100 Trivia Questions & Answers (Medium/Hard Difficulty)

March 20, 2024
Team Building

You found our list of 100 trivia questions & answers.

Looking to host your next epic trivia night, and need a little help coming up with some questions? Well look no further! Whether it’s for your next Pub Quiz, family-fun night, teambuilding, or whatever else the occasion, we hope you’ll enjoy these trivia questions. We’ve included the answer as well as 4 possible multiple choice options for each question - so whatever format you prefer, we’ve got you covered.

The list is broken down into 10 categories (10 questions each):

  • 90s Movies
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Cities
  • Books You Should Have Read
  • Famous Inventions
  • Rock & Roll
  • Space
  • Super Villains
  • Wars Across Time
  • White-Collar Criminals

Trivia Questions

90s Movies

1. What is the name of the 1994 film directed by Quentin Tarantino that intertwines the stories of two mob hitmen, a boxer, a gangster's wife, and a pair of bandits?

Answer: The film is called "Pulp Fiction."

a) Reservoir Dogs

b) Pulp Fiction

c) Jackie Brown

d) Kill Bill

2. In the 1993 movie "Jurassic Park," what type of dinosaur was the first to be cloned and shown to the audience?

Answer: The first dinosaur to be cloned and shown in "Jurassic Park" is the Velociraptor.

a) Tyrannosaurus Rex

b) Velociraptor

c) Triceratops

d) Brachiosaurus

3. What is the title of the 1995 crime thriller directed by Bryan Singer, which follows the investigation of a mysterious murder that leads to an intricate web of deceit and corruption?

Answer: The film is called "The Usual Suspects."

a) Reservoir Dogs

b) The Usual Suspects

c) Se7en

d) Heat

4. What is the title of the 1999 science fiction film directed by Lana and Lilly Wachowski that explores the concept of simulated reality?

Answer: The title of the film is "The Matrix."

a) Inception

b) The Truman Show

c) The Matrix

d) Dark City

5. In the 1996 film "Fargo," directed by Joel and Ethan Coen, what is the name of the pregnant police chief who investigates a series of homicides in Minnesota?

Answer: The pregnant police chief is named Marge Gunderson.

a) Marge Gunderson

b) Clarice Starling

c) Jane Craig

d) Ellen Ripley

6. Who directed the 1999 psychological thriller film "Fight Club," based on the novel by Chuck Palahniuk?

Answer: David Fincher directed "Fight Club."

a) Quentin Tarantino

b) David Fincher

c) Martin Scorsese

d) Christopher Nolan

7. In the 1997 film "L.A. Confidential," which actor played the role of LAPD Sergeant Jack Vincennes, who becomes embroiled in a corruption scandal?

Answer: The role of Jack Vincennes was portrayed by Kevin Spacey.

a) Kevin Spacey

b) Russell Crowe

c) Guy Pearce

d) James Cromwell

8. What is the name of the 1999 film directed by Paul Thomas Anderson that follows the rise and fall of a pornographic filmmaker during the Golden Age of Porn in the 1970s and 1980s?

Answer: The film is called "Boogie Nights."

a) Punch-Drunk Love

b) Magnolia

c) Boogie Nights

d) There Will Be Blood

9. Who directed the 1998 film "American History X," a drama that explores themes of racism and redemption through the story of a former neo-Nazi skinhead?

Answer: "American History X" was directed by Tony Kaye.

a) Quentin Tarantino

b) Tony Kaye

c) David Fincher

d) Martin Scorsese

10. Which 1994 film, directed by Robert Zemeckis and based on a Winston Groom novel, won the Academy Award for Best Picture?

