Wednesday, April 30, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,071-2,076

Question 2,071: Entertainment & Food -- Money Motive

What did the lead robber in Dog Day Afternoon need money to pay for?

a) His gambling debts
b) His lover's sex change operation
c) His mother's pacemaker
d) Plastic surgery to hide his identity

Question 2,072: History & Government -- Pig Gig

In what country did the Bay of Pigs invasion take place?

a) Cuba
b) Germany
c) North Korea
d) Vietnam

Question 2,073: Math & Science -- Respiratory Requirement

What part of the human body requires the most oxygen?

a) Brain
b) Heart
c) Kidneys
d) Stomach

Question 2,074: Geography & Nature -- Green Takers

What country owns Greenland?

a) Canada
b) Denmark
c) Finland
d) Iceland

Question 2,075: Literature & Arts -- What Winnie Wants

What is Winnie-the-Pooh's favorite food?

a) Chocolate
b) Honey
c) Jam
d) Porridge

Question 2,076: Sports & Games -- Pump Producers

Which shoe company created the sneaker called The Pump?

a) Adidas
b) Fila
c) Nike
d) Reebok

General Trivia Answers #2,065-2,070

Answer 2,065: Entertainment & Food -- Comic Kickoff

b) George Carlin

The show was renamed Saturday Night Live the following year after ABC's Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell went off the air.

Answer 2,066: History & Government -- West Point and Strict

a) Douglas MacArthur

Mac did not disappoint his mom, graduating first out of 93 people in his class in 1903.

Answer 2,067: Math & Science -- Ends the Bends

b) Helium

The noble gas is less soluble in the body than nitrogen, which can be forced out very painfully with the change of pressure.

Answer 2,068: Geography & Nature -- Circle Circle Dot Dot

b) Jaguar

Cheetahs' spots have no rosettes, leopards' spots have no dots, and pumas have no spots.

Answer 2,069: Literature & Arts -- Missing Moniker

d) Buonarroti

The 15th- and 16th-century artist was originally contracted to draw just the Twelve Apostles for the Sistine Chapel but eventually painted over 300 figures.

Answer 2,070: Sports & Games -- 8-Ball Fate Call

a) "The answer is uncertain"

The twenty possible answers are split into ten positive responses, five negative results, and five neutral comments.

Tuesday, April 29, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,065-2,070

Question 2,065: Entertainment & Food -- Comic Kickoff

Who was the first guest star on NBC's Saturday Night on October 11, 1975?

a) Bill Cosby
b) George Carlin
c) Richard Pryor
d) Steve Martin

Question 2,066: History & Government -- West Point and Strict

What future general's mother rented an apartment overlooking his West Point dorm to make sure he studied?

a) Douglas MacArthur
b) George S. Patton
c) John J. Pershing
d) William C. Westmoreland

Question 2,067: Math & Science -- Ends the Bends

What is the main gas that is mixed with oxygen to prevent divers from getting the bends?

a) Carbon dioxide
b) Helium
c) Hydrogen
d) Nitrogen

Question 2,068: Geography & Nature -- Circle Circle Dot Dot

What big cat's spots are rosettes with a central dot?

a) Cheetah
b) Jaguar
c) Leopard
d) Puma

Question 2,069: Literature & Arts -- Missing Moniker

What was Michelangelo's last name?

a) Bartolommeo
b) Bartolozzi
c) Boccaccino
d) Buonarroti

Question 2,070: Sports & Games -- 8-Ball Fate Call

Which of the following is not one of the answers an official Magic 8-Ball can give?

a) "The answer is uncertain"
b) "Better not tell you now"
c) "Cannot predict now"
d) "Reply hazy, try again"

General Trivia Answers #2,059-2,064

Answer 2,059: Entertainment & Food -- Pat & Cyn, Mo & Lin

c) First wives of the Beatles

They were married to John Lennon, George Harrison, Ringo Starr, and Paul McCartney respectively.

Answer 2,060: History & Government -- Victorious Vets

a) Armistice Day

World War I officially ended with the signing of the armistice on November 11, 1918.

Answer 2,061: Math & Science -- Fully Leyden

b) Electricity

The capacitor was named for the Dutch city, usually now spelled Leiden, where physicist Pieter van Musschenbroek created the device in 1745.

Answer 2,062: Geography & Nature -- Country Cousin

c) China

Both nations measure just over 3.7 million square miles, with the U.S. less than half a percent larger. The difference almost exactly equals the area of Taiwan.

Answer 2,063: Literature & Arts -- Novel Number

b) 18

Mila 18 was the address of the command post for Jewish resistance in Warsaw. Catch-22 was renumbered from Catch-18 because it was released later in the same year.

Answer 2,064: Sports & Games -- Sega System

d) Saturn

The 32-bit video game console debuted in the U.S. in May 1995 but did not have enough games available and was crushed by the Sony PlayStation and the Nintendo 64.

Monday, April 28, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,059-2,064

Question 2,059: Entertainment & Food -- Pat & Cyn, Mo & Lin

Who were Cynthia Powell, Patti Boyd, Maureen Cox, and Linda Eastman?

a) First female disc jockeys
b) First four Miss America winners
c) First wives of the Beatles
d) Sisters of Al Pacino

Question 2,060: History & Government -- Victorious Vets

What was Veteran's Day known as from 1919 to 1954?

a) Armistice Day
b) Decoration Day
c) Memorial Day
d) War Heroes Day

Question 2,061: Math & Science -- Fully Leyden

What is a Leyden jar used to store?

a) Bacteria
b) Electricity
c) Radioactive substances
d) Very hot liquids

Question 2,062: Geography & Nature -- Country Cousin

What country is closest in size to the U.S.?

a) Brazil
b) Canada
c) China
d) Russia

Question 2,063: Literature & Arts -- Novel Number

What number follows the word "Mila" in Leon Uris's 1961 novel?

a) 14
b) 18
c) 22
d) 26

Question 2,064: Sports & Games -- Sega System

What was Sega's disappointing successor to its Genesis game system?

a) Jupiter
b) Mercury
c) Neptune
d) Saturn

General Trivia Answers #2,053-2,058

Answer 2,053: Entertainment & Food -- Jet Scream

b) Electric guitar

Fender Musical Instruments introduced the model in 1954, combining the names of the company's previous model, the Telecaster, and the Boeing B-52 Stratofortress jet.

Answer 2,054: History & Government -- People Power

d) Gettysburg Address

Abraham Lincoln's November 19, 1863 speech begins, "Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation...".

Answer 2,055: Math & Science -- Quite Light

b) Hydrogen

The atomic weight of hydrogen is about one-fourth of helium's.

Answer 2,056: Geography & Nature -- Flower Child

c) Florida

Juan Ponce de Leon named the state in April 1513 after Spain's Eastertime celebration called Pascua florida.

Answer 2,057: Literature & Arts -- Career Killer

a) Harper Lee

Born in Alabama as Nelle Harper Lee, the former law school student retired from writing after her only novel because she did not think she could do any better.

Answer 2,058: Sports & Games -- Hoops Who-Am-I?

a) Allen Iverson

The guard was also one of the country's best quarterbacks in high school but opted to pursue only basketball at Georgetown University.

Sunday, April 27, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,053-2,058

Question 2,053: Entertainment & Food -- Jet Scream

What type of musical instrument is a Fender Stratocaster?

a) Drum
b) Electric guitar
c) Electric piano
d) Violin

Question 2,054: History & Government -- People Power

What famous American document or speech ends, "government of the people, by the people, and for the people"?

a) Bill of Rights
b) Constitution
c) Declaration of Independence
d) Gettysburg Address

Question 2,055: Math & Science -- Quite Light

What is the lightest chemical element?

a) Helium
b) Hydrogen
c) Lithium
d) Neon

Question 2,056: Geography & Nature -- Flower Child

Which U.S. state's name honors the "feast of the flowers"?

a) Arizona
b) California
c) Florida
d) Texas

Question 2,057: Literature & Arts -- Career Killer

What author won the 1961 Pulitzer Prize for To Kill a Mockingbird?

a) Harper Lee
b) John Steinbeck
c) Sinclair Lewis
d) William Faulkner

Question 2,058: Sports & Games -- Hoops Who-Am-I?

