How Much Do You Know About the Sport of Curling?

By: Heather Cahill
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
How Much Do You Know About the Sport of Curling?
Image: shutterstock

About This Quiz

Calling all lead, second, third and skips! Do you know how to stop a rock from curling? How about what equipment you need to play?

The game originated in the 1500s, and it has gained popularity throughout the years. Some of the largest countries in the world have a deep passion for the sport and they are home to some of the most highly respected players in the game. Speaking of respect, did you know that curling teams hold respect as one of their core values when participating in the sport? Teams will never trash talk each other.

If you think you're an expert on the rules of the game, get ready to test your expertise on some miscellaneous facts as well! Do you know some of the famous players around the world? How about the history of the sport? Knowing how your favorite sport originated is not only interesting, but also a great way to learn about how the sport came to be today.

Curling fans have proven their dedication and love for the sport since it was invented. If you're a true fan of curling, you'll have no trouble with this quiz. So if you're ready to play, take your shot and see how many points you can score!

Which player on the team is the last to throw?
Skip
The skip is the last player on the team to throw. Their throw is most important at the very end of a game because it can determine who wins.
Third
Second
Lead

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What type of stone are curling stones made of?
Marble
Slate
Limestone
Granite
Curling stones are made of granite. The granite is mined from Scotland, also where the game is thought to have originated.

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What does 'clean' mean?
Lightly move the broom on the ice
'Clean' is used to tell the sweeper to lightly brush the ice as the shot is going where it should. They are quite literally just cleaning the ice to make a clear path for the rock.
The name of a shot
To win the game
To clean up after the game

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Which member is the team captain?
Skip
The skip is the captain on a curling team. They will call a shot for their teammates and they are the last to shoot their rocks.
Lead
Second
Third

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Which piece of equipment weighs 42 pounds?
The stone
The stone weighs 42 pounds. It is made from granite that is mined from Scotland. Stones are crucial to the game as they help the team score points.
The broom
The shoes
The hack

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Which of the following is the name of a shot in curling?
Skip
Goal
Break
Draw
A 'draw' is the name of a shot in curling. It is also used to schedule a match. A few of the other shots are called 'guard,' 'hammer' and 'hit and roll.'

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Which player on the team goes first?
Skip
Lead
The lead is the first player to make a shot. The lead plays two stones at the start and plays shots that will help their team to win.
Third
Second

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What is done to stop a stone from curling?
Touching the stone
Sweeping
Sweeping is done to make a stone stay on path after it is shot, without curling. Adjusting the pressure applied on the broom can create a different effect on how the stone glides.
Putting your foot in front of the stone
Nothing

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How many people make up a curling team?
1
2
3
4
Four players make up a curling team. The players include lead, second, third and skip. Each player has a crucial role in the game.

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Is it true or false that curling is an Olympic sport?
True
This is true. Curling was first played in the Olympics in 1924. It was not an official Olympic sport until 1998 when it was played at the Nanago Winter Games.
False

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What does delivery mean in regards to curling?
Throwing a rock to the other end.
Delivery is the action of throwing the rock to the end at the bullseye. The delivery must be well played to help the team win the game.
Telling another player something important.
Handing off the broom to another player.
Bringing the rocks back.

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What does 'eight-ender' mean?
All eight players have gone.
Eight points were deducted.
Every one of the team's rocks scored.
'Eight-ender' is the term used when every single one of a team's rocks score. There are eight shots from each team which explains where the expression comes from.
The game was a tie.

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What is a 'rock'?
The name of a shot
The name of a position
The stone with which you play
A rock is another name for the stone that is used to play curling. The term 'burning a rock' is used when a rock is touched by a player after being shot.
The broom

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What is a 'sheet'?
The ice.
The 'sheet' is the ice on which the game is played. It is a long area of ice with a bullseye. When the game was first played, the 'sheet' was a frozen pond.
The scorecard
A player
Shoes

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What does 'hurry hard' mean?
Run
Throw very hard
Get out of the way
Sweep
'Hurry hard' is a term used to tell another player to sweep. Sweeping helps the rock go farther and stops it from curling as it travels to the bullseye.

