Science Facts Tests for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas
This is a fun, science-holiday quiz for parents and kids or anyone who likes science. Thirty or more questions are provided for each holiday. See how well you know this science.
Snowflake Details and Variations
30 Halloween Science Fun Questions: Bats, Cats, Pumpkins, Skeletons, Spiders, Herbs and More
Halloween Pumpkins in Kentucky
Spider Questions for Halloween Science Fun
1. Spiders have how many legs?
A. 2 B. 4 C. 6 D. 8 E. 10
2. A spider's web is made of what chemical substance?
A. protein B. starch C. sugar D. lipid or fat
3. Spiders are : A. vegetarians B. omnivores C. carnivores
Cat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
4. The most common, spooky cats of Halloween are of what color?
A. black B. white C. calico D. orange
5. Cats are members of what animal family?
A. ovine B. bovine C canine D. feline
6. A calico cat is an orange, black and white cat or tortoise-shell cat. These cats are almost always
A. females B. males
Owl and Bat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
7. Owls can actually see very well in the dark at night: A. True B. False
8. Owls are:
A. carnivores B. vegetarians C. omnivores
9. Bats navigate and move through the night using:
A. sonar B. radar C. infrared D. night vision
10. Vampire bats are:
A. real B. imaginary and fake
Pumpkin, Herb and Plant Questions for Halloween Science Fun
11. A pumpkin is orange. The orange pigment is what chemical compound or substance?
A. flavanoid B. carotene C. chlorophyll
12. What plant is used to create mazes for people to have fun exploring?
A. wheat B. oats C. barley D. corn
13. A typical, large pumpkin has how many seeds?
A. 1 or 2 B. about 10 C. dozens D. hundreds
14. Brooms, whether used by witches or not, were (and some still are) made here in the United States from:
A. corn stalks B. wheat and barley C. witch hazel D. oak trees E. pine trees
15. Herbs that are used during the holidays are parts of:
A. animals B. trees C. plants
16. Which one of the following is not a herb?
A. thyme B. rosemary C. oregano D. jasmine
17. What special vegetation is supposed to protect against vampires?
A. lettuce B. mint C. spinach D. celery E. garlic
18. A toadstool is a type of:
A. frog B. mushroom C. kettle D. bottle
Skeletons and Other Halloween Science Fun Questions
19. A human skeleton is what kind of skeleton?
A. exoskeleton B. endoskeleton
20. Another name for the skull of a skeleton is:
A. android B. branium C. cranium D. deltoid
21. The skeleton of humans and animals is made of what chemical compound?
A. sodium and potassium chloride B. calcium carbonate C. calcium chloride D. calcium phosphate
22. A place where the dead are buried is:
A. seminary B. crematorium C. sanitorium D. cemetery
23. The graveside place where most information about a dead person is written is:
A. footstone B. headstone C. coffin
24. On Halloween you might run across a "firefly" or glow worm. What is a firefly?
A. a real fly B. a beetle C. actually a spider D. a real worm
25. What special chemical is needed for "bioluminescence" and permits the fireflies to light or glow?
A. ATP B. glucose C. fructose D. starch E. NAD
26. Fog and mist seen at night is really:
A. carbon dioxide B. carbon monoxide C. nitrogen gas D. water
27. An "apparition" is most like or resembles a:
A. ghost B. frog C. witch D. elf E. toadstool
28. Which one of the following is true and not imaginary, virtual or fake?
A. spooks B. elves C. witches D. goblins E. fairies
29. When you put on a costume or look to appear as something else that process is like what some animals can do -
A. preen B. prune C mimic D. communicate E vegetate
30. Animals or people that blend in and hide in their environment are said to be
A. hibernating B. camouflaged C. piebald D. pinnate
Answers to the Halloween Questions follow below..
Have a Happy, Safe and "Scientific" Halloween.
