A General-Knowledge Challenge

Originally published 2017-12-29.

A score reflects the questions selected

The quiz can identify topics to explore. It does not establish superior knowledge across subjects or compare you with a representative population.

From literature to art and from geography to physics, the questions draw on several kinds of background knowledge. Ready? Steady? Start now!

Three questions from each of four fields. See which areas feel familiar and which you might like to explore next.

Who wrote the novel Pride and Prejudice?
Jane Austen published Pride and Prejudice in 1813.
Who wrote One Hundred Years of Solitude?
The Colombian author published it in 1967.
Who is the hero of Homer’s Odyssey?
The Odyssey follows Odysseus on his long journey home after the Trojan War.
Who painted the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo painted it between 1508 and 1512.
Who painted Guernica (1937)?
Picasso painted Guernica in response to the bombing of the Basque town.
Which Dutch artist painted Girl with a Pearl Earring?
Vermeer painted it around 1665.
What is the capital of Australia?
Canberra was purpose-built as the capital.
What is the largest ocean on Earth?
The Pacific covers about a third of Earth’s surface.
Mount Everest lies on the border between Nepal and which country?
Everest sits on the border of Nepal and the Tibet region of China.
What is the SI unit of force?
The newton is named after Isaac Newton.
Who published the laws of motion and universal gravitation in 1687?
Newton set them out in his Principia.
Which scientist is associated with the equation E = mc²?
Einstein derived it in 1905, linking mass and energy.

Every field here is worth exploring. Pick the question that surprised you most and read a little more about it.

You know your way around several subjects. A few gaps simply point to your next good read.

Strong knowledge across literature, art, geography and physics.

Twelve out of twelve. Remarkable breadth of knowledge.

So, how did you do? Did you pass the test? Don't forget to share it with your friends and loved ones!