Every Genius Should Take This Quiz And Score At Least 99%
- by Danielle Lasher
- – on
- in Mind Twisters
Calling all experts! Experts, pay attention—this one is a is doozy. Remember the game Trivial Pursuit? It was a craze that had years of staying power, and spawned spinoff games that were each based on a different subcategory of trivia. There was even a Lord of the Rings edition. Fast forward to the present: At least once a week, there's probably a "trivia night" (with prizes) at a nearby pub, and there is a perennial demand for these tests of skill, or memory, or ways to tell who had a lot of time on their hands as teens. There's something satisfying about knowing the answers to a whole bunch of ridiculously obscure questions; if nothing else, it makes it feel like all those books in college had a purpose. It's similar to the feeling of finishing a crossword puzzle—when that last square is filled, it's wonderful.
This quiz will satisfy that longing (for a few minutes, anyway). Try to answer these without resorting to Google—although we won't know the difference. Take heed, all who think they know a lot of things about a lot of things, or even a little about a lot of things! These questions are about everything, but they might only be useful as answers to trivia questions. Make way for the specialized generalists, everyone, and get ready to see who the geniuses among us are!
Name just one of the rivers that courses through the nation of Spain.
There are eight major rivers in Spain. These rivers flow to different Spanish coasts, and unusually, none of them forms the border of a province—they flow through the middles of provinces, pretty much. Two even cross through into Portugal on their way to the Atlantic. Learning the major rivers and the names of the provinces is basic in Spanish class—let's see who stayed awake during that part of class. What's the name of just one of these rivers?
What does IC (as in IC chip) stand for?
Electronics surround us all the time. They're all built out of interchangeable components, though. Some of the pieces are tiny and mysterious, and some are easily visible and colorful and can be swapped out without much trouble from one piece of machinery into another. Among the most common components are resistors, capacitors, and diodes—some diodes emit light, and so are called light emitting diodes or LEDs for short. Another component is an IC. What does IC (as in IC chip) stand for?
What's the name of this show?
Japanese comic books and cartoon television series, or manga and anime (after the Japanese word for animation) have surpassed cars as Japan's number one export. There's one anime series in particular that follows the adventures of a pair of wandering samurai (or ronin, since they have no sworn lords or masters) through Japan. In the course of the show, several phases of real Japanese history within the Edo period, and actual known historical events, become elements of the story. What's the name of the show?
What kind of plant is a rhubarb?
Rhubarb plants are similar to a marshland weed called skunk cabbage, but they're edible and not smelly. The leaf of the rhubarb plant is toxic, so when rhubarb is available for sale in grocery stores, the leafy part has already been cut off. In the US, rhubarb is usually baked in pies with strawberries—in the 1800s it was called "pie plant." The taste is quite sour; it needs sugar. What kind of plant is it?
What wood was used?
The oldest continuously used ship in the United States Navy is the USS Constitution, or "Old Ironsides" as she's affectionately known. The "iron" in the ship's nickname does not refer to the material actually used in the construction of the ship; it refers to the quality of the ship's sides. Legend has it that the wood used in building the sides of the ship was so strong and so supple that cannon balls just bounced off. What wood was used?
What's one method glassmakers used to get their products into the hands of consumers?
Collectible glassware falls into several categories, but one of the most popular at the end of the 20th century and into the early 2000s was "Depression glass," the popular term for glassware produced during the Great Depression. Because people had no money to spend on much of anything, never mind fancy decorative glassware, glassware manufacturers resorted to all kinds of methods to get their products out into the world. What's one method glassmakers used to get their products into the hands of consumers?
Who's the painter?
The movie Moulin Rouge revolutionized moviemaking, making musicals hip and cool again, at least in theory (Hamilton continued that journey). Director Baz Luhrmann dug deep into the aesthetic of the time. The Moulin Rouge, however, is a real place in Paris, and one of the characters in the movie is a real historical painter. This painter hung around at the real Moulin Rouge and made many paintings of the people and events that he saw there. Some of them are famous images now. Who's the painter?
