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Technology — Quiz Night questions
All 500 questions from the Technology pack of Quiz Night, written out in full. Free to read, free to play in your browser.
A trivia night in your pocket, eight packs, answers included.
Play free1In what year was YouTube founded?
- 2009
- 2003
- 2005
- 2007
2Who is one of the founders of Facebook?
- Kevin Systrom
- Jack Dorsey
- Mark Zuckerberg
- Evan Spiegel
3Which company owns Instagram today?
- Microsoft
- Meta
- Apple
4Which pair founded Google?
- Bill Gates and Paul Allen
- Jack Dorsey and Evan Williams
- Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak
- Larry Page and Sergey Brin
5Who founded Amazon?
- Bill Gates
- Larry Ellison
- Elon Musk
- Jeff Bezos
6Gmail is a service of which company?
- Yahoo
- Apple
- Microsoft
7Which company develops the Safari web browser?
- Mozilla
- Microsoft
- Apple
8On social media, which symbol turns a word into a hashtag?
- @
- *
- #
- &
9What was Twitter renamed to in 2023?
- X
- Threads
- Bluesky
- Mastodon
10LinkedIn is a social network used mainly for what?
- Sharing photos
- Work and careers
- Short video
- Game streaming
11Which company bought WhatsApp in 2014?
- Amazon
- Microsoft
12In what year was Google founded?
- 1995
- 1998
- 2004
- 2001
13In what year did Wikipedia go live?
- 1998
- 2007
- 2001
- 2004
14Which platform first offered stories that disappear after 24 hours?
- Snapchat
- TikTok
15What did Amazon sell online when it first started?
- Electronics
- Clothing
- Music CDs
- A book
16What business was Netflix in when it started?
- Renting DVDs by mail
- Making movies
- Running movie theaters
- Cable television
17In which country was Spotify founded?
- Sweden
- Norway
- England
- The USA
18In what year was the Google Chrome browser released?
- 2014
- 2011
- 2008
- 2004
19Which organization develops the Firefox browser?
- Opera
- Microsoft
- Mozilla
20What are Reddit's communities devoted to a single topic called?
- Board
- Subreddit
- Channel
- Server
21ByteDance, the owner of TikTok, is a company from which country?
- China
- The USA
- Japan
- South Korea
22Which browser fought the 1990s browser war against Internet Explorer?
- Firefox
- A safari
- Netscape Navigator
- Opera
23When Instagram first launched, it was available only on which operating system?
- BlackBerry OS
- Android
- Windows Phone
- iOS
24Where was the first video uploaded to YouTube filmed?
- At a zoo
- At a concert
- On a soccer field
- In a kitchen
25Which company bought the game streaming platform Twitch in 2014?
- Sony
- Microsoft
- Amazon
26In what year was the first iPhone unveiled?
- 2005
- 2010
- 2009
- 2007
27Which Apple founder unveiled the first iPhone on stage?
- Steve Wozniak
- Tim Cook
- Bill Gates
- Steve Jobs
28Galaxy smartphones are made by which brand?
- Huawei
- Sony
- LG
- Samsung
29Samsung is a company from which country?
- Taiwan
- South Korea
- Japan
- China
30Nokia is a company from which country?
- Denmark
- Sweden
- Finland
- Norway
31AirPods are wireless earbuds from which company?
- Bose
- Samsung
- Apple
- Sony
32Canon and Nikon cameras are brands from which country?
- Germany
- Japan
- South Korea
- The USA
33Which company makes the Xbox game console?
- Sony
- Sega
- Microsoft
- Nintendo
34What is the voice assistant in Amazon Echo speakers called?
- Cortana
- Alexa
- Siri
- Bixby
35What is Apple's face-recognition phone unlock feature called?
- Face Unlock
- Face ID
- Smart Lock
- Touch ID
36In what year did the Apple Watch first go on sale?
- 2012
- 2015
- 2017
- 2019
37In what year was Apple's iPad tablet first unveiled?
- 2014
- 2012
- 2007
- 2010
38BlackBerry phones were best known for which feature?
- Wireless charging
- A folding screen
- A dual camera
- A physical keyboard
39GoPro cameras are designed especially for what kind of filming?
- Microscopic
- Studio portraits
- Astronomy
- Action and sports
40Which company makes the Kindle e-reader?
- Amazon
- Apple
- Sony
- Samsung
41What are Polaroid cameras famous for?
- Recording video
- Shooting panoramas
- Printing photos instantly
- Shooting underwater
42Which Bandai virtual pet toy swept the world in the 1990s?
- Furby
- Nano Pet
- Giga Pet
- Tamagotchi
43Which phone released in 2000 became legendary for its durability?
- Motorola Razr
- Ericsson T28
- Nokia 3310
- Siemens C25
44What was Sony's 1979 portable cassette player called?
- Betamax
- Walkman
- Discman
- Zune
45What was the portable music player Apple introduced in 2001 called?
- Walkman
- Creative Zen
- Zune
- iPod
46Where does Bluetooth technology get its name?
- An engineer's nickname
- A Greek god
- A company name
- A Viking king
47The first digital camera prototype was built in 1975 at which company?
- Canon
- Nikon
- Sony
- Kodak
48Which was the first iPhone model without a Home button?
- iPhone X
- iPhone 6
- iPhone 8
- iPhone 11
49In what year did the first Android smartphone go on sale?
- 2005
- 2012
- 2008
- 2010
50Drone maker DJI is a company from which country?
- The USA
- Germany
- Japan
- China
51Which company created the Super Mario character?
- Nintendo
- Sega
- Sony
- Atari
52Which company makes the PlayStation console?
- Nintendo
- Sega
- Sony
- Microsoft
53What is the name of Mario's brother?
- Yoshi
- Toad
- Luigi
- Wario
54What chases Pac-Man around the maze?
- Robots
- Spiders
- Ghosts
- Bats
55The world of Minecraft is built from blocks of which shape?
- Cylinder
- Pyramid
- Sphere
- Cube
56In which country was the Pokémon game series born?
- South Korea
- The USA
- Japan
- China
57What kind of game is Candy Crush Saga?
- Match-3
- Strategy
- Shooter
- Racing
58What kind of platform is Steam for computer games?
- A digital game store
- Game console
- A video site
- A social network
59What does the player do in The Sims?
- Manages virtual people
- Fights aliens
- Races cars
- Builds a city
60Sonic is the mascot of which game company?
- Sega
- Namco
- Capcom
- Nintendo
61Which company bought Minecraft in 2014?
- Microsoft
- Sony
- Electronic Arts
62In which country was Tetris created?
- Hungary
- Japan
- The USA
- Soviet Union
63In what year did Pokémon GO, where players roam the streets catching Pokémon, come out?
- 2014
- 2018
- 2016
- 2020
64Which company developed Fortnite?
- Epic Games
- Rockstar Games
- Activision
- Ubisoft
65The Grand Theft Auto series is made by which company?
- Electronic Arts
- Bethesda
- Ubisoft
- Rockstar Games
66What is the name of the hero of The Legend of Zelda series?
- Ganon
- Zelda
- Epona
- Link
67Lara Croft is the heroine of which game series?
- Tomb Raider
- Uncharted
- Resident Evil
- Assassin's Creed
68Which company made the football game series long released as FIFA?
- EA Sports
- Konami
- 2K Sports
- Ubisoft
69In what year was the Nintendo Switch console released?
- 2013
- 2015
- 2019
- 2017
70Which company developed League of Legends?
- Riot Games
- Valve
- Blizzard
- Epic Games
71Which 1972 Atari release was the first commercially successful arcade game?
- Asteroids
- Breakout
- Pong
- Space Invaders
72What was Mario's job when he first appeared in the 1981 game Donkey Kong?
- Chef
- Carpenter
- Plumber
- Doctor
73Tetris became a worldwide hit bundled with which handheld console?
- Atari Lynx
- PSP
- Game Boy
- Game Gear
74Rovio, the studio behind Angry Birds, was founded in which country?
- The USA
- Sweden
- Finland
- Japan
75Space Invaders was made in 1978 in which country?
- Japan
- France
- England
- The USA
76Which company develops the Windows operating system?
