The Ultimate Owl Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
The Ultimate Owl Quiz
Image: iStockphoto.com/Igor Kovalenko

About This Quiz

The owl is surrounded by myth and mystery, some of it ominous, some of it symbolizing wisdom and prudence. Take this quiz to delve deeper into what makes this creature so fascinating.
What feat of the owl captures people's attention?
ability to sit perfectly still for hours
deadly accuracy when pouncing on a mouse
silent flight
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The ability of the owl to fly in virtual silence captivates people.

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What Greek goddess was associated with the owl?
Venus
Athena
Medusa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The goddess of wisdom, Athena preferred the wise owl as pet and offered it special protection.

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According to legend what announced the death of Julius Caesar?
hoot of an owl
an owl landing nearby
an owl leaving the Senate
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The hoot of an owl, according to legend, announced the death of Julius Caesar.

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What is the symbolism of an owl in Hindu culture?
protection of warriors
triumph in battle
luck and prosperity
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The owl is a symbol of luck and prosperity in Hindu culture.

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What purpose does silent flight serve?
less effort required to fly
sneak up on its prey
doesn't bother the other owls
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It enables the owl to sneak up on its prey.

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What is it that allows owls to fly quietly?
aerodynamic body
powerful wing muscles
design of their wings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The design of theirs wings allows them to glide with less flapping.

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More specifically how is the noise dampened?
unique design of the leading edges of their primary feathers
using a smoother flapping motion
by gliding
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The unique design of the leading edges of their primary feathers reduces the noise caused by turbulence.

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Some owls have extra vertebrae in their necks, why is this?
smoother head movement
allow the head to rotate 270 degrees
integral part of their stealth abilities
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Since their eyes are fixed, the extra vertebrae allow the head of the owl to rotate 270 degrees, which can prove useful when hunting.

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Why are the primary feathers of the owl serrated?
This gives greater momentum when flying.
Serration reduces wind-resistance when flying.
They split the turbulence into smaller currents to help muffle sound.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When flying, the serration splits the turbulence into smaller currents, while the edges of the feathers muffle the sound of air flowing over the wing.

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What do some people believe is another purpose of the primary feathers?
shift sound energy to a higher, inaudible frequency
stabilize flapping motion allowing owl to glide
create "white" noise that masks sound of turbulence
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The belief is that while flying these feathers may shift sound energy to a higher frequency inaudible to prey.

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What are the secondary feathers made up of?
firm long feathers that help owl glide
soft fringes that reduce turbulence behind the wings
short flexible feathers enabling owl to maneuver rapidly
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They are made of soft fringes that reduce turbulence behind the wings.

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Why are there downy feathers on the owls legs?
keep the legs warm while sitting in wait for prey
protect the legs from attack
absorb any remaining noise
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These are to absorb any remaining noise resulting from flying.

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How can engineers use what they know about the owl to make aircraft fly more silently?
covering landing gear with owl feathers
covering the landing gear with a velvety covering
making shape of landing gear similar in form to owl legs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They are considering covering the landing gear with a velvety covering similar to the downy feathers on the owl's legs.

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How can engineers modify an aircraft based on the anatomy of the owl?
retractable fringe like the owl's trailing feathers
change shape of the aircraft
flexible wings
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The idea is to create a retractable fringe similar to the owl's trailing feathers.

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Why does the aircraft industry seek to reduce the noise made by aircraft?
reduce inconvenience to the general population
give passengers a more comfortable flight
reduced noise means more flights
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many airports have strict noise restrictions. Reduced noise would mean more flights could take off, thereby increasing revenue.

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What economic benefit do researchers hope for from studying the owl?
to keep takeoff energy efficient
lowered flight times
more efficient wing action will use less fuel
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

They study the design of owl's wings not only to reduce noise, but also to keep takeoff energy efficient.

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Where is the Quiet Aircraft Technology project being carried out?
Boeing
McDonnell Douglass
NASA
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It is located at NASA's Langley Research Center.

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What is the frequency which the owl's down absorbs to prevent being heard by its prey?
1,000 hertz
2,000 hertz
3,000 hertz
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Frequencies above 2,000 hertz are absorbed to eliminate the sounds an owl's prey can hear.

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In what recent popular movie does the owl appear?
Harry Potter
The Birds
Birds of a Feather
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The owl appears in the Harry Potter movies and books.

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Where does the Jung Owl live?
Brazil
Peru
Uruguay
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It lives in the Amazon Basin of Peru.

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You Got:
/20
iStockphoto.com/Igor Kovalenko