What Is Your Olympics IQ? Take This Quiz and Find Out

July 20, 2012 By Leave a Comment

The 2012 Summer Olympics in London open one week from today.

While some Olympic events, such as basketball and soccer, are familiar to the average sports fan, many others are sports that we only pay attention to once every four years.

So to prepare yourself for this year’s games, take this quiz and test your knowledge of Summer Olympics events and terminology.

Ryan Lochte will swim freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, and butterfly as a part of the 400 individual medley, but in what order? (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

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Summer Olympic Events and Terminology

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Question 1
What is the order of strokes in swimming's individual medley?
A
Backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle
B
Freestyle, backstroke, breaststroke, butterfly
C
Butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, freestyle
D
Breaststroke, butterfly, freestyle, backstroke
Question 2
What five events comprise the modern pentathlon?
A
Badminton, single sculls (rowing), archery, steeplechase, dressage
B
Pistol shooting, fencing, 200 meter freestyle (swimming), show jumping, 3 km run
C
200 meter run, high jump, hammer throw, triple jump, 800 meter run
D
Time trial (cycling), 200 meter run, single sculls (rowing), 400 meter freestyle (swimming), 1500 meter run
Question 3
The Keirin and Omnium are events in what sport?
A
Cycling
B
Weightlifing
C
Fencing
D
Rowing
Question 3 Explanation: 
In the Keirin, cyclists spend much of the race in a pack behind a pacer then race one another in a sprint to the finish. The Omnium consists of six races: a flying lap, a points race, an elimination race, an individual pursuit, a scratch race, and a time trial.
Question 4
The Olympic motto, Citius, Altius, Fortius, is Latin for what?
A
Gold, silver, bronze
B
Citizenship, friendship, courage
C
Nation, world, sport
D
Faster, higher, stronger
Question 5

What is dressage?

A
The outfits worn by athletes in the rhythmic gymnastics competition
B
An equestrian event in which the horse and rider perform a series of predetermined movements
C
An antiquated term for awards worn on the body, including Olympic medals (e.g. "Michael Phelps left Beijing four years ago draped in dressage.")
D
The oldest and most intricate fencing discipline
Question 6
Which of the following disciplines is not part of the men's gymnastics Olympic program?  
A
Balance beam
B
Pommel horse
C
Vault
D
Horizontal bar
Question 7
How long is the steeplechase, the track-and-field event in which runners much negotiate hurdle-like barriers and water pits?
A
800 meters
B
1000 meters
C
2400 meters
D
3000 meters
Question 8
What is the main difference between freestyle wrestling and Greco-Roman wrestling?
A
Greco-Roman wrestlers cannot win a match by pinning their opponent; freestyle wrestlers can.
B
Only wrestlers from Greece and Italy may participate in Greco-Roman wrestling; anyone may compete in freestyle.
C
Greco-Roman wrestling does not allow holds below the waist; freestyle does.
D
Greco-Roman wrestling does not allow competitors to grip their opponents with their hands; freestyle does.
Question 9
What are the three weapons used in fencing?
A
Foil, dagger, and steel
B
Sabre, dagger, and épée
C
Foil, blade, and épée
D
Foil, sabre, and épée
Question 10
How long is an "Olympic-size" swimming pool?
A
25 yards
B
50 meters
C
100 yards
D
100 meters
Question 11
The "eggbeater kick" is a technique associated with which of the following sports?
A
Water polo
B
Taekwondo
C
Judo
D
Triple jump
Question 11 Explanation: 
The eggbeater kick is a technique for treading water. Synchronized swimmers also use it.
Question 12
Which of the following disciplines is not part of the women's gymnastics Olympic program?
A
Uneven bars
B
Parallel bars
C
Vault
D
Balance beam
Question 13
How far back is the three-point line in the Olympic basketball competition?  
A
6.25 meters (about 20 feet, 6 inches)
B
7.25 meters (about 23 feet, 9 inches)
C
6.75 meters (about 22 feet, 2 inches)
D
6.32 meters (about 20 feet, 9 inches)
Question 13 Explanation: 
FIBA recently moved the line from 6.25 meters to 6.75 meters.
Question 14
Which rowing event features two rowers, each with two oars?  
A
Coxless pair
B
Double sculls
C
Quad sculls
D
Synchronized rowing
Question 14 Explanation: 
In sculls events each rower has two oars; in coxless events each rower has one.
Question 15
If a runner completes one lap around the Olympic track, how far has he or she run?  
A
200 meters
B
400 meters
C
800 meters
D
1600 meters
Question 16
Which of the following sports will not be a part of the 2012 Summer Olympics?
A
Tennis
B
BMX
C
Badminton
D
Cricket
Question 16 Explanation: 
Cricket was part of the Olympic program once, in 1900. BMX debuted in 2008.
Question 17
In team handball, how many players (for both teams combined) are on the court at one time?
A
10
B
12
C
14
D
22
Question 18
In indoor volleyball, at least how many points must a team score to win one of the first four sets?
A
10
B
15
C
21
D
25
Question 18 Explanation: 
In indoor volleyball the first team to win three sets wins the match. If a fifth and final set is necessary, teams play to 15. In all sets, a team must win by two points.
Question 19
Which two lifts comprise the Olympic weightlifting competition?
A
Clean and jerk
B
Bench and squat
C
Snatch and clean & jerk
D
Snatch and powerlift
Question 20
"Laser class" is an event associated with what Olympic sport?
A
Shooting
B
Sailing
C
Boxing
D
Table tennis
Question 20 Explanation: 
"Laser class" refers to a type of small sailing dinghy.
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Filed Under: Away From the Action, Olympic Sports Tagged With: ,
About Josh Tinley

Josh Tinley writes the Away From The Action column at Midwest Sports Fans, covering all aspects of sport aside from what actually happens on the field, court, or track. Josh grew up in Indianapolis and graduated from the University of Evansville and Vanderbilt Divinity School. He is the author of Kneeling in the End Zone: Spiritual Lessons From the World of Sports and the managing editor of LinC, a weekly curriculum for teens that explores the intersection of faith and culture. Josh lives outside Nashville with his wife, Ashlee, and children, Meyer (7), Resha Kate (5), and Malachi (3). He will not allow himself to die before the Evansville Purple Aces make another trip to the NCAA Tournament. Follow him on Twitter @joshtinley or send him an e-mail.

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