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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Fall Trivia Questions: Test Your Autumn Knowledge

Quick, free autumn quiz with answers. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Karlina AlberiUpdated Aug 23, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for autumn knowledge trivia quiz on a golden yellow background.

This quiz helps you tackle fall trivia questions on leaves, harvests, and holidays. Answer quick multiple-choice items, see your score at the end, and learn a few fun facts as you go. When you are done, try our fall foods quiz, explore broader seasonal trivia, or get spooky with halloween music trivia.

What is the astronomical event that marks the start of fall in the Northern Hemisphere?
Winter solstice
Vernal equinox
Summer solstice
Autumnal equinox
The autumnal equinox occurs when the sun crosses the celestial equator heading south, resulting in nearly equal day and night lengths. It marks the official beginning of fall in the Northern Hemisphere. This event typically falls around September 22 or 23 each year.
Which fruit is commonly associated with fall and used for making cider?
Apple
Grape
Banana
Orange
Apples are in peak season during autumn and are the primary fruit used to make hard and sweet ciders. Cider production in many regions dates back centuries to traditional harvest festivals. The crisp and tart flavors of fall apples lend themselves well to fermentation.
Which vegetable is carved into a jack-o'-lantern on Halloween?
Pumpkin
Watermelon
Zucchini
Cabbage
Pumpkins are used for jack-o'-lanterns because of their size, bright orange color, and thick rind that holds a carved design well. The tradition dates back to an Irish myth of "Stingy Jack" and was first practiced with turnips. When immigrants brought the custom to North America, pumpkins became the ideal medium.
In the United States, which holiday is celebrated in fall and involves giving thanks for the harvest?
Memorial Day
Easter
Thanksgiving
Labor Day
Thanksgiving is observed on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States to give thanks for the fall harvest and blessings of the past year. It traces its roots back to 1621 at Plymouth Colony. Typical celebrations include turkey, stuffing, and family gatherings.
What term describes the phenomenon of leaves changing color in autumn?
Fall foliage
Winter dormancy
Photosynthesis
Leaf drop
Fall foliage refers to the vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues that appear as chlorophyll breaks down in leaves. Cooler temperatures and shorter days trigger this color change. The pigments carotenoids and anthocyanins become visible once chlorophyll fades.
Which popular fall beverage is made with steamed milk, espresso, and pumpkin spice flavoring?
Hot chocolate
Chai latte
Pumpkin spice latte
Apple cider
The pumpkin spice latte combines espresso, steamed milk, and a seasonal blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, and clove flavors. It was introduced by a major coffee chain in 2003 and quickly became a fall staple. Its popularity has since inspired a variety of seasonal products.
In which month does autumn begin in the Northern Hemisphere?
June
December
September
March
Autumn in the Northern Hemisphere starts with the autumnal equinox, which occurs in September. Meteorologically, autumn is considered to run from September through November. The equinox marks the sun's crossing of the celestial equator southward.
What is the name of the festival celebrated in Munich, Germany, that takes place in October and features beer?
La Tomatina
Oktoberfest
Holi
Carnival
Oktoberfest is the world's largest beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany, running from late September to the first weekend in October. It began in 1810 as a royal wedding celebration and attracts millions of visitors. Traditional Bavarian music, food, and attire are central to the event.
Which animal is known for its long-distance migration during fall?
Monarch butterfly
Kangaroo
Polar bear
Giant panda
Monarch butterflies migrate thousands of miles from North America to central Mexico each fall. Their journey covers up to 3,000 miles and spans several generations. This migration is one of the most remarkable phenomena in the insect world.
Which nut is commonly harvested in the fall and used in pies?
Pecan
Almond
Cashew
Peanut
Pecans are in season during autumn and are a staple ingredient in classic pecan pie. They grow on pecan trees mainly in the southern United States. The rich, buttery flavor of pecans lends itself perfectly to sweet and savory fall dishes.
What phenomenon causes daylight hours to decrease in fall?
Earth moving farther from the sun
Earth's axial tilt
Sun shrinking in size
Slower rotation of Earth
As Earth orbits the sun, its axial tilt causes the Northern Hemisphere to angle away from the sun in fall. This tilt reduces the sun's apparent path in the sky and shortens daylight hours. It also leads to cooler temperatures and seasonal changes.
What U.S. holiday involving costumes and candy takes place in fall?
Independence Day
Thanksgiving
Valentine's Day
Halloween
Halloween is celebrated on October 31, featuring costumes, trick-or-treating, and candy giveaways. Its roots trace back to the Celtic festival of Samhain, when people believed the boundary between the living and the dead was blurred. Modern festivities also include haunted houses and themed parties.
What ancient Celtic festival is considered a precursor to modern Halloween?
Lughnasadh
Samhain
Beltane
Imbolc
Samhain was a Gaelic festival held on November 1 to mark the end of the harvest and the beginning of winter. It included bonfires and costumes to ward off spirits. Many modern Halloween customs derive from Samhain traditions.
Which grain is often harvested and ground into flour for fall breads and pies?
Oats
Rice
Corn
Wheat
Wheat is a primary grain crop harvested in late summer and early fall in many regions. It is milled into flour for breads, pies, and pastries enjoyed throughout autumn. Wheat's gluten structure gives baked goods their characteristic texture.
What process leads to the breakdown of chlorophyll and reveals carotenoids in leaves?
Photosynthesis
Abscission
Transpiration
Senescence
Senescence is the aging process in leaves that causes chlorophyll to degrade. As chlorophyll levels decline, yellow and orange carotenoids become visible. This biological process is triggered by shorter daylight and cooler temperatures.
Which U.S. state is the largest producer of pumpkins?
Texas
Illinois
California
Florida
Illinois leads the United States in pumpkin production, accounting for over half of the nation's output. The state's climate and soil are ideal for growing the big, round pumpkins favored for processing. Illinois pumpkins are used in canned pie filling and other products.
During fall, which constellation is prominent in the evening sky in the Northern Hemisphere?
Pegasus
Orion
Ursa Major
Scorpius
Pegasus becomes visible in the early evening sky of autumn, especially after sunset in September and October. Its Great Square asterism is a distinctive pattern. Orion is more prominent in winter, while Scorpius appears in summer.
What chemical compound gives leaves their red pigment in autumn?
Chlorophyll
Carotenoids
Anthocyanins
Xanthophyll
Anthocyanins are pigments produced in leaves during autumn that impart red and purple hues. They form in response to light and sugar concentration in cells. Carotenoids are responsible for yellow and orange colors, while chlorophyll gives green.
On which date does the autumnal equinox most commonly occur?
September 23
September 22
September 21
September 24
The autumnal equinox usually falls on September 22, though it can vary by a day due to the way our calendar aligns with Earth's orbit. On this date, day and night are nearly equal in length across the globe. The equinox marks the sun crossing the celestial equator.
In the traditional Chinese solar term system, which term signifies the start of autumn?
Dong Zhi
Li Dong
Li Xia
Li Qiu
Li Qiu, meaning "Beginning of Autumn," is the 13th solar term in the Chinese calendar, marking the transition from summer to autumn. It typically begins around August 7 or 8 in the Gregorian calendar. This term signals cooling temperatures and rice harvests.
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Fall Trivia Questions -

