General Knowledge Quiz - Thomas Vella-Zarb
General Knowledge
Quiz One
Questions Randomly Collected by
Tom Vella-Zarb

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1. What archipelago lies in the Meditarranean south of Sicily?
  • Crete and Rhodes
  • The Pantalleria Isles
  • Malta, Gozo, Comino, Filfla
2. What flag has a Maple Leaf in it?
  • Japan
  • Canada
  • Sweden
3. Who founded Scouting?
  • Baden Gilwell
  • Baden Powell
  • Gilwell of Baden
4. The Capital of Canada is?
  • Ottawa
  • Toronto
  • Halifax
5. The first Scout camp took place on?
  • Manhattan Island
  • Isle of Wight
  • Brownsea Island
6. What is the cube root of 27?
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
7. Who or what is the Old Lady of Threadneedle Street?
  • The Tower of London
  • The Bank of England
  • The Union of Tailors
8. Who is the Bishop of Rome?
  • The Senior Cardinal
  • The Head of the College of Cardinals
  • The Pope
9. What do you fill a bucket with to make it lighter?
  • Helium
  • Holes
  • Dry Sand
10. What do you call a gadget that lets you see through walls?
  • Periscope
  • Infra-red telescope
  • Window
11. Name the colours of the rainbow in order?
  • Red, yellow, green, blue, indigo, orange, violet
  • Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, violet
  • Yellow, red, green, blue, violet, indigo, orange
12. How many legs does an insect have?
  • 10
  • 8
  • 6
13. What prehistoric animals left their bones in some of New Mexico's big caverns?
  • Wooly elephants
  • Prehistoric cows and bulls
  • Saber tooth tigers and cave bears
14. How did caves help U. S. colonists beat the British in the war of 1812?
  • They found salt peter in caves and mined it to make gunpowder
  • They hid in the caves and ambushed them from behind
  • They hid their wives and kids in the caves and then proceeded to ambush them
15. What is a troglobite?
  • Animals with a triple jaw
  • Creatures that hang on to stalactites
  • Creatures that love living deep in caves
16. We live in a galaxy called the Milky Way. It is shaped approximately like a:
  • Round ball
  • Flat spiral
  • Pretzel
17. Unlike most other fish, sharks have no:
  • Teeth
  • Gills
  • Bones
18. The metal mercury is:
  • Liquid at room temperature
  • Highly radioactive
  • Extensively used in aviation
19. If you were to take a lump of coal and squeeze for a long time at very high temperatures, you would end up with:
  • Volcanic glass, also known as obsidian
  • A diamond
  • A smaller lump of coal
20. Dozens of versions of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol have been made for television and the cinema over the years. Which of the following films has NOT yet been made?
  • The Jetsons' Christmas Carol
  • Popeye's Christmas Carol
  • Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol
21. The general belief now is that dinosaurs became extinct because of:
  • A meteorite impact
  • A worldwide period of climatic cooling
  • Viral diseases
22. Which is the only European colonial power still to control part of mainland South America?
  • Spain
  • France
  • Portugal
23. The world is divided into seven continents - listed in order from largest to smallest, they are Asia, Africa, North America and South America ... correctly complete the list:
  • Europe, Oceania/Australia, Antarctica
  • Antarctica, Europe, Oceania/Australia
  • Europe, Antarctica, Oceania/Australia
24. With how many countries does China share a border?
  • 14
  • 6
  • 10
25. An android is any robot that:
  • Looks and acts like a human
  • Has the ability to make decisions and formulate plans
  • Has more than one basic function
26. Sirius belongs to the constellation Canis Major (the Big Dog) What is special about it?
  • It emits staccato barking sounds which radio telescopes can detect
  • It always lies directly above the North Pole
  • It is the brightest star in the sky
27. The platypus and the echidna are monotremes, they are true mammals, and the only mammals that:
  • Lay eggs
  • Have green blood
  • Eat eucalyptus leaves
28. Kinetic energy is:
  • Life energy, possessed only by living organisms2
  • Energy of movement
  • A rare form of energy sometimes observed in deep space
29. What is the only country in the world that completely surrounds two other countries?
  • Italy
  • India
  • South Africa
30. Which country has the longest coastline?
  • United States
  • Australia
  • Canada
31. Where are the Straits of Magellan?
  • At the southern tip of South America
  • Between Alaska and Russia
  • Between the Rock of Gibraltar and northern Africa
32. Which was the last continent to be discovered by Europeans?
  • Oceania/Australia
  • Antarctica
  • South America
33. Charles Darwin began developing his theory of evolution while voyaging on a ship named:
  • The Santa Maria
  • The Enterprise
  • The Beagle
34. Exiguous means?
  • Small, scanty
  • Heavy, Burdensome
  • Exacting
35. In Scotland, the government appoints one person to be the "Scots Makar". This post honors the making of:
  • Whisky
  • Plaids and tartans
  • Poetry
36. Who would be likely to be trying to find the antechinus, the quoll, the devil and the dunnart?
  • A naturalist in Tasmania
  • A medieval history scholar in the Vatican
  • An archeologist in Scotland
37. What were the middle names of the late Winston Churchill?
  • James Quincey
  • Leonard Spencer
  • Kenneth Russell
38. What is the meaning of the adjective "lambent"?
  • Beautifully warm
  • Warmly soft
  • Softly radiant
39. Fibonacci, the great medieval mathematician produced a series of important works in the early 13th century. One important innovation in his writings was…
  • Using Arabic numeric notation instead of Roman
  • Using his native Italian instead of Latin or Greek
  • Failing to include a specifically religious preface
40. Each July, an athletic contest takes place in northern Pakistan between rival teams representing the Chitral and Gilgit districts. The game takes place high above the sea level. What sport do they play?
  • Cricket
  • Soccer
  • Polo
41. It is important to distinguish a red nun from a green can when practising?
  • Seamanship
  • Stock-car racing
  • Rock-climbing
42. One of the best-known knights of King Arthur's court was King Lot's son Sir Gawain, whose three brothers were also knights. Which of these was not Gawain's brother?
  • Agravain
  • Gaheris
  • Gingalin
43. A map of the "New World" produced in 1507 had the name "America" on it. What was the source of the name?
  • Columbus's daughter
  • An Italian explorer
  • The Carib Indian word for prosperity
44. Which is the world's smallest ocean?
  • Indian
  • Antarctic
  • Arctic
45. In 1972, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) established the World Heritage List to help protect important sites embodying the world's cultural and natural heritage. What is the largest World Heritage Area?
  • The Great Barrier Reef (Australia)
  • Three Parallel Rivers of Yunnan Protected Areas (China)
  • The Virgin Komi Forest (Russia)
46. Kallikantzaroi are malicious creatures in Greek legend, sometimes play troublesome pranks at Christmas time. How does one get rid of them?
  • Placate them with gifts of rice pudding
  • Throw one's sandals at them
  • Burn either salt or an old shoe
47. The jólasveinar, or "yule lads", are a traditional part of an Icelandic Christmas. What are they?
  • The best male singers from each village
  • The village Woodcutters
  • A band of thirteen gift-giving goblins
48. George Frederick Handel's great Christmas oratorio, The Messiah, was first performed in 1742. Where?
  • Dublin
  • Vienna
  • London
49. The poinsettia is a traditional Christmas flower. Where did it originally grow?
  • China
  • Spain
  • Mexico
50. The tradition of hiding a coin or trinket in the Christmas pudding may have originated in the ancient custom, in Rome and elsewhere, of concealing a particular object in food. What was it?
  • A dried bean
  • A key
  • A piece of parchment with a fortune written on it
51. What important contribution to Christmas customs was made by Louis Prang, who came to the USA from Germany in the 19th century?
  • Popularizing the sending of printed Christmas cards
  • Being first to use an image of Santa Claus in an advertisement
  • Printing the first special Christmas edition of a major magazine
52. In 1932 King George V started the annual tradition of a broadcast to the people on Christmas day. Who wrote the speech?