- Apple
- IBM
- Microsoft
77Who is one of the founders of Microsoft?
- Larry Page
- Steve Jobs
- Bill Gates
- Jeff Bezos
78Which company develops the Android operating system?
- Samsung
- Apple
- Microsoft
79What is the operating system used on iPhones called?
- Android
- Linux
- Windows
- iOS
80Which company developed ChatGPT?
- Microsoft
- Meta
- OpenAI
81What kind of content does an .mp3 file hold?
- Text
- Audio
- Video
- Images
82Which part is called the brain of a computer?
- Hard drive
- Processor
- Motherboard
- Graphics card
83What is a malicious program that infects files and copies itself called?
- Patch
- Cookie
- Virus
- Driver
84Which Microsoft Office program is used for spreadsheets and calculations?
- Word
- Outlook
- Excel
- PowerPoint
85What is the official store for downloading apps on Android phones?
- Google Play
- App Store
- Microsoft Store
- Steam
86Which field of artificial intelligence lets computers learn from data on their own?
- Fuzzy logic
- Machine learning
- Robotics
- Expert systems
87What is on the logo of the Java programming language?
- Penguin
- Elephant
- A coffee cup
- A snake
88Which animal is the mascot of the Linux operating system?
- Fox
- Cat
- Elephant
- Penguin
89What is malware that encrypts files and demands money to unlock them called?
- Spyware
- Adware
- Ransomware
- Worm
90What is the scam that tries to steal passwords with fake messages called?
- Worm
- Phishing
- Trojan horse
- Adware
91The famous test of whether a machine can think like a human is named after whom?
- John von Neumann
- Albert Einstein
- Alan Turing
- Isaac Newton
92Which company develops Photoshop?
- Adobe
- Microsoft
- Autodesk
- Apple
93In what year was ChatGPT released?
- 2024
- 2022
- 2020
- 2019
94Which language runs in the browser to make web pages interactive?
- JavaScript
- C
- Swift
- Python
95What was the IBM computer that beat chess champion Garry Kasparov in 1997 called?
- AlphaGo
- Deep Blue
- HAL 9000
- Watson
96Which Finnish programmer wrote the Linux kernel in 1991?
- Guido van Rossum
- Richard Stallman
- Linus Torvalds
- Dennis Ritchie
97Where does the Python programming language get its name?
- From a Greek myth
- From a comedy group
- From its creator's surname
- From a species of snake
98Which artificial intelligence program beat Go master Lee Sedol in 2016?
- Watson
- Deep Blue
- AlphaGo
- Siri
99Which institution created Scratch, the block-based language that teaches kids to code?
- MIT
- Oxford
- Stanford
- Harvard
100Which company bought GitHub, where developers share code, in 2018?
- Amazon
- Oracle
- Microsoft
101In which country was paper first invented?
- India
- China
- Greece
- Iran
102The diesel engine is named after which inventor?
- Nikolaus Otto
- Henry Ford
- Rudolf Diesel
- Karl Benz
103The telegraph alphabet of dots and dashes is named after which inventor?
- Guglielmo Marconi
- Alexander Graham Bell
- Samuel Morse
- Thomas Edison
104Who patented the first petrol-powered car in 1886?
- Henry Ford
- Gottlieb Daimler
- Karl Benz
- Rudolf Diesel
105Which entrepreneur popularized the moving assembly line in car manufacturing?
- Henry Ford
- Enzo Ferrari
- Karl Benz
- Ferdinand Porsche
106Which scientist discovered penicillin in 1928?
- Robert Koch
- Alexander Fleming
- Louis Pasteur
- Joseph Lister
107Which country developed GPS, the satellite-based positioning system?
- Japan
- Germany
- The USA
- Russia
108Who invented the phonograph, which recorded and played back sound, in 1877?
- Alexander Graham Bell
- Thomas Edison
- Emile Berliner
- Nikola Tesla
109Which scientist invented the World Wide Web in 1989?
- Bill Gates
- Vint Cerf
- Linus Torvalds
- Tim Berners-Lee
110Which brothers flew the first manned hot air balloon in 1783?
- The Wright brothers
- The Lumière brothers
- The Montgolfier brothers
- The Grimm Brothers
111Which physicist discovered X-rays in 1895?
- Marie Curie
- Wilhelm Röntgen
- Heinrich Hertz
- Nikola Tesla
112The method of heating milk to kill germs is named after which scientist?
- Louis Pasteur
- Alexander Fleming
- Robert Koch
- Edward Jenner
113Which Italian physicist built the first electric battery in 1800?
- Galileo Galilei
- Luigi Galvani
- Alessandro Volta
- Enrico Fermi
114Which mathematician, called the father of the computer, designed the Analytical Engine?
- John von Neumann
- Alan Turing
- Blaise Pascal
- Charles Babbage
115Which woman is considered history's first computer programmer?
- Marie Curie
- Ada Lovelace
- Grace Hopper
- Hedy Lamarr
116Which inventor developed the wireless telegraph and won the 1909 Nobel Prize in Physics?
- Heinrich Hertz
- Nikola Tesla
- Thomas Edison
- Guglielmo Marconi
117In 1973, an engineer at which company made the first mobile phone call?
- Motorola
- Siemens
- Nokia
- Ericsson
118Who sent the first email between two computers in 1971?
- Tim Berners-Lee
- Bill Gates
- Ray Tomlinson
- Vint Cerf
119Which computer network, built in the US in 1969, was the forerunner of the internet?
- ARPANET
- Usenet
- BITNET
- NSFNET
120Which carmaker opened up its three-point seat belt patent to everyone in 1959?
- Toyota
- Ford
- Mercedes
- Volvo
121The microwave oven was discovered by accident while working on which technology?
- Refrigerator
- Radar
- Two-way radio
- Television
122Where in nature did the inventor of Velcro get the idea?
- From spider webs
- From bird feathers
- From plant seeds
- From fish scales
123What was the first product scanned by barcode in a store in 1974?
- Milk
- Chocolate
- Bread
- Chewing gum
124Which Hollywood star patented a frequency-hopping technique?
- Marilyn Monroe
- Hedy Lamarr
- Audrey Hepburn
- Grace Kelly
125In which laboratory was the transistor invented in 1947?
- MIT Media Lab
- Bell Labs
- CERN
- Los Alamos
126In which country's research centre did the world's first website go online?
- Germany
- Switzerland
- United States
- United Kingdom
127What is the rectangular advert stretching across the top of a web page called?
- Pop-up window
- Newsletter
- Banner
- Interstitial ad
128What is the element that takes a user to another page when clicked called?
- Hyperlink
- Icon
- Tag
- Heading
129Which change on the internet does the term Web 2.0 describe?
- Connection speeds doubling
- Users starting to create their own content
- Browsers starting to be given away free
- Pages switching to colourful designs
130What is the type of website that anyone can freely read and edit called?
- Directory
- Catalogue
- Wiki
- Newsletter
131What are the sites where users open topics and discuss by writing to each other called?
- Blog
- Archive
- Showcase
- Forum
132What is the computer that stores web pages and sends them to anyone who asks called?
- Server
- Router
- Client
- Modem
133What is the string of numbers that uniquely identifies every device on the internet called?
- Domain name
- Port
- IP address
- Serial number
134What is the difference between the internet and the World Wide Web?
- The internet is the network itself; the web is one service running on it
- The internet is used only by companies while the web is used by everyone
- They are just two names for the same thing
- The web is the network itself and the internet is a part of it
135What is the browser feature that keeps several pages open in one window called?
- Bookmark
- Tab
- Toolbar
- Window
136What is the area where a browser stores files to open pages faster called?
- Window
- History
- Cache
- Cookie
137What do websites leave in the browser so they can recognise a user on the next visit?
- Cache
- Cookie
- Extension
- Bookmark
138What is the browser mode that does not record visited pages in the history called?
- Dark mode
- Private browsing
- Full screen
- Reader mode
139Which browser feature saves a page you liked so you can open it later with one click?
- Tab
- Bookmark
- Cookie
- History
140What are the small helper programs that add new features to a browser called?
- Extension
- History
- Cache
- Tab
141What is the place in a browser where we type a site's name called?
