Common Items Quiz

[emonrad87]

The average person only gets 7 right.

This is based on U.S. info, so use all lobes of your brain. This can be more difficult than it looks - it just shows how little most of us really see!

There are 25 questions about things we see every day or have
known about all our lives. How many can you get right?
These little simple questions are harder than you think-- it just
shows you how little we pay attention to the commonplace
things of life.

Put your thinking caps on. No cheating! No looking around! No
getting out of your chair! No using anything on or in your desk or
computer!

Can you beat 20?? It is nearly impossible for any normal person to get higher than a 20 (The average is 7). Write down your answers and check answers (on the bottom) AFTER completing all the questions.

REMEMBER - NO CHEATING!!! BE HONEST!!! That means no looking at your phone or anything on your desk...

Then, before you repost this, change the number on the subject line to show how many you got correct.

LET'S JUST SEE HOW OBSERVANT YOU REALLY ARE. - If not, just
have fun!

Here we go!



1. On a standard traffic light, is the green on the top or bottom?

2. How many states are there in the USA? (Don't laugh, some
people don't know)


3. In which hand is the Statue of Liberty's torch?


4. What six colors are on the classic Campbell's soup label?


5. What two numbers on the telephone dial don't have letters by
them?


6. When you walk does your left arm swing with your right or left
leg? (Don't you dare get up to see!)


7. How many matches are in a standard pack?


8. On the United States flag is the top stripe red or white?


9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?


10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?


11. Which way does a "no smoking" sign's slash run?


12. How many channels on a VHF TV dial?


13. On which side of a women's blouse are the buttons?


14. Which way do fans rotate?


15. How many sides does a stop sign have?


16. Do books have even-numbered pages on the right or left
side?


17. How many lug nuts are on a standard car wheel?


18. How many sides are there on a standard pencil?


19. Sleepy, Happy, Sneezy, Grumpy, Dopey, Doc. Who's missing?


20. How many hot dog buns are in a standard package?


21. On which playing card is the card maker's trademark?


22. On which side of a Venetian blind is the cord that adjusts
the opening between the slats?


23. There are 12 buttons on a touch tone phone. What 2 symbols bear no digits?


24. How many curves are there in the standard paper clip?


25. Does a merry-go-round turn counter or clockwise?







ANSWERS (In white)

<font color="white"> 1. Bottom

2. 50

3. Right

4. Blue, red, white, yellow, black, &amp;gold

5. 1, 0

6. Right

7. 20

8. Red

9. 87.7

10. Clockwise (north of the equator)

11. Towards bottom right

12. 12 (no number 1)

13. Left

14. Clockwise as you look at it

15. 8

16. Left

17. 5

18. 6

19. Bashful

20. 8

21. Ace of spades

22. Left

23. *, pound

24. 3

25. Counter </font>


NOW REPOST WITH THE NUMBER YOU GOT CORRECT IN THE SUBJECT LINE!

Don't lie either!

[emonrad87]

I got 21.... Missed #7, 9, 12, and 20.

[daryn]

i got 4 wrong:

damn campbell's soup
no smoking
women's blouse
tv channels

by the way, water drains counter-clockwise in my toilet


[ QUOTE ]
? It is nearly impossible for any normal person to get higher than a 20

[/ QUOTE ]

"LOL"

[WackityWhiz]

Daryn, just accept that you are above normal...

I got 17 right... I thought I did better but I somehow missed most the ones where there were only 2 possible answers

[N 82 50 24]

I got 21, although I kinda think I should have gotten 21.83 to be fair.

4. I missed gold on the Campbell's label. I never eat that stuff so my answers were guesses anyway. I shouldn't get 5/6 credit here?

9. So close! I guessed 88.0 and it's 87.7. Damn presets have made it so I don't scroll down through that area of the dial.

12. C'mon, that's unfair. Who actually uses a TV with those things on it anymore? It took me a couple of minutes to even recall what you were talking about and then I remembered seeing something like that on my grandmother's old TV.