What NBA player is known as the Answer?

a) Allen Iverson
b) Jonathan Bender
c) Kobe Bryant
d) Vince Carter

Political Packs - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Texas. Perry and North Dakota's John Hoeven are the currently longest-tenured state governors, both having taken office in 2000.
  • A2) Louisiana. Jindal and New York's David Paterson are the two newest governors, both joining the ranks this year.
  • A3) Idaho. Craig of course was infamously in the news last year; if you don't know why, you can Google him if you promise you're old enough to know about these things.
  • A4) Georgia. In 2003, Perdue (no relation to the poultry company) became the first Republican to head the state in over 130 years.
  • A5) Connecticut. Lieberman was a Democrat until he lost his party's nomination in 2006. He won his seat running under the "Connecticut for Lieberman" party and now calls himself an Independent Democrat.
  • A6) Vermont. Sanders, who considers himself an Independent, is the only other non-Democrat, non-Republican besides Lieberman.
  • A7) Florida. Nelson shares his last name with Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska, the only pair in the U.S. Senate (honorable mention: Jack Reed of Rhode Island and Harry Reid of Nevada). No two governors have the same last name, and no governor matches any senator.
  • A8) Washington. The Evergreen State is currently the only state with a female trio. Alaska and Michigan have female governors (Sarah Palin; Jennifer Granholm) and one female senator (Lisa Murkowski; Debbie Stabenow), and California and Maine have two female senators (Dianne Feinstein and Barbara Boxer; Olympia Snowe and Susan Collins).
  • A9) Hawaii. The 50th state is the only one with two senators who go by the same first name, although Arizona is close (John McCain and Jon Kyl). New Hampshire's Governor John Lynch and Senator John Sununu also match.
  • A10) Rhode Island. The smallest state is one of only four that have a Republican governor but two Democratic senators (California, Hawaii, and North Dakota are the other three).
  • A11) Mississippi. Wicker was appointed on December 31, 2007, thirteen days after Trent Lott resigned.
  • A12) Wyoming. Barrasso was appointed on June 22, 2007, eighteen days after Craig Thomas passed away.

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Political Packs - Random Trivia Questions

This random quiz won't age as well as most of the Saturday stuff I've written, but midway between Election Days is a good a time as any to ask... Only needing to recognize one out of three names, can you identify what states the following governors and senators represent?

Political Packs Questions

  • Q1) Governor Rick Perry (R); Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R) and John Cornyn (R).
  • Q2) Governor Bobby Jindal (R); Senators Mary Landrieu (D) and David Vitter (R).
  • Q3) Governor Butch Otter (R); Senators Larry Craig (R) and Mike Crapo (R).
  • Q4) Governor Sonny Perdue (R); Senators Saxby Chambliss (R) and Johnny Isakson (R).
  • Q5) Governor M. Jodi Rell (R); Senators Christopher Dodd (D) and Joe Lieberman (ID).
  • Q6) Governor Jim Douglas (R); Senators Patrick Leahy (D) Bernie Sanders (I).
  • Q7) Governor Charlie Crist (R); Senators Bill Nelson (D) and Mel Martinez (R).
  • Q8) Governor Christine Gregoire (D); Senators Patty Murray (D) and Maria Cantwell (D).
  • Q9) Governor Linda Lingle (R); Senators Daniel Inouye (D) and Daniel Akaka (D).
  • Q10) Governor Donald Carcieri (R); Senators Jack Reed (D) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D).
  • Q11) Governor Haley Barbour (R); Senators Thad Cochran (R) and Roger Wicker (R).
  • Q12) Governor Dave Freudenthal (D); Senators Michael Enzi (R) and John Barrasso (R).

Confuse With Cubes -- Quiz Quilt 67 Solution

Category Answers:
Geography
&
Nature
PIERREThe town, whose name is pronounced "peer", was founded in 1880 and became the capital of South Dakota before the end of the decade.
History
&
Government
LINCOLNEarlier in his life Honest Abe had also been a farmer, a rail splitter, and a riverboat operator.
Sports
&
Games
GEHRIGOn June 21, 1939, Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig began his retirement speech at Yankee Stadium with the line.
Entertainment
&
Food
CADPIGKath Soucie provided her voice from 1997 to 1998.
Literature
&
Arts
MACARONIThe Revolutionary War poem and song also includes verses about Captain Gooding and Captain Washington.
Math
&
Science
YTTERBYYttrium, terbium, erbium, and ytterbium all honor the town whose quarry provided the minerals in which the elements were found.

Quiz Quilt Answer: BOGGLE (Sixth letters)

The word search game Boggle uses sixteen letter-dice that are scrambled and then arranged in a 4-by-4 grid.

Friday, April 25, 2008

Confuse With Cubes -- Quiz Quilt 67 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Geography
&
Nature
What is the only U.S. state capital whose name has no letters in common with its state's name?
History
&
Government
Which U.S. President had worked as a storekeeper, surveyor, and postmaster while studying law?
Sports
&
Games
What Major League Baseball player proclaimed, "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of the earth"?
Entertainment
&
Food
Who was the smallest and prettiest of Pongo and Perdita's puppies in the 101 Dalmatians TV series?
Literature
&
Arts
In the poem "Yankee Doodle", what does the title character call a feather in his cap?
Math
&
Science
For what Swedish town were four different chemical elements named?

General Trivia Answers #2,047-2,052

Answer 2,047: Entertainment & Food -- McGyver Moniker

b) Angus

Richard Dean Anderson played the exceptionally resourceful secret agent from 1985 to 1992.

Answer 2,048: History & Government -- Presidential Progeny

b) John Tyler

His Accidency had fifteen children with two wives. William Harrison was the only other President to have double-digit direct descendants.

Answer 2,049: Math & Science -- Lean Genes

b) Peas

The Austrian studied seven basic characteristics of pea pod plants and discovered three of the basic laws of genetics.

Answer 2,050: Geography & Nature -- Driest of the Dry

b) Atacama Desert

The Chilean desert averages a meager half-inch of rain per year.

Answer 2,051: Literature & Arts -- Line Leaders

a) Falstaff

The comic character reappeared at the request of Queen Elizabeth and amassed 1,178 lines between Henry IV (Parts I and II) and The Merry Wives of Windsor.

Answer 2,052: Sports & Games -- Stock Stuffing

d) Nitrogen

Compressed nitrogen holds less moisture than compressed air and consequently expands less as its temperature rises.

Thursday, April 24, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,047-2,052

Question 2,047: Entertainment & Food -- McGyver Moniker

What was the first name of the title character in the TV show McGyver?

a) Alvin
b) Angus
c) Atlee
d) Axel

Question 2,048: History & Government -- Presidential Progeny

Which U.S. President had the most children?

a) James Garfield
b) John Tyler
c) Rutherford Hayes
d) William Harrison

Question 2,049: Math & Science -- Lean Genes

Which type of plant did Gregor Mendel use in his famous genetic experiments?

a) Grapes
b) Peas
c) Soy beans
d) Tomatoes

Question 2,050: Geography & Nature -- Driest of the Dry

What is the driest desert in the world?

a) Arabian Desert
b) Atacama Desert
c) Gobi Desert
d) Sahara Desert

Question 2,051: Literature & Arts -- Line Leaders

After Hamlet, what character speaks the most total lines in Shakespeare's plays?

a) Falstaff
b) Henry V
c) Iago
d) Richard III

Question 2,052: Sports & Games -- Stock Stuffing

What gas is generally used to fill the tires of stock cars?

a) Air
b) Carbon dioxide
c) Hydrogen
d) Nitrogen

General Trivia Answers #2,041-2,046

Answer 2,041: Entertainment & Food -- Finale Tally

b) The Cosby Show

The Huxtables bid audiences goodbye after eight seasons, including four as the top-rated show, on April 29, 1992.

Answer 2,042: History & Government -- Pairport

b) JFK

Built on top of the Idlewild Golf Course, the New York International Airport was officially renamed John F. Kennedy International Airport in 1963 in honor of the late President.

Answer 2,043: Math & Science -- Laugh Attack

a) Kuru

Some scientists believe the disease was often transmitted when cannibals ate infected human brain tissue.

Answer 2,044: Geography & Nature -- Longest Link

d) Suez Canal

The 118-mile-long waterway opened in 1869, just over a decade after France created the Suez Canal Company to construct it.

Answer 2,045: Literature & Arts -- Bang-Bang Book

c) Ian Fleming

Caractacus Potts's flying car appeared in movie theaters in 1968, between You Only Live Twice and On Her Majesty's Secret Service.

Answer 2,046: Sports & Games -- Driving Drink

d) Orange juice

The Brazilian did chug some milk off-camera, but he owns an orange plantation.

