Astrology and Zodiac Quiz
Lions, scales, water bearers and the Year of the Dragon: 15 questions on star signs and zodiac lore.
In Western astrology, which zodiac sign is symbolised by the lion?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Leo
Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, traditionally covering birthdays from about 23 July to 22 August, and its glyph is a stylised lion's mane and tail. Astrologers link it to the Sun and describe Leos as warm, proud and theatrical.
The constellation Leo contains Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, whose name means little king in Latin.
Which zodiac sign is represented by a set of scales?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Libra
Libra, the seventh sign, is the only sign of the Western zodiac symbolised by an object rather than a person or animal, and its scales stand for balance and justice. Traditionally it covers roughly 23 September to 22 October and is ruled by Venus.
The ancient Greeks saw Libra's stars as the claws of the neighbouring scorpion, and it was the Romans who firmly established the scales.
Which sign is symbolised by a pair of twins?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Gemini
Gemini, the third sign, covers roughly 21 May to 20 June and takes its twins from Castor and Pollux, the brothers of Greek myth whose names also belong to the constellation's two brightest stars. Astrologers describe Geminis as curious, quick-witted communicators.
NASA named its two-person Gemini spacecraft programme of the 1960s after the twins, since each capsule carried a pair of astronauts.
Which zodiac sign is symbolised by the bull?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Taurus
Taurus, the second sign, traditionally runs from about 20 April to 20 May and is associated with the element earth and the planet Venus. Astrologers describe the sign as patient, sensual and stubborn, much like its animal.
The constellation Taurus holds the Pleiades star cluster and the bright orange giant Aldebaran, which marks the bull's eye.
In popular astrology, which planet's apparent backward motion across the sky gets blamed for missed emails, travel delays and broken gadgets?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Mercury
Mercury retrograde happens three or four times a year when Earth overtakes the faster-moving inner planet, making it appear to drift backwards against the stars for about three weeks. Astrologers traditionally associate Mercury with communication and travel, hence the folklore.
The backward motion is an optical effect of orbital geometry; every planet appears to go retrograde at some point, and none actually reverses course.
Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are traditionally grouped under which of the four classical elements?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Water
Western astrology sorts the twelve signs into four elements of three signs each: fire, earth, air and water. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces make up the water trio, which astrologers describe as emotional, intuitive and sensitive.
Fire covers Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, earth takes Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and air groups Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.
Someone born on 4 July, American Independence Day, falls under which zodiac sign by the usual dates?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Cancer
Cancer, the crab, traditionally covers birthdays from about 21 June to 22 July, so 4 July falls squarely inside it. Astrologers associate the sign with the Moon and describe Cancerians as protective, home-loving and moody.
Exact sign boundaries shift by a day or so from year to year because they are based on the Sun's position rather than fixed calendar dates.
Which sign is pictured as a centaur drawing a bow, the archer of the zodiac?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Sagittarius
Sagittarius, the ninth sign, is traditionally dated from about 22 November to 21 December and is a fire sign ruled by Jupiter. Its archer is often identified with the wise centaur Chiron, and astrologers describe the sign as adventurous and blunt.
The centre of the Milky Way lies in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, hidden behind dense clouds of interstellar dust.
Which sign is symbolised by the water bearer, a figure pouring from a jug?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Aquarius
Aquarius, the eleventh sign, traditionally runs from about 20 January to 18 February. Despite the water jug it is an air sign, and astrologers describe Aquarians as independent, idealistic and a little eccentric.
The 1967 musical Hair opened with the song Aquarius, which turned the dawning of the Age of Aquarius into a catchphrase of the era.
Which of these animals does not have a year in the Chinese zodiac?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Cat
The Chinese zodiac cycles through twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. In the Great Race folktale the cat missed out after the rat pushed it into a river on the way to the Jade Emperor.
Vietnam's version of the zodiac does include a cat, which takes the place of the rabbit.
Which animal comes first in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Rat
The Rat opens the cycle, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Legend says the rat hitched a ride across the river on the ox's back and leapt off to reach the Jade Emperor first.
People born in a Rat year are traditionally described as quick-witted, resourceful and thrifty, and the next Rat year begins in 2032.
Lunar New Year on 10 February 2024 ushered in the year of which Chinese zodiac animal?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Dragon
The Year of the Dragon ran from 10 February 2024 to 28 January 2025. The dragon is the only mythical creature among the twelve animals and is considered the luckiest sign, so dragon years often see a rise in births in Chinese communities.
