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We have some fun presidential trivia here that you need to calm your nerves after a dramatic and absurd election.
We have a collection of trivia questions and answers to engage your family, friends, and coworkers. We know the benefits of trivia questions are a dime a dozen!
These questions also include some fun history trivia!
Let's check it out.
Contents
14 Best Presidential Trivia To Test Your Knowledge
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There's one thing that makes the presidency particularly difficult - presidents must be sublimely confident and statesmanly and "just a plain person" at the same time. This is what makes presidents so mystical. Our fun presidential trivia will attempt to debunk the office of the presidency. We'll cover everything from the amusing to the interesting to the somewhat bizarre. Some of the answers will surprise you. See how many you can get right. Maybe it's time for an electoral vote?
1. What does the “S” in Harry S. Truman’s name stand for?
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Answer
It's actually nothing.
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The S in Harry S. Truman stands for Anderson Shipp Truman and Solomon Young, both of whom were his grandfathers. Harry S. Truman succeeded Franklin D. Roosevelt.
2. Did every American President live in the White House?
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No
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George Washington never lived in the White House. He never got to try the White House lawn. Every president since John Adams, however, has occupied the White House.
3. Who was the first president to be born in the United States?
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Martin Van Buren
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He was an American lawyer and statesman, and the eighth president of the United States. He was also a founder of the Democratic Party.
4. How many presidents died in office?
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8
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Four were assassinated, and four died of natural causes. The four presidents that were assassinated were Abraham Lincoln by John Wilkes Booth, James A. Garfield by Charles J. Guiteau, William McKinley by Leon Czolgosz, and John F. Kennedy by Lee Harvey Oswald.
5. Which president served two non-consecutive terms?
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President Grover Cleveland
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He was the 22nd and 24th president.
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6. Who succeeded Brezhnev as President of the USSR?
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Andropov
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Yuri Andropov was the sixth paramount leader of the Soviet Union. He was also a former General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party.
7. Who was Nigeria's first President and has been described as the father of modern Nigeria?
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Nnamdi Azikiwe
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Often referred to as "Zik," he was the first President of Nigeria, serving from 1963 to 1966. He was widely regarded as a driving factor behind the country's independence, earning him the moniker "Father of Nigerian Nationalism."
8. Who was the first president to appear on a U.S. coin?
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Abraham Lincoln
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Appeared on the $1 coin. President Lincoln was also the 16th President of the USA.
9. What U.S. President had a pet mockingbird named "Dick"?
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Thomas Jefferson
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It flew freely in the White House.
10. Ronald Reagan, in the 1980s, as U.S. president, survived what?
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Assassination attempt
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It was on March 30, 1981.
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11. "You let a bully come into your front yard, and the next day he'll be on your porch?" was a statement by which U.S. President?
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Lyndon Johnson
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Often referred to by his initials LBJ.
12. What Texan Governor was traveling with the Kennedys when JFK was shot?
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Connolly
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He was governor from 1963 to 1969.
13. George Bush defeated what TV evangelist to win the Republican nomination in 1988?
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Pat Robertson
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He's the chairman of the Christian Broadcasting Network.
14. Who was the first-ever US President to resign in office?
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13 Questions About American Presidential History
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Did you know that Joe Biden is the 46th President of the United States but only the 44th man to hold the office? Interesting, huh? Ready to test your knowledge with some presidential American history trivia? Now that President's day is approaching, it's time to test your knowledge of American presidents.
15. Was every U.S. president associated with a political party?
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No
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Millard Fillmore was a member of the Whig party.
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16. Who were the four presidents that were assassinated?
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Lincoln, Garfield, McKinley, and President Kennedy
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Lincoln in 1865, Garfield in 1881, McKinley in 1901, and Kennedy in 1963.
17. What year did Alexander Hamilton become president?
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Here's a fact: Never.
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Had a promising career but found himself entangled in scandal. During the Revolutionary War, Alexander Hamilton rose to prominence as one of America's most prominent Founding Fathers. He was a passionate supporter of a strong federal government and was instrumental in the defense and ratification of the United States Constitution.
18. Which presidents were impeached?
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Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton
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This presidential trivia question is fascinating. The latest entrant is Donald Trump.
19. What state produced the most U.S. presidents?
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Virginia
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Interesting facts like this make you think. They produced a total of 8 presidents.
20. What did Ronald Reagan disclose he was suffering from in 1994?
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Alzheimer's disease.
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Rumors said that he suffered from the disease long before it was diagnosed.
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21. What three words did George Bush say before "no new taxes" in 1988?
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Answer
Read my lips.
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In his lifetime, he probably gave a thousand speeches. However, many people only remember six words. On August 18, he said, "Read my Lips. No New Taxes," during his nomination acceptance speech.
22. Who ran for President with the campaign slogan "Vote Yourself a Farm"?
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Abraham Lincoln
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Referred to a law granting free homesteads to settlers of western lands.
