Nature Quiz II

“But in every walk with nature, one receives far more than he seeks.” — John Muir

Enjoy this 15-question quiz about flora and fauna in the United States. The grading guide and answer key, including brief explanations, appear at the end.

1) True or false: Owls’ eyes cannot move in their sockets.
a) True
b) False

2) How many leaves does poison ivy typically have per stem?
a) Two
b) Three
c) Six
d) Seven

3) Which statement about deer is untrue?
a) The young ones are called fawns
b) They have a highly developed sense of smell at an early age
c) They are herbivores
d) The males are called does

4) Why are some roses called climbing roses?
a) They are a detrimental invasive species
b) They grow to be over 30 feet tall
c) They spread along the ground
d) They attach to fences and walls

5) Which statement about skunks is untrue?
a) Because of their anal gland defense system, they have no predators
b) They can live in grasslands and woodlands
c) They live up to 7 years in the wild, and 10 or more in captivity
d) Their known predators include coyotes and eagles

6) True or false: The large, tough pinecones often used for crafts are female cones.
a) True
b) False

7) What type of bear is a grizzly?
a) A black bear
b) A brown bear
c) A polar bear
d) It’s technically not a bear; it’s in the dog family Canidae

8) Which animal is the largest member of the deer family in North America?
a) The American Buck
b) The Brown Bear
c) Moose
d) The Polar Bear

9) Which long-lived keystone tree genus supports more wildlife than any other in North America?
a) Willow Trees
b) Pine Trees
c) Birch Trees
d) Oak Trees

10) Which bird, once near extinction, is the largest flying land bird in North America?
a) California condor
b) Bald eagle
c) Wild turkey
d) Great horned owl

11) Which tree species is considered the tallest in the world?
a) Coast redwood
b) White oak
c) Douglas fir
d) Sugar maple

12) Which mammal is capable of true flight?
a) Flying squirrel
b) Bat
c) Sugar glider
d) Colugo

13) What do oak trees produce?
a) Pinecones
b) Acorns
c) Catkins only
d) Maple keys

14) Which water bird is known for its eerie calls and incredible diving abilities with solid bones enabling them to dive 250 feet and stay underwater for up to five minutes?
a) Great Blue Heron
b) Canada Goose
c) Loons
d) Mallards

15) The very expensive spice saffron comes from which type of plant?
a) Dandelion weed
b) A type of crocus flower
c) Grape leaves
d) Marsh marigold

Grading Guide

Score one point for each correct answer.

15 points = Perfect Score

14-12 points = Very good

11-9 points = Good

8-5 points = Fair

4 points or below = Keep studying!

Use the answer key below to review each response.

Answer Key

1. a. True. According to Britannica, owls’ eyes are fixed within their sockets. However, owls can rotate their heads more than 180 degrees – up to 270 degrees.
2. b. Three. Alabama Cooperative Extension System explains that poison ivy typically has three leaflets. This fact is basis for the saying, “Leaves of three, let them be.”
3. d. The untrue statement is that males are called does. Britannica shares that male deer are typically called bucks – but male sika and red deer are commonly called stags. Doe is the term for a female deer.
4. d. Climbing roses attach to fences and walls. According to Love of Roses, these roses can’t climb on their own but are so named since their long canes can be trained to grow along supports such as fences, walls, and trellises.
5. a. It is incorrect to state that skunks have no predators. Although skunks use their strong-smelling spray to deter attackers, they still have some predators, including coyotes, eagles, and Great Horned Owls – and even humans per PBS.
6. a. True. According to Michigan State University, the large, woody pinecones commonly used in crafts are female cones. Male cones are smaller, softer, and short-lived; they appear in spring to release pollen.
7. b. The brown bear. The grizzly bear is a type of brown bear. In the United States, grizzlies are found mainly in Alaska, with inland populations in parts of Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, and Washington per National Wildlife Federation.
8. c. Moose. Fox Run Environmental Education Center shares the moose is the largest member of the deer family in North America.
9. d. Oak trees. Per NPS, oaks are a keystone genus that support an especially wide range of wildlife in North America – supporting more life forms that any other North American tree.
10. a. California condor. The California condor is the largest land bird in North America and has been reintroduced after nearing extinction, per Oregon Wild.  
11. a. Coast redwood. As shared by National Park Service, coast redwoods are the tallest tree species in the world.
12. b. Bat. PubMed Central shares that bats are the only mammals capable of true sustained flight.
13. b. Acorns.  PennState College of Agricultural Sciences explains that oak trees produce acorns, which are their seeds.
14. c. Loons. These fascinating water birds are known for four main calls (wail, yodel, hoot, and tremolo) and possess great diving skills due to their expandable air sacks and solid bones – as described by Britannica.
15. b. University of Vermont explains that the very expensive spice known as Saffron comes from the bright red stigmas inside the flowers of the saffron crocus.