Science Trivia Facts Quiz On Environment And Extinct Animals!

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  • 1/40 Questions

    What name is given to the science of classification?

    • Toxophily
    • Taxonomy
    • Taxidermy
    • Toxoplasma
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About This Quiz

Welcome to the Science Trivia Facts Quiz on Environment and Extinct Animals! The earth’s environment is changing on a daily basis, and this calls for living things to adapt to the changes or end up going extinct. How many animals do you know are extinct and the reason behind this? Do take up this quiz and get to find out for sure.

Science Trivia Facts Quiz On Environment And Extinct Animals! - Quiz

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  • 2. 

    The speed of light can be conveniently expressed as approximately one foot per

    • Fortnight

    • Millisecond

    • Microsecond

    • Nanosecond

    Correct Answer
    A. Nanosecond
    Explanation
    The speed of light is an extremely fast phenomenon, and it is commonly measured in units of distance traveled per unit of time. In this question, the options given are "foot per fortnight," "millisecond," "microsecond," and "nanosecond." Among these options, "nanosecond" is the most appropriate unit to express the speed of light because it represents a very small fraction of a second. This aligns with the fact that light can travel a significant distance in a very short amount of time.

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  • 3. 

    The physicist John Wheeler once said that time is nature's way

    • To keep everything from happening at once

    • To make space more interesting

    • Of joining us with the big bang

    • Of spoiling your day

    Correct Answer
    A. To keep everything from happening at once
    Explanation
    The correct answer is "to keep everything from happening at once." This statement suggests that time acts as a mechanism to prevent all events from occurring simultaneously. Without the concept of time, all events would happen at the same instant, leading to chaos and confusion. Time allows for a sequential progression of events, creating order and structure in the universe.

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  • 4. 

    Which of the following stars is a red supergiant with around a billion times the volume of our sun, and the first star beyond the sun to be imaged in any detail?

    • Antares

    • Betelgeuse

    • Canopus

    • Deneb

    Correct Answer
    A. Betelgeuse
    Explanation
    Betelgeuse is the correct answer because it is a red supergiant star that is approximately a billion times larger in volume than our sun. It is also the first star beyond the sun to have been imaged in detail.

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  • 5. 

    What chemical element is the fifth most abundant by mass in the Earth's crust, and also fifth most abundant in the human body?

    • Calcium

    • Carbon

    • Oxygen

    • Hydrogen

    Correct Answer
    A. Calcium
    Explanation
    Calcium is the correct answer because it is the fifth most abundant chemical element by mass in the Earth's crust and also the fifth most abundant in the human body. This means that calcium is found in significant quantities in both the Earth's crust and the human body, making it a commonly occurring element in both environments.

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  • 6. 

    Which highly toxic element, symbol Sb, is the first to be mentioned in Tom Lehrer's song The Elements?

    • Antimony

    • Beryllium

    • Cerium

    • Seaborgium

    Correct Answer
    A. Antimony
    Explanation
    The correct answer is antimony. Antimony is a highly toxic element with the symbol Sb. In Tom Lehrer's song "The Elements," he mentions the elements in the periodic table, and antimony is the first element mentioned in the song.

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  • 7. 

    According to a survey of readers of NewScientist.com, which of these planets would they most like to visit?

    • Mars: I'd like to see for myself if there's life there

    • Saturn: The rings must be the best show in the solar system

    • Neptune: What's it like all the way out there?

    • Earth: Space travel is too scary for me!

    Correct Answer
    A. Mars: I'd like to see for myself if there's life there
    Explanation
    37 per cent

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  • 8. 

    According to a survey of readers of NewScientist.com, what's the best way to tackle climate change?

    • Use giant mirrors to reflect sunlight back into space

    • Place strict limits on carbon-intensive industries, such as aviation

    • Suck carbon dioxide out of the air

    • Build low-carbon power stations, including nuclear, wind and tidal

    Correct Answer
    A. Build low-carbon power stations, including nuclear, wind and tidal
    Explanation
    66 per cent

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  • 9. 

    The Apatosaurus is a genus of dinosaur formerly known as

    • Allosaurus

    • Brontosaurus

    • Camptosaurus

    • Diplodocus

    Correct Answer
    A. Brontosaurus
    Explanation
    The correct answer is brontosaurus. The Apatosaurus is a genus of dinosaur that was formerly known as brontosaurus. In the late 19th century, two different dinosaur skeletons were discovered and named separately as Apatosaurus and Brontosaurus. However, further research revealed that these skeletons actually belonged to the same genus, and the name Apatosaurus took precedence. Therefore, the correct name for this genus is Apatosaurus, but it was once incorrectly referred to as Brontosaurus.

