Try Your Best to Pass This Trivia Quiz

By: Teresa McGlothlin
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Try Your Best to Pass This Trivia Quiz
Image: RichLegg / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

While some of us are walking trivia sponges, others have to work hard to retain just the knowledge we need to get through our daily lives. However, we challenge the notion that not everyone can be a trivia whiz! In our experience, everyone has more random knowledge than they realize. In fact, we think you'll be impressed with yourself after you answer the questions in this quiz! 

From geography to movie facts, trivia is not a shallow well. A well-rounded trivia maestro will know a little about everything, and we want to see how you'll fare against the rest of the population. Even if you've never sat down to a heated game of Trivial Pursuit, we think your untapped knowledge will rise to the surface as you do your best to answer the questions we've found. 

You don't need to get a perfect score to do well. We have come up with some tricky and deeply factual tidbits that might make you scratch your head. They are so varied that you are sure to remember them the next time someone challenges you to a video game battle of wits. 

Will you do as well as you expect, and will you do better than your friends? Challenge them when you get your results. Then you'll know if your best effort was enough! 


What does the Richter scale measure?
Sound
Earthquakes
Wind speed
Temperature
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For an earthquake to be considered a major event, it must measure at least seven on the Richter magnitude scale. Developed in 1935, the scale has been used to measure earthquakes around the world.

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"Wake Up Little Susie" was a hit for which band in 1958?
The Beatles
The Temptations
The Everly Brothers
The Crickets
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With a career dating all the way back to 1951, the Everly Brothers were responsible for classic hits like "Wake Up Little Susie" and "Cathy's Clown." They are best known for their ability to harmonize, and they broke a lot of ground for artists during the era.

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Where is the Sea of Tranquility located?
Russia
The moon
Florida
Canada
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mare Tranquillitatis, or the Sea of Tranquility, is on the surface of the moon. Although it is not really a body of water, the impression of an ocean floor was left by a collision over four million years ago.

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What animal would you find adorning the California state flag?
Eagle
Bear
Wolf
Deer
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Although there hasn't been a sighting of a grizzly bear in California since 1922, it is the animal you will find on the state flag. Said to portray strength, the bear has been part of the flag since the Bear Flag Revolt in 1846.

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Who did John F. Kennedy defeat to become the U.S. president?
Jimmy Carter
Gerald Ford
Ronald Reagan
Richard Nixon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After all the votes were counted during the 1960 election, John Fitzgerald Kennedy was elected President of the United States, defeating Richard M. Nixon. It was one of the closest races in U.S. history, with just over 100,000 votes separating the two candidates.

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Can you name the only type of rock that floats?
Limestone
Quartz
Pumice
Coal
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also good for smoothing out your rough winter feet, the pumice stone is the only type of stone that floats. This volcanic rock is 90% porous on average. Although it may sink eventually, pumice will float at first.

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During which war were tanks first utilized?
World War I
World War II
The Civil War
The War of 1812
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The very first tanks were used by the British at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette in 1916, during the First World War. Although they could not travel more than four miles per hour, they were effective tools on the open battlefield.

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Which famous serial killer haunted London's Whitechapel area?
Ted Bundy
Jeffrey Dahmer
Joanna Dennehy
Jack the Ripper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For an entire month in 1888, Jack the Ripper held London's East End area of Whitechapel hostage with fear. Killing at least five prostitutes, he was sometimes called the "Leather Apron."

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Where is the patella located on the human body?
Neck
Arm
Stomach
Knee
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Also known as your kneecap, your patella is the flat bone that sits between the femur and your shins. It is held in place by a series of tendons, and it protects the delicate knee joint from harm.

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Who is the author of the poem at the base of the Statue of Liberty?
Emma Lazarus
Thomas Jefferson
Winston Churchill
Abraham Lincoln
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Officially titled "The New Colossus," the sonnet found at the base of the Statue of Liberty was written by Emma Lazarus. It was written in 1883 to raise money for the statue's pedestal and was engraved on the pedestal in 1903.

