Who Thinks They Can Get 100% On This Common Sense Quiz?
- by Margaret Wells
- – on
- in Mind Twisters
Common sense is something everyone should have. Common sense isn't something they teach in school, however, and even the smartest people can find themselves stumped by even the most basic common sense questions. You might be one of the smartest people in the world, but we bet we can still defeat you with this simple common sense quiz.
No one can get a perfect score on this quiz, but they can try. You might think the answers to the following questions are obvious, but there's usually a twist somewhere. You don't need to know much math or science to pass the following riddles, but you need some good old-fashioned knowledge about how the world works. We promise you have the knowledge to ace this quiz. The real question is, can you put that knowledge to the test?
There's no way you'll be able to defeat this common sense challenge. No one can. If you can get every answer right, then you've got an incredible amount of common sense. You should start counseling the whole world since, let's face it, we could all use a little more common sense.
What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time, the beginning of every end, and the end of every place?
If you enjoy riddles, then you probably like this question. The answer might seem impossible to solve at first, as long as you're considering weird concepts. Go a little more basic, however, and pay attention to the spelling of the words. What is the beginning of eternity, the end of time, the beginning of every end, and the end of every place? As soon as you get this one, it's funny and obvious. Can you guess this common sense question?
If you have only one match, and you walked into a room with an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one would you light first?
When you have only one match, you have to be careful about what you light. If you light the wrong thing, you could end up with no fire. While you can spend a long time overthinking this question, read it carefully one more time. If you have only one match, and you walked into a room with an oil burner, a kerosene lamp, and a wood burning stove, which one would you light first? The answer should be obvious now.
Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world?
Mount Everest is certainly a magnificent wonder, but it wasn't discovered until the 1800s when a mathematician figured out how high the mountain must be. That's a long time for the world to not know what the tallest mountain was. Before Mount Everest was discovered, what was the highest mountain in the world? While this might seem like a complicated geography question at first, the answer is actually pretty obvious. You should know the solution to this common sense question!
Why is it against the law for a man living in North Carolina to be buried in South Carolina?
It can be hard to keep track of all the different laws across states. You might not be up to date on the laws of South Carolina or North Carolina, and you're not sure when it's legal to bury anyone. On second glance, however, the answer to this question becomes nice and easy. Read the question again and see what you notice. Why is it against the law for a man living in North Carolina to be buried in South Carolina?
How many animals of each species did Adam take with him on the ark?
A lot of different cultures have a flood story and legends of a family who survived in a large boat. The most commonly known is a story from the Bible, where God chose a man to save his family from a world-wide flood. This man built the ark himself, and he and his family and lots of animals survived inside the ark. You should know the answer to this one, as long as you know the most basic Bible stories.
How many months have 28 days?
We all know that months have different end dates. Some months end in 30. Some end in 31. February, for example, ends in 28 or 29 depending on the year. You might be tempted to answer based on this knowledge but think carefully before you settle on an answer. Read the question again and look at the wording. How many months have 28 days? Remember that there's usually a trick in common sense questions, so see if you can spot it.
Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister?
Different laws between states can be hard to keep track of, but thankfully, you don't need to be lawyer to get this one right. Anyone, whether they live in California or not, should be able to get this common sense question right. Think very hard about the words in this question as you read it again. Is it legal for a man in California to marry his widow’s sister? You should know this one as soon as you see the trick.
There was an evergreen tree in a dark mysterious forest. Ghosts and goblins lived in the forest, and one night, a huge gust of wind blew through the woods. Which way did the leaves on the tree fall?
Read the question again and pay closer attention: There was an evergreen tree in a dark mysterious forest. Ghosts and goblins lived in the forest, and one night, a huge gust of wind blew through the woods. Which way did the leaves on the tree fall? There's one special word in this question, and as soon as you find it, the answer is obvious. Keep reading the question until the solution becomes totally clear. You can guess this one for sure!
How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25?
Math is part of life, but it isn't part of this common sense question. You don't need the skills of an astrophysicist to get this question correct. You only need some basic common sense skills. Consider the question carefully. How many times can you subtract the number 5 from 25? Before you start doing math in your head, pay closer attention to the words of this common sense riddle. Once you think about it enough, you should know the answer.
What is the easiest way to throw a ball, have it stop, and completely reverse direction after traveling a short distance?
Let's think about this one for a minute. What is the easiest way to throw a ball, have it stop, and completely reverse direction after traveling a short distance? We'll give you a hint: no one's catching the ball and throwing it back to you. While this might be a hard question for some, it will be totally obvious once you realize the answer. Make sure your common sense skills are strong and try to answer this tricky question right.
The peacock is a bird that does not lay eggs. How do they get baby peacocks?