19. Sorry, haven't read that story in years, no clue who I was looking for.

[dblgutshot]

10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

this question should be removed

[New001]

I only got 17. /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Soup label (don't eat it), matches (don't smoke), FM radio (haven't used one in years), no smoking slash (!), channels, lug nuts, hot dogs (don't eat them), and merry-go-round.

[roxtar]

16 right. I always thought that the way water went down a drain was dependant on which hemisphere you were in.

[ QUOTE ]
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

this question should be removed

[/ QUOTE ]

Yes. That it goes down one standard way is a myth (the coriolis effect is too small on such a small scale).

[BCPVP]

18. Missed 4 (gold), 5, 7, 9 (88 also), 12, 16, and 19. How can the average be 7?!

[DCIAce]

21.

Missed #3 (right hand seemed too obvious /images/graemlins/tongue.gif ), #4 (got 4 out of 6 colors), #9 (88.3), and #24 (4)

The average person has to get more than 7 right, I'd think.

[roxtar]

[ QUOTE ]
The average person has to get more than 7 right, I'd think.

[/ QUOTE ]

You obviously give the average person way too much credit.

[Lazymeatball]

[ QUOTE ]
16 right. I always thought that the way water went down a drain was dependant on which hemisphere you were in.

[/ QUOTE ]

18 right

somehow I screwed up the traffic light, the phone thing with the letters, campbells soup (this question is kind of dumb considering there are more than three colors, and they count gold and yellow as seperate colors) the VHF (which is wicked outdated and trivial), hot dog buns (i should have known this), ventein blinds (i don't own them) and merry go round (just guessed wrong)

so doesn't anyone realise that the Coriolis effect is only one of many forces acting upon a body of water and for the most part it plays a minor role in the direction of flow in your toilet.

And 10 of these questions are 50/50 toss ups, so the idea that the avg person only gets 7 right is a joke, statistically they should get 5 right through chance and then have 15 more to work on.

[Matt Flynn]

22 - I didn't wait to figure out Bashful, got a soup color wrong, and missed 87.7.

[spamuell]

The average person or the average American only gets 7 right? That wasn't a suggestion that Americans are stupid btw, it was that lots of these questions are about the US.

I got 17 which I think isn't too bad for an "alien". /images/graemlins/tongue.gif

[Maulik]

13.

i feel terrible. worst OOT'r ever.

[mmbt0ne]

19

4. Red, White, Black, Gold, and two more
9. 85.5
10. counter clockwise
11. top right, to bottom left
12. what's a vhf dial /images/graemlins/tongue.gif
13. right side

[jonoo]

I dont know what a VHF TV is so that didnt help.

[Los Feliz Slim]

I got 20.

I missed 6, 9, 12, 19, and 24.

No way that 7 is average. That would mean a lot of people get less than 7, which is beyond my comprehension.

[Blarg]

15 right.

I got all but one of the directional spin ones wrong. Guess I don't pay attention.

The matchbook one and FM dial were rough -- I haven't looked at a radio dial in years and I don't smoke and probably haven't opened a matchbook in at least 10 years.

And the campbell's soup one. Black white yellow red -- after that I thought I remembered blue but never thought of gold as a color separate from yellow. Tricky one for me, oh well.

I'm surprised I remembered the traffic signal and the no smoking/don't do this sign incorrectly.

Very cool poll by the way.

[Voltron87]

22, i missed bashful (wtf question is that), the VHF dial question (wtf is that) and lug nuts on a car (wtf is that, although my total guess was 6 which isnt bad).

[Blarg]

I could see it. This is more about paying attention to minutiae or having a somewhat photographic memory than anything like intelligence.

[RiverFenix]

Post deleted by astroglide

[Blarg]

What, cutting and pasting the answers in, including some wrong ones?

[Solami17]

If 7 is the average, this just goes to show how dumb some ppl really are...hopefully they will be sitting at your table!