Answers to Spider Questions for Halloween Science Fun
1. D. All spiders have 8 legs. True insects (e.g. butterflies, moths, bees, ants, etc.) have 6 legs
2. A. Protein is the biochemical composition of a spider's web.
3. C. Spiders are carnivores that usually "eat" other insects.
Answers to Cat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
4. A. black is the most common, color used for spooky cats of Halloween?
5. D. Cats are members of the feline animal family? Ovine are sheep, bovine are cattle and canine are dogs
6. A. Females, that is what calico cats are who are orange, black and white cat or tortoise-shell cat.
Answers to Owl and Bat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
7. A. True. Owls can actually see (and hear) very well in the dark at night:
8. A. Owls are carnivores – they eat other animals.
9. A. Bats navigate and move through the night using sonar (echolocation).
10. A. Vampire bats are real.
Answers to Pumpkin, Herb and Plant Questions for Halloween Science Fun
11. B. A pumpkin is orange because of the orange pigment chemical compound carotene.
12. D. Corn is used to create mazes for people to have fun exploring?
13. D. A typical, large pumpkin has hundreds of seeds.
.
14. A. Corn stalks are used to make most natural brooms.
15. C. Herbs are plants.
16. D. Jasmine is not a herb – it is a sweet-smelling, white-flowered plant. All the others in the list are herbs.
17. E. Garlic according to the legend and fiction stories protects against vampires which are fictional, supposed blood-sucking people; vampire bats are real and garlic does not protect against these real, blood-sucking bats.
18. B. Toadstools are a variety or type of mushroom. And yes, sometimes a small frog might sit on a mushroom. and it would be a toadstool..
Answers to Skeletons and Other Halloween Science Fun Questions
19. B. Endoskeletons are inside the body. Human and many animal skeletons are inside and under the skin and muscle of the animal. In contrast, insects and crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimp), shellfish (clams, mussels, etc.) and snails are examples of animals that have exoskeletons that enclose and protect soft tissue underneath or within.
20. C. Cranium is another name for a skull. The cranium surrounds and protects the brain.
21. D. Calcium phosphate is the material or chemical compound of bone. It is tough and strong. Calcium carbonate is what sea shells and limetone are made of.
22. D. Cemetery is a place where the dead are buried.
23. B. The headstone contains the most information at the grave of a dead person. Uusally there is the full name, date of birth and death and an inscription of one sort or another that bears a message.
24. B. A firefly or gloworm is a beetle that flies and can flash periodic light signals to other fireflies.
25. A. ATP is an energy molecule that reacts with luciferan under the direction and control of an enzyme called luciferanse to produce light or bioluminescence in fireflies.
26. D. Water vapor that can be seen like clouds on the ground whether at at night or day is fog and mist.
27. A. An apparition is a vision of a ghost or suddenly appearing "presence".
28. C. Witches are people who practice sorcery, spells, acts of magic or simply witchcraft which is a form of religion called "Wicca". There are many forms of witchcraft. Hollywood and movies made there and elsewhere have made witchcraft spectacular, scary and spooky.
29. C. Mimic means something or someone acts like something else by appearance or movement. Someone could mimic a horse by "whinnying" like a horse or galloping like a horse, or someone could mimic a cat by meowing and licking a hand just like a paw would be licked by a cat.
30. B. Camouflaged means that an animal or person is covered or hidden to blend in with the environment. Chameleons can change colors to look like the backgound of their environment.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Science Questions
