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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Hard General Knowledge Quiz: How Many Can You Get Right?

Quick, free quiz with hard general knowledge questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Kristen MaceUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art quiz icons question mark book beaker globe gears on coral background for hard general knowledge challenge

This hard general knowledge quiz helps you test what you know across history, science, and culture. Prefer a softer start? Try our free general knowledge quiz for practice. You can also dig into a theme with the countries general knowledge quiz, or take a quick knowledge test to keep learning.

Which planet is known as the Red Planet?
Venus
Saturn
Mars
Jupiter
Mars is often called the Red Planet because iron oxide on its surface gives it a reddish appearance. It is the fourth planet from the Sun and has been explored by multiple robotic missions. No other planet in our solar system shows this distinctive reddish hue. .
In which year did the Titanic sink?
1914
1905
1920
1912
The RMS Titanic struck an iceberg on its maiden voyage and sank in the early hours of April 15, 1912. Over 1,500 passengers and crew perished, making it one of the deadliest peacetime maritime disasters. The wreck was discovered in 1985 in the North Atlantic. .
What is the capital city of Australia?
Brisbane
Sydney
Canberra
Melbourne
Canberra was selected as the capital of Australia in 1908 as a compromise between rivals Sydney and Melbourne. It was purpose-built for that role and officially became the seat of government in 1913. The city is located in the Australian Capital Territory. .
Who painted the Mona Lisa?
Leonardo da Vinci
Donatello
Raphael
Michelangelo
The Mona Lisa is a portrait painted by Leonardo da Vinci, completed in the early 16th century. It is famed for the subject's enigmatic expression and mastery of sfumato technique. The painting is housed in the Louvre Museum in Paris. .
Who wrote the novel 'Pride and Prejudice'?
Jane Austen
Mary Shelley
Charlotte Brontë
Emily Brontë
'Pride and Prejudice' was written by Jane Austen and published in 1813. The novel critiques the social structures of early 19th-century England through the story of Elizabeth Bennet and Mr. Darcy. It remains one of the most beloved works in English literature. .
The Great Barrier Reef is located off which Australian state's coast?
Northern Territory
New South Wales
Queensland
Victoria
The Great Barrier Reef, the world's largest coral reef system, lies off the coast of Queensland in northeastern Australia. It spans over 2,300 kilometers and includes nearly 3,000 individual reefs. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. .
What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
Diamond
Graphite
Corundum
Topaz
Diamond ranks 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness, making it the hardest naturally occurring material. Its strong covalent bonds and crystal lattice give it exceptional durability. It is widely used in cutting, drilling, and jewelry. .
Who discovered penicillin in 1928?
Louis Pasteur
Joseph Lister
Robert Koch
Alexander Fleming
Sir Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 when he noticed that a mold (Penicillium notatum) inhibited bacterial growth on his culture plates. This breakthrough led to the development of antibiotics. Fleming shared the 1945 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for this work. .
Which treaty ended the Thirty Years' War in 1648?
Treaty of Utrecht
Treaty of Tordesillas
Peace of Westphalia
Treaty of Versailles
The Peace of Westphalia refers to two treaties signed in 1648 that ended the Thirty Years' War in the Holy Roman Empire. It's credited with laying the groundwork for modern state sovereignty. The agreements were signed in the Westphalian cities of Münster and Osnabrück. .
What is the main structural protein found in human hair and nails?
Collagen
Elastin
Keratin
Kerose
Keratin is a fibrous structural protein that forms the key structural material in hair, nails, and the outer layer of skin. Its high sulfur content gives hair and nails their resilience. Mutations in keratin genes can lead to skin disorders. .
Euler's constant ? (gamma) is approximately equal to which value?
0.4343
2.7183
1.6180
0.5772
The Euler - Mascheroni constant ? is defined as the limiting difference between the harmonic series and the natural logarithm, approximately 0.57721. It appears in number theory and analysis but is not known to be rational or irrational. .
Helicobacter pylori primarily colonizes which part of the human body?
Small intestine
Colon
Esophagus
Stomach
Helicobacter pylori is a type of bacteria that infects the stomach lining and is associated with peptic ulcers and gastritis. It can survive acidic conditions by producing urease. Successful eradication often requires a combination of antibiotics and acid suppression. .
Which empire was ruled by King Ezana in the 4th century AD?
Mali Empire
Gupta Empire
Roman Empire
Aksumite Empire
King Ezana ruled the Aksumite Empire, centered in present-day Ethiopia and Eritrea, during the early 4th century AD. He is notable for being one of the first rulers to convert to Christianity. Under his reign, Aksum became a major trading power. .
Which living European language is considered a language isolate?
Hungarian
Basque
Maltese
Finnish
Basque is a language isolate spoken in the Basque Country straddling Spain and France; it has no known relatives. Its origins predate the arrival of Indo-European languages in Western Europe. Linguists continue to study its unique structure and history. .
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Study Outcomes

  1. Evaluate Trivia Mastery -

    Measure your command of hard general knowledge questions across diverse topics to benchmark your trivia prowess.

  2. Recall Historical Facts -

    Retrieve key information on significant events and figures through challenging general knowledge trivia.

  3. Analyze Scientific Concepts -

    Break down complex scientific facts presented in the quiz to deepen your understanding.

  4. Apply Cultural Insights -

    Use your understanding of global art, literature, and traditions to tackle tough culture-based questions.

  5. Identify Knowledge Gaps -

    Pinpoint areas where your grasp of difficult general knowledge questions can be improved for future learning.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Timeline of Pivotal European Treaties -

    Review the sequence from the Peace of Westphalia (1648) to the Treaty of Versailles (1919) to understand shifts in power and diplomacy. Use the mnemonic "PEST" (Peace, Utrecht, Vienna, Versailles) to recall major treaties in order. Cambridge University's European History Department offers detailed chronologies and primary source analyses for each agreement.

  2. Periodic Table Trends and Diatomic Elements -

    Memorize periodic trends like ionization energy (increases across periods) and atomic radius (decreases across periods) using the phrase "IE↑, AR↓" for quick recall. Don't forget the diatomic elements mnemonic "FONCl BrISCH" (Fluorine, Oxygen, Nitrogen, Chlorine, Bromine, Iodine, Sulfur, Carbon, Hydrogen). IUPAC's official publications provide authoritative guidelines and updated group classifications.

  3. Global Time Zones and UTC Offsets -

    Understand that moving east adds hours (+UTC) and west subtracts hours (−UTC); for example, Tokyo is UTC+9, New York is UTC−5. Practice converting times using the formula Local Time = UTC + Offset, and test yourself with NOAA's time zone maps. This skill is crucial for coordinating events and interpreting historical timestamps accurately.

  4. Chronology of Major Art Movements -

    Trace art history from the Renaissance (14th - 17th c.) through Impressionism (late 19th c.) to Cubism (early 20th c.) using the mnemonic "RINC" (Renaissance, Impressionism, Neo-classic, Cubism). Explore MoMA's online collection to see defining works and artist manifestos for each movement. Relating styles to social contexts sharpens cultural literacy and visual analysis skills.

  5. Nobel Prize Categories and Selection Criteria -

    Familiarize yourself with the six Nobel Prize fields - Peace, Literature, Chemistry, Physics, Medicine, and Economic Sciences - and their distinct selection processes at nobelprize.org. Note example laureates (e.g., Marie Curie in 1903 for Physics) and the year of reforms to grasp evolving award criteria. Reviewing official citation texts from the Nobel Foundation builds insight into global contributions recognized over time.

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