- Status bar
- Taskbar
- Address bar
- Scroll bar
142In an email address, what does the part after the @ sign show?
- The time the message was sent
- How much space the mailbox takes up
- The domain name that hosts the mailbox
- The year the account was opened
143What are unrequested bulk advertising messages called?
- Forwarding
- Spam
- Draft
- Archive
144Which field lets you send an email to someone else without the other recipients seeing it?
- Carbon copy
- Attachment
- Subject
- Blind copy
145What is a file fastened to an email called?
- Recipient
- Subject
- Attachment
- Signature
146What is the section of an email account where new messages arrive called?
- Drafts
- Rubbish bin
- Inbox
- Sent items
147What is the name-and-contact text automatically added at the end of an email called?
- Signature
- Header
- Attachment
- Label
148What is the action of signing up to see an account's posts regularly on social media called?
- Following
- Tagging
- Liking
- Blocking
149What is it called when a social media post reaches a huge number of people very quickly?
- Going viral
- Being pinned
- Being archived
- Being verified
150What is the page that gathers a user's own posts and details on social media called?
- Board
- Notification
- Profile
- Tag
151What is the section where posts from accounts you follow are listed one under another called?
- Comments
- Feed
- Gallery
- Archive
152What is a one-to-one exchange between two people that others cannot see on social media called?
- Post
- Tag
- Comment
- Direct message
153What is the mark showing that a social media account really belongs to that person called?
- Verification badge
- Follow button
- Star icon
- Privacy lock
154What is the act of linking the account of someone in a photo to the post called?
- Pinning
- Tagging
- Archiving
- Reporting
155What are social media users who promote products and steer their followers' choices called?
- Subscriber
- Influencer
- Moderator
- Administrator
156What is the practice of drawing visitors with exaggerated, curiosity-teasing headlines called?
- Black propaganda
- Native advertising
- Product placement
- Clickbait
157What is the work done to make a site appear higher in search results called?
- Domain registration
- Search engine optimisation
- Server maintenance
- Data backup
158How is a phrase put inside quotation marks searched for in a search engine?
- Words with the same meaning are included too
- Any one of the words is enough for a match
- Only page titles are searched
- The words are matched exactly in that order
159Which search engine is widely used in China?
- Yandex
- Yahoo
- Baidu
- Bing
160What happens in a search engine if a minus sign is placed before a word?
- The results are listed in reverse order
- The search is cancelled altogether
- Results containing it are left out of the list
- Only pictures are searched
161What is the method of uploading a photo you have to find similar ones called?
- Reverse image search
- Advanced search
- Voice search
- Local search
162Which extension is widely used for commercial organisations in internet addresses?
- .net
- .com
- .org
- .edu
163Which extension do non-profit organisations prefer in web addresses?
- .biz
- .org
- .mil
- .gov
164Which country does the .jp ending on web addresses stand for?
- Japan
- Jordan
- Jamaica
- Algeria
165What are the parts at the very end of an internet address, such as .com, called?
- Port
- Subdomain
- Routing path
- Top-level domain
166How is a domain name obtained?
- It is bought from the state
- It is granted for life through an auction
- It is leased for a set term from an authorised registrar
- It is handed out free to everyone
167What is the system that turns a site name into the numeric address computers understand called?
- Search engine
- Cache server
- Domain name system
- Firewall
168By what means does a Wi-Fi connection carry data?
- By a beam of light
- By sound waves
- By a magnetic field
- By radio waves
169What is the device that shares one internet line wirelessly among many devices in a home called?
- Router
- Server
- Satellite receiver
- Printer
170What is the amount of data an internet connection can carry per second called?
- Bandwidth
- Data packet
- Resolution
- Compression ratio
171What is the time a command takes to reach the server and come back in online games called?
- Bandwidth
- Latency
- Cache
- Resolution
172With the help of what do fibre optic cables carry data?
- With electric current
- With a flow of warm air
- With light
- With radio waves
173What is it called when a phone shares its own internet connection with nearby devices?
- Personal hotspot
- Synchronisation
- Pairing
- Screen mirroring
174Data is split into small pieces when sent over the internet; what is each of these pieces called?
- Cluster
- Packet
- Slice
- Droplet
175What job do the cables laid on the ocean floor do for the internet?
- They carry data between continents
- They distribute electricity
- They measure water temperature
- They collect satellite signals
176What is the main advantage of satellite internet over ground lines?
- Its delay is far lower
- It is always cheaper
- It needs no electricity at all
- It reaches remote places where cables cannot be laid
177Which language does the word emoji come from?
- Italian
- Japanese
- English
- Korean
178What are sideways faces made out of keyboard characters called?
- Watermark
- Emoticon
- Avatar
- Emoji
179What must happen first before a new emoji can appear on all phones and computers?
- It must be listed as an entry in dictionaries
- A company must patent it
- It must be added to the shared character standard
- It must win a public vote
180Why does the same emoji look different on devices from different brands?
- Because each maker uses its own drawing
- Because screen sizes differ
- Because the connection speed changes
- Because the language setting changes
181What are emojis basically good for in a piece of writing?
- Encrypting the text
- Shrinking the file size
- Conveying feeling and tone
- Correcting spelling mistakes
182What are the funny pictures or videos that spread fast online by being copied and altered called?
- Documentary
- Advert film
- Cartoon
- Meme
183What are people who post provoking messages on forums just to start a fight called?
- Publisher
- Moderator
- Commentator
- Troll
184What is it called when a topic is discussed by many at once and climbs to the top of the lists?
- Being put on air
- Being pinned
- Being approved
- Trending
185What is the method that lets a video start playing before it has fully downloaded called?
- Backing up
- Compression
- File sharing
- Streaming
186What are the audio programmes published at regular intervals and followed by subscription called?
- Radio drama
- Audiobook
- Podcast
- Webinar
187What is it called when a project is backed by small donations gathered from a great many people?
- Crowdfunding
- Open source
- Subscription
- Sponsorship
188What is an online meeting where several people talk with live pictures at once called?
- Live broadcast
- Video conference
- Screenshot
- Voice message
189What does the padlock icon shown in a browser's address bar mean?
- That the page has been saved to the device
- That adverts are being blocked
- That the connection is encrypted
- That the site gives correct information
190What is it called when a one-time code sent to your phone is required in addition to the password?
- Autofill
- Two-step verification
- Backup key
- Session refresh
191What is the protective layer that filters traffic in and out of a network to block unauthorised access called?
- Cache
- Backup server
- Firewall
- Routing table
192What is the "I'm not a robot" box on websites for?
- Choosing the page language
- Pinpointing the location
- Resetting the password
- Working out whether the visitor is a person
193What is the most important quality of a strong password?
- Being long and hard to guess
- Being made only of small letters
- Containing your date of birth
- Being the same on every site
194What is it called when a site is flooded with fake requests until nobody can reach it?
- Denial-of-service attack
- Phishing
- Domain registration
- Data backup
195What is the main drawback of doing banking on a public wireless network?
- Someone can slip in between and read the data
- The screen goes dark
- The battery runs down quickly
- The app does not get updated
196How do cloud services store files so that nothing is lost?
- By printing them on paper
- By wiping them each night and uploading again
- By writing them to a single disk
- By keeping copies on several machines
197What are the vast facilities holding thousands of servers where cloud services keep information called?
- Distribution warehouse
- Broadcast centre
- Data centre
- Base station
198What is it called when one document in the cloud can be edited by several people simultaneously?
- Automatic translation
- Version control
- Real-time collaboration
- Bulk backup
199What is the main benefit of having phone photos copied to the cloud by themselves?
- The photos look sharper
- The pictures survive even if the device is lost
- The battery lasts longer
- The screen becomes brighter
200What is done to keep a website from collapsing when huge numbers of visitors arrive at once?
- The site is shut down completely at night
- Every picture on the page is removed
- Arrivals are handed queue numbers
- The load is spread across several servers
201What property of a finger does a smartphone touchscreen detect?
- Its weight
- Its moisture level
- Its electrical conductivity
- Its temperature
202Which part makes the screen switch off when you hold the phone to your ear?
- The proximity sensor
- The loudspeaker
- The compass
- The fingerprint reader
203What is the SIM card inserted into a phone for?
