Only True Trivia Buffs Can Score 100% On This Pub Quiz
For some of us, it has been a long time since we hit the high school books and crammed for a final exam. Remember the days of rushing to beat the bell and avoid yet another tardy for geometry or history class? I'll admit this much, after six years of studying in a specific area of learning at university, creating work for myself, raising four kids, and settling on yet another job later in life, I can barely remember a thing about high school. I do remember they served deliciously toasted bagels in the cafeteria, but not much else.
How much of trivia learned in high school do my fellow elders recall? I don't mean remembering the parties, the dances, the sporting events and the cute boy with the locker that was four down from yours Junior year. I mean the actual learning content that they threw at us for four long years?
I bet everyone out there thinks they could ace a quiz with high school learning content on it with their eyes closed. Let's put those high school skills to the test, folks. Strap those thinking caps on and throw on the old high school colors because we are headed back in time for roughly twenty-five questions of math, history, English and science!
Which country was the Magna Carta written in?
Okay, so first off for those folks out there who started sweating when they read "Magna Carta," let me refresh your memory on what this term is. The Magna Carta was written back in the 1200's, and it states that everybody, including the King, is subject to the law of the particular country of its origin. So, what country was the Magna Carta penned in? We will tell you this much; it most certainly was not over here in the Americas.
True or false, Columbus's ship landed in America in 1492?
We all grew up listening to the catchy rhyme, "In 1492, Columbus sailed the ocean blue," but did he land in America that same year? Hmm, I thought I knew this one no problem, but now I'm not so sure. Back in the 1400's there seemed to be a whole lot of sailing and exploring taking place. It's hard to keep all that "who discovered what" straight. What do the history buffs think? Did Columbus land one of his ships on American soil during that iconic year?
Which two countries supported North Korea in the North Korean War?
To be fair, there are quite a few major wars that were fought by the United States in a pretty short span of years there, so it kind of hard to keep them all straight. The Korean War was fought between North Korean and South Korean during the years 1950 to 1953 when North Korea invaded the land to the south. South Korea was primarily supported by The United Nations, with 21 countries backing them at one point or another and with the United States providing 90% of the military aid forces. Which two nations supported North Korea?
How many digits are there in pi?
Did they mean how many pieces are there in a freshly baked pie? The only "pi" I am familiar with is the one that gets eaten. Kidding aside, Pi is the ratio of a circle's circumference to its diameter. High schoolers often hear this term spoken about in their high school math classes and wonder if they will ever actually use Pi out in the real world someday. (Just a note: I'm 36 and have never called upon Pi for anything.) Does anyone out there know many digits are in Pi?
What is 10% of 25?
Ugh, math. It was never my strong suit. Unlike the mathematical phenomenon like Pi, figuring percentages on the fly is something that high school grads will use quite often out there in everyday life. Nothing is more embarrassing than sitting at a dinner table and not being able to figure out how much to tip your waitress. Sure, your phone's calculator function can provide the answers to questions like this, but so can one's brain IF attention was paid in High School math class.
What continent is Portugal located on?
I am only slightly more versed in Geography compared to my stellar high school math skills, so I had to think on this one for a minute. What is the continent that houses the country of Portugal? If we use our process of elimination skills, we can probably throw at least two of the seven continents out as unlikely possibilities. It is likely not sitting over on Australia nor Antartica, so that leaves five options left. Here's a hint, it's located along the Atlantic ocean.
Plants use what process to convert sunlight into energy?
I bet this one is on the tip of everyone's tongue, isn't it? The problem with a lot of these science questions is they all kind of sound the same. It's easy to make a mistake when it comes to Science terminology. The process in question will take the protons and electrons found in water and use them to create chemical energy. What is this process of taking solar energy and converting it into chemical energy called, though? Come on! We know this one is in that big, old brain.
Which country did the Renaissance begin in?
The cultural movement known as the Renaissance took place between the 14th and 17th centuries. It contributed to the rebirth of areas such as the arts, science, architecture, literature, and music. Some of the most significant human contributions in these specific disciplines took place during this time. Many folks out there probably know that this cultural movement took place across the sea somewhere upon European soil, but which country did the Renaissance specifically begin in? Who gets to claim such a significant portion of world history as their own?
What is the formula for finding the volume of something?
Children begin to learn formulas for solving concepts such as area, perimeter, and volume during their elementary days. Like much of the information that we try and store up in our brains, algorithms such as how to find the volume of a solid object, seems to begin to fade over time. Which genius minds out there managed to store the algorithm for discovering the volume of an object away and never forget it? Here is a clue, that person is not me!
What percentage of the Earth is covered by water?
The Earth is made up of several large landmasses and a whole lot of water. Most of us know that the Earth is covered in a considerable amount of blue, but exactly how much blue is compared to the large chunks of brown and green? What percentage of the Earth is genuinely covered with water? This question might be a tough one. It's one of those facts we learn quickly and easily and then tuck away, only to forget. Then again, maybe that's just me.
Did dinosaurs and humans ever exist at the same time?
