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Quiz about Telling Ducks From Cats The Hard Way

Telling Ducks From Cats, The Hard Way Quiz

How hard can it be to tell a duck from a cat? Try this quiz and see for yourself.

A multiple-choice quiz by uglybird. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
uglybird

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
207,761

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
3923

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. From the outside, ducks and cats can be easily distinguished utilizing simple inspection. But suppose you are on the inside, about to be swallowed by one? As you peer through the darkness, what would be missing from a duck's mouth that you would find in the mouth of a cat? Hint

A tongue

Teeth

Saliva

All of these

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Question 2 of 10

2. Sure, it's simple to tell ducks from cats if you resort to examination of an entire specimen. But suppose you had to rely on an inspection of only the eyes to distinguish between a duck and a cat. All BUT which of the following distinguishes the duck eye from the cat eye? Hint

The duck eye has three lids.

The shape of the entire duck eye opening is rounder.

The duck eye has a round pupil.

The duck eye is smaller.

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Question 3 of 10

3. You contemplate differentiating between a duck and a cat based on comparing the number of toes on a pair of feet and the presence or absence of claws on the hind feet. Which approach would work? Hint

Both

Comparing the number of toes on a duck's foot with the number of toes on a cat's back paw

Neither

Noting the presence/absence of claws

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Question 4 of 10

4. Now you have only one cell from each animal. Assuming it is performed accurately, would a simple chromosome count allow you to tell the cat cell from the duck cell?

Yes

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Question 5 of 10

5. You should be able to tell a "quack" from a "meow" pretty easily. But will a harder way work? A duck and a cat are placed in separate but identical caves and stimulated to emit a "quack" and a "meow", respectively. Can you identify which animal is which from whether or not the sound produces an echo? Hint

Yes, a duck's quack does not produce an echo.

No, both produce an echo.

Yes, a cat's meow does not produce an echo.

No, neither a "meow" nor a "quack" will echo.

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Question 6 of 10

6. One can resort to behavioral differences to distinguish between ducks and cats. A hungry duck and cat are placed in separate rooms. Each room contains a bowl with a small fish and a small pile of grain. When the animals are removed, how can one tell which animal was in which room? Hint

The duck will not have eaten the fish

The cat will not have eaten the grain

The cat will not have eaten the grain and the duck will not have eaten the fish.

You won't be able to tell.

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Question 7 of 10

7. Behavioral differences may also be used to distinguish between kittens and domesticated ducklings. Which of the following is a behavior a duckling is more likely to exhibit than a kitten? Hint

Scratching furniture

Chasing string

Following you around

Swimming after being placed in water

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Question 8 of 10

8. You might even be able to distinguish between a duck and a cat using a historic photograph. You examine a photograph of the first passengers to be sent up in a hot air balloon and look for an animal that matches one of the two. Would this be an effective strategy? (Hint: all passengers returned intact.) Hint

Yes, because the first animals were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Only the duck will match one of them.

No, because the first three animals were a sheep, a cat and a duck. Both will match.

Yes, because the first animals were a sheep, a cat and a rooster. Only the cat will match one of them.

No, because neither a duck nor a cat were among the first passengers to ride in a hot air balloon.

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Question 9 of 10

9. Can you usually distinguish between a duck and a cat based on an attempt at housebreaking the two animals?

Yes

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Question 10 of 10

10. If you are very patient, you can determine which of a pair of animals is the duckling and which the kitten. Which will very likely grow old and die first?

Answer: (One word: kitten or duckling)

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

Answer: Teeth

Ducks have both saliva and a tongue but not (cartoon characters excepted) teeth. In fact, duck tongues are a culinary delicacy for some. On April, 15 2005, the Tapei Times reported the seizure of 4 tons of smuggled duck tongues. It was estimated that a million birds would have been slaughtered to produce these.

Answer: The duck eye has three lids.

Cats and ducks both have third eyelids. The sinister appearance of a cat's eye is enhanced in bright light when the iris becomes a narrow slit. Ducks have excellent color vision, whereas cats have only rudimentary color perception.

Answer: Neither

Both duck feet and cats hind paws have four, clawed toes. However, three of the ducks toes are webbed and the fourth points backwards. The claws of the wood duck are reputed to be particularly sharp.

4. Now you have only one cell from each animal. Assuming it is performed accurately, would a simple chromosome count allow you to tell the cat cell from the duck cell?

Answer: Yes

Cats have 38 chromosomes, ducks 80. However, the cat genome contains roughly twice the amount of genetic material.

Answer: No, both produce an echo.

That duck quacks produce no echo is an enduring urban myth. The BBC reported in 2003 that the Salford University Acoustics Research Centre exploded that particular myth with a carefully designed study. Those interested in hearing an actual "quack" echo can go to "http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/3086890.stm"

Answer: The cat will not have eaten the grain

I confess to finding the thought of meat eating ducks mildly disturbing. But ducks are omnivorous and eat both small fish and frogs.

7. Behavioral differences may also be used to distinguish between kittens and domesticated ducklings. Which of the following is a behavior a duckling is more likely to exhibit than a kitten?

Answer: Following you around

A small duckling will imprint on a human that holds it and subsequently follow the human around. Both cats and ducks can swim, and the Turkish Van cats reportedly take to water like ducks.

Answer: Yes, because the first animals were a sheep, a duck and a rooster. Only the duck will match one of them.

In 1783, Joseph Michel and Jacques Etienne Montgolfier placed a duck, a sheep and a rooster into the basket underneath their colorful hot air balloon. The animals achieved an estimated altitude of 6000 feet and flew for approximately one mile.

9. Can you usually distinguish between a duck and a cat based on an attempt at housebreaking the two animals?

Answer: Yes

In college, the couple living in the apartment next door had a duck name Willard... that they kept indoors. The "Britannica Student Encyclopedia" states, "A duck can rarely, if ever, be housebroken." That's why when Willard came to visit, we covered our kitchen floor with newspapers and Willard stayed in the kitchen.

However, illustrating that "rare" does not equate to never, FunTrivia's own Magicman99 has successfully housebroken six ducks.

10. If you are very patient, you can determine which of a pair of animals is the duckling and which the kitten. Which will very likely grow old and die first?

Answer: duckling

The average lifetime of ducks varies by species between 2-12 years, whereas for cats it is 15-19. According to Laughlab.co.uk, the computer analysis on their extensive survey designed to determine the components of the funniest joke indicates that the ideal joke is 102 words in length and should be told on October 7th at 6:03 PM (presumably GMT) for maximal effect. And if the joke involves an animal, the animal should be a duck.

Source: Author uglybird

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor crisw before going online.
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