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Are You A Polymath? Trivia Quiz

A polymath is someone who possesses an in-depth understanding spanning many spheres of knowledge. Are you a true polymath? Find out by taking this quiz featuring questions from 25 different disciplines.

A multiple-choice quiz by ncjs. Estimated time: 7 mins.

Author
ncjs

Time
7 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
87,416

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
20

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
10 / 20

Plays
1842

Last 3 plays: Guest 1 (9/20), Guest 50 (9/20), Guest 92 (3/20).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 20

1. Religion: What does the word 'ummah' refer to in the Islamic faith? Hint

The global community of Muslims

The example set by the prophet Muhammad

The Islamic legal code

The belief in one God

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Question 2 of 20

2. Economics: Who wrote the ground breaking economical work 'Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'?

Answer: (Anybody with a basic knowledge of economics will find this question very easy)

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Question 3 of 20

3. Zoology: What is the scientific name for the 'Black Rhino'? Hint

Ceratotherium simum

Hornis rhinoris

Pan trogladyties

Diceros bicornis

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Question 4 of 20

4. Art: Which artist was commissioned by wealthy merchant Enrico Scrovegni to paint frescoes on the wall of the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy?

Answer: (Just the first name)

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Question 5 of 20

5. Geography: The Irrawaddy River is the main river in which country? Hint

Myanmar

Thailand

Vietnam

South Korea

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Question 6 of 20

6. Philosophy: Which philosopher formulated the Categorical Imperative?

Answer: (Just the surname)

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Question 7 of 20

7. Gastronomy: What rice is traditionally used to make risotto? Hint

Pilaf

Arborio

Lombardi

Basmati

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Question 8 of 20

8. Vocabulary: If a person is 'lissom' they are very: Hint

Supple

Clumsy

Quiet

Tall

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Question 9 of 20

9. History: Jasper Maskeleyne used which unusual talent to help the Allies defeat Rommel in North Africa during WWII? Hint

He was a hypnotist

He was a ventriloquist

He was a psychic

He was a magician

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Question 10 of 20

10. Latin: What is the dative singular reflexive for first person singular ("I")?
Hint

mihi

Sibi

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Question 11 of 20

11. Architecture: Which architectural style is usually associated with pilasters? Hint

Greek Revival

Queen Anne

Italianate

Dutch Colonial

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Question 12 of 20

12. Chemistry: How many atoms are there in diatomic molecules?

Answer: (One Word)

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Question 13 of 20

13. Music: This composer's works include the operas 'Der fliegende Holly�nder' and 'Die Feen'.

Answer: (A German)

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Question 14 of 20

14. Politics: Which of the following countries do NOT use the national list (or D'Hondt) electoral system? Hint

Spain

Holland

Israel

Ireland

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Question 15 of 20

15. Geology: On Friedrich Mohs' scale, diamond is the hardest mineral and _______ is the least hard. Hint

Sand

Gypsum

Fluorite

Talc

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Question 16 of 20

16. Sociology: The relationship between an individual and the government can be considered a: Hint

Micro-level interaction

Major-level interaction

Mini-level interaction

Macro-level interaction

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Question 17 of 20

17. Biology: Which of the following is not a base contained in DNA? Hint

Guanine

Adenine

Thorazine

Cytosine

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Question 18 of 20

18. Psychology: All of the following are part of Freud's concept of personality except: Hint

Super Id

Ego

Superego

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Question 19 of 20

19. Physics: A quantity that has both magnitude and direction is a: Hint

notation

scalar

vector

velocity

20. Anthropology: A physical anthropologist investigates the development of the genetic makeup and physical characteristics of humans. What type of anthropologist studies the behaviours and beliefs of societies both ancient and modern?

Answer: (One Word)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Religion: What does the word 'ummah' refer to in the Islamic faith?

Answer: The global community of Muslims

The word 'ummah' stems from the Arabic word for 'brotherhood'.

2. Economics: Who wrote the ground breaking economical work 'Inquiry into the Nature and Causes of the Wealth of Nations'?