We know that the dinosaurs roamed the Earth a really long time ago, but humankind has been around for a whole lot of years too. This is some serious ancient history, people. Were humans and dinos every roaming the Earth at the same time? Did the humans manage to hang on and survive whatever took the dinosaurs out, eventually evolving into present-day people? Was there ever a time when the giant, prehistoric beasts, and early humankind lived on this planet together? Think hard about this one!
What is personification?
Oh geez. Considering I am a freelance writer, I should be able to define this literary term without even looking at the answer choices. This is a little bit embarrassing. Think back to a ninth-grade English course. The vast majority of us probably read all sorts of classic novels and discussed terms like personification for entire semesters. Can anybody remember what this term refers to right off the bat? If not, go ahead and look it up before ever having to help future children with their English homework!
What is the freezing point of water?
When we talk about freezing and boiling points, things get a bit confusing because of the whole Fahrenheit and Celcius thing. It's easy to get the two terms twisted. Water turns to a solid, or freezes, at a specific point in temperature. Who knows what Fahrenheit temperature water freezes at? Honestly, I don't remember it from my high school science classes. I only know it because I am a mom, and the kids don't go out for recess if the temperature is below freezing.
What is the Ring of Fire?
The Ring of Fire is the main plot point in the famous Lord of The Rings series, and it is also a popular Johnny Cash song. The Ring of Fire that students likely learned about in their high school science and geography classes wasn't referring to either of these pop cultures moments, however. The Ring of Fire refers to what Earthly phenomenon. Channel that inner science geek and see if it's possible to remember what this term is referring to.
Where is the San Andreas fault line located?
The definition of a fault line is a break or fracture in the ground, occurring at a point where the Earth's tectonic plates meet and shift around. This plate shifting can cause Earthquakes...big ones. There are some massive fault lines scattered throughout the Earth that are capable of mass destruction, and one of those is the San Andreas fault line. Where in the world is this scary and unpredictable fault line located? It might be a good thing to know before deciding to build any future homes.
Which part of the cell is referred to as the "powerhouse?"
I had to think back all the way to middle school and try to remember what was what on one of those styrofoam cell models that we were all forced to create. I know that every cell has a brain, a powerhouse and some other stuff floating around in there, but it's tricky to remember what each part does, especially considering I do nothing in the field of science or biology. Can anyone remember what cell part is referred to as the cell's powerhouse?
What is the largest country located ENTIRELY in Europe?
This one is a tough question for many reasons. First off, that whole Europe and Asia merging into one giant land mass thing always stumps me. When it comes to borders, lines get blurred, see what I did there. Some countries cross the continent lines. Other countries claim territories off of Europe's mainland. These rule exceptions make figuring out a country's total land mass complicated. What is the largest country located ENTIRELY in Europe?. Do you know which one it is? Even Geography buffs might have to whip out a world map to answer this question.
The Spanish-American War resulted in the United States gaining three territories from Spain. Which of these did the United States NOT acquire?
The Spanish American war officially ended in 1898 with the signing of the Treaty of Paris. The United States gained three territories as spoils of war. One of the countries below did not become the property of the America the Great and in fact, gained its independence as a result of the war. Is there a genius out there who knows which country that is? I'll admit, this one tricked me. I guessed wrong. Clearly, I was daydreaming the week that we covered the Spanish American War in my high school history class.
On what date did Japan invade Pearl Harbor?
I only know this because my husband's birthday falls on Pearl Harbor Day, but let's keep that little diddy between us, shall we? The bombing of Pearl Harbor rocked the nation in 1941 when the Imperial Japanese Navy Air Force waged a surprise military attack against U.S. troops at Hawaii's Pearl Harbor Naval Base. The very next day The United States declared vengeance on Japan. This was the event that led the United States into World War 2 on both the European and the Pacific realms. What is the date of the invasion of Pearl Harbor?
Where was the first successful English settlement in the United States?
Everyone will have to channel that hidden inner historian if they want a chance at answering this question correctly. When we think of initial English settlements in the colonies, a few town names come to mind immediately. Remember that not every attempt was successful though. Which Eastern town gets to brag that it was the very first English settlement to prove successful in the new world? East coasters might know this one, but do the folks who claim to be as smart as high schoolers know it?
Define the word "feckless"
While we might not use some of the information that was thrown at us during the high school years, looking at you Trigonometry, grads will use a lot of what they master in their English classes. Having a vast vocabulary won't ever hurt anyone out there in the real world. After all, it isn't feasible to go through life saying things like "fetch," and "totes." Did any of those definitions from those High School literature lessons stick? Let's see. Define the word "feckless."
What is this scientific phenomenon called?
Astronomy can be a bit tricky to master. All of the terms are so closely related it seems. Revolve and rotate are entirely different terms used to describe the relationship between the Earth and the sun and the Earth and the moon. The terms lunar eclipse and solar eclipse can be dicey too. What is it called when the moon moves between the sun and the Earth, creating a shadow on Earth's surface that prevents us from temporarily seeing the sun?