Answer: The film is "Forrest Gump."

a) Pulp Fiction

b) Schindler's List

c) The Shawshank Redemption

d) Forrest Gump

Animal Kingdom

1. What is the only mammal capable of true flight (not gliding)?

Answer: The only mammal capable of true flight (not gliding) is the bat.

a) Flying fox

b) Colugo

c) Flying squirrel

d) Bat

2. Which animal possesses the largest brain relative to its body size?

Answer: The animal with the largest brain relative to its body size is the sperm whale.

a) Elephant

b) Sperm whale

c) Dolphin

d) Gorilla

3. What is the name of the smallest species of penguin?

Answer: The name of the smallest species of penguin is the little blue penguin (also known as the fairy penguin).

a) Little blue penguin

b) Adélie penguin

c) Chinstrap penguin

d) Gentoo penguin

4. Which insect holds the record for the fastest flying insect in the world?

Answer: The insect that holds the record for the fastest flying insect in the world is the dragonfly.

a) Dragonfly

b) Hawk moth

c) Housefly

d) Bee

5. What is the name of the small, elusive mammal native to Australia that is capable of laying eggs?

Answer: The name of the small, elusive mammal native to Australia that is capable of laying eggs is the platypus.

a) Platypus

b) Kangaroo

c) Tasmanian devil

d) Koala

6. Which bird species is known for its ability to mimic chainsaws and other mechanical sounds?

Answer: The bird species known for its ability to mimic chainsaws and other mechanical sounds is the lyrebird.

a) Mockingbird

b) Lyrebird

c) Parrot

d) Starling

7. What is the only species of bear found in the Southern Hemisphere?

Answer: The only species of bear found in the Southern Hemisphere is the spectacled bear.

a) Polar bear

b) Brown bear

c) Spectacled bear

d) Panda bear

8. Which animal has the most complex eyesight in the animal kingdom?

Answer: The animal with the most complex eyesight in the animal kingdom is the mantis shrimp.

a) Mantis shrimp

b) Eagle

c) Owl

d) Cuttlefish

9. What is the name of the largest living species of turtle, known for its distinctive ridged shell and often found in tropical and subtropical oceans?

Answer: The name of the largest living species of turtle, known for its distinctive ridged shell and often found in tropical and subtropical oceans, is the leatherback sea turtle.

a) Loggerhead turtle

b) Leatherback sea turtle

c) Green sea turtle

d) Hawksbill turtle

10. Which creature holds the record for the longest migration journey of any animal?

Answer: The creature that holds the record for the longest migration journey of any animal is the Arctic tern.

a) Sockeye salmon

b) Monarch butterfly

c) Humpback whale

d) Arctic tern

Cities

1. What city holds the record for the highest altitude among the world's capital cities?

Answer: The city is La Paz.

a) La Paz

b) Kathmandu

c) Quito

d) Bogotá

2. What is the most populous city in Africa, considering population within city limits?

Answer: The city is Lagos.

a) Cairo

b) Johannesburg

c) Lagos

d) Kinshasa

3. Which European city is split by the Bosphorus Strait, separating its European and Asian sectors?

Answer: The city is Istanbul.

a) Budapest

b) Warsaw

c) Bucharest

d) Istanbul

4. What city holds the title of the oldest continuously inhabited city globally?

Answer: The city is Damascus.

a) Athens

b) Jerusalem

c) Cairo

d) Damascus

5. Which Asian city earns the moniker "City of Temples" due to its plethora of ancient temples and pagodas?

Answer: The city is Bagan.

a) Bagan

b) Kyoto

c) Bangkok

d) Siem Reap

6. What city is recognized as the northernmost capital city worldwide?

Answer: The city is Reykjavik.

a) Helsinki

b) Stockholm

c) Oslo

d) Reykjavik

7. What is the capital city of New Zealand?

Answer: The capital city is Wellington.

a) Auckland

b) Christchurch

c) Wellington

d) Queenstown

8. Which city in India is home to the iconic Taj Mahal?

Answer: The city is Agra.

a) Delhi

b) Mumbai

c) Agra

d) Jaipur

9. Which city is often referred to as the "Pearl of the Adriatic" for its stunning coastline and medieval architecture?

Answer: The city is Dubrovnik.

a) Athens

b) Dubrovnik

c) Trieste

d) Venice

10. What is the capital city of Kazakhstan, known for its modern skyline, cultural landmarks, and Eurasian heritage?

Answer: The city is Astana.

a) Almaty

b) Bishkek

c) Astana

d) Tashkent

Books You Should Have Read

1. What is the title of the novel by Fyodor Dostoevsky that follows the psychological turmoil of Rodion Raskolnikov, a former student who commits a murder?

