Can You Make The Grade On This Basic Science Questions Quiz?
Written by Daniel Rackley
Last updated · 23 min play time
We use scientific principles every day and do not even realize it. There are some things that only a skilled researcher would know, but at the same time, there are scientific facts that any normal people should be able to grasp. Take this quiz and see how many you have a handle on!
Quiz written by
Daniel RackleyBasic Science Quiz Questions
74 Questions · 94.4K Plays · 99 Comments
Question 1
What is the term for a group of fish?
-
AMurder
-
BFlock
-
CHerd
-
DSchool
School
"Schooling" generally refers to when fish are swimming in a group, almost in a synchronized way. When fish gather with less coordination, it's called "shoaling" instead.
Question 2
What is the name of the chart that arranges elements into categories?
-
ABloom's taxonomy
-
BPeriodic table
-
CMaslow's hierarchy
-
DTonti diagram
Periodic table
The periodic table shows the symbols and atomic numbers of the known chemical elements. It also divides the elements into categories such as noble gases and metals.
Question 3
What's a meteorological term for an enormous tidal wave?
-
ATsunami
-
BTyphoon
-
CHurricane
-
DTropical depression
Tsunami
Tsunamis are sometimes called seismic sea waves. Unlike regular waves, these tidal waves are caused by events such as volcanic eruptions, underwater explosions, and earthquakes, rather than tides or wind.
Question 4
Which of these is NOT a component of blood?
-
APlasma
-
BWhite blood cells
-
CLymph nodes
-
DPlatelets
Lymph nodes
Lymph nodes are more commonly associated with the immune system and are only found in certain parts of the body. Red blood cells are also a main component of blood.
Question 5
What does the pH level of a substance tell you about it?
-
AAcidity
-
BPositive charge
-
CAge
-
DViscosity
Acidity
Generally, something with a pH over 7 is acidic, something with a pH under 7 is basic, and a 7 is neutral. Substances generally range from a 0 to a 14 on this scale, but some can fall beyond either extreme.
Question 6
What is the process by which plants convert light to energy?
-
APhotoconversion
-
BLuceoconversion
-
CPhotosynthesis
-
DLuceosynthesis
Photosynthesis
Plants, algae and bacteria that use photosynthesis are called photoautotrophs.
Question 7
What is used to measure the magnitude of an earthquake?
-
AScoville scale
-
BAnemoscope
-
CBarometer
-
DRichter scale
Richter scale
The Richter magnitude scale refers to a method of classifying the severity of earthquakes. Anything below a 4 is considered fairly minor, and a 7 or above is considered much more destructive.
Question 8
What is the term for when life begins to sprout from a seed?
-
AGermination
-
BInception
-
CGestation
-
DConception
Germination
Germination often takes place within seeds, but it can take place in fungal spores as well. Germination occurs when the seed has been introduced to the conditions needed to grow life, such as having enough sunlight, water, or oxygen.
Question 9
What is the congenital condition in which a living thing has no pigmentation, resulting in white hair and pink eyes?
-
AVitiligo
-
BAchromotrichia
-
CAlbinism
-
DApigmentation
Albinism
Both humans and animals can be albino. In plants, a lack of chlorophyll qualifies as albinism.
Question 10
What optical illusion occurs when light distorts or displaces a distant image?
-
AAlpenglow
-
BEarth's shadow
-
CMirage
-
DLight pillar
Mirage
A mirage is often mistaken for a distant body of water, as often portrayed in fiction.
Question 11
What is Polaris otherwise known as?
-
AThe North Star
-
BAlpha boo
-
CThe Dog Star
-
DThe Southern Nebula
The North Star
Polaris is also called Alpha Ursae Minoris and is often used for navigation.
Question 12
Which of these is NOT a type of cloud?
-
AStratus
-
BCirrus
-
CCumulonimbus
-
DBrontide
Brontide
The word "brontide" actually refers to the rumbling sound of thunder. Other types of clouds include cirrocumulus, altostratus, and nimbostratus, named by the level of altitude at which they usually appear.