Which one is vitamin C?
Vitamin C aids health. Vitamin C deficiency is known to cause rickets. The knowledge of citrus fruits' importance in combating rickets led the British Navy to carry limes for its sailors on long tours of duty, which gave rise to the term "limeys" to refer to British people. Some vitamins are stored for future use in the body in fat cells, and are called "fat-soluble." Other vitamins don't get stored, but flush out of the body if unused; these are "water soluble" vitamins. Which one is vitamin C?
Why did Admiral Byrd say bases on the poles were important?
The days of polar exploration were hopeful, heady times. After a disputed 1926 flight to the North Pole, Admiral Richard Byrd brought crews to the Antarctic, also known as the South Pole, in five expeditions beginning in the early 1900s. His crews survived them all, as did he; Byrd later perished in his bed. In his second expedition to the Antarctic, he stayed alone in a forward meteorological monitoring camp for five months. Crew from the base camp rescued him. Why did Byrd say bases on the poles were important?
What was among the first foods Birdseye marketed?
Clarence Birdseye invented frozen food as we know it today. People have of course been storing food by freezing it for thousands of years, with documented methods in China of food storage using ice as early as 1000 BC. What Birdseye figured out, was a way of flash-freezing the food so that its appearance and texture were preserved. His ads of the era said that the vegetables were as lovely as they looked in the summer at harvest time. What was among the first foods Birdseye marketed?
What is the most important export food crop from Hawaii today?
When Hawaii joined the United States, it was as a conquered country. The first leader of Hawaii who unified the islands was Kamehameha. The last leader, Liliuokalani, was forced to abdicate in the 1890s and was placed under house arrest in the Iolani palace in Honolulu. Liliuokalani wrote the signature tune "Aloha ‘Oe." Hawaii became a state in the United States by vote on August 21, 1959. What is the most important export food crop from Hawaii today?
What's the next most valuable property in the game of Monopoly, trailing behind Broadwalk and Park Place?
In the classic board game Monopoly, players try to accomplish three things: buy as much of the most valuable property they can, build as many houses and hotels as they can, and accumulate as much money as they can. The game can go on for hours because all this acquisition and waiting for someone to go bankrupt takes quite a while. The most valuable properties in the game (and therefore the most desirable) are Boardwalk and Park Place. What's the next most valuable?
In what year were the first Nobel Prizes awarded?
The Nobel Prizes in sciences are awarded each year in Stockholm, Sweden. Winners travel to Stockholm and receive medals from the leader of Sweden. The Peace Prize is an exception—it is given by the Norwegian Nobel committee, and this award ceremony is held in Oslo, Norway. Winners of the awards are decided by experts in the various fields after a lengthy and somewhat secretive process. Among the rules: award-winners have to be alive; the award is never bestowed posthumously. In what year were the first Nobel Prizes awarded?
How many different photoreceptors does the mantis shrimp have?
The mantis shrimp has a remarkable eye structure that is unique in the animal kingdom. It is a strikingly beautiful to look at, but it is highly aggressive when confronted. Some species of mantis shrimp can injure creatures much larger than it, with a club-like structure that delivers serious damage to an opponent. It is believed to be the only creature that has the ability to see polarized light in its full spectrum. Humans have three (occasionally four) different photoreceptor types. How many different photoreceptors does the mantis shrimp have?
What company paid Tesla royalties for the patent rights to his AC system?
While Thomas Edison is generally credited as the inventor of electricity, Nikola Tesla invented a safer alternating current method of transmitting electrical power. He was also an eccentric and was known for a number of inventions, some of which have never been duplicated. He was also a known eccentric—he was obsessed with pigeons, and visitors to his New York City apartment found pigeon feathers and pigeons everywhere. What company paid Tesla royalties for the patent rights to his AC system?