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  • 10. 

    European astronomers are planning to build a large telescope on the 3000-metre mountain Cerro Armazones in Chile. According to its name, just how large is this large telescope going to be?

    • Very Large

    • Extremely Large

    • Overwhelmingly Large

    • Unfeasibly Large

    Correct Answer
    A. Extremely Large
    Explanation
    The Extremely Large Telescope will have a mirror 42 metres across, much larger than the 8.2-metre Very Large Telescope, but not as big as the 60-metre Overwhelmingly Large Telescope.

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  • 11. 

    In the Linnaean system of classification, the animal kingdom can be divided into about 36 large groupings called phyla. How many different phyla would you be eating in a paella with the following ingredients: chicken, bacon, ham, langoustines, mussels, monkfish?

    • 1 phylum

    • 2 phyla

    • 3 phyla

    • 4 phyla

    Correct Answer
    A. 3 phyla
    Explanation
    The paella ingredients listed include chicken, bacon, ham, langoustines, mussels, and monkfish. These ingredients come from different animals, each belonging to a different phylum. Chicken, bacon, and ham come from birds and mammals, which belong to the phylum Chordata. Langoustines and mussels are crustaceans, belonging to the phylum Arthropoda. Monkfish is a type of fish, belonging to the phylum Chordata. Therefore, by eating this paella, you would be consuming ingredients from three different phyla: Chordata, Arthropoda, and Chordata.

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  • 12. 

    With a melting point of 114 °C, what is thought to be the heaviest element essential for human life?

    • Indium

    • Iodine

    • Selenium

    • Samarium

    Correct Answer
    A. Iodine
    Explanation
    Iodine is thought to be the heaviest element essential for human life because it has a melting point of 114 °C. This means that iodine can exist as a solid at room temperature and can easily convert into a liquid state when heated. Other elements listed, such as indium, selenium, and samarium, do not have melting points close to 114 °C and are not considered essential for human life.

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  • 13. 

    The proton beams in the Large Hadron Collider travel through a pretty hard vacuum, which is pumped down to a pressure of about 10-10 millimetres of mercury, not much more than one 10-trillionth of standard atmospheric pressure at sea level. At what height above the Earth does atmospheric pressure fall to roughly the same?

    • 10 kilometres

    • 100 kilometres

    • 1000 kilometres

    • 10,000 kilometres

    Correct Answer
    A. 1000 kilometres
  • 14. 

    In the UK general election of May 2010, the Brighton Pavilion seat was won by a party whose name represents electromagnetic radiation with what wavelength?

    • 450 nanometres

    • 550 nanometres

    • 650 nanometres

    • 750 nanometres

    Correct Answer
    A. 550 nanometres
    Explanation
    The Green party, of course.

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  • 15. 

    An entirely new phylum was identified in 1995 when a tiny sac-like creature called Symbion was discovered, with a body plan unlike all previously known animals. Where was Symbion found to be living?

    • In the armpits of Japanese newts

    • On the lips of Norwegian lobsters

    • Among the eyelashes of Indian antelopes

    • Inside the guts of South African termites?

    Correct Answer
    A. On the lips of Norwegian lobsters
    Explanation
    Symbion was found to be living on the lips of Norwegian lobsters.

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  • 16. 

    Nuclear physicists, with their famous sense of humour, have named their unit of area the "barn" because in nuclear physics terms it is really quite large. How big is a barn?

    • 10-8 square metres

    • 10-18 square metres

    • 10-28 square metres

    • 10-38 square metres

    Correct Answer
    A. 10-28 square metres
    Explanation
    A "barn" in nuclear physics is a unit of area that is named humorously because it is actually quite large. The correct answer is 10-28 square metres, which means that a barn is a very small area.

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  • 17. 

    Which of the following is not a group of asteroids?

    • Floras

    • Hildas

    • Marias

    • Phoebes

    Correct Answer
    A. Phoebes
    Explanation
    The given answer, Phoebes, is not a group of asteroids. The other options, Floras, Hildas, and Marias, are all well-known groups of asteroids. Phoebes is not recognized as a group of asteroids in astronomy.

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  • 18. 

    The rate of change of position is velocity, and the rate of change of velocity is acceleration. What name is given to the rate of change of acceleration, an important factor in the design of roller coasters?

    • Shock

    • Tug

    • Oomph

    • Jerk

    Correct Answer
    A. Jerk
    Explanation
    Also known as jolt, surge and lurch.

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  • 19. 

    The word "aeon" can be used to mean a specific period of time, rather than some vague very long period. In that precise sense, how many millennia are in one aeon?

    • A thousand

    • A million

    • A billion

    • A trillion

    Correct Answer
    A. A million
    Explanation
    Thus making one aeon equal to a myriad of hectomillennia.

