Where Were These Crucial Inventions Originally Created?

By: Lauren Fokas | Published: Apr 23, 2024

Sliced bread, antibiotics, telephones, and many more inventions have completely changed the world we live in. 

Of course, you’ll have heard of every one of these crucial inventions, but the vast majority of people won’t know where they were invented! 

1. Long before the smartphone, the very first telephone was invented where?

  • A) Northampton, Massachusetts 
  • B) Edinburgh, Scotland  
  • C) London, England
  • D) Beijing, China
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Man smiling as he looks down at his smartphone

Source: Freepik

Answer:

Northampton, Massachusetts

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The inventor of the telephone, Alexander Bell, and his first telephone on a gray background

Source: Britannica

2. Today, people use QR codes for almost everything. Which country first invented this handy digital key?

  • A) China
  • B) Japan
  • C) USA
  • D) England
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A hand holding a smartphone open to a QR code in front of a blurry store

Source: Adobe Stock

Answer:

Japan

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The Japanese flag flying against a starry night sky

Source: Freepik

3. Where was the kerosene lamp invented?

  • A) Greece
  • B) Russia
  • C) Poland
  • D) China
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An outreached hand holds a kerosene lamp on a walk in the woods

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

Poland

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The flag of Poland flying against a bright blue sky

Source: Freepik

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4. A famous inventor created the first electric brake in which country?

  • A) USA
  • B) Germany
  • C) Switzerland
  • D) Mexico
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Close-up photograph of electric brakes on train wheels

Source: Quora

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Answer:

Mexico

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Victor Ochoa, the Mexican man who invented the electric brake, alongside his other inventions

Source: @UntoldLatinoStoriesAZ/Facebook

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5. Where was the first atomic bomb built?

  • A) New Mexico, USA
  • B) Tokyo, Japan
  • C) Sydney, Australia 
  • D) Luxembourg, Luxembourg
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Two atomic bombs, on the left in Hiroshima and on the right in Nagasaki

Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

New Mexico, USA

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Norris Bradbury with the assembled bomb atop the test tower, 1945

Source: Wikipedia

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6. Which country is accredited with inventing paper?

  • A) USA
  • B) Egypt 
  • C) Greece
  • D) China
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Several stacks of brown and white paper on a desk

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

China

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Stacks of old paper with Chinese text

Source: iStock

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7. The majority of our buildings are held together by cement. Where was it invented?

  • A) England
  • B) Japan
  • C) USA
  • D) India
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Building made out of cement and glass windows

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

England 

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Plaque commemorating Joseph Aspdin in the yard where he lived/Son of Joseph Aspdin, William Aspdin, a pioneer of Portland cement

Source: Wikipedia/Wikipedia

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8. Today, there are roughly 100,00 flights every day, but the very first airplane was made in which country?

  • A) USA
  • B) Switzerland
  • C) France
  • D) Canada
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A commercial airplane flying through a cloudy sky

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

USA

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The first successful flight of the Wright Flyer, by the Wright brothers in North Carolina in 1903

Source: Wikipedia

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9. Where did Johannes Gutenberg invent the printing press?

  • A) Germany
  • B) Italy
  • C) USA
  • D) Switzerland
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Sketch of two men using one of the earliest printing presses

Source: Britannica

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Answer:

Germany

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Illustration of Johannes Gutenberg using the first printing press

Source: Britannica

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10. Long after the big screen became popular, which country invented IMAX theaters?

  • A) Canada
  • B) Sweden
  • C) Japan
  • D) USA
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Interior of an empty IMAX theater

Source: @SkillsCanada/Facebook

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Answer:

Canada

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The flag of Canada flying against a blue sky lined with trees

Source: Freepik

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11. Where was penicillin accidentally invented in 1928?

  • A) Paris, France
  • B) London, England
  • C) New York, USA
  • D) Beijing, China
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Photograph of two vials of penicillin and a syringe

Source: iStock

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Answer:

London, England

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Illustration of Alexander Fleming, the man who invented penicillin in his laboratory

Source: Britannica

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12. Between the 2nd century BCE and the 1st century CE, citizens of which empire invented the compass?

  • A) China
  • B) Rome
  • C) Ottoman
  • D) Egypt
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A hand reaching out while holding a small blue and gold compass

Source: Freepik

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Answer:

China

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A depiction of the first compass, invented in ancient China

Source: Quora

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13. Thanks to Fred W. Wolf, we have electric refrigerators. Where did he live when he created this convenient invention?

  • A) Ireland
  • B) USA
  • C) England
  • D) Germany
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Several men standing alongside one of the first refrigerators

Source: Photos.com

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Answer:

USA

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A retro refrigerator covered in the American flag against a white brick wall

Source: Freepik

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14. Where was Velcro invented?

  • A) India
  • B) Austria
  • C) Switzerland
  • D) USA
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A runner stopping to velcro their shoes

Source: iStock

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Answer:

Switzerland

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Digital illustration of the flag of Switzerland flying against a light blue sky

Source: Freepik

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15. Benjamin Franklin famously invented the bifocals, but in which country was the first pair of eyeglasses made?

  • A) China
  • B) Egypt
  • C) Italy
  • D) England
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Exhibit in the Franklin Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania of the original bifocals

Source: Wikipedia

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Answer:

Italy

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Painting of one of the first pairs of eyeglasses from the 13th century in Italy

Source: Shutterstock

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