  • The king himself
  • Rudyard Kipling
  • Children's author Enid Blyton
53. In many Italian households, the "Urn of Fate" is part of the Christmas celebrations. What is it?
  • A jar full of fortunes
  • A special decoration that recalls the fragility of life
  • An actual urn containing presents
54. In Lithuania, if Kaledu Senelis, or Grandfather Christmas, appears to the children on Christmas Eve to hand out presents, the recipient must:
  • Perform a song or poem before receiving the gift
  • Guess what the gift is, or pay a forfeit
  • Find the gift while blindfolded
55. In Sweden, a common Christmas decoration is the Julbukk, a small figurine of a goat. Of what material is it usually made?
  • Fir wood
  • Straw
  • Candy
56. What is the Irish custom of "feeding the wren" or "hunting the wren" on December 26?
  • Taking one's in-laws out to dinner
  • Carrying a wren door to door, to collect money for charity
  • Putting out suet and seeds for the wild birds
57. In Tchaikovsky's ballet "The Nutcracker", who is the nutcracker's main enemy?
  • A girl called Clara
  • The King of the Mice
  • Drosselmeyer the magician
58. At lavish Christmas feasts in the Middle Ages, swans and peacocks were sometimes served "endored". What does that mean?
  • The guests knelt in adoration as the birds were brought in
  • The flesh was painted with saffron dissolved in melted butter
  • The feet and beaks were coated with gold
59. Throughout the Christmas season in old England, "lambswool" could be found in the houses of the well-to-do. What was it?
  • A fluffy confection made from almonds and sugar
  • A brew of hot ale with roast apples floating in it
  • Imitation snow used in decorations
60. The ancient game of Snapdragon has been part of English Christmases for over 300 years. Players are egged on by a chant, part of which goes, "Take care you don't take too much, Be not greedy in your clutch, Snip, snap, dragon!" What is "the dragon" in this game?
  • The oldest male in the room
  • Flames of burning brandy
  • A "snapper" made from fireplace tongs
61. In Victorian times, most Londoners would have been familiar with the "goose club". What was it?
  • A pantomime troupe specializing in slapstick
  • A stout stick used for slaughtering geese
  • A method of saving to buy a goose for Christmas
62. After Scrooge has reformed his life at the end of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, he invites Bob Cratchit to join him for some "smoking bishop". What did he mean?
  • A Christmas pudding, soaked in brandy and set alight
  • A fast variation of chess popular in Victorian London
  • A hot spiced drink
63. In Victorian England, turkeys were popular for Christmas dinners. Some of the birds were raised in Norfolk, and taken to market in London. To get them to London, the turkeys:
  • Rode in huge wagons called "turkey-vans"
  • Were supplied with boots made of sacking or leather
  • Were herded by sheep dogs
64. The "Lewis Chessmen"…
  • Were discovered on the Isle of Lewis in 1831
  • Is a famous brain-teaser involving three knights and a bishop
  • Were a popular British concert band of the 1950s
65. On a sea-going vessel, it is good to have a keel because:
  • It helps to fend off sharks
  • It keeps the vessel from being blown sideways
  • It will warn you of shallow water
66. Which of the following instruments is NOT used for navigation?
  • Theodolite
  • Astrolabe
  • Sextant
67. According to legend, St. Brendan and a group of monks sailed from Ireland to the Bahamas in the sixth century. The boat they used would have been of the type called a:
  • Canoe
  • Galley
  • Coracle
68. Ferdinand Magellan is generally known as the first person to circumnavigate the globe. However, he:
  • Took two separate voyages to do it
  • Abandoned the voyage when he reached Tahiti
  • Was beaten to it by ninth-century Vikings
69. The first European to reach Australia was probably:
  • Daniel Defoe, author of "Robinson Crusoe"
  • William Jansz, a Dutch navigator
  • Sir Francis Drake, an English explorer
70. The earliest known European settlement in the Americas is:
  • Navidad, Hispaniola (now Haiti)
  • Machu Pichu, Peru
  • L'Anse aux Meadows, Newfoundland
71. In the 980s, the Norseman, Erik the Red, discovered rich fertile land in Greenland, and persuaded settlers to come from Iceland. The colony flourished, partly because:
  • The friendly natives helped the settlers
  • The weather was unusually warm at that time
  • The forests provided good building material
72. In 1947, Thor Heyerdahl invented a new type of exploration when he sailed his raft Kon-Tiki to Polynesia. Heyerdahl was trying to prove that ancient peoples could have crossed the ocean to Polynesia from:
  • Egypt
  • South America
  • Hawaii
73. Which early explorer's journeys would not have been so well known to us if he had not been imprisoned a few years after his travels?