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Which of these human foods should you never share with your dog?
Grapes
Peanut butter
Steak
Carrots
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While many human foods are just fine for sharing with our furry best friends, grapes should be avoided at all costs. Although the exact reason they are so toxic to dogs is still unknown, merely three grapes might be enough to cause fatal kidney failure.

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How many boroughs can be found in New York City?
Five
Three
Six
Twelve
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The whole of New York City is made up of five boroughs, including Manhattan, Queens, The Bronx, Staten Island and Brooklyn. As a whole, the city of New York has over 8.6 million residents.

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What does a mycologist study?
Rocks
Insects
Fungi
Viruses
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you were to ask a mycologist what they were studying, their response would involve some sort of fungus. Mycology is the science of fungi, and it takes a degree in microbiology to explore the field on an advanced level.

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How high is the center of the net on a tennis court?
Five feet
Three feet
Two feet
Four feet
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At its very center, where it sags most, the net marking the middle line on a tennis court stands 36 inches, or three feet, in height. At the poles, the net height is three feet, six inches.

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Approximately how many hours a day does a house cat sleep?
8-10
12-16
18-22
3-7
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Perhaps one of the sleepiest animals on the planet, the common house cat sleeps between 12 and 16 hours per day. Humans average six to eight hours, and dogs average 12 to 14 hours. Cats clearly take the sleeping title, but not by much!

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Which of the world's countries consumes the most electricity?
United States
England
Russia
China
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the United States, India, Japan and Russia use fair amounts of electricity, China has the distinction of using the most. It is easy to see why China is also the largest consumer of coal, followed by the United States.

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Why do sea otters hold hands when they sleep?
To stay warm
To fend off predators
To stay together
To avoid loneliness
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Seeing sleeping sea otters holding hands while they sleep might look adorable, but it serves a much deeper purpose. In order to avoid being carried away by the tide, sea otters hold hands to keep one another with the rest of the raft.

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Which game show is television's longest running?
"Wheel of Fortune"
"The Price Is Right"
"Let's Make a Deal"
"Jeopardy!"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Originally aired in 1956, "The Price Is Right" is considered to be the longest-running game show on television. Although the show has had two breaks, the current version is hosted by Drew Carey.

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What is the name of the oldest form of currency still in use?
Dollar
Euro
Pound
Peso
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The British pound might soon be a thing of the past, but it has held strong for over 1,200 years. While most of Europe is now using the Euro, Brexit-bound United Kingdom still uses the ancient currency.

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January wasn't always the first month — which month was?
April
September
March
October
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When the world was operating on the Julian calendar, March was the first month of the year. In 1752 Britain adopted the Gregorian calendar, and the first month of the year became January. In addition, they lost some days, declaring that September 3, 1752, should be September 14, 1752 instead.

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Who was originally considered for the part of Andy DuFresne in "The Shawshank Redemption"?
Tom Hanks
Brad Pitt
Sean Connery
Tim Robbins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before Tim Robbins was cast as Andy DuFresne in 1994's "The Shawshank Redemption," Tom Hanks was the actor that producers wanted for the role. Hanks turned down the role, however, because he was busy filming "Forrest Gump."

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Which book of the Bible is longest?
Genesis
Revelations
Leviticus
Psalms
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With 150 chapters and 2,461 verses in the book of Psalms, it carries the title of the longest book in the Bible. If you wanted to read the shortest book, you would read Obadiah. It only has 21 verses.

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What is the name of the book Forrest Gump keeps in his suitcase?
"Of Mice and Men"
"Curious George"
"The Giving Tree"
"Everybody Poops"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As Tom Hanks navigates the world in the movie "Forrest Gump," his character can often be seen carrying a suitcase. Along with a ping pong paddle, some toothpaste and extra socks, Forrest also carries around a "Curious George" book.