What country claims to have invented the croissant?
Being able to make a croissant is a hallmark of a skilled baker. This variation on puff pastry requires multiple rounds of spreading butter across a yeast dough surface, folding it over, rolling it out, and spreading more butter—and repeat, multiple times. It can take years to perfect this craft. The croissant is practically synonymous with French pastry now, but its origins are elsewhere. Baker- August Zang. crafted the croissant to commemorate the defeat of the Ottomans. What country claims this innovation?
What is one of the uses the Egyptians made of their allotment of grain?
In ancient Egypt, a community of skilled artisans lived in a separate village near the pyramids. Nearness made the work easier. These artists passed down their craft to apprentices, and they focused on improving their skills, the better to glorify the pharaoh with their work. They were paid a regular salary, which included a food allotment that they sometimes traded for other materials. What is one of the uses the Egyptians made of their allotment of grain?
Which of these is the name for an underground mining method?
Coal mining has been a major industry in America since the Industrial Revolution—coal development went hand in hand with the progress of the Industrial Revolution, in fact. There are several techniques for mining this important mineral resource. They can be broken down into above ground mining, and underground mining. Above ground techniques include open cast, open pit, mountaintop removal or strip mining. Most people think of underground methods when they think of mining, however. Which of these is the name for an underground mining method?
Which of the following items is a common source of trans fat?
Trans fats have been in the news recently. Some areas have even passed legislation banning them. A trans fat is a saturated fat, which means that the available points on the molecule that could hold double bonded carbon instead have a hydrogen atom. This is where the term "hydrogenated" comes from—the presence of hydrogen atoms along the fatty chains that trail off the spine of the fatty acid molecule. Trans fats are often called "partially hydrogenated fats" on ingredient lists. Which of the following items is a common source of trans fat?
What television show was based on books about the early life of Laura, a young girl growing up in the 1800s in America?
The "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder chronicle the early life of Laura, a young girl growing up in the 1800s in America. She describes in detail exactly how her family cured meat, made maple sugar, baked, and ran a household. She gives instructions for how she sewed dresses using sketches from magazines as a template. She also mentions her experiences getting a teaching license and her early experiences teaching school on the U.S. frontier. The television show stuck to one book, though. Which was it?
What was one of the first videos broadcast on the brand new channel when MTV first came out?
MTV Music Television started in the early 1980s with a very simple format modeled on radio broadcast. The station used "veejays," like djs only with videos rather than discs; there was a starting rotation of five video jockeys, and viewers got to know them well. Initially, very few bands had videos that they could provide, so the few bands that did send videos got a lot of airplay. What was one of the first videos broadcast on the brand new channel?
What is a Megapropodiphora arnoldi?
Arnold Schwarzenegger has had a long and varied career. He got his start as a professional body builder, moved on to his career in blockbuster movies, and then to serving as leader of California. He enjoys a connection via marriage to the Kennedy family, and in recent years has taken to making YouTube videos in which he speaks on issues of the day. In early 2018, a new scientific discovery, Megapropodiphora arnoldi, was named after him. What kind of thing is this discovery?
Which of these is an official ingredient in pizza verace napoletana?
Pizza typically comes with mozzarella cheese on top today. The origins of pizza remain somewhat mysterious, as with many culinary traditions; a recent find of a Bronze Age version of a pizza called the story into question again. Today, the specific Neapolitan variety of pizza is given a designation as authentic and is regulated for content and shape under European Union rules; only a pizza made and eaten on site earns the title indicating it's the guaranteed traditional specialty. Which of these is an official ingredient in pizza verace napoletana?
What odd aspect of both Thomas Jefferson's and John Adams' passing is especially noteworthy?