- It protects the screen from scratches
- It stores the photos
- It identifies the user to the mobile network
- It charges the battery
204What happens on a phone when aeroplane mode is switched on?
- All wireless connections are turned off
- Screen brightness goes to maximum
- The phone shuts down completely
- All notifications are deleted
205Which material makes smartphone screens resistant to scratches?
- Clear plastic
- Enamel coating
- A thin rubber layer
- Toughened glass
206Which part makes a phone vibrate?
- A small motor with an off-centre weight
- The battery itself
- The speaker membrane
- The internal aerial
207Charging a phone on a pad without plugging in a cable relies on which principle?
- Static friction
- Infrared radiation
- Sound waves
- Magnetic induction
208Which unit is used to state the capacity of a phone battery?
- Milliampere-hour
- Decibel
- Hertz
- Volt
209What shortens the life of a phone battery the most?
- Keeping the screen dim
- Staying hot for long periods
- Being restarted often
- Using a dark colour theme
210During fast charging, why does the last twenty percent fill more slowly?
- The charger pauses to cool the cable
- Charging is slowed while the screen is off
- The mains voltage drops at that moment
- The current is reduced to avoid straining the battery
211In a camera, what does the lens aperture mainly determine?
- The brightness of the rear screen
- How long the battery lasts
- The size of the file
- How much light gets in
212How do you capture a fast-moving object as if frozen in a photo?
- The colour setting is switched to black and white
- The camera is shaken slightly while shooting
- A very short exposure time is chosen
- The flash is switched off completely
213What is the price of raising a camera's light sensitivity in dim conditions?
- Focusing locks up completely
- The image turns black and white by itself
- The file size halves
- Grainy noise increases in the image
214What happens to the picture as a lens's focal length increases?
- The picture gradually goes dark
- The number of recorded dots drops
- The field of view narrows and distant things look closer
- Colours become noticeably paler
215What is the most obvious feature of a fisheye lens?
- It works only in the dark
- It gives a very wide, curved image
- It shoots only in black and white
- It records the image upside down
216Why do eyes come out red in photos taken with a flash?
- The lens glass is tinted red
- The flash gives off a lot of heat
- The eyelid closes too late and leaves a trail
- The light bounces off the blood vessels at the back of the eye
217What does a camera's megapixel figure tell you?
- How many frames are taken per second
- The total number of dots in the image
- The capacity of the battery
- The length of the lens
218What is the smallest coloured dot that builds up a screen image called?
- Pixel
- Frame
- Colour channel
- Scan line
219On screens, every colour is made by mixing which three lights?
- White, grey and black
- Orange, purple and green
- Red, green and blue
- Yellow, blue and black
220What does the inch figure quoted for television and phone screens refer to?
- The thickness of the frame
- The diagonal length
- The height
- The width
221What does a high refresh rate on a screen give you?
- The screen looks bigger
- Colours get darker
- Motion looks smoother
- Sound becomes clearer
222Some screens can show perfect black; why is that?
- Brightness drops to its lowest step
- A black filter is placed in front of the screen
- The light at those points goes out completely
- The colours are shown inverted
223Why does the battery of an electronic-paper book reader last so long?
- The text is tiny and so takes little room
- The screen uses power only when the page changes
- The device has no processor at all
- Its battery charges straight from sunlight
224How do noise-cancelling headphones reduce outside sound?
- By turning the incoming sound into heat
- By blocking the ear canal completely
- By producing a wave opposite to the incoming sound
- By pumping the air out of the earcups
225What is the basic job of a microphone?
- Wiping out all the noise in the room
- Turning sound vibrations into an electrical signal
- Measuring and displaying how loud a sound is
- Storing the recording in memory
226How many separate channels make up stereo sound?
- 4
- 2
- 6
- 1
227How is sound produced on a record player?
- Compressed air is pushed through the disc
- A laser beam scans the surface
- A needle turns the bumps in the groove into vibrations
- A magnet heats the disc
228Which technology connects wireless earphones to a phone?
- Ultrasound waves
- Infrared light
- Static electricity
- Bluetooth
229Which part of a loudspeaker passes the sound into the air?
- The charging coil
- The cooling fan
- The vibrating cone
- The circuit board
230When a computer loses power, which part's data disappears?
- The temporary working memory
- The hard disk
- An optical disc
- A portable memory stick
231What is the large circuit board that the processor and cards plug into called?
- Motherboard
- Heat sink
- Network switch
- Power supply
232Which dedicated computer component renders three-dimensional images?
- Sound card
- Power card
- Graphics card
- Network card
233Which unit states the working speed of a processor?
- Gigabyte
- Ampere
- Gigahertz
- Watt
234What is the main job of the fans inside a computer case?
- Storing electricity
- Backing up the data
- Amplifying the sound
- Throwing the heat outside
235What is a solid-state drive's clearest advantage over a classic hard disk?
- It can work without electricity
- It is much heavier and so withstands shocks
- It has no moving parts at all
- It is far cheaper for the same capacity
236What do classic hard disks write their data onto?
- Onto tiny pits burned by light
- Onto spinning magnetic platters
- Onto the surface of glass lenses
- Onto a paper tape
237Which of these data units is the largest?
- Terabyte
- Megabyte
- Kilobyte
- Gigabyte
238What is the light underneath an optical mouse for?
- To charge the battery
- To light up the desk in the dark
- To warm the device and keep damp away
- To read movement across the surface
239What is the flat rectangular pad used instead of a mouse on laptops called?
- Touchpad
- Screen protector
- Ventilation grille
- Numeric keypad
240For years, the "save" icon in computer programs pictured which old device?
- Audio cassette
- Floppy disk
- Roll of photographic film
- Letter envelope
241What do memory cards and portable drives store information with?
- With small discs that spin fast
- With magnetic tape
- With tiny holes punched in the surface
- With chips that hold an electric charge
242What happens underneath a computer key when it is pressed?
- A tiny battery drains
- Two contacts meet and close the circuit
- A light source scans the letter
- A small magnet heats up
243What was the picture on a video cassette recorded onto?
- Onto photographic film
- Into pits cut by a laser
- Onto punched cards
- Onto magnetic tape
244How do most home printers put marks on paper?
- By dipping the paper in dye
- By spraying very tiny droplets of ink
- By scratching the letters into the paper
- By burning the surface of the paper
245In a laser printer, what fixes the powdered colour onto the paper for good?
- It is wetted with water and dried
- It is melted by heat and pressed in
- It is blown with cold air
- Glue is spread over it
246How do three-dimensional printers build objects?
- By pouring liquid into a mould
- By cutting pieces away from a block
- By adding material layer upon layer
- By bending wires and tying them together
247Besides black, which three inks does a colour printer use?
- Brown, pink and navy blue
- Cyan, magenta and yellow
- Orange, purple and grey
- Red, green and blue
248How does a refrigerator make things cold?
- By making cold inside and storing it up
- By melting ice and damping the air
- By turning electricity straight into cold
- By taking the heat from inside and dumping it outside
249During a washing machine's spin, how is the water thrown out?
- It is evaporated with hot air
- It is flung out by the drum spinning fast
- It merely drips out under gravity
- It is soaked up by absorbent cloths
250How does a vacuum cleaner pick up dust?
- By lowering the air pressure and sucking air in
- By pressing the dust onto a sticky tape
- By burning the dust with electricity
- By pulling the dust with a magnet
251On an induction hob, where is the heat created?
- In the glass surface of the hob
- In the lid of the pan
- In the base of the pan itself
- In the air of the kitchen
252In an electric kettle, which part heats the water?
- A fast-spinning fan
- A resistance wire
- A small magnet
- A thick lens
253What is the perforated metal mesh in a microwave oven door for?
- It keeps the waves inside
- It cools the glass of the door
- It muffles the running noise
- It spreads the light inside
254What is the job of the thermostat in fridges and heaters?
- Measuring the damp in the air
- Storing up surplus electricity
- Keeping the temperature within a set range
- Locking the door by itself
255How does a household smoke detector notice smoke?
- The oxygen in the air runs out completely
- The sound wave it sends out never returns
- The room temperature passes one hundred degrees
- Particles entering it scatter a beam of light
256How does a smart watch measure the pulse at the wrist?
