Zeroes to Heroes
In 1972, Frank Wills, a security guard at a hotel in Washington, D.C., was responsible for starting a series of events that brought down this American president.
Answer: Who is Richard Nixon? Wills found tape over a lock in the basement on two occasions at the Watergate Hotel and called the police on the second occasion. The investigation launched a series of events that led to the demise of a presidency.
She was the longest-reigning British monarch.
Answer: Who was Queen Elizabeth II? She surpassed Queen Victoria’s long-running reign in 2015, and in June of 2022, she became the second-longest-reigning monarch in the world before her death three months later at age 96.
This common animal can kill up to 3.7 billion birds per year.
Answer: What are domestic cats? If you’ve ever had an outdoor cat, you know they love to bring their “trophies” to the door for you.
This Southern entrée staple is rarely eaten with a fork and knife.
Answer: What is fried chicken? To promote its status as “poultry capital of the world,” Gainesville, Georgia, passed a law that prohibits people from eating fried chicken with a fork
Richard Dawson hosted a family game show and preceded the answers with this phrase
Answer: What is “Survey says”? Richard Dawson was the original host of Family Feud
Recently divorced and flat broke, J. K. Rowling experienced a reversal of fortune by introducing teens and younger children to reading for pleasure through this book and film franchise.
Answer: What is Harry Potter? Rowling had spent five years outlining the first book and jumped into action when the necessity arose. The first book was Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, and the series is the highest-selling series of all time.
She was the younger sister of Queen Elizabeth II.
Answer: Who was Princess Margaret? Known as a rebel, many described her as “the family’s wild child” and the “party princess.”
This bird was once used as a carrier.
Answer: What is pigeon? They were used until 1840. The last known passenger pigeon died in 1914.
This squash can be used as a pasta substitute.
Answer: What is spaghetti squash? To eat cooked spaghetti squash, remove the seeds and run a fork across the meat to turn it into strands. Then, top with your favorite pasta sauce and enjoy.
This American political family is associated with Camelot.
Answer: Who are the Kennedys? President John F. Kennedy’s years are referred to as Camelot, but it was after his death that his widow Jackie first coined the term “American Camelot.” Today, people who were alive during Kennedy’s presidency sometimes use it to refer to the family as well as the era.
This young Black woman gained heroine status when she refused to give up her seat in the front of a bus and move to the back.
Answer: Who is Rosa Parks? She became a civil rights icon after this simple act of resistance.
She and Prince Andrew divorced.
Answer: Who is Sarah Ferguson, Duchess of York (aka Fergie)? The couple is still close and have always presented a united front for their children. Ferguson’s engagement ring is a ruby surrounded by diamonds, similar in style to Princess Diana’s engagement ring.
This bird lays the tiniest egg.
Answer: What is hummingbird? The type of hummingbird is up for debate, but Guinness World Records currently states that the vervain hummingbird lays the smallest eggs.
Mushrooms belong to this family
Answer: What is fungi? They do not require sunlight to grow.
This band recorded “California Dreamin’,” “Monday, Monday,” “Dedicated to the One I Love,” and many more tunes.
Answer: What is the Mamas & the Papas? Band members John and Michelle Phillips were married from 1965–68.
In the movie that bears her name, this real-life heroine was responsible for the lawsuit that compensated the victims of Pacific Gas & Electric’s poisoned water
Answer: Who is Erin Brockovich? The fact that she was able to organize the class-action lawsuit was feat enough, but the generous settlement won by the defendants was a victory she helped them win, and it ran afoul of legal advice to take the lesser settlement.
England has had this number of kings named Charles.
Answer: What is three? King Charles I was beheaded for treason. The once-exiled King Charles II was known as the “Merry Monarch.” King Charles III became king in September 2022, upon the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.
This director used over 25,000 live birds in the filming of the 1963 movie The Birds.
Answer: Who is Alfred Hitchcock? When they didn’t want the birds to fly, they fed them wheat and whiskey.
SPAM is a combination of these two words.
Answer: What are spice and ham? Ham is the main ingredient, and because it’s a canned good, it can be easily shipped. Today, there are 15 varieties of SPAM on the market.
This nighttime soap opera features the Ewing family.
Answer: What is Dallas? The Ewing family is Texas oil royalty.
This ordinary computer scientist rose to prominence when he created the World Wide Web.
Answer: Who is (Sir) Tim Berners-Lee? In addition, without his contributions, there would be no hypertext—the links that give us the ability to jump from the current document to another document.
If King Edward VIII had not abdicated the throne, this king would not have reigned.
Answer: Who is King George V? King Edward chose to marry the divorced American Wallis Simpson rather than remain on the throne. If he had not abdicated, Queen Elizabeth II would not have been first in line to become queen.
This bird eats algae and brine shrimp, giving it a pink hue.
Answer: What is flamingo? Flamingos eat with their head upside down in the water and their bill pointed at their feet. Then, they sweep their head side-to-side and pump water in and out of their bill to filter the food.
In large doses, this spice is a hallucinogenic.
Answer: What is nutmeg? Nutmeg contains myristicin, a natural compound. Don’t worry; most recipes call for no more than one-half teaspoon of nutmeg. Notice that nutmeg is often used at half the amount of cinnamon in recipes.
Jamie Lee Curtis is the daughter of these two celebrities.
Answer: Who are Janet Leigh and Tony Curtis? Leigh and Curtis were married for 12 years and shared two daughters, Jamie and her elder sister, Kelly.