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Take a 50-50 Chance Trivia Quiz

This quiz presents some of the most common 50-50 choices that arise. Let's see if the 50-50-90 rule applies to you (if you have a 50-50 chance, there is a 90 percent chance you will get it wrong!)

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

Author
timence

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
137,547

Updated
Aug 18 24

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
10 / 15

Plays
15085

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 92 (7/15), Guest 80 (5/15), Guest 62 (0/15).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 15

1. A little fact I always got mixed up as a kid. Does the sun rise in the east or west?

Answer: ( East or West ... E or W)

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Question 2 of 15

2. Who has the first move first in chess? Is it black or white?

Answer: ( Black or White ... B or W)

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Question 3 of 15

3. What about metacarpals and metatarsals, the bones with frustratingly similar names. Where are the metatarsals? Hint

In the feet

Both of these

In the hands

Neither of these

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Question 4 of 15

4. When blue litmus paper turns red, is it an acid or a base that is present?

Answer: ( Acid or Base ... A or B)

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Question 5 of 15

5. You can't ever escape the stalagmite/stalactite conundrum. Do stalagmites point up or down?

Answer: ( Up or Down ... U or D)

6. Every time a quiz asks "based on populations that speak it as a first language, which is the most spoken language on Earth?" I freeze up. I know that it is either English or Mandarin (Chinese language)... but which one?

Answer: ( English or Mandarin ... E or M)

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Question 7 of 15

7. What does 'tautology' mean? Hint

Both of these

Needless repetition of the same sense using different words

Neither of these

A statement in logic that is always true

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Question 8 of 15

8. A classic problem is 'affect' versus 'effect'. Which of the following sentences illustrates the correct use of one of the words? Hint

smoking can effect your health

smoking can affect your health

Neither of these

Both of these

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Question 9 of 15

9. According to the Oxford Dictionary, is there any difference between the meaning of the words 'inquire' and 'enquire'?

Yes

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Question 10 of 15

10. Here's one I always get confused. Which US State entered the union as the 50th State, was it Alaska or Hawaii?

Answer: ( Alaska or Hawaii ... A or H)

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Question 11 of 15

11. Which island is bigger in area: Crete or Cyprus? Hint

Crete

There is hot debate over this, and no-one is sure

They are exactly the same size

Cyprus

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Question 12 of 15

12. For those who remember Long Playing records (LPs), this should be a piece of cake. What is the difference between a 45 and a 33 1/3 LP? Hint

Their diameter

Neither of these

How many revolutions they make in a minute

Both of these

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Question 13 of 15

13. Ahhhh, Plato and Socrates. One wrote about the other. But which way was it? Who was the author?

Answer: ( Plato or Socrates, P or S)

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Question 14 of 15

14. A pair of American Presidents - namely the Roosevelts - have always confused me. Which one was President of the USA first? Hint

Franklin

Only Franklin was President

Neither of these was ever President

Theodore

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Question 15 of 15

15. Was Cleopatra bitten by an asp or an adder?

Answer: ( Asp or Adder)

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 03 2024 : Guest 92: 7/15
Nov 02 2024 : Guest 80: 5/15
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 62: 0/15
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 81: 1/15
Oct 28 2024 : Cjcmcc50: 9/15
Oct 26 2024 : OldTowneMal: 15/15
Oct 26 2024 : gwendylyn14: 9/15
Oct 26 2024 : kitter96: 11/15
Oct 26 2024 : LNelson521: 10/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. A little fact I always got mixed up as a kid. Does the sun rise in the east or west?

Answer: east

The way I remember this now is that the order is alphabetical: rise=east, set=west!

2. Who has the first move first in chess? Is it black or white?

Answer: white

The first move is seen by many as a distinct advantage in this tactical game.

3. What about metacarpals and metatarsals, the bones with frustratingly similar names. Where are the metatarsals?

Answer: In the feet

I clearly remember a teacher of mine telling me "you don't say TA with your foot, so it's funny that they are in the feet and not the hands". This bizarre logic actually means I have never forgotten! The metacarpals are in the hands.

4. When blue litmus paper turns red, is it an acid or a base that is present?

Answer: acid

On the other hand, a base will turn red litmus paper blue. Always a confusing choice for me that one.

5. You can't ever escape the stalagmite/stalactite conundrum. Do stalagmites point up or down?

Answer: up

I have a true and tested method for this one: be careful, you "MIGHT" trip over the stalagMITES. Alternatively, stalacTITES cling TIGHT to the roof. Another way to remember the difference is that stalaGmite comes from the Ground, stalaCtite comes from the Ceiling. Also, the MITES go up as the TITES come down. Thanks to bopperfred and seaboe for these hints.

Answer: mandarin

There is some debate over how to rank the languages of the world; however, the vast majority agree that, based on population, Mandarin-speakers outrank the rest of the world's languages. Some have Hindi as second, others Spanish, and still others, English. More people speak English than Mandarin worldwide, but most speak it as a second rather than first language

7. What does 'tautology' mean?

Answer: Both of these

These two rather different meanings are both correct.

8. A classic problem is 'affect' versus 'effect'. Which of the following sentences illustrates the correct use of one of the words?

Answer: smoking can affect your health

Affect means 'to have an influence', whilst effect means 'cause to come about'.

9. According to the Oxford Dictionary, is there any difference between the meaning of the words 'inquire' and 'enquire'?

Answer: Yes

While some sources say these are fully interchangeable, Oxford distinguishes between their use, noting that 'inquire' refers to a formal investigation while enquire can be used more generally to describe a simple question.

10. Here's one I always get confused. Which US State entered the union as the 50th State, was it Alaska or Hawaii?

Answer: Hawaii

Alaska: January 3, 1959. Hawaii: August 21, 1959. If in doubt, remember they are in alphabetical order! Thanks to Verbonica for pointing out that "Hawaii 5-0" is also an easy way to remember!

11. Which island is bigger in area: Crete or Cyprus?

Answer: Cyprus

Cyprus: 9,240 square km. Crete: 8,700 square km.

12. For those who remember Long Playing records (LPs), this should be a piece of cake. What is the difference between a 45 and a 33 1/3 LP?

Answer: Both of these

The numbers refer to Revolutions Per Minute (RPM). All standard Long-Playing records are 12 inches in diameter (whether they are 45 or 33 1/3 RPM). The confusing thing is that there are also 45 RPM singles, which were 7 inches in diameter. Thanks to Tujunga54 and Balloo55th for helping me sort this one out!

13. Ahhhh, Plato and Socrates. One wrote about the other. But which way was it? Who was the author?

Answer: Plato

14. A pair of American Presidents - namely the Roosevelts - have always confused me. Which one was President of the USA first?

Answer: Theodore

Theodore was President from 1901 to 1909. Franklin D. Roosevelt was his fifth cousin, and served as US President from 1933 to 1945.

15. Was Cleopatra bitten by an asp or an adder?

Answer: asp

She is said to have committed suicide by making an asp bite her. Let me know if you liked this format, sequels possible if requested enough!

Source: Author timence

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Linda1 before going online.
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