Answer: Adam Smith

Adam Smith was born in Kirkcaldy, Scotland in 1723. The groundbreaking 'The Wealth of Nations' was published in 1776.

3. Zoology: What is the scientific name for the 'Black Rhino'?

Answer: Diceros bicornis

The endangered 'Black Rhino' is actually grey; as it has no sweat glands it covers itself in mud giving it a black appearance.

4. Art: Which artist was commissioned by wealthy merchant Enrico Scrovegni to paint frescoes on the wall of the Arena Chapel in Padua, Italy?

Answer: Giotto

A little self indulgence here as Giotto is my favourite artist. Boccaccio wrote that Giotto had "that art which had been buried for centuries by the errors of some who painted more to please the eyes of the ignorant than the intellect of the wise."

5. Geography: The Irrawaddy River is the main river in which country?

Answer: Myanmar

Myanmar is better known by its former name Burma.

6. Philosophy: Which philosopher formulated the Categorical Imperative?

Answer: Kant

Immanuel Kant formulated the Categorical Imperative as an attempt to provide a criterion through which to judge moral law.

7. Gastronomy: What rice is traditionally used to make risotto?

Answer: Arborio

Arborio rice, a shorter and rounder form of short-grain rice, is the most common variety used. Other types such as carnoroli or maratelli can be used but in my experience are difficult to find.

8. Vocabulary: If a person is 'lissom' they are very:

Answer: Supple

Lissom is an alteration of lithesome, which derives from Old English lithe, "flexible, mild, gentle."

9. History: Jasper Maskeleyne used which unusual talent to help the Allies defeat Rommel in North Africa during WWII?

Answer: He was a magician

The English field magician created visual effects to make the Axis forces believe that an attack was imminent from the south, then the Allies attacked from the north. He also made a harbour disappear!

10. Latin: What is the dative singular reflexive for first person singular ("I")?

Answer: mihi

Yawn!

11. Architecture: Which architectural style is usually associated with pilasters?

Answer: Greek Revival

The Greek revival was a style of architecture popularised around 1820 - 1880, but particularly between 1820 - 1845.

12. Chemistry: How many atoms are there in diatomic molecules?

Answer: 2

Linguists should be able to suss this one out also. Just look at the stem of the word 'diatomic'!

13. Music: This composer's works include the operas 'Der fliegende Holly�nder' and 'Die Feen'.

Answer: Wagner

Wilhelm Richard Wagner is born 22 May 1813 in Leipzig. 'Die Feen' was his first opera and 'Der fliegende Holly�nder' his fourth. Not my cup of tea to be honest!

14. Politics: Which of the following countries do NOT use the national list (or D'Hondt) electoral system?

Answer: Ireland

This system is proportional representation in its simplest form.

15. Geology: On Friedrich Mohs' scale, diamond is the hardest mineral and _______ is the least hard.

Answer: Talc

French mineralogist Friedrich Mohs proposed this scale of hardness nearly 170 years ago: 1.Talc 2.Gypsum 3.Calcite 4.Fluorite 5.Apatite 6.Orthoclase 7.Quartz 8.Topaz 9.Corundum (ruby and sapphire) 10.Diamond.

16. Sociology: The relationship between an individual and the government can be considered a:

Answer: Macro-level interaction

Sociology is the study of human societies and interaction.

17. Biology: Which of the following is not a base contained in DNA?

Answer: Thorazine

Thorazine is an anti psychotic drug of low-potency and also a Canadian death metal group.

18. Psychology: All of the following are part of Freud's concept of personality except:

Answer: Super Id

Freud understood the mind as constantly in conflict with itself, this led him to an eventual division of the mind into three parts, three conflicting internal tendencies, the ID, ego, and super-ego.

19. Physics: A quantity that has both magnitude and direction is a:

Answer: vector

A vector is a number (a magnitude) plus a direction. For example, velocity is a vector; velocity tells you how fast something is traveling, and its direction.

Answer: Cultural

Question: What do you say to someone with a degree in Anthropology?
Answer: Big Mac and fries please.

Source: Author ncjs

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor ozzz2002 before going online.
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