Survival Quiz

The ultimate survival quiz

Being stranded in the wilderness might make for a good movie, but in reality it's a harrowing experience.

To stay alive, you may need to build shelter, start a fire, and even eat bugs for sustenance. Can you survive this quiz?

10224 visitors have already taken part in the quiz and achieved an average score of 67%. Can you do more?


Question 1 out of 22
What is the most important thing you need to survive in the wilderness in summer?

The human body needs at least two liters of water per day for health. A day without water is a cause for serious concern. Three days without water leads to certain death.

If you want to learn more about "water", then read the guide article "Survival: the ultimate water guide [find, collect, filter]".

Question 2 out of 22
What often indicates abundant vegetation and swarming insects?

Abundant vegetation, insects, bird flight routes and animal tracks can indicate water sources.

Question 3 out of 22
Why should you melt snow or ice before drinking it?

Consuming frozen snow and ice lowers the body core temperature and leads to dehydration. Find out how and if you can eat snow in the guide article "Is it possible to eat snow in survival situations?".

Question 4 out of 22
If you are facing the sun at noon in the northern hemisphere, what direction will you go?

If you walk directly towards the sun at noon, you will go south. If you walk with the sun at your back, you will go north. The opposite is true in the southern hemisphere.

Question 5 out of 22
Which of the following things is a definite method of orientation?

You cannot accurately orient yourself with moss on trees and ant hills, so it is not recommended to use these methods.

In the northern hemisphere, moss on the west and north sides of trees is often thicker because these sides are shadier and moister. If the tree is tilted, it grows on the lower plane where the water drains well. And while ants often build their nests on the southern or southeastern side of trees where it is warmer, this is also inaccurate.

In my guide article "Orientation and navigation without a compass" you will find even more options.

Question 6 out of 22
How do you know when the bright side of the moon is in the west?

When the moon rises before sunset, the bright side is in the west. When it rises after midnight, the east side is illuminated.

Question 7 out of 22
Why should you not sleep directly on the ground?

Sleeping on the ground can lead to loss of body heat. You retain more warmth by piling up leaves, grass, pine needles, small sticks, etc. on the ground to sleep on. Ideally, you build a trapper bed.

Question 8 out of 22
Which symptom indicates severe dehydration?

Dry mouth and a rapid heartbeat are signs of dehydration. Vomiting and diarrhea are strong indicators of severe dehydration.

Question 9 out of 22
Where should you set up your tent near?

Setting up your camp near a water source is a good idea. You should avoid natural hazards like rocks and dry riverbeds.

Question 10 out of 22
Which insects should you avoid eating?

Although most insects are edible, it is a rule of thumb to stay away from brightly colored, hairy, or stinging insects.

For everything on the topic of "eating insects", read the guide article "Survival Basics: Eating insects (preparation, catching, breeding)".

Question 11 out of 22
Which of the following methods is not suitable for starting a fire (if you don't have matches)?

A battery, a magnifying lens, and even a drink can with chocolate can be used to produce a spark for a fire.

You can find more than 18 methods for making fire in my detailed guide.

Question 12 out of 22
Which of these forest berries are safe when ripe and cooked, but cause nausea when eaten raw?

Raw elderberries (Sambucus canaensis) contain toxins like cyanogenic glycoside, which can cause nausea and vomiting.

For more information, read my comprehensive guide on emergency food in the forest or on emergency food in the winter.

Question 13 out of 22
What type of food or drink should you avoid when hypothermic?

Hot, sweet liquids like hot chocolate give the body energy to generate heat. Proteins, fats, and carbohydrates like trail mix can stimulate metabolism.

Question 14 out of 22
Insects can actually save your life. Which of these essential sources of physical energy do they provide you with?

An insect's body is almost pure protein. In fact, insects contain more than three times the amount of protein (per their size) as beef.

For everything on the topic of "eating insects", read the guide article "Survival Basics: Eating insects (preparation, catching, breeding)".

Question 15 out of 22
Insect larvae contain a lot of protein. Where are the best places to find insect eggs?

Insect eggs can be found in moist areas under rocks and in rotting tree trunks or stumps.

Question 16 out of 22
Which insect is the world's most popular edible insect?

The beetle is the world's most popular edible insect. When you roast these creatures over a fire, they make a delicious dinner. For more information, click here.

Question 17 out of 22
How can you tell if a snake is venomous?

Poisonous snakes tend to have elliptical pupils, while non-poisonous snakes have round pupils. However, this is not one hundred percent certain, as the venomous coral snake, for example, has round pupils.

Question 18 out of 22
How can you estimate the distance of an approaching storm?

Count the number of seconds between the lightning and the thunder and divide that number by three to estimate how many kilometers an approaching storm is away. All the details can be found in my guide.

Question 19 out of 22
Which symptom does NOT indicate hypothermia?

In extreme cold, watch for stiff joints, loss of bladder control, puffy face, mental confusion, shivering, slow pulse, loss of coordination, and slurred speech to detect the onset of hypothermia. However, coughing does not occur.

Falling into cold water is especially fatal.

Question 20 out of 22
What is the most important thing you should do before going on a wilderness trip?

Before embarking on a wilderness trip, you should let someone know when and where you are going. If you get lost, rescuers have a better chance of finding you if they know where to look.

It is also always a good idea to bring along essential survival equipment.

Question 21 out of 22
How many smoke clouds do you send after starting a signal fire to let someone know that you are in trouble?

If you're ready to send a smoke signal for help, try to remember the code that is common knowledge to campers everywhere. One smoke cloud signals your location, two smoke clouds mean you're safe, and three smoke clouds mean you need help.

If interested, the guide article "3 primitive signals to get attention in an emergency" will help you.

Question 22 out of 22
If you need to build an emergency shelter, how big should it be?

Almost all survival situations require some form of shelter. When building an emergency shelter, it should only be slightly larger than your body. After insulating it with all available materials, a smaller shelter facilitates the use of your own body heat.

How to build such a shelter can be found here.

The ultimate survival quiz

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