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,041-2,046

Question 2,041: Entertainment & Food -- Finale Tally

What highly successful TV show's grand finale drew low ratings because it aired on the day the Rodney King verdict was announced?

a) Cheers
b) The Cosby Show
c) Designing Women
d) The Wonder Years

Question 2,042: History & Government -- Pairport

What airport was formerly known as Idlewild?

a) Bradley
b) JFK
c) LaGuardia
d) Newark

Question 2,043: Math & Science -- Laugh Attack

What fatal disease of the central nervous system is commonly known as Laughing Sickness?

a) Kuru
b) Lupus
c) Parotitis
d) Varicella

Question 2,044: Geography & Nature -- Longest Link

What is the longest canal in the world?

a) Albert Canal
b) Kiel Canal
c) Panama Canal
d) Suez Canal

Question 2,045: Literature & Arts -- Bang-Bang Book

Who wrote the 1964 novel Chitty-Chitty-Bang-Bang for his son Caspar?

a) Cecil Day-Lewis
b) Frederick Forsyth
c) Ian Fleming
d) P.D. James

Question 2,046: Sports & Games -- Driving Drink

What non-traditional beverage did Emerson Fittipaldi infamously drink after he won the 1993 Indianapolis 500?

a) Beer
b) Champagne
c) Coca-Cola
d) Orange juice

General Trivia Answers #2,035-2,040

Answer 2,035: Entertainment & Food -- Monumental Movie

b) North by Northwest

The 1959 film stars Cary Grant as advertising executive Roger Thornhill, who gets chased 3,000 miles across the U.S. after a case of mistaken identity.

Answer 2,036: History & Government -- Alcohol Admonishment

a) Betty Ford

The breast cancer survivor founded the Betty Ford Center in California in 1982 to battle drug and alcohol addictions after her own difficulties following her mastectomy.

Answer 2,037: Math & Science -- Ice I.D.

a) Carbon dioxide

Originally a trademark, dry ice can be used to cool objects down to -109.3° Fahrenheit and to create billows of white smoke as the solid sublimates when immersed in water.

Answer 2,038: Geography & Nature -- Coast Countries

b) Nicaragua and Honduras

The 225-mile stretch along the Caribbean Sea is named not for the insect but for the Miskito Indians who live there.

Answer 2,039: Literature & Arts -- Cap Color

d) Yellow

The man in the yellow hat remains nameless in the children's books that H.A. Rey illustrated and his wife Margret wrote since 1941.

Answer 2,040: Sports & Games -- Mouthy Michael

c) Mike Ditka

The Chicago Bears coach, who liked to talk about playing smash mouth football, is the only person to win Super Bowls as a player, assistant coach, and coach.

Tuesday, April 22, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,035-2,040

Question 2,035: Entertainment & Food -- Monumental Movie

Which Alfred Hitchcock movie features Mount Rushmore?

a) The Man Who Knew Too Much
b) North by Northwest
c) Rear Window
d) Vertigo

Question 2,036: History & Government -- Alcohol Admonishment

Which First Lady preached, "Maybe alcohol picks you up a little bit, but it sure lets you down in a hurry"?

a) Betty Ford
b) Hillary Clinton
c) Nancy Reagan
d) Rosalynn Carter

Question 2,037: Math & Science -- Ice I.D.

What substance is frozen to make dry ice?

a) Carbon dioxide
b) Carbon monoxide
c) Nitrous oxide
d) Water

Question 2,038: Geography & Nature -- Coast Countries

Where is the Mosquito Coast?

a) Cambodia and Vietnam
b) Nicaragua and Honduras
c) Nigeria and Cameroon
d) Peru and Chile

Question 2,039: Literature & Arts -- Cap Color

What color hat does Curious George's owner wear?

a) Black
b) Brown
c) Red
d) Yellow

Question 2,040: Sports & Games -- Mouthy Michael

From what athlete's quote did the band Smash Mouth get its name?

a) Michael Johnson
b) Michael Jordan
c) Mike Ditka
d) Mike Tyson

General Trivia Answers #2,029-2,034

Answer 2,029: Entertainment & Food -- Orange Origination

a) Heaven 17

The fictional group appeared on a Top 10 singles list in a record store. The real group combined former Human League members Ian Craig Marsh and Martyn Ware with Glenn Gregory in 1980.

Answer 2,030: History & Government -- V.P.O.W.

b) James Stockdale

During a televised debate, the Vice Admiral and Ross Perot's 1992 running mate memorably commented, "I feel like I'm a spectator at a ping pong match".

Answer 2,031: Math & Science -- Lucky Locker

d) Linus

The mechanical engineer patented his first lock on May 6, 1851, well over a century after Yale University was named for benefactor Elihu Yale.

Answer 2,032: Geography & Nature -- Lava Land

a) Kauai

The Garden Isle is home to Mount Wai-'ale-'ale, the rainiest spot on the Earth with about 460 inches of annual precipitation.

Answer 2,033: Literature & Arts -- Rescuing the King

a) Bicycles

Mark Twain's humorous 1889 satire transports the clever Morgan from late 19th-century New England to medieval England.

Answer 2,034: Sports & Games -- Basket Hall

c) Trapezoid

FIBA and Olympic rules specify a "paint" area that is wider closer to the basket and narrower at the free throw line. Both NBA and NCAA regulations specify a rectangular lane.

Monday, April 21, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,029-2,034

Question 2,029: Entertainment & Food -- Orange Origination

What band's name came from the novel and movie A Clockwork Orange?

a) Heaven 17
b) Level 42
c) Matchbox 20
d) UB40

Question 2,030: History & Government -- V.P.O.W.

What U.S. vice presidential candidate was the highest ranking naval prisoner of war during the Vietnam War?

a) Jack Kemp
b) James Stockdale
c) Patrick Lucey
d) Sargent Shriver

Question 2,031: Math & Science -- Lucky Locker

What was the first name of the eponymous lockmaker Yale?

a) Benjamin
b) Charles
c) Elihu
d) Linus

Question 2,032: Geography & Nature -- Lava Land

Which Hawaiian island is the oldest and was formed by now-extinct volcanoes?

a) Kauai
b) Lanai
c) Molokai
d) Niihau

Question 2,033: Literature & Arts -- Rescuing the King

In A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur's Court, what do the knights ride in on to save Hank Morgan and King Arthur?

a) Bicycles
b) Camels
c) Canoes
d) Elephants

Question 2,034: Sports & Games -- Basket Hall

What geometrical shape best describes the lane in international basketball?

a) Rectangle
b) Semicircle
c) Trapezoid
d) Triangle

General Trivia Answers #2,023-2,028

Answer 2,023: Entertainment & Food -- Rossi, Rossman, and the Rest

d) The Untouchables

The special agents fought the Mafia on ABC-TV every Thursday at 9:30 p.m. from 1959 to 1963.

Answer 2,024: History & Government -- Scopes on the Ropes

a) Evolution

William Jennings Bryan and Clarence Darrow both volunteered their services for what turned out to a significantly more important case than the publicity-seeking town had imagined.

Answer 2,025: Math & Science -- Fatness Fallout

a) Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes can usually be controlled by weight loss and diet changes.

Answer 2,026: Geography & Nature -- Non-Asian Ascent

a) Argentina

Mount Aconcagua towers 22,834 feet up in the Andes.

Answer 2,027: Literature & Arts -- Sailor's Tale

c) Going to a wedding

Saddened by the tale, the wedding guests never make it to the ceremony.

Answer 2,028: Sports & Games -- Creek Zeke

b) Jerry West

The model for the league's silhouetted logo was born near the West Virginia town in 1938.

Sunday, April 20, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,023-2,028

Question 2,023: Entertainment & Food -- Rossi, Rossman, and the Rest

Who were Allison, Flaherty, Hobson, Longfellow, Ness, Rossi, and Rossman better known as?

a) The Avengers
b) The Mod Squad
c) The Seven Samurai
d) The Untouchables

Question 2,024: History & Government -- Scopes on the Ropes

In July 1925, what was John T. Scopes convicted of teaching in a Dayton, Tennessee public school?

a) Evolution
b) Homosexuality
c) Religion
d) Sex education

Question 2,025: Math & Science -- Fatness Fallout

What disease's prevalence increased by almost half in the U.S. from 1990 to 2000, mainly because of obesity?

a) Diabetes
b) Gastritis
c) Hepatitis
d) Stomach cancer

Question 2,026: Geography & Nature -- Non-Asian Ascent

What non-Asian country has the highest peak?

a) Argentina
b) Chile
c) Tunisia
d) United States

Question 2,027: Literature & Arts -- Sailor's Tale

What are the three strangers doing when the sailor relates "The Rime of the Ancient Mariner" to them?

a) Drinking in a saloon
b) Fishing on a dock
c) Going to a wedding
d) Sailing on a boat

Question 2,028: Sports & Games -- Creek Zeke

What NBA star was nicknamed Zeke from Cabin Creek?

a) Isiah Thomas
b) Jerry West
c) John Stockton
d) Larry Bird

Animal Fakes - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) White head and tail feathers. The bald eagle doesn't need Propecia for its head, as "bald" is short for "piebald", meaning "with brightly colored patches".
  • A2) Fish. The bummalo was named for its habitat (near Bombay [now Mumbai], India) and the Bombay Dak train which would reek of its rotting odor during transportation.
  • A3) Beetle. Also called lightning bugs and glow worms, the hard-shelled firefly uses bioluminescence for hunting both food and the opposite sex.
  • A4) Bat. The fruit bat earned its nickname for its fox-like face and large size.
  • A5) Rodent. Cavies originated in the Andes of South America, not Guinea. The name either comes from their transition to Europe via Guinea or the corruption of French Guiana's name.
  • A6) Lizard. The horned toad is also called the horned frog because of the reptile's resemblance to the amphibians.
  • A7) Hare. Both rabbits and hares are lagomorphs of the family leporidae but are distinguished at the genus level.
  • A8) Marsupial. Bears and koala bears are both mammals, but bears are of the order carnivora.
  • A9) Rodent. The North American natives communicate with a dog-like bark.
  • A10) Bull testicles. Also called a prairie oyster, Montana tendergroin, and swinging sirloin, the delicacy is commonly floured, seasoned, and deep-fried.
  • A11) Raccoon. Giant pandas were also thought to be more closely related to raccoons than bears until recently, although some scientists contend that all pandas should be split into their own suborder.
  • A12) Caterpillar. The larva will grow up to become a domesticated silkmoth.

