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Quizzes > Science

Earth Day quiz: True or false eco facts

Quick, free Earth Day true or false quiz to test your knowledge. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Dr. Heather BrowneUpdated Aug 26, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration of globe leaves and animals on golden yellow background for Earth Day true false quiz

This Earth Day quiz lets you test what you know about recycling, wildlife, energy, and oceans with quick true or false questions. See myths busted, learn fast facts, and get instant results. For more, try our sustainability quiz, explore the environmental sustainability quiz, or take a broader true or false quiz.

Earth Day is celebrated on April 22 each year.
False
True
Earth Day was first celebrated on April 22, 1970, to raise awareness about environmental issues and has since become an annual global event. It mobilizes millions of people in more than 190 countries to advocate for green policies and sustainable practices. Every year communities organize cleanups, tree plantings, and educational events to promote environmental stewardship.
Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
False
True
Recycling aluminum saves up to 95% of the energy required to produce new aluminum from raw ore. The energy saved by recycling a single can can indeed power a television for several hours. This energy efficiency significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.
The largest part of the Earth's surface is covered by water.
True
False
Approximately 71% of the Earth's surface is covered by water, primarily oceans, with the remaining 29% consisting of continents and islands. This vast water coverage plays a crucial role in regulating climate and supporting marine biodiversity.
Using LED bulbs reduces energy consumption compared to incandescent bulbs.
False
True
LED bulbs use up to 75% less energy and last 20 times longer than traditional incandescent bulbs. This efficiency cuts electricity bills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from power plants. Switching to LEDs is an easy way for households to lower their carbon footprint.
Composting food scraps reduces methane emissions from landfills.
False
True
When organic waste decomposes anaerobically in landfills, it produces methane, a potent greenhouse gas. Composting diverts these materials to an aerobic process that primarily emits carbon dioxide, which has a lower global warming potential. Compost also enriches soil and reduces the need for chemical fertilizers.
Plastic is biodegradable within six months.
True
False
Most conventional plastics take hundreds of years to break down, if they break down at all, and they fragment into microplastics that persist in the environment. Biodegradable plastics require specific conditions to decompose and may still take longer than six months.
The ozone layer protects the Earth from harmful UV radiation.
False
True
The ozone layer, located in the stratosphere, absorbs the majority of the Sun's harmful ultraviolet (UV-B and UV-C) radiation. Without this shield, life on Earth would be exposed to high levels of UV radiation, leading to increased skin cancers and ecological damage. Ozone-depleting substances have been phased out under the Montreal Protocol to protect this layer.
Carpooling can help reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
True
False
Sharing a ride with others reduces the number of vehicles on the road, cutting fuel consumption and CO? emissions. Carpooling also alleviates traffic congestion and can reduce air pollution in urban areas. It's an easy action individuals can take to lower their carbon footprint.
The Amazon rainforest produces 20% of the world's oxygen.
False
True
While the Amazon produces a significant amount of oxygen through photosynthesis, most of it is consumed by the forest's own respiration and decomposition. Global oxygen levels are maintained primarily by oceanic phytoplankton. The 20% figure is a common myth.
Solar panels generate electricity by converting sunlight into chemical energy.
True
False
Solar panels use photovoltaic cells to convert sunlight directly into electrical energy, not chemical energy. The photovoltaic effect releases electrons when photons strike the cell, generating an electric current.
Electric cars produce zero emissions during operation.
True
False
Electric vehicles emit no tailpipe pollutants like CO?, NO?, or particulate matter during operation. However, the total emissions depend on the electricity source used for charging. When powered by renewable energy, their operational emissions are effectively zero.
Eating a plant-based diet generally has a lower carbon footprint than a meat-based diet.
False
True
Animal agriculture contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions, land use, and water consumption compared to plant-based foods. Shifting toward plant-based diets can reduce individual food-related emissions by up to 50%.
Wind turbines can cause significant CO? emissions during operation.
False
True
Wind turbines produce electricity without burning fossil fuels, so their operational phase emits no CO?. The primary emissions associated with wind power occur during manufacturing, transportation, installation, and decommissioning, which are relatively low over the turbine's lifetime.
Freshwater makes up about 50% of Earth's water resources.
False
True
Less than 3% of the Earth's water is freshwater, and most of that is locked in glaciers, ice caps, or deep underground. Accessible freshwater in lakes, rivers, and shallow groundwater is only about 1% of total freshwater.
LED bulbs contain mercury.
True
False
LED bulbs do not contain mercury; they use light-emitting diodes to produce light. Mercury is found in small amounts in fluorescent and CFL bulbs, which require special disposal procedures. LEDs are safer to handle and dispose of at end-of-life.
Battery recycling helps conserve resources and reduce pollution.
True
False
Recycling batteries recovers valuable metals like lithium, cobalt, and nickel, reducing the need for new mining and lowering energy use. Proper recycling also prevents harmful chemicals from leaching into the environment.
Earth's average surface temperature has risen by about 1.2°C since the late 19th century.
False
True
Scientific measurements show that global average surface temperatures have increased by approximately 1.2°C (2.2°F) since the late 1800s due to human activities like burning fossil fuels. This warming trend leads to more extreme weather events and melting ice caps.
Recycling paper uses more water than producing new paper from trees.
True
False
Recycling paper typically uses about 40% less water compared to making paper from virgin pulp. It also saves trees and reduces energy consumption. Water usage in recycled paper production varies but remains lower than new-paper processes.
The Great Pacific Garbage Patch is primarily composed of microplastics.
False
True
Research indicates that microplastics - tiny particles less than 5 mm - make up a large portion of the debris in the Great Pacific Garbage Patch. Although larger items are more visible, microplastics account for most of the patch's estimated 1.8 trillion pieces of plastic.
Biodegradable plastics break down completely in standard landfills within a year.
False
True
Standard landfills lack the oxygen, moisture, and microbial activity required for many biodegradable plastics to decompose rapidly. Many so-called biodegradable plastics still persist for years in landfill conditions. Specialized industrial composting facilities are usually needed for proper breakdown.
Reforestation can act as a carbon sink by absorbing CO? from the atmosphere.
True
False
Growing new forests captures carbon dioxide as trees photosynthesize and store carbon in biomass and soil. Properly managed reforestation projects can offset emissions and help mitigate climate change.
The majority of plastic in the ocean comes from fishing gear.
True
False
Studies estimate that abandoned, lost, or discarded fishing gear constitutes up to 46% of the Great Pacific Garbage Patch by weight. This 'ghost gear' continues to trap marine life and damage ecosystems for decades.
Methane has a shorter atmospheric lifetime but a higher global warming potential than CO?.
False
True
Methane (CH?) remains in the atmosphere for about 12 years, whereas CO? can persist for centuries. However, methane's heat-trapping ability is about 28 - 36 times greater than CO? over a 100-year period.
Nuclear energy produces zero greenhouse gas emissions during electricity generation.
False
True
Nuclear power plants do not burn fossil fuels and therefore do not emit CO? or other greenhouse gases during electricity generation. Emissions are associated with construction, uranium mining, and waste handling, but operational emissions are negligible.
The global permafrost contains twice as much carbon as is currently in the atmosphere.
True
False
Permafrost soils store an estimated 1,500 gigatons of carbon - about twice the amount present in the atmosphere today. Thawing permafrost releases CO? and methane, which can accelerate climate warming in a feedback loop.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Earth Day Origins -