23. Which U. S. President purchased Alaska from Russia?
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Andrew Johnson
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On April 9, the Senate approved the purchase treaty, and on May 28, President Andrew Johnson signed the deal. On October 18, 1867, Alaska was formally handed over to the United States. With this purchase, Russia's foothold in North America was gone, and the United States gained access to the Pacific's northern rim. It was bought for $7.2 million.
24. Who was the first President to appear on TV?
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Roosevelt was the first president of the United States to give a televised speech in 1939. The "golden age" of radio was about to end, but the "golden age" of television began. He served as the 32nd president.
25. What presidential candidate played the saxophone on The Arsenio Hall Show during his campaign?
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Bill Clinton
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He turned out an impressive version of Heartbreak Hotel.
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26. What did Rutherford B. Hayes have to agree to do in order to win the 1876 presidential election?
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Answer
Remove troops from the south.
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It settled the intensely disputed 1876 presidential election.
27. Who is the only U.S. president not buried under the American flag?
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John Tyler
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In 1862, John Tyler, the tenth president of the United States, was laid to rest in Hollywood Cemetery. The Confederate flag was placed over his casket.
13 Things To Know About Presidential Literature
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Presidents have used their words and actions to shape opinion, chart the course, and unite nations in the most troubled times. Names like President Obama, Taft, and Harding may come to mind. Today, we go behind the White House scenes to uncover intriguing facts about U.S. presidents with our collection of presidential literature trivia.
28. What date saw FDR sign the U.S. declaration of war against Japan?
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15318
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A day after the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. We all know so much about World War II.
29. Who told Jimmy Carter in a debate: "There is no Soviet domination of Eastern Europe"?
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Gerald Ford
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One of the most famous election gaffes.
30. What document did President Andrew Johnson want a copy of placed under his head upon his burial?
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The U.S. Constitution.
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As he wished, Andrew Johnson was buried with an American flag draped around his body and a copy of the United States Constitution placed beneath his head. He was a vice president at the time of the assassination of Abraham Lincoln.
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31. How many future U. S. Presidents signed the Declaration of Independence?
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2
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Only two of the 56 signers of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson, would go on to become president.
32. Walt Whitman's poem "Oh Captain, My Captain" was written about which President?
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Abraham Lincoln.
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The poem was inspired by the death of Abraham Lincoln and described the United States as a ship.
33. How many Presidents have died on the Fourth of July?
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3
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John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe. The New York Evening Post, created by Alexander Hamilton, recognized the significance of the occurrences in 1831, calling it a "coincidence without parallel."
34. What U.S. President won a Pulitzer Prize for his book Profiles in Courage?
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John F. Kennedy
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Eight United States Senators are featured in Profiles of Courage, a 1956 collection of brief biographies documenting deeds of bravery and integrity. The book served as a clarion call to every American.
35. What U.S. President won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2002?
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Jimmy Carter
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For finding peaceful solutions to international conflicts.
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36. What Act did Andrew Jackson sign in 1830?
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Answer
Indian Removal Act
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Initiated the forced relocation of thousands of Native Americans.
37. Which president included the now-iconic phrase, “the only thing we have to fear is fear itself,” in his inaugural address?
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
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Roosevelt gave his inauguration ceremony and inaugural address at the depth of the Great Depression.
38. Abraham Lincoln's notorious assassination took place at a theater performance in Washington D.C. What was the name of the play he was watching?
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Answer
Our American Cousin
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On the evening of April 14, 1865.
39. What did Chester A. Arthur do just before he died?
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Burned all his papers
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His son supervised the burning.
40. What theory did Dwight D. Eisenhower articulate regarding communism in Southeast Asia and Central America?
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Answer
Domino Theory
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The theory was prominent in the United States from the 1950s to the 1980s. It claimed that if one country in an area fell under communist influence, the rest of the region would follow in a domino effect.
12 Hard Questions About Presidents To Include In Your History Quiz
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Quizzes were big last year, given the relentless lockdowns. It's no different this year now that we're in lockdown 2.0. I know it's not ideal, but it's in the best interest of everyone. Today we've compiled some hard trivia questions that will take you on a trip to the white house. Maybe you can be ready for Presidents Day. No need to be chief justice to know these, though.
41. Which US president could write Greek with one hand and Latin with the other at the same time? (Incidentally, a well-known cat was indirectly named after him.)
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James Garfield
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He was the 20th president of the United States and only served a short time. He was assassinated four months into his presidency and died two months later.
42. How many of the first forty US presidents had the first name "James"?
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5
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Fun fact! There are so many of them. Jimmy Carter, James A. Garfield, James Buchanan, James K. Polk, James Monroe, and John Adams.
43. Which president signed legislation creating Medicare?
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Lyndon Johnson
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Lyndon Baines Johnson, often referred to by his initials LBJ, served from 1963 to 1969. Prior to this, he had served as the 37th vice president under President John F. Kennedy. LBJ was the 36th president.
