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Can you score a perfect 50 out of 50 in this general knowledge test from the 20th century? Most people will only be able to get about half of all the questions right. The test will include topics such as key historical events, famous figures, and significant innovations. Try to score at least 35 out of 50 to pass the quiz.
General Knowledge Test From the 20th Century
Instructions: Answer each question by selecting the best choice, proceed through the quiz, and after the last question, click the “Results” button to view your score and review the correct answers.
Results
History Buff Extraordinaire!

Congratulations! You scored a perfect at least 35 out of 50, proving your extensive knowledge of 20th-century events and figures. Keep exploring and learning—there’s always more history to discover! We hope you enjoyed testing your knowledge with these questions.
Keep Exploring and Learning!

You did well, but there’s always more to learn about the fascinating events and innovations of the 20th century. Keep exploring, studying, and challenging your knowledge. You’re on the right path to becoming a history expert!
#1. Which famous physicist developed the theory of relativity in the early 20th century?
#2. Which significant legislation, aimed at ending racial discrimination, was passed in the United States in 1964?
#3. Which groundbreaking medical discovery did Alexander Fleming make in 1928?
#4. Which U.S. President resigned from office in 1974 due to the Watergate scandal?
#5. Which fashion designer is credited with popularizing the “little black dress” in the 1920s?
#6. Who was the first African-American woman to win a Nobel Prize in Literature, awarded in 1993?
#7. In which year did the Berlin Wall fall, marking a significant event in the end of the Cold War?
#8. Which famous British scientist developed the theory of evolution by natural selection in the 19th century?
#9. Which U.S. Supreme Court case in 1954 declared racial segregation in public schools unconstitutional?
#10. Who was the British Prime Minister at the outbreak of World War II?
#11. Which economic theory, developed by John Maynard Keynes during the Great Depression, advocated for increased government spending to stimulate demand?
#12. What significant medical advancement did Jonas Salk develop in 1953?
#13. Which American inventor is credited with the invention of the light bulb in the late 19th century?
#14. Which technological innovation, introduced by Sony in 1979, revolutionized personal music listening?
#15. Which groundbreaking Supreme Court case in 1973 legalized abortion across the United States?
#16. Which U.S. state was the first to legalize same-sex marriage in 2004?
#17. Who was the leader of the Soviet Union during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962?
#18. Which novel by Harper Lee, published in 1960, won the Pulitzer Prize and became a classic of modern American literature?
#19. What major event in 1969 became a pivotal moment in the counterculture movement?
#20. What year did women in the United States gain the right to vote with the passage of the 19th Amendment?
#21. What was the name of the first computer introduced by IBM in 1953?
#22. What year did the Soviet Union launch Sputnik, the first artificial Earth satellite?
#23. Which civil rights leader was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1968?
#24. What major construction project, completed in 1914, drastically reduced shipping times between the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans?
#25. Which event in 1963 led to the assassination of U.S. President John F. Kennedy?
#26. What major global event began in 1914 and lasted until 1918?
#27. Which disease caused a global pandemic in 1918, resulting in millions of deaths worldwide?
#28. Which country hosted the first FIFA World Cup in 1930?
#29. Which event in 1991 marked the dissolution of the Soviet Union?
#30. Which iconic civil rights leader delivered the “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963?
#31. Who was the first person to walk on the moon in 1969?
#32. What major global event took place between 1939 and 1945?
#33. What major event in 1941 brought the United States into World War II?
#34. In 1911, which of these technology companies was founded and became known for its computing innovations?
#35. Which spacecraft was the first to successfully land on Mars in 1976?
#36. Which famous British ship sank in 1912 after hitting an iceberg?
#37. Who was the President of the United States during the majority of World War II?
#38. Which economic and political alliance was founded in 1949 to counter Soviet expansion?
#39. Which environmental disaster in 1986 released large amounts of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, affecting much of Europe?
#40. In which year did the World Health Organization officially declare smallpox eradicated?
#41. What influential book did George Orwell publish in 1949?
#42. Which famous American aviator completed the first solo nonstop transatlantic flight in 1927?
#43. Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean in 1932?
#44. What was the first feature-length animated film released by Walt Disney in 1937?
#45. Which landmark treaty was signed in 1919 to officially end World War I?
#46. In what year did the stock market crash, leading to the Great Depression?
#47. In what year was the first successful polio vaccine developed?
#48. What year did the United States enter World War II?
#49. Which artist is known for painting “The Persistence of Memory” in 1931?
#50. In what year did India gain independence from British rule?
About the Quiz
Congratulations on finishing the quiz. Whether you have scored at least 35 out of 50 or completely blew it, you have shown your interest in the pursuit of knowledge and passion for history and various topics. Continue challenging yourself to more quizzes and remember that each question is a chance to learn something new!
Related: Only the Best Minds Can Pass This 20-Question Knowledge Quiz!
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1) Wombats have block-shaped sphincter-???-! 3) I don’t believe that- my common sense is screaming “Bullshit!!” 4) This I do believe- what else do sloths have to do with their time besides holding their breaths all day-?? 5) Ha-ha-ha!!! 7) Van Gogh must have been a serious bum, in addition to having ear trouble! 8) This one is truly staggering, although I have no trouble believing it! 9) I would have to say that the Picasso family is a bit full of themselves! 10) Well- you learn something every day!
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