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  • 20. 

    According to a survey of readers of NewScientist.com, which of these species would they most like to save from extinction?

    • The blue whale: the largest animal on the planet

    • The gorilla: one of mankind's closest relatives

    • The polar bear: a magnificent predator threatened by climate change

    • The bat: conservation should start at home

    Correct Answer
    A. The gorilla: one of mankind's closest relatives
    Explanation
    35 per cent

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  • 21. 

    Which of these is not a weasel - or rather, which is not a member of the weasel's family, the Mustelidae?

    • Otter

    • Wolverine

    • Civet

    • Stoat

    Correct Answer
    A. Civet
    Explanation
    The civet is not a member of the weasel's family, the Mustelidae. While otters, wolverines, and stoats are all part of the Mustelidae family, the civet belongs to a different family called Viverridae. Therefore, the civet is the correct answer as it is not a weasel or a member of the Mustelidae family.

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  • 22. 

    The largest gravitationally bound objects in the universe are clusters of galaxies, although our own cluster, called the local group, is a relatively small one. Which of the following is not a galaxy in the local group?

    • Andromeda

    • Triangulum

    • The Fornax dwarf galaxy

    • The Sombrero galaxy

    Correct Answer
    A. The Sombrero galaxy
    Explanation
    The Sombrero galaxy is not a galaxy in the local group. The local group refers to a cluster of galaxies that includes the Milky Way, Andromeda, and Triangulum. The Fornax dwarf galaxy is also a part of the local group. However, the Sombrero galaxy is not part of this cluster and is therefore not a galaxy in the local group.

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  • 23. 

    Most of Earth is reassuringly solid, but which layer is a liquid?

    • Inner core

    • Outer core

    • Inner mantle

    • Outer mantle

    Correct Answer
    A. Outer core
    Explanation
    The outer core is a layer of the Earth that is made up of liquid iron and nickel. It surrounds the solid inner core and is located between the inner core and the mantle. This layer is in a liquid state due to the high temperatures and pressures found deep within the Earth. The movement of the liquid outer core is responsible for generating the Earth's magnetic field through a process called the geodynamo.

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  • 24. 

    The action of glaciers during past ice ages has given us many picturesquely craggy landscapes, but which of the following types of landform is not of glacial origin?

    • Ria

    • Esker

    • Corrie

    • Drumlin

    Correct Answer
    A. Ria
    Explanation
    A ria is not of glacial origin. A ria is a type of coastal landform that is formed by the submergence of a river valley due to rising sea levels. It is characterized by a drowned river valley with steep sides and a flat bottom. Unlike other landforms mentioned, such as eskers, corries, and drumlins, which are all formed by glacial activity, a ria is formed by geological processes unrelated to glaciers.

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  • 25. 

    How old is the Earth, in units of the age of the universe?

    • One-third

    • One-quarter

    • One-fifth

    • One-sixth

    Correct Answer
    A. One-third
    Explanation
    The correct answer is one-third. This suggests that the age of the Earth is one-third of the age of the universe. This implies that the Earth is younger than the universe, as it is a fraction of the total age.

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  • 26. 

    According to a survey of readers of NewScientist.com, what would be the most important scientific discovery of all time?

    • Signals from intelligent extraterrestrial life forms

    • A theory that explains how everything from quarks to galaxies works

    • Where the human mind comes from

    • A way to generate inexhaustible amounts of clean energy

    Correct Answer
    A. A theory that explains how everything from quarks to galaxies works
    Explanation
    37 per cent

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  • 27. 

    A microlith is

    • A mineral inclusion found in plants

    • A very small stone tool

    • A bacterium that digests iron pyrites

    • A particle of lunar soil

    Correct Answer
    A. A very small stone tool
    Explanation
    A microlith refers to a very small stone tool. This term is commonly used in archaeology to describe small, finely crafted stone tools that were used by early human cultures. These tools were often made by chipping or flaking pieces of stone to create sharp edges, which could then be used for various purposes such as cutting, scraping, or piercing. Microliths were an important technological advancement in human history as they allowed for more efficient and versatile tool use.

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  • 28. 

    Which of the following "ologies" is not a science, being pseudologous (made up)?

    • Trenology

    • Tribology

    • Bryology

    • Limnology

    Correct Answer
    A. Trenology
    Explanation
    Tribology is the study of friction; bryology of bryophytes (mosses, etc); limnology of inland bodies of water

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  • 29. 

    In terms of linear size, which element has the smallest atoms?

