TEST YOUR GENERAL KNOWLEDGE

1. The name of which month comes from the Latin and Greek word “octo” meaning “eight”?

2. Australia won the 2020 Women’s T20 World Cup final on (a) Australia Day (b) International Women’s Day (c) New Year’s Day?

3. The dwarf planet Pluto was discovered in (a) 1930 (b) 1950 (c) 1970?

4. The name of which scientific instrument used for viewing tiny objects is a ten-letter word beginning with “m”?

5. The traditional washtub bass (gutbucket) has how many strings (a) one (b) three (c) five?

6. The Roman Baths are in which English city?

7. In the pioneering days of which sport was an item of equipment described as an “automatic rabbit”?

8. Journalists Bob Woodward and Carl Bernstein worked for which newspaper while investigating the Watergate scandal?

9. Mount Disappointment is in which Australian state/territory?

10. Paediatrician and philanthropist Dr Priscilla Chan is the wife of which US technology chief?

11. Who recently quit as Queensland State of Origin coach after being appointed coach of the Brisbane Broncos?

12. Which Australian state capital CBD is closest to its airport?

13. In 2015, which former Australian test cricketer won over $23,000 after finishing 597th in the World Series of Poker Main Event in Las Vegas?

14. In 1994, Bunnings opened its first warehousestyle store in (a) Brisbane (b) Melbourne (c) Perth?

15. Beginning with “t”, what is the term for a tropical cyclone which develops in the northern hemisphere between 180o and 100o East?

16. In the 1975 movie Sunday Too Far Away, what was the occupation of Foley, played by Jack Thompson?

17. From 2007 to 2012, David Beckham played for which California soccer team?

18. Beginning with “h”, what gives red blood cells their colour?

19. Which alcoholic drink is used in a mimosa cocktail?

20. Losing My Virginity was the 1998 autobiography of which English businessman?

21. Name the official residence of the New Zealand prime minister.

22. Which 18th century British prime minister was known as the Great Commoner because of his long-term refusal to accept a title?

23. Which four countries’ use of the lira as the unit of currency ended in 2002?

24. Which 1877 publication is widely regarded as “the greatest novel ever written”?

25. What was the first name of the title character in Mary Shelley’s 1818 novel Frankenstein?

ANSWERS

1. October. 2. (b) International Women’s Day.

3. (a) 1930. 4. Microscope. 5. (a) one. 6. Bath.

7. Greyhound racing. 8. Washington Post.

9. Victoria. 10. Mark Zuckerberg. 11. Kevin Walters. 12. Adelaide. 13. Shane Warne. 14. (b) Melbourne. 15. Typhoon. 16. Shearer. 17. LA Galaxy. 18. Haemoglobin. 19. Champagne. 20. Richard Branson. 21. Premier House. 22. William Pitt the Elder. 23. Italy, Malta, San Marino, Vatican City. 24. Anna Karenina. 25. Victor.