Stuff Nobody Asked For
What does the acronym RADAR stand for?
A. Radio Distance and Ranging
B. Range and Distance Detection
C. Rapid Detection and Range
D. Radio Detection and Ranging
D. Radio Detection and Ranging
Fun Fact: The word “radar” began as a military acronym but became so widely used that it is now treated as an ordinary word.
The Suez Canal connects which two bodies of water?
A. Mediterranean Sea and Dead Sea
B. Dead Sea and Red Sea
C. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
D. Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean
C. Mediterranean Sea and Red Sea
Fun Fact: The Suez Canal allows ships to travel between Europe and Asia without sailing around the southern tip of Africa.
What is the name of the Netflix show featuring the character Claire Underwood?
A. Designated Survivor
B. House of Cards
C. The Diplomat
D. Madam Secretary
B. House of Cards
Fun Fact: Robin Wright won a Golden Globe for her portrayal of Claire Underwood, becoming the first actress to win the award for a streaming television series.
A hockey rink has several face-off circles that provide structured locations for restarting play. How many face-off circles are there?
A. Four
B. Five
C. Nine
D. Two
B. Five
Fun Fact: Although there are nine face-off spots on an NHL rink, only five of them are surrounded by full face-off circles.
In which film does Mel Gibson portray a Scottish warrior fighting for independence?
A. The Patriot
B. Kingdom of Heaven
C. Alexander
D. Braveheart
D. Braveheart
Fun Fact: Mel Gibson both starred in and directed Braveheart, which won five Academy Awards—including Best Picture and Best Director.
Most modern sponges are made of foam plastic, but what are natural sponges made from?
A. A fibrous mineral
B. Fibrous seaweed
C. The fibrous skeleton of a sea creature
D. The fibrous secretions of sea creatures
C. The fibrous skeleton of a sea creature
Fun Fact: Natural bath sponges are the dried, cleaned skeletons of simple marine animals called sponges—not plants.
What American city was once the capital of a Russian territory?
A. Sitka, Alaska
B. Fairbanks, Alaska
C. Juneau, Alaska
D. Stewart, Alaska
Answer: A. Sitka, Alaska
Fun Fact: Known as Novo-Arkhangelsk under Russian rule, Sitka served as the capital of Russian America until Alaska was transferred to the United States in 1867.
What is the name of the character played by Emma Corrin in the Netflix series The Crown?
A. Princess Margaret Rose
B. Queen Elizabeth II
C. Diana, Princess of Wales
D. Camilla Parker Bowles
C. Diana, Princess of Wales
Fun Fact: Emma Corrin won a Golden Globe for portraying Princess Diana in Season 4 of The Crown.
In which ballpark did the Pittsburgh Pirates play their home games from 1970 to 2000?
A. Forbes Field
B. Crosley Field
C. Riverfront Stadium
D. Three Rivers Stadium
D. Three Rivers Stadium
Fun Fact: The Pirates shared Three Rivers Stadium with the NFL’s Pittsburgh Steelers before moving to PNC Park in 2001.
Which movie follows two LAPD officers as they patrol the dangerous streets of South Central Los Angeles?
A. The Departed
B. Safe House
C. The Town
D. End of Watch
D. End of Watch
Fun Fact: Jake Gyllenhaal and Michael Peña spent months training with law-enforcement officers and participated in police ride-alongs to prepare for their roles.
The universal recycling symbol, radioactive-hazard symbol, and biological-hazard symbol are all examples of which graphic formation?
A. Parallelogram
B. Fleur-de-lis
C. Trefoil
D. Quadrilateral
C. Trefoil
Fun Fact: “Trefoil” means “three-leaved,” describing a design made from three connected or radiating parts.
Which two countries occupy most of the Iberian Peninsula?
A. Spain and France
B. France and Italy
C. France and Portugal
D. Portugal and Spain
D. Portugal and Spain
Fun Fact: The small country of Andorra and the British territory of Gibraltar are also located on the Iberian Peninsula.
What is the name of the prison in Orange Is the New Black?