Answer: The title of the novel is "Crime and Punishment."

a) The Brothers Karamazov

b) Crime and Punishment

c) The Idiot

d) Demons

2. In George Orwell's dystopian novel, what is the ruling entity that governs Oceania in "1984"?

Answer: The ruling entity governing Oceania is known as "The Party."

a) The Brotherhood

b) The Regime

c) The Council

d) The Party

3. Who is the author of the novel "To Kill a Mockingbird," which explores themes of racial injustice and moral growth in the American South?

Answer: The author of the novel is Harper Lee.

a) F. Scott Fitzgerald

b) Harper Lee

c) John Steinbeck

d) Ernest Hemingway

4. What is the title of the science fiction novel by Stanisław Lem that explores the challenges of communication with an extraterrestrial species?

Answer: The title of the science fiction novel is "Solaris."

a) The Futurological Congress

b) Solaris

c) His Master's Voice

d) The Invincible

5. Which novel by Thomas Pynchon follows the journey of Oedipa Maas as she unravels a conspiracy involving a mysterious underground postal system?

Answer: The novel is called "The Crying of Lot 49."

a) Gravity's Rainbow

b) V.

c) Mason & Dixon

d) The Crying of Lot 49

6. What is the title of Aldous Huxley's dystopian novel that portrays a futuristic society where human beings are genetically engineered and classified into castes?

Answer: The title of Aldous Huxley's novel is "Brave New World."

a) Fahrenheit 451

b) Brave New World

c) The Handmaid's Tale

d) Animal Farm

7. Which novel by Franz Kafka tells the story of a man who wakes up one morning to find himself transformed into a giant insect?

Answer: The novel by Franz Kafka is "The Metamorphosis."

a) The Trial

b) The Castle

c) The Metamorphosis

d) Amerika

8. Which classic novel by Mary Shelley follows the story of a scientist who creates a creature from reanimated body parts?

Answer: The classic novel by Mary Shelley is "Frankenstein."

a) Dracula

b) Frankenstein

c) The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde

d) The Island of Doctor Moreau

9. In Margaret Atwood's dystopian novel "The Handmaid's Tale," what is the name of the protagonist who serves as a handmaid in the Republic of Gilead?

Answer: The name of the protagonist in Margaret Atwood's novel is Offred.

a) Ofglen

b) Offred

c) Serena Joy

d) Aunt Lydia

10. In the novel by J.D. Salinger that follows the journey of a disillusioned teenager in New York City, who is the protagonist?

Answer: The protagonist in the novel by J.D. Salinger is Holden Caulfield.

a) John Gallagher

b) Sally Hayes

c) Holden Caulfield

d) Nick Carraway

Famous Inventions

1. What British inventor is credited for developing the concept of the world's first programmable computer, the Analytical Engine, in the 1830s?

Answer: Charles Babbage

a) Alan Turing

b) Ada Lovelace

c) Charles Babbage

d) John von Neumann

2. Who invented the first mass-produced, practical sewing machine in 1846, revolutionizing the textile industry?

Answer: Elias Howe

a) Isaac Singer

b) Elias Howe

c) Walter Hunt

d) Barthélemy Thimonnier

3. What French chemist and microbiologist is credited with a namesake discovery that revolutionized food preservation?

Answer: Louis Pasteur

a) Louis Pasteur

b) Alexander Fleming

c) Marie Curie

d) Antoine Lavoisier

4. Known for her pioneering research on radioactivity, who was the first woman to win a Nobel Prize?

Answer: Marie Curie

a) Stephanie Kwolek

b) Rosalind Franklin

c) Marie Curie

d) Ada Lovelace

5. What Austrian neurologist is credited with inventing psychoanalysis, a clinical method for treating psychopathology through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst?

Answer: Sigmund Freud

a) Alfred Adler

b) Carl Jung

c) Wilhelm Reich

d) Sigmund Freud

6. Name the company that introduced the first commercially available lithium-ion battery in 1991.

Answer: Sony

a) Panasonic

b) Sony

c) Duracell

d) Energizer

7. What is the name of the French physicist who invented the electric battery and discovered several elements, including sodium and potassium?