    Break down each question to understand common patterns and topics in fall trivia, enhancing your ability to tackle similar autumn trivia challenges.

  2. Recall Autumn Traditions -

    Retrieve key information about harvest customs, fall festivals, and seasonal rituals featured in the quiz to deepen your knowledge of autumn trivia.

  3. Identify Seasonal Phenomena -

    Recognize facts about colorful leaves, migration patterns, and weather changes that are often highlighted in fall trivia questions with answers.

  4. Interpret Historical Origins -

    Understand the background of popular fall traditions and how they evolved, equipping you with context for future trivia for fall quizzes.

  5. Evaluate Your Autumn IQ -

    Assess your level of expertise by comparing your quiz results with standard metrics, motivating further exploration of fall trivia topics.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Leaf Color Chemistry -

    Chlorophyll breakdown in autumn exposes carotenoids and prompts anthocyanin synthesis, creating reds, oranges, and yellows (NASA Earth Observatory). Use the mnemonic "CAB" (Chlorophyll → Anthocyanins → Beta-carotene) to recall the pigment order. This chemical cascade is a staple topic in fall trivia questions.

  2. Meteorological vs. Astronomical Autumn -

    Understanding distinctions matters for fall trivia: meteorological autumn spans September - November in the Northern Hemisphere, while astronomical autumn runs from the September equinox to the December solstice (NOAA). Remember "Week Count vs. Sun's Tilt" to differentiate the calendar-based season from the astronomical one. This concept frequently appears in autumn trivia.

  3. Global Harvest Traditions -

    Diverse cultural celebrations mark the fall harvest, from North America's Thanksgiving to China's Mid-Autumn Festival under a full moon (Smithsonian Institution). A simple memory trick: "Full Moon Feast" links the festival's lunar date with harvest rituals. Exploring these customs boosts performance on trivia for fall topics.

  4. Botany of Pumpkins -

    Pumpkins belong to Cucurbita pepo and are rich in beta-carotene (USDA); 100 g of cooked pumpkin delivers over 12,000 IU of vitamin A. Recall "PUMP" (Pumpkin = Umami, Magnesium, Potassium) to remember key nutrients. This botanical fact often features in fall trivia questions with answers.

  5. Migration Triggers -

    Many birds and monarch butterflies use photoperiod sensitivity - day-length changes - to time their autumn migrations (Cornell Lab of Ornithology). The phrase "When Daylight Dips, Flock Flips" helps you recall this biological trigger. It's a popular theme in fall trivia quizzes.

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