15 questions for the curious adult. Sharper geography, historical dates, science and the arts. The knowledge you pick up when you genuinely pay attention to the world.
The Vatican, Aristotle, penicillin, the Tiber... These 15 questions go beyond the basics. Someone who reads regularly should do well, but a few will require real knowledge.
This medium quiz goes beyond universal knowledge. It is aimed at people who read, listen to podcasts, watch documentaries and are curious about how the world actually works.
If you score high, the Hard level is waiting. If this one trips you up, the Easy level is the right place to build solid foundations first.
Want to warm up before playing or double-check something? Open any question to reveal the correct answer and a short explanation.
Correct answer: Vatican
The Vatican (0.44 km²) is the world's smallest sovereign state, entirely surrounded by Rome. It is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope's residence. Its permanent population is fewer than 800 people.
Correct answer: Iron
Fe comes from the Latin "ferrum", meaning iron. Element number 26 is the most widely used metal in the world and the primary component of steel. It is also central to haemoglobin, which carries oxygen in the blood.
Correct answer: Peru
Machu Picchu is a 15th-century Inca citadel perched at 2,430 metres in the Peruvian Andes. Rediscovered by American explorer Hiram Bingham in 1911, it has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1983.
Correct answer: Mandarin
Mandarin Chinese has around 920 million native speakers, well ahead of Hindi (530 million) and Spanish (485 million). English is the most widely used language overall when you include non-native speakers, but has only around 380 million native speakers.
Correct answer: Aristotle
Aristotle tutored Alexander from 342 to 335 BC at the request of his father, Philip II of Macedon. The chain is remarkable: Socrates taught Plato, who taught Aristotle, who taught Alexander the Great.
Correct answer: 1776
The Declaration of Independence was adopted on 4 July 1776 by the Continental Congress, proclaiming the independence of the 13 American colonies from Great Britain. The 4th of July has been the US national holiday ever since.
Correct answer: The skin
The skin is the largest organ in the human body, covering around 2 m² in an adult and weighing roughly 3–4 kg. It protects the body, regulates temperature and provides sensory information about the outside world.
Correct answer: 27
Since the United Kingdom's departure (Brexit, effective 31 January 2020), the EU has 27 member states, down from 28. The EU represents approximately 450 million people and constitutes the world's largest single market.
Correct answer: Beethoven
Ludwig van Beethoven composed his 9th Symphony between 1818 and 1824, by which point he was completely deaf. The Ode to Joy, drawn from its final movement, became the official anthem of the European Union in 1985.
Correct answer: Sahara
The Sahara is the world's largest hot desert, covering around 9 million km² across northern Africa. Worth noting: Antarctica is the world's largest desert overall (14 million km²), but it is a cold desert, a very different category.
Correct answer: Alexander Fleming
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 after noticing that a mould (Penicillium (P. rubens, anciennement nommée P. notatum)) was destroying bacteria in a petri dish. This accidental discovery went on to save hundreds of millions of lives worldwide.
Correct answer: Tiber
The Tiber (Tevere in Italian) flows through Rome for about 30 km. At 406 km long, it is Italy's third longest river. According to legend, it was on its banks that Romulus founded Rome in 753 BC.
Correct answer: Salzburg
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was born in Salzburg, Austria, on 27 January 1756. Although he spent much of his adult life in Vienna, Salzburg has dedicated its airport and an annual festival, the Mozartwoche, run by the Mozarteum Foundation, to his memory.
Correct answer: Greece
The ancient Olympic Games were founded at Olympia, Greece, in 776 BC. Held every four years in honour of Zeus, they brought together athletes from across the ancient Greek world. The modern Games were revived in Athens in 1896 by Pierre de Coubertin.
Correct answer: Yen
The yen (¥) has been Japan's official currency since 1871. It is the third most traded currency in the world, after the US dollar and the euro. The word "yen" transcribes the Japanese 円 (en), meaning "round".