100 MCQs About World History
1. What is the oldest daily newspaper in England? – The Times
2. Which two American states joined the union in 1959? – Alaska and Hawaii
3. Which American President ordered the dropping of the first atomic bomb? – Harry S Truman
4. In which century did King George IV rule Great Britain? – 18th
5. After which famous person in history was the teddy bear named? – Theodore Roosevelt
6. What was the name given to the trials of 24 Nazi leaders for war crimes in 1945? – The Nuremberg Trials
7. In what century was the Taj Mahal built? – 17th
8. Which gangster said ‘I’ve been accused of every death except the casualty list of the World War’? – Al Capone
9. In what year was Prince William born? – 1982
10. The word ‘book’ originates from the middle English word ‘bok’ meaning which type of
tree? – Beech
11. Richard Byrd is credited with having been the first person to fly over what particular spot
in the world? – The North Pole
12. Why don’t the restaurants ‘Palm Court’, ‘Cafe Parisien’ and ‘Verandah’ exist anymore? – They were on the Titanic
13. What city was the capital of Poland between 1320 and 1611? – Krakow
14. Who was the first President of America? – George Washington
15. Which American President served only 31 days? – William Harrison
16. When the first World War broke out which three countries made up the Triple Entente? –
France, England and Russia
17. What is Adam’s ale or Adam’s wine? – Water
18. Who were the mother and father of Elizabeth I? – Anne Boleyn and Henry VIII
19. Which British Prime Minister resigned because of the Suez crisis? – Anthoney Eden
20. For what was Rosa Parks arrested in 1955, leading to the biggest US Civil Rights
movement? – Refusing to give up her seat on a bus for a white man
21. John Major became a member of Parliament in 1979 for which town, north of London? –
Huntingdon
22. Which American President was shot in 1901 and died 8 days later? – McKinley
23. The Battle of Bosworth in 1485 was the last battle of which series of wars? – The Wars Of The Roses
24. The explorer Sir Edmund Hillary was from which country? – New Zealand
25. The popular British pub name ‘The Royal Oak’ is named after which King? – Charles II (he hid in an oak tree to escape enemies)
26. Collectively, by what name are Carole Richardson, Patrick Armstrong, Paul Hill and Gerard Conlon better known? – The Guildford Four
27. In which century was the world’s first public railway opened? – 19th
28. The invention of what in 1867, made Alfred Nobel famous? – Dynamite
29. What was King William II killed by? An arrow, the plague or old age? – An Arrow
30. In Greek mythology, who was the goddess of marriage, women and childbirth? – Hera
31. In what year did Margaret Thatcher become Prime Minister? – 1979
32. In what year was London due to host the Olympic Games, but couldn’t because of the Second World War? – 1944
33. On March 3rd, 1991, who was severly beaten by Los Angeles police officers causing public outcry? – Rodney King
34. Which king was the target of the Gunpowder plot of 1605? – James I
35. What alloy was the most important metal for tools and weapons between the years 4000
and 2000 B.C.? – Bronze
36. In which year did Tony Blair first become British Prime Minister? – 1997
37. Who was the first US President to meet with a reigning British monarch? – Woodrow Wilson
38. In which month in 1914, did Britain declare war on Germany? – August
39. Thomas Chippendale was best known for making and designing what in the 18th century? – Furniture
40. What historic event does the nursery rhyme ‘Ring-a-ring of roses’ commemorate? – The Great Plague
41. In which year did colour TV transmissions begin in Britain? – 1969
42. As at the year 2001, who has been the tallest American President? – Abraham Lincoln
43. Which famous London department store opened on 15th March, 1909? – Selfridges
44. Which of the following occurred most recently? The Iron Age or The Bronze Age? – Iron Age
45. Who is the only American President to have served non-consecutive terms in office? – Grover Cleveland
46. In which country did the cloning of Dolly the sheep take place? – Scotland
47. Who ordered the beheading of Mary Queen Of Scots? – Queen Elizabeth I
48. Which English queen was married to Lord Guildford Dudley? – Lady Jane Grey