The Snake followed on 29 January 2025 and the Horse takes over on 17 February 2026.
In a birth chart, what name is given to the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Ascendant
The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the sign climbing over the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of birth, and it changes roughly every two hours. Astrologers treat it as the outward personality, the mask shown to the world.
Because it depends on the time of day, two people born on the same date in different hours can have different rising signs.
The word zodiac comes from a Greek term meaning what?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Circle of animals
Zodiac comes from the Greek zōdiakos kyklos, circle of little animals, because most of the twelve figures are creatures or mythical hybrids. The Greeks inherited the twelve equal signs from Babylonian astronomers who devised the system in the 5th century BC.
The Babylonians based the twelve signs on their calendar of twelve schematic months of thirty days each.
Which constellation, which the Sun crosses each December, is sometimes promoted as a thirteenth zodiac sign?
Got a hunch? Pick the answer that feels right.
Ophiuchus
The Sun passes in front of Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, from about 30 November to 18 December, which prompted headlines about a thirteenth sign in 2011. Traditional astrology ignores it because the twelve signs are equal 30-degree divisions of the sky, not constellations.
Ophiuchus is usually identified with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, whose serpent-wrapped staff remains a medical symbol today.
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All General Knowledge quizzes →About the Astrology and Zodiac Quiz
Libra is the only Western star sign symbolised by an object rather than a creature. The cat missed out on the Chinese zodiac because, legend says, the rat shoved it into a river. And every planet appears to go backwards at some point, not just Mercury. Astrology has been part of popular culture for more than two thousand years, so it pays to know the basics.
These 15 questions cover the symbols and traditional dates of the twelve Western signs, the four elements, the Chinese zodiac animals, rising signs and the thirteenth constellation that occasionally makes headlines. They treat astrology as tradition and folklore rather than science, so sceptics and horoscope readers can play on equal terms.
You will find 15 multiple choice questions here, each with four options. Difficulty: Medium. Most people finish in about 6 minutes, and every answer comes with a short explanation and one extra fact worth keeping.
How to play
Read the question and pick one of the four answers. The correct answer is revealed straight away with a short explanation, then press Next question to keep going. At the end you get your score out of 15 and a full review of your round. Play again any time and the questions arrive in a fresh order. There is no timer and no account.
Good to know before you play
Does the quiz cover the Chinese zodiac as well as star signs?
Yes. Three questions deal with the twelve Chinese zodiac animals, their order and the Year of the Dragon in 2024, alongside twelve questions on Western astrology.
Do I need to believe in astrology to play?
No. The questions test what the tradition says about signs, symbols, elements and dates, not whether horoscopes come true.
What are the hardest questions in the zodiac quiz?
The rising sign, the Greek origin of the word zodiac and the constellation Ophiuchus, which is sometimes promoted as a thirteenth sign.
Answer key: all 15 questions with explanations
- In Western astrology, which zodiac sign is symbolised by the lion?
Leo Leo is the fifth sign of the zodiac, traditionally covering birthdays from about 23 July to 22 August, and its glyph is a stylised lion's mane and tail. Astrologers link it to the Sun and describe Leos as warm, proud and theatrical. The constellation Leo contains Regulus, one of the brightest stars in the night sky, whose name means little king in Latin. - Which zodiac sign is represented by a set of scales?
Libra Libra, the seventh sign, is the only sign of the Western zodiac symbolised by an object rather than a person or animal, and its scales stand for balance and justice. Traditionally it covers roughly 23 September to 22 October and is ruled by Venus. The ancient Greeks saw Libra's stars as the claws of the neighbouring scorpion, and it was the Romans who firmly established the scales. - Which sign is symbolised by a pair of twins?
Gemini Gemini, the third sign, covers roughly 21 May to 20 June and takes its twins from Castor and Pollux, the brothers of Greek myth whose names also belong to the constellation's two brightest stars. Astrologers describe Geminis as curious, quick-witted communicators. NASA named its two-person Gemini spacecraft programme of the 1960s after the twins, since each capsule carried a pair of astronauts. - Which zodiac sign is symbolised by the bull?
Taurus Taurus, the second sign, traditionally runs from about 20 April to 20 May and is associated with the element earth and the planet Venus. Astrologers describe the sign as patient, sensual and stubborn, much like its animal. The constellation Taurus holds the Pleiades star cluster and the bright orange giant Aldebaran, which marks the bull's eye. - In popular astrology, which planet's apparent backward motion across the sky gets blamed for missed emails, travel delays and broken gadgets?
