25 Tricky Trivia Questions That Many People Get Wrong

Posted by , Updated on March 5, 2024

You probably think you’re pretty smart right? Most of us do. When it comes to estimating our own intelligence we tend to overestimate it significantly.

But when it comes to estimating the intelligence of others, we tend to underestimate it significantly. So when it comes to trivia questions, how good do you think you are?

And these aren’t just pop culture questions either. These are questions from a wide variety of subjects ranging from geography and movies to science and business.

The one thing that most of these questions have in common though, is that most people don’t know them. People think they know them.

But they don’t.

For example, which one is farther north, Rome or New York City? New York City right?

Wrong. It’s Rome. Rome is at 41.9 degrees north, while New York City is at 40.7 degrees north.

You probably didn’t expect that. 😉 Most people wouldn’t.

It’s interesting how our preconceived notions regarding the world around us can be so wrong. Today though, we’re going to tackle them head-on and maybe even learn a thing or two along the way. These are 25 Tricky Trivia Questions That Many People Get Wrong!

Video
play-rounded-fill

Featured Image: pixabay

25

With what country is France's longest land border?

With what country is France's longest land border?Image: google maps

Brazil, because of French Guiana.

24

How many provinces does Holland have?

How many provinces does Holland have?Source: wikipedia

It doesn’t have any. It used to be a province, but today it is split into North Holland and South Holland. The country as a whole is the Netherlands, and Dutch people who don’t live in either North or South Holland tend to dislike referring to the country by that name. It would be like referring to the US as New York.

23

Where is the world's largest desert?

What is the world's largest desert?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Antarctica

22

Which of these is a dinosaur: a chicken, or a pterodactyl?

Which of these is a dinosaur: a chicken, or a pterodactyl?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

A chicken. It may be hard to believe, but birds are more closely related to some dinosaurs then the dinosaurs were even related to each other. For example, the T-Rex has more in common biologically and genetically with a chicken than it does with the stegosaurus. Moreover, the T-Rexes lived much closer to present day than they did to the time of the stegosaurus.

Note: birds are not descended from dinosaurs. They are dinosaurs. Pterodactyls, however, were not dinosaurs.

21

Where are Bugatti cars made?

Where are Bugatti cars made?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

France. Yes, the founder was Italian, but it has always been in France.

20

Which countries in the European Union are farthest north, south, east, and west?

Which countries in the European Union are farthest north, south, east, and west?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

North – Finland, South – France, East – France, West – France

Note: France has a lot of outer regions. You might be inclined to point out that the UK also has many overseas territories but those are just that…territories. They are not 100% a part of the UK. Places like French Guiana aren’t territories or countries. They are 100% France.

19

What is Paul McCartney's middle name?

What is Paul McCartney's middle name?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

It’s Paul. His full name was James Paul McCartney.

18

What is Switzerland's capital city (de jure)?

What is Switzerland's capital city (de jure)?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

It doesn’t actually have one. Bern is just de facto the capital.

17

What company is the world's biggest distributer of toys?

What company is the world's biggest distributer of toys?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

McDonalds (1.4 billion per year)

16

For most of its history, what was the capital of the Roman Empire?

For most of its history, what was the capital of the Roman Empire?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Constantinople. Rome was initially the capital, but then the Western Roman Empire moved its capital to Mediolanum in 286 and then Ravenna in 402. That lasted until 476 when the Western Roman Empire fell. Constantinople remained the capital of the Eastern Roman Empire for over 1000 more years until it fell to the Ottoman Turks in 1453.

Note: We are not talking about the Roman Republic, only the Roman Empire.

15

Which weighs more, a pound of gold or a pound of feathers?

Which weighs more, a pound of gold or a pound of feathers?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Gold. It is measured in troy ounces.

14

What mountain peak is farthest from the center of the Earth?

What mountain peak is farthest from the center of the Earth?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Chimborazo in Ecuador. This last one may throw you. Because the Earth is spinning, it bulges at the equator. And since Chimborazo more or less sits on top of it, it’s farther from the core.

Note: From sea level, Everest is the tallest and from base to peak; Mauna Kea in Hawaii is the tallest (its base is on the ocean floor)

13

Which US president is on the $100 bill?

Which US president is on the $100 bill?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

There isn’t one. Benjamin Franklin was never president.

12

Why did pirates wear eyepatches?

Why did pirates wear eyepatches?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

It wasn’t because they hurt their eyes. It was because when they went above deck they could retain their ability to “see in the dark” below deck. This was useful because otherwise when raiding ships they would have to wait for their eyes to adjust.

11

What city is farther west, Reno (Nevada) or LA (California)

What city is farther west, Reno (Nevada) or LA (California)Source: google maps

Reno

10

What is the official language of the United States?

What is the official language of the United States?Source: wikipedia

It doesn’t have one.

9

What is the only officially bilingual province in Canada?

canadaSource: wikipedia

New Brunswick. Quebec’s only official language is French.

8

How many wings does a flea have? 2, 4, or 6?

How many wings does a flea have? 2, 4, or 6?Source: wikipedia, Image: wikipedia

Fleas don’t have wings.

7

What month did the October Revolution take place?

What month did the October Revolution take place?Source: wikipedia

October in Russia, November everywhere else. Russia still wasn’t using the Gregorian calendar.

6

What weighs more: all the trains that pass through Grand Central Station or all of the trees that are cut down in one year to print US currency?

What weighs more: all the trains that pass through Grand Central Station or all of the trees that are cut down in one year to print US currency?Source: Inside Man, Image: pixabay

Neither. They are both 0. The train station you are thinking of is actually Grand Central Terminal (Grand Central Station is a post office), and US currency isn’t printed on paper.

5

How many animals were on Moses' ark?

How many animals were on Moses' ark?Image: wikipedia

Moses didn’t have an ark with animals. Noah did.

4

What company produces the most tires in the world?

What company produces the most tires in the world?Image: wikipedia, Source: wikipedia

Lego (guinness world record for 318 million LEGO tires per year)

3

What did Darth Vader say to Luke when he revealed that he was his father?

What did Darth Vader say to Luke when he revealed that he was his father?Source: wikiquote

“No, I am your father”

2

Which US states are farthest north, south, east, and west?

Which US states are farthest north, south, east, and west?Source: google maps

South – Hawaii, North – Alaska, West – Alaska, East – Alaska. And no, that’s not a typo. The Aleutian Islands cross into the eastern hemisphere (the dateline even had to be bent to keep all of the US on one side). This also means that some parts Russia are closer to New York City than some parts of Alaska.

1

What city is farther north, Rome or New York?

What city is farther north, Rome or New York?

Rome, by just a little bit.