The rivals Thomas Jefferson and John Adams worked together at the founding of the country. Both were delegates to the SCC in Philadelphia, and both participated in crafting the U.S. Constitution. They were, however, bitterly opposed to each other on almost every major question of the day for their whole careers. They fought constantly, and their correspondence survives as an entertaining and educational monument to respectful, if vehement, disagreement. What aspect of their demises is especially noteworthy?
There was something unusual about when the first performance at the Sydney Opera House took place—what was it?
The Sydney Opera House is an iconic building recognized around the world. Construction on it started on March 2, 1959 and was completed on October 20, 1973. The design is a masterpiece by architect Jørn Utzon. The first performance was a selection of works by Richard Wagner, with the renowned Wagnerian soprano Birgit Nilsson. Elizabeth II gave a dedication at the official opening of the building. There was something unusual about when the first performance took place—what was it?
What does pure sand have in it?
Sand covers beaches all over the world. It gets between our toes, sticks to our legs, and blows in our eyes. It can be fine or coarse. We put it in boxes at playgrounds and in back yards for children to play with. If melted, it can make glass. It fills hourglasses to help keep track of the passage of time. We stick it to paper and make sandpaper, and smooth rough edges and surfaces. It's common, and useful. What does pure sand have in it, though?
In what year was the first bikini bathing suit donned?
Louis Réard introduced the bikini at a public pool in Paris. He was trained as a mechanical engineer and had worked in his mother's Paris lingerie shop. He named it after the Bikini Atoll, where the first nuclear device was tested. Legendary fashion guru Diana Vreeland called the bikini the "atom bomb of fashion," and it certainly caused a sensation. The model who wore it for the public introduction was a dancer named Micheline Bernardini. What was the year?
What country do hamsters come from?
Hamsters are adorable household pets, and come in long-haired and short-haired varieties. They are nocturnal, as anyone who's attempted to sleep in the same room as one will recall—the little creatures run on their exercise wheels and can make a tremendous racket in the middle of the night. Domestic hamsters are descended from their wild cousins, the golden hamster, and were not successfully bred in captivity until the 1930s. They store food in their cheek pouches, which can expand to surprising size. What country do hamsters come from?
How many UNESCO World Heritage sites does the United States have?
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage program designates sites for preservation all over the world. The sites selected must be submitted by the countries where they are. Sites are chosen as a means of preserving the achievements of humanity on the planet, or areas of cultural or natural importance; they must be unique and have special historical or cultural significance. Italy is the country with the greatest number of UNESCO World Heritage sites. How many does the United States have?
Which item on the list is a real fault according to the rules of volleyball?
Volleyball is at it core a simple game: hit the ball over the net and don't let it touch the ground. It was invented in 1895 in Holyoke, Massachusetts, by a physical education teacher named William G. Morgan. The first country outside of the U.S. to play volleyball was Canada. It's been part of the Olympic Games since 1964. The formal rules are quite long, but the basic "faults," or things that will cause a team to lose the rally, are straightforward. Which item on the list is a real fault according to the rules of volleyball?
What is the name for the reaction that produces this color?
Pretzels are a baked bread product that originated in Germany. The traditional shape is a loop that twists in the middle and then has two ends that stick onto either side of the main loop. They can be hard or soft; soft, hot pretzels are popular street food in New York and other cities. Pretzels are typically a brown color, and often served salted. When making pretzels, the dough is washed with a soda or lye solution—this produces the brown color and "skin" of the pretzel that we recognize today. What is the name for the reaction that produces this color?
What's one predator able to catch a duck in flight?
Some species of ducks are migratory, and some are not. Ducks that are native to tropical regions typically do not migrate, as they have no need to seek more hospitable habitat. Ducklings, are vulnerable to predators because they are not able to fly until their feathers fully develop. Ducks are mainly monogamous during a single breeding season, but they may switch to different mates each new season. Adult ducks are very fast flyers, and difficult for predators to catch. What's one predator able to catch a duck in flight?
Who was the first U.S. postmaster general?
