50 Pub Quiz Questions and Answers (Pack 1)
The definitive 5-round pub quiz pack covering General Knowledge, Music & Cinema, World Geography, History, and Science & Nature with sudden-death tie-breakers and live host mode.
Written & Curated by Arthur Pendelton • Independently Reviewed by Liam O'Connor • Verified: 2026-08-15.
General Knowledge Starter
- Q1.
Which chemical element has the symbol 'Sn' on the periodic table?
Answer:TinNote: From the Latin word 'stannum'.
- Q2.
How many valves does a standard human heart have?
Answer:4 (Four)Note: Tricuspid, Pulmonary, Mitral, and Aortic valves.
- Q3.
In what year did the Berlin Wall fall?
Answer:1989Note: November 9, 1989.
- Q4.
What is the capital city of Australia?
Answer:CanberraNote: Often mistaken for Sydney or Melbourne.
- Q5.
What currency is used in Japan?
Answer:Japanese Yen (¥)Note: Introduced under the Meiji government in 1871.
- Q6.
Who painted 'The Girl with a Pearl Earring'?
Answer:Johannes VermeerNote: Painted circa 1665 in Delft, Netherlands.
- Q7.
What is the hardest natural substance on Earth?
Answer:DiamondNote: Rating 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness.
- Q8.
Which planet in our solar system has the most moons?
Answer:SaturnNote: With 146 officially recognized moons.
- Q9.
What is the national animal of Scotland?
Answer:The UnicornNote: A symbol of purity and innocence in Celtic mythology.
- Q10.
How many players are on a standard rugby union team on the pitch?
Answer:15 playersNote: Rugby League has 13 players.
Music & Entertainment
- Q11.
Which British band released the iconic 1973 album 'The Dark Side of the Moon'?
Answer:Pink Floyd - Q12.
Who played the character of Neo in the 1999 sci-fi classic 'The Matrix'?
Answer:Keanu Reeves - Q13.
What is the highest-grossing film of all time (unadjusted for inflation)?
Answer:Avatar (2009)Note: Directed by James Cameron.
- Q14.
Which female artist released the hit single 'Bad Romance' in 2009?
Answer:Lady Gaga - Q15.
What is the real name of rapper Eminem?
Answer:Marshall Bruce Mathers III - Q16.
In 'The Lord of the Rings', what is the name of the wizard known as the White Rider?
Answer:Gandalf - Q17.
Which TV series features the fictional continent of Westeros?
Answer:Game of Thrones (A Song of Ice and Fire) - Q18.
How many studio albums did Nirvana release during Kurt Cobain's lifetime?
Answer:3 (Bleach, Nevermind, In Utero) - Q19.
Who won the Best Actor Oscar for his role in 'Oppenheimer' (2023)?
Answer:Cillian Murphy - Q20.
Which pop icon headlined the 2024 Super Bowl Halftime Show in Las Vegas?
Answer:Usher
World Geography & Flags
- Q21.
What is the longest river in the world?
Answer:The Nile River (approx. 6,650 km / 4,132 miles) - Q22.
Which country has the most natural lakes in the world?
Answer:CanadaNote: Over 60% of all lakes worldwide.
- Q23.
What is the official currency of Switzerland?
Answer:Swiss Franc (CHF) - Q24.
Which mountain range separates Europe from Asia?
Answer:The Ural Mountains - Q25.
What is the only country in the world that is also a continent?
Answer:Australia - Q26.
Which African country was formerly known as Abyssinia?
Answer:Ethiopia - Q27.
What is the capital of New Zealand?
Answer:WellingtonNote: Auckland is the largest city.
- Q28.
Which US state has the longest coastline?
Answer:AlaskaNote: Over 6,640 miles of coastline.
- Q29.
How many countries border Germany?
Answer:9 countriesNote: Denmark, Poland, Czechia, Austria, Switzerland, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, Netherlands.
- Q30.
What is the smallest independent sovereign state in the world by area?
Answer:Vatican City (0.49 km²)
History & Major Events
- Q31.
In which year did the Titanic sink on its maiden voyage?
Answer:1912 (April 15) - Q32.
Who was the first President of the United States?
Answer:George Washington - Q33.
Which ancient civilization constructed the city of Machu Picchu?
Answer:The Inca Empire - Q34.
What year marked the start of the French Revolution?
Answer:1789 - Q35.
Who was the British Prime Minister at the outbreak of World War II in 1939?
Answer:Neville ChamberlainNote: Winston Churchill took office in May 1940.
- Q36.
What was the code name for the Allied invasion of Normandy in June 1944?
Answer:Operation Overlord - Q37.
Which Roman general crossed the Rubicon river in 49 BC?
Answer:Julius Caesar - Q38.
In what year was the Magna Carta signed at Runnymede?
Answer:1215 - Q39.
Which astronaut was the second human to walk on the Moon?
Answer:Buzz Aldrin (Apollo 11, 1969) - Q40.
Which empire was ruled by Genghis Khan?
Answer:The Mongol Empire
Science, Nature & Speed Trivia
- Q41.
What is the powerhouse of the biological cell?
Answer:Mitochondria - Q42.
What is the chemical formula for ordinary table salt?
Answer:NaCl (Sodium Chloride) - Q43.
How many bones are in an adult human body?
Answer:206 bones - Q44.
What is the speed of light in a vacuum (approximate km/s)?
Answer:300,000 km/s (exactly 299,792 km/s) - Q45.
Which gas makes up approximately 78% of Earth's atmosphere?
Answer:Nitrogen - Q46.
What type of animal is a Komodo dragon?
Answer:Lizard (Monitor Lizard) - Q47.
What is the only flying mammal in the world?
Answer:The Bat - Q48.
What is the unit of electrical resistance?
Answer:Ohm (Ω) - Q49.
How many chambers does a cow's stomach have?
Answer:4 chambers (Rumen, Reticulum, Omasum, Abomasum) - Q50.
What temperature is absolute zero in Celsius?
Answer:-273.15°C (0 Kelvin)
Numerical Tie-Breaker Questions
In the event of a tie after Round 5, ask one of these closest-to-the-pin questions. The team closest to the exact answer wins.
- Tie-Breaker #1:
In feet, what is the exact height of the Empire State Building including its spire?
Exact Answer:1454 feet1,250 ft to roof, 1,454 ft to tip.
- Tie-Breaker #2:
In what year was the first commercial Boeing 747 flight with paying passengers?
Exact Answer:1970 yearPan Am flight from New York to London, January 22, 1970.
- Tie-Breaker #3:
How many total islands make up the nation of Indonesia according to official survey?
Exact Answer:17508 islands17,508 officially registered islands.
Pub Quiz Host FAQs
How long does running a 50-question pub quiz take?
With 5 rounds of 10 questions and a 10-minute mid-quiz intermission, a 50-question quiz takes between 90 and 120 minutes.
Can I print this quiz for physical pub hosting?
Yes! Use our 1-click dual PDF printable mode to download separate player answer sheets and quizmaster master keys.
How do tie-breakers work?
In the event of a tie after Round 5, the quizmaster asks one numerical closest-to-the-pin question. The team closest to the exact figure wins.