Tuesday, September 8, 2026

These are the 10 questions BrainRank served to the whole world on Tuesday, September 8, 2026 — now over, with every answer revealed and explained. Reading time only; the score no longer counts.

1. 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.

2. language

   What is the traditional collective noun for a group of wolves?

   • Pack
   • Pride
   • Flock
   • Pod

   Answer: Pack

   A group of wolves is called a 'pack'.

3. language

   What does the prefix 're-' usually mean, as in 'rewrite' or 'return'?

   • Again or back
   • Around
   • Away
   • Against

   Answer: Again or back

   'Re-' means 'again' or 'back', as in 'rewrite' (write again).

4. history

   The Rosetta Stone was key to deciphering the writing of which ancient culture?

   • Babylonian
   • Persian
   • Egyptian
   • Chinese

   Answer: Egyptian

   The Rosetta Stone allowed scholars to decipher ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics.

5. geography

   Which country is the largest by land area in the world?

   • Canada
   • China
   • Russia
   • United States

   Answer: Russia

   Russia is the largest country by land area.

6. nature

   Which flightless bird is strongly associated with Antarctica?

   • Puffin
   • Albatross
   • Seagull
   • Penguin

   Answer: Penguin

   Penguins are flightless birds of the Southern Hemisphere, including Antarctica.

7. science

   In a vacuum, which of these travels the fastest?

   • Sound
   • A jet aircraft
   • Wind
   • Light

   Answer: Light

   Light travels at roughly 300,000 km/s in a vacuum, far faster than sound, wind, or aircraft.

8. history

   The Code of Hammurabi, one of the earliest known written law codes, originated in which region?

   • Ancient Greece
   • Ancient Egypt
   • Ancient China
   • Ancient Mesopotamia

   Answer: Ancient Mesopotamia

   The Code of Hammurabi was created in ancient Mesopotamia (Babylon).

9. history

   The fall of the Western Roman Empire is traditionally dated to which century?

   • 3rd century
   • 4th century
   • 5th century
   • 7th century

   Answer: 5th century

   The Western Roman Empire is traditionally said to have fallen in 476 AD, in the 5th century.

10. language

    Which part of speech describes or modifies a noun?

    • Adjective
    • Adverb
    • Preposition
    • Article

    Answer: Adjective

    An adjective modifies a noun, as in 'a red car'.