What is the name of this American hero who dedicated her life to social reform and human rights and equality?
Name the American woman who is known for being a social reformer and women's rights activist who played a significant role in the women's suffrage movement. Born in Adams, Massachusetts, this early human rights warrior dedicated her life to social equality, becoming the New York state agent for the American Anti-Slavery Society in 1865. What is the name of this American hero who dedicated her life to social reform and human rights and equality? We sincerely hope at least females know this one.
How many elements are in the periodic table?
The periodic table of elements is something that we all came across in our science studies at one point or another. It is organized by atomic number and rows so that elements with similar structure and chemical properties end up in vertical rows. New elements are forever being explored and discovered by scientists, so the periodic table is a constant work in progress so to speak. As of 2016, there were exactly how many elements included in the famous scientific table?
What is the first color of the rainbow that the human eye notices?
Roy G Biv stands for the colors of the rainbow. A true spectrum will start with red and be followed by orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo and violet. Rainbows can only be seen if the sun is behind a person and the rain is in front of the eyesight. While all of the colors of the rainbow are easily seen by a person who has no vision issues, what color of the seven is first detected by the human eye?
How many bones are in the human body?
The human body is an incredible machine, and this machine only functions because of the major systems that work in conjunction with one another, One of the body's systems is the skeletal system. The skeleton system has five primary functions: to support, protect, create movement, produce blood cells and enable calcium storage and endocrine regulation. The skeletal system is comprised of bone tissue, joints ligaments and of course the bones themselves. How many bones are in the adult human body?
What is the definition of a quadrilateral?
Mathematical definitions still confuse me, and I am well past my high school years! It seems that if someone doesn't go into a career based heavily in the math and science realms, all of those Geometry and Trigonometry terms fade into oblivion, never to be used again. I remember heading the word "quadrilateral," but what exactly is a quadrilateral? Can any math wizard out there define this geometric term for those of us who can't remember much more than basic math algorithms:?
True or false: Iceland is covered in ice
Iceland is a mysterious Nordic country with a population of only 348,580 people. Travel to this off-the-charts destination has become increasingly popular in recent years, yet there is still so much unknown about the little country in the North. Because of its name, it is widely assumed that the area of Iceland is covered with snow and ice. Is this a correct assumption or is it entirely false? Is Iceland an ice-covered wonderland, or full of lush lands ready to be explored?
Name the world's highest mountain
The Earth is covered with valleys and trenches that extend deep into the earth. It is littered with peaks and mountains that seem to reach all the way up into the heavens. Our world is one that varies significantly in regards to topography. Mountains can be found in all corners of the world, but which mountain summit gets to call itself King of the Hill indeed? Can anybody out there recall which of Earth's mountain peaks is the tallest in all of the world?
How many countries are in The United Kingdom?
The United Kingdom is an area located on the continent of Europe. It is a land rich in history, tradition and wealth. When we think of Kings, Queens and medieval times, it is The United Kingdom and the countries that comprise it that occupies the space in our minds. The United Kingdom is actually made up of more than one country, which is something most adults should know, but sadly do not. How many nations are in The United Kingdom?
What is 9,351 in expanded form?
I actually know the answer to this one, but only because I taught middle school and currently have a middle school-aged child. If those bonuses weren't in my corner, then I would likely have to google the answer to this math problem. The thing with concepts such as this is they aren't commonly used out in the real world. Thus, they become quickly forgotten. Can anybody out there solve this arithmetic riddle without the help of the internet (or your middle school student?)
What is the longest river in the world?
When we talk about the longest river on the planet, we are measuring it from the mouth of the river to its most distant, year-round source. There are a couple of solid contenders in regards to massively long, slithering bodies of water and the two lengthiest rivers are very close to being the same size. Only one gets to call itself the longest river in the world though with a length of 4,345 miles. It beats out the nest longest river by only 87 miles!
What is the largest state in the Unites States?
America the Beautiful is comprised of fifty diverse states. All states have their own unique characteristics in terms of physicality and personality. The Yew-haw state of Texas might as well be a completely different country when you compare it to the laid back, sunny California vibes. The fifty states also range in size from very small to incredibly large. The smallest state in America is Rhode Island at just over 1,000 square miles. Which state in the U.S. gets to call itself the largest state?
Who was the first man on the moon?
On July 20, 1969, history was indeed made when the first human being ever set foot on top of the moon's surface. The Apollo Mission became a giant success when this particular space pioneer stepped foot where no man had gone before. It was then that the term, "One small step for man, a giant leap for mankind" was coined. What is the name of the brave American astronaut who first stepped on the moon's surface and made world history?
How many planets are in our solar system?
Some of us probably have to think all the way back to our elementary school science diagrams so that we can correctly answer this quiz questions. It doesn't help matters that one planet, in particular, was a planet, and then got demoted from planet status. We know Earth is in the count, so that's one. The sun is a star, so nobody try and count that one as a planet. How many planets in total are floating around in our solar system?