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California--The Golden State Trivia Quiz

Welcome to California--The Golden State!

A multiple-choice quiz by Morrigan716. Estimated time: 3 mins.

Author
Morrigan716

Time
3 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
111,100

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
15

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
9 / 15

Plays
3240

Last 3 plays: Guest 164 (5/15), Guest 104 (7/15), Guest 99 (10/15).

This quiz has 2 formats: you can play it as a or as shown below.
Scroll down to the bottom for the answer key.

1. The name California was given by Spanish explorers.

True

False

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2. What is California's state motto? Hint

Yikes

Criminy

Egads

Eureka

NEXT>

3. What is California's state flower? Hint

Wild Poinsettia

Black-eyed Susan

Water Willow

Golden Poppy

NEXT>

4. What is the state fish? Hint

Great White Shark

Striped Bass

Pacific Ocean Perch

South Fork Golden Trout

NEXT>

5. What is the state animal? Hint

California Condor

California Sea Lion

California River Otter

California Grizzly Bear

NEXT>

6. What is the state reptile? Hint

Western Diamondback Rattlesnake

Desert Iguana

Banded Gecko

Desert Tortoise

NEXT>

7. The state insect is the California hairstreak butterfly.

True

False

NEXT>

8. What is California's state mineral? Hint

Native Silver

Native Gold

Native Copper

Native Bronze

NEXT>

9. What is the state rock? Hint

Coal

Feldspar

Sandstone

Serpentine

NEXT>

10. What is California's state gemstone? Hint

Turquoise

Benitoite

Topaz

Tourmaline

NEXT>

11. What is the state marine mammal? Hint

California Sea Lion

Northern Elephant Seal

Bottle-Nose Dophin

California Gray Whale

NEXT>

12. What is California's state fossil? Hint

Saber-Toothed Cat

Triceratops

Mammoth

Stegasaurus

NEXT>

13. What is the state tree? Hint

Redwood

Cedar

Spruce

Willow

NEXT>

14. Where is California's highest point? Hint

Mount Shasta

Mount Whitney

Mount Lassen

Warner Mountain

NEXT>

15. What is California's state song? Hint

California, California

California

I Love You, California

Glory of California

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Most Recent Scores

Sep 22 2023 : Guest 164: 5/15
Sep 11 2023 : Guest 104: 7/15
Sep 08 2023 : Guest 99: 10/15
Aug 26 2023 : Guest 73: 8/15
Aug 09 2023 : Dreessen: 9/15
Aug 05 2023 : wellenbrecher: 15/15

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. The name California was given by Spanish explorers.

Answer: True

The explorers probably took the name from a mythical island in the tale "The Adventures of Esplandian", by Garci Rodriguez de Montalvo in 1510.

2. What is California's state motto?

Answer: Eureka

"Eureka" means "I Have Found It".

3. What is California's state flower?

Answer: Golden Poppy

Golden poppies are also called flame flowers, as well at the Italian names "La amapola" (poppy), and "cope d'oro" (cup of gold). April 6 is California Poppy Day.

4. What is the state fish?

Answer: South Fork Golden Trout

The South Fork golden trout lives only in the icy waters of the South Fork of the Kern River. It is a small fish, averaging only about 8 inches.

5. What is the state animal?

Answer: California Grizzly Bear

The last California grizzly bear died in 1922, but it played a big part in the state's history. The grizzly bear is on the state flag.

6. What is the state reptile?

Answer: Desert Tortoise

California desert tortoises live longer than humans and any other vertebrate. They are disappearing and are protected. It is against the law to take them from their natural habitat.

7. The state insect is the California hairstreak butterfly.

Answer: False

It is actually the California dog-face butterfly. The two spots on each upper wing look like the eyes of a dog.

8. What is California's state mineral?

Answer: Native Gold

Gold gave California its nickname, the Golden State. It inspired the Gold Rush of 1849. California is still one of the top gold-producing states in the nation.

9. What is the state rock?

Answer: Serpentine

There is more of this blue and green rock in California than in any other state. It is used in making asbestos, and contains the minerals chromite, magnesite, and cinnabar.

10. What is California's state gemstone?

Answer: Benitoite

Benitoite is called the "blue diamond", and was first discovered in the San Benito River.

11. What is the state marine mammal?

Answer: California Gray Whale

California gray whales can be seen migrating south along the California shore. They are traveling from Alaska's Bering Sea to Baja California to mate and have their calves.

12. What is California's state fossil?

Answer: Saber-Toothed Cat

The saber-toothed cat was short-legged and muscular with a stubby tail. They were larger than modern lions and their deadly fangs were 8 inches long. Many of these were preserved in Los Angeles' La Brea Tar Pits.

13. What is the state tree?

Answer: Redwood

Redwood trees once covered much of the Northern Hemisphere. Today they are found only near the Pacific coast.

14. Where is California's highest point?

Answer: Mount Whitney

At 14,494 feet, Mount Whitney is also the highest point in the contiguous United States.

15. What is California's state song?

Answer: I Love You, California

The state song was written by F.B. Silverwood and A.F. Frankenstein.

Source: Author Morrigan716

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor minch before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

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