Saturday, April 19, 2008

Animal Fakes - Random Trivia Questions

While researching last week's body parts quiz, I discarded the humerus as a question because the common name (upper arm) wasn't straightforward enough. Some people like to joke that it's the funny bone, but that is actually a nerve, the ulnar nerve, not a bone. In the animal kingdom, the same confusion is common. Do you know what these things really are?

Animal Fakes Questions

  • Q1) What specific feature of the bald eagle does "bald" refer to?
  • Q2) What type of animal is the Bombay duck?
  • Q3) What type of insect is the firefly?
  • Q4) What type of animal is the flying fox?
  • Q5) What type of animal is the guinea pig?
  • Q6) What type of animal is the horned toad?
  • Q7) Specifically what type of animal is the jackrabbit?
  • Q8) What type of animal is the koala bear?
  • Q9) What type of animal is the prairie dog?
  • Q10) What are Rocky Mountain oysters?
  • Q11) What animal family does the red panda (bear) belong to?
  • Q12) What type of animal is the silkworm?

Domestic Dove -- Quiz Quilt 66 Solution

Category Answers:
Math
&
Science
ENTROPYSome scientists believe that the universe will expand forever, in which case entropy will continue to increase until no energy is left to do any useful work.
Entertainment
&
Food
GLADIATORMaximus Decimus Meridius had been a powerful general but was captured and made a slave.
Literature
&
Arts
KINGMartin Luther King, Jr.'s 1963 collection Strength to Love includes sixteen sermons and an essay.
History
&
Government
SPEEDWELLThe sixty-ton boat began to leak too badly to continue the journey, so all its passengers crammed onto the Mayflower.
Geography
&
Nature
MONACOThe district is known for its casinos, beaches, and Grand Prix auto race.
Sports
&
Games
NOVOTNACzech serve-and-volleyer Jana Novotna was infamous for choking away big leads in important matches, such as the 1993 Wimbledon final where she was serving at 4-1, 40-15 in the third.

Quiz Quilt Answer: PIGEON (Reverse diagonal)

Pigeons were formerly known as doves, and the two terms can be used almost interchangeably, with pigeons being larger and doves being smaller.

Friday, April 18, 2008

Domestic Dove -- Quiz Quilt 66 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Math
&
Science
What scientific term measures the disorder in a system?
Entertainment
&
Food
What 2000 movie starred Russell Crowe as Maximus around A.D. 180?
Literature
&
Arts
What author claimed, "Nothing in the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity"?
History
&
Government
What ship originally accompanied the Mayflower in 1620 but had to turn back after only 300 miles?
Geography
&
Nature
In what country is Monte Carlo located?
Sports
&
Games
What female tennis player finally won her first Grand Slam singles title at Wimbledon in 1998 after several near misses?

General Trivia Answers #2,017-2,022

Answer 2,017: Entertainment & Food -- Time Transit

a) Delorean

Emmett L. Brown's personalized license plate proclaimed "OUTATIME".

Answer 2,018: History & Government -- Lickety Split

a) California

Governor Ronald Reagan signed the bill into law 21 years after his first wife, Jane Wyman, divorced him on grounds of "mental cruelty".

Answer 2,019: Math & Science -- Able Cable

d) Silver

Copper is about 95% as conductive and is usually used because it much less expensive.

Answer 2,020: Geography & Nature -- Capital Still

d) Santa Fe, New Mexico

Juan Martinez de Montoya founded the first settlement in 1607, and Spain made it the capital in 1610.

Answer 2,021: Literature & Arts -- American Art Apex

c) Grant Wood

The 1930 painting features his dentist and his sister Nan posing as a farmer and his unmarried daughter.

Answer 2,022: Sports & Games -- Post Position

a) 10 feet

A basketball rim is exactly the same height.

Thursday, April 17, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,017-2,022

Question 2,017: Entertainment & Food -- Time Transit

What car served as a time machine in the movie Back to the Future?

a) Delorean
b) Jaguar
c) Mercedes Benz
d) Rolls Royce

Question 2,018: History & Government -- Lickety Split

Which state passed the first No-Fault Divorce law in 1969?

a) California
b) Maine
c) Nevada
d) New York

Question 2,019: Math & Science -- Able Cable

What metal conducts electricity the best?

a) Copper
b) Gold
c) Platinum
d) Silver

Question 2,020: Geography & Nature -- Capital Still

What U.S. capital city is the oldest?

a) Boston, Massachusetts
b) Raleigh, North Carolina
c) Richmond, Virginia
d) Santa Fe, New Mexico

Question 2,021: Literature & Arts -- American Art Apex

What artist painted American Gothic?

a) Andrew Wyeth
b) Benjamin West
c) Grant Wood
d) James Whistler

Question 2,022: Sports & Games -- Post Position

How high is the crossbar of the uprights on a football field?

a) 10 feet
b) 12 feet
c) 15 feet
d) 18 feet

General Trivia Answers #2,011-2,016

Answer 2,011: Entertainment & Food -- Mars Bars

c) Snickers

The candy bar debuted in 1923, but the chocolate version was not produced until seven years later.

Answer 2,012: History & Government -- Double Death

b) Theodore Roosevelt

His mother Martha died from typhoid fever, while his wife Alice succumbed two days after childbirth.

Answer 2,013: Math & Science -- Kalium Chemical

c) Potassium

The alkali metal, which was first obtained from potash, uses the chemical symbol K.

Answer 2,014: Geography & Nature -- Industrialist Ilg

a) Leaning Tower of Pisa

The inventor constructed the tower, along with two swimming pools and a cabana, for a recreational park for his employees.

Answer 2,015: Literature & Arts -- Beast Book

c) Shirley Jackson

The San Francisco native called the book "a disrespectful memoir of my children".

Answer 2,016: Sports & Games -- Texas Nexus

d) The turn

The flop refers to the first three cards that are simultaneously revealed, Fifth Street or the river is the last community card, and an unbeatable hand is the nuts.

Wednesday, April 16, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,011-2,016

Question 2,011: Entertainment & Food -- Mars Bars

What Mars product originally contained no chocolate?

a) M&M's
b) Milky Way
c) Snickers
d) 3 Musketeers

Question 2,012: History & Government -- Double Death

Which U.S. President's mother and wife both died on the same day in 1884?

a) Grover Cleveland
b) Theodore Roosevelt
c) William McKinley
d) William Taft

Question 2,013: Math & Science -- Kalium Chemical

What chemical element's German name is kalium?

a) Americium
b) Copper
c) Potassium
d) Selenium

Question 2,014: Geography & Nature -- Industrialist Ilg

In Chicago in 1931, what famous landmark did industrialist Robert Ilg build and live in a half-size replica of?

a) Leaning Tower of Pisa
b) Prado Museum
c) Sistine Chapel
d) Tower of London

Question 2,015: Literature & Arts -- Beast Book

Who was the author of the autobiography Life Among the Savages in 1953?

a) Jane Goodall
b) Pearl Buck
c) Shirley Jackson
d) Willa Cather

Question 2,016: Sports & Games -- Texas Nexus

In the card game Texas Hold 'Em, what is the nickname for Fourth Street?

a) The flop
b) The nuts
c) The river
d) The turn

General Trivia Answers #2,005-2,010

Answer 2,005: Entertainment & Food -- Rastafarian Fare

d) Reggae

Jamaican Rastafarians combined their local folk music with R&B and jazz to create ska in the late 1950s, which led to rocksteady and finally reggae in 1963.

Answer 2,006: History & Government -- Representation Enumeration

c) 435

The total number has been fixed since 1912, while the apportionment between the states is recalculated with each decade's census.