Mercury Mercury retrograde happens three or four times a year when Earth overtakes the faster-moving inner planet, making it appear to drift backwards against the stars for about three weeks. Astrologers traditionally associate Mercury with communication and travel, hence the folklore. The backward motion is an optical effect of orbital geometry; every planet appears to go retrograde at some point, and none actually reverses course. - Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces are traditionally grouped under which of the four classical elements?
Water Western astrology sorts the twelve signs into four elements of three signs each: fire, earth, air and water. Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces make up the water trio, which astrologers describe as emotional, intuitive and sensitive. Fire covers Aries, Leo and Sagittarius, earth takes Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, and air groups Gemini, Libra and Aquarius. - Someone born on 4 July, American Independence Day, falls under which zodiac sign by the usual dates?
Cancer Cancer, the crab, traditionally covers birthdays from about 21 June to 22 July, so 4 July falls squarely inside it. Astrologers associate the sign with the Moon and describe Cancerians as protective, home-loving and moody. Exact sign boundaries shift by a day or so from year to year because they are based on the Sun's position rather than fixed calendar dates. - Which sign is pictured as a centaur drawing a bow, the archer of the zodiac?
Sagittarius Sagittarius, the ninth sign, is traditionally dated from about 22 November to 21 December and is a fire sign ruled by Jupiter. Its archer is often identified with the wise centaur Chiron, and astrologers describe the sign as adventurous and blunt. The centre of the Milky Way lies in the direction of the constellation Sagittarius, hidden behind dense clouds of interstellar dust. - Which sign is symbolised by the water bearer, a figure pouring from a jug?
Aquarius Aquarius, the eleventh sign, traditionally runs from about 20 January to 18 February. Despite the water jug it is an air sign, and astrologers describe Aquarians as independent, idealistic and a little eccentric. The 1967 musical Hair opened with the song Aquarius, which turned the dawning of the Age of Aquarius into a catchphrase of the era. - Which of these animals does not have a year in the Chinese zodiac?
Cat The Chinese zodiac cycles through twelve animals: Rat, Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. In the Great Race folktale the cat missed out after the rat pushed it into a river on the way to the Jade Emperor. Vietnam's version of the zodiac does include a cat, which takes the place of the rabbit. - Which animal comes first in the twelve-year cycle of the Chinese zodiac?
Rat The Rat opens the cycle, followed by the Ox, Tiger, Rabbit, Dragon, Snake, Horse, Goat, Monkey, Rooster, Dog and Pig. Legend says the rat hitched a ride across the river on the ox's back and leapt off to reach the Jade Emperor first. People born in a Rat year are traditionally described as quick-witted, resourceful and thrifty, and the next Rat year begins in 2032. - Lunar New Year on 10 February 2024 ushered in the year of which Chinese zodiac animal?
Dragon The Year of the Dragon ran from 10 February 2024 to 28 January 2025. The dragon is the only mythical creature among the twelve animals and is considered the luckiest sign, so dragon years often see a rise in births in Chinese communities. The Snake followed on 29 January 2025 and the Horse takes over on 17 February 2026. - In a birth chart, what name is given to the zodiac sign that was rising on the eastern horizon at the moment of birth?
Ascendant The Ascendant, or rising sign, is the sign climbing over the eastern horizon at the exact time and place of birth, and it changes roughly every two hours. Astrologers treat it as the outward personality, the mask shown to the world. Because it depends on the time of day, two people born on the same date in different hours can have different rising signs. - The word zodiac comes from a Greek term meaning what?
Circle of animals Zodiac comes from the Greek zōdiakos kyklos, circle of little animals, because most of the twelve figures are creatures or mythical hybrids. The Greeks inherited the twelve equal signs from Babylonian astronomers who devised the system in the 5th century BC. The Babylonians based the twelve signs on their calendar of twelve schematic months of thirty days each. - Which constellation, which the Sun crosses each December, is sometimes promoted as a thirteenth zodiac sign?
Ophiuchus The Sun passes in front of Ophiuchus, the serpent bearer, from about 30 November to 18 December, which prompted headlines about a thirteenth sign in 2011. Traditional astrology ignores it because the twelve signs are equal 30-degree divisions of the sky, not constellations. Ophiuchus is usually identified with Asclepius, the Greek god of medicine, whose serpent-wrapped staff remains a medical symbol today.
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