Can You Pass This Science Quiz?

By: Tasha Moore
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Pass This Science Quiz?
Image: Martin Steinthaler/Moment/Getty Images

About This Quiz

The thighbone is connected to the what bone? Can you tell the difference between a cell and an organelle? What's your take on continental drift theory? You'll get plenty of chances to address these and other sciencey stuff with this science quiz. Biology, astronomy, geometry, chemistry and physics are all covered in this super fun survey of how the natural world works.

Basic brain anatomy deals with three main areas. Are the names of these zones stored somewhere inside your cranial dome? If not, don't worry. You'll secure those facts and more in just a few scrolls. But before you give this exam your best shot, enjoy a few pointers for review. Certain creatures covered here are single-celled organisms, dinosaurs, insects and humans. Yes...humans are creatures too, according to science. And as far as chemistry is concerned, arm yourself with an intermediate understanding of the elements, their natural purposes and behaviors in relation to other elements or compounds. Physics facts make an appearance on this test. Nail the basics on speed, constants and intervals and you'll go a long way.

Now go strong and score big!

How hot is the sun?
5,800 kelvins
3,600 kelvins
1,200 kelvins
98 kelvins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The sun's surface measures approximately 5,800 kelvins. The sun is a star and the dominate force of the solar system around which the Earth and other planets orbit.

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What substance is called the "universal solvent"?
Mercury
Benzene
Water
Petroleum
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Water is often known as the universal solvent because of its ability to dissolve many substances. Water is the main constituent of most living organisms.

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What is the first element of the periodic table?
Helium
Magnesium
Hydrogen
Neon
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hydrogen is the first element of the periodic table and is placed in group 1, but it is not considered an alkali metal. Of all the elements, hydrogen is the most abundant chemical element.

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What is the boiling point of water?
212 degrees fahrenheit
32 degrees Fahrenheit
0 degrees Fahrenheit
100 degrees Fahrenheit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The boiling point of a liquid substance is the temperature at which the pressure applied by the surroundings upon the liquid is matched by the pressure of the liquid vapor. When this pressure equalization occurs, liquid transforms to gas without a temperature increase.

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Which structure of the brain is not contained in the cerebrum?
Olfactory bulb
Cerebellum
Hippocampus
Basal ganglia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The three main parts of the brain are the cerebrum, cerebellum and the brain stem. The cerebrum is the largest part of the brain that contains the hippocampus, basal ganglia and olfactory bulb. The cerebellum is based just below and behind the cerebral hemispheres.

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What part of a microscope holds a specimen in place?
Arm
Stage clips
Illuminator
Nosepiece
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Scientists use microscopes to examine small specimens that are difficult to analyze without the aid of an enlarged image, which microscopes provide. Two common types are the electron microscope and the light microscope.

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What is the rigid outer section of Planet Earth called?
Lithosphere
Atmosphere
Heliosphere
Rhizosphere
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The term "lithosphere" is derived from the Greek word "lithos" meaning "rock." The lithosphere is the solid outer layer of the Earth which includes the Earth's crust.

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What type of charge does a valence electron carry?
Positive
Neutral
Negative
Ionic
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Valence electrons are negatively charged particles that dwell in the outermost region of atoms. They are essential in the creation of chemical bonds.

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Which cell structure is responsible for generating large amounts of energy?
Cilia
Ribosomes
Mitochondrion
Golgi apparatus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A mitochondrion is a specialized cell structure found in the cytoplasm of practically all cells with delineated nuclei. The energy that mitochondrion generate come in the form of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) molecules, which capture energy from food and distribute it as fuel for other cellular activities.

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Which part of the human body safeguards the trachea from food inhalation?
Nose
Esophagus
Larynx
Pharynx
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The larynx is located in the neck of mammals, amphibians and reptiles. This vital structure protects from breathing in food particles. It's also used for creating sounds and breathing.

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Who invented the electron microscope?
Ruska and Knoll
Marie Curie
Ernst Mayr
Louis Pasteur
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Electron microscopes are powerful magnifying devices that achieve high resolution using an electron beam as opposed to a light ray. Many research laboratories use light microscopes to support electron microscopy.

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What is the name of the theory that posits that all the continents were connected at one point?
Quantum theory
Continental drift
Relativity
Evolution
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Continental drift recognizes complementary shapes of continents that appear as if they could fit together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle. The concept of earth plate shifting, or tectonics, incorporates this theory.

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The carpal canal is located in which human structure?
Heart
Wrist
Stomach
Lung
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The system of eight bones in the wrist is referred to as the carpal bones or the carpus. The wrist joint is also called the radiocarpal joint.

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How many miles is the planet Mars from Earth?
5 million km
225 million km
967 million km
12 million km
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The distance between Earth and Mars varies depending on the position of these two planets which orbit the sun. Mars is the fourth planet from the sun, and Earth is the third planet from the sun. On average, Mars is 225 million km from Earth.

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Which of these elements is not an alkaline earth metal?
Magnesium
Calcium
Hydrogen
Barium
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Hydrogen is a flammable, gaseous substance. It has a single positively charged proton in its nucleus and one negatively charged electron. Hydrogen is the lightest chemical element of the periodic table.