[Voltron87]

the campbells color for me was a miracle guess, it was such a good guess im going to give myself a lot of credit.

[waffle]

I got 20 and I'm a retard.

Like everyone else, I call bs on
[ QUOTE ]

Can you beat 20?? It is nearly impossible for any normal person to get higher than a 20 (The average is 7).


[/ QUOTE ]

There are 11 questions that are "A or B" (1,3,6,8,10,11,13,14,16,22,25). So someone who knows absolutely nothing and just guesses on these questions will average a 5.5. They only need to know a few mundane facts to hit 7.

Why would the quiz-maker include this false scoring info in the quiz? Is it designed to make the taker feel like they're s00per intelligent when it's really pretty easy?

[Blarg]

I think guessing on a quiz like this is pretty counter-productive.

[emonrad87]

For all those that are saying that 7 seems like a real low average... well, just remember there are people out there who don't even know the name of the President of the USA (and are American citizens), etc. I would guess the people on this board would generally be of above average intelligence.

I didn't write the quiz (obv.) and i don't know if those stats are really correct or not.

[runner4life7]

if you get less than a 7 you should be killed because you have nothing to give to society. I got a 19 thankfully, missing cambells(all but gold), matches(dont smoke), fm radio (88.3 close enough), no smoking sign, wtf is VHF i put 66 to be random, bashful

[ QUOTE ]
The average person only gets 7 right.


[/ QUOTE ]

The average person in the US is retarded?

[Talk2BigSteve]

I got 21 I knew the Campbell's question because it was on jeopardy a while back.

#5--1 and 0??? 1 has nothing but 0 clearly has the letters O-P-E-R on it! /images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Big Steve /images/graemlins/cool.gif

[Rick Nebiolo]

I got 21 right (missing the Cambell's can, SOL torch, .2 off on FM, and Bashful). Don't understand how the average can be only seven, since about eleven answers are either or and many others have only a few reasonable guesses.

BTW, the clockwise, counterclockwise drain answer is urban myth (http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_161).

~ Rick

20 correct
missed 4,9,10,12,19
Apparently I don't know soup, the FM dial, drains, vhf tv, or dwarfs.

[man]

[ QUOTE ]
20 correct
missed 4,9,10,12,19
Apparently I don't know soup, the FM dial, drains, vhf tv, or dwarfs.

[/ QUOTE ]

[Duke]

Campbell's soup got me, since after red white and gold I'm lost.

The rest were exactly what the test was talking about - being observant. It's tough to believe that the average is 7, though. That's absurd.

~D

[Dudd]

I only got 12. Missed 3,4,5,7,9,12,13,15,17,18,19,22,24.

[kyro]

17 /images/graemlins/frown.gif

Haven't looked at other results but I imagine the average is 20-22.

[NutzyClutz]

Missed 3, soup colors, fm-dial, lug nuts

[d10]

I missed the Campbells soup question (got 4 colors right, guessed randomly on the other 2 and missed), the matches (randomly guessed, I was way off), the FM radio dial (I should have known that one), and the VHF TV dial (whoever knows this is really showing their age). The rest weren't that hard I didn't think. Anyone who can only get 7 must be retarded.

[d10]

[ QUOTE ]
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

this question should be removed

[/ QUOTE ]

The lugnuts question should also be removed. It depends entirely on the weight/quality of the car. Cheap small cars all use 4 lugs. Higher quality cars or heavier cars use 5. Vans and trucks could use 6 or more. I guessed both 4 and 5 and was going to consider myself correct on that question no matter what the answer was because cars are split pretty evenly between 4 and 5 lugs.

[xorbie]

Missed campels, matches, lowest FM, dward, VHF, lugnut and pencil.

[tshort]

[ QUOTE ]
9. What is the lowest number on the FM dial?

[/ QUOTE ]

FM frequency band is from 88 to 108 mhz. Is there a standard for dials to go to 87.7? No FM radio will be broadcasted below 88 mhz, so it depends on your radio.

