Anyone Who Finished High School Should Pass This General Knowledge Quiz
- by Ricky Bambuto
- – on
- in Lifestyle
Let's put our thinking caps on and be sure to strap them tight. We'll need all the legions of neurons in our brains to pass this high school level general knowledge quiz. At least, most of us will - we imagine that all geniuses out there will be able to ace this thing without sparing much effort.
Are there any high school graduates among today's quiz takers? That's good - a solid, healthy knowledge of topics covered throughout high school is the surest way of earning a good score on this test. On the other hand, that knowledge won't serve anyone much if it's lost in the deep abysses of memory. In that regard, it's possible that current high school students will have a better chance here than alumni. At any case, those who either spend or have spent most of their high school time snoozing on the desk instead of paying attention isn't likely to score a passing grade.
In any case, all we can do is go forward and give this quiz our best shot. The following questions will cover a range of topics at a high school difficulty level. Let's see if there's anyone out there who can score 100%.
What's the atomic sign for water?
Since water is so important in our lives, it would make sense for us to assume that everyone taking this quiz knows at least a little bit about the fundamentals of water - specifically, we're wondering about the atomic sign for water. This sacred substance is composed of either one or a group of elements. The right answer is listed below - let's pick it, and then we'll have deserved a nice drink of cold water. Who can pick out the correct atomic sign?
True or false - John Lennon discovered the ukulele in the 1960s
John Lennon is a monumental, historical figure, to say the very least. Of course, the world knows him as one of the four sacred members of The Beatles, a rock band that changed music forever. But is that the only huge achievement Mr. John Lennon is known for? For all we know, the man accomplished a lot of things outside of the band - it's even possible that he discovered the ukulele back in the 1960s. Did he actually do it?
What's the basic unit of life in all living things?
We're all pretty accustomed to going about our lives with our medium-ish scale being used as a constant point of reference. However, sometimes we can amuse ourselves by imagining other, wholly different scales - for instance, if we zoom our perspective out and up to the max, we'll see the universe as a whole; one single dot amid a multitude of other dots. On the other hand, if we zoom into the most microscopic scale possible, we'd see the building blocks of life itself.
What's the square root of 64?
Has it been a while since a simple math problem like this presented itself? If we think back to our own high school math days, we'd be going down a nightmarish well of failure upon failure, and maybe a certain quiz taker had a similar experience. Thankfully, this math problem isn't a very difficult refresher course, but we will need to get it right to secure a good score here. Let's put our thinking caps on and figure out the square root of 64.
What is foreshadowing in literature?
Anyone taking this quiz who isn't a big reader might run into some trouble with this question. Indeed, even those who make a consistent habit of reading might not know the answer, since literary techniques aren't always evident despite how often they're used in our favorite books. As far as literary techniques go, foreshadowing is an absolute cornerstone - when used wisely (and not too frequently), it can really take the reading experience to a whole new level. What is foreshadowing, anyway?
Which of these words does NOT belong with the others?
This question will require some command over and knowledge of the art of language, a field that runs quite deep. Language is a complicated concept - we won't even attempt to figure out the activity that underlies it. What we can figure out, though, is which of the following words is the outlier compared to the others. Although it might appear to be a tricky puzzle to solve, the answer is within reach for those who take a close enough look.
What's the general name for a group of wolves?
Sometimes, when wandering through the wood, one might come across a lone wolf - a solitary, furry traveler taking each day and its adventures as they come. Conversely, one might also come across a group of wolves who roam the land together, looking for whatever they can find. As it turns out, this particular animal collective has a general name, and we'll need to know that name in order to get the right answer here. What would one call a group of wolves?
Are kidneys organs?
We don't tend to think about it often - mainly because it's not very productive in most cases - but each of our bodies are miniature planets within us, our multitude of body parts operating under their own natural order. Among the many parts that are inside our bodies, we have kidneys, and the function they perform is super important. That function aside for now, we're wondering if there's anyone out there who knows what kidneys are - specifically, whether these things are organs.
Choose the sentence that contains an error in grammar, usage or punctuation
During our school days, we were used to teachers correcting our errors in grammar, usage or punctuation. Today, however, the tables have turned - it's our turn to spot these errors in one of the sentences below, and click on it accordingly. If we can do that, we'll have honored our favorite English teachers by following in their footsteps - if not, we'll have come short of the great examples they've set. Which of the following sentences contain an error?
Which of the following is an example of a metaphor?
Here's a literary technique that pretty much everyone has at least heard of - of course, we're talking about metaphors. When it comes to conveying a point in a creative manner, there's virtually limitless room for play offered by metaphors. We won't provide a sample here, since that might provide a certain quiz taker with all the tools they need to spot the metaphor below. Instead, let's just take a measured look at our options, and click the most metaphorical one.