Answer 2,007: Math & Science -- Hansen's Harm

a) Leprosy

Once diagnosed, the ailment can be successfully treated with antibiotics.

Answer 2,008: Geography & Nature -- Checkmated By Chernobyl

a) Belarus

The power plant began having serious problems on April 25, 1986 and exploded the next day.

Answer 2,009: Literature & Arts -- Great Greeks

b) Aristophanes

The 5th- and 4th-century B.C. author preferred comedies.

Answer 2,010: Sports & Games -- Home Help

a) Major League Baseball

NBA teams have the highest home winning percentage.

Tuesday, April 15, 2008

General Trivia Questions #2,005-2,010

Question 2,005: Entertainment & Food -- Rastafarian Fare

What type of music did Rastafarians have a major influence on?

a) Folk
b) Gospel
c) Jazz
d) Reggae

Question 2,006: History & Government -- Representation Enumeration

How many members does the U.S. House of Representatives have?

a) 231
b) 333
c) 435
d) 537

Question 2,007: Math & Science -- Hansen's Harm

What is the common name for Hansen's disease, a chronic, infectious disease affecting the skin and nerves?

a) Leprosy
b) Measles
c) Mumps
d) Smallpox

Question 2,008: Geography & Nature -- Checkmated By Chernobyl

In which country did most of the radioactive fallout from the Chernobyl nuclear plant land?

a) Belarus
b) Moldova
c) Russia
d) Ukraine

Question 2,009: Literature & Arts -- Great Greeks

Which author below was not considered one of the three great writers of Greek tragedy?

a) Aeschylus
b) Aristophanes
c) Euripides
d) Sophocles

Question 2,010: Sports & Games -- Home Help

In what major North American sports league is the home field advantage the smallest?

a) Major League Baseball
b) National Basketball Association
c) National Football League
d) National Hockey League

General Trivia Answers #1,999-2,004

Answer 1,999: Entertainment & Food -- Tahini Taste

c) Sesame seeds

The only other required ingredient is oil, usually olive oil or sesame oil.

Answer 2,000: History & Government -- Sandinistas Sack Somozas

d) Nicaragua

Violeta Barrios de Chamorro's peaceful election in 1990 ended their eleven-year rule.

Answer 2,001: Math & Science -- Organ Operation

b) Liver

The organ also stores glycogen.

Answer 2,002: Geography & Nature -- Aboriginal Origin?

a) Kangaroo

The name actually comes from the Aboriginal word "gangurru" for the gray kangaroo.

Answer 2,003: Literature & Arts -- Monster Maker

b) Maurice Sendak

The illustrated story won a Caldecott Medal.

Answer 2,004: Sports & Games -- Polgar Prodigies

d) Chess

Judit, Zsuzsa, and Sofia were all chess prodigies. Zsuzsa won the women's world championship, and Judit became one of the world's ten highest rated players of either gender.

Monday, April 14, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,999-2,004

Question 1,999: Entertainment & Food -- Tahini Taste

What is the main ingredient in tahini?

a) Chick peas
b) Pine nuts
c) Sesame seeds
d) Soy beans

Question 2,000: History & Government -- Sandinistas Sack Somozas

In what country did the Sandinista National Liberation Front overthrow the Somoza regime in 1979?

a) El Salvador
b) Guatemala
c) Honduras
d) Nicaragua

Question 2,001: Math & Science -- Organ Operation

What bodily organ manufactures plasma proteins and detoxifies alcohol and barbiturates?

a) Kidney
b) Liver
c) Pancreas
d) Stomach

Question 2,002: Geography & Nature -- Aboriginal Origin?

What Australian animal was supposedly inadvertently named for the aboriginal term for "I don't know"?

a) Kangaroo
b) Koala
c) Kookaburra
d) Platypus

Question 2,003: Literature & Arts -- Monster Maker

Who journeyed to "Where the Wild Things Are" in 1963?

a) Harold Keith
b) Maurice Sendak
c) Robert McCloskey
d) Scott O'Dell

Question 2,004: Sports & Games -- Polgar Prodigies

What game did the Polgar sisters master?

a) Backgammon
b) Bridge
c) Checkers
d) Chess

General Trivia Answers #1,993-1,998

Answer 1,993: Entertainment & Food -- Trick or Treater

c) Ozzy Osbourne

The former Black Sabbath lead singer played Reverend Aaron Gilstrom.

Answer 1,994: History & Government -- Secret Sundance

a) Al Gore

The Washington, D.C.-born Democrat was also called Sawhorse.

Answer 1,995: Math & Science -- Coin Chemicals

c) Tin

The main ingredient is manganese, and the metal is known as manganese brass.

Answer 1,996: Geography & Nature -- Senegalsurround

b) Gambia

The narrow 4,000-square-mile country follows the Gambia River to the Atlantic Ocean.

Answer 1,997: Literature & Arts -- Wandering Westward

d) The New York Tribune

John Soule, editor of the Terre Haute Express, coined the phrase in 1851, but Greeley made it famous.

Answer 1,998: Sports & Games -- Chair Share

b) 11

Participants walk around the chairs as music plays and when it stops, whoever does not find a seat is out. A chair is removed, and the process is repeated.

Sunday, April 13, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,993-1,998

Question 1,993: Entertainment & Food -- Trick or Treater

What rock star appeared as a spirit in the 1986 movie Trick or Treat?

a) Alice Cooper
b) Gene Simmons
c) Ozzy Osbourne
d) Pete Townshend

Question 1,994: History & Government -- Secret Sundance

Which U.S. Vice President did the Secret Service nickname Sundance?

a) Al Gore
b) Bob Dole
c) Dan Quayle
d) Gerald Ford

Question 1,995: Math & Science -- Coin Chemicals

What chemical element is not part of the new U.S. golden dollar coin that debuted in 2000?

a) Copper
b) Nickel
c) Tin
d) Zinc

Question 1,996: Geography & Nature -- Senegalsurround

What small western African country, whose capital is Banjul, is almost completely surrounded by Senegal?

a) Gabon
b) Gambia
c) Ghana
d) Guinea

Question 1,997: Literature & Arts -- Wandering Westward

In what newspaper did Horace Greeley popularize the saying "Go West, young man, go West"?

a) The New York Daily News
b) The New York Post
c) The New York Times
d) The New York Tribune

Question 1,998: Sports & Games -- Chair Share

How many seats are needed for a dozen people to play the game Musical Chairs?

a) 10
b) 11
c) 12
d) 13

Head to Toe - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Heel bone. A common injury at the base of the foot is plantar fasciitis, also called policeman's heel in the United Kingdom for the obvious reason.
  • A2) Wrist bone. Their are eight carpal bones in each wrist. Carpal tunnel syndrome affects this area but is not an injury to the bones themselves.
  • A3) Eyelashes. The name also refers to tiny, hair-like organelles in eukaryotic cells.
  • A4) Collarbone. Although considered to be a long bone, the clavicle does not contain bone marrow like the other long bones in the human body.
  • A5) Tailbone. The Greek word comes from the bone's cuckoo-bird shape.
  • A6) Skull. The cranium protects the brain. Old-time viewers of The Electric Company know that the skull is connected to the skeleton.
  • A7) Thigh bone. The femurs are the body's longest, highest volume, and strongest bones.
  • A8) Jawbone. Specifically, the mandible is the lower jawbone. The upper jawbone is the maxilla.
  • A9) Knee cap. The patella protects the knee joint and allows it to extend farther.
  • A10) Shoulder blade. The scapula is flat, triangular bone that connects the humerus to the clavicle.
  • A11) Breastbone. The sternum is a tall, flat bone that connects with the ribs to form the rib cage around the vital internal organs.
  • A12) Shinbone. The tibia is longer than and in front of the fibula.

Saturday, April 12, 2008

Head to Toe - Random Trivia Questions

Almost every major body part has a scientific name and one or more common names. How many of these can you identify off the top of your head?

Head to Toe Questions

  • Q1) Calcaneus.
  • Q2) Carpal.
  • Q3) Cilia.
  • Q4) Clavicle.
  • Q5) Coccyx.
  • Q6) Cranium.
  • Q7) Femur.
  • Q8) Mandible.
  • Q9) Patella.
  • Q10) Scapula.
  • Q11) Sternum.
  • Q12) Tibia.

