Trivia Quiz

An Icebreaker Activity for High School

Here are a few questions which should "loosen up" even the more jaded high school student. You can copy/paste them into a handout or simply project on a screen. 
(Hint: use the window shade tool on your interactive whiteboard to reveal questions one at a time)

If they're a competitive group, see scoring below.

     

    1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

    2. How many states are there? ( don't laugh, some people don't know)

    3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?

    4. What 6 colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?

    5. What 2 letters don't appear on the telephone dial? (no cheating!)

    6. What 2 #'s don't have letters by them?

    7. When you walk does your left arm swing w/ you right or left leg?

    8. How many matches are in a standard pack?

    9. On our flag, is the top stripe red or white?

    10. What is the lowest # on the FM dial?

    11. Which way does water go down the drain, counter- or clockwise?

    12. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?

    13. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?

    14. Which side of a women's blouse are the buttons on?

    15. On a NY license plate, is New York on the top or bottom?

    16. Which way do fans rotate?

    17. Whose face is on a dime?

    18. How many sides does a stop sign have?

    19. Do books have even # pages on the right or left side?

    20. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?

    21. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?

    22. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?

    23. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?

    25. On which playing card is the cardmaker's trademark?

    26. On which side of a venetian blind is the cord that adjusts the opening between the slats?

    27. On the back of a dollar bill, what is in the center?

    28. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?

    29. How many curves are in a standard paper clip?

    30. Does a merry-go-round turn clockwise or counterclockwise?
        


Answers


       1. Bottom
       2. 50
       3. right
       4. blue, red, white, yellow, black, and gold
       5. Q, Z
       6. 1,0
       7. left
       8. 20
       9. red
       10. 88
       11. Actually, it depends on the plumbing fixture. The notion that the water direction varies with the hemisphere you are in has been disproved! 
       12. towards bottom right
       13. 12 ( no #1)
       14. right
       15. top
       16. clockwise as you look at it
       17. Roosevelt
       18. 8 What about the front side and back side? I think it also could be 10.
       19. left
       20. 5
       21. 6
       22. Bashful
       23. 6
       24. did you notice there wasn't one?
       25. Ace of spades
       26. Left
       27. ONE
       28. *, #
       29. 3
       30. counterclockwise

   
Scoring

       30-28 Mensa is calling, genius
       25-27 Not too shabby
       20-24 You could do better
       16-19 McDonald's is calling ( would you like fries w/ that?)
       15 or below...Wake up!




Want to see more ideas?

See a full list of reviewed resources ideal for first day activities.