44. Which president said, “Politics is like football. If you see daylight, go through the hole”?
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John F. Kennedy
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Known as JFK, John Fitzgerald Kennedy served as the 35th president. Before being assassinated, JFK kindled the idealism of "a new generation of Americans" with his charm and optimism. He championed the US space program and demonstrated dynamic leadership during the Cuban missile crisis.
45. Who was the first president who had been divorced?
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Ronald Reagan
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A highly influential voice of modern conservatism. He served between 1981 to 1989 and was the 40th president.
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46. Which of these presidents was never married?
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James Buchanan
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He was also the last president before the start of the Civil War. He was the only president of the United States that never married.
47. Abraham Lincoln was the tallest President at 6-foot-4. Who was the shortest President?
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James Madison
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James Madison was the fourth president of the United States from 1809 to 1817. He was 1.63m tall.
48. Which president said, “The worst sin in politics is being boring”?
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Richard Nixon
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Nixon resigned from office on August 9, 1974. Nixon was offered the opportunity to attend Harvard, but he turned it down. He was a top student and was granted a Harvard tuition scholarship, but his family needed him at home. After graduating from Whittier College in California, he received a full scholarship to Duke Law and graduated third in his class.
49. This president signed legislation to create the Social Security system.
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Franklin D. Roosevelt
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The system enabled workers to plan for their retirement.
50. This president went on record claiming to have spotted a UFO.
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Jimmy Carter
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He was at Leary, Georgia, in 1969.
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51. In his last words, John Adams name-dropped this fellow president.
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Thomas Jefferson
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John served as the second president of the United States.
52. Which president appeared on the cover of "Cosmopolitan" as a young man?
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Gerald Ford
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Yep. he was a male model. He also had an interesting route to becoming a career politician who was never actually elected to be President of the United States. He had replaced Spiro Agnew as Vice President after Agnew's resignation, then replaced Richard Nixon after Nixon resigned.
Downloadable and Printable List of Presidential Quiz Questions
Here is a downloadable and printable jpg/pdf list of presidential trivia (right-click the image and select Save Image As...):
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Frequently Asked Questions
Have more questions you want to ask but don't want to have to search a Smithsonian book for answers? Check out our frequently asked questions:
What is the President's first speech called?
The Inaugural Address is given at presidential inaugurations. The inaugural address is the president's first speech, and it is delivered during a ceremony in which he is sworn into his new office. The majority of presidents use their inaugural address to offer their vision of America and to lay forth their national ambitions.
I am a teacher. Which age bracket should I use Presidential quiz game?
The questions that focus on American presidents are suitable for elementary students after they've started learning about American history. It's great to test information retention in a fun way.
Is this list of trivia questions good to include during our 4th of July pub quiz?
It sure is! It's excellent for Presidents' Day as well, which is celebrated on the third Monday in February to recognize the nation's first president, George Washington.
Is it good to have a trivia game during the day or night?
These kinds of games are great for any time of day or night. Most venues that host these events do it at night for the availability of players. Any questions that make you think are great for the brain and cognitive development and helps you to think more creatively and become mentally stronger. So, play anytime!
What makes knowing the facts about the Presidents good for anyone?
Our presidents have molded our country throughout history with their unique personalities. Their fascinating stories are interesting to learn because politics is always brought up in conversations. Don't be left with nothing to say if the topic of history or politics comes up.
How To Pick The Best Questions For Presidential Trivia
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Picking questions can be a lot of fun. It can also be challenging picking the right mix of questions that aren't too easy or too hard. Use our tips to build a quiz that will be a viral winner.
1. Make the title fun and timely.
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Sell your game by its title. The title should be catchy and enjoyable sounding.
2. Come up with a strategy for the topics you want to cover.
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It's good to group questions types together. If you're going to include multiple-choice questions and true or false for example, put these together rather than scattering them throughout the game. Also, remember luck is involved with these types of questioning, and most players like to brag about their knowledge. Don't overdo it with these!
3. Order the questions in a way that makes the user feel like they're taking a thrilling ride.
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People want a challenge, but they also like to win. Set the difficulty of your questions, so it makes the players feel like they're on a rollercoaster. A random win here and there is great, but don't let them off too easy and get the right mix of hard questions in.
4. Randomly position the correct answers, so it's not easy to tell which is the right one.
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Randomly place the correct answers to multiple-choice questions to keep players guessing.
More Great Trivia Questions
You can never have enough trivia questions. You can always be a trivia buff! That's why we've compiled a whole lot more questions to entertained and educated. Try to guess the correct answers to these great trivia questions.
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In Conclusion
Our collection of presidential trivia questions and history trivia will get your friends, family, and coworkers charged up. The benefits of trivia questions are innumerable. They're a great way to improve and expand your knowledge without even noticing.
Through a popular vote, we know we all enjoy these.
Everyone will have a blast.
