Survival Quiz – Printable Version
20 multiple-choice questions with an explained answer key, ready to print.
Print the sheet (or save it as a PDF from the print window), hand it out, then mark it together using the answer page: every answer is explained. Perfect for a party, a birthday, a classroom, a care home or a team activity.
Name: ………………………………Score: ……… / 20
- You must filter muddy water to make it clearer before boiling it. Which textured garment or accessory is ideal for improvising a first sediment filter?
- A. A clean sock (or scarf) filled with charcoal and sand
- B. A wool beanie
- C. A hiking shoe
- D. A leather belt
- In the wild, which 'rule of three' recalls the absolute survival priorities?
- A. 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without fire, 3 weeks without a map
- B. 3 minutes without moving, 3 hours without drinking, 3 days without sleeping
- C. 3 seconds of panic, 3 minutes of thought, 3 hours of action
- D. 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food
- What position to adopt during a thunderstorm in open terrain?
- A. Lie flat on the wet ground
- B. Run under an isolated tree
- C. Crouch with feet together on an insulating surface
- D. Lean against a rock face
- What clothing to favour in the desert?
- A. Bare torso
- B. Long, loose, light clothes
- C. Bin bag
- D. Tight nylon
- Which areas to cool in case of heat stroke?
- A. Fingers
- B. Stomach
- C. Feet
- D. Armpits, neck, groin
- Protocol for an edibility test?
- A. Give it to a bird
- B. Smell
- C. Vinegar
- D. Skin test then stepwise oral test
- Finding North at night?
- A. Wind
- B. River
- C. Polaris (North Star)
- D. Moon
- Universal distress signal?
- A. Shouting
- B. Waving
- C. 3 distinct signals
- D. 1 fire
- Purpose of a survival blanket?
- A. Shelter
- B. Clothing
- C. Tool
- D. Retain heat
- Why avoid low-lying areas at night?
- A. Animals
- B. Insects
- C. Visibility
- D. Humidity and cold
- What natural element helps disinfect a wound?
- A. Mud
- B. Salt water
- C. Vinegar
- D. Honey
- Which wood produces a lot of smoke?
- A. Hard wood
- B. Dead wood
- C. Dry wood
- D. Green wood
- Why stay hydrated regularly?
- A. Thirst
- B. Avoid cramps
- C. Hunger
- D. Fatigue
- What is the primary purpose of belly breathing in case of panic?
- A. Slow the heart rate
- B. Warm the body
- C. See better
- D. Gain energy
- At 0 °C, a 40 km/h wind feels like about −7 °C. Why?
- A. The wind actually cools the surrounding air by several degrees
- B. The wind brings air from the poles
- C. The wind makes blood evaporate under the skin
- D. The wind constantly strips away the thin layer of warmed air around the skin
- After several days of rain, where can you find the driest wood to light a fire?
- A. In dead branches still attached to trees, after stripping off the wet bark
- B. On the ground, under dead leaves
- C. In a stream bed
- D. In freshly cut green branches
- Why must you wait after dropping a purification tablet into your water bottle?
- A. To let the tablet sink to the bottom
- B. Because the water gets scalding during the reaction
- C. The product needs contact time, longer if the water is cold or cloudy
- D. So the chlorine taste disappears completely
- Which system relays a personal locator beacon's signal to rescue centres?
- A. Mobile phone masts
- B. Air traffic control radars
- C. Mountain hut Wi-Fi
- D. The Cospas-Sarsat satellite network
- Once the area has been pinpointed with the transceiver, what is the avalanche probe for?
- A. To locate the victim and their depth precisely before digging
- B. To measure the snow temperature
- C. To set off an audible alarm
- D. To test snowpack stability the next day
- In the northern hemisphere, which direction is the Sun at around solar noon?
- A. North
- B. South
- C. East
- D. West
Answer key — Survival Quiz
- A. A clean sock (or scarf) filled with charcoal and sandSand retains large particles and charcoal helps adsorb certain impurities.
- D. 3 minutes without air, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without foodThis is the golden rule of rescuers: 3 minutes without oxygen, 3 hours without shelter, 3 days without water, 3 weeks without food.
- C. Crouch with feet together on an insulating surfaceMinimising your height and contact with the ground reduces the risk of lightning strike.
- B. Long, loose, light clothesThey protect from UV and limit excessive perspiration.
- D. Armpits, neck, groinThese areas have superficial blood vessels to cool the blood.
- D. Skin test then stepwise oral testThis is the cautious method for identifying an allergic or toxic reaction.
- C. Polaris (North Star)It indicates true North.
- C. 3 distinct signalsThe rule of 3 is the international standard.
- D. Retain heatIt reflects 90% of thermal radiation.
- D. Humidity and coldCold air sinks and collects in hollows.
- D. HoneyIts antibacterial properties have been used for millennia.
- D. Green woodMoisture generates dense smoke.
- B. Avoid crampsGood hydration keeps muscles functioning.
- A. Slow the heart rateIt allows you to regain emotional control and stabilise the metabolism.
- D. The wind constantly strips away the thin layer of warmed air around the skinAt rest, a thin layer of warm air insulates us. Wind sweeps it away and speeds up heat loss: this is wind chill.
- A. In dead branches still attached to trees, after stripping off the wet barkDead wood held off the ground doesn't soak up the soil's moisture, and its core often stays dry.
- C. The product needs contact time, longer if the water is cold or cloudyDepending on the product, it takes from 30 minutes to several hours.
- D. The Cospas-Sarsat satellite networkSet up in the 1980s by several countries, Cospas-Sarsat picks up beacons on 406 MHz anywhere on the globe and passes their position to rescue coordination centres.
- A. To locate the victim and their depth precisely before diggingThe transceiver narrows things down to a few square metres. The probe, a long folding pole, is pushed in methodically until it touches the victim: you then know exactly where to dig and how deep, saving precious minutes.
- B. SouthThe Sun rises in the east, peaks in the south around solar noon and sets in the west.