How many innings does a baseball game have?
Everyone loves the old ball game, or at least, fans of the sport certainly do. Indeed, while there are millions and millions of people who follow and love baseball, there are legions and legions more who pay no attention to the sport whatsoever. For these people, getting this question right might be asking a little too much - after all, it's a rather specific bit of trivia pertaining to the game. Does anyone know how many innings a baseball game has?
In Greek mythology, what is Aphrodite the goddess of?
The ancient gods of Greek mythology were quite prominent in their heyday. During ancient Greek times, these gods were brought up frequently, the people thinking that all daily occurrences boiled down to the moods and goings-on of the deities that occupy Mount Olympus. These days, the gods of Greek mythology aren't as spoken of as they once were, but we enjoy recalling them from time to time. This time, we're recalling the goddess Athena - what is she all about?
True or false - Frodo Baggins is the hero of Hogwarts
Frodo Baggins is an epic hero in the world of on screen fantasy drama. In his story, he's the chosen one of sorts, although no one would ever suspect that a Hobbit like him would be responsible for carrying such a burden. The fate of his entire world is upon his shoulders, and for those who haven't seen his film series, we won't spoil his ultimate outcome. However, we're wondering whether this little Hobbit is actually the hero of Hogwarts.
Which of these words does NOT belong with the others?
Let's have another question centered on lovely wordplay. Words play a big part in our day to day - in fact, we're communicating via the magic of words right now.. Some of us have a better grasp over our language than others, so the answer to this question might not be so obvious for everyone out there. Still, all quiz takers are encouraged to give this their best shot. One of the following words do not belong with the others - which is it.
Where in the body is the temporal lobe located?
With his gifted brain and impeccable research skills, we assume that Albert Einstein would definitely know where the temporal lobe is located, though we also assume that the same can't be said for everyone taking this quiz. After all, many of us have forgotten a lot of the lessons from our high school biology class. Since this is a high school level quiz, that's no excuse for anyone who can't figure this one out. Where in the body is the temporal lobe located?
Sparta was a city state in which ancient country?
Although many of us don't happen to be legitimate history buffs, we don't have to be in order to get this one right. After all, the ancient Spartans were brought to the collective mind relatively recently, when the movie 300 came out to glorify them. This warrior race was known for producing fantastic soldiers, and it served its country well during its run. Of course, no run can last forever, regardless of how legendary it is. Which country did Sparta belong to?
Forest is to tree as tree is to?
Anyone who considers themselves logical might want to rethink that if they can't get the answer to this next question right. It's a simple matter of connecting the dots, and considering the line that binds them. Consider a tree as one individual part of a forest, then consider the individual parts that comprise a tree. Let's see if we can figure out how the parallels in this equation work. A forest is to a tree as a tree is to a what?
Name this animal
This cheeky little animal has somehow weaseled its way into this quiz, and we get the feeling that it won't be leaving until we can guess the name of its species. While it playfully nibbles away at its veggie, let's see if we can do just that. Being a biologist would help here, but it doesn't take a degree in biology in order to get the question right. All that's needed is some general knowledge of and curiosity in little animals.
What's the capital of Panama?
There are countless stories to be told in Panama, and something tells us that common knowledge of the country only scratches its surface. As far as common knowledge goes, however, anyone who considers themselves either a geography or Panama buff should be able to pick out the country's capital. Maybe the picture will help, but don't expect it to show the name of the capital in Times New Roman. We'll need to use our noggins to get this one right.
How many rings are on the Olympic flag?
Since the Olympics are always a global phenomena, billions from across the world tend to get on board the hype train every time the games roll around. This is understandable, for sure - it's always interesting to see the limits of human physique being pushed. Everything surrounding the Olympic games adds to its lore, from the ceremonial torch to the logo. We can all form a picture of the Olympic rings in our minds right now, but how accurate will that picture be?
What is the definition of 'echolalia'?
Granted, this word is a piece of advanced language arts even for someone who's been a high school graduate for a long time. People don't tend to say "Echolalia" in their day to day, unless they happen to be a fanatic of the word and its connotations, or perhaps work closely with the concept. We can't say much about echolalia without revealing the answer (or repeating ourselves), so we'll leave it up to quiz takers to pick the correct definition.
Who wrote The Great Gatsby?
The Great Gatsby is a timeless story written by one of the best writers of the 20th century. This all goes without saying - the simple fact that Mr. Leonardo DiCaprio starred in the leading role of the film adaptation of The Great Gatsby is a testament to the quality of the story. While many people might know about this book, not everyone can match it to its author. Remember - process of elimination is always an option here, but it must be used as a last resort.
Which of the following is an example of hyperbole?