[Duke]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

this question should be removed

[/ QUOTE ]

The lugnuts question should also be removed. It depends entirely on the weight/quality of the car. Cheap small cars all use 4 lugs. Higher quality cars or heavier cars use 5. Vans and trucks could use 6 or more. I guessed both 4 and 5 and was going to consider myself correct on that question no matter what the answer was because cars are split pretty evenly between 4 and 5 lugs.

[/ QUOTE ]

5 is pretty standard, and I've never heard of 4 though I'll take your word for it that they exist somewhere.

Semis use 10. Indy cars use 1 these days.

~D

[gmrankin]

15

[ghostface]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
10. Which way does water go down the drain, counter or clockwise?

this question should be removed

[/ QUOTE ]

The lugnuts question should also be removed. It depends entirely on the weight/quality of the car. Cheap small cars all use 4 lugs. Higher quality cars or heavier cars use 5. Vans and trucks could use 6 or more. I guessed both 4 and 5 and was going to consider myself correct on that question no matter what the answer was because cars are split pretty evenly between 4 and 5 lugs.

[/ QUOTE ]

5 is pretty standard, and I've never heard of 4 though I'll take your word for it that they exist somewhere.

Semis use 10. Indy cars use 1 these days.

~D

[/ QUOTE ]

My civic has 4.

[ilya]

I got every counter/clockwise one wrong....and no I don't live south of the equator....
I didn't know the 7th dwarf, never read it in English.
Got the top stripe on the flag wrong.
Had the FM question right, but went &amp; changed it to a wrong answer at the last minute.

I can't believe I got the Campbell's soup one right...

I'm also proud to have gotten the UHF question, &amp; the car lug bolt question....I don't think I've ever looked at a car wheel up close in my life...

7 seems low...I bet that's a fabricated average to make everyone who takes this feel good about themselves.

[Blarg]

Glad to see I wasn't the only one to screw up all the clockwise/counter-clockwise stuff.

[N 82 50 24]

[ QUOTE ]
FM frequency band is from 88 to 108 mhz. Is there a standard for dials to go to 87.7? No FM radio will be broadcasted below 88 mhz, so it depends on your radio.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, if that's true then I should get another point. I guessed 88.

[ilya]

[ QUOTE ]
Glad to see I wasn't the only one to screw up all the clockwise/counter-clockwise stuff.

[/ QUOTE ]

Great minds stink alike.

[fluxrad]

Fsck Cambpell's Soup.

For most of these I thought of the right answer first, then corrected myself, and gave the wrong answer (e.g. I thought it was XX matches at first, then changed my answer to 15.

[Warik]

I got number 9, 10, 17, 20, and 22 wrong. I did not answer number 4 or 12 because I had no clue.

Not only do I believe that the average score on this test is 7, but I'm also quite confident that it is. I've been observing humans for the past 24 years. They are generally quite stupid.

Approach them with extreme caution.

[stealyourface]

16, bitches.

[mike l.]

.

[mike l.]

the one in my car only goes to 88.1

[smb394]

17 Correct

Missed: Campbell's (said green instead of gold), FM (said 88.1), VHF TV Channels, women's blouse, fans, lugnuts, 7 dwarves, and merry go-round

[smb394]

I believe the answer for #14 is wrong, or incomplete.

My ceiling fan downstairs is counter-clockwise, as I believe all ceiling fans are. I'll call my Dad in the morning to find out the correct answer to this question, as he's worked in the fan industry for the last 30 years.

[fluxrad]

SMB - ceiling fans go both ways if they're worth a damn - this way you can change the rotation from winter to summer.

[smb394]

[ QUOTE ]
SMB - ceiling fans go both ways if they're worth a damn - this way you can change the rotation from winter to summer.

[/ QUOTE ]

Interesting. Guess that gets to the point of the quiz (how much we don't pay attention to things we deem ordinary).