Answer: Antoine Lavoisier

a) Joseph-Louis Lagrange

b) Jacques Charles

c) Antoine Lavoisier

d) André-Marie Ampère

8. In what year was the World Wide Web invented, revolutionizing the way information is shared on the internet?

Answer: In 1989.

a) 1979

b) 1984

c) 1989

d) 1991

9. What scientist developed the first successful polio vaccine in the 1950s?

Answer: Jonas Salk

a) Jonas Salk

b) Albert Sabin

c) Edward Jenner

d) Alexander Fleming

10. What inventor is credited with the discovery of penicillin in 1928?

Answer: Alexander Fleming

a) Alexander Fleming

b) Louis Pasteur

c) Marie Curie

d) Antoine Lavoisier

Rock & Roll

1. In the song "Stairway to Heaven," what mystical object is mentioned that is said to be bought with a "bustle in your hedgerow"?

Answer: The object is a May Queen.

a) May Queen

b) Crystal Ball

c) Magic Wand

d) Enchanted Mirror

2. In the song "Born to Run" by Bruce Springsteen, what is the name of the main character's partner who says "I wanna die with you, Wendy, on the street tonight"?

Answer: The partner's name is Wendy.

a) Mary

b) Jenny

c) Wendy

d) Sarah

3. What is the real name of the guitarist known as Slash, famous for his work with Guns N' Roses?

Answer: Slash's real name is Saul Hudson.

a) Saul Hudson

b) Angus Young

c) David Howell Evans

d) Steve Hackett

4. Which iconic musician is better known by the stage name "Meat Loaf"?

Answer: Michael Lee Aday is better known as Meat Loaf.

a) David Coverdale

b) Michael Lee Aday

c) Bruce Dickinson

d) Paul Rodgers

5. In what year did Jimi Hendrix pass away at the age of 27?

Answer: Jimi Hendrix died in 1970.

a) 1967

b) 1969

c) 1970

d) 1971

6. Which legendary guitarist, known for his work with the bands Cream and The Yardbirds, was famously referred to as the "Godfather of Rock Guitar"?

Answer: Eric Clapton

a) Eric Clapton

b) Jimmy Page

c) Jimi Hendrix

d) Jeff Beck

7. In which year did The Beatles release their iconic album "Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band"?

Answer: The album was released in 1967.

a) 1965

b) 1966

c) 1967

d) 1968

8. Who was the lead vocalist of the band Led Zeppelin, known for his powerful voice and charismatic stage presence?

Answer: Robert Plant

a) Roger Daltrey

b) Freddie Mercury

c) Mick Jagger

d) Robert Plant

9. What is the title of the debut studio album by the American rock band Nirvana, released in 1989?

Answer: "Bleach" is the title of the album.

a) In Utero

b) Nevermind

c) Bleach

d) Rarities

10. What is the name of the lead guitarist of the band Queen, known for his unique playing style and flamboyant stage persona?

Answer: Brian May

a) Eddie Van Halen

b) Brian May

c) Jimmy Page

d) Ritchie Blackmore

Space

1. What is the name of the closest star to Earth, besides the Sun?

Answer: The closest star to Earth, besides the Sun, is Proxima Centauri.

a) Sirius

b) Alpha Centauri

c) Proxima Centauri

d) Betelgeuse

2. Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?

Answer: Jupiter, in our solar system, has the most moons.

a) Jupiter

b) Saturn

c) Uranus

d) Neptune

3. What is the name of the largest volcano in our solar system, located on Mars?

Answer: The largest volcano in our solar system, located on Mars, is Olympus Mons.

a) Mount Etna

b) Mauna Kea

c) Olympus Mons

d) Mount Vesuvius

4. Which space mission successfully landed humans on the Moon for the first time?

Answer: The space mission that successfully landed humans on the Moon for the first time was Apollo 11.

a) Apollo 11

b) Mercury-Atlas 6

c) Voyager 1

d) Mars Pathfinder

5. What is the term for the point in a planet's orbit around the Sun where it is closest to the star?

Answer: The term for the point in a planet's orbit around the Sun where it is closest to the star is perihelion.

a) Aphelion

b) Perihelion

c) Equinox

d) Solstice

6. What is the name of the spacecraft launched by NASA in 2006 to study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt objects?

