Tuesday, August 18, 2026

These are the 10 questions BrainRank served to the whole world on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 — now over, with every answer revealed and explained. Reading time only; the score no longer counts.

1. history

   Which ancient civilization built the Colosseum?

   • Greeks
   • Romans
   • Persians
   • Egyptians

   Answer: Romans

   The Colosseum in Rome was built by the ancient Romans in the 1st century AD.

2. everyday-science

   What is mainly needed for iron to rust?

   • Oxygen and water
   • Salt and sunlight
   • Heat alone
   • Carbon dioxide

   Answer: Oxygen and water

   Rust forms when iron reacts with oxygen in the presence of water or moisture.

3. arts

   How many notes are in a major scale spanning one octave, counting the repeated note at the top?

   • 7
   • 8
   • 10
   • 12

   Answer: 8

   A major scale spans an octave with eight notes when the repeated tonic at the top is counted.

4. everyday-science

   What is the boiling-hot molten rock beneath the Earth's surface called?

   • Lava
   • Magma
   • Sediment
   • Basalt

   Answer: Magma

   Molten rock below the surface is called magma; once it erupts it is called lava.

5. science

   What is the chemical symbol for carbon?

   • Ca
   • C
   • Cb
   • Cn

   Answer: C

   C is the chemical symbol for carbon.

6. arts

   In music and dance, what does the term 'rhythm' refer to?

   • The pattern of sounds and beats in time
   • The highness or lowness of a sound
   • The color of a tone
   • The volume of a sound

   Answer: The pattern of sounds and beats in time

   Rhythm is the pattern of sounds, beats, and silences arranged in time.

7. language

   What is the standard plural of the noun 'child'?

   • Childs
   • Children
   • Childes
   • Childer

   Answer: Children

   'Child' has the irregular plural 'children'.

8. everyday-science

   Why is salt often spread on icy roads in winter?

   • It lowers the freezing point of water
   • It makes ice harder
   • It heats the road surface
   • It absorbs sunlight to melt ice

   Answer: It lowers the freezing point of water

   Salt lowers water's freezing point, helping ice melt at temperatures below 0 degrees Celsius.

9. mythology

   In Greek mythology, which god rules the sea and carries a trident?

   • Poseidon
   • Ares
   • Hephaestus
   • Dionysus

   Answer: Poseidon

   Poseidon is the Greek god of the sea, usually shown holding a trident.

10. arts

    What is the term for the speed or pace of a piece of music?

    • Timbre
    • Tempo
    • Dynamics
    • Pitch

    Answer: Tempo

    Tempo refers to the speed or pace of a musical piece.