- By listening to the heartbeat with a microphone
- By collecting sweat from the skin and testing it
- By measuring the temperature of the arm
- By shining light on the skin and reading the changing reflection
257Which part do step-counting wristbands use to count steps?
- With a motion sensor
- With a thermometer
- With a tiny camera
- With a tiny microphone
258How do virtual reality headsets create a sense of depth?
- By making the screen as bright as possible
- By turning the sound all the way up
- By spinning the picture round quickly all the time
- By showing each eye a slightly different picture
259Where does a self-winding mechanical watch get its energy from?
- From a small button cell
- From body heat
- From the movement of the wearer
- From sunlight
260What does a quartz wristwatch measure time with?
- With a swinging pendulum
- With flowing sand
- With a vibrating crystal
- With dripping water
261Which two things does a USB cable carry at the same time?
- Light and sound
- Data only
- Data and electricity
- Electricity only
262How many millimetres across is the classic headphone plug?
- 12 mm
- 1 mm
- 3.5 mm
- 8 mm
263What do fibre optic cables carry information with?
- With a flow of hot water
- With compressed air
- With pulses of light
- With magnetic dust
264What does the box part of a charger that plugs into the wall do?
- It stores electricity inside itself
- It steps mains electricity down to a low voltage
- It boosts weak signals
- It keeps the cable cool
265Why is it risky to plug many powerful appliances into one socket?
- The electricity bill doubles by itself
- The wires can overheat and start a fire
- The appliances silence one another
- The appliances' signals get mixed up
266How does a classic television remote send its signal?
- With invisible infrared light
- By sending heat to warm the set
- With loud spoken commands
- With an electric current through a wire
267What does a no-touch forehead fever reader sense?
- The change in the colour of the skin
- The heat radiating off the skin
- The speed of the heartbeat
- How much sweat is on the brow
268How do barcode readers read the stripes?
- By touching the surface and measuring the shake
- By measuring how much light bounces back
- By measuring the temperature of the stripes
- By reading the paper's magnetic field
269What does the steam from a steam iron do to the cloth?
- It makes the cloth waterproof
- It stiffens the cloth and makes it stand up
- It softens the fibres and smooths out creases
- It brightens the colour of the cloth
270What does a four-motor drone do in order to change direction?
- It opens a tail fin at the back
- It drops part of the weight it carries
- It bends its body in the middle
- It varies the spin speed of its rotors
271What does a pacemaker do in the body?
- It widens and holds the vessels open
- It makes extra oxygen for the body
- It gives the heart regular electrical nudges
- It filters and cleans the blood
272What happens while an electronic device sits on standby?
- It cuts off electricity completely
- It wipes what is in its memory
- It keeps using a small amount of electricity
- It starts charging its own battery
273Before push-button phones, what was used to dial a number?
- A foot pedal
- A sliding lever
- A hand crank
- A rotary dial
274On a typewriter, how were the letters put onto the paper?
- Heated fine needles did it
- Sprayed liquid colour did it
- Metal bars struck an inked ribbon
- A laser beam burning the paper did it
275How did a fax machine send a copy of a document?
- By short-wave radio broadcast
- Over a telephone line
- Over a home wireless network
- Over a satellite link
276What did Nintendo produce when it was founded in 1889?
- Toy trains
- Bicycles
- Playing cards
- Radios
277In which year did the first PlayStation console go on sale?
- 1999
- 2003
- 1994
- 1988
278The rivalry known as the console wars in the 1990s took place between which two companies?
- Microsoft and Nintendo
- Sony and Microsoft
- Nintendo and Sega
- Atari and Sony
279On what medium were games sold for old game consoles?
- Floppy disk
- Punch card
- Magnetic tape
- Cartridge
280In which Japanese city is Nintendo's headquarters?
- Nagoya
- Osaka
- Kyoto
- Tokyo
281What was the innovation that made the Nintendo Wii stand out?
- A motion-sensing controller
- A touch screen
- Voice control
- A virtual reality headset
282What does the 64 in the name of the Nintendo 64 console refer to?
- The number of games released for it
- The bit count of its processor
- The number of discs in the box
- The number of buttons on the controller
283Which shapes are on the four main buttons of a PlayStation controller?
- Triangle, circle, cross, square
- Square, star, heart, arrow
- Star, heart, arrow, plus
- Diamond, ring, dot, line
284In which decade did the first home devices for playing games on a television go on sale?
- The 1980s
- The 1970s
- The 1990s
- The 1950s
285What is the defining feature of the Nintendo Switch console?
- It works only while online
- It has no controller at all
- It plays racing games only
- It can be played on a television or held in the hands
286What is the name of the Mushroom Kingdom princess Mario tries to rescue?
- Peach
- Daisy
- Zelda
- Rosalina
287What is the name of the turtle-like character who is the main villain of the Mario series?
- Bowser
- Donkey Kong
- Waluigi
- Wario
288Yoshi, the green creature Mario rides on, is which animal?
- A dragon
- A lizard
- A dinosaur
- A turtle
289What is the name of the yellow fox who is Sonic's closest friend in the games?
- Shadow
- Tails
- Knuckles
- Amy
290Which is Nintendo's round, pink hero?
- Pikachu
- Kirby
- Toad
- Yoshi
291What is the name of the main villain Link fights in The Legend of Zelda series?
- Bowser
- Eggman
- Ganon
- Wario
292What is Lara Croft's profession in the games?
- Archaeologist
- Doctor
- Journalist
- Pilot
293How many different Pokémon species were there in the first Pokémon games?
- 100
- 250
- 151
- 386
294In which country was Mojang, the studio behind Minecraft, founded?
- Sweden
- Finland
- Denmark
- Norway
295In Angry Birds, which animals do the birds struggle against?
- Pigs
- Cats
- Snakes
- Foxes
296What does the player run in the game Stardew Valley?
- A farm
- An airport
- A football team
- A hospital
297What is the players' goal in the game Among Us?
- To run the fastest
- To collect the most gold
- To build the tallest tower
- To find the impostor among them
298What is the most distinctive feature of the Roblox platform?
- It offers racing games only
- It is for a single person only
- It works without the internet
- Players can create their own games
299In which country is the studio that develops the game Genshin Impact?
- China
- South Korea
- Japan
- Taiwan
300The Witcher games are based on what kind of work?
- A comic book
- A novel series
- A film trilogy
- A stage play
301In which year was the game Pac-Man first released?
- 1980
- 1991
- 1985
- 1972
302The game character named Donkey Kong is which animal?
- A gorilla
- A kangaroo
- An elephant
- A bear
303In which year was the game Super Mario Bros. released?
- 1985
- 1996
- 1978
- 1991
304Which company developed the games Half-Life and Portal?
- Ubisoft
- Bandai Namco
- Blizzard
- Valve
305Which company developed the game World of Warcraft?
- Konami
- Bethesda
- Blizzard
- Rockstar Games
306Which company publishes the Assassin's Creed and Far Cry series?
- Square Enix
- Bethesda
- Ubisoft
- Capcom
307In which country is the studio that develops The Witcher game series?
- Czechia
- Poland
- Ukraine
- Hungary
308Which Japanese company makes the Street Fighter and Resident Evil series?
- Sega
- Capcom
- Namco
- Konami
309Which company is the publisher of the Metal Gear and Silent Hill series?
- Capcom
- Bandai Namco
- Konami
- Square Enix
310Final Fantasy is the best-known game series of which company?
- Square Enix
- Rockstar Games
- Konami
- Sega
311Who is the Japanese game director who created the Metal Gear series?
- Hideo Kojima
- Satoru Iwata
- Yu Suzuki
- Hironobu Sakaguchi
312Which Japanese designer created the Super Mario and The Legend of Zelda series?
- Shigeru Miyamoto
- Koji Kondo
- Hideo Kojima
- Hironobu Sakaguchi
313Which company developed the game Clash of Clans?
- Zynga
- Rovio
- Supercell
- King
314In which country was the Atari company founded?
- The United States
- Germany
- Japan
- England
315Tetris is one of the best-known examples of which game genre?
- Racing
- Shooter
- Puzzle
- Fighting
316Mario Kart and Gran Turismo belong to which game genre?