Answer: The spacecraft launched by NASA in 2006 to study Pluto and the Kuiper Belt objects is New Horizons.

a) Galileo

b) Juno

c) Cassini

d) New Horizons

7. In the movie "Deep Impact," what was the name of the meteor headed towards Earth?

Answer: In the movie "Deep Impact," the meteor headed towards Earth was Wolf-Biederman.

a) Messiah

b) Wolf-Biederman

c) Jensen-Bisach

d) Smith-Johnson

8. What is the largest known planet outside our solar system?

Answer: The largest known planet outside our solar system is WASP-17b.

a) Kepler-22b

b) WASP-17b

c) HD 209458b

d) TrES-4

9. Which spacecraft conducted the first flyby of Jupiter and Saturn, providing crucial data and images of these gas giants?

Answer: The spacecraft that conducted the first flyby of Jupiter and Saturn, providing crucial data and images of these gas giants, was Voyager 1.

a) Voyager 1

b) Voyager 2

c) Juno

d) Cassini

10. What is the approximate age of the universe, according to current scientific estimates?

Answer: 13.8 billion years

a) 4.6 billion years

b) 13.8 billion years

c) 20 billion years

d) 100 billion years

Super Villains

1. What is the real name of the supervillain known as The Joker, Batman's arch-nemesis?

Answer: The Joker's real name is Jack White.

a) Kirk Langstrom

b) Oswald Cobblepot

c) Edward Nygma

d) Jack White

2. In the "Star Wars" saga, who is the Sith Lord, ruling with an iron fist and seeking to eradicate the Jedi Order?

Answer: The Sith Lord is Emperor Palpatine, also known as Darth Sidious. (Either Darth Sidious or Emperor Palpatine are acceptable answers)

a) Darth Vader

b) Darth Sidious

c) Darth Maul

d) Count Dooku

3. What government does villain Dominic Greene intend to influence in "Quantum of Solace"?

Answer: Bolivia

a) Belarus

b) Ecuador

c) Bolivia

d) Kyrgyzstan

4. In Marvel Comics, who is the powerful mutant telepath who often serves as the primary adversary of the X-Men?

Answer: The supervillain is Magneto.

a) Mystique

b) Apocalypse

c) Magneto

d) Juggernaut

5. Which supervillain, created by Frank Miller, is a highly skilled marksman and the arch-nemesis of the vigilante known as Daredevil?

Answer: The supervillain is Bullseye.

a) Bullseye

b) Elektra

c) The Punisher

d) Kingpin

6. What is the villainous alter ego of Norman Osborn, a wealthy industrialist and Spider-Man's archenemy in Marvel Comics?

Answer: The villainous alter ego of Norman Osborn is the Green Goblin.

a) The Riddler

b) Venom

c) Green Goblin

d) Doctor Octopus

7. Name the iconic villainess from the "Wonder Woman" comics who can best be described as a “wicked sorceress”.

Answer: The villainess is Circe, known for her magical abilities and animosity towards Wonder Woman.

a) Circe

b) Cheetah

c) Poison Ivy

d) Giganta

8. What is the name of Saruman's stronghold, where he plots against the forces of good?

Answer: Isengard.

a) Minis Tirith

b) Isengard

c) Helm's Deep

d) Mordor

9. What is Elliot Carver's ultimate goal in engineering conflicts in "Tomorrow Never Dies"?

Answer: Elliot Carver aims to manipulate global news coverage to increase his media empire's influence and profits.

a) To destabilize governments and gain power.

b) To gain control over the world's energy resources.

c) To seek revenge for his own government's betrayal.

d) To increase his media empire's influence and profits.

10. In "Die Hard," which building becomes the site of Hans Gruber's hostage situation?

Answer: Nakatomi Plaza.