[CheckRaise]

17

the fan question should be removed because fans rotate both ways

[AlexSem]

11

and this is heavily American. # of states? Who gives a [censored], I don't live in the US.

How many buns in a hotdog pack? Um I am not an avid fan of hot dogs etc.

[man]

[ QUOTE ]
My ceiling fan downstairs is counter-clockwise, as I believe all ceiling fans are.

[/ QUOTE ]
it should depend on whether it's summer or winter. in the winter the air is circulated from the ceiling to the floor. in the summer it's the opposite.

[MtnDave]

23 If the FM answer is 88.1 -
I hate Campbells soup (too many preservatives) and I missed 14 - but my fans rotate both ways, so the question should have mentioned summer or winter.

Yes, I am an observant guy - good skill to have at the poker table!

[emonrad87]

[ QUOTE ]
and this is heavily American.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yah, no [censored]. I think most ppl still know how many states the most powerful/influential country in the world has, although I could be wrong. I'm highly biased.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
and this is heavily American.

[/ QUOTE ]

Yah, no [censored]. I think most ppl still know how many states the most powerful/influential country in the world has, although I could be wrong. I'm highly biased.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is sosoo American.

And I thought there were 51 [censored] states in your BS country.

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Yah, no [censored]. I think most ppl still know how many states the most powerful/influential country in the world has, although I could be wrong. I'm highly biased.

[/ QUOTE ]

This is sosoo American.

And I thought there were 51 [censored] states in your BS country.

[/ QUOTE ]

Given the reach of American media and the fact that it's a fairly commonly repeated number therein, I imagine there's a reasonable number of foreigners who know exactly how many states there are in the U.S. Furthermore, I don't think I'm being arrogant in making this speculation, any more than somebody from Japan speculating that I can name at least 5 pokemon would be. /images/graemlins/smile.gif

[DukeSucks]

I knew women's buttons were opposite from mens, but I didn't know which side without looking.

[Blarg]

I had to picture it in my head, and it's the one picture I didn't get reversed, unlike all the clockwise/counter clockwise ones.

[tonypaladino]

I got 21.

I missed Campbell's soup, FM (I said 87.9), Venitian Blinds, and Merry-Go-Round.

[GoblinMason (Craig)]

I got 18, but I did get #12 right. No I am not old.

-Craig

[Warik]

[ QUOTE ]
And I thought there were 51 [censored] states in your BS country.

[/ QUOTE ]

Canada doesn't count.

[Huskiez]

campbells
FM Radio
no smoking
VHF
woman's blouse
lug nuts
sides on a pencil
hot dog buns
venetian blind

[Blarg]

I think they're counting Puerto Rico, the place that doesn't want to be a state of a country that probably doesn't want it for a state anyway.

[emonrad87]

Puerto Rico is messed up

[OtisTheMarsupial]

This is an ad for Campbell's

17. The avg is really 7? I find that hard to believe.

[-Skeme-]

14. I have no idea about blinds, Campbells soup, women's blouses or FM dials.

[Crveballin]

I got 19 right. Sadly I didnt get the US States question right. Others were Statue of Liberty, Cambells, FM dial, VHF TV dial and hot dog buns.

[emonrad87]

Wait, you live in Maryland and don't know how many states there are in the US??

[gabbahh]

This test prolly proves that Americans are smarter...

[w_alloy]

In Anchorage, Alaska there is an alt rock radio station on 87.7, called "the end", so this should have been easy for me.

However, I still got it wrong, because almost all "dials" (digital tuners are differrnt) I've seen only go down to 88, I remember not being able to get this station a few times many years back for this reason.

The question should have been worded "what is the lowest frequency fm radio stations can get a permit to broadcast on in the US?" or something similiar.

[TheWorstPlayer]

that was fun

Coulda sworn I had six hot dog buns in that package.

ScottieK

[theben]

not so hot. me fail english? thats unpossible