Ultimate General Knowledge

Question 1

Question 1 : In what year did the Berlin Wall fall?

Possible answers:

1987
1988
1989
1990

Answer

The Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989, symbolically marking the end of the Cold War. German reunification followed on October 3, 1990.

Question 2

Question 2 : Which chemical element has the symbol "Au"?

Possible answers:

L'argent
L'arsenic
L'aluminium
L'or

Answer

Au comes from the Latin "aurum" meaning gold. Gold is a precious metal used since antiquity for currency and jewelry.

Question 3

Question 3 : Which French scholar deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone in 1822?

Possible answers:

Jean-François Champollion
Auguste Mariette
Gaston Maspero
Howard Carter

Answer

Jean-François Champollion cracked the mystery of hieroglyphics by comparing the three scripts on the Rosetta Stone: hieroglyphic, demotic, and Greek. His discovery founded modern Egyptology.

Question 4

Question 4 : What is the longest river in Africa?

Possible answers:

Le Niger
Le Zambèze
Le Nil
Le Congo

Answer

The Nile measures about 6,650 km, flowing through 11 African countries. It is the longest river in Africa and historically vital to Egypt.

Question 5

Question 5 : Which mathematical constant, approximately equal to 1.618, is often associated with harmony in art and architecture?

Possible answers:

The golden ratio
Pi
Euler's constant
Avogadro's number

Answer

The golden ratio (phi, φ) appears in the Fibonacci sequence, logarithmic spirals, and many works of art. The Parthenon, the Mona Lisa, and Le Corbusier's compositions draw inspiration from it.

Question 6

Question 6 : Which Greek philosopher founded the Lyceum school in Athens?

Possible answers:

Platon
Socrate
Épicure
Aristote

Answer

Aristotle founded the Lyceum in 335 BC, a rival school to Plato's Academy. The Peripatetics taught while walking.

Question 7

Question 7 : Which 1648 treaty ended the Thirty Years' War?

Possible answers:

Treaty of Tordesillas
Traité de Versailles
Traité d'Utrecht
Traité de Westphalie

Answer

The Peace of Westphalia (1648) ended the Thirty Years' War and established the principles of national sovereignty and non-interference.

Question 8

Question 8 : Which physicist formulated the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics?

Possible answers:

Max Planck
Erwin Schrödinger
Niels Bohr
Werner Heisenberg

Answer

Werner Heisenberg formulated the uncertainty principle in 1927, establishing that the position and velocity of a particle cannot be known simultaneously.

Question 9

Question 9 : Which composer wrote "The Rite of Spring" which caused a scandal in 1913?

Possible answers:

Claude Debussy
Igor Stravinsky
Sergueï Prokofiev
Maurice Ravel

Answer

Igor Stravinsky composed The Rite of Spring for the Ballets Russes. Its premiere in Paris caused a riot between supporters and critics.

Question 10

Question 10 : Which empire was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty for nearly 600 years?

Possible answers:

Empire russe
Holy Roman Empire
Empire ottoman
Empire britannique

Answer

The Habsburgs ruled the Holy Roman Empire and then the Austrian Empire from 1273 to 1918, one of Europe's longest-reigning dynasties.

Question 11

Question 11 : Which mathematician proved Fermat's Last Theorem in 1995?

Possible answers:

Andrew Wiles
Grigori Perelman
Pierre de Fermat
John Nash

Answer

Andrew Wiles proved Fermat's Last Theorem after 7 years of secret work. This theorem had remained unproven for more than 350 years.

Question 12

Question 12 : Which Argentine writer wrote "Fictions" and "The Aleph"?

Possible answers:

Jorge Luis Borges
Gabriel García Márquez
Pablo Neruda
Julio Cortázar

Answer

Jorge Luis Borges is one of the greatest writers of the 20th century. His short stories explore themes of infinity, labyrinths, and imaginary libraries.

Question 13

Question 13 : Which 1805 battle is considered Napoleon's tactical masterpiece?