The United State Postal Service, also known as the U. S. Mail, began operating in 1775. It is one of the only national agencies specifically established in the U.S. Constitution. The mail and what would be properly considered mail were subject of much debate; Thomas Jefferson had doubts about some aspects of the law—he believed a postal service could be a waste of money. The law provides that all U.S. citizens be served with uniform price and quality regardless of geography. Who was the first U.S. postmaster general?
What is it called when a player convinces other players that a worthless hand is actually worth a lot?
In poker, the basic rules are simple: Each player decides how likely it is that their hand will win the round, and each bets according to how highly ranked the hand is. The trick is in convincing other players. There is skill in figuring out what hands might be in play. There is also skill in causing other players to believe that the hand is worth more than it actually is. What is it called when a player convinces other players that a worthless hand is actually worth a lot?
What was the first successful prime time animated television series?
Television cartoons in the medium's early years featured lots of popular characters with staying power. Some had crossed over from the movies, and some were brand new, created for broadcast. Bugs Bunny and the Looney Tunes gang started in the movies and made the shift to television; Huckleberry Hound and The Jetsons were created for television. The first sound and color feature animated film was shown in movie theaters; it was Snow White. What was the first successful prime time animated television series?
What indoor sport from the list below is most like bocce?
Bocce is an Italian outdoor game similar to British bowls and French pétanque. It's popular with Italian immigrant communities and among the descendents of these communities, and is gaining a wider following. The sport has an international governing body with offices in Macon, France. Bocce courts are long, oblong expanses, typically with dirt or sometimes asphalt. Bocce balls are played in sets of 4; players often have their own sets, and bring those to the playing ground. What indoor sport from the list below is most like bocce?
Which of the list below is the name of another early Apple computer?
Apple Computer has revolutionized personal computing multiple times—no small feat in an industry that is already highly innovative. The company introduced a number of machines that advanced the state of what was possible in computing, and built a new standard. One of the early Apple computers combined a disk drive into the same case with the screen and main processing units—this was the first Macintosh computer. Which of the list below is the name of another early Apple computer?
Who is the host of Jeopardy?
The game show Jeopardy! has been on the air in different iterations since 1964. The game tests general knowledge in unpredictable categories. Questions are arranged in order of dollar amount. The game is distinctive because the game provides clues that are answers, and for play to move along, it requires contestants to phrase their responses as questions to which the provided answer could be the question. The host will say, "The answer is" and read the revealed answer. Who is the host?
What group has been one of the few competition winners to go one to commercial success?
The Eurovision Song Contest has taken place annually since 1956. In the competition, each country submits a song that must be performed live on television and radio. There is a time limit of three minutes per song. Voting is somewhat complicated, and involves combining votes by a professional jury of people in the music industry with votes from the general public. People rank their top ten songs and award points based on that ranking. What group has been one of the few competition winners to go one to commercial success?
Aspirin is derived from the bark of a particular species of tree. Which one?
Aspirin is the common name for the medication acetylsalicylic acid. The uses of aspirin include treatment for inflammation, pain, and fever; it also is known to act as a blood thinner. It has been shown to help reduce the risk of a repeat heart attack in those who have already had a heart attack. Heart attack patients are often told to take a low dose of aspirin daily to prevent formation of blood clots. Aspirin is derived from the bark of a particular species of tree. Which one?
What is the filament in an incandescent bulb made of?
Light bulbs work by running electricity through a filament inside a glass bulb. The filament vibrates and gives off light and heat; incandescent bulbs typically give off quite a bit of heat. The bulb is filled with an inert gas, which preserves the filament for much longer than having a vacuum inside the bulb. The inert gas bounces atoms from the filament back onto the filament, thus preventing it from deteriorating too quickly. The filament is coiled up on itself. What is the filament in an incandescent bulb made of?
Two breeds of dogs are used most often: huskies, and what other breed?
