Can You Ace This Middle School Home Ec Test?

By: Theresa Holland
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Can You Ace This Middle School Home Ec Test?
Image: Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd / DigitalVision / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Did you take a home economics class in middle school? Home ec is not very common in U.S. schools anymore, and depending on which decade your tween years took place, the curriculum may have included a variety of household and family lessons that are somewhat outdated today. (Most schools have stopped requiring students to carry around a sack of flour for a week pretending like it's a baby.)

However, certain domestic factoids will never change. We're talking about baking measurements, oven temperatures, cleaning methods, basic hygiene and food safety. No matter what your home life or family dynamics are now, basic home ec trivia knowledge is really all about knowing how to manage a household, stay healthy, keep organized and function in your everyday life. (Nowadays, you might call this "adulting"!) Whether you took a home ec class in middle school or have only seen one portrayed on TV, it might be worth testing your knowledge of home life and family management.

Maybe you've taken a home ec class, or maybe you were more into shop or band. In any case, if you know your way around the kitchen, laundry room, medicine cabinet and pantry, maybe you've got what it takes to ace this middle school home ec test. Let's get started.

If you're dehydrated, what should you do?
Run a mile
Drink water
Eat a sandwich
Get some sleep
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're not into drinking eight glasses of plain water each day, try sparkling water. You can also add cucumbers, strawberries, blueberries or other fresh fruits to water to keep things interesting.

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What should you do before you cook a meal?
Wash your hands.
Sweep the floor.
Drink a glass of water.
Brush your teeth.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before you start cooking a meal, it's a good idea to wash your hands. This will prevent any bacteria on your hands from getting onto the food. It's a smart habit if you want to avoid spreading sickness among family members.

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What's the best way to separate clothes before running a load of laundry?
Type
Fabric
Size
Color
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While there's no single right way to do laundry, most people separate their clothes by color. This means you might have a dark load, a light load and a load of colors. Just make sure you don't miss a red sock in your light load, because you might turn all your whites pink!

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What type of pie is in season during the fall?
Peach
Blueberry
Lemon meringue
Apple
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Apples are in season during the fall, and one of the best ways to enjoy them is by baking them into a pie! There are endless yummy variations to this all-American dessert, including apple crisp, apple-fig tart and apple pie bars.

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What's the proper way to cook spaghetti?
In the oven
In a frying pan
In boiling water
In the microwave
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Cooking pasta is super simple, and you don't need much more than a pot of water. To make an easy-peasy Italian dish, cook spaghetti in salted boiling water for 10 to 12 minutes and add your favorite sauce. Bon appétit!

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What can be prevented with fluoride?
Pimples
Stress
Weight gain
Cavities
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fluoride is found in most toothpaste and other dental hygiene products, and it helps prevent cavities. If you brush your teeth twice a day and floss regularly, you should get an A+ on your next visit to the dentist.

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Stop, drop and roll is what you should do in the event of a _______.
Snowstorm
Burglary
Flood
Fire
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This easy-to-remember fire safety sequence should be taught to children so that they know what to do if their hair or clothing catches fire. There's even an old catchy song that goes with this phrase!

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Sodium is the main ingredient in which of these?
Salt
Pepper
Oil
Vinegar
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Sodium is a mineral that is used as a preservative in lots of packaged foods. When consumed in small doses, salt is great for cooking, baking, and sprinkling onto your favorite dishes.

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At what age do most children start kindergarten?
3
5
6
8
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most children start kindergarten at the age of five. Singing, show and tell, drawing, napping and finger painting are a few activities in the curriculum. Forget middle school ... let's head back to kindergarten!

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When you press and fold dough, this is called _______.
Massaging
Kneading
Baking
Plumping
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Whether you prefer whole wheat, white or sourdough, when you make bread from scratch, you'll have to knead the dough. Kneading will help combine the ingredients and strengthen the gluten strands in the dough before it's time to pop it in the oven.

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What do you call a plan for how a household will spend money?
Shopping list
Allowance
Budget
Paycheck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's important for families to create a budget and spend wisely so that they can afford their recurring bills, save money, and pay for unexpected expenses. Luckily, most middle schoolers don't need to worry about this yet, but it's good to start thinking about it early!

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Which of these is not a citrus fruit?
Orange
Lemon
Lime
Banana
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oranges, lemons and limes are all examples of citrus fruits. If you have a juice press or hand juicer, you can make fresh-squeezed orange juice, lemonade or limeade right at home. Yum!

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Which of the following cannot be recycled?
Cardboard boxes
Envelopes
Styrofoam containers
Water bottles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unfortunately, styrofoam is a material that can't easily be recycled in most parts of the country. It is made from something called polystyrene, and it is not biodegradable. If you're looking to reel in your carbon footprint, steer clear of styrofoam containers!

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Which of the following ingredients would you sift when making a cake?
Butter
Salt
Flour
Eggs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A lot of cake recipes call for sifting flour, which involves running it through a sieve to remove lumps and make it smooth and fine. If you're new to the baking world, start with a simple white or chocolate cake. The process is easier than you might think!

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Can you name the food that could give you salmonella if you eat it?
White bread
Raw meat
A baked potato
Cheddar cheese
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is an infection you'll definitely want to steer clear of. To avoid salmonella, be sure to thoroughly cook meat. Also, always use separate knives and cutting boards for meat and veggies.

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How should flower stems be cut?
At an angle
Straight across
Into a rounded shape
Don't cut them.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To make your flowers last as long as possible, cut the stems diagonally, using sharp scissors or shears. For best results, place your bouquet in lukewarm water in your favorite vase.