  • Marco Polo
  • Christopher Columbus
  • Erik the Red
74. Before Europeans explored the Indian Ocean and the coasts of Africa, the Chinese had explored the east coast of Africa and perhaps even doubled the Cape of Good Hope. However, China's period of exploration ended abruptly when:
  • An oracle counseled against it
  • They lost a series of battles to the Portuguese
  • Ming emperors prohibited foreign trade
75. On August 21, 1959 Hawaii became the 50th State - "Admission Day" is celebrated yearly on:
  • On August 21
  • The third Friday in August
  • The Last Sunday in August
76. The "Old Glory" had 24 stars and was named by:
  • George Washington
  • The signers of the Constitution
  • Captain William Driver
77. Who or what is The Land of the Rising Sun?
  • Ethiopia
  • Japan
  • Alaska
78. In the flag of the United States the stars are:
  • 5 pointed and have one point pointing upwards
  • 6 pointed and randomly placed
  • 8 pointed and have one point towards the left
79. The stripes of the U.S. Flag alternate red and white:
  • 12 in number and start with red on top
  • 13 in number and start with white on top
  • 13 in number and start with red on top
80. The first official U.S.A. stars and stripes flag made by Betsy Ross had:
  • 12 stars in circle
  • 13 stars in circle
  • 14 stars in circle
81. The flag of the European Union consists of a field of blue covered with:
  • 3 Rows of 4 Stars
  • 4 Rows of 3 Stars
  • 12 Stars in a Circle
82. The stylized Maple Leaf on the Canadian Flag has the following number of points:
  • 9
  • 11
  • 13
83. The Union Jack is made of three flags of Saints:
  • George, Stephen, Patrick
  • George, Patrick, Andrew
  • Andrew, Stephen, Patrick
84. The end of the flag furthest from the flagpole is known as the:
  • Fly
  • Pennant
  • Bungee
85. The rope used to raise a flag is called the:
  • Halyard
  • Guyrope
  • Lanyard
86. What is the second largest island in the Channel Islands?
  • Lihou
  • Jersey
  • Guernsey
87. The government that owns Guernsey, Alderney, Sark, Herm, Lihou, Brecqou and Jethou is called:
  • The Bailiwick of Guernsey
  • The Government of Jersey
  • The Bailiwick of Jersey
88. Orville Wright made the first controlled flight in a heavier than air machine in:
  • 1900
  • 1903
  • 1910
89. Which came first:
  • The Kidney Machine
  • The Quartz Wristwatch
  • The home Microwave
90. The firt bikini appeared on the beaches of:
  • U.S.A.
  • France
  • Italy
91. In 1967 the first cash dispensing machine made its appearance in:
  • U.S.A.
  • Japan
  • England
92. Sir Alexander Fleming from Scotland discovered the first Antibiotic, Penicillin in:
  • 1918
  • 1928
  • 1938
93. The first charge card to appear in 1950 was the:
  • Mastercard
  • Diners Club
  • Visa
94. In 1952 the first Velcro was manufactured in:
  • Hungary
  • U.S.A.
  • Switzerland
95. You know that Mount Everest is the highest in the world. Of these high Mountains which is the highest:
  • Mount Logan
  • Mount Ararat
  • Mount McKinley
96. The following countries were under Britain for quite a while. Which one left the British Empire first:
  • Malta
  • Barbados
  • Kenya
97. Santa Claus is known in Germany by a word which means "Christmas man":
  • Christkindle
  • Weihnachtsmann
  • Sinterklaas
98. In Southen Germany Santa Claus is known by a word which means "Christ Child":
  • Kris Kringle
  • Sinter Claus
  • Joulupukki
99. In Denmark Santa Claus is known as the "Christmas Man":
  • Babouschka
  • Sant Nikolaas
  • Julemanden
100. In many Spanish speaking countries Santa Claus is known as:
  • Pere Noel
  • Befana
  • Papa Noel
How did you make out?

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