How Much Do You Really Remember from High School? Take This Quiz!

Becky

When did World War I began?

The First World War began in July 1914 and ended in November 1918. During the war, Germany, Austria-Hungary and Turkey fought against France, Great Britain, Russia, Italy, Japan and the United States.

Who wrote "To Kill a Mockingbird"?

Harper Lee won the Pulitzer Prize in 1961for her novel, "To Kill a Mockingbird," the story of a white lawyer who defends a black man accused of rape in the Deep South during the 1930s. The critically acclaimed novel, which examined racism and prejudice, was turned into a movie in 1962.

How many degrees is a right angle?

A right angle measures 90 degrees. Angles that are less than 90 degrees are acute angles. Those that are greater than 90 degrees but less than 180 degrees are called obtuse angles.

In what year did the U.S. experience its biggest stock market crash ever?

The worst stock market crash in United States history took place between Oct. 24 and Oct. 29 of 1929. The economic upheaval it caused led to the Great Depression the following decade.

Name the famous American author who gave us such memorable characters as Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.

Mark Twain, whose real name was Samuel Langhorne Clemens, wrote both "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (1876) and "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" (1884). Twain is often regarded as one of the greatest American writers of all time.

In what course would you learn about atoms?

Atoms, the basic building block of matter, are studied in chemistry class. The Greek philosopher Democritus is credited with being the first, in 400 B.C., to use the term "atom" to describe something indivisible.

What do you call the chart that lists all the elements in chemistry?

The periodic table lists the different chemical elements that exist. The elements are ordered based on atomic number. Russian chemist Dimitri Mendeleev is credited for introducing the periodic table.

Name the U.S. president who uttered the famous line, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself."

President Franklin Delano Roosevelt uttered the famous line during his inaugural address, as he led a nation still rebounding from the Great Depression. Roosevelt, also known as FDR, served as president from 1933 to 1945.

Which of the following is NOT a math course?

Geology is not a math course, but rather, an earth science discipline. Specifically, it is the study of the earth, the rocks that comprise it and the processes that take place as they change over time.

Which pair of chromosomes determines the sex of the baby?

One's gender is determined by the 23rd pair of chromosomes. Each human cell normally contains 23 pairs of chromosomes. In this last pair, women have two "X" chromosomes while men have an "X" and a "Y" chromosome.

F. Scott Fitzgerald wrote which of the following books?

F. Scott Fitzgerald is the author of "The Great Gatsby," a 1925 novel about a man's ill-fated love for a woman named Daisy during the Jazz Age. The 2013 Hollywood adaptation of the novel featured actor Leonardo DiCaprio playing the role of Gatsby.

What historical event happened on D-Day?

Allied troops landed on five beaches along the Normandy region of France on June 6, 1944, or D-Day, marking what many regard as the beginning of the end of World War II. The fighting in Normandy lasted for over two months and, ultimately, Allied forces were able to liberate Western Europe.

In what course would you likely learn about iambic pentameter?

Iambic pentameter describes a type of rhythm found in poetry and other writings. William Shakespeare was a huge fan of the iambic pentameter, often featuring it in his sonnets and plays.

Which scientist proposed the theory of natural selection?

Charles Darwin first theorized that evolution was the result of natural selection. Specifically, he proposed that the fittest in a species survived, passing on their genes to future generations.

How long does it take the earth to orbit around the sun once?

It takes the earth approximately 365.25 days to travel around the sun once. That extra quarter of a day explains why we observe a leap year, meaning there are 366 days — one more than usual — on the annual calendar every four years.

Approximately what portion of the earth is covered by water?

About 71% of the earth's surface is covered by water. What's more: about 96.5% of all water on this planet is contained in the oceans. In comparison to the earth's surface, water makes up about 60% of a human adult's body.

What famous festival took place in upstate New York in 1969 as the Vietnam War raged on?

The three-day festival known as "Woodstock" brought together a generation of hippies to celebrate peace, love and music in August 1969. It was held on a farm in Bethel, not far from Woodstock, N.Y.

How many stripes are on the U.S. flag?

There are 13 stripes on the U.S. flag — one for each of the original 13 colonies. There have been different looks to the U.S. flag over time, but the current version was designed in 1958 by Robert G. Heft, then a high school student and Boy Scout member in Ohio.

Which U.S. president resigned as a result of the Watergate scandal?

Richard Nixon resigned in August 1974, amid an impeachment proceeding by Congress. Members of a committee to reelect Nixon and the Republican president's administration had been involved in an attempt to break into the Democratic National Committee's headquarters during the election campaign.

In which course are you most likely to learn about the Pythagorean Theorem?