- Puzzle
- Horror
- Racing
- Role-playing
317Age of Empires and StarCraft are what kind of games?
- Strategy
- Fighting
- Racing
- Sports
318In games, what is the far stronger enemy that appears at the end of a level called?
- Cheat code
- Boss
- Loading screen
- Side quest
319What are the non-playable, film-like parts that tell a game's story called?
- Main menu
- Loading screen
- Cutscene
- Achievement list
320What are the jokes and surprises hidden inside games called?
- Achievement
- Cheat code
- Easter egg
- Side quest
321What is the game structure in which the player may roam the map freely in any direction called?
- Open world
- Endless runner
- Turn-based game
- Text-based game
322What is the camera angle in which the player sees events through the character's own eyes called?
- Top-down view
- Bird's-eye view
- First person
- Side view
323What is it called when one television is divided in two so two people can play at the same time?
- Tournament mode
- Spectator mode
- Local network play
- Split screen
324What is the update sent out after a game's release to fix its faults called?
- Patch
- Beta version
- Demo
- Add-on
325What is it called when video games are played as a professional competition?
- Esports
- Live streaming
- Virtual reality
- Simulation
326What is the genre called in which many players compete on a shrinking map until only one is left?
- Endless runner
- Match three
- Battle royale
- Turn-based strategy
327What are games made by small teams without ties to big publishers called?
- Browser game
- Indie game
- Board game
- Educational game
328What is the short section at the start of a game that teaches the basic controls called?
- Tutorial
- Bonus level
- Credits
- Side quest
329In games, what is the reward accumulated to make a character stronger called?
- Loading time
- Frame rate
- Save file
- Experience points
330What is the model called where a game is downloaded at no cost and earns money through in-game purchases?
- Free to play
- Ad-free version
- Upfront purchase
- Subscription
331In video game development, Unreal and Unity are examples of what?
- Drawing programs
- Sound recording programs
- Video players
- Game engines
332What was dropped in to start the machines in arcades?
- A stamp
- A token
- A key
- A ticket
333What is the name of the game played by millions on Nokia phones in which you steer a creature that keeps getting longer?
- Pac-Man
- Bounce
- Snake
- Tetris
334The developer who made the game Flappy Bird is from which country?
- Thailand
- Indonesia
- Vietnam
- The Philippines
335Subway Surfers is what kind of mobile game?
- Tower defence
- Match three
- Endless runner
- Card game
336Which technology makes the creatures in Pokémon GO appear around us through the phone camera?
- Virtual reality
- Cloud computing
- Artificial intelligence
- Augmented reality
337Which Japanese musician composed the famous music of Super Mario Bros.?
- Koji Kondo
- Yu Suzuki
- Nobuo Uematsu
- Shigeru Miyamoto
338The well-known melody heard in Tetris is what kind of music?
- A military march
- A Russian folk song
- A classical symphony
- A jazz piece
339What is the electronic music produced by the limited sound chips of old consoles called?
- Folk music
- Opera
- Chamber music
- Chip music
340In which country was StarCraft broadcast on national television with professional leagues?
- Brazil
- South Korea
- Japan
- Germany
341Games like Guitar Hero and Just Dance test which skill?
- Keeping time with the music
- Running a city
- Taking aim
- Solving puzzles
342The 1972 game Pong resembled which sport?
- Golf
- Table tennis
- Basketball
- Football
343In games, what are the figures run by the computer that the player does not control called?
- Non-player character
- A spectator
- A rival player
- The main hero
344In games, what is the measure that determines how smooth the picture looks called?
- Resolution
- Latency
- Volume level
- Frame rate
345What is it called when players play as a team to reach a goal together?
- Spectator play
- Co-operative play
- Competitive play
- Tournament play
346In games, what is the place where progress is stored and can be resumed from called?
- Dashboard
- Finish line
- Checkpoint
- Title screen
347What are the tiny coloured squares that make up the image of old games called?
- Polygons
- Textures
- Pixels
- Shadows
348What objects does the character Sonic collect while running?
- Diamonds
- Stars
- Golden rings
- Bananas
349In games, what is the bar that shows the state of a character's health called?
- Volume bar
- Progress bar
- Menu bar
- Health bar
350In the game Pac-Man, what does the player collect in the maze?
- Dots
- Keys
- Coins
- Stars
351How many bits make up one byte?
- 4
- 32
- 16
- 8
352What is the smallest unit of information a computer works with?
- Pixel
- Bit
- Kilobyte
- Byte
353Which of these file size units is the largest?
- Terabyte
- Megabyte
- Kilobyte
- Gigabyte
354What is a precise step-by-step set of instructions for solving a problem called?
- Function
- Loop
- Variable
- Algorithm
355What is the process of finding and fixing flaws in a program called?
- Debugging
- Compression
- Formatting
- Backup
356What is the setting that decides the shape and look of the letters in a document called?
- Font
- Margin
- Line spacing
- Page number
357What do the dot and letters at the end of a file name indicate?
- The type of the file
- Who created it
- The date it was created
- The size of the file
358What is the structure that keeps related files together on a computer called?
- Window
- Icon
- Folder
- Shortcut
359What is the small software installed so that newly attached hardware can work called?
- Compiler
- Patch
- Browser
- Driver
360What is the program that turns a developer's code into a form the computer understands called?
- Operating system
- Browser
- Compiler
- Driver
361Which number system do computers fundamentally use to store all data?
- Decimal
- Base twenty
- Binary
- Base five
362What is the temporary area that holds copied text until you paste it called?
- Clipboard
- Desktop
- Recycle bin
- Folder
363Which letter is pressed with the Ctrl key to copy a text?
- X
- C
- P
- K
364In the keyboard shortcut for saving, which letter goes with the Ctrl key?
- K
- D
- S
- M
365In the shortcut that undoes your last action, which letter is pressed with Ctrl?
- Q
- Y
- Z
- W
366Which file format was created so a document opens with the same layout on every device?
- ZIP
- MP3
- GIF
367Which image file format can have a transparent background?
- TXT
- PNG
- MP3
368Which file format is used for short, silent, looping animations?
- DOC
- ZIP
- GIF
- PNG
369What is the process of packing several files into one smaller file called?
- Compression
- Sorting
- Syncing
- Encryption
370Which is the simplest file type that carries only plain writing with no formatting?
- Text file
- Audio file
- Video file
- Spreadsheet file
371What are programs for making slides and showing them one after another called?
- Spreadsheet
- Drawing software
- Presentation software
- Word processor
372What is the spot where a row and a column meet in a spreadsheet called?
- Pane
- Record
- Cell
- Field
373What is the feature that underlines misspelled words in red called?
- Page layout
- Spell check
- Print preview
- Autosave
374What is the process of making data unreadable to unauthorised people called?
- Encryption
- Backup
- Compression
- Formatting
375What is copying data to a separate place so you can restore it after a failure called?
- Backup
- Compression
- Encryption
- Deleting
376What is getting a newer release of an app with fixes and new features called?
- Update
- Backup
- Booting
- Installation
377What is the process of putting a program on a computer and making it ready to run called?
- Booting
- Formatting
- Installation
- Syncing
378What is a release of an app published for testing before it reaches everyone called?
- Stable version
- Installer file
- Backup copy
- Beta version
379What is saving whatever a device is showing at that moment as a picture called?
- Printing
- Screenshot
- Screen recording
- Bookmark
380Where are deleted files moved temporarily before they are wiped for good?
- Recycle bin
- Archive
- Temporary folder
- Backup folder
381What is it called when an AI makes up information that does not exist and presents it as true?
- Bias
- Noise
- Hallucination
- Latency
382What is a computer model built by imitating the connections between cells in the human brain called?
- Decision tree
- Artificial neural network
- Search engine
- Database
383What are AI programs that answer questions by typing back and forth generally called?
- Chatbot
- Game engine
- Search engine
- Translation software
384Which branch of AI lets a computer tell apart objects and faces in a photo?
- Image recognition
- Speech recognition
- Text summarisation
- Speech synthesis
385What is the pile of examples an AI model is fed in order to learn called?
- Training data
- Log record
- Patch
- Source code
386What are the phone helpers that understand and answer spoken commands called?