Question 13
Who is this man, famous for breakthroughs in food sterilization?
-
ALouis Pasteur
-
BNiels Bohr
-
CIsaac Newton
-
DPierre Curie
Louis Pasteur
Louis Pasteur is famous for his work with fermentation and disease prevention, including pasteurization. Pasteurization involves applying heat to kill organisms in food that could cause them to spoil.
Question 14
According to legend, an apple tree led to which scientific discovery?
-
AGravity
-
BVisible spectrum
-
CColor constancy
-
DEvolution
Gravity
Isaac Newton may not have actually been hit in the head by an apple, as the story sometimes states, but observing the falling fruit led to him questioning why it always fell in a straight line.
Question 15
Which plant species is considered carnivorous?
-
AWolf fern
-
BVenus flytrap
-
CVenus flyeater
-
DPiranha plant
Venus flytrap
The hairs on a Venus flytrap act as triggers that cause it to shut on its prey, such as an insect, which it then consumes. "Muscipula," the flytrap's species name, is the Latin word for "mousetrap."
Question 16
Charles Darwin was a pioneer in what area?
-
ATaxonomy
-
BAstronomy
-
CEvolution
-
DMolecular biology
Evolution
Darwin is best known for his book "On the Origin of Species," which discussed the evidence he found that supported evolution. He did much of his studying on the Galapagos Islands.
Question 17
What do you call the green pigments that give plants their green color?
-
AChloropigments
-
BCyanophyll
-
CCyanopigments
-
DChlorophyll
Chlorophyll
Photosynthesis, a vital process for plants, wouldn't be possible without chlorophyll. These green pigments help plants and algae absorb light.
Question 18
What device do you light when you need an open flame and/or heat for a science experiment?
-
AJensen burner
-
BHenson burner
-
CBurton burner
-
DBunsen burner
Bunsen burner
The Bunsen burner was named after Robert Bunsen, who helped bring it into common use. The stand is attached to a hose which releases a natural gas; then a spark is released to ignite a continuous flame.
Question 19
What does hematophagy mean in animals?
-
AThey eat their young
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BThey hibernate in winter
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CThey feed on blood
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DThey have wings
They feed on blood
The word hematophagy literally means "to eat blood" based on Greek roots. Animals that practice hematophagy include leeches, vampire bats and lampreys.
Question 20
What mineral is colloquially known as "fool's gold"?
-
APyragyritet
-
BPyrite
-
CChalcocite
-
DChromium
Pyrite
Also called iron pyrite, this mineral gets its nickname from its gold color and shiny, metallic finish.
Question 21
What superlative status does the blue whale have?
-
ALoudest animal in the ocean
-
BBiggest animal on Earth
-
CSlowest moving mammal
-
DMost ancient living species
Biggest animal on Earth
Blue whales have been known to grow as long as 98 feet, making them the largest animals on land or in the sea. The African Elephant is considered the largest animal on land.
Question 22
What galaxy is nearest to our own?
-
ATriangulum Galaxy
-
BBode's Galaxy
-
CAndromeda Galaxy
-
DCircinus Galaxy
Andromeda Galaxy
The Andromeda Galaxy is roughly 780 kiloparsecs away from Earth, and it is near the constellation with which it shares its name.
Question 23
What concept in physics states that an object in motion tends to stay in motion, and an object in rest tends to stay at rest?
-
AInertia
-
BGravity
-
CTorque
-
DDensity
Inertia
This principle is covered in Newton's first law of motion. It states that objects tend to remain in their current state unless force is exerted on them, such as gravity or friction.
Question 24
What's the term for glowing in animals?
-
ARadiating
-
BBioluminescence
-
CLuxification
-
DBioglowing
Bioluminescence
Bioluminescent animals include fireflies, anglerfish and some types of jellyfish.
Question 25
What is a barometer used to measure?
-
AWind speed
-
BEarthquake intensity
-
CHumidity
-
DAtmospheric pressure
Atmospheric pressure
The origins of this invention are nebulous, but its existence could date back to 1631 or earlier. A barometer is used to anticipate changes in weather.
