Wilderness Survival Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Wilderness Survival Quiz
Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Out in the wild, even the easiest trail hike can quickly turn into a life-threatening situation. How much do you know about wilderness survival skills?
What's the first step to take if someone is bleeding?
shout for help
apply pressure
clean the wound
What's a great way to turn cotton balls into firestarters?
apply gasoline
apply petroleum jelly
apply sweat
What's the first thing you should do before you head off down a wilderness trail?
take more water than you think you need
pack an extra layer of clothing
tell someone where you are going

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If you find yourself in a survival situation, what's the very first action you should take?
think
secure shelter
find water
If you're stuck in a wilderness survival situation, what's your No. 1 priority?
shelter
water
food
Why is cotton a terrible material to wear into the wilderness?
It gets abrasive when dirty.
It doesn't stay warm when wet.
It gets too hot.

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If you spot a maple tree in the wild, you can simply cut a hole into the tree and drink the sap that emerges.
true
false
If you are dying of thirst and only find mud, what gear can you use to obtain water?
sock
raincoat
sunglasses
Giardia is a result of which activity?
forgetting warm clothing
drinking unpurified water
careless fire creation

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In cold weather, what is the No. 1 killer of people who wander outdoors?
exposure
frostbite
wind chill
Polaris is also called what?
West Star
North Star
South Star
If you're stranded with a disabled vehicle, what's your first course of action?
begin looking for a river or creek
begin walking in the direction of the nearest town
stay with the vehicle

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In a survival situation, "gigging" will help you do what?
eat
stay warm
find shelter
Boiling water is a 100% effective way to make wilderness water safe to drink from pathogens.
true
false
If you collect dew as a water source, you should still purify it before you drink it.
true
false

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How can you turn raw acorns into an edible food source?
crush them and then eat them
soak them in water
heat them for several hours
How many fire-starting techniques should you take with you into the wild?
at least two
at least three
as many as possible
About how long can a human survive without being able to regulate body temperature?
three hours
three days
a week

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Which part of a conifer tree is edible for humans?
inner bark
the cones
the xylem
What can you use to start a fire using a battery?
gum wrapper
hand sanitizer
bleach
In order to completely kill waterborne pathogens, how long should you boil wilderness water?
about 3 minutes
about 6 minutes
about 10 minutes

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How does a crescent moon help you find which direction you're facing?
The top horn of the moon helps you find north.
The two horns of the moon help you find south.
Just follow the moon and you'll head east.
What plant is often called "the supermarket of the swamp"?
cattail
skunk cabbage
cinnamon fern
How much bleach do you need to purify 1 liter of water?
two drops
10 drops
20 drops

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What's one way to use a plastic bag to obtain water from a plant?
lay the bag under the leaves in the morning
place the bag over the plant and tightly seal it
pull the plant by its roots and place it upside down in the bag
As you are building a wilderness shelter, why should you keep widow makers in mind?
They can crush you.
They can poison you.
They can give you severe burns.
If you're carrying extra gear during a survival situation, what should you do with it?
just discard it
keep it
stash it in a safe place

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Wild cattail plants are a good source of what?
starch
protein
vitamin D
Why should you be wary of eating young cattail plants?
Young cattails taste terrible.
Young cattails naturally have a bit of toxicity.
Young cattails have a toxic imposter.
About how long can the human body survive without water?
one day
three days
five days

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