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Quizzes > General Knowledge & Mixed

Common Sense Quiz: Can You Pass the Basics?

Quick, free common sense test with practical questions. Instant results.

Editorial: Review CompletedCreated By: Cohen ThompsonUpdated Aug 28, 2025
Difficulty: Moderate
2-5mins
Learning OutcomesCheat Sheet
Paper art illustration for common sense quiz showing light bulb and question mark paper shapes on dark blue background

This common sense quiz helps you check your everyday judgment with simple, real-life questions. Work through practical scenarios, learn from quick explanations with instant feedback, and see where your instincts shine. If you want more practice, try our general knowledge test or the moron test next.

You spill water near an electrical outlet at home. What should you do first?
Unplug devices with dry hands after turning off the circuit breaker
Mop it up with a wet towel while devices are plugged in
Sprinkle salt to absorb the water
Ignore it and let it air-dry
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Milk smells sour and is past its expiration date by three days. What is the safest action?
Boil it to make it safe
Discard it
Add sugar to mask the taste
Mix it into cereal
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When crossing a busy street without traffic lights, what is the best approach?
Follow the person in front regardless of traffic
Cross at a crosswalk when cars in both directions are fully stopped
Cross diagonally for the shortest path
Wave and run between moving cars
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If a pan on your stove catches fire, what should you use to extinguish it?
A metal lid or baking soda to smother it
Paper towels
Cooking oil
Water from the tap
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Your phone receives a text claiming you won a prize and asks for your credit card to "verify". What should you do?
Click the link and fill out a form
Delete the message and do not share information
Reply STOP to claim safely
Send your card number but not the security code
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You see wet floor signs in a store aisle and need something from that aisle. What is the safest choice?
Run through quickly to minimize time on the floor
Walk carefully around the signs or ask for assistance
Move the signs out of your way
Ignore the signs; they are just for staff
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A stranger asks to borrow your unlocked phone to make an emergency call. What is a safer alternative?
Lend them the phone and walk away
Give them your passcode to save time
Decline and post their request on social media
Offer to dial the number and use speakerphone without handing over the phone
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Microwaving metal foil is safe if the piece is very small
True
False
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Your car's tire pressure warning light turns on during cold weather. What should you do first?
Let air out to turn off the light
Check and adjust tire pressure to manufacturer specs
Ignore it until summer
Drive faster to warm the tires
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If a website address starts with https, what does that mainly indicate?
The connection between your browser and the site is encrypted
The site is government-owned
The site has no ads
The content is always truthful
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A storm knocks out power at night. What is the safest light source to use indoors?
A gas stove left on low for light
An open-flame candle near curtains
A battery-powered flashlight or lantern
Your phone screen at maximum brightness while charging in a wet area
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You receive an email from your "bank" with a generic greeting and a link to reset your password. What is a prudent response?
Reply with your password to confirm your identity
Click the link only on mobile data
Do not click the link; contact your bank using official channels
Forward the email to all your contacts as a warning
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Your smoke alarm chirps once every minute. What does this usually mean?
It is testing the siren automatically for safety
The alarm has detected carbon monoxide
There is a hidden fire in the walls
The battery is low and needs replacing
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You smell gas in your kitchen. What should you do immediately?
Light a match to check for leaks
Turn on electrical switches to get more light
Leave the area and call the gas company or emergency services from outside
Open the oven and take a deep sniff
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You are hiking and see dark clouds, distant thunder, and your metal trekking poles. What should you do?
Hold poles in the air to test for electricity
Stand under the tallest lone tree
Head to lower ground away from isolated tall objects and avoid metal contact
Lie flat on open ground
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Your refrigerator is set too warm. Which shelf area is typically coldest to store milk safely?
Front of the top shelf
On top of the fridge
Back of a lower shelf, not the door
Inside the door rack
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You are offered an unfamiliar USB drive as a freebie at an event. What should you do?
Charge your phone with it
Avoid plugging it into your personal devices
Use it only at work
Plug it in to see the contents
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Using cruise control during heavy rain reduces the risk of hydroplaning
True
False
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If you are choking and alone, a practical self-help technique is to thrust your upper abdomen against a firm chair back
True
False
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When traveling, which hotel room safe practice is most sensible?
Leave valuables on the bed to see if staff is honest
Use 0000 so you won't forget
Write your code on the safe door
Use a unique code and avoid storing passports if there is a front-desk safe
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Study Outcomes

  1. Analyze Everyday Scenarios -

    Evaluate practical situations from the common sense test to determine the most logical solutions.

  2. Apply Practical Reasoning -

    Use your understanding of common sense questions to make effective decisions in real-world dilemmas.

  3. Identify Logical Pitfalls -

    Spot and correct flawed thinking patterns that often lead to poor choices in daily life.

  4. Enhance Problem-Solving Speed -

    Improve your ability to think quickly and accurately when faced with time-pressured challenges.

  5. Reflect on Personal Judgment -

    Assess your own common sense skills and recognize areas for growth through immediate feedback.

Cheat Sheet

  1. Understand Cognitive Biases -

    Identifying biases like confirmation bias or the availability heuristic (Kahneman, 2011) sharpens your mind for common sense questions by helping you gather facts instead of assumptions. Try the "Ockham's Razor" trick - favor simpler explanations first - to avoid overthinking everyday puzzles.

  2. Apply Logical Deduction -

    Break down each scenario into premises and conclusions, using a basic syllogism format (e.g., "All cats meow; Fluffy is a cat; therefore Fluffy meows") to ensure your reasoning is valid. Universities such as Stanford encourage this structured approach to boost accuracy on any common sense test or quiz.

  3. Use Practical Problem-Solving Frameworks -

    Adopt the IDEAL model (Identify, Define, Explore, Act, Learn) from the University of Washington to tackle everyday dilemmas step by step. This framework trains you to stay calm under time pressure and confidently answer even tricky common sense challenges.

  4. Boost Pattern Recognition -

    Practice noticing recurring scenarios - like estimating distances by comparing to known objects - to answer quick-thinking puzzles faster. A simple mnemonic: S.P.A.T. (See, Pattern, Apply, Test) can help you lock in these patterns for any common sense quiz.

  5. Calibrate Confidence with Feedback -

    After each practice round, compare your answers to reliable sources (e.g., peer-reviewed puzzles from reputable journals) to adjust your self-assessment and reduce overconfidence. Harvard research shows this feedback loop strengthens your judgment for future common sense challenges.

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