Possible answers:

Iéna
Wagram
Austerlitz
Friedland

Answer

The Battle of Austerlitz, known as the "Battle of the Three Emperors" (December 2, 1805), saw Napoleon use fog and feign weakness to lure the Austro-Russians into a trap. This crushing victory remains his tactical masterpiece.

Question 14

Question 14 : Which 17th century Flemish painter is famous for his hunting scenes and equestrian portraits?

Possible answers:

Pierre Paul Rubens
Jan Vermeer
Rembrandt
Anthony van Dyck

Answer

Peter Paul Rubens was the master of Flemish Baroque, famous for his dynamic compositions, vibrant colors, and representations of flesh.

Question 15

Question 15 : Which German philosopher wrote "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"?

Possible answers:

Emmanuel Kant
Arthur Schopenhauer
Friedrich Nietzsche
Georg Hegel

Answer

Friedrich Nietzsche wrote Thus Spoke Zarathustra (1883-1885), where he develops the concepts of the Übermensch and eternal recurrence.

Question 16

Question 16 : Which scientist discovered the structure of benzene by dreaming of a snake?

Possible answers:

Dmitri Mendeleïev
August Kekulé
Louis Pasteur
Antoine Lavoisier

Answer

August Kekulé reportedly had a vision of a snake biting its own tail (ouroboros), inspiring him to discover the cyclic structure of benzene in 1865.

Question 17

Question 17 : Which French king was called the Sun King?

Possible answers:

Louis XIV
Louis XVI
Louis XV
Louis XIII

Answer

Louis XIV (1638-1715) reigned for 72 years, the longest reign in French history. He built the Palace of Versailles and embodied absolute monarchy.

Question 18

Question 18 : Which measuring instrument was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643?

Possible answers:

Hygromètre
Thermomètre
Baromètre
Anémomètre

Answer

Torricelli invented the mercury barometer to measure atmospheric pressure, proving the existence of vacuum and air pressure.

Question 19

Question 19 : Which art movement did Kandinsky help found with "Der Blaue Reiter"?

Possible answers:

Dadaïsme
Cubisme
Abstract Expressionism
Surréalisme

Answer

Wassily Kandinsky co-founded Der Blaue Reiter (The Blue Rider) in 1911, an expressionist movement that was a precursor to abstract art.

Question 20

Question 20 : Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the 15th century?

Possible answers:

Aztèques
Mayas
Olmèques
Incas

Answer

The Incas built Machu Picchu around 1450 as a royal residence for Emperor Pachacuti. The site was abandoned after the Spanish conquest.

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The 20 quiz questions

Question 1 : In what year did the Berlin Wall fall?

Question 2 : Which chemical element has the symbol "Au"?

Question 3 : Which French scholar deciphered Egyptian hieroglyphics using the Rosetta Stone in 1822?

Question 4 : What is the longest river in Africa?

Question 5 : Which mathematical constant, approximately equal to 1.618, is often associated with harmony in art and architecture?

Question 6 : Which Greek philosopher founded the Lyceum school in Athens?

Question 7 : Which 1648 treaty ended the Thirty Years' War?

Question 8 : Which physicist formulated the uncertainty principle in quantum mechanics?

Question 9 : Which composer wrote "The Rite of Spring" which caused a scandal in 1913?

Question 10 : Which empire was ruled by the Habsburg dynasty for nearly 600 years?

Question 11 : Which mathematician proved Fermat's Last Theorem in 1995?

Question 12 : Which Argentine writer wrote "Fictions" and "The Aleph"?

Question 13 : Which 1805 battle is considered Napoleon's tactical masterpiece?

Question 14 : Which 17th century Flemish painter is famous for his hunting scenes and equestrian portraits?

Question 15 : Which German philosopher wrote "Thus Spoke Zarathustra"?

Question 16 : Which scientist discovered the structure of benzene by dreaming of a snake?

Question 17 : Which French king was called the Sun King?

Question 18 : Which measuring instrument was invented by Evangelista Torricelli in 1643?

Question 19 : Which art movement did Kandinsky help found with "Der Blaue Reiter"?

Question 20 : Which civilization built Machu Picchu in the 15th century?

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