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Which Andrew Lloyd Webber musical was the first to hit the big screen?
"Cats"
"Phantom of the Opera"
"Evita"
"Jesus Christ Superstar"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After a successful run on Broadway, "Jesus Christ Superstar" hit movie theaters in 1973. With a budget of only $3.5 million, the film grossed nearly $25 million at the box office, surprising everyone involved.

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Which of these zodiac signs is considered an earth sign?
Cancer
Scorpio
Leo
Virgo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the astrological zodiac, there are twelve signs, split into triplicities based on the four elements of earth, air, fire and water. Along with Taurus and Capricorn, Virgo is considered to be an earth sign.

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What are the names of Cinderella's helper mice?
Tick and Tat
Gustav and Leo
Jaq and Gus
Perry and Mason
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Once released in 1950, Disney's "Cinderella" became an instant classic. When Cinderella is in need, she turns to two mice named Jaq and Gus to help. Although Gus' name is really Octavius, Cinderella calls him Gus for short.

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What is the right name for a group of rattlesnakes?
Rhumba
Pride
School
Den
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Encountering one rattlesnake is quite jarring, but encountering a rhumba of them is the stuff of nightmares. Rattlesnakes do not hibernate during the winter, but they do seek shelter and become lethargic. Their inactivity in cold weather is called "brumation," not hibernation.

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If you threw an apple at someone in Ancient Greek culture, what would it have meant?
Love
Good fortune
Competitiveness
Anger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you wanted to propose to someone in Ancient Greece, it was as simple as throwing an apple at them. You've heard the phrase "apple of my eye," but now you know what it really means. When a man wanted a wife back then, he simply chucked a whole apple her way.

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Which planet in the solar system has the tallest mountain?
Earth
Jupiter
Mercury
Mars
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At a height of 15.5 miles, Olympus Mons is more than double the height of Mount Everest. Found on Mars, the giant mountain is an active volcano. With no plate tectonics on Mars, the volcano continues to grow.

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Which actress played Queen Narissa in "Enchanted"?
Julia Roberts
Susan Sarandon
Reese Witherspoon
Angela Bassett
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2007's "Enchanted," Susan Sarandon put all the other wicked stepmothers in Disney's arsenal to the test, flawlessly playing Queen Narissa. Sarandon later admitted that it was one of her very favorite roles.

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When translated, what does the word "karaoke" mean?
Bad singing
Musical entertainment
Empty orchestra
Lip syncing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before the word "karaoke" was coined, the machine that plays music and allows people to sing over it was invented in 1971. It wasn't until a machine was used to fill in for an orchestra that the term "karaoke," or "empty orchestra," was coined.

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Which Disney movie was the first to be made into a Broadway musical?
"Cinderella"
"Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs"
"The Three Little Pigs"
"Sleeping Beauty"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1979, Walt Disney's "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs" made its debut on Broadway. Based on the classic 1937 film, the show starred Mary Jo Salerno as the sleepy princess.

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What kind of snake can build a nest?
Timber rattlesnake
King cobra
Copperhead
Water moccasin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Snakes are well known for congregating in dens, but only the king cobra can make a nest. Because it can lay up to 40 eggs at a time, it creates a nest with plant matter to protect its delicate offspring.

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Where was the Eiffel Tower supposed to be permanently placed?
New York, New York
London, England
Milan, Italy
Barcelona, Spain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

First built as the gateway to the Paris Exposition in 1889, the Eiffel Tower was supposed to be moved and permanently placed in Barcelona, Spain. After being rejected by the Spanish government, the tower was left to stand in its current position.

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Which of these songs was featured in Madonna's first music video?
"Like a Virgin"
"Papa Don't Preach"
"Everybody"
"Get Into the Groove"
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When Madonna hit the music scene in 1982, "Everybody" was her first music video. However, 1984's "Borderline" was the first to become popular on MTV. Now with more than 75 singles under her belt, she remains one of the world's top-selling artists.

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