Question 26
Which of these is not the name of a known galaxy?
-
ABlack Eye Galaxy
-
BSombrero Galaxy
-
CCartwheel Galaxy
-
DThey're all real.
They're all real.
Galaxies are often named after their general shape. Other galaxies include the Tadpole Galaxy, Sunflower Galaxy, and the Cigar Galaxy. Our own galaxy, the Milky Way, is named for the milky appearance it takes on when viewed from Earth.
Question 27
Which is the smallest of these dinosaurs?
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ABrontosaurus
-
BVelociraptor
-
CStegosaurus
-
DTyrannosaurus Rex
Velociraptor
Velociraptors appeared to be about 7 feet tall in "Jurassic Park," but in reality, they were closer to the size of a turkey.
Question 28
The Alvarez hypothesis claims that an asteroid caused what event?
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AThe extinction of the dinosaurs
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BPangaea splitting
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CThe formation of the Grand Canyon
-
DThe beginning of the ice age
The extinction of the dinosaurs
Father-son geologist team Luis and Walter Alvarez theorized that an asteroid struck earth in Chicxulub, Mexico, and evidence found in a crater there supported this hypothesis. This theory has led to the belief that the Chicxulub asteroid caused mass extinction, including dinosaurs.
Question 29
Which element has the symbol "Cu"?
-
ACarbon
-
BGold
-
CCopper
-
DNickel
Copper
The Latin word "cuprum," meaning "copper," derives from the island of Cyprus, where it was often mined by the ancient Romans.
Question 30
Which of these is the weakest type of storm?
-
ATropical storm
-
BTropical depression
-
CCategory 1 hurricane
-
DTyphoon
Tropical depression
Also known as a tropical low, a tropical depression has wind speeds of less than 39 mph.
Question 31
Which of these is NOT one of the three main rock types?
-
AMetamorphic
-
BLithographic
-
CSedimentary
-
DIgneous
Lithographic
The names of the three main rock types refer to how each is formed. Igneous forms from cooling lava, sedimentary forms from fragments of other rocks, and metamorphic rocks form when another rock is transformed through a change in temperature and pressure.
Question 32
Pyroclastic flow is associated with what part of nature?
-
AHurricanes
-
BOceans
-
CWildfires
-
DVolcanoes
Volcanoes
This is also called a pyroclastic cloud or pyroclastic density current. It refers to a mixture of hot ash and gas at temperatures nearing 200 degrees Fahrenheit that speeds down the dies of a volcano after an eruption.
Question 33
The apatosaurus was once thought to be a related species of which similar dinosaur?
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AStegosaurus
-
BBrontosaurus
-
CPterodactyl
-
DT-Rex
Brontosaurus
The apatosaurus is now thought to be a separate genus from the brontosaurus. The first discovery of its kind was in 1877, with a second species being discovered in 1916.
Question 34
At what temperature does water boil?
-
A212 degrees Fahrenheit
-
B200 degrees Fahrenheit
-
C212 degrees Celsius
-
D112 degrees Celsius
212 degrees Fahrenheit
This temperature is equivalent to 100 degrees Celsius. The actual boiling point can vary with altitude.
Question 35
What is amber?
-
AA mineral
-
BA form of lava
-
CFossilized tree sap
-
DA naturally occurring plastic
Fossilized tree sap
Amber has long been valued as a gemstone. The sap of trees sometimes traps small creatures and insects inside before it hardens, preserving the animal inside.
Question 36
What is the name for the layer of plasma around stars, including the Sun?
-
ACorona
-
BSunspot
-
CHeliofield
-
DStellarsphere
Corona
The corona of the Sun is easiest to see when a total solar eclipse takes place. Special instruments can be used to observe the corona as well.
Question 37
What is the outermost layer of Earth?
-
AOuter core
-
BShell
-
CCrust
-
DMantle
Crust
The Earth's crust makes up a very small portion of the planet's overall volume. The crust and the upper mantle make up a portion of Earth's structure called the lithosphere.
