Some facts stick around for years, even when you’ve got no idea why you remember them.
You might struggle to remember where you left your car keys ten minutes ago, yet you can effortlessly recall the capital of a tiny nation or the name of a drummer from an obscure one-hit wonder back in 1974. Today’s 20 questions are designed to put that mental filing cabinet to the test and see which odd facts have survived the test of time.
We’ve pulled together a real mixed bag, covering classic tracks from the 1960s right through to the 1980s, ancient Greek mythology, iconic political speeches, world geography, classic literature, and a few tricky teasers guaranteed to send you digging through the dustiest corners of your memory. Grab a brew, test your wits, and let’s see how many you can tick off without having a cheeky glance at an internet search.
1. Who was the Greek god of the sea?
A. Zeus
B. Poseidon
C. Hades
D. Apollo
2. Who released the 1987 album The Joshua Tree?
A. Michael Jackson
B. U2
C. The Smiths
D. Prince
3. The US city of Phoenix is located in which state?
A. Nevada
B. Nebraska
C. Arizona
D. Colorado
4. What is the first name of Agatha Christie’s detective Miss Marple?
A. Jean
B. Jane
C. Jessica
D. Joan
5. Who wrote the 1929 novel A Farewell to Arms?
A. Richard Adams
B. Markus Zusak
C. Ernest Hemingway
D. John Steinbeck
6. The Cape of Good Hope is located in which country?
A. India
B. Chile
C. Egypt
D. South Africa
7. Who released the 1964 UK hit ‘Anyone Who Had a Heart’?
A. Petula Clark
B. Cilla Black
C. Shirley Bassey
D. Dusty Springfield
8. Frederick the Great became king of Prussia in what year?
A. 1740
B. 1860
C. 1780
D. 1820
9. Which dish made from fermented cabbage is common in Korean cuisine?
A. Kimchi
B. Kombucha
C. Sauerkraut
D. Miso
10. The Rumble in the Jungle was fought between Muhammad Ali and which other boxer?
A. Floyd Patterson
B. George Foreman
C. Joe Frazier
D. Sonny Liston
11. Martin Luther King Jr gave his famous ‘I Have a Dream’ speech in which city?
A. New Orleans
B. New York
C. Chicago
D. Washington, D.C.
12. Who starred as William Wallace in the 1995 film Braveheart?
A. Mel Gibson
B. Liam Neeson
C. Clint Eastwood
D. Chuck Norris
13. What nationality was mathematician and philosopher Bertrand Russell?
A. Canadian
B. Australian
C. British
D. Dutch
14. Doha is the capital of which country?
A. United Arab Emirates
B. Qatar
C. Kuwait
D. Oman
15. Who released the 1979 album Unknown Pleasures?
A. Sex Pistols
B. Happy Mondays
C. The Smiths
D. Joy Division
16. Turin is located on which river?
A. Reno
B. Arno
C. Po
D. Tiber
17. What nationality was physicist Richard Feynman?
A. American
B. Canadian
C. Australian
D. British
18. Which constituency did former prime minister John Major represent?
A. Tunbridge Wells
B. Huntingdon
C. Sedgefield
D. Witney
19. The quadriceps muscle group runs along which bone?
A. Femur
B. Ulna
C. Humerus
D. Tibia
20. Sun Tzu’s The Art of War is traditionally dated to around which century?
A. 10th century BC
B. 5th century BC
C. 10th century AD
D. 5th century AD
Answers
1. B. Poseidon
2. B. U2
3. C. Arizona
4. B. Jane
5. C. Ernest Hemingway
6. D. South Africa
7. B. Cilla Black
8. A. 1740
9. A. Kimchi
10. B. George Foreman
11. D. Washington, D.C.
12. A. Mel Gibson
13. C. British
14. B. Qatar
15. D. Joy Division
16. C. Po
17. A. American
18. B. Huntingdon
19. A. Femur
20. B. 5th century BC
There’s a decent spread there, so getting all 20 means your memory has been doing some serious hoarding. Add up your score and let us know how many you got right.
