We'll Give You an Exam Question, You Tell Us Which Class It's From

Torrance Grey

Image: Pixabay

About This Quiz

Maybe you're not quite ready to tackle some of our seriously difficult general knowledge quizzes. Maybe you can't tell us how many moons Jupiter has, or which was the first of the original 13 colonies to ratify the U.S. constitution. Maybe you'd like to warm up with something a little easier and maybe this is the quiz for that. 

In this quiz, you won't have to answer questions like "In which time period did Hatshepsut rule?" or "Which of these states does the Mason-Dixon line run through?" Instead, you'll just have to tell us in which class this would be an exam question  --- algebra, geometry, literature, world history, geology or geography. We can't tell you the answers to the two questions we just cited, as you'll find them in this quiz. (Hint: Both are included in the list of school subjects we just provided you). 

If this quiz is sounding a little *too* easy, don't worry -- it'll get a little harder as things go on. Where we might start with just "mathematics," we'll later ask you to choose between algebra, business math, geometry, or calculus. Or a question that would just fall under "history" early on, will now fall under European history, world history, Asian history or ... well, you get the point. 

And if you're wondering about the answers to the first two questions, Jupiter has 79 moons, while Delaware was the first colony to ratify the Constitution!

How many parts of speech are there?

There's no actual consensus on how many parts of speech there are. A common number you'll hear is eight. This counts nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, articles, prepositions, conjunctions and interjections.

What is the Roman name for the Greek goddess Hera?

This question would be found in a class on classical (Greek and Roman) mythology. The answer is Juno.

Is Pluto a planet?

Pluto has teetered on the edge of planethood for a while now, with astronomers debating whether an object about 20 percent the size of Earth's moon can be called a planet. For now, it's a "dwarf planet."

Who wrote "Invisible Man"?

Ralph Ellison wrote the classic "Invisible Man," about race and American culture. Don't confuse it with "The Invisible Man," a strictly sci-fi classic by H.G. Wells.

What comes after "phylum" in Linnaean taxonomy?

This is a basic (though impressive-sounding) biology question. The list goes: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus and Species.

What is the definition of "abnegation"?

"Abnegation" means "putting aside or denying." (The root is "negation," and "ab" is a prefix meaning "away.") Don't use it interchangeably with "self-abnegation" -- you need the prefix for it to have that specific meaning.

What other U.S. state was involved in the Missouri Compromise?

The Missouri Compromise allowed MIssouri to enter the Union as a slave state. The "compromise" was that Maine was admitted as a free state.

Who were the combatants in the Punic Wars?

The Punic Wars are something you'd study in world history. It's also a favorite name for students to alter by changing a letter in textbooks. (What? We were thinking "Panic Wars." What were you thinking?)

Hatshepsut ruled in which time period?

Hatshepsut was one of the female pharaohs of Egypt. She would be studied in a world history class, not European.

Which of these states does the Mason-Dixon line run through?

The Mason-Dixon line is commonly said to separate the northern U.S. from the South (though it doesn't extend across the country; not even into the Midwest). It was laid out by surveyors in the 18th century.

Which of these is hottest: core, crust or mantle?

The core, mantle and crust are the three general sections the planet Earth is divided into. The core, at the center of the Eart, is the hottest.

What is compound interest?

Compound interest is a fairly basic concept in economics. It might also be found in "life skills" courses.

Which president signed the Affordable Care Act into law?

This is more likely to be a government or civics question. But since the bill was signed into law several years ago, and Obama's presidency is now in the history books, it could also qualify as U.S. history.

9.8 feet per second, per second, is the acceleration caused by what?

Gravity causes acceleration of 9.8 feet per second squared. You learn this in physics class.

Igneous, sedimentary and metamorphic are types of what?

These are the three types of rock. Naturally, that makes this question fall under "geology."

What does the word "lux" mean?

"Lux" means "light" in Latin. It's a third-declension noun, so the "x" changes to a "c" as it's declined: lucis, luci, lucem, luce. From this we get our word "lucid," and others.