a) Nakamoto Plaza

b) Nakatomi Plaza

c) Nakamura Tower

d) Nakashima Tower

Wars Across Time

1. In which century did the Hundred Years' War take place?

Answer: The 14th century

a) 14th century

b) 17th century

c) 18th century

d) 19th century

2. Which two ancient civilizations fought in the Punic Wars?

Answer: Rome and Carthage

a) Rome and Persia

b) Rome and Sparta

c) Rome and Carthage

d) Sparta and Athens

3. Which battle marked the final defeat of Napoleon Bonaparte in 1815?

Answer: The Battle of Waterloo

a) The Battle of Austerlitz

b) The Battle of Borodino

c) The Battle of Trafalgar

d) The Battle of Waterloo

4. Who was the Roman general responsible for the conquest of Gaul and later became dictator of Rome?

Answer: Julius Caesar

a) Augustus Caesar

b) Marcus Aurelius

c) Mark Antony

d) Julius Caesar

5. In which war was The Battle of Fredericksburg fought?

Answer: The American Civil War

a) The War of 1812

b) The American Civil War

c) The American Revolutionary War

d) The Spanish-American War

6. Who's assassination was said to spark World War I?

Answer: The Archduke Franz Ferdinand

a) Archduke Maximilian

b) Kaiser Wilhelm II

c) Emperor Charles I of Austria

d) Archduke Franz Ferdinand

7. Name the two countries that fought against each other in The Falklands War.

Answer: United Kingdom & Argentina

a) Argentina & United Kingdom

b) Brazil & Chile

c) Argentina & Chile

d) Chile & United Kingdom

8. In what decade was The Six-Day War fought?

Answer: The 1960s (1967)

a) 1950s

b) 1960s

c) 1970s

d) 1980s

9. Who was the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II?

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

a) George S. Patton

b) Winston Churchill

c) Douglas MacArthur

d) Dwight D. Eisenhower

10. What was the name of the diplomatic strategy notably pursued by Western democracies toward Nazi Germany before World War II?

Answer: Appeasement was the name of the diplomatic strategy.

a) Appeasement

b) Deterrence

c) Isolationism

d) Concession

White-Collar Criminals

1. Who was the notorious American financier convicted of running a Ponzi scheme considered the largest financial fraud in U.S. history?

Answer: Bernie (or Bernard) Madoff

a) Bernie Madoff

b) Jordan Belfort

c) Kenneth Lay

d) Gordon Gekko

2. Which former chairman of Enron Corporation was convicted of multiple counts of fraud and conspiracy related to the company's collapse?

Answer: Kenneth Lay

a) Martha Stewart

b) Kenneth Lay

c) Jeffrey Skilling

d) Bernie Ebbers

3. What infamous American fraudster and stock market manipulator was convicted of numerous offenses related to his investment firm, Stratton Oakmont?

Answer: Jordan Belfort

a) Frank Abagnale

b) Charles Ponzi

c) Ivan Boesky

d) Jordan Belfort

4. Who was the mastermind behind the largest insider trading scandal in U.S. history, involving illegal activities at the hedge fund SAC Capital Advisors?

Answer: Steven Cohen

a) Michael Milken

b) Bernard Madoff

c) Raj Rajaratnam

d) Steven Cohen

5. Which American businesswoman was convicted of conspiracy, fraud, and obstruction of justice related to the collapse of her company, Theranos?

Answer: Elizabeth Holmes

a) Elizabeth Holmes

b) Martha Stewart

c) Sherron Watkins

d) Leona Helmsley

6. What former CEO of WorldCom was convicted of orchestrating one of the largest accounting frauds in U.S. history, resulting in the company's bankruptcy?

Answer: Bernard Ebbers

a) Richard Scrushy

b) Bernard Ebbers

c) Jeff Skilling

d) Andrew Fastow

7. Who was the American businesswoman convicted of multiple charges related to the collapse of her energy trading company, Enron Corporation?

Answer: Rebecca Mark

a) Michelle Malkin

b) Elizabeth Holmes

c) Martha Stewart

d) Rebecca Mark

8. Who was the American con artist who posed as an airline pilot, doctor, and lawyer, among other professions, in the 1960s and 1970s, inspiring the movie "Catch Me If You Can"?

Answer: Frank Abagnale

a) Gregor MacGregor

b) Victor Lustig

c) Frank Abagnale

d) Carlos Kaiser

9. What American mobster, known as "Scarface," was the leader of the Chicago Outfit during the Prohibition era and was eventually convicted of tax evasion in 1931?

Answer: Al Capone

a) John Gotti

b) Lucky Luciano

c) Bugsy Siegel

d) Al Capone

10. In 1971, a group of thieves tunneled into the headquarters of the Lloyds Bank in London's Marylebone district and stole valuables worth millions of pounds. What was the nickname given to this notorious heist?

Answer: The Baker Street Robbery

a) The Hatton Garden Heist

b) The Baker Street Robbery

c) The Lufthansa Heist

d) The Brink's-Mat Robbery