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Quizzes > Lifestyle & Hobbies > Hobbies & Leisure

Test Your Survival Instincts: Take the Quiz Now!

Ready for the ultimate wilderness survival quiz? Dive in and prove your survival skills today!

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Ilyssa GoldsmithUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for Survival Instinct Quiz on a coral background

The Survival Instinct Quiz helps you check your wilderness survival skills - shelter, water, navigation, first aid, and more. Answer quick, real-world questions and see how you'd react when plans fail. You'll spot gaps and pick up a few trail-safe tips before your next hike or campout.

Moss always grows on the north side of trees.
False (Moss grows where moisture and shade allow; it does not reliably indicate direction.)
True
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In backcountry land-based recreation, three short whistle blasts, repeated, is widely recognized as a distress signal.
True
False
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Drinking small amounts of seawater can keep you hydrated in a pinch.
True
False (Seawater's salt load worsens dehydration; drink only purified fresh water.)
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Eating snow can worsen hypothermia in cold conditions.
True (Snow lowers core temperature and wastes energy; melt and warm it before drinking.)
False
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If you get lost, the first step is to Stop, Think, Observe, Plan.
False
True (S.T.O.P. prevents panic and helps you make a safer plan.)
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You should run downhill to escape a charging bear.
False (Do not run; back away slowly for most bears. For black bears, be assertive if approached; for grizzlies, play dead only if attacked defensively.)
True
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At solar noon north of the Tropic of Cancer, the sun is generally due south.
False
True
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Solar stills provide abundant water quickly in most environments.
True
False (Solar stills produce very little water and are slow; prioritize other water sources.)
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Playing dead is the recommended first response to a black bear encounter.
True
False (For black bears, do not play dead; make yourself big, be loud, and fight back if attacked.)
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Boiling water at sea level for one minute makes it safe from pathogens.
True (A rolling boil for at least 1 minute at sea level inactivates common pathogens; use 3 minutes at high altitude.)
False
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Following a stream downhill often leads to signs of civilization.
False
True (Watercourses can lead to roads, bridges, or settled areas, though terrain and hazards must be considered.)
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Which common tree part can be brewed into a vitamin C-rich tea in winter?
Young pine needles (White pine needles steeped in hot water make a vitamin C-rich tea.)
Maple bark
Oak leaves
Cedar cones
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Which water purification tablet type is effective against protozoa like Cryptosporidium?
Chloride of lime tablets
Fluoride tablets
Chlorine dioxide tablets (They are effective against a broad range of pathogens, including Cryptosporidium with sufficient contact time.)
Standard chlorine bleach tablets only
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What is a primary benefit of a long fire built parallel to your sleeping area in cold weather?
Radiates sustained heat along the body length (A long fire creates an even heat source for sleeping warmth.)
Produces minimal smoke for concealment
Eliminates the need for insulation under you
Boils water faster than any other fire lay
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Which slope angle range is most associated with dangerous slab avalanches?
Exactly flat terrain only
Less than 10 degrees
Greater than 70 degrees
About 30 to 45 degrees (Most slab avalanches release on slopes in this range.)
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How can you boil water without a metal pot in a survival situation?
Heat clean stones in a fire and place them into a carved wooden or bark container of water (Stone-boiling transfers heat safely.)
Use a plastic bottle held in the flames until it melts
Wrap water in leaves and place on flames
Pour water onto hot coals directly
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What is the first step of the Universal Edibility Test before tasting any plant part?
Separate and test one part at a time, starting with a contact (skin/lip) test (This reduces risk by isolating variables.)
Boil everything for 5 minutes then assume safe
Eat a handful to get a clear result quickly
Mix multiple plant parts to average effects
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Which direction-finding method uses the sun and a shadow stick?
Place a stick in water and watch for bubbles to point north
Balance a stick on your finger at noon
Spin a stick; where it stops points north
Mark the tip of a stick's shadow, wait 15 minutes, mark again; the line from first to second mark points approximately west-to-east (This tracks the sun's apparent motion.)
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What is the key sign that a limb tourniquet is applied tightly enough?
The strap can still be easily rotated
Bleeding stops and the distal pulse is absent (This indicates arterial flow is controlled.)
Pain decreases immediately
Skin under the strap turns slightly pink
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Which ground-to-air code symbol means you need medical assistance?
X (In the international ground-to-air code, X indicates need for medical assistance.)
V
N
Y
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0

Study Outcomes

  1. Identify Edible Flora -

    Apply visual cues to distinguish safe, nutritious plants from toxic look-alikes in diverse wild environments.

  2. Construct Effective Shelters -

    Use natural materials to design and build protective structures that offer shelter from harsh weather conditions.

  3. Locate Reliable Water Sources -

    Employ field techniques to find and purify water in the wild, ensuring hydration and safety.

  4. Master Fire-Starting Techniques -

    Practice methods for igniting and sustaining a fire using simple tools and natural tinder.

  5. Navigate Wilderness Terrain -

    Interpret natural landmarks and basic navigation tools to maintain direction and avoid disorientation.

  6. Make Critical Survival Decisions -

    Evaluate risk factors and prioritize actions under pressure to sharpen your overall survival instinct.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Edible Plant Identification -

    Learn the "A-B-C" rule (Alternate, Basal, Compound) to spot safe edibles versus look-alikes; for instance, blackberries (Rubus spp.) have compound leaves and thorny stems unlike toxic nightshade (US Forest Service). Practice on field guides from university herbariums to prepare for your survival instinct quiz. A handy mnemonic is "Leaf, Flower, Stem" to ensure you check all three features before tasting.

  2. Shelter Building Fundamentals -

    Follow the Rule of Threes (3 minutes without air, 3 hours without shelter in harsh conditions) outlined in the US Army Field Manual 21-76 to prioritize shelter tasks on your wilderness survival quiz. Use natural insulation like leaves and pine boughs under a lean”to frame made from forked saplings for a quick, warm shelter. Remember "Pitch, Protect, Position" to choose windward sites, waterproof with foliage, and angle your roof for runoff.

  3. Water Sourcing & Purification -

    Apply the S.T.O.P. method - Stop, Think, Observe, Plan - endorsed by National Park Service guides to locate water and avoid contaminated sources. Boiling for at least one minute at a rolling boil kills pathogens, while chemical tablets (iodine/chlorine) require 30 minutes to be effective in cold water. Carry a lightweight filter rated for 0.1 - 0.2 microns to remove Giardia and Cryptosporidium in real”life nature survival quizzes.

  4. Fire Starting Techniques -

    Master the "Bow Drill" friction method and the modern ferrocerium rod approach to cover both primitive and practical skills on any survival skills quiz. Always collect tinder of three types - fine (punky wood), medium (dry grass), and coarse (small sticks) - to build a robust fire pyramid. Test in safe conditions to ensure you know how to maintain airflow and add fuel without smothering the flame.

  5. Navigation & Signaling -

    Memorize the "6 Cs" of navigation (Compass, Course, Check, Contour, Calculate, Correct) used by top mountaineering programs to ace your outdoor survival quiz. Combine a map and compass bearing with natural indicators (sun shadow, moss on trees) to verify direction. Carry reflective material or a whistle (three blasts) as universal distress signals recognized by search teams worldwide.

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