Dog sleds are used to travel over snow and ice, and have been in use for thousands of years. Dog sleds have been used to deliver mail, and are sometimes raced; there is a race called the Iditarod, which commemorates the delivery of vaccine across Alaska. The sled dog driver is called a musher, and in most places, the team of dogs is arranged in a line; in Greenland, however, dogs are arranged in a fan shape. Two breeds of dogs are used most often: huskies, and what other breed?
What island did they come from?
The oceans of the world cover around three quarters of the surface of the earth. Successful empires make use of the ocean as a source of food, and a means of travel. Navigation by using the stars was an innovation responsible for the spread of human civilization across the islands of the Pacific. Pacific navigation began between about 3000 and 1000 BC, by the Austronesians from Taiwan. The ancient Minoans were early navigators in the Mediterranean Sea. What island did they come from?
What was the name of the other designer?
Since Guttenberg invented movable type that was used in the printing press in the 1400s, type has undergone shifts and refinements. New typefaces and styles have been developed over the subsequent hundreds of years. Nicholas Jenson created Roman type in 1470, and John Baskerville created a typeface known now as Transitional type in 1757. In 1780 Firmin Didot and another designer created the first ‘modern’ Roman typefaces. What was the name of the other designer?
What kind of animal was the Snickers bar named after?
Frank Mars, who founded the Mars candy company, invented the Snickers bar in 1930. The candy was sold in the U.K. under another name until 1990; until then, it was marketed as a "Marathon" bar. It is the best-selling candy bar in the world. Each bar contains about 16 peanuts, which is the estimate used as a basis for the nutrition information on the label. Mars named the Snickers bar after a favorite animal that belonged to him. What kind of animal was it?
It is a common misconception that spiders make their webs and see if anything gets caught; what do spiders do to attract insects?
Spiders make webs to catch insects that they need as food. Many spiders re-make their webs every day, but they also repair and reuse damaged webs. A study found that orb spiders only catch about two small insects per day, and that this is not enough to sustain a spider over time. To survive, in addition small insects, spiders need to catch the occasional large insect, too. It is a common misconception that spiders make their webs and see if anything gets caught; what do spiders do to attract insects?
What was a nickname for the Model T?
The Ford Model T is generally regarded as the first affordable automobile. It was mass-produced using an assembly line method with interchangeable parts; other more expensive cars were individually crafted. The first Model T was produced in 1908, and the Model T remained in production until 1927. The next model was a Model A—Ford Company publicity said that it was because the new model was such a departure, Ford wanted to start at the beginning of the alphabet. What was a nickname for the Model T?
What leather item helped knitters be more efficient?
Knitting is a handcraft that goes in and out of favor with craftspeople, but it always has a base of people making hats, mittens, sweaters, and socks. Knitters in Ireland became so skilled at making sweaters for export that the activity took over the hands of both men and women, and they would knit as they walked, as they herded livestock, and while sitting in the sun. Irish knitters used very long thin knitting needles and typically knit in the round. They also used a leather item to help efficiency. What was it?
What kind of dog is the female leader of the U.K. most known for owning?
U.K. Leader Elizabeth II is known for being a dog enthusiast. She's known for taking her dogs everywhere, to foreign countries, out for walks in the countryside, out hunting—Her Majesty has even been known to drive herself and her dogs in a Range Rover. The last of the leader’s dogs perished recently, and she has no plans to replace her beloved pets as she has stated that she's getting old, and she doesn't want to leave dogs behind. What kind of dog is the female leader most known for owning?
How long do box turtles live?
Box turtles are native to North America and come in approximately fourteen different varieties. They are omnivores, and eat plant material but will also eat insects or worms or whatever else they can catch and eat. They hibernate in the wild, and dig small burrows to hibernate in; they will often return to the same general area to hibernate year after year. Turtles living in warmer climates do not need to hibernate, so they don't. Some people keep box turtles as pets. How long do box turtles live?