About this Study Set
This study set covers Scientific Folklore Analysis through
18 practice questions.
An exploration of historical legends through the lens of geology, biology, and historical anthropology. Every question includes the correct answer so you can learn as you go — pick any format above to get started.
Questions & Answers
Browse all 18 questions from the
Scientific Perspectives on Folklore and Legends study set below.
Each question shows the correct answer — select a study format above to practice interactively.
1
The legend of the 'Cyclops' is widely believed by paleontologists to be an interpretation of the fossilized skulls of which prehistoric animal?
-
A
Mammuthus primigenius
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B
Deinotherium giganteum
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C
Palaeoloxodon falconeri
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D
Coelodonta antiquitatis
2
Which geological phenomenon is currently the leading scientific explanation for the 'Oracle of Delphi's' prophetic trances?
-
A
Ethylene gas emissions
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B
Geothermal steam vents
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C
Volcanic sulfur deposits
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D
Radon gas accumulation
3
The legend of the 'Kraken' is scientifically attributed to sightings of which real-world creature?
-
A
Giant Oarfish
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B
Giant Squid
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C
Sperm Whale
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D
Colossal Squid
4
The folklore surrounding 'werewolves' in 18th-century Europe has been linked by medical historians to which genetic disorder?
-
A
Porphyria
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B
Hypertrichosis
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C
Rabies
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D
Lycanthropy clinical syndrome
5
Scientific analysis of the 'Green Children of Woolpit' suggests the children may have suffered from which condition caused by nutritional deficiency?
-
A
Chlorosis
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B
Rickets
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C
Kwashiorkor
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D
Pellagra
6
The 'Vampire' legends of Eastern Europe are often clinically explained by the exhumation of bodies in states of post-mortem decomposition involving which process?
-
A
Autolysis
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B
Saponification
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C
Rigor mortis
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D
Desiccation
7
The mythical 'Will-o'-the-wisp' is a natural phenomenon caused by the spontaneous combustion of which gas produced by decomposing organic matter?
-
A
Methane
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B
Phosphine
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C
Hydrogen sulfide
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D
Ethane
8
The 'Thunderbird' of North American indigenous legend is interpreted by many scholars as an oral tradition recording the impact of which geological event?
-
A
The 1700 Cascadia earthquake
-
B
The Mount St. Helens eruption
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C
The Great Missoula Floods
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D
The Yellowstone caldera eruption
9
The 'Great Flood' myths found in various cultures have been linked to the rapid flooding of which body of water around 5600 BCE?
-
A
Mediterranean Sea
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B
Black Sea
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C
Caspian Sea
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D
Red Sea
10
The legend of 'Sirens' luring sailors to their deaths is commonly attributed by biologists to the mistaken identification of which marine mammal?
-
A
Sea Lion
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B
Dugong
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C
Walrus
-
D
Harbor Seal
11
Which condition, historically mistaken for being 'touched by faeries' or 'changelings,' is now understood to be an autism spectrum disorder?
-
A
Williams syndrome
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B
Pervasive Developmental Disorder
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C
Fragile X syndrome
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D
Asperger's syndrome
12
The 'Dragon' legends of China and Europe are theorized to have originated from the discovery of fossils belonging to which group of animals?
-
A
Dinosauria
-
B
Pterosauria
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C
Therapsida
-
D
Crocodylomorpha
13
The 'Berserkers' of Norse legend are frequently analyzed by modern toxicologists as having been under the influence of which psychoactive substance?
-
A
Cannabis sativa
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B
Amanita muscaria
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C
Datura stramonium
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D
Papaver somniferum
14
The folklore regarding 'Mummies' in Victorian England led to the consumption of ground-up remains; what was the primary chemical component sought in the mistaken belief of healing?
-
A
Bitumen
-
B
Calcium
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C
Gold traces
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D
Ochre
15
The 'Island of Antillia' (part of the Seven Cities of Gold legend) is now understood to be a mythological representation of which real-world geographical feature?
-
A
The Azores
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B
The Sargasso Sea
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C
The Grand Banks
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D
The Canary Islands
16
The legend of 'Basilisk' stone-turning gaze is scientifically correlated with the historical identification of which creature?
-
A
Spitting Cobra
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B
Nile Crocodile
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C
Egyptian Mongoose
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D
Horned Viper
17
The 'Pied Piper of Hamelin' legend is historically linked to an outbreak of which disease, which caused high mortality in medieval European cities?
-
A
Bubonic Plague
-
B
Ergotism
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C
Typhus
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D
Smallpox
18
The 'Jackalope' of American folklore is based on rabbits infected with which real-world condition?
-
A
Shope papilloma virus
-
B
Myxomatosis
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C
Rabbit hemorrhagic disease
-
D
Tularemia