Don't overthink this one. The answer to this question is easier than you might think. You don't need to be a philologist or remember your high school science class to get this one right. You just have to have a basic understanding of mother nature, and a little bit of bird knowledge. Everyone should be able to guess this one. Read the question again and look for giveaways. The peacock is a bird that does not lay eggs. How do they get baby peacocks?
A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are covered?
If this question made you think of middle school math class, don't run away yet. Every common sense question plays a small trick on you based on your knowledge of how things really work. Read the question again. A 10 foot rope ladder hangs over the side of a boat with the bottom rung on the surface of the water. The rungs are one foot apart, and the tide goes up at the rate of 6 inches per hour. How long will it be until three rungs are covered?
A is the father of B. But B is not the son of A. Is that possible?
Everybody knows how families work. That means you should have no trouble guessing this common sense question right. Read the question again and make sure you have it right. A is the father of B. But B is not the son of A. Is that possible? After a few mental exercises, you should realize how easy the answer to this question really is. Think about families, fathers, and sons, and you should have the answer in no time at all.
A man dressed in all black is walking down a country lane. Suddenly, a large black car without any lights on comes around the corner and screeches to a halt. How did the driver know he was there?
The answer to this question is in the words, but not the words that are there. It's the words that are never mentioned. Read this question again and see if you can spot what's been omitted. A man dressed in all black is walking down a country lane. Suddenly, a large black car without any lights on comes around the corner and screeches to a halt. How did the car know he was there? We bet you can solve this one!
If a rooster lays an egg on top of a barn roof, in which direction will the egg roll?
Get your thinking caps on! For this one, you need to know a ton of math, and figure out how the rooster was seated when it laid the egg. Just kidding. We're not that mean. Anyone, even if they don't know much about this rooster or its egg, should be able to guess this common sense question right. There's one word in this question that gives it all away. Read it again and see if you can spot the word.
If a doctor gives you 3 pills and tells you to take 1 pill every half hour, how long would it take before all the pills had been taken?
Usually, common sense questions involve some kind of trick, but we promise: this one doesn't. You do need some basic counting skills, and you need to be able to tell time. While the answer might be obvious at first, think very carefully about the first pill you'd take. Once you're sure, take a guess below. If a doctor gives you 3 pills and tells you to take 1 pill every half hour, how long would it take before all the pills had been taken?
Larry’s father has five sons named Ten, Twenty, Thirty, and Forty. What is the name of the fifth?
This might sound like a math problem, or a puzzle where you guess the pattern. Pattern finding skills are good, but they won't help you get this question right. Instead, you need to make sure you pay attention to detail. Read the question again, carefully. Larry’s father has five sons named Ten, Twenty, Thirty, and Forty. What is the name of the fifth? This time around, you should have realized the answer. We bet you can figure this one out!
What goes up and down but still remains in the same place?
This one gets a little tricky, until you realize the answer. Think hard for a minute. What goes up and down? An elevator? A ball? Neither of those things stay in the same place, however, which means they're both wrong. You might have heard the answer to this common sense question a long time ago, and if you remember it, you'll have an easier time breezing through this question. If you don't know the right answer, consider the options below.
Is your blood always red?
Uh oh. A science question! Unlike most of the questions in this quiz, this question isn't a trick. For this question, you really do need a basic knowledge of human biology. The answer to this question is obvious to anyone who knows the truth, but there's a pretty big misconception about the color of our blood. This is one of those common sense things that everyone should know but do you? Make a guess below to find out if you have common sense!
Do humans or parrots live longer?
There's no trick in this question, which you might have noticed. Usually, the shortest questions don't contain a twist or a clue, but they are still hard to defeat. For this common sense question, you'll have to rely on your common sense knowledge. Everybody should know the answer to this one, even if they're not a bird brain. It's a pretty often cited statistic, and it's one of those things everyone should know. Do you know it? Find out below!
True or False: a Banana has more sugar than a donut.
This one might seem obvious, but think it through. A banana is definitely healthier than a donut, but does it have more sugar in it? We certainly hope you know the answer to this one. All it takes to get this one right is some basic science knowledge and a good head for guessing. Think through the ingredients in a donut, and then think about bananas. Make sure you guess right on this one! Which one had more sugar in it?
True or False: Narwhals are a myth.
People love to tell stories about mythical creatures. Mermaids, unicorns, and griffins are the subject of paintings, poems, and rainbow milkshakes. We love to take an existing creature and add a horn or tail or something to it and call it a mythical beast. The real question is, is that what happened to narwhals? Are they a real creature? Are they a legend, like the Loch Ness Monster, that might have existed once? Or are they something humans made up completely?
What can you never eat for breakfast?