    • Hydrogen

    • Helium

    • Thulium

    • Neon

    Correct Answer
    A. Helium
    Explanation
    Helium has the smallest atoms in terms of linear size. This is because helium has only two electrons in its outermost energy level, resulting in a small atomic radius. Hydrogen, thulium, and neon have larger atomic radii compared to helium.

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  • 30. 

    According to the idiosyncratic argot of astrophysics, how many elements are not metals?

    • 2

    • 4

    • 6

    • 8

    Correct Answer
    A. 2
    Explanation
    Hydrogen and helium.

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  • 31. 

    According to a survey of readers of NewScientist.com, which of these gadgets would they most like to own?

    • A robot that could do all your household chores

    • A personal jet-pack to beat the commute

    • A helmet that would tell you what other people are thinking

    • A cloak that would make you invisible

    Correct Answer
    A. A helmet that would tell you what other people are thinking
    Explanation
    29 per cent

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  • 32. 

    Earth is pre-eminent among the planets of the solar system in terms of

    • Size

    • Density

    • Reflectivity

    • Magnetic field strength

    Correct Answer
    A. Density
    Explanation
    Earth is pre-eminent among the planets of the solar system in terms of density. Density refers to the mass of an object divided by its volume, and Earth has a higher density compared to other planets. This is due to its composition, which includes a solid core made of iron and nickel. The high density of Earth allows it to have a strong gravitational pull, which plays a crucial role in the planet's ability to support life and maintain its atmosphere.

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  • 33. 

    Which of the following volcanoes is not active?

    • Hualalai, Hawaii

    • Etna, Italy

    • Erta Ale, Ethiopia

    • Merapi, Indonesia

    Correct Answer
    A. Hualalai, Hawaii
    Explanation
    It last erupted in 1800.

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  • 34. 

    What marine creature bears an uncanny resemblance to an ape?

    • Gorilla fish

    • Orang-utan crab

    • Gibbon shrimp

    • Bonobo lobster

    Correct Answer
    A. Orang-utan crab
    Explanation
    Its arms are covered in wispy orange hair.

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  • 35. 

    A candidate for world's smallest horse was born in New Hampshire in April. At one week old he stood less than 36 centimetres and weighed less than 3 kilograms. The foal is named

    • Darwin

    • Einstein

    • Galileo

    • Bob

    Correct Answer
    A. Einstein
    Explanation
    The correct answer is Einstein. The question provides information about a candidate for the world's smallest horse that was born in New Hampshire. It states that the foal stood less than 36 centimeters and weighed less than 3 kilograms at one week old. Based on this information, the correct answer is Einstein, as it is the only option that fits the description of a small horse.

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  • 36. 

    In 2006 a creature was discovered in Sumatra which became the record-holder as the smallest vertebrate, with adults less than 8 millimetres long. Was it a type of

    • Frog?

    • Salamander?

    • Carp?

    • Weasel?

    Correct Answer
    A. Carp?
  • 37. 

    The nesting seabirds on Gough Island in the south Atlantic are threatened by monstrous predators. What are they?

    • Giant rats

    • Giant bats

    • Giant mice

    • Giant lice

    Correct Answer
    A. Giant mice
    Explanation
    The mice are thought to have evolved from ordinary house-mouse stowaways on a whaling boat.

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  • 38. 

    If you were to use the entire planet Earth as a component in an electrical circuit, it would act as

    • A capacitor of 700 microfarads

    • A resistor of 120 teraohms

    • An inductor of 4Π millihenries

    • A simple diode, allowing current to flow north to south, but not vice versa

    Correct Answer
    A. A capacitor of 700 microfarads
  • 39. 

    Particle physicists, being equally whimsical, are fond of inventing hypothetical subatomic particles with slightly silly names. Three of these four are genuine. Which one is the false hypothetical particle?

    • Leptino

    • Wino

    • Wimpzilla

    • Axion

    Correct Answer
    A. Leptino
    Explanation
    Particle physicists often come up with hypothetical subatomic particles with unusual names. In this case, three of the given names (wino, wimpzilla, and axion) are actually genuine hypothetical particles. However, "leptino" is not a real hypothetical particle, making it the false option.

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  • 40. 

    In astronomy, seconds and hours can refer to angles as well as time. In those angular terms, one hour of right ascension contains how many seconds of arc?

    • 240

    • 3600

    • 24,000

    • 54,000

    Correct Answer
    A. 54,000
    Explanation
    In astronomy, right ascension is a coordinate used to locate celestial objects in the sky. It is measured in hours, minutes, and seconds, similar to how time is measured. One hour of right ascension is equal to 15 degrees, and since there are 60 minutes in an hour and 60 seconds in a minute, there are 3600 seconds in one hour of right ascension. Therefore, the correct answer is 54,000 seconds.

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