15 original questions and answers
Use these as an independent practice set or adapt them for your group. They are original examples, not questions from the television show. Levels 1–5 are warm-ups, 6–11 add application, and 12–15 require more reasoning. Reorder them for your learners.
For a ready-to-prepare sequence, use the worked nine-question number-and-reasoning ladder with separate player questions and a private host key. The complete original set remains below.
Put your own version in the free 15-round planner, then try a browser sample game to see the answer-and-reveal format.
Which planet is best known for its prominent ring system?
- Earth
- Mars
- Saturn
- Venus
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C — Saturn
Saturn's large, bright rings are made mainly of pieces of ice and rock. Other giant planets have rings too, so the wording matters.
How many sides does a triangle have?
- Two
- Three
- Four
- Five
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — Three
A triangle is a polygon with three straight sides and three angles.
In the sentence ‘The dog runs quickly,’ which word is the verb?
- Runs
- Dog
- The
- Quickly
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Runs
Runs expresses the action. Dog is a noun and quickly describes how the action happens.
At standard atmospheric pressure, what is the freezing point of pure water in degrees Celsius?
- 100°C
- 32°C
- 10°C
- 0°C
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — 0°C
Pure water freezes at 0°C under these conditions. The familiar 32-degree value uses the Fahrenheit scale.
Which number is even?
- 17
- 24
- 31
- 45
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — 24
An even whole number is divisible by two with no remainder. Twenty-four divided by two is twelve.
Which fraction has the same value as three quarters?
- 3/8
- 4/6
- 6/8
- 9/16
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C — 6/8
Multiply both the numerator and denominator of 3/4 by two to get 6/8. Multiplying both by the same nonzero number preserves the value.
Which gas do plants take in from the air to use as a carbon source during photosynthesis?
- Carbon dioxide
- Oxygen
- Helium
- Neon
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — Carbon dioxide
Carbon dioxide supplies the carbon used to make sugars during photosynthesis. Plants also respire; this question specifically asks about photosynthesis.
A host puts six pencils in each of twelve boxes. How many pencils are in the boxes altogether?
- 18
- 36
- 60
- 72
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — 72
There are twelve groups of six, so 12 × 6 = 72 pencils.
Which word is the opposite of ‘expand’ when describing a change in size?
- Enlarge
- Contract
- Extend
- Increase
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — Contract
In this context, expand means become larger and contract means become smaller. Naming the context avoids other meanings of contract.
A warm metal spoon touches a cooler metal spoon. In which direction does heat initially flow between them?
- Only from cooler to warmer
- In neither direction
- From warmer to cooler
- Only toward the larger spoon
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C — From warmer to cooler
Net heat transfer is from the higher-temperature object to the lower-temperature object. Size alone does not determine the direction.
Two interior angles of a triangle are 60° and 50°. What is the third angle in ordinary plane geometry?
- 70°
- 80°
- 90°
- 110°
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — 70°
The interior angles sum to 180°. Subtracting 60° and 50° leaves 70°.
Which of these numbers is prime?
- 21
- 27
- 33
- 29
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: D — 29
Twenty-nine has no positive divisors other than one and itself. The other choices are all divisible by three.
A lunch menu offers three sandwiches and four drinks. If you choose one of each, how many different combinations are possible?
- 7
- 12
- 16
- 24
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: B — 12
Each of the three sandwiches can be paired with any of four drinks, giving 3 × 4 = 12 combinations.
A board game normally costs $80. What is its price after a 25% discount, before tax?
- $60
- $55
- $65
- $75
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: A — $60
Twenty-five percent of $80 is $20. Subtracting the discount leaves $60; no tax calculation is included.
Five players each shake hands once with every other player. How many unique handshakes occur?
- 5
- 20
- 10
- 25
Show answer and explanation
Correct answer: C — 10
Counting four partners for each of five players gives twenty, but counts each handshake twice. Dividing by two gives ten unique pairs.
Make the questions fit your group
The example order moves from recognition to application and reasoning, but difficulty depends on the audience. A science class may find a subject question easier than a vocabulary question. Read the complete set before hosting.
Use these as practice material, not as evidence about a learner’s ability. Substitute questions from your actual lesson or event topic when relevance matters more than general knowledge.
Write fair four-answer questions
Give each question one defensible correct answer. Keep incorrect choices plausible, parallel in wording and similar in length. State the context, units or conditions whenever they affect the answer.
A hard question should require knowledge or reasoning, not a trick interpretation. After the reveal, explain the reasoning and give the group time to ask a question.
Keep the reveal separate from the question
The answers below are hidden behind a disclosure until you open them. When sharing a screen, leave each answer closed until the group has committed to a choice. In your own slides or document, keep the host key on a separate page.
Use the free planner to record response rules, thinking time and virtual points. If the goal is classroom review, ask teams to explain one rejected choice before moving on.