes autism?
Genetic factors
Vaccines
The common cold
A mother eating spicy food while pregnant
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scientists believe that a number of factors can cause autism. These include a combination of genetic, biologic and environmental factors.

Most of the world's ______ occur in the area known as the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Earthquakes
Floods
Droughts
Tornados
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Pacific Ring of fires spans the US and Asia around the Pacific Ocean and is an area known for its volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and other seismic activity. Most of the world's volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur in this area.

Which is the world's largest desert?
Gobi
Sahara
Mojave
Thar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Sahara Desert in northern Africa is the world's largest desert. It has a surface area of about 3.5 million square miles.

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Do sharks commonly eat people?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are about 300 species of shark, and only about a dozen have been involved in attacks on humans. Many types of sharks are too docile, small or deep in the ocean to ever be a threat to humans.

Which of these languages is English most closely related to?
Russian
German
Gujarati
Spanish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

English is a West Germanic language and so is German. English developed from the Anglo-Frisian branch of West Germanic languages and modern German developed from Old High German.

What country does yoga come from?
India
Japan
Canada
Guatamala
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Yoga is a spiritual practice of India. In the west, it is largely used for exercise.

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Which of these countries is not a part of Scandinavia?
Denmark
Norway
Sweden
The Netherlands
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scandinavia is a region of Northern Europe that contains Denmark, Norway, and Sweden. It can also refer to these countries with Finland and Iceland included.

Which of these foods is most common in the standard Western diet?
Red meat
Fruits
Vegetables
Fish
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Western pattern diet or standard American diet is known for being high in red meat, processed foods and sugar. It is low in fiber, and scientifically unhealthy.

Which country is shaped like a boot?
Canada
Rwanda
Italy
Qatar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Italy is a country in southwestern Europe. It is famously shaped like a boot and sticks out into the Mediterranean Sea.

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Is Puerto Rico a part of the U.S.?
Yes
No
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Puerto Rico is an unincorporated U.S. territory. They use American dollars and those born in Puerto Rico have U.S. citizenship and can move between the mainland and Puerto Rico freely.

What percentage of the world's population has red hair?
0%
About 2%
10%
About 25%
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Less than 2% of the world's population has naturally red hair. This trait is associated with the rare gene MC1R, which is recessive.

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