What nation is home to Lake Baikal?

Lake Baikal, the world's deepest lake and possibly its oldest, is in Russia. So you'd study this in geography.

What are the three parts of the atom?

Atoms are also studied in physics, especially the subatomic particles and the field of quantum physics. However, you'll learn the basic part of the atom and how atoms behave in chemistry.

What happened in the United States on September 17, 1787?

The U.S. Constitution was accepted by a majority of delegates on this date. This isn't the same thing as the individual states ratifying the document -- Rhode Island didn't officially ratify the Constitution until 1970!

What function does a preposition serve?

A preposition shows a relationship between nouns. Over, under, by, around ... these are all prepositions.

Define the word "pianoforte."

"Pianoforte" is a term in music meaning "starting softly, then growing louder." Since it's Italian, you might learn it in Grammar as well as in Italian class.

What is wrong with the sentence "The boys eat seven cookie"?

The sentence above has a subject-verb agreement problem (which you probably knew). This falls under English, and more specifically, grammar.

What does the word "beurre" mean?

"Beurre" is the French word for "butter." You'll want to know this if you're taking a trip to France that's centered on enjoying the food.

What does the "theory of impenetrability" state?

The theory of impenetrability says that no two units of matter can occupy one unit of space. This is why when you drive a nail into a wall, the wood has to move aside to make room.

The assassination of the Archduke Franz Ferdinand touched off which war?

Franz Ferdinand was the heir to the Austro-Hungarian empire. A Serbian nationalist killed him in Sarajevo, starting the chain of events that led to WWI.

What was Caravaggio's full name?

Caravaggio was a talented, controversial artist. His full name was Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, and he is always called "Caravaggio" to avoid confusion with Michelangelo, the artist behind the Sistine Chapel.

When is it appropriate to use a band saw?

Shop classes aren't dead, folks! Neither is "home economics," though it's often rebranded as "life skills" or "family science."

On which continent would you find Surinam?

Though the name might remind you of "Vietnam," Surinam is in South America. It used to be called Dutch Guyana.

What are the hallmarks of an unreliable narrator?

Unreliable narrators are relatively rare in fiction, and a fairly modern phenomenon. Essentially, the phrase means that the person telling the story might be lying to you, the reader -- some of the things he or she said happened might not have happened, and so on.

Which of these is one of the noble gases?

The noble gases are a group of elements that are colorless, odorless and have very low reactivity. They include helium, argon and neon.

How many macronutrients are there?

If you've followed the Diet Wars over the past ten years, you know what macronutrients are: carbohydrate, protein and fat/lipid. (Actually, there's a fourth, alcohol, but it's rarely mentioned). This is clearly a nutrition question, but you might also learn it in home economics, which nowadays covers how to be a well-educated grocery consumer and home cook.

What is the first beat in a measure called?

"Beats" and "measures" are the province of music class. Often, the first beat in a measure is called the "downbeat."

What is the best definition of "motif"?

A "motif" is a small repeating theme or detail. This term turns up in many of the arts, including the three above.

What does the Miranda rule mandate?

The Miranda rule gave us the Miranda rights ("You have the right to remain silent.") You'd most likely learn about it in civics class, in which you learn about the laws and procedures that keep U.S. society running.

Where would you find the Sea of Tranquility?

Yes, this one is a little bit of a trick question. It sounds like geography, but the Sea of Tranquility is on the moon, putting this question firmly in the astronomy camp.

About HowStuffWorks Play

How much do you know about dinosaurs? What is an octane rating? And how do you use a proper noun? Lucky for you, HowStuffWorks Play is here to help. Our award-winning website offers reliable, easy-to-understand explanations about how the world works. From fun quizzes that bring joy to your day, to compelling photography and fascinating lists, HowStuffWorks Play offers something for everyone. Sometimes we explain how stuff works, other times, we ask you, but we’re always exploring in the name of fun! Because learning is fun, so stick with us!

Explore More Quizzes