Turkey Questions
1. A turkey would be a member of what family?
A. avian B. reptile C. arachnids D. mammals E. canine
2. A turkey feather chemically is mainly composed of:
A. carbohydrate B. fat C. nucleic acid D. protein
3. How many toes does a typical turkey have? A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
4. A male turkey is called a: A. turk B. hob C. bob D. tom
5. If you see a male and a female turkey which one is the most colorful?
A. male B. female C. both look the same
Plant Questions
6. Corn is what kind or type of plant?
A. dicot B. monocot
7. Corn meal would be highest in content or amount of:
A. carbohydrate B. fat C. lipid D. protein
8. Which one of the following tree timbers was used to construct most of the Pilgrim's Mayflower ship?
A. beech B. birch C. maple D. oak E. pine
9. Christmas trees are what type of tree?
A. deciduous B. evergreen
10. Which type tree is most different from the others?
A. fir B. birch C. pine D. spruce
11. The type fertilizer used by the early settlers for growing crops is called:
A. guano B. manure C. phosphate D. potassium
12. Which one of these would not be used as a typical Christmas tree?
A. pine B. spruce C. fir D. fern
Some Other Christmas Science Questions
13. The first Christmas trees were lighted or illuminated in homes by:
A. candles B. fireflies C. tiny electric bulbs
14. Santa Claus, as well as all real-bearded people, have natural beards that are chemically of what material or substance?
A. carbohydrate B. cellulose C. starch D. polysaccahride E. protein
15. A snowflake is A. crystalline B. non-crystalline
16. Snowflakes are very A. similar B. disssimilar
17. A person who was a kind of real Santa Claus was:
A. Arnold B. Bob C. Conrad D. Dennis E. Nicholas
Answers to Thanksgiving and Christmas Science Questions
1. A. A turkey is an avian or member of the brid family.
2. D. The turkey feather, as all feathers, is made of protein called keratin. Our hair, skin and nails contain keratin.
3. B. A turkey has three toes on each of its two feet.
4. D. A male turkey is a called tom turkey.
5. A. Male turkeys are more colorful than females.
6. B. Corn is a monocot plant. When a corn seed germinates it sends up one (mono) cotyledon (single leaf). A bean or pea plant is an example of a dicot, they each produce 2 seed leaves (cotyledons) when they first germinate.
7. A. Cornmeal has much cabohydrate compared to any other biochemical compound.
8. D. Ships like the Mayflower were built from oak timbers.
9. B. Evergreen trees are the type most often used at Christmas. Evergreen trees are naturally green throughout the year.
10. B. Birch is the type tree most different from firs, pines and spruces.
11. B. Manure from animals was often used by the colonists to fertilize crops. Horse, cattle, goats, sheep, and chicken manures were the common types of fertilizers used to grow big, healthy plants like corn, tomatoes, and squash and pumpkins in those days. Manure is the waste or "poop" of the animal and it is rich in nitrogen that helps plant grow well. Manure is used today by many people who do organic gardening. A non-organic nitrogen fertilizer is NH4NO3 (ammonium noitrate) which supplies nitrogen for plant growth.
12. D. A fern is not a tree, the other three: spruce, fir and pine are common evergreen used as Christmas trees.
13. A. Real candles were used on some Christmas trees way before there was any electricity. However, a real burning candle can cause dangerous fires quite easily and real lighted candles should NEVER be used for a Christmas tree lighting. In fact, bad wiring and electric tree lights on a Christmas tree could cause a electrical short and a fire.
14. E. Santa's real beard would be a protein called keratin. That is the same protein found in hair, skin, finger- and toe- nails and even feathers of birds.
15. A. Snow is crystalline or frozen water.
16. B. Each snowflake is a very unique crystalline pattern. Some have said that no two snowflakes are alike, but since no one has ever analyzed all the snowflakes this cannot be proven. nevertheless, snow crystals are very varied and very different and if you looked at a few hundred, or thousand, or maybe even a million, snowflakes no two would be exactly alike.
17. E. Nicholas. Yes, in Europe, born on Dec. 6, was Saint Nicholas a famous helper and good person. Santa is sometimes called "Saint Nicholas" here, but in Europe he is a celebrated and a very real person who was born in Europe and was well-known as a cheerful and good, helping person.