Question 38
Which of these is NOT an era in which dinosaurs lived?
-
AJurassic Period
-
BCretaceous Period
-
CTriassic Period
-
DStone Age
Stone Age
The Stone Age is a prehistoric era in which humans lived. Despite depictions like "The Flintstones," paleontologists generally agree that humans and dinosaurs never coexisted.
Question 39
What is the term for the study of birds?
-
AIchthyology
-
BApiology
-
COrnithology
-
DHerpetology
Ornithology
Ornithology gets its name from the Greek word "แฝฯฮฝฮนฯ/ornis," which means "bird." Records of formal bird-related studies date back as far as 1500 BCE.
Question 40
What is this ancient bug-like creature?
-
ATrilobite
-
BPterodactyl
-
CRaptor
-
DCoelacanth
Trilobite
Trilobites are a group of arthropods that date back to at least 521 million years ago.
Question 41
What is the chemical symbol for gold?
-
AAu
-
BCu
-
CPb
-
DAg
Au
The chemical symbol Au is based on the Latin word "aurum," which means gold.
Question 42
What is the name of the appendage that some cells use to move around and sense their environment?
-
ARibosome
-
BMitochondria
-
CFlagellum
-
DEjectosome
Flagellum
The word flagellum means "whip," referring to its appearance and way of moving. There are multiple types of flagella, and not all cells rely on this organelle to get around.
Question 43
What is the term for the naming system used for living species, like plants and animals?
-
ABinary coding
-
BBinomial nomenclature
-
CDouble naming
-
DTwo-party system
Binomial nomenclature
Carl Linnaeus is formally credited with coining this naming system in his 1753 work, "Species Plantarum." The two names refer to a living thing's genus and species, respectively. "Homo sapiens" is one example.
Question 44
Can you identify this speedy dinosaur?
-
AVelociraptor
-
BStegosaurus
-
CApatosaurus
-
DTyrannosaurus Rex
Velociraptor
Velociraptor means "swift seizer" in Latin. These dinosaurs were supposedly good at chasing prey, then tackling it with its claws.
Question 45
What gas is produced by plants?
-
ANitrogen
-
BCarbon dioxide
-
COxygen
-
DArgon
Oxygen
Plants and algae produce oxygen through the process of photosynthesis.
Question 46
What do you call a group of crows?
-
AA murder
-
BA gaggle
-
CA parliament
-
DA pod
A murder
People debate the scientific merit of using such specialized terms for groups of animals, but they can be found in many texts. Calling a group of crows a "murder" may have come about because of their association with death.
Question 47
What type of animal usually has baleen?
-
ABirds
-
BSharks
-
CElephants
-
DWhales
Whales
Whales usually use baleen to filter feed, by sucking in seawater and letting small, edible creatures get trapped in the fibers.
Question 48
What mnemonic device is used to help you remember the colors of the visible spectrum?
-
AROY G. BIV
-
BFANBOYS
-
CHOMES
-
DPEMDAS
ROY G. BIV
The part of the electromagnetic spectrum that can be seen by the human eye is called the visible spectrum. When light passes through a prism, it is dispersed into red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet, hence the mnemonic ROY G. BIV.
Question 49
What do bats do that can be beneficial to the world?
-
ADisperse seeds
-
BEat insects
-
CPollinate flowers
-
DAll of these
All of these
Bats may look scary and have a creepy reputation, but they actually can do a lot of good by eating pesky mosquitoes and aiding in the growth of fruit trees.
Question 50
A what temperature does water freeze?
-
A0 degrees Celsius
-
B32 degrees Celsius
-
C21 degrees Celsius
-
D10 degrees Celsius
0 degrees Celsius
This temperature is the equivalent of 32 degrees Fahrenheit. Variations like adding salt or alcohol to water can lower its freezing point.
Question 51
What group of animals do crabs belong to?
