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Would You Survive?: A
Survival Test
You’re lost in the wilderness, stranded atop mountain
or helplessly adrift at sea! (Never mind how you got there, just play the game!)
What should you do? Your very survival depends on how much you know about your
present environment and situation. Answer the following questions and test your
survival IQ.
1.You’re alone in the wilds. You have no idea how long
it will take for someone to find you. What is your greatest danger?
- Starvation and lack of water
- Panic
- Attack by wild animals, especially at
night
2.Your airliner has crashed in the mountains. You’re
one of several survivors. This is what you do:
- Climb to the top of the nearest mountain and build
a signal fire.
- Make short trips; a road may be nearby
- Stay put and wait for rescue.
3.It’s cold and you have no fire. In order to keep
warm you would:
- Remain motionless to conserve energy.
- Exercise vigorously.
- Cover your head.
4.The temperature is below zero, but there are
clothing and blankets in the crashed plane. Your best course is to:
- Bundle up with everything you can find.
- Avoid perspiring.
- Keep your feet warm.
5.You suspect that searchers may be in the woods
looking for you. You would:
- Scream several times.
- Build a fire and make smoke signals.
- Try to find your way toward the rescue
party.
6.A search plane flies overhead. In order to attract a
plane’s attention, you:
- Use the mirror in your compact as a
signal
- Wave your most colorful piece of
clothing.
- Climb to the top of a tree.
7.Which one of these American wild animals should you
most worry about meeting?
- A bobcat
- A mountain lion
- A mink
8.You’ve accidentally disturbed a grizzly bear or a
female black bear with cubs and it’s obviously angry. The thing to do
is:
- Faint, or at least pretend to faint.
- Moving slowly, hide behind a tree.
- Run as fast as you can.
9.It’s night in the Canadian wilderness. You’re
surround by wolves. Your course of action:
- Yell at the wolves and they will probably run
away.
- Build a fire to keep them at a distance.
- Ignore them.
10.You suspect it may be many days before you’re
found. Your greatest concern is:
- Lack of food
- Lack of water
- Lack of shelter
11.Your hunger pangs are serious. You must eat
something. You:
- Chew leaves, but don’t swallow them
- Eat tree bark
- Catch and eat small snakes and insects.
12.If you’re starving, there’s one tasty wild animal
you can capture without traps or weapons:
- Cottontail rabbit with young
- Woodchuck
- Porcupine
13.Of hazards you may face in the wilderness, you
should concern yourself least about:
- A poisonous snake bite.
- A sprained ankle
- Lack of pure drinking water.
14.The mosquitoes are numerous and too hungry for
comfort. Your best recourse is to:
- Use perfume, if you have any, as a
repellent.
- Build a fire and stay in its smoke.
- Sit very still.
15.Your airliner has crashed in deep snow and the
temperature is below zero. The warmest place you can be is:
- In the plane’s broken fuselage
- Under the snow
- Inside a tent made of seat cushions and
parachutes.
16.When snow is on the ground, snow blindness is a
danger. You have no sunglasses, therefore you:
- Close your eyes frequently as soon as they start
hurting.
- Shade your eyes whenever the sun is
shining.
- Shade your eyes whether there is sunshine or
not.
17.A sever electrical storm occurs. Where is the
safest place to be?
- In the open, away from all trees.
- In a forest, which will also shelter you from the
rain.
- Under the tallest tree, which will bleed off the
electrical charge.
18.It’s very cold. Another survivor of the plane crash
tells you that you have a white spot on your nose--frostbite! You:
- Warm the spot with your hand.
- Rub it with snow.
- Cover your face with cloth or fur.
19.You have no water, but the crashed plane has the
usual supply of beverages. To quench your thirst, you should drink:
- Scotch
- Beer
- Soft drinks
20.You know if you walked west you would find a
highway, but you haven’t got a compass. To find your way, you would utilize the
knowledge that:
- Moss grows on the north side of trees.
- The sun’s shadow is a direction finder.
- The tops of tall trees point east.
21.A danger in the woods can be a fox or a raccoon
with rabies. You can recognize an infected animal because it:
- shows no sign of fear
- howls and whimpers
- foams at the mouth
22.Your airliner has crashed at sea. You’re in the
water waiting to be picked up by a life raft. Sharks appear! You:
- Kick them off as they approach.
- Try not to worry—you know they won’t touch you if
you’re not bleeding.
- Put your head under the water and yell.
23.You’re in a life raft at sea without drinking water
and desperately thirsty. You would drink:
- Sea water—it’s safe to ingest in moderate
quantities.
- Urine—repulsive thought, but you’ll need it, to
replenish body moisture.
- The blood of sea birds.
24.Your airliner has been forced down in the burning
hot desert. Our best plan it to:
- Remain in the shade, moving as little as
possible.
- Take off all the clothing you can and breath
thorough your mouth.
- Stay active so perspiration will cool
you.
Scoring: Give yourself one point for each correct
answer.
- 22-23 points: Splendid! You might consider a career
as a wilderness explorer.
- 18-21 points: Resourceful! You can make it on your
own.
- 12-17 points: You’re a fair woods person but don’t
go on long hikes by yourself.
- 11 or under: Stay in the cafeteria, you may get
lost in the hallways.