Questions and Answers Updated: August, 2011
1. Spiders have how many legs?
A. 2 B. 4 C. 6 D. 8 E. 10
2. A spider's web is made of what chemical substance?
A. protein B. starch C. sugar D. lipid or fat
3. Spiders are : A. vegetarians B. omnivores C. carnivores
Cat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
4. The most common, spooky cats of Halloween are of what color?
A. black B. white C. calico D. orange
5. Cats are members of what animal family?
A. ovine B. bovine C canine D. feline
6. A calico cat is an orange, black and white cat or tortoise-shell cat. These cats are almost always
A. females B. males
Owl and Bat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
7. Owls can actually see very well in the dark at night: A. True B. False
8. Owls are:
A. carnivores B. vegetarians C. omnivores
9. Bats navigate and move through the night using:
A. sonar B. radar C. infrared D. night vision
10. Vampire bats are:
A. real B. imaginary and fake
Pumpkin, Herb and Plant Questions for Halloween Science Fun
11. A pumpkin is orange. The orange pigment is what chemical compound or substance?
A. flavanoid B. carotene C. chlorophyll
12. What plant is used to create mazes for people to have fun exploring?
A. wheat B. oats C. barley D. corn
13. A typical, large pumpkin has how many seeds?
A. 1 or 2 B. about 10 C. dozens D. hundreds
14. Brooms, whether used by witches or not, were (and some still are) made here in the United States from:
A. corn stalks B. wheat and barley C. witch hazel D. oak trees E. pine trees
15. Herbs that are used during the holidays are parts of:
A. animals B. trees C. plants
16. Which one of the following is not a herb?
A. thyme B. rosemary C. oregano D. jasmine
17. What special vegetation is supposed to protect against vampires?
A. lettuce B. mint C. spinach D. celery E. garlic
18. A toadstool is a type of:
A. frog B. mushroom C. kettle D. bottle
Skeletons and Other Halloween Science Fun Questions
19. A human skeleton is what kind of skeleton?
A. exoskeleton B. endoskeleton
20. Another name for the skull of a skeleton is:
A. android B. branium C. cranium D. deltoid
21. The skeleton of humans and animals is made of what chemical compound?
A. sodium and potassium chloride B. calcium carbonate C. calcium chloride D. calcium phosphate
22. A place where the dead are buried is:
A. seminary B. crematorium C. sanitorium D. cemetery
23. The graveside place where most information about a dead person is written is:
A. footstone B. headstone C. coffin
24. On Halloween you might run across a "firefly" or glow worm. What is a firefly?
A. a real fly B. a beetle C. actually a spider D. a real worm
25. What special chemical is needed for "bioluminescence" and permits the fireflies to light or glow?
A. ATP B. glucose C. fructose D. starch E. NAD
26. Fog and mist seen at night is really:
A. carbon dioxide B. carbon monoxide C. nitrogen gas D. water
27. An "apparition" is most like or resembles a:
A. ghost B. frog C. witch D. elf E. toadstool
28. Which one of the following is true and not imaginary, virtual or fake?
A. spooks B. elves C. witches D. goblins E. fairies
29. When you put on a costume or look to appear as something else that process is like what some animals can do -
A. preen B. prune C mimic D. communicate E vegetate
30. Animals or people that blend in and hide in their environment are said to be
A. hibernating B. camouflaged C. piebald D. pinnate
Answers to the Halloween Questions follow below..
Have a Happy, Safe and "Scientific" Halloween.