Hyperbole is a literary device that can be enjoyed by all readers, even those who don't recognize it when they see it. It's such a unique word, it's hard to pick apart its connotations from its roots. Unfortunately, only those who paid attention in English class will be able to get this one right, so let's hope that the lesson is still fresh in mind. One of the following sentences is brimming with hyperbole - which one might that be?
Choose the sentence that contains an error in grammar, usage or punctuation
As much as all of the sentences in the options below aspire for perfection, one of them falls tragically short. The sentence we're thinking of contains an error in either grammar, usage or punctuation, and it's a pretty blatant error at that. At least, we find that it sticks out like a sore thumb - it might be more subtle to those unaccustomed to spotting errors in text. Either way, we'll have to give it our best shot - which of the following sentences needs work?
Are most owls nocturnal?
Let's direct our thoughts to the forest - the deeper we go into the wood, the likelier we are to run into a certain, mysterious bird. Of course, we're talking about owls - glorious, wise old owls. These birds are unlike many others, and not only in their appearances. For instance, their sleep cycle may or may not be reversed relative to other birds. Of course, we won't say one way or another - that's for the quiz takers to figure out.
Who's this genius?
This unstoppable genius is on a mission change the world, and his impeccable record of honoring his word suggests he might do just that. If he's given the chance to keep his momentum up for a while, we might end up being a multi-galactic species before we even know it. He's currently working on about a hundred genius projects, updates for some of these being broadcasted on a regular basis to international audiences. He's so famous, it's safe to assume that most people out there know his name.
Where in the world is the Louvre?
The Louvre is one of the top museums in the world - it's such a legendary place, people from all countries fly to the city it's located in just to see it. Of course, while they're there, there's little stopping them from partaking in the city's various other delights. An art connoisseur will get the answer right with their eyes and ears closed, but everyone else will have to rely on their general trivia powers. Just where on Earth is the Louvre?
What's a rhombus?
A rhombus can be any number of things - indeed, at this very moment, it's probably behaving as several different things all at once. But can't that be said about anything? Uh oh, looks like we've fallen into pure abstraction again. While we wade our way through this river of confusion, let's see if anyone out there knows about rhombuses. Just what are these mysterious things, and what do they do? Do rhombuses even exist? We can't say for sure.
Who wrote The Metamorphosis?
In The Metamorphosis, within the first sentence, readers are made aware that the protagonist of the story has suddenly and inexplicably woke up in the body of a giant insect. What would any of us do in that situation? Pretty much what he did, probably - freak out for as long as needed, then try to figure things out. Human beings are adaptive creatures, after all, but does that still apply when the human is turned into an insect? The author of the story has the answer.
Which mythological beast is this?
Pictured here is one of the most famous mythological beasts of lore, and its legend still rings clear to this very day. Any of us venturing out to the open sea should definitely be aware of its wrath, whether it actually exists or not. It's best to assume that it does, for safety's sake - not that it would help at all, of course. Should this creature actually be somewhere in the ocean, and should it fix its demon eyes on our ship, we'd surely be sunk.
Which of these words does NOT belong with the others?
Three of these words form a happy family, their meanings linking with one another, forming a literary chain. However, there's a fourth word down there that doesn't belong with the collective. If these words were a high school cafeteria table, the three related words would be whispering heavy smack about the fourth one, hoping that would inspire it to sit somewhere else. If enough people click the right answer, maybe this word will move on to find others it fits in with.
Name this animal
This is one of those quizzes that features more than one furry little friend - in our view, these are the best quizzes of them all. However, we should note that this little creature's fur isn't always friendly to the touch. Of course, this is a prickly animal, and petting it over its spikes presents an enormous minor injury risk. Just what is this animal, though? Maybe the question would be easier if the picture showed a pixelated, blue version who likes to go fast.
Who painted this?
This painting is super easy on the eyes, and that's probably because it was produced by a master artist. He's greater than that, even - this guy is one of the masters of masters, historically and forever in the top 10 of all time influential artists. His name is as famous as Michael Jackson's, Michael Jordan's, and even Mike Myers. Sadly, however, despite most people knowing his name, not everyone can link it to his artwork, which is what we'll need here.
Cynophobia is the fear of what?
Most people would be surprised at how many phobias are out there. For all we know, there are some out there who get paralyzed with fear whenever they see a dried fig. Hopefully our fear doesn't run so deep, though we do know that cynophobia is definitely a thing. Those with cynophobia stop in their tracks with fear whenever they're faced with the object of their fear. Let's see if anyone can figure out what fear cynophobia is related to.
Who said, "what goes up must come down"?
These are some wise words, but they're also super obvious. If we wanted to make a day out of it, we can see what happens to things that go up by throwing various objects into the sky. Spoiler alert - eventually, they'd all come down. This seems to go without saying now, but it took someone to put it just this way hundreds of years ago for the world to really grasp the concept. Which historical genius is this quote attributed to?