General Awareness ยท History

Historical Dates and Firsts

2,518 Questions

Historical dates and firsts questions test your memory of significant global milestones in sports, science, technology, and literature. These factual questions appear regularly in SSC, banking, and state PSC general awareness papers. Use these questions to quickly memorize important historical events and their exact years.

Inventions and launchesSports world firstsHistorical prize awardsTechnology milestones

Historical Dates and Firsts Questions

Multiple choice

Locomotive was invented in the year

  1. 1809

  2. 1807

  3. 1804

  4. 1810
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Richard Trevithick built the first working railway steam locomotive in 1804. It successfully hauled a load of iron along a tramway in Wales.

Multiple choice

Jet engine was invented in the year

  1. 1949

  2. 1940

  3. 1950

  4. 1937
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain independently developed the jet engine in the late 1930s. Whittle's first successful test run was in 1937.

Multiple choice

Laser was invented in the year

  1. 1940

  2. 1950

  3. 1970

  4. 1960
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

Theodore Maiman built the first working laser at Hughes Research Laboratories in 1960.

Multiple choice

Microphone was invented in the year

  1. 1870

  2. 1880

  3. 1876

  4. 1873
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

Emile Berliner invented the microphone in 1876. It was a crucial component for the development of the telephone.

Multiple choice

Motorcycle was invented in the year

  1. 1880

  2. 1885

  3. 1890

  4. 1870
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach built the first gasoline-powered motorcycle, the Reitwagen, in 1885.

Multiple choice

Aeroplane was invented in the year

  1. 1956

  2. 1905

  3. 1910

  4. 1903
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
D Correct answer
Explanation

The Wright brothers achieved the first powered, controlled, and sustained flight of a heavier-than-air aircraft in 1903.

Multiple choice

Adding machine was invented in the year

  1. 1623

  2. 1657

  3. 1620

  4. 1631
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Wilhelm Schickard is credited with inventing the first mechanical adding machine, known as the Calculating Clock, in 1623.

Multiple choice

Bakelite was invented in the year

  1. 1906

  2. 1907

  3. 1981

  4. 1971
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
B Correct answer
Explanation

Leo Baekeland invented Bakelite, the first plastic made from synthetic components, in 1907.

Multiple choice

Bunsen burner was invented in the year

  1. 1855

  2. 1840

  3. 1850

  4. 1876
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
A Correct answer
Explanation

Robert Bunsen is credited with the development of the Bunsen burner in 1855, improving upon earlier designs.

Multiple choice

Ballpoint pen was invented in the year

  1. 1880

  2. 1889

  3. 1888

  4. 1887
Reveal answer Fill a bubble to check yourself
C Correct answer
Explanation

John J. Loud received the first patent for a ballpoint pen in 1888, although it was not commercially successful until later.