Answers to Spider Questions for Halloween Science Fun
1. D. All spiders have 8 legs. True insects (e.g. butterflies, moths, bees, ants, etc.) have 6 legs
2. A. Protein is the biochemical composition of a spider's web.
3. C. Spiders are carnivores that usually "eat" other insects.
Answers to Cat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
4. A. black is the most common, color used for spooky cats of Halloween?
5. D. Cats are members of the feline animal family? Ovine are sheep, bovine are cattle and canine are dogs
6. A. Females, that is what calico cats are who are orange, black and white cat or tortoise-shell cat.
Answers to Owl and Bat Questions for Halloween Science Fun
7. A. True. Owls can actually see (and hear) very well in the dark at night:
8. A. Owls are carnivores – they eat other animals.
9. A. Bats navigate and move through the night using sonar (echolocation).
10. A. Vampire bats are real.
Answers to Pumpkin, Herb and Plant Questions for Halloween Science Fun
11. B. A pumpkin is orange because of the orange pigment chemical compound carotene.
12. D. Corn is used to create mazes for people to have fun exploring?
13. D. A typical, large pumpkin has hundreds of seeds.
.
14. A. Corn stalks are used to make most natural brooms.
15. C. Herbs are plants.
16. D. Jasmine is not a herb – it is a sweet-smelling, white-flowered plant. All the others in the list are herbs.
17. E. Garlic according to the legend and fiction stories protects against vampires which are fictional, supposed blood-sucking people; vampire bats are real and garlic does not protect against these real, blood-sucking bats.
18. B. Toadstools are a variety or type of mushroom. And yes, sometimes a small frog might sit on a mushroom. and it would be a toadstool..
Answers to Skeletons and Other Halloween Science Fun Questions
19. B. Endoskeletons are inside the body. Human and many animal skeletons are inside and under the skin and muscle of the animal. In contrast, insects and crustaceans (crabs, lobsters, shrimp), shellfish (clams, mussels, etc.) and snails are examples of animals that have exoskeletons that enclose and protect soft tissue underneath or within.
20. C. Cranium is another name for a skull. The cranium surrounds and protects the brain.
21. D. Calcium phosphate is the material or chemical compound of bone. It is tough and strong. Calcium carbonate is what sea shells and limetone are made of.
22. D. Cemetery is a place where the dead are buried.
23. B. The headstone contains the most information at the grave of a dead person. Uusally there is the full name, date of birth and death and an inscription of one sort or another that bears a message.
24. B. A firefly or gloworm is a beetle that flies and can flash periodic light signals to other fireflies.
25. A. ATP is an energy molecule that reacts with luciferan under the direction and control of an enzyme called luciferanse to produce light or bioluminescence in fireflies.
26. D. Water vapor that can be seen like clouds on the ground whether at at night or day is fog and mist.
27. A. An apparition is a vision of a ghost or suddenly appearing "presence".
28. C. Witches are people who practice sorcery, spells, acts of magic or simply witchcraft which is a form of religion called "Wicca". There are many forms of witchcraft. Hollywood and movies made there and elsewhere have made witchcraft spectacular, scary and spooky.
29. C. Mimic means something or someone acts like something else by appearance or movement. Someone could mimic a horse by "whinnying" like a horse or galloping like a horse, or someone could mimic a cat by meowing and licking a hand just like a paw would be licked by a cat.
30. B. Camouflaged means that an animal or person is covered or hidden to blend in with the environment. Chameleons can change colors to look like the backgound of their environment.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Science Questions
Turkey Questions
1. A turkey would be a member of what family?
A. avian B. reptile C. arachnids D. mammals E. canine
2. A turkey feather chemically is mainly composed of:
A. carbohydrate B. fat C. nucleic acid D. protein
3. How many toes does a typical turkey have? A. 2 B. 3 C. 4 D. 5
4. A male turkey is called a: A. turk B. hob C. bob D. tom
5. If you see a male and a female turkey which one is the most colorful?
A. male B. female C. both look the same
Plant Questions
6. Corn is what kind or type of plant?
A. dicot B. monocot
7. Corn meal would be highest in content or amount of:
A. carbohydrate B. fat C. lipid D. protein
8. Which one of the following tree timbers was used to construct most of the Pilgrim's Mayflower ship?
A. beech B. birch C. maple D. oak E. pine
9. Christmas trees are what type of tree?
A. deciduous B. evergreen
10. Which type tree is most different from the others?
A. fir B. birch C. pine D. spruce
11. The type fertilizer used by the early settlers for growing crops is called:
A. guano B. manure C. phosphate D. potassium
12. Which one of these would not be used as a typical Christmas tree?
A. pine B. spruce C. fir D. fern
Some Other Christmas Science Questions
13. The first Christmas trees were lighted or illuminated in homes by:
A. candles B. fireflies C. tiny electric bulbs
14. Santa Claus, as well as all real-bearded people, have natural beards that are chemically of what material or substance?