A. Fox River State Penitentiary
B. Litchfield Penitentiary
C. Stonehaven Federal Correctional Institution
D. Alderson Federal Prison Camp
B. Litchfield Penitentiary
Fun Fact: Litchfield was inspired by the real federal prison in Danbury, Connecticut, where author Piper Kerman served 13 months.
Who was the oldest NFL player to appear in a game during the 2010 season?
A. John Carney
B. Jeff Feagles
C. Brett Favre
D. Donovan McNabb
A. John Carney
Fun Fact: The New Orleans Saints kicker was 46 years old during the 2010 season and played in two games.
Which of these movies did not feature Danny DeVito?
A. Terms of Endearment
B. Sleepers
C. Johnny Dangerously
D. Man on the Moon
B. Sleepers
Fun Fact: Danny DeVito played a gangster named Burr in Johnny Dangerously and talent manager George Shapiro in Man on the Moon.
What was the family name of King Henry II of England?
A. Henry
B. Plantagenet
C. Aquitaine
D. Jonathan
B. Plantagenet
Fun Fact: Henry II was the first Plantagenet king of England and ruled from 1154 until 1189.
If you travel directly south from Helsinki, Finland, in which country will you next make landfall?
A. Estonia
B. Sweden
C. Lithuania
D. Latvia
A. Estonia
Fun Fact: Estonia’s capital, Tallinn, lies almost directly south of Helsinki across the Gulf of Finland, and ferries regularly connect the two cities.
What is the name of the character played by Henry Cavill in the Netflix series The Witcher?
A. Geralt of Rivia
B. Cahir of Cintra
C. Jaskier the Bard
D. Vilgefortz of Roggeveen
A. Geralt of Rivia
Fun Fact: Henry Cavill performed many of his own stunts and drew upon his knowledge of The Witcher books and video games to shape Geralt’s character.
When Scottish-born American Tommy Armour won the U.S. Open in 1927, he became the last foreign-born player to win the title for 38 years. Who broke the streak?
A. Tony Jacklin
B. Greg Norman
C. Gary Player
D. Bobby Locke
C. Gary Player
Fun Fact: South Africa’s Gary Player won the 1965 U.S. Open in an 18-hole playoff against Kel Nagle, completing his career Grand Slam.
In which film does Robert De Niro play a respected police detective investigating his son, played by James Franco, for murder?
A. The Score
B. City by the Sea
C. Blind Spot
D. Annapolis
B. City by the Sea
Fun Fact: The 2002 film was inspired by the true story of a New York City police officer whose son was accused of murder.
How many countries does Brazil share a land border with?
A. 12
B. 9
C. 10
D. 11
C. 10
Fun Fact: Brazil borders every South American country except Chile and Ecuador.
Lambaréné became famous through the work of Dr. Albert Schweitzer. In which African country is it located?
A. Central African Republic
B. Equatorial Guinea
C. Gabon
D. Republic of the Congo
C. Gabon
Fun Fact: Albert Schweitzer established a hospital in Lambaréné in 1913 and later received the 1952 Nobel Peace Prize.
What is the name of the character played by Tom Holland in the Netflix film The Devil All the Time?
A. Arvin Russell
B. Preston Teagardin
C. Willard Russell
D. Carl Henderson
A. Arvin Russell
Fun Fact: Tom Holland reportedly used a recording of his Southern-accented dialogue during his audition because he was nervous about performing it live.
Which of these Olympic Games had the shortest Olympic flame relay?
A. Athens 2004
B. Sarajevo 1984
C. Montreal 1976
D. Oslo 1952
D. Oslo 1952
Fun Fact: The Oslo relay covered roughly 225 kilometers and was completed entirely by skiers.
Released in 1982, this movie marked the film debuts of Broadway actors Glenn Close and John Lithgow. Its title refers to an eccentric wrestler and writer navigating life’s triumphs and tragedies. What is it?
A. Hadley’s Rebellion
B. The Hotel New Hampshire
C. The World According to Garp
D. Vision Quest
C. The World According to Garp
Fun Fact: Glenn Close and John Lithgow both received Academy Award nominations for their performances in the film.