-
AMammals
-
BArthropods
-
CTerrapins
-
DCephalopods
Arthropods
The name arthropod refers to a jointed or segmented body. Other arthropods include scorpions, centipedes and lobsters.
Question 52
The moons Charon and Styx belong to which dwarf planet?
-
APluto
-
BJupiter
-
CVenus
-
DMars
Pluto
Pluto's planetary status has been subject to debate in recent years, but scientists do agree about its moons. Pluto has five moons - Charon, Styx, Nyx, Hydra, and Kerberos - which are named for figures associated with Pluto/Hades in Greek mythology.
Question 53
Octopuses and squid are classified as what type of animal?
-
AFish
-
BArthropod
-
CCrustacean
-
DCephalopod
Cephalopod
Sometimes fishermen colloquially call this class of animal "inkfish." There are currently over 800 known species of cephalopod.
Question 54
The Big Dipper is part of which larger constellation?
-
ADraco
-
BOrion
-
CUrsa Major
-
DUrsa Minor
Ursa Major
Seven stars of the constellation Ursa Major make up what we know as the Big Dipper.
Question 55
What is the rarest blood type?
-
AB-positive
-
BA-negative
-
CO-positive
-
DAB-negative
AB-negative
AB-negative blood is found in only .6% of people. Those with AB blood are able to receive blood transfusions from all other types. 37.4% of people have O-positive blood, the most common type and a universal donor.
Question 56
Which of these animals was NOT around during the ice age?
-
ASabretooth tiger
-
BDire wolf
-
CWoolly mammoth
-
DPterodactyl
Pterodactyl
Dinosaurs had long since died out by the time the ice age began. Many of the most commonly known animals from this era were mammals.
Question 57
What is the term for something bearlike or related to bears?
-
ALupine
-
BCanine
-
CUrsine
-
DMurine
Ursine
The Latin word "ursus" means "bear." In zoology, bears fall into the Ursidae family.
Question 58
Marie Curie was considered a pioneer in what area of study?
-
AGenetics
-
BEvolution
-
CMolecular biology
-
DRadioactivity
Radioactivity
Curie has the distinction of being not only the first woman ever to win a Nobel Prize, but also the first (and only, as of 2018) woman to win the award twice.
Question 59
What is somnambulism otherwise known as?
-
AAmnesia
-
BNarcolepsy
-
CInsomnia
-
DSleepwalking
Sleepwalking
Another word for sleepwalking is noctambulism, meaning "night walking."
Question 60
What is the scientific term denoting wolves?
-
ALepus
-
BFelis
-
CVulpes
-
DLupus
Lupus
Wolves as a species, are referred to as Canis lupus. The word "lupus" means "wolf" in Latin.
Question 61
Which of these is often used to exemplify the Doppler effect?
-
AA roller coaster
-
BAn ambulance's siren
-
CA dog barking
-
DA ceiling fan
An ambulance's siren
The Doppler effect, named for physicist Christian Doppler, is the phenomenon in which the frequency of a sound wave changes depending on whether the source is moving towards or away from the person hearing it. This explains why the sound of a siren appears to raise and lower in pitch depending on whether it is moving towards or away from you.
Question 62
What type of navigation/detection is used by bats and dolphins?
-
AKepler
-
BEcholocation
-
CDoppler
-
DRadar
Echolocation
Animals use echolocation by emitting a sound that then bounces back to them, which they use to figure out what's around them.
Question 63
Gregor Mendel was considered the father of what branch of science?
-
AChemistry
-
BGenetics
-
CPhysics
-
DMicrobiology
Genetics
Gregor Johann Mendel conducted experiments by cross-breeding peas and recording data to determine some of the fundamental rules of heredity.
Question 64
What is the formula for gravitational acceleration?
-
AE = mc^2
-
By = mx + b
-
Cg = 9.8 m/s^2
-
D2b =/= 2a
g = 9.8 m/s^2
The value for gravitational acceleration is often called "little g" to distinguish it from G, the gravitational constant. The formula for little g calculates the acceleration of a falling object without air resistance or other interference.
Question 65
How would you categorize coral?
