1. Who invented the ballpoint pen?
a) Biro Brothers
b) Waterman Brothers
c) Bicc Brothers
d) Write Brothers
Explanation: The Hungarian brothers, Laszlo and George Biro, made the first ball point pen in 1894. It followed the first workable fountain pen which was invented by L.E. Waterman in 1884.
2. In which decade was the first solid state integrated circuit demonstrated?
a) 1950s
b) 1960s
c) 1970s
d) 1980s
Explanation: On September 12, 1958, Jack Kilby demonstrated the first working IC while working for Texas Instruments, although the U.S. patent office awarded the first patent for an integrated circuit to Robert Noyce of Fairchild
3. What J. B. Dunlop invented?
a) Pneumatic rubber tire
b) Automobile wheel rim
c) Rubber boot
d) Model airplanes
Explanation: Scotsman John Dunlop developed the first practical pneumatic tire in 1888.
4. Which scientist discovered the radioactive element radium?
a) Isaac Newton
b) Albert Einstein
c) Benjamin Franklin
d) Marie Curie
Explanation: Marie Curie discovered the radioactive element radium.
5. When was barb wire patented?
a) 1874
b) 1840
c) 1895
d) 1900
Explanation: Joseph F. Glidden was born in New York on Jan. 18, 1812. He invented barbed wire in 1873 and was granted the patent on Nov. 24, 1874. After a three year battle over the patent, which he eventually won, Gidden became known as the "Father of Barbed Wire".
6. Who invented Gunpowder?
a) G. Ferdinand Von Zeppelin
b) Sir Frank Whittle
c) Roger Bacon
d) Leo H Baekeland
Explanation: Roger Bacon invented gunpowder.
7. Until Victorian times, chocolate was thought of as a drink. When did the first chocolate bar appear?
a) 1828
b) 1831
c) 1825
d) There is no sure date
Explanation: No one knows for sure when the first chocolate bar appeared or even who made it, but an important event occurred in 1828. The Van Houten press was invented, which extracted cocoa butter from the bean - the same press that brought the Cadbury Brothers success with Cocoa Essence.
8. What now ubiquitous device was invented by Zenith engineer Eugene Polley in 1955?
a) Microwave oven
b) Remote control
c) VCR
d) Calculator
Explanation: The first wireless remote control for television was called Flashmatic.
9. What Benjamin Franklin invented?
a) Bifocal spectacles
b) Radio
c) Barometer
d) Hygrometer
Explanation: Benjamin Franklin invented bifocal spectacles in 1760.
10. This part-time race car driver invented the bucket seat in 1969. Who was he??
a) Steve McQueen
b) Harrison Frazier
c) Paul Newman
d) John Wayne
Explanation: McQueen invented the bucket seat in 1969.