The 20 quiz questions
Question 1 : Which chemical element has the symbol "W"?
Possible answers:
- Tungsten
- Zinc
- Uranium
- Platinum
Explanation: Tungsten (Wolfram in German) has the symbol W, hence its German name.
Question 2 : In which country is the Atacama Desert, one of the driest in the world?
Possible answers:
- Peru
- Chile
- Argentina
- Bolivia
Explanation: The Atacama Desert is located in northern Chile, along the Pacific coast.
Question 3 : Who painted "Girl with a Pearl Earring", sometimes called the Mona Lisa of the North?
Possible answers:
- Rembrandt
- Frans Hals
- Johannes Vermeer
- Jan Steen
Explanation: Johannes Vermeer painted Girl with a Pearl Earring around 1665, a masterpiece of the Dutch Golden Age. The painting is housed at the Mauritshuis in The Hague.
Question 4 : What is the longest war in history, lasting 335 years without any combat?
Possible answers:
- Hundred Years' War
- Thirty Years' War
- Reconquista
- War between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly
Explanation: The war between the Netherlands and the Isles of Scilly (1651-1986) lasted 335 years. Forgotten, it ended with a symbolic peace treaty.
Question 5 : Which Greek philosopher founded the Academy, the first institution of higher learning in the Western world?
Possible answers:
- Plato
- Aristotle
- Socrates
- Epicurus
Explanation: Plato founded the Academy in Athens around 387 BC, which lasted nearly 900 years.
Question 6 : Which organ in the human body consumes about 20% of total energy at rest?
Possible answers:
- The heart
- The brain
- The liver
- The lungs
Explanation: The brain represents only 2% of body weight but consumes about 20% of energy at rest. It primarily uses glucose as fuel.
Question 7 : Which country has the most living languages spoken (over 800)?
Possible answers:
- India
- Indonesia
- Papua New Guinea
- Nigeria
Explanation: Papua New Guinea has over 840 living languages for only 10 million inhabitants, making it the most linguistically diverse country in the world.
Question 8 : In which city is the International Court of Justice located?
Possible answers:
- Geneva
- Brussels
- New York
- The Hague
Explanation: The International Court of Justice is located at the Peace Palace in The Hague, Netherlands, since 1946.
Question 9 : Which writer created the character of Sherlock Holmes?
Possible answers:
- Arthur Conan Doyle
- Agatha Christie
- Edgar Allan Poe
- Charles Dickens
Explanation: Arthur Conan Doyle created Sherlock Holmes in 1887 in "A Study in Scarlet." The detective became one of the most famous fictional characters in the world.
Question 10 : Which planet in the solar system has the largest moon?
Possible answers:
- Saturn
- Jupiter
- Neptune
- Uranus
Explanation: Ganymede, a moon of Jupiter, is the largest in the solar system (5,268 km diameter), larger than Mercury.
Question 11 : Which country has produced the most Nobel Prize in Literature laureates?
Possible answers:
- United States
- Germany
- France
- United Kingdom
Explanation: France has the most Nobel Prizes in Literature with 16 laureates, ahead of the United States (13) and the United Kingdom (12).
Question 12 : What is the official currency of Brazil?
Possible answers:
- Brazilian dollar
- Cruzeiro
- Peso
- Real
Explanation: The Brazilian real (BRL) was introduced in 1994 as part of the Real Plan to stabilize the economy after years of hyperinflation.
Question 13 : Which composer became deaf but continued to compose, including his 9th symphony?
Possible answers:
- Beethoven
- Mozart
- Haydn
- Bach
Explanation: Beethoven gradually became deaf from 1796 and composed his famous 9th Symphony while completely deaf.
Question 14 : Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
Possible answers:
- Australia
- Canada
- Indonesia
- Russia
Explanation: Canada has 202,080 km of coastline, thanks to its many Arctic islands and three bordering oceans.
Question 15 : Which gas makes up about 78% of Earth's atmosphere?
Possible answers:
- Carbon dioxide
- Oxygen
- Nitrogen
- Argon
Explanation: Nitrogen (N₂) makes up 78% of the atmosphere, followed by oxygen (21%), argon (0.9%), and CO₂ (0.04%). It is an inert gas essential to the nitrogen cycle in nature.
Question 16 : Which Roman emperor divided the Empire into two parts (East and West)?
Possible answers:
- Augustus
- Constantine
- Trajan
- Diocletian
Explanation: Diocletian established the tetrarchy in 285 AD, dividing the Roman Empire to facilitate its governance against external threats and internal crises.
Question 17 : Which musical instrument has 47 strings in its modern concert version?
Possible answers:
- Harp
- Harpsichord
- Piano
- Classical guitar
Explanation: The modern concert harp has 47 strings and 7 pedals to play in all keys.
Question 18 : What is the capital of New Zealand?
Possible answers:
- Auckland
- Wellington
- Christchurch
- Queenstown
Explanation: Wellington has been the capital of New Zealand since 1865, chosen for its central position in the archipelago. Auckland, more populous, is often confused with the capital.
Question 19 : Which physicist gave his name to the unit of measurement of frequency?
Possible answers:
- James Watt
- André-Marie Ampère
- Heinrich Hertz
- Nikola Tesla
Explanation: Heinrich Hertz (1857-1894), a German physicist, proved the existence of electromagnetic waves predicted by Maxwell. The hertz (Hz) became the SI unit of frequency in his honor.
Question 20 : Which river flows through the most European capitals?
Possible answers:
- Seine
- Volga
- Rhine
- Danube
Explanation: The Danube flows through 4 capitals: Vienna (Austria), Bratislava (Slovakia), Budapest (Hungary), and Belgrade (Serbia).