For this question, we're not looking for the answer your parents gave you. Plenty of parents might say no to milkshakes for breakfast, but there's only one thing you can't eat for breakfast. The answer should be pretty clear, as soon as you spot it. Don't tie your brain in knots trying to answer this one. The answer is a piece of cake as soon as you realize it. (And no, the answer isn't a literal piece of cake, sorry.)
What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries?
You probably heard this riddle, or something like it, on the playground as a kid. While it's been awhile, you should still be able to guess the solution. Things tend to get dry as they dry, so there's a trick in this question somewhere. What DOES get wetter the more it dries? If you can solve this one, then you're brimming with common sense. Put your reasoning skills to the test and see if you can walk away with the right answer.
Name the most recent year in which New Year’s came before Christmas.
Dates can be tricky sometimes, especially if you're trying to remember something complicated, like when the last leap year was. We promise this question isn't as hard as it seems, though. The answer should be nice and clear as soon as you think about it. If you can't get this question right, then you must have no common sense! We're sure you do have common sense, though, so the question should be easy to solve. Can you name the year?
What can point in every direction but can't reach the destination by itself?
If your first thought for this question was "a compass," then that would be a pretty good guess. Technically, though, a compass can't point in any direction. It won't point straight up, or towards any point in a sphere. There's only one thing that can point in any direction imaginable, and then travel in that direction (just not by itself). As soon as you realize it, the answer to this question should be easy. What can point in every direction but can't reach the destination by itself?
What goes up and never comes down?
When you were a kid, you might have struggled over this question for awhile. Now that you're an adult, however, or basically an adult, at least, you should know the answer. Once you realize the solution, there shouldn't be any doubt in your mind. Even something tricky like an escalator isn't the right answer, since an up escalator could be switched to a down escalator. What goes up and never comes down? We bet you can get this common sense question right.
Which is heavier, 100 pounds of rocks or 100 pounds of feathers?
There's no trick in this question as long as you know some basic things about the world. This question should be pretty obvious, since feathers are a lot lighter than rocks, even if the rocks are light and the feathers are wet. If you're sure you know the answer to this one, though, make sure you read it one last time. Which is heavier, 100 pounds of rocks or 100 pounds of feathers? The answer is sitting right in front of you.
What's a baby horse called?
Keep your thinking caps on. The answer to this question suffers from a pretty common misconception, so this common sense question tests your basic knowledge. You really should know the answer to this. Don't get fooled! Even if it's been awhile since you took any science classes or watched My Little Pony, you should still know the right answer. If you don't know the answer to this, then it might be time to catch up on some basic human knowledge.
What has a head and a tail but no body?
Most living things have a head, and plenty of them have a tail. It's pretty unusual, though, for something to have a head and no body. Plus, this thing (whatever it is) also has a tail. That makes it even weirder. Can you think of things that have heads and tails but no body? The answer to this one should be pretty obvious as soon as you realize it, but first, you have to think of the right thing to answer.
If there are 12 fish and half of them drown, how many are left?
This might seem like a basic subtraction problem. After all, as long as you remember elementary school math, you should know what half of 12 is. Before you charge ahead, however, read the question one more time. If there are 12 fish, and half of them drown, how many are left? Oops. The answer to this one should be as easy as pie and certainly easier than fishing. Anyone with common sense should be able to get this question right.
True or false: it's impossible to tell which side the gas tank is on in a car when you're sitting in the driver's seat.
Have you ever rented a car, pulled into the gas station, and realized that your car was parked the wrong way? The gas tank was on the other side. If only there was some way to tell before you even got out of your car! Then again, there might be. It might be a myth, but it might be the truth. Is it impossible to tell which side the gas tank is on in a car when you're sitting in the driver's seat?
How many birthdays does the average man have?
This sounds like another common knowledge one, doesn't it? Before you start trying to remember the last statistic you heard, read the question again. How many birthdays does the average man have? We'll give you a hint: the average woman has the exact same number. So does the average child. As soon as you realize the trick in this question, the answer should be obvious. We know you know the answer to this one. Can you solve this common sense question?
If you put a coin in an empty bottle and then insert a cork into the neck, how could you remove the coin without taking out the cork or breaking the bottle?
You might have needed to read that question twice, and that's okay. You have a bottle. You have a coin inside the bottle. The bottle is sealed with a cork. How do you get that coin out, if you can't remove the cork? This isn't a seventh grade science experiment, and once you realize the answer, you'll groan. Read it again and then guess. If you put a coin in an empty bottle and then insert a cork into the neck, how could you remove the coin without taking out the cork or breaking the bottle?
What star is closest to Earth?
Unfortunately for you, you might not remember the names of our galaxy's closest stars. The answer to this question, however, should be common knowledge. You might need to rely on your elementary school science skills but just a little. If you can't think of the answer to this one, then you got tricked. Everyone should be able to get the answer to this common sense question right, so make sure you keep your thinking cap on and answer correctly below.