Can We Guess How Much Money You'd Win on an Episode of “Jeopardy!”?

Lauren Lubas

5 Min Quiz

Image: NBC; CBS Television Distribution

About This Quiz

Everyone knows that there are different types of people who watch "Jeopardy!" You may be the type who watches to learn random facts or the type who wants to see people who are smarter than you take on interesting questions. You could also be the type who tries to answer every question to show off your smarts to everyone else in the room. No matter what your "Jeopardy!" preferences, it is clear that you are a fan. You may even think you have what it takes to give the show a try; after all, you have been practicing since you started watching it. Although you may feel like you have an edge with your knowledge, "Jeopardy!" is more than just knowing random facts. You have to have reflexes, understand answers and remember to answer in the form of a question. If you don't follow all of these rules, you may as well know nothing because you aren't going to earn a dime as a contestant on the show.

However, if you think you have what it takes to become a "Jeopardy!" champion, we think we can guess how much money you'd win on an episode. Answer these questions about your personality and we'll tell you how much you'll bring home.

What is the best way for you to learn?

I figure it out.

Someone tells me.
I learn on my own.

I learn by seeing.

If something is difficult to understand, how do you go about learning it?

I usually give up.

If I don't get it the first time, I don't even try.
I ask people what they think.

I spend hours trying to figure it out.

When you want to memorize something, what do you do?

Look it over and try to repeat it

Try to do it
Repeat it over and over and over again

Write a song about it

Do you have trouble remembering people's faces?

All the time

Only sometimes
Not really

I've never forgotten a face.

Even if you're good at faces, you might not be good at names. How hard is it for you to remember someone's name?

Not very hard

I can only remember it if I know someone else with that name.
I am OK with names.

I'm excellent with people's names.

How many friends' phone numbers can you dial without your contact list?

One

None
Three

All of them

How long does it take for you to remember how to get somewhere without a GPS?

Driving it a few times myself

Driving it once myself
I always need a GPS

Looking at the map once

Now we need to ask some questions about your reflexes and competitiveness to see how well you'd play the game. Do you think you'd have good control over the "Jeopardy!" buzzer?

Not at all

Yes, I'd have great control.
Only if I'm not nervous

Yes, just enough control

These next few questions are about your memory. Is it difficult for you to remember dates?

Yes, for the most part

Yes, I can't remember dates at all.
Sometimes

Not at all

What is your buzzer strategy?

After I hear the question, attempt to hit the buzzer

Hit the buzzer, then read the question
Listen to half the question, then hit the buzzer

Stay ready to hit the buzzer at all times, even if someone beat me

If someone hits the buzzer before you, what will you do?

Put my buzzer down

Get mad and throw the buzzer
I'd probably lose my edge.

Keep the buzzer in my hand, ready to hit it if they are wrong

If you came in second place on the show, how would you feel?

Great! That's hard to do!

Mad because I wasn't in first place
I'd be so happy because I am so slow.

I would never run a marathon

If you are behind by the time "Final Jeopardy!" rolls around, what are you most likely to do?

Bet everything I have

Bet as much as I possibly can
Play it safe and calculate how much I need to win

Calculate all of the possible outcomes and bet strategically

If "Jeopardy!" were a dance competition, would you win?

Definitely not

Oh, yeah
I would try.

I'd rather have a rap battle.

What is most important to you when it comes to "Jeopardy!"?

Learning

Winning
Having fun

Being the best in the room

Now, we're going to ask you some questions about how responsible you are. Would your friends describe you as a responsible person?

Yes, very much so

No, not at all
Only when it comes to working

Yes, but I have my moments.

Do you like to take chances?

Sometimes

Every day
Only when I have a good feeling

Once a year, on my birthday

What is the most annoying thing about your memory?

That it simply doesn't exist

That it only works when I meditate
That it isn't as clear as I'd like it to be

That I can't forget anything

If you're really tired but you have to continue studying your "Jeopardy!" categories, what do you do?

Try to work a little more, then go to sleep

Go to sleep and work on it in the morning
Set an alarm and sleep for one hour

Stay up and finish studying

About how much time would you take to learn and memorize facts in each "Jeopardy!" category?

10 minutes

0 minutes
One to two hours

Four to six hours

If you received the Daily Double, how much would you wager?

The same amount as the answer I picked

Everything
Double the answer I picked

It depends on how well I know the category.

If you lose the game, will you get mad?

Not really

Yes, very mad
Only if I can't beat one part

Yes, but I get over it right away

What would you do if you thought someone was cheating on "Jeopardy!"?

Probably nothing

Yell at that person at the top of my lungs
Stop playing with them

Cheat back

The final questions are going to explore your knowledge. How much do you know about geography?

Just the cardinal directions

I know how to use a GPS.
A little bit about the U.S.

I'm pretty good at geography.

How will you learn about the categories about which you know nothing?

I will watch movies.

I won't.
I will read about it.

I will learn from others.

Would you say that you have a lot of random facts swimming in your head?

Just a few

None at all
Yes, I have quite a few.

I can bring up a fact about nearly any topic that people are talking about.

Does your job require you to know a lot?

Yes, but only about one topic

No, I don't really have to know anything.
No, but I learn on my own.

Yes, it requires a lot of random information.

How much do you know about pop culture?

Quite a bit

Everything there is to know
Only a little

I try to keep up with the times.

Do people often come to you for information?

Only on my specialty

No, never
Yes, but I don't always have the answers.

Yes, because I can answer anything.

Let's start with some questions about your learning process. If you were on the show, would you study the categories that are given?

Probably not

Never
Yes, and I'd try to study hard.

Yes, but I'd study my own way.

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