Jump the Gunner -- Quiz Quilt 65 Solution

Category Answers:
Literature
&
Arts
DESCARTESRene Descartes's 1637 treatise Discourse on Method first claimed, "I think, therefore I am" in French (Je pense, donc je suis).
Entertainment
&
Food
POOLPaul Newman's Fast Eddie coaches Tom Cruise's Vincent in the art of shooting 9-ball.
Geography
&
Nature
STORKThe bird has also given its name to the birthmark, called a stork bite, found on the necks of some newborn babies.
Math
&
Science
BENZENEAlso known as benzol, the colorless, flammable liquid is often used as a solvent.
History
&
Government
FRENCHThe other five languages are Chinese, English, Russian, Arabic, and Spanish.
Sports
&
Games
JORDANMichael Jordan scored 61 points on April 17, 1987 against the Atlanta Hawks, including an NBA record 23 in a row.

Quiz Quilt Answer: SOONER (Third letters)

Sooners were late 19th-century settlers of the Oklahoma Territory who grabbed Unassigned Lands before they were legally allowed to.

Friday, April 11, 2008

Jump the Gunner -- Quiz Quilt 65 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Literature
&
Arts
What French philosopher, mathematician, and scientist asserted, "Cogito, ergo sum"?
Entertainment
&
Food
What sport is featured in the 1986 movie The Color of Money?
Geography
&
Nature
What is the mute, long-legged, wading bird used to deliver babies in cartoons?
Math
&
Science
What ring-shaped chemical molecule contains exactly six atoms of carbon and six atoms of hydrogen?
History
&
Government
Which of the six official languages of the United Nations do the fewest people in the world speak?
Sports
&
Games
What NBA player scored the most points in a game in the 1980s?

General Trivia Answers #1,987-1,992

Answer 1,987: Entertainment & Food -- Making Marzipan

a) Almonds

The recipe must contain at least one-fourth almonds, or the result is called almond paste instead.

Answer 1,988: History & Government -- Prohibited Parcels

b) Children

Parcel post deliveries had begun seven years before the ban.

Answer 1,989: Math & Science -- Nitrate Nomenclature

d) Saltpeter

The compound is used mainly as a fertilizer and explosive.

Answer 1,990: Geography & Nature -- Beast of the East

b) Georgia

Florida is larger when water area is included.

Answer 1,991: Literature & Arts -- Grammer Jewel

c) Macbeth

The actor, born in the Virgin Islands on February 20, 1955, had portrayed Ross in a television production of the play in 1982.

Answer 1,992: Sports & Games -- Shorter Slam

c) U.S. Open

Tiebreakers are used in the first four sets in all four majors.

Thursday, April 10, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,987-1,992

Question 1,987: Entertainment & Food -- Making Marzipan

What type of nuts are needed to make marzipan?

a) Almonds
b) Chestnuts
c) Pecans
d) Walnuts

Question 1,988: History & Government -- Prohibited Parcels

On June 13, 1920, what did the U.S. Post Office prohibit sending by parcel post?

a) Bombs and incendiary devices
b) Children
c) Fruits and vegetables
d) Live animals

Question 1,989: Math & Science -- Nitrate Nomenclature

What is the common name for potassium nitrate?

a) Lime
b) Lye
c) Potash
d) Saltpeter

Question 1,990: Geography & Nature -- Beast of the East

Which U.S. state east of the Mississippi River has the most land?

a) Florida
b) Georgia
c) Michigan
d) North Carolina

Question 1,991: Literature & Arts -- Grammer Jewel

Which Shakespeare title role did Kelsey Grammer play in an off-Broadway production in 2000?

a) Hamlet
b) King Lear
c) Macbeth
d) Othello

Question 1,992: Sports & Games -- Shorter Slam

Which is the only Grand Slam tennis tournament where the men play tiebreakers in the fifth set?

a) Australian Open
b) French Open
c) U.S. Open
d) Wimbledon

General Trivia Answers #1,981-1,986

Answer 1,981: Entertainment & Food -- Baby Boom

b) The Ronettes

Sisters Ronnie Spector and Estelle Bennett and their cousin Nedra Talley took the single to #2 in the U.S.

Answer 1,982: History & Government -- Freeing the Land of the Free

c) Treaty of Paris

Parliament member David Hartley approved the treaty for the British, while John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay signed for the newly recognized United States of America.

Answer 1,983: Math & Science -- To Be Pb

a) Lead

Its Latin name is plumbum.

Answer 1,984: Geography & Nature -- What Gut?

d) Sheep

Horses and mules, but not cats, are also sometimes used to make the strong cord, which is probably named for the fiddle-like musical instrument called the kit.

Answer 1,985: Literature & Arts -- Leatherstocking Chap

a) Daniel Boone

The first book in the series, The Pioneers, appeared in 1823, three years after Boone's death.

Answer 1,986: Sports & Games -- Mah Jong Max

b) 9

The three numbered suits are joined by sets of winds, dragons, and, in some variations, flowers.

Wednesday, April 9, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,981-1,986

Question 1,981: Entertainment & Food -- Baby Boom

What music group's first hit was "Be My Baby" in 1963?

a) Gladys Knight and the Pips
b) The Ronettes
c) The Shirelles
d) The Supremes

Question 1,982: History & Government -- Freeing the Land of the Free

What treaty ended the American Revolutionary War in September 1783?

a) Treaty of Brussels
b) Treaty of Ghent
c) Treaty of Paris
d) Treaty of Versailles

Question 1,983: Math & Science -- To Be Pb

What chemical element's symbol is Pb?

a) Lead
b) Mercury
c) Potassium
d) Tin

Question 1,984: Geography & Nature -- What Gut?

From which animal's intestines is catgut usually made?

a) Cat
b) Cow
c) Horse
d) Sheep

Question 1,985: Literature & Arts -- Leatherstocking Chap

What real frontiersman was the subject of James Fenimore Cooper's Leatherstocking tales?

a) Daniel Boone
b) Davy Crockett
c) Jim Bowie
d) William Clark

Question 1,986: Sports & Games -- Mah Jong Max

What is the highest denomination in each of the suits in the game Mah Jong?

a) 8
b) 9
c) 10
d) 12

General Trivia Answers #1,975-1,980

Answer 1,975: Entertainment & Food -- Toys for Tots

c) Mr. Potato Head

The plastic figure with interchangeable parts and accessories started life without a body. Customers stuck the pieces into real potatoes for the first dozen years.

Answer 1,976: History & Government -- Quadrivium Query

d) Physics

The fourth subject was geometry.

Answer 1,977: Math & Science -- Cancer Answer?

d) Salmonella

The strain has been genetically engineered to work its magic while not causing food poisoning.

Answer 1,978: Geography & Nature -- Dahomey Descendant

b) Benin

Dahomey once ruled most of West Africa but was colonized by the French in the 18th century and did not regain its independence until 1960.

Answer 1,979: Literature & Arts -- Poe's Puss

c) Pluto

While in a drunken rage, the narrator attacked his favorite pet and playmate with a penknife and deformed its eye.

Answer 1,980: Sports & Games -- Londonopoly

a) Mayfair

Park Lane replaces Park Place, Piccadilly stands in for Marvin Gardens, and Strand occupies Kentucky Avenue's spot.

Tuesday, April 8, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,975-1,980

Question 1,975: Entertainment & Food -- Toys for Tots

What was the first toy ever advertised on television, on April 30, 1952?

a) Barbie
b) GI Joe
c) Mr. Potato Head
d) Slinky

Question 1,976: History & Government -- Quadrivium Query

Which of the following was not one of the liberal arts that made up the quadrivium in the middle ages?

a) Arithmetic
b) Astronomy
c) Music
d) Physics

Question 1,977: Math & Science -- Cancer Answer?

What virus did University and Vion Pharmaceuticals researchers harness to attack cancer cells in 1998?

a) Ebola
b) Influenza
c) Paramyxovirus
d) Salmonella

Question 1,978: Geography & Nature -- Dahomey Descendant

Which West African country, whose capital is Porto-Novo, was known as Dahomey until November 30, 1975?

a) Angola
b) Benin
c) Cameroon
d) Gabon

Question 1,979: Literature & Arts -- Poe's Puss

What was the feline's name in Edgar Allan Poe's "The Black Cat"?

a) Mercury
b) Neptune
c) Pluto
d) Saturn

Question 1,980: Sports & Games -- Londonopoly

What property takes the place of Boardwalk in the British version of the game Monopoly?

a) Mayfair
b) Park Lane
c) Piccadilly
d) Strand

General Trivia Answers #1,969-1,974

Answer 1,969: Entertainment & Food -- Sting's Clothing

d) Sweater

Its yellow and black stripes made him look like a bee.

Answer 1,970: History & Government -- Faubus's Folly

b) Arkansas

On September 4, the Democrat prevented the students from going to class at Little Rock Central High School despite the Supreme Court ruling for desegregation.

Answer 1,971: Math & Science -- A Joy Named Sue

a) The archaeologist who found her

Sue Hendrickson discovered the fossils in South Dakota in 1990.