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Which country aside from Canada has a top women's team of curlers?
Cuba
United States
China
Aside from Canada, China has a top women's curling team. One notable player is Wang Bingyu who has played in numerous championships and at the Winter Olympic Games.
Russia

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Which of the following is a nickname for the sport of curling?
Roarin' Game
One nickname for the sport of curling is 'Roarin' Game.' This is because the sound of the rock as it travels on the ice sounds similar to a roar.
Rock Throw
Stone Skipping
Brain Game

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Is it true or false that a player stands to shoot the rock?
True
False
This is false. A player that shoots the rock shoots from a kneeling position, where they glide across the ice with the rock before letting go.

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Where was the sport first played in its early days?
A frozen pond
In its​ early days, the sport was played on frozen ponds. This resulted in the game only being played during the winter. Today, we have indoor rinks that allow people to enjoy the game year-round.
A rink
An indoor arena
Dirt

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Who brought the sport to other places around the world?
German Immigrants
Irish Immigrants
Scottish Immigrants
The sport of curling is thought to have originated in Scotland. The Scottish people brought the sport with them when immigrating.
English Immigrants

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In which country is curling the most popular?
Sweden
Canada
Curling is most popular in Canada, despite having originated in Scotland. Canada has won many curling championships as well.
Japan
Austria

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How many ends are in a game?
Eight or ten
There are eight or ten ends in a typical game. In each end, 16 rocks are thrown. After finishing an end, the points are recorded.
Five
Two
Three

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What is a tradition after a game of curling?
Throwing one last rock.
Leaving the brooms on the ice.
Buying the losing team a drink.
A common tradition after a game of curling is for the winning team to buy the losing team a drink. Curling is a sport that involves respect, and this tradition is no different.
Having the losing team wash your gear.

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How much does a rock cost?
$1,000
A rock costs about $1,000. They are 42 pounds of smooth granite from Scotland, making them quite a pricey piece of equipment.
$10
$50
$300

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What do players say to each other before starting a game?
Looking forward to the game
Break a leg
Good Curling
Players say 'Good Curling' to each other before the start of a game. Curling is a respectful game without trash talk, and even after a loss, both teams remain respectful.
Have fun

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What are grippers and sliders?
Shoes
Grippers and sliders are shoes. Each player has one shoe that is a gripper and one that is a slider. The shoe that is a slider depends on whether or not the player is right or left handed.
Shots
Players
Goals

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For what are curling gloves used?
Throwing
Calling
Sweeping
Curling gloves are used for sweeping so that the players' hands are protected. Since players are in the cold, gloves are also used to keep them warm.
Holding

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What is the world's oldest curling rock called?
The Magic Rock
The Curling Rock
The Roaring Rock
The Stirling Stone
The world's oldest curling rock is called the Stirling Stone. The Stirling Stone was found in Scotland and on the bottom, the year 1511 is inscribed.

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How do you score a point?
You have the most stones near the bullseye.
To score points in curling depends on how close your rock comes to the bullseye. Points are awarded to the rocks that are near the bullseye.
Your stone glides for the longest time.
You get a point for the stones farthest from the bullseye.
You get a point for each stone that curls.

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Craig and Erika Brown are called what?
The first family of curling
Craig and Erika Brown are called 'The First Family of Curling.' They are from the United States and they are brother and sister. Their parents were also heavily involved in curling.
The Dream Team
The Winning Browns
The Iconic Players

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Is it true or false that players wear tight clothing when playing?
True
False
This is false. Players wear loose clothing that allows them to move during the game. Tight clothing would be restricting when trying to shoot the rock.

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What is a 'hack'?
The tool used to sweep
Instructions from the lead
A shot
A place for a player's foot
The hack is the place players put their foot. They push off onto the sheet with the rock from this point to make their shot.

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How many stones are thrown by each player?
2
Each player throws two stones, making a total of eight from each team. The game is won by the team that accumulates the most points.
10
24
17

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How is a winner determined in curling?
By the team that throws the most rocks
By the team that has the most skill
By the team that throws the rock the hardest
By the team with the most points
A winner is determined by the team that scored the most points. Points are scored by the rocks' proximity to the bullseye.

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What is at the end of the sheet?
The Penalty Zone
The Outfield
The Starting Line
The Bullseye
The bullseye is located at the end of the sheet. It is the place where players try to shoot their rocks. It is a marker to determine how many points the team scored.

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You Got:
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