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Writing Quiz Questions That Don't Suck #2

Do you want to learn to write better quizzes that will receive high ratings? Play this quiz to discover some quizmaking secrets! This quiz will primarily focus on avoiding boring numeric questions.

A multiple-choice quiz by crisw. Estimated time: 8 mins.

Author
crisw

Time
8 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
215,563

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1652

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Here's a question from a quiz on the Northern Rockies Region.
"The Alaska Highway took how long to build?" The answer is "8 months and 12 days." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

It only took a little over 8 months to build this 1422-mile roadway, which stretches from Dawson Creek in Canada to Fairbanks in Alaska. That's 21 miles of road a day! What is this famous roadway?

How long did it take to build the Alaska Highway?

This question is fine as written

What took 8 months and 12 days to build?

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Here's a question from a quiz on cats in movies.
"Pyewacket was the undoubted star in a film about witchcraft, love and spells. As the film follows a modern witch's attempt to snare the man she loves with a magic spell, the talent of the feline cast member is obvious. Describing the cat's role as a "familiar" is a poor ploy to highlight the mere supporting roles of Kim Novak and James Stewart." The answer is "Bell, Book and Candle." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

What movie starred Pyewacket?

This question is fine as written

What was the name of the cat in the movie "Bell, Book, and Candle"?

Who was Pyewacket?

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Here's a question from a quiz on pandas.
"When did the first living Giant Pandas come to the UK?" The answer is "December 1938." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

What animals came to the UK for the first time in 1938?

This question is fine as written

In 1938, the first animal of this kind was exported to the UK. Beloved by the citizens, his antics cheered a country at war.

What happened in London in December, 1938?

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Here's a question from a quiz on general trivia.
"What element has a chemical symbol Ca?" The answer is "Calcium." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

This question is fine as written

Clavicles and chalk both contain this element with the symbol Ca- what is it?

What is the symbol for calcium?

What does "Ca" stand for?

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Here's a true/false question from a quiz on Iowa.
"Charles H. Holley died February 3, 1959." The answer is "T." What is the best way to rewrite this question as a multiple-choice question in a more interesting manner? Hint

Who died February 3, 1959, in a plane crash in Iowa?

This question is fine as written

On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed into an Iowa cornfield, killing all aboard. Who was among its passengers?

On what date did Charles H. Holley, otherwise known as Buddy Holly, die in a plane crash in Iowa?

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Here's a question from a quiz on the United States.
"How many states were named after Indian tribes?" The answer is "12." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri all derive their names from what origin?

Indian tribes have contributed greatly to the history of the U.S, and many words come from Indian languages. How many states are named after them?

This question is fine as written

12 states are named after what?

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Here's a question from a quiz on protest song lyrics.
"Oh, it seemed innocent enough. "Did he ever return? No he never returned. And his fate is still unlearned." I sang along with the catchy tune as I rode in the car with my dad. But unknowingly, at the tender age of nine, I was being seduced into singing along with a protest song written to further the candidacy of a known communist! What social injustice was the Kingston Trio protesting in their 1959 folk song, "MTA"?" The answer is "A Boston public transit fare increase." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

What is the song "MTA" about?

What song was written about a public transit fare increase?

Who sang "MTA"?

This question is fine as written

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. Here's a question from a quiz on useless trivia.
"How long does it take the U.S. Space Shuttle to go from 0 to 1000 MPH at launch?" The answer is "18 seconds." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

This question is fine as written

Which of the following vehicles can go from 0 to 1000 MPH in only 18 seconds?

How many seconds does it take the U.S. Space Shuttle to go from 0 to 1000 MPH?

Can the U.S. Space Shuttle to go from 0 to 1000 MPH in 18 seconds?

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Here's a question from a quiz on balloons.
"Our balloon's story begins when a milky white drop falls from a lacerated rubber tree into a waiting cup. Latex is being procured for use in the manufacture of a latex balloon. How do contemporary balloon producers describe the process by which raw material for the manufacture of latex is obtained?" The answer is "A thin layer of bark is carefully shaved from a rubber tree and a small cup left underneath the cut to collect the milky white fluid that exudes from the unharmed tree." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

How is latex for balloons gathered?

This question is fine as written

Where is latex for balloons obtained?

What do we call the milky-white fluid that comes from trees and is used to make balloons?

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. Here's a question from a quiz on dogs.
"How many colors of the Labrador Retriever are there?" The answer is "3." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner? Hint

The most popular breed in the United States, this dog comes in three color varieties- yellow, chocolate and black. What breed is it?

Labrador Retrievers are the most popular dogs in the United States. How many colors of Labs are there?

This question is fine as written

Do Labrador Retrievers come in 3 different colors?

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Here's a question from a quiz on the Northern Rockies Region. "The Alaska Highway took how long to build?" The answer is "8 months and 12 days." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: It only took a little over 8 months to build this 1422-mile roadway, which stretches from Dawson Creek in Canada to Fairbanks in Alaska. That's 21 miles of road a day! What is this famous roadway?