Answer 1,972: Geography & Nature -- American Avenue

b) 6th Avenue

Mayor Fiorello La Guardia renamed the street in 1945.

Answer 1,973: Literature & Arts -- Od Dad

c) Laertes

In Hamlet, he exchanges fatal cuts with the title character using the same poisoned rapier, while in The Odyssey, he kills Antinous's father Eupeithes with a lance.

Answer 1,974: Sports & Games -- First Forays

c) 20

Sixteen pawn moves and four knight moves are possible.

Monday, April 7, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,969-1,974

Question 1,969: Entertainment & Food -- Sting's Clothing

For what article of clothing did singer Sting get his nickname?

a) Hat
b) Shirt
c) Shoes
d) Sweater

Question 1,970: History & Government -- Faubus's Folly

In which state did Governor Orval Faubus call the National Guard to stop black students from entering their school in 1957?

a) Alabama
b) Arkansas
c) Mississippi
d) South Carolina

Question 1,971: Math & Science -- A Joy Named Sue

What was the largest, most complete, and best preserved tyrannosaurus rex given the name Sue for?

a) The archaeologist who found her
b) The archaeologist's daughter
c) The archaeologist's dog
d) The archaeologist's wife

Question 1,972: Geography & Nature -- American Avenue

What New York City road is officially called the Avenue of the Americas?

a) 4th Avenue
b) 6th Avenue
c) 8th Avenue
d) 10th Avenue

Question 1,973: Literature & Arts -- Od Dad

What Shakespeare character was named for Odysseus's father in The Odyssey?

a) Banquo
b) Cassius
c) Laertes
d) Mercutio

Question 1,974: Sports & Games -- First Forays

In chess, how many legal moves does White have in the starting position?

a) 16
b) 18
c) 20
d) 22

General Trivia Answers #1,963-1,968

Answer 1,963: Entertainment & Food -- Sommers Bummer

c) Skydiving mishap

The former tennis player underwent surgery to install a bionic ear, arm, and two legs.

Answer 1,964: History & Government -- Plane Gain

a) Boeing 737

Over 5,000 of the planes have been sold, making it the most popular commercial airliner ever.

Answer 1,965: Math & Science -- Pyrite By Sight

b) Gold

The shiny mineral is nicknamed "fool's gold".

Answer 1,966: Geography & Nature -- Ho No

c) Saigon

Ho Chi Minh was North Vietnam's prime minister in 1954 and president from 1954 to 1969.

Answer 1,967: Literature & Arts -- Captain Critter

c) Parrot

The "Pieces of Eight!"-squawking bird belongs to Long John Silver, the old, one-legged sailor cook.

Answer 1,968: Sports & Games -- Cup Contest

c) Tennis

British and U.S. women competed annually for the trophy from 1923 to 1989.

Sunday, April 6, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,963-1,968

Question 1,963: Entertainment & Food -- Sommers Bummer

What injury led to Jamie Sommers becoming the Bionic Woman?

a) Hit and run accident
b) Race car crash
c) Skydiving mishap
d) Terrorist bomb attack

Question 1,964: History & Government -- Plane Gain

Which airplane first rolled out on April 8, 1967, nine years after its manufacturer decided it needed a "twin engined feeder airliner to complete the family"?

a) Boeing 737
b) Boeing 747
c) Boeing 757
d) McDonnell Douglas DC-10

Question 1,965: Math & Science -- Pyrite By Sight

What did some prospectors confuse pyrite with?

a) Diamond
b) Gold
c) Platinum
d) Silver

Question 1,966: Geography & Nature -- Ho No

What was the former name of Ho Chi Minh City?

a) Batavia
b) Kecho
c) Saigon
d) Yedo

Question 1,967: Literature & Arts -- Captain Critter

What type of animal is Captain Flint in the novel Treasure Island?

a) Dolphin
b) Monkey
c) Parrot
d) Rat

Question 1,968: Sports & Games -- Cup Contest

In which sport was the Wightman Cup contested?

a) Cricket
b) Golf
c) Tennis
d) Yachting

Supersized Superheroes - Random Trivia Answers

  • A1) Spider-Man. Spider-Man 3 has taken in $885,430,303 worldwide to rank eleventh among all movies, while Spider-Man has earned $403,706,375 in the U.S. to rank seventh (Spider-Man 2 at $373,377,893 and 10th also ranks ahead of 3 at $336,530,303 and 15th through March 2008).
  • A2) X-Men. X-Men: The Last Stand (2006) has brought in $455,260,014 worldwide (67th) and $234,360,014 nationally (54th) and X2 (2003) has earned $406,400,000 worldwide and $214,948,780 nationally. The Fantastic Four (2005) are a distant second at $329,295,569 (149th) and $154,695,569 (153rd). I suppose it's arguable, but I don't consider the Transformers to be superheroes, otherwise they would easily lead the category.
  • A3) Daredevil. Jennifer Garner played the blind orphan's love interest, Elektra Natchios, and parlayed the role into her own movie Elektra two years later.
  • A4) Iron Man. Marc Worden gave his voice to The Invincible Iron Man, while Robert Downey Jr. will play Tony Stark in this year's remake.
  • A5) The Flash. The movie will revolve around the third incarnation of the Flash, Wally West, who took over in 1986 from the deceased Barry Allen (not to be confused with Bart Allen, who briefly interrupted West's run).
  • A6) The Incredible Hulk. Bruce Banner and his big, green alter ego will be fighting off the Abomination in theaters starting on June 13.
  • A7) Wonder Woman. Silver Pictures began this project all the way back in 2001 but has had multiple writers and a director abandon ship.
  • A8) Wolverine and Magneto. Gavin Hood will direct X-Men Origins: Wolverine, starring Hugh Jackman, and David S. Goyer will direct X-Men Origins: Magneto, starring Ian McKellen.
  • A9) Hellboy. Ron Perlman portrayed the red demon, while Guillermo del Toro turned down Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban to direct the movie.
  • A10) Captain America. Nick Cassavetes will be directing a 2009 remake whose casting has not been determined yet.
  • A11) Superman Returns (2006). With $389,569,408 worldwide and $200,069,408 nationally, the most recent Clark Kent offering easily tops Superman (1978; $289,400,000 and $134,218,018).
  • A12) Batman. The 1989 version has raked in $413,200,000 worldwide (88th) and just over a quarter billion dollars (42nd) in the U.S. Batman Begins (2005), Batman Forever (1995), and Batman Returns (1992) also rank in the top 200 both worldwide and in the U.S.

Saturday, April 5, 2008

Supersized Superheroes - Random Trivia Questions

I didn't read too any comic books as a kid, but I was hooked on Batman, Spider-Man, and Super Friends in their animated television renditions. Recently, I've watched a string of the movie versions, and a slew are on the way in the next two years. How much do you know about these crime fighters, enlarged from comic-strip rectangle-frames to megaplex-monster screen-size?

Supersized Superheroes Questions

  • Q1) Which superhero has the highest grossing movie both worldwide and in the U.S., curiously with two different movies?
  • Q2) Which superhero team has the highest grossing movie both worldwide and in the U.S.?
  • Q3) Which superhero did Ben Affleck bring to the big screen in 2003?
  • Q4) Which superhero was animated in a direct-to-DVD movie in 2007 but will reappear later this year in the flesh?
  • Q5) Which superhero will David Dobkin direct in a 2008 movie?
  • Q6) Which superhero is also coming to the big screen soon, with Edward Norton as the double-duty actor?
  • Q7) Which member of the Hall of Justice League won't reach theaters until 2009?
  • Q8) Which two members of the X-Men will feature in separate 2009 movies?
  • Q9) Which superhero's movie topped the U.S. box office charts during the week of April 4, 2004?
  • Q10) Which superhero was portrayed by Matt Salinger in a low-budget 1990 movie?
  • Q11) Which of the many Superman movies has earned the most at the box office?
  • Q12) Which of the many Batman movies has earned the most at the box office?

Virgin Virtue -- Quiz Quilt 64 Solution

Category Answers:
Math
&
Science
BERZELIUSJons Jakob Berzelius, the creator of modern chemical notation, found the elements in 1818, 1824, and 1829 respectively. He also co-discovered cerium with Wilhelm Hisinger in 1803.
Literature
&
Arts
MCGREGORMrs. Rabbit had told her children to stay out of Mr. McGregor's garden because their father had been caught and baked in a pie by Mrs. McGregor.
Entertainment
&
Food
KIAMOne-time New England Patriots owner Victor Kiam became the majority shareholder in 1979 and featured in their successful, low-budget television commercials.
Sports
&
Games
IVERSONShooting guard Allen Iverson was also one of the country's best quarterbacks in high school, but opted to pursue only basketball at Georgetown University.
Geography
&
Nature
BOERSThey originally settled from the mid-1600s to the late 1700s when the Dutch East India Company administered the region.
History
&
Government
INCASThe empire began around Lake Titicaca and eventually spread up and down most of the west coast of South America.