- Search engine
- Translation software
- Chatbot
- Voice assistant
387What is sifting through huge piles of information to find hidden patterns and trends called?
- Data mining
- Data sorting
- Data backup
- Data encryption
388What is a system that keeps information in orderly tables and can be searched fast called?
- Operating system
- Database
- Compiler
- Browser
389Which standard language is used to pull information out of databases?
- CSS
- SQL
- XML
- PHP
390What is keeping files on distant servers instead of your own device called?
- Backup
- Compression
- Cloud storage
- Local storage
391What is arranging records in a list from smallest to largest by a chosen measure called?
- Compression
- Sorting
- Filtering
- Formatting
392What is showing only the records from a table that match a chosen condition called?
- Syncing
- Backup
- Filtering
- Sorting
393What are programs whose code anyone can look at and freely improve known as?
- Closed source
- Trial software
- Commercial software
- Open source
394What is the text that sets out who may use a program and on what terms called?
- Source code
- Update
- License
- Patch
395What is copying and handing out software without permission called?
- Piracy
- Open source
- Licensing
- Phishing
396In which decade did the C programming language appear?
- The 1990s
- The 1970s
- The 1950s
- The 2010s
397What is the text written by a developer that spells out what a program will do called?
- Algorithm
- License
- Source code
- Log record
398What is repeating a task in a program as long as a condition holds called?
- Loop
- Function
- Variable
- Source code
399In programming, what is the named box that holds a number or a piece of text called?
- Loop
- Field
- Variable
- Cell
400What is a chunk of code that does one job and can be called again and again named?
- Function
- Loop
- Compiler
- Variable
401Which American woman scientist developed the idea of the compiler and made computing history?
- Ada Lovelace
- Hedy Lamarr
- Katherine Johnson
- Grace Hopper
402What is a whole set of instructions telling a computer what to do generally called?
- Icon
- Program
- File
- Folder
403The save icon in many programs is a picture of which old data carrier?
- Floppy disk
- Cassette tape
- Vinyl record
- Microfilm
404In software, what is the number written like 1.0 or 2.0 that shows which revision it is?
- Version number
- File size
- Licence key
- Serial number
405Which basic software runs the hardware and launches other programs when a computer starts?
- Search engine
- Database
- Operating system
- Compiler
406For many years, what kind of names were given to versions of the Android system?
- Colour names
- Dessert names
- Planet names
- City names
407For a time, versions of Apple's desktop system were named after which animals?
- Fish
- Big cats
- Reptiles
- Birds
408What is it called when, after you press the button, the operating system loads into memory and becomes ready?
- Installation
- Formatting
- Booting
- Update
409In Windows, what is the strip at the bottom of the screen holding icons of open programs called?
- Taskbar
- Scroll bar
- Address bar
- Menu bar
410What is the tool that lists running processes and lets you close a stuck one called?
- Task manager
- Taskbar
- File explorer
- Control panel
411Who founded Microsoft together with Bill Gates?
- Sergey Brin
- Larry Ellison
- Steve Wozniak
- Paul Allen
412Which engineer founded Apple together with Steve Jobs?
- Paul Allen
- Michael Dell
- Steve Wozniak
- Tim Cook
413At which company's research centre were the first interfaces using a mouse and windows developed?
- Sony
- IBM
- Xerox
- Nokia
414What was the late-1990s fear that computers would misread dates when the new century arrived called?
- The digital blackout
- The 1999 crash
- The year 2000 problem
- The counter error
415What is a screen layout used with a mouse, windows and icons generally called?
- Network connection
- Command line
- Graphical interface
- File system
416What is the bordered rectangular area a program opens in on screen called?
- Desktop
- Window
- Icon
- Folder
417What is a small extra file released later to fix one flaw in a program called?
- Patch
- Driver
- License
- Shortcut
418What is the app look shown on a near-black background to ease the eyes called?
- Safe mode
- Private mode
- Aeroplane mode
- Dark mode
419What is the process keeping the same file up to date on both phone and computer called?
- Syncing
- Backup
- Compression
- Encryption
420What is the feature that looks up a word in a document and puts another in its place called?
- Page layout
- Spell check
- Find and replace
- Printing
421What is the branch of machine learning that works with many-layered neural networks called?
- Speech synthesis
- Data mining
- Image recognition
- Deep learning
422What are the little pictures that stand for programs on the desktop and in menus called?
- Pixel
- Window
- Icon
- Shortcut
423What is recognising someone's identity by fingerprint or face scan called?
- Firewall
- Data encryption
- Biometric verification
- Password entry
424What must an app get from the user before it can reach the phone's camera or location?
- Password
- Backup
- Update
- Permission
425Before graphical interfaces spread, what was the screen where instructions were typed in called?
- Screensaver
- Command line
- Wallpaper
- Start menu
426What did Walter Hunt do soon after patenting the safety pin in 1849?
- He sold the patent to pay off a debt
- He set up his own pin factory
- He kept the invention to himself
- He donated the patent to the state
427A chemist's glue turned out too weak; which office product did it become years later?
- Staples
- Whiteboard markers
- Clear adhesive tape
- Sticky notes
428A putty made to wipe soot off wallpaper is known today as what?
- Wall filler
- Shoe polish
- Toothpaste
- Children's modelling dough
429A very sticky substance that appeared while trying to make a clear gunsight is which product today?
- Liquid varnish
- Rubber cement
- Silicone sealant
- Super glue
430How did Teflon, known as a non-stick pan coating, come about?
- By accident during a refrigerant gas experiment
- Developed on purpose for the space programme
- In paint research
- In a ceramics workshop
431What happened when nylon stockings went on sale in the United States in 1940?
- They were judged too costly and did not sell at all
- They were sold in only two cities
- They were called unhealthy and pulled from the shelves
- Long queues formed outside the shops
432How was the method that turns rubber into a tough material that does not soften in heat found?
- When rubber was left forgotten on ice
- When rubber was left in the sun for months
- When rubber was boiled in water for a long time
- When the mixture fell onto a hot stove by mistake
433How did a chemist get the idea for safety glass that does not scatter when broken?
- While studying how ice cracks
- A plastic-coated flask fell but did not fall apart
- While visiting a stained-glass workshop
- While annealing glass in a furnace
434Which product did King Camp Gillette popularise in the early 1900s?
- The shaving brush
- The electric shaver
- The disposable razor blade
- The hair clipper
435The employee who designed the sticking plaster in 1920 first thought of it for whom?
- For the workers in the factory
- For the soldiers at the front
- For the children at school
- For his wife, who often cut her hands in the kitchen
436What inspired the Hungarian journalist who developed the ballpoint pen?
- Typewriters were very heavy
- Newspaper ink dried very quickly
- Fountain pens were expensive
- Pencil tips kept breaking
437What pushed Josephine Cochrane, who patented the dishwasher in 1886, into the job?
- Her hands could not take hot water
- Her servants kept chipping her china
- She was running a restaurant
- Her house had no running water
438Which problem did Willis Carrier design the air conditioner to solve in 1902?
- Cinema audiences sweating in their seats
- Operating rooms getting far too hot
- Trains becoming stuffy inside
- Damp warping the paper at a printing plant
439The first powered vacuum cleaners were so big that how were they used?
- It was hung from the ceiling
- Two people carried it on their backs
- It was bolted down in the cellar
- A hose was run from a cart in the street into the house
440Which event helped make the wristwatch common among men?
- The Industrial Revolution
- World War II
- The Great Depression
- World War I
441In which city did the world's first underground railway open?
- New York
- London
- Berlin
- Paris
442What advantage did steamships have over sailing ships?
- They could move regardless of the wind
- They used far less fuel
- They were far cheaper to build
- They were far lighter
443In which country did the first public steam railway carrying passengers begin running?
- France
- The USA
- Russia
- England
444On the earliest pedal bicycles, where were the pedals attached?
- Just under the handlebars
- Behind the saddle
- Straight onto the front wheel
- To the rear wheel by a chain
445What did John Boyd Dunlop first make the pneumatic tyre for?
- For his own car
- For a racing motorcycle
- For his son's tricycle
- For a horse-drawn carriage
446Where did Mary Anderson get the idea for the windscreen wiper in 1903?