The longer question is much more interesting, and does not require the memorization of picky numerical data. Whenever you can, avoid asking numerical questions!

2. Here's a question from a quiz on cats in movies. "Pyewacket was the undoubted star in a film about witchcraft, love and spells. As the film follows a modern witch's attempt to snare the man she loves with a magic spell, the talent of the feline cast member is obvious. Describing the cat's role as a "familiar" is a poor ploy to highlight the mere supporting roles of Kim Novak and James Stewart." The answer is "Bell, Book and Candle." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: This question is fine as written

This is a very well-written question. Unlike the others, it may make you interested in actually seeing the film!
This question comes from the quiz "Cat Call - Top Billing Please" by Nannanut. Like all of the good questions used in this quiz, it comes from an editor's choice quiz.

3. Here's a question from a quiz on pandas. "When did the first living Giant Pandas come to the UK?" The answer is "December 1938." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: In 1938, the first animal of this kind was exported to the UK. Beloved by the citizens, his antics cheered a country at war.

Again, avoid those boring numerics whenever possible! What is interesting here is the animals and the place, not the date. That panda's name was Ming, by the way, and his nickname was Baby.

4. Here's a question from a quiz on general trivia. "What element has a chemical symbol Ca?" The answer is "Calcium." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: Clavicles and chalk both contain this element with the symbol Ca- what is it?

This gets a bit repetitive, I know :>)
But again, the more interesting your questions, the better your quiz will be! Element symbol questions are some of the most boring questions there are; they must be livened up.

5. Here's a true/false question from a quiz on Iowa. "Charles H. Holley died February 3, 1959." The answer is "T." What is the best way to rewrite this question as a multiple-choice question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: On February 3, 1959, a plane crashed into an Iowa cornfield, killing all aboard. Who was among its passengers?

If you are like me, your first reaction to this quiz would have been, "Who the heck is "Charles H. Holley"? He's *much* better known as musician Buddy Holly. The question is meaningless without other information.
If we used the better-written question, of course the multiple-choice answer would be "Buddy Holly," not "Charles H. Holley."
"On what date did Charles H. Holley, otherwise known as Buddy Holly, die in a plane crash in Iowa?" isn't the best answer, because it still calls for memorization of a number, rather than the more interesting fact of who died in the cornfield.

6. Here's a question from a quiz on the United States. "How many states were named after Indian tribes?" The answer is "12." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri all derive their names from what origin?

Rewriting the question in this way doesn't require the memorization of boring numerical data. And see, the longest question isn't always the right answer. :>)
By the way, the information this question gives isn't quite correct; according to http://www.shgresources.com/resources/symbols/names/statenamesorign/, while several states derive their names from Indian languages, only Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri are actually named after tribes.

7. Here's a question from a quiz on protest song lyrics. "Oh, it seemed innocent enough. "Did he ever return? No he never returned. And his fate is still unlearned." I sang along with the catchy tune as I rode in the car with my dad. But unknowingly, at the tender age of nine, I was being seduced into singing along with a protest song written to further the candidacy of a known communist! What social injustice was the Kingston Trio protesting in their 1959 folk song, "MTA"?" The answer is "A Boston public transit fare increase." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: This question is fine as written

Doesn't this question make you curious about hearing the song? You want to write questions like that; questions that capture your quiztaker and make him or her *want* to learn more about your subject!
This question comes from the quiz "Boston to Berkeley: American Musical Protests" by Uglybird. Like all of the good questions used in this quiz, it comes from an editor's choice quiz.

8. Here's a question from a quiz on useless trivia. "How long does it take the U.S. Space Shuttle to go from 0 to 1000 MPH at launch?" The answer is "18 seconds." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: Which of the following vehicles can go from 0 to 1000 MPH in only 18 seconds?

You could have some interesting false answers for this one, like a Ferrari and a 747! Again, the more interesting question makes you think about something rather than numbers.

9. Here's a question from a quiz on balloons. "Our balloon's story begins when a milky white drop falls from a lacerated rubber tree into a waiting cup. Latex is being procured for use in the manufacture of a latex balloon. How do contemporary balloon producers describe the process by which raw material for the manufacture of latex is obtained?" The answer is "A thin layer of bark is carefully shaved from a rubber tree and a small cup left underneath the cut to collect the milky white fluid that exudes from the unharmed tree." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: This question is fine as written

This question comes from the quiz "The Life Cycle of a Little Red Balloon" by Uglybird. Like all of the good questions used in this quiz, it comes from an editor's choice quiz.

10. Here's a question from a quiz on dogs. "How many colors of the Labrador Retriever are there?" The answer is "3." What is the best way to rewrite this question in a more interesting manner?

Answer: The most popular breed in the United States, this dog comes in three color varieties- yellow, chocolate and black. What breed is it?

You would be surprised- as editor for the Animals category, this particular question is one I see more often than almost any other, save what a curry comb is used for!

Source: Author crisw

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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