In geometry, the Pythagorean Theorem states that the square of the hypotenuse in a right triangle (that is, its longest side) is equal to the sum of the squares of the triangle's other two sides. The theory is named for the ancient Greek mathematician and philosopher Pythagoras.

What is the process by which a cell divides into two smaller cells?

Mitosis is the process by which a cell divides into two smaller, genetically identical cells. This process allows for new cells to grow and for older, worn-out cells to be replaced.

What do you call the act by which plants transform sunlight into chemical energy?

Photosynthesis is when green plants use sunlight to convert water, carbon dioxide and minerals into oxygen and organic compounds. The term "photosynthesis" is derived from the Greek.

What are the first 10 amendments to the U.S. Constitution known as?

The first 10 amendments are collectively known as the Bill of Rights. Largely written by James Madison, the Bill of Rights — intended to protect individual liberties and states' rights against a federal government — was ratified in December 1791.

Name the scientist who came up with the theory of relativity.

Albert Einstein is credited for coming up with the theory of relativity, which describes how gravity works. The German physicist received a Nobel Prize in 1921 for his contributions to the field of physics.

The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States from which country?

France donated the Statue of Liberty to the United States as a symbol of friendship between the two countries during the American Revolution. The statue, which stands on Liberty Island between New York and New Jersey, has also come to symbolize freedom.

Which book was NOT written by George Orwell?

"Romeo and Juliet" was written by William Shakespeare. One of Shakespeare's most famous works, the play was first performed in 1595. George Orwell, on the other hand, was not born until 1903.

Which ocean is the largest on earth?

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean. It was named by the Portuguese explorer Ferdinand Magellan in the 1500s. Magellan decided to name it "Pacific" (which means peaceful) because of the calmness of the ocean.

Which of the following is a prime number?

The number 3 is the prime number in this sample. A prime number is a whole number that can only be divided evenly — with no fractions or decimal points in the answer — by the number 1 and itself.

Who was the U.S. president during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962?

John F. Kennedy was serving as the nation's 35th president in 1962 when war nearly broke out between the United States and Soviet Union after U.S.S.R. nuclear-armed missiles were discovered in Cuba. It led to a 13-day standoff between the two countries.

Which planet is the largest?

Jupiter is the largest planet in our solar system. It's the fifth planet from the sun, and its mass is more than double the mass of all the other planets put together. It is considered a gas giant.

In which course would you learn about supply and demand?

In economics, "supply and demand" is a concept that describes the quantity of an item or service that a vendor wishes to sell or provide, relative to the amount that consumers want to purchase or are willing to pay. This relationship helps to determine the price of that commodity or service.

Who wrote "The Grapes of Wrath," a novel about a family setting out from Oklahoma for California during the Great Depression?

John Steinbeck won the Pulitzer Prize in 1940 for "The Grapes of Wrath." He also authored a number of other well-known works, such as "Of Mice and Men" and "East of Eden." He was awarded the Nobel Prize in 1962 for his lifetime contributions to literature.

Name the Shakespearean character who said, "To be or not to be..."

It was Hamlet who uttered the line, "To be or not to be." He posed the question during his famous soliloquy, while pondering whether to commit suicide. It's one of the most recognizable lines written by Shakespeare.

What happens during the REM stage of sleep?

REM, which stands for "rapid eye movement," is the stage of sleep where your eyes move quickly from side to side with the eyelids closed, and you do most of your dreaming. REM occurs about 90 minutes after you first fall asleep and again throughout your sleep cycle.

Name the general who led the Confederate Army during the U.S. Civil War.

General Robert E. Lee was the commander of the Confederate Army, which fought on behalf of the southern states during that wanted to secede from the Union during the Civil War. His father was Henry "Light Horse Harry" Lee, an officer during the Revolutionary War.

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About This Quiz

Did you graduate at the top of your class in high school? Did you make the honor roll every semester? Even if your answer is yes, how much of what you learned do you still remember? Take this quiz to find out just how much information you've retained.

Even if your favorite part of high school was simply hanging out with friends, you were bound to have picked up a thing or two that you probably still remember. Some people claim they rarely use what they learned in school, but the truth of the matter is, you probably remember more than you thought you would. Take math, for example. You use math every time you adjust a recipe or mentally calculate prices at the grocery store. And, hey, how about trivia night at your favorite pub, huh? All that knowledge you once thought was useless may have won you a tournament or two.

We have the utmost faith that you've retained at least a bit of the knowledge you learned in high school. Now, the question becomes:  exactly how much do you remember? You're just a few minutes away from finding out with this quiz! Who knows — the answer may shock you!

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