The Ultimate Fainting Goat Quiz

CORRECT ANSWERS: 0

The name fainting goat may seem a bit weird, but it's not some kind of animal joke. Take this quiz to learn more about the goats that faint.

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Question 2 of 21

Why do these particular goats faint?

prone to fright
weak-hearted
congenital medical condition

... They suffer from a medical condition called myotonia congenita.

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Question 3 of 21

What is myotonia congenita?

Weak heart that loses beats when the goat is surprised.
The muscles tense when the goat is startled and don't relax immediately.
It’s a condition similar to asthma that cuts off air supply when the goat is startled.

... The muscles tense up when the goat is startled and don't immediately relax -- in many cases they topple over.

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Question 4 of 21

What happens as the goats grow older?

Fall over less.
Fall over more
Fall onto their hind parts.

... With the passage of time the goats seem to be able to adapt better and fall over less.

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Question 5 of 21

Technically how does myotonia congenita work?

The legs suddenly relax instead of tensing.
After the muscles receive signals from the brain to tense up, there is a long delay until the orders to relax.
The brains sends mixed signals to the muscles causing the goat to lose balance.

... In a normal goat, when danger signals are relayed to the brain, it sends an electric signal known as the fight or flight response. Immediately afterwards the muscles are ordered to relax and the goat will run or stay and fight. With the myotonic goat, the relax signal doesn't get to the muscles for 10 to 20 seconds.

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Question 6 of 21

What gene is affected by myotonia congenita?

Nitrogen Hippocampus
Sodium Hypothalmus
Chloride Channel 1

... The gene affected is Chloride Channel 1.

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Question 7 of 21

What does this gene do?

produces proteins
transmits brain signals
controls strength of muscles

... This gene is part of the process that produces and controls proteins vital to flexing and relaxing skeletal muscles.

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Question 8 of 21

What relays brain's message for muscles to contract?

positively charged sodium ions
negatively charged sodium ions
neutral chloride ions

... Positively charged sodium ions relay the contracting message.

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Question 9 of 21

What relays the relaxing message?

negatively charged sodium ions
positively charged chloride ions
negatively charged chloride ions

... Negatively charged chloride ions carry the message to relax.

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Question 10 of 21

How does myotonia congenita mess up the process?

It increases the amount of sodium carrying contacting orders.
It causes a shortage of chloride carrying the relaxing messages.
It diverts the chloride ions to other parts of the body.

... In simple terms it causes an imbalance between the contacting and relaxing orders, causing the muscles to remain tensed for longer than usual.

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Question 11 of 21

How much pain does the goat experience during a "fainting" episode.

They don't feel pain.
The pain is brief but intense.
They exhibit signs of embarrassment but only a little pain.

... Apparently they don't feel pain during these spells.

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Question 12 of 21

What does the Humane Society have to say about selective breeding of fainting goats?

They are very disturbed.
They are lobbying to legislate against the breeding of fainting goats.
They are not overly concerned.

... They are more concerned about breeding issues in other areas, since no pain is associated with the fainting.

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Question 13 of 21

Is myotonia contagious?

highly contagious
no
only in mating season

... Actually it is hereditary.

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Question 14 of 21

How well does the fainting goat survive in nature?

it doesn't
only in Asia and Europe
reasonably well

... Not really well, since a fainting goat attacked by a predator would be an easy kill. These goats exist only because they are bred for different purposes.

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Question 15 of 21

What is unnatural selection?

It is cross-breeding of different species.
It is any form of genetic engineering
It is human intervention to ensure survival of weaker animals.

... This is when human breeders intervene to protect weaker animals and ensure their survival in distinct contrast to natural selection in which the strongest survive.

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Question 16 of 21

When did the myotonia congenita begin to emerge as a distinct breed?

1880
1930
1960

... The beginning can be traced back to the 1880s in Tennessee.

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Question 17 of 21

Why would a farmer raise a herd of fainting goats?

Their upkeep costs less.
They are easier to control.
They live longer.

... Regular goats are accomplished escape artists and are difficult to keep penned in. The symptoms of the myotonia congenita can cause them to faint when they jump or attempt to climb.

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Question 18 of 21

Can the fainting goat be used for meat in light of the excessive muscular tensing?

The meat is tougher and not very popular.
They are used for milking not for meat.
They supply meat that is leaner and more plentiful.

... Actually this tendency results in less body fat and a higher meat-to-bone ratio than other goats, making them a good choice.

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Question 19 of 21

Why were fainting goats used at one time to accompany herds of sheep?

When the herd was attacked the goat would faint and become an easy kill while the herd escaped.
It's antics would keep the herd alert for danger.
If the herd were attacked the fainting goat would freeze of faint thereby scaring off the predator.

... If the herd were attacked, the fainting goat would fall, becoming an easy kill for the attacker, while the rest of the herd escaped.

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Question 20 of 21

What other purpose do fainting goats serve?

to test noise levels
for scientific research
for amusement

... Because of their unusual trait they are also bred for amusement.

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Question 21 of 21

How many myotonia congenita goats are there in the United States?

2,000 to 3,000
3,000 to 5,000
5,000 to 7,000

... The estimates range from 3,000 to 5,000.

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