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When you cut garlic into very small pieces, what are you doing?
Mincing
Stirring
Grating
Pressing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Minced garlic is the perfect ingredient to add to a wide range of dishes. By mincing a few cloves and adding them to a recipe, you'll get extra flavor, a nice aroma and mouth-watering goodness.

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What type of knife should you use to cut bread?
Butcher knife
Chef's knife
Serrated knife
Butter knife
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Different kitchen knives are designed to cut specific types of food. When cutting a loaf of bread, it's best to use a serrated knife. If you find yourself devouring baguettes on a regular basis, you'll want to have one on hand!

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What do you call it when veggies are cut up into small pieces?
Sauteed
Julienned
Sliced
Diced
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When a recipe calls for dicing a vegetable, it means you should cut it up into small cubes. If you forget this the next time you're supposed to dice something, just think of the shape of six-sided dice.

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Most adults need how many hours of sleep each night?
More than 12
10 to 12
Four to six
Seven to nine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the National Sleep Foundation, most people need between seven and nine hours of sleep each night. Too little or too much sleep can make you feel groggy all day and impact your overall health.

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What type of food are fats, proteins and carbohydrates?
Micronutrients
Macronutrients
Vitamins
Minerals
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A healthy diet consists of a variety of fats, proteins and carbohydrates. If you eat plenty of fruits, veggies, whole grains, nuts, eggs, meats and legumes, you'll get plenty of each.

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What items belong in a pantry?
Clean clothes
Towels
Dry and canned foods that aren't refrigerated
Frozen foods
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Pantries are where households keep all the snacks! If your pantry is large enough, you can stock up on your favorites, like instant soups, chips, cookies and crackers. Snack like you're a middle schooler!

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A mortgage is a loan you get from a bank to buy a ______.
Dog
Bike
Car
Home
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before you buy a house, you'll need to get approved for a mortgage loan. Middle schoolers won't need to worry about this for a while, but saving money and being frugal are always good ideas.

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At what temperature should a turkey be cooked?
250° F
400° to 425° F
325° to 350° F
450° F
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Fresh or thawed turkey should be cooked in an oven at 325° to 350°F. While this may seem like a low temp for such a large bird, keep in mind that most turkeys need to cook for several hours, and the middle of the bird must reach a temperature of 165°. Gobble-gobble!

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Water freezes at what temperature?
-10° F
38° F
0° F
32° F
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you regularly reach for ice cubes, ice cream, popsicles or frozen pizza, it's good to know the right temperature for your freezer. Water freezes at 32° F, but you'll want to keep your freezer set to about 0° F to so that all your frozen items last longer.

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How many ounces are in a pound?
16
4
32
24
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 16 ounces in a pound. If you're from somewhere outside the U.S., you might be used to the metric system. Pounds (lb.) and ounces (oz.) are useful to know, even after middle school!

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What fabric is most likely to shrink in the dryer?
Spandex
Nylon
Polyester
Cotton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most natural clothing materials, such as cotton, linen and silk, can shrink in the dryer after you wash them. Synthetic fabrics typically won't. If you've got a cotton T-shirt you love, you might want to hang it to dry to avoid shrinkage.

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Do you know which of these meats is poultry?
Tuna fish
Pork
Beef
Chicken
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Poultry includes different types of birds that are raised for their meat or eggs. Chicken is one of the most popular types of poultry, and unless you're a vegetarian or vegan, you probably eat chicken or eggs almost every day.

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How often should you change out the batteries in a smoke alarm?
Every month
Once a year
Every other year
Once every five years
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To prevent fires and keep your home safe, the batteries in your smoke detectors should be replaced once a year. Don't wait for your smoke detectors to beep at you when the batteries get low! Mark your calendar to change them out.

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How long past the printed date does an opened carton of milk last in the refrigerator?
Two weeks
A month
Up to a week
Two months
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Those printed dates are there for a reason. In most cases, an open carton of milk will last between four and seven days past its printed sell-by date. So, get some cereal and make use of it before it goes bad!

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What temperature should you set your fridge to?
32° F
40° F
55° F
20° F
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's not just middle schoolers who head to the fridge when they're craving a snack. To keep your milk, eggs, veggies and leftovers fresh enough to eat, keep your refrigerator set to 40° F.

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Which is an example of a complex carbohydrate?
Oatmeal
Soda
Brown sugar
A sub sandwich
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Oatmeal is a whole grain that falls in the complex carbohydrate category because when you eat it, it will be slowly digested and won't spike your blood sugar. If you're not into eating it for breakfast, why not sneak this complex carb into dessert with oatmeal cookies?

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Do you know how many teaspoons make up one tablespoon?
3
1.5
2
4
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This fun fact will be useful if you're into baking cookies, pies, cakes or pastries. Teaspoons and tablespoons are common baking measurements, and knowing this off the top of your head might be helpful next time you bake!

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How many cups are in a gallon?
2
4
12
16
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There are 16 cups in a gallon. Luckily, most recipes don't call for more than a few cups of any ingredient, so you probably won't need to remember this fact outside of a middle school home ec classroom!

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What can you drink to get a dose of vitamin D?
Milk
Orange juice
Coffee
Grape soda
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Most people get plenty of vitamin D from a well-rounded diet, but if you're deficient, drinking milk is a great way to get your daily dose. Another way to get vitamin D is to spend a few minutes out in the sun!

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Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd / DigitalVision / Getty Images