WONDER #2700: Why Would You Take a Canary Into a Coal Mine?

Question 1 of 3

What was the main idea of this Wonder?

  1. Carbon monoxide is an odorless, toxic gas that can harm or even kill humans and animals.
  2. Coal mining can be a dangerous job, and it’s important for miners to take steps to protect themselves.
  3. An idiom is a commonly used phrase that has a deeper meaning than the literal definition of its words.
  4. For many years, miners carried canaries into coal mines with them to protect themselves from carbon monoxide.

Question 2 of 3

Miners began carrying canaries into coal mines in _______.

  1. 1845
  2. 1964
  3. 1911
  4. 2013

Question 3 of 3

Since 1986, _______________ have replaced canaries in coal mines.

  1. digital CO detectors
  2. mice
  3. smoke detectors
  4. horses

Check your answers online at https://wonderopolis.org/index.php/wonder/Why-Would-You-Take-a-Canary-Into-a-Coal-Mine.