    Understand the historical background and significance of Earth Day, including key milestones and its global impact.

  2. Distinguish Fact from Fiction -

    Identify true environmental facts versus common misconceptions through the Earth Day quiz true or false format.

  3. Recall Wildlife Trivia -

    Memorize surprising animal-related environmental facts featured in the earth day quiz animals segment.

  4. Apply Green Practices -

    Use practical tips and insights from the quiz to adopt more eco-friendly habits in everyday life.

  5. Assess Personal Eco-IQ -

    Evaluate your own environmental knowledge and pinpoint areas for improvement after taking the earth day trivia quiz.

  6. Boost Environmental Awareness -

    Gain motivation and resources to deepen your understanding of sustainability and participate in future green initiatives.

Cheat Sheet

  1. The History and Impact of Earth Day -

    Earth Day launched on April 22, 1970, after Senator Gaylord Nelson organized a nationwide "teach-in" that mobilized 20 million Americans and led to the creation of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (Source: EPA.gov). Use the mnemonic "4/22" to lock in the date and remember its role in sparking a global environmental movement engaging over a billion participants annually (EarthDay.org).

  2. Understanding the Greenhouse Effect -

    Carbon dioxide (CO₂) is a key greenhouse gas, and its formula (CO₂) indicates one carbon atom bonded to two oxygen atoms; rising levels trap more infrared radiation in our atmosphere (Source: NASA.gov). A simple climate relation is ΔT∝ln(C/C₀), meaning temperature change grows with the natural log of CO₂ concentration relative to preindustrial levels, reinforcing why current ~419 ppm readings matter (NOAA.gov).

  3. Biodiversity and Wildlife Conservation -

    According to the UN, nearly 1 million species face extinction due to habitat loss, pollution, and climate change, making "Earth Day quiz animals" a fun way to test your eco-IQ while learning about vulnerable creatures (UN Biodiversity Report). Remember "B for Biodiversity" to recall why protecting ecosystems - from tropical forests to coral reefs - is crucial for planetary health.

  4. Mastering the 3Rs: Reduce, Reuse, Recycle -

    The "3Rs" mnemonic helps cut waste: reducing consumption, reusing items, and recycling materials can lower household emissions by up to 40% (EPA.gov). For example, recycling one ton of paper saves 17 mature trees and 7,000 gallons of water - quick facts perfect for any earth day facts quiz.

  5. Practical Carbon Footprint Tips -

    Switching to LED bulbs cuts lighting energy use by about 75%, saving roughly 550 lbs of CO₂ per year for an average household (Energy.gov). Also, driving one less gallon of gasoline per week avoids 8.8 kg of CO₂, making small lifestyle tweaks a powerful way to boost your green awareness.

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