Quiz Quilt Answer: NOVICE (Second letters going up.)

A "novice" is someone who is new at something, and a virgin has "no vice", at least in one respect.

Friday, April 4, 2008

Virgin Virtue -- Quiz Quilt 64 Puzzle

Category Questions:
Math
&
Science
What Swedish chemist discovered selenium, silicon, and thorium?
Literature
&
Arts
What character caught Peter Rabbit munching vegetables in his garden?
Entertainment
&
Food
What Remington user liked the shaver so much he bought the company?
Sports
&
Games
What NBA player is known as the Answer?
Geography
&
Nature
Who are the inhabitants of South Africa of Dutch or French Huguenot descent, also known as Afrikaners?
History
&
Government
What was the South American empire from the 13th to 16th centuries centered in the region that is now Peru?

General Trivia Answers #1,957-1,962

Answer 1,957: Entertainment & Food -- The Farriss Fraternity

c) INXS

Andrew Farriss, Tim Farriss, Jon Farriss, Michael Hutchence, Garry Gary Beers and Kirk Pengilly created the Australian rock group in 1977 and changed its name two years later.

Answer 1,958: History & Government -- Why Mo' Fido?

a) Abraham Lincoln

The mutt lived with the family in Springfield, Illinois but was left behind when they moved to the White House.

Answer 1,959: Math & Science -- Top Crop

c) Sugar cane

An acre can produce about 630 gallons of ethanol.

Answer 1,960: Geography & Nature -- Milling Shillings

c) Tanzania

The African nation's government has been split between Dodoma and Dar es Salaam since the 1980s.

Answer 1,961: Literature & Arts -- Better Than War Without Victory

b) Jimmy Carter

The book was published in 1988.

Answer 1,962: Sports & Games -- Losing His Way to the Top

d) Yevgeny Kafelnikov

The ranking system uses a rolling one-year window. While the Russian lost some points, his nearest challengers happened to lose more.

Thursday, April 3, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,957-1,962

Question 1,957: Entertainment & Food -- The Farriss Fraternity

What band was originally known as The Farriss Brothers?

a) AC/DC
b) EMF
c) INXS
d) R.E.M.

Question 1,958: History & Government -- Why Mo' Fido?

Which U.S. President's sons had a dog named Fido, popularizing the pet name?

a) Abraham Lincoln
b) Harry Truman
c) Theodore Roosevelt
d) Woodrow Wilson

Question 1,959: Math & Science -- Top Crop

Which crop below can be converted into the most ethanol per acre?

a) Corn
b) Sugar beets
c) Sugar cane
d) Wheat

Question 1,960: Geography & Nature -- Milling Shillings

What is the 365,000-square-mile country of 38 million people whose currency is the schilling?

a) Kenya
b) Somalia
c) Tanzania
d) Uganda

Question 1,961: Literature & Arts -- Better Than War Without Victory

Which U.S. President wrote 1999: Victory Without War?

a) George Bush
b) Jimmy Carter
c) Richard Nixon
d) Ronald Reagan

Question 1,962: Sports & Games -- Losing His Way to the Top

What male tennis player lost six straight first round matches in 1999 but nevertheless rose to #1 on the ATP tour?

a) Andre Agassi
b) Carlos Moya
c) Marcelo Rios
d) Yevgeny Kafelnikov

General Trivia Answers #1,951-1,956

Answer 1,951: Entertainment & Food -- Cotton Count

a) 2nd

The first five are paper, cotton, leather, linen, and wood.

Answer 1,952: History & Government -- Secondary School City

a) Boston

English High and Latin opened its doors in 1635 and is now known as Boston Latin School.

Answer 1,953: Math & Science -- Letter List

a) A

The others are C, L, O, T, and Z.

Answer 1,954: Geography & Nature -- Islaand Identificaation

c) Greenland

The name simply means "Land of the Greenlanders".

Answer 1,955: Literature & Arts -- Mermaid Municipality

a) Copenhagen, Denmark

The aquatic princess sits on a rock in the harbor of the city that Andersen moved to at age fourteen.

Answer 1,956: Sports & Games -- Volleyball Victors

c) Russia/U.S.S.R.

The nation has reached the podium sixteen times, with the men taking bronze and the women silver in 2004.

Wednesday, April 2, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,951-1,956

Question 1,951: Entertainment & Food -- Cotton Count

Traditionally, what is the cotton wedding anniversary?

a) 2nd
b) 3rd
c) 4th
d) 5th

Question 1,952: History & Government -- Secondary School City

In what city is North America's oldest secondary school located?

a) Boston
b) New York
c) Philadelphia
d) Quebec

Question 1,953: Math & Science -- Letter List

Which of the following is not one of the letters used on the standard Snellen eye chart?

a) A
b) E
c) F
d) P

Question 1,954: Geography & Nature -- Islaand Identificaation

What island is officially known as Kalaallit Nunaat?

a) Baffin
b) Borneo
c) Greenland
d) Sumatra

Question 1,955: Literature & Arts -- Mermaid Municipality

What capital city does Edward Erikson's statue of the Little Mermaid adorn?

a) Copenhagen, Denmark
b) Helsinki, Finland
c) Oslo, Norway
d) Stockholm, Sweden

Question 1,956: Sports & Games -- Volleyball Victors

What country has won the most total Olympic men's and women's indoor volleyball medals?

a) Cuba
b) Japan
c) Russia/U.S.S.R.
d) U.S.

General Trivia Answers #1,945-1,950

Answer 1,945: Entertainment & Food -- Disney's Domain

a) Anaheim

The theme park in Orlando, Florida is called Disney World.

Answer 1,946: History & Government -- Greater Dictator

c) Peter I

The proponent of Westernization was known as Peter the Great for the obvious reason.

Answer 1,947: Math & Science -- Magellan's Mission

d) Venus

Magellan was the first planetary spacecraft to be launched via the space shuttle and went into orbit around Venus on August 10, 1990.

Answer 1,948: Geography & Nature -- Rushmore Region

c) South Dakota

Gutzon Borglum began the work in 1927, and his son Lincoln finished the granite memorial in Keystone on November 1, 1941.

Answer 1,949: Literature & Arts -- Wonder Weapon

b) Lasso

The Amazon warrior wears bullet-stopping bracelets and flies an invisible airplane.

Answer 1,950: Sports & Games -- Postseason Surpasser

b) Joe Montana

Joe Cool completed 463 of 732 passes for 5,772 yards in 23 postseason games.

Tuesday, April 1, 2008

General Trivia Questions #1,945-1,950

Question 1,945: Entertainment & Food -- Disney's Domain

In what city is Disneyland located?

a) Anaheim
b) Hollywood
c) Los Angeles
d) Orlando

Question 1,946: History & Government -- Greater Dictator

Who was the 6'7" tall tsar and emperor of Russia from 1682 to 1725?

a) Alexander I
b) Ivan V
c) Peter I
d) Theodore III

Question 1,947: Math & Science -- Magellan's Mission

Which planet did the Magellan space probe explore?

a) Jupiter
b) Mars
c) Mercury
d) Venus

Question 1,948: Geography & Nature -- Rushmore Region

In which state is Mount Rushmore located?

a) Montana
b) North Dakota
c) South Dakota
d) Wyoming

Question 1,949: Literature & Arts -- Wonder Weapon

With what possession can Wonder Woman force people to tell the truth?

a) Bracelet
b) Lasso
c) Necklace
d) Ring

Question 1,950: Sports & Games -- Postseason Surpasser

What NFL quarterback had the most career postseason attempts, completions, and yards?

a) Jim Kelly
b) Joe Montana
c) Terry Bradshaw
d) Troy Aikman

General Trivia Answers #1,939-1,944

Answer 1,939: Entertainment & Food -- Megalon Monster

a) A cockroach

Megalon was a giant beetle-like creature from Seatopia.

Answer 1,940: History & Government -- Senior State

d) West Virginia

The median age in West Virginia was 38.9 years, 0.2 years older than Florida.

Answer 1,941: Math & Science -- Acid Aspect

d) Oxygen

Although nitric acid, sulfuric acid, and some other common acids contain oxygen, hydrogen is the only essential element.

Answer 1,942: Geography & Nature -- Dragon Duelist

b) St. George

The tradition began with a medieval play by the Fraternity of Saint George in 1380.

Answer 1,943: Literature & Arts -- Senior Strip

c) Gasoline Alley

Its 1918 debut preceded Winnie Winkle by two years.

Answer 1,944: Sports & Games -- Before the Babe

b) The Little-Bigger League

The league's creators obtained permission from Ruth's widow Claire to honor the slugger.