Q 01/05

Who is widely credited with developing the movable type printing press in Europe during the 15th century?

A) Aldo Manutius

B) William Caxton

C) Nicolas Jenson

D) Johannes Gutenberg

Answer · why

D) Johannes Gutenberg

Johannes Gutenberg printed his famous Bible, but his financier Johann Fust sued him over the loans and the court handed Fust the workshop.

Q 02/05

Which inventor is most associated with the practical incandescent light bulb of the late 19th century?

A) Nikola Tesla

B) Thomas Edison

C) Humphry Davy

D) Joseph Swan

Answer · why

B) Thomas Edison

Thomas Edison's bulb had a British rival in Joseph Swan's, and in 1883 their competing companies merged into one, nicknamed 'Ediswan'.

Q 03/05

Who was granted the first U.S. patent for the telephone in 1876?

A) Antonio Meucci

B) Alexander Graham Bell

C) Elisha Gray

D) Johann Philipp Reis

Answer · why

B) Alexander Graham Bell

Alexander Graham Bell's patent was granted on March 7, 1876, before his telephone had carried clear speech; that came three days later.

Q 04/05

Who is credited with inventing the first successful gasoline-powered automobile in 1886?

A) Karl Benz

B) Henry Ford

C) Rudolf Diesel

D) Gottlieb Daimler

Answer · why

A) Karl Benz

Karl Benz's Motorwagen got its big break in 1888, when his wife Bertha drove it 106 km to Pforzheim without telling him, winning the firm its first sa...

Q 05/05

Which aviation pioneers made the first controlled powered airplane flight?

A) The Montgolfier brothers

B) The Wright brothers

C) The Voisin brothers

D) The Short brothers

Answer · why

B) The Wright brothers

The Wright brothers tossed a coin to pick the pilot; Wilbur won but stalled on his try, so Orville made the historic 120-foot flight in December 1903.