- On the deck of a ship
- Watching the driver on a tram
- While working in a factory
- While walking in the rain
447Which engineer flew the first practical single-main-rotor helicopter in 1939?
- Igor Sikorsky
- Louis Blériot
- Ferdinand von Zeppelin
- Glenn Curtiss
448In which two countries was the jet engine developed independently in the 1930s?
- The United States and Japan
- France and Italy
- Russia and Sweden
- Britain and Germany
449Which kind of craft withdrew from passenger travel after the Hindenburg disaster?
- Biplanes
- Airships
- Seaplanes
- Passenger steamships
450Which American scientist first flew a liquid-fuelled rocket in 1926?
- Hermann Oberth
- Robert Goddard
- Konstantin Tsiolkovsky
- Wernher von Braun
451What innovation did Malcom McLean start in 1956 that transformed sea transport?
- The floating harbour crane
- The standard shipping container
- The icebreaker ship
- The giant oil tanker
452What did Elisha Otis demonstrate to the public at a fair in 1854?
- That a cabin did not fall when its rope was cut
- That a crane lifted a heavy load
- That an escalator worked
- The power of a steam engine
453Where was the escalator first presented to the public?
- At an amusement park
- In a department store
- At a railway station
- In a hotel lobby
454What pushed the doctor who made the stethoscope in 1816 to invent it?
- Medical instruments were very expensive
- He did not want to put his ear on the patient's chest
- The hospital was very noisy
- His own hearing was getting weak
455In which century did anaesthesia, which removes pain in surgery, come into use?
- The 15th century
- The 20th century
- The 17th century
- The 19th century
456Which surgeon began the use of antiseptics to kill germs in operations?
- Joseph Lister
- John Hunter
- Ignaz Semmelweis
- Ambroise Paré
457In which country was insulin first given to a patient?
- The USA
- England
- Canada
- Germany
458How did the implantable heart pacemaker come about?
- In a watchmaker's workshop
- An engineer fitted the wrong part into a circuit
- In a war hospital
- During space programme research
459Where did the idea of the incubator for premature babies come from?
- From the heat system of bread ovens
- From the structure of birds' nests
- From a chick incubator at a zoo
- From the insulation of steam boilers
460Which technology inspired the ultrasound used to view a baby in pregnancy?
- From the lens microscope
- From telegraph lines
- From sonar that hunts submarines
- From radar that finds aircraft
461From which century did spectacles begin to be used in Europe?
- 18th century
- The 16th century
- 13th century
- 9th century
462A substance like the active ingredient of aspirin is found in the bark of which tree?
- Walnut
- Oak
- Pine
- Willow
463The horse-drawn "flying ambulance" for wounded soldiers was set up for which army?
- Napoleon's French army
- The British navy
- The Russian tsarist army
- The Ottoman army
464What does the machine that made open-heart surgery possible do during the operation?
- It holds the bones in place
- It blacks out the operating room
- It circulates and oxygenates the blood
- It freezes the body solid
465Which substance sat inside old glass fever thermometers for many years?
- Salt water
- Glycerine
- Mercury
- Olive oil
466Which danger did disposable syringes greatly reduce in medicine?
- Getting the drug dose wrong
- Needle tips snapping off
- Passing disease on through needles
- Blocking a vein
467Which Dutchman first saw tiny creatures in water with a lens device he made himself?
- Jan Swammerdam
- Robert Hooke
- Antonie van Leeuwenhoek
- Christiaan Huygens
468Which French inventor developed the loom that weaves complex patterns with punched cards?
- Denis Papin
- Joseph Marie Jacquard
- Barthélemy Thimonnier
- Nicolas Appert
469Which American inventor patented the machine that separates cotton from its seeds in the 1790s?
- Samuel Slater
- Eli Whitney
- John Deere
- Cyrus McCormick
470Which material did the Bessemer process make cheap to produce?
- Cement
- Steel
- Glass
- Paper
471Which entrepreneur made the sewing machine a commercial success and gave it his name?
- Josiah Wedgwood
- Samuel Colt
- Elias Howe
- Isaac Singer
472What is the farm machine called that cuts the crop and separates grain from stalk?
- The seed drill
- The rotary hoe
- The combine harvester
- The plough
473The Haber-Bosch process, which transformed farming, makes fertiliser from which gas in the air?
- Nitrogen
- Helium
- Carbon dioxide
- Oxygen
474Why are steel bars mainly put inside concrete?
- So it dries faster
- So it can resist being pulled apart
- So it comes out lighter
- So its colour turns darker
475Which engineer devised the 19th-century method of improving roads with layers of crushed stone?
- Isambard Kingdom Brunel
- Gustave Eiffel
- John McAdam
- Ferdinand de Lesseps
476Which inventor developed dry copying and laid the basis for the photocopier?
- Chester Carlson
- Percy Spencer
- Edwin Land
- Earl Tupper
477What were the earliest steam engines mostly used for?
- Grinding grain
- Pulling trains
- Driving ships
- Pumping water out of mines
478The first artificial fabric dye appeared while a young chemist was trying to make what?
- Artificial silk
- Artificial fertiliser
- A malaria drug
- An explosive
479In which country was the safety match that lights on striking developed?
- Japan
- Italy
- Mexico
- Sweden
480Which payment tool is said to have begun when a businessman forgot his wallet at a restaurant?
- The cheque
- The credit card
- The promissory note
- The postal money order
481In which decade did cash-dispensing machines come into use?
- The 1930s
- The 1960s
- The 1980s
- The 1990s
482What colour is the flight recorder on aircraft, the one called the "black box", really?
- Green
- Orange
- Silver
- Black
483Where did Louis Braille get the idea for the raised-dot writing for blind people?
- From Chinese writing
- From musical notation
- From an army code read in the dark at night
- From the telegraph alphabet
484What is the official document called that stops others making an invention without permission?
- An invoice
- A title deed
- A patent
- A licence
485How many years of protection does a patent usually give its owner?
- 5 years
- 50 years
- Forever
- 20 years
486What is the basic condition an invention must meet to be patented?
- It must be an expensive product
- It must have been sold to the state
- It must already be made in a factory
- It must be new and not known before
487Which kind of right protects a company's product name and logo?
- Trademark rights
- Inheritance rights
- Copyright
- Patent rights
488In which country was the first known patent application for the telescope filed?
- Italy
- England
- The Netherlands
- Germany
489About how many patents are registered in Thomas Edison's name?
- About a hundred
- About ten
- More than a thousand
- About fifty
490Which Renaissance master drew a detailed design of a parachute in his notebook?
- Galileo Galilei
- Leonardo da Vinci
- Michelangelo
- Albrecht Dürer
491What is the wheel thought to have been used for first?
- In water mills
- On children's toys
- On war chariots
- As a potter's wheel
492From which century did tower clocks begin to spread in Europe?
- The 17th century
- The 19th century
- 14th century
- 6th century
493Which operations could the mechanical machine Blaise Pascal built in the 17th century do?
- Taking square roots
- Multiplication and division
- Solving equations
- Addition and subtraction
494Which entrepreneur opened photography to everyone with roll film and a simple box camera?
- Nicéphore Niépce
- Louis Daguerre
- Oskar Barnack
- George Eastman
495Why were metal rivets added to the pockets of jeans?
- To keep water out
- Purely for decoration
- To make the trousers heavier
- To stop the pockets from tearing
496Which chemist developed the Kevlar fibre used in bulletproof vests?
- Rosalind Franklin
- Lise Meitner
- Stephanie Kwolek
- Barbara McClintock
497In which country was the chemist born who developed bakelite, the first fully synthetic plastic?
- Norway
- Japan
- Brazil
- Belgium
498What did Bertha Benz's long car journey in 1888 show?
- That the car could only be used in town
- That horses were still safer
- That steam cars were faster
- That the car worked on long journeys too
499Where did the man who developed quick freezing get the idea?
- From fish freezing at once in the Arctic
- From studying mountain glaciers
- From trials at a refrigerator factory
- From being stranded in a snowstorm
500Which first artificial sweetener was noticed by a chemist who forgot to wash his hands?
- Aspartame
- Stevia
- Sorbitol
- Saccharin