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What is the name of the instrument used to measure the altitude of the land surface?
Thermometer
Hydrometer
Altimeter
Ammeter
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Aside from measuring the altitude of the land surface, altimeters can determine the elevation of any object in relation to ground level or sea level. Radio altimeters measure the distance above water or land by recording the time it takes for sound waves to travel from an elevated object to the Earth and back. Pressure altimeters measure atmospheric pressure above sea level to determine altitude.

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What is the freezing point of water?
0 degrees Fahrenheit
100 degrees Fahrenheit
32 degrees Fahrenheit
212 degrees Fahrenheit
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The freezing point is the temperature at which a liquid becomes a solid through increased pressure. The composition of the solid changes from that of its liquid state in a way that tends to lower the substance's freezing point.

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What is the name of the colored eye structure that's a ring-shaped membrane behind the cornea?
Macula
Choroid
Retina
Iris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

For most mammals, the iris controls the size and diameter of the pupil which also regulates the amount of light that reaches the retina. A person's eye color is determined by the iris color.

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What is the structure of the heart that pumps blood out of the heart into the circulatory system?
Ventricle
Left atrium
Right atrium
Esophagus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A heart ventricle is a muscular chamber that pumps blood out of the heart and into the circulatory system of an organism. Humans have two ventricles called the left ventricle and the right ventricle, which are the two lower chambers of the heart. The right ventricle supplies blood to the lungs, and the left ventricle pumps blood to the aorta, which then supplies blood to the body's tissues.

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What is the biological process in which a single cell divides into two individual cells?
Photosynthesis
Cytokinesis
Tropism
Metamorphosis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cytokinesis occurs when single-cell organisms reproduce to form two organisms and with embryos during development. Plant and animal matter also undergo cytokinesis during growth and repair processes.

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What is the name of the instrument used to measure atmospheric pressure?
Electroscope
Galvanometer
Barometer
Cyclotron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Barometers also measure altitude since atmospheric pressure changes depending on the distance below or above sea level. Aneroid and mercury are the two main types of barometers.

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What is a group of stars that form a recognizable pattern called?
Arc
Constellation
Configuration
Ephemeris
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Constellation patterns assist astronomers in locating certain stars or other celestial objects. Asterisms are the smaller groups of stars that comprise the larger constellation.

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The symbol "K" represents what element on the periodic table?
Calcium
Kryptonite
Potassium
Phosphorus
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Potassium has an atomic number of 19 and is of the alkali metal group from the periodic table. Potassium chloride, potassium carbonate and potassium chlorate are common potassium salt compounds.

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Halogen elements comprise which group of the periodic table?
Group 5
Group 7
Group 17
Group 13
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Halogens are six nonmetallic elements of Group 17 from the periodic table. The halogen elements are fluorine, chlorine, bromine, iodine, astatine and tennessine.

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What is the name of the plant structure that bears buds and young branches with leaves?
Flower
Roots
Leaf
Stem
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The plant stem is primarily a structure of support that conducts and stores food for the plant. Some plants have underground stems which help the plant to survive adverse growing conditions.

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What is the name of the organelle that digests macromolecules?
Centrosome
Vesicle
Nucleolus
Lysosome
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A lysosome is an organelle, or specialized cell structure, found in most eukaryotic cells. In addition to macromolecules, lysosomes digest microorganisms and damaged cell parts.

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The rate at which velocity changes over time defines which of the following?
Accretion
Acceleration
Momentum
Oscillation
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Acceleration describes bodies in motion that speed up and slow down. Both acceleration and velocity are vector quantities. Acceleration's quantity is expressed as the change in velocity divided by a time interval.

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Can you identify the continent where most dinosaur fossils have been found?
Asia
North America
Antarctica
Europe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

North America is the third largest of the world's continents and it's where most of the dinosaur fossils have been found. Only solid and durable skeletons from past geological periods were preserved in the Earth's crust.

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Which is not a function of insect antennae?
Reproduce
Taste
Hear
Smell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Antennae are sensory appendages that insects, crustaceans and certain arthropods use to taste, hear and smell. These animals feel along surfaces and filter air currents with these highly sensitive structures.

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What is a basic cell of the nervous system called?
Neuron
Photon
Platelet
Electron
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Neurons are the basic cells of the nervous system. A nerve cell has one nucleus and carries impulses along fibers called dendrites.

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What is the atomic number for beryllium?
45
10
4
5
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Beryllium is a member of the alkaline-earth metal group from the periodic table. This rare element is used in the production of nuclear and aerospace constituents.

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Where is the pituitary gland located?
Liver
Heart
Brain
Small intestine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pituitary gland is a gland of the endocrine system located on the underside of the brain. This "master gland" discharges hormones directly into the bloodstream.

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What is the thighbone called?
Ethmoid
Femur
Palatine
Patella
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The femur bone is also called the upper bone and it forms joints at the knee and the hip. Gluteus medius and maximus muscles are attached to the upper thigh.

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What is the chemical compound found in the outer skeleton of insects, lobsters and crabs called?
Chitin
Melanin
Flouride
Collagen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Chitin is a polysaccharide that contains glucosamine, which is a monosaccharide and amino sugar. Chitin is abundant in the exoskeletons of animals and is useful for protecting soft tissues.

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During which geological time period did dinosaurs go extinct?
Cretaceous
Quaternary
Triassic
Cambrian
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many lines of dinosaurs began to die off during the Cretaceous period. The Cretaceous, Jurassic and Triassic periods are part of the Mesozoic era.

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