A. carbohydrate B. cellulose C. starch D. polysaccahride E. protein
15. A snowflake is A. crystalline B. non-crystalline
16. Snowflakes are very A. similar B. disssimilar
17. A person who was a kind of real Santa Claus was:
A. Arnold B. Bob C. Conrad D. Dennis E. Nicholas
Answers to Thanksgiving and Christmas Science Questions
1. A. A turkey is an avian or member of the brid family.
2. D. The turkey feather, as all feathers, is made of protein called keratin. Our hair, skin and nails contain keratin.
3. B. A turkey has three toes on each of its two feet.
4. D. A male turkey is a called tom turkey.
5. A. Male turkeys are more colorful than females.
6. B. Corn is a monocot plant. When a corn seed germinates it sends up one (mono) cotyledon (single leaf). A bean or pea plant is an example of a dicot, they each produce 2 seed leaves (cotyledons) when they first germinate.
7. A. Cornmeal has much cabohydrate compared to any other biochemical compound.
8. D. Ships like the Mayflower were built from oak timbers.
9. B. Evergreen trees are the type most often used at Christmas. Evergreen trees are naturally green throughout the year.
10. B. Birch is the type tree most different from firs, pines and spruces.
11. B. Manure from animals was often used by the colonists to fertilize crops. Horse, cattle, goats, sheep, and chicken manures were the common types of fertilizers used to grow big, healthy plants like corn, tomatoes, and squash and pumpkins in those days. Manure is the waste or "poop" of the animal and it is rich in nitrogen that helps plant grow well. Manure is used today by many people who do organic gardening. A non-organic nitrogen fertilizer is NH4NO3 (ammonium noitrate) which supplies nitrogen for plant growth.
12. D. A fern is not a tree, the other three: spruce, fir and pine are common evergreen used as Christmas trees.
13. A. Real candles were used on some Christmas trees way before there was any electricity. However, a real burning candle can cause dangerous fires quite easily and real lighted candles should NEVER be used for a Christmas tree lighting. In fact, bad wiring and electric tree lights on a Christmas tree could cause a electrical short and a fire.
14. E. Santa's real beard would be a protein called keratin. That is the same protein found in hair, skin, finger- and toe- nails and even feathers of birds.
15. A. Snow is crystalline or frozen water.
16. B. Each snowflake is a very unique crystalline pattern. Some have said that no two snowflakes are alike, but since no one has ever analyzed all the snowflakes this cannot be proven. nevertheless, snow crystals are very varied and very different and if you looked at a few hundred, or thousand, or maybe even a million, snowflakes no two would be exactly alike.
17. E. Nicholas. Yes, in Europe, born on Dec. 6, was Saint Nicholas a famous helper and good person. Santa is sometimes called "Saint Nicholas" here, but in Europe he is a celebrated and a very real person who was born in Europe and was well-known as a cheerful and good, helping person.
Questions and Answers Updated: August, 2011
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The author is a Freelance Science writer, and is available for specific assignments for those who are interested – by contacting adminstrator@sciencesuperchool.com. Other questions related to this teaching site should be directed to teacher@sciencesuperschool.com.
The author is a Freelance Science writer, and is available for specific assignments for those who are interested – by contacting adminstrator@sciencesuperchool.com. Other questions related to this teaching site should be directed to teacher@sciencesuperschool.com.