FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!

Quiz about Doomsday Would You Want to Survive

Doomsday: Would You Want to Survive? Quiz

The U.S. ushered in the Atomic Age in 1945. Within five years the Soviets responded, commencing an arms race in which mankind amassed the power to destroy itself. This quiz explores that race and how it has changed the world.

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

Author
jiminaz

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
269,184

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2185

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was the code name of the world's first atomic bomb test? Hint

Bikini

Manhattan

Trinity

Genesis

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Established in 1951, this early U.S. Civil Defense system was designed to prevent enemy bombers from using the signals from radio and TV stations to target U.S. cities. It also served to provide essential emergency information. What was the name of that system? Hint

The Early Warning System (EWS)

The Emergency Broadcast System (EBS)

Control of Electromagnetic Radition (CONELRAD)

Advance Warning of Atomic Radiation Emergency (AWARE)

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. America's early Civil Defense system was replaced in 1963. What technological development rendered that system ineffective and lead to its demise? Hint

ICBMs

Computers

Military satellites

Advanced Signal Jamming (ADSJAM)

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. The U.S. used various means, including films and television, to try to educate the public about what to do in the event of a nuclear attack. Some of these films were made especially for children. "Duck and Cover" used a cartoon turtle in this endeavor. What was that turtle's name? Hint

Ernie

Bert

Tommy

Tony

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. The U.S.S.R. holds the dubious honor of detonating the largest nuclear explosion in history. What was the yield of that blockbuster? Hint

50 megatons

100 megatons

89 megatons

300 megatons

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Based on world events the "Doomsday Clock" is set at minutes to midnight, where midnight repesents total destruction by nuclear war. As of August 2007, what is the closest to midnight the clock has ever been set and in what year did that happen? Hint

11 minutes in 1949

1 minute in 1962

2 minutes in 1953

6 minutes in 1981

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. Where is the only ICBM site in the world that is open to the public? Hint

Cheyenne, WY

Los Alamos, MN

Tucson, AZ

Kiev, Ukraine

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What term is used to describe the conditions that would follow a full-scale nuclear war? Hint

Nuclear Winter

The Doomsday Effect

Nuclear Midnight

Atomic Rain

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. By what other name was the MX missile known? Hint

Pershing

Minuteman

Peacekeeper

Titan

NEXT>

Question 10 of 10

10. How much did the U.S. spend on nuclear weapons programs between 1940 and 1996? Hint

$400 billion

$1.9 trillion

$750 billion

$5.5 trillion

(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

Select a User ID:

Choose a Password:

Your Email:

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was the code name of the world's first atomic bomb test?

Answer: Trinity

The U.S. conducted the Trinity test in New Mexico on July 16, 1945. With a yield of 20 kilotons, this implosion-design plutonium bomb was the same type of bomb that would soon be dropped on Nagasaki.

Answer: Control of Electromagnetic Radition (CONELRAD)

CONELRAD was established in 1951 by President Harry S. Truman. When activated, most U.S. radio and T.V. stations would stop broadcasting so their signals could not be used as homing beacons by enemy bobmers. Selected stations would remain on the air to provide emergency information to the general public.

3. America's early Civil Defense system was replaced in 1963. What technological development rendered that system ineffective and lead to its demise?

Answer: ICBMs

Since the deployment of ICBMs reduced the likelihood of bomber attack, CONELRAD was mothballed. It would eventually be replaced by the Emergency Broadcast System which was in turn replaced by the Emergency Alert System in 1997. All have been administered by the F.C.C.

Answer: Bert

The now classic, yet somewhat naive animated short film "Duck and Cover" used Bert to teach American school children what do do upon seeing the bright flash of an atomic bomb. "Duck and Cover" was produced in 1952 and was nine minutes long.

5. The U.S.S.R. holds the dubious honor of detonating the largest nuclear explosion in history. What was the yield of that blockbuster?

Answer: 50 megatons

On October 30, 1961, just two months after erecting the Berlin Wall, the U.S.S.R. exploded the 'Tsar Bomba' or 'King of Bombs'. Originally designed to yield 100 megatons, it was scaled back because of concerns about the resulting fallout and the almost certain destruction of the release plane.

Answer: 2 minutes in 1953

Since 1947 the Board of Directors of the "Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists" at the University of Chicago has maintained the "Doomsday Clock". In 1953 the clock inched to two minutes to midnight when the U.S. and the U.S.S.R. tested thermonuclear devices within 9 months of each other.

The farthest away from midnight the clock has ever been set was 17 minutes in 1991. As of August 2007 it is set at 5 minutes to midnight.

7. Where is the only ICBM site in the world that is open to the public?

Answer: Tucson, AZ

At the Titan Missile Museum visitors can see an actual, though non-operational, Titan II missile and tour the launch facility. This Cold War remnant is one of 18 silos that once ringed Tucson.

8. What term is used to describe the conditions that would follow a full-scale nuclear war?

Answer: Nuclear Winter

Many scientists believe that an all-out nuclear exchange would create a cloud of radioactive smoke and debris that would cover the globe and prevent sunlight from reaching the Earth. This "cloud" would cause worldwide climate changes that would eventually kill most, if not all, remaining life on Earth.

9. By what other name was the MX missile known?

Answer: Peacekeeper

First deployed in 1988, the MX was America's newest, most accurate and most powerful ICBM. Each was capable of delivering ten independentaly targeted warheads and cost $70 million. As part of START II, the MX was deactivated begining in 2002 and the last one was decommissioned on September 19, 2005.

10. How much did the U.S. spend on nuclear weapons programs between 1940 and 1996?

Answer: $5.5 trillion

According to the Brookings Institution, the U.S. has spent over 5.5 trillion tax-payer dollars on nuclear weapons programs.

Source: Author jiminaz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.