15 questions that everyone should be able to answer. Geography, history, science, nature. A great starting point, no excuses for not scoring high.
Accessible questions across the essential topics. The world's highest mountain, the planet closest to the Sun, the fastest land animal... These are things you really should know.
This easy quiz covers the big fundamentals: world geography, key historical dates, natural records and basic scientific knowledge. The things every curious adult should have somewhere in their head.
If you score full marks, try the Medium level. If a few questions trip you up, that's a sign there's still something new to learn.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: Pacific
The Pacific is the world's largest and deepest ocean, covering around 165 million km². It alone represents about one third of Earth's total surface area and covers more area than all the land on Earth combined.
Correct answer: 1969
On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin landed on the Moon during the Apollo 11 mission. Armstrong's words, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind", were broadcast live to hundreds of millions of people.
Correct answer: Au
Au comes from the Latin "aurum", meaning gold. Gold is a corrosion-resistant precious metal used for thousands of years in jewellery, finance, and more recently in electronics for its conducting properties.
Correct answer: 7
The 7 continents are Africa, Antarctica, Asia, Australia-Oceania, Europe, North America and South America. Some geographic models count 6 by merging the two Americas, or Europe and Asia (Eurasia).
Correct answer: Everest
Mount Everest stands at 8,848.86 m above sea level in the Himalayas, on the border between Nepal and China. It was first summited on 29 May 1953 by Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Correct answer: Shakespeare
William Shakespeare (1564–1616) wrote Romeo and Juliet around 1595. This romantic tragedy is one of the most adapted works in history. West Side Story and countless films owe their existence to this play.
Correct answer: Tokyo
Tokyo has been Japan's capital since 1869 and is the world's most populous urban region, with over 37 million inhabitants. Before 1869, Kyoto was the imperial capital and remains an important cultural and heritage centre.
Correct answer: 11
A football team has 11 players on the pitch: 10 outfield players and one goalkeeper. A match therefore starts with 22 players in total. Substitutes sit on the bench and may enter during the game.
Correct answer: Cheetah
The cheetah can reach 110–120 km/h in short bursts, making it the fastest land animal in the world. However, it can only sustain this speed for a few seconds and needs a long rest after each chase.
Correct answer: Mercury
Mercury is the planet closest to the Sun, at an average distance of about 57.9 million km. It is also the smallest planet in the solar system. Despite its proximity to the Sun, its surface temperature swings wildly because it has no atmosphere to regulate heat.
Correct answer: 1945
World War II ended in 1945: in Europe on 8 May (Germany's surrender, VE Day) and in the Pacific on 2 September (Japan's surrender following the atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki).
Correct answer: Russia
Russia is the world's largest country at 17,098,242 km², nearly twice the size of Canada (second). It spans 11 time zones, stretching from Europe all the way to the Pacific coast of Asia.
Correct answer: 366
A leap year has 366 days, with an extra day (29 February) added to keep the calendar in sync with the solar year. A year is a leap year if it is divisible by 4, except century years, which must also be divisible by 400.
Correct answer: Einstein
Albert Einstein published his theory of special relativity in 1905 and general relativity in 1915. These works revolutionised physics by redefining our understanding of space, time and gravity. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921, for the photoelectric effect rather than relativity.
Correct answer: Blue whale
The blue whale is not only the largest marine mammal but the largest animal ever to have lived on Earth. It can reach 30 metres in length and weigh up to 180 tonnes, the equivalent of 30 African elephants.