-
AA plant
-
BAn invertebrate
-
CA shell
-
DA mineral
An invertebrate
Corals come in many varieties, including those that have a calcium-based skeleton, making them appear less like a living thing. Corals reproduce asexually and can feed by catching small creatures and absorbing their nutrients.
Question 66
Turquoise is a hydrate phosphate of aluminum and which metal?
-
ANickel
-
BGold
-
CCopper
-
DSilver
Copper
The rarity of turquoise has historically contributed to its value. The name "turquoise" originates from the French word for Turkish, as the mineral first came to Europe from Turkey.
Question 67
Which subatomic particle has a negative charge?
-
ANeutron
-
BHiggs boson
-
CProton
-
DElectron
Electron
Electrons have a negative charge, while protons have a positive charge and neutrons have no charge.
Question 68
What is the dog star also known as?
-
AOrion
-
BPolaris
-
CDraco
-
DSirius
Sirius
Sirius is actually a star system consisting of two stars. Its name means "brightest" or "scorching," fitting for its status as the brightest star in the sky.
Question 69
What is the binomial nomenclature for the domestic dog?
-
ALupus familiaris
-
BLupis Canis
-
CCanis familiaris
-
DCanus familiar
Canis familiaris
This designation is fitting because we think of dogs as part of the family. Dogs can also be designated as Canis lupus familiaris when classified as a subspecies of wolf.
Question 70
Earth's atmosphere is composed primarily of which element?
-
AArgon
-
BCarbon Dioxide
-
COxygen
-
DNitrogen
Nitrogen
The composition of earth's air is 78.09% nitrogen, 20.95% oxygen, .93% argon and .04% carbon dioxide. Trace amounts of other elements are also present.
Question 71
What is nephrology the study of?
-
APancreas
-
BRingworms
-
CThe dead
-
DKidneys
Kidneys
Nephrology is a branch of medicine focusing on treating diseases of the kidneys. The name derives from the Greek word for kidney.
Question 72
What is the physics term used to measure an object's resistance against an applied force?
-
ADensity
-
BViscosity
-
CMass
-
DVelocity
Mass
There is a slight difference between weight and mass, but scales are often used to determine the mass of an object, much like what would be done with weight. In physics, mass is typically measured by kilograms.
Question 73
Which of these is NOT one of Jupiter's moons?
-
APandora
-
BGanymede
-
CEuropa
-
DIo
Pandora
Pandora is one of Saturn's moons. Jupiter has 79 moons, the four largest - Ganymede, Io, Callisto, and Europa - of which are named after Jupiter's/Zeus's lovers in Roman and Greek mythology.
Question 74
About how often does Halley's comet appear?
-
AEvery 37-40 years
-
BEvery 74-79 years
-
CEvery 22-25 years
-
DEvery 80-85 years
Every 74-79 years
Halley's comet was most recently seen in 1986 and is expected to reappear in 2061.
Comments (99)
We want to hear your feedback! Share your scores and discuss the quiz, but keep it civil.
I had absolutely no ads it was great
The ad interrupted the timing. Still I guess 15 min isn't to bad for 70+ questions.
@user1799220 It's a dwarf planet.
Too many ad interuptions.
What's the purpose?
Enjoyed it, learned where weak areas are
Good questions. A lot of lag in the system
liked it
On one question I picked the right one,and it said I picked the one beside the one I picked ,I got token o ton that one
A little integrity people, and I guess a whole lot.of studying haha.
Give me something harder.
Pluto is not a planet
Jumpy ads made me hit the wrong answer several times
Jumpy ads made me hit wrong answer 4or5 times
A bit jumpy but made me think.
Um, a seismograph measures earthquake activity. Richter scale a graphical representation of the force.
It caused me to hit the wrong thing 4 different times
Love it, but advertisement bounces and scrolls causing me to hit the wrong answer
Love it but it freezes up alot and sometimes it bounces about causing you to hit the wrong answer.
Made it through high school w/ sciences background and maybe watched Bill Nye the Science guy. Fun.