Do You Have the Brain of a Detective?

EMPLOYMENT

By: Zoe Samuel

6 Min Quiz

Image: PeopleImages / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

Being a good detective isn't just about passing an exam. Being a detective is about latent talent and learned skill. The learned skills of the detective are the easy part, requiring only the discipline to commit to memory all the subtleties of basic crime scene examination, be that "crime scene" an actual crime scene, or be it a marriage where one half of the couple is suspected of cheating. Knowing what stand out details mean and which are important means knowing a lot about how the world of the detective behaves when everything is normal. Then, depending on the detective's specialty, he or she needs to learn the investigative procedures required to separate the clues from the noise and parse out truth.

The other qualities needed to be a detective are more complicated. They consist of a combination of IQ (raw mental processing power) and EQ (emotional sensitivity). It is one thing to know what to do, but quite another to know when it is the time to do it. EQ means noticing when the subject of questioning starts to make self-soothing gestures and being able to triangulate that with the other facts available. It means being able to empathize with people to understand their motives. This quiz will take stock of your skills and abilities, assess your talents and determine if you have the brain of a detective!

You've found a deck of playing cards. The box was opened with the clean stroke of a knife, and the deck is used, but immaculate. What does this tell you about the owner?

Advertisement

What does it mean if you are questioning someone, and they suddenly cross their arms during questioning?

Advertisement

How well can you keep your emotions in check when the stakes are high?

Advertisement

There is a closed laptop on a table. To the right sits a wristwatch. What does this scene tell you about the owner of these objects?

Advertisement

What do you think it means if someone seems uncomfortable while having a conversation through a doorway?

Advertisement

How well do you recognize the regional aspects of your own accent?

Advertisement

How do Bedouin culture and Chinese culture handle tea and guests differently?

Advertisement

What is the social significance of the person who pays the bill for a party in a restaurant?

Advertisement

Which of these do you see as the best cue indicating a subject is lying?

Advertisement

What is the most likely reason a mobile phone's plug hole is surrounded by scratches?

Advertisement

What detail would best indicate to you how recently a man's family immigrated to the USA?

Advertisement

Which of these activities is most visibly affected by anger?

Advertisement

Which of these signs points to someone having once been a ballet dancer?

Advertisement

Which of these is the best indicator that someone isn't just a Porsche owner, but an enthusiast?

Advertisement

How can you tell if someone is trained in the use of swords, and is keeping up with their training, by only looking at their hands?

Advertisement

What is the single largest distinguishing feature separating most fountain pen inks from most rollerball inks?

Advertisement

What type of plant is deadly if consumed by a cat?

Advertisement

How reliable is fingerprinting as a means of criminal detection?

Advertisement

What is the easiest way one could escape handcuffs?

Advertisement

What does it mean when someone speaks of something in the passive voice?

Advertisement

What is the difference between a psychopath and a sociopath?

Advertisement

What is the most important factor in determining guilt?

Advertisement

What do immaculately shined men's shoes say to you about the owner?

Advertisement

On balance, which of these types of people is least likely to kill someone on purpose?

Advertisement

How important are contracts between friends who go into business with each other?

Advertisement

How would you find the address of a total stranger you knew only by name?

Advertisement

How facile are you with strangers?

Advertisement

How comfortable are you talking about awkward subjects with people you like or feel close to?

Advertisement

How do you react when an authority figure asserts a fact you know is not true?

Advertisement

What can autocorrect typos tell you about the phone's user?

Advertisement

Explore More Quizzes

About Zoo

Our goal at Zoo.com is to keep you entertained in this crazy life we all live.

We want you to look inward and explore new and interesting things about yourself. We want you to look outward and marvel at the world around you. We want you to laugh at past memories that helped shape the person you’ve become. We want to dream with you about all your future holds. Our hope is our quizzes and articles inspire you to do just that.

Life is a zoo! Embrace it on Zoo.com.