49. Which geographical location was the first word spoken on the moon? – Houston
50. What was Hitler’s title as the leader of Nazi Germany? – Fuhrer
51. What was the surname of Zachary, the President of the USA between 1849 and 1850? –Taylor
52. How many of Henry VIII’s wives had been previously married? – 2
53. Who did Queen Elizabeth I succeed to the throne? – Mary I
54. In which war was the Victoria Cross first awarded? – The Crimean War
55. In which century did the diamond engagement ring first become popular? – 15th
56. Which country declared war on both Germany and the Allies in World War II? – Italy
57. Which two brothers are associated with the invention of the aeroplane? – Orville and Wilbur Wright
58. By what title was Oliver Cromwell known? – Lord Protector
59. In 1978, what was Sweden’s most profitable export, ahead of Volvo? – Abba
60. What was the name of the bomb which was dropped on Nagasaki during World War II? – Fat Man
61. How did Robert The Bruce die? – Of the disease leprosy
62. Which famous museum opened in London, in April 1928? – Madam Tussauds
63. In Greek mythology, what was unusual about Medusa’s hair? – It was made of snakes
64. In America, what became the 49th state to enter the union in 1959? – Alaska
65. Which district of London was named after a battle fought in 1815? – Waterloo
66. In what year did the first successful Mars landings take place? – 1976
67. For how many years did the Jurassic period last? – 180 million
68. In which century was Mary, Queen Of Scots executed? – 16th
69. Who was the first American President to visit China? – Richard Nixon
70. Parker and Barrow were the surnames of which famous couple? – Bonnie and Clyde
71. What type of animal was the first to be sent into space? – A dog
72. For what reason did American Sally Ride become famous in 1983? – First American female in space
73. In which year did Richard Nixon begin the secret bombing of Cambodia? – 1969
74. Which famous person in history invented the greeting, ‘Hello’ first used for answering the telephone? – Thomas Edison
75. Who was the famous son of the Greek princess Olympias? – Alexander The Great
76. What were the names of Adam and Eve’s three sons? – Cain, Abel and Seth
77. Which war was called the ‘War to end all wars’? – World War I
78. In what year did Laika the dog become the first space traveller? – 1957
79. Which country in Europe has the oldest Parliament? – Iceland
80. Who was the third President of America and chief author of the Declaration Of Independence? – Thomas Jefferson
81. In what year was the battle of Agincourt? – 1415
82. By what name was the Scottish outlaw Robert McGregor better known? – Rob Roy
83. In 1969, what became the first song to be sung in outer space? – Happy Birthday
84. By what name was Sir Arthur Wellesley better known? – Duke of Wellington
85. What was the name of the suffragette who threw herself under the King’s horse in the
1913 Derby? – Emily Davison
86. What was the profession of Alexander Graham Bell, inventor of the telephone? – Teacher (of deaf and dumb children)
87. Which country suffered over 6 million deaths in World War II, equivalent to over 17% of
it’s population? – Poland
88. Which English King was killed by an arrow at the battle of Hastings? – King Harold
89. Who was murdered by Robert Ford? – Jesse James
90. In what year were protesting students murdered in Tiananman Square? – 1989
91. Which US President was forced to resign because of the Watergate scandal? – Richard Nixon
92. Which monarch’s last words were ‘All my possessions for a moment of time’? – Elizabeth I
93. What happened in 1847 that is sometimes referred to as ‘Black Forty Seven’? – The potato famine in Ireland
94. In which country did Venetian blinds originate? Italy, India or Japan? – Japan
95. In which country was Mother Theresa born? – Yugoslavia
96. Who was the first American President to die while in office? – William Harrison
97. What was the maiden name of the bride at the first wedding watched by over 750 million
people? – Diana Spencer
98. Who was Queen Elizabeth II’s father? – George VI
99. Which famous raid did Guy Gibson lead in 1943? – The Dambusters
100. Who, in 1901, was the first man to send a Radio Telegraph signal across the Atlantic
Ocean? – Guglielmo Marconi
