New Years
Weird Laws
Weird Laws 2
Random Facts
Random Facts 2
100
What materials made up the first-ever Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball?
A) Wood and plaster B) drywall and tape
C) iron and wood D) iron and steel
C!
The first New Year's Eve Ball, made of iron and wood and adorned with one hundred 25-watt light bulbs, was 5 feet in diameter and weighed 700 pounds.
100
In Illinois, it is illegal to possess more than $600 worth of:
A) parakeets B) double stuffed Oreos
C) toilet paper D) salamanders
D!
That's 75-plus salamanders, according to fair market value. It's illegal under Illinois law to possess any variety of aquatic life that was captured, due to the Fish and Aquatic Life Code- according to the Illinois General Assembly.
100
In PA, no one convicted of a felony is allowed to ________:
A) host a party B) go bowling
C) host a Bingo game D) buy scratch-offs
C!
Fool me once, shame on you: No person convicted of a felony may operate a Bingo game in Bensalem, Pennsylvania.
100
Every year on August 5th, the Mars Curiosity Rover (that is still on Mars) does what?
A) catches on fire B) sings happy birthday
C) flies back to earth D) replenishes the data
B!
To celebrate the mission's first successful year on Mars, engineers programmed the unit to vibrate to a musical tune. From inside a Martian crater, millions of miles away from home, Curiosity sang “Happy Birthday” to itself.
100
Ladybugs defend themselves by _____________:
A) fist fighting their enemy B) breathe on enemy
C) bleed from their knees D) yell from their wings
C!
When threatened, ladybugs release a foul-smelling chemical from their knees that has the ability to repulse predators. The substance, which is a hemolymph made up of a mix of alkaloids, can also ooze from their abdomens, according to the San Diego Zoo.
200
What is the #1 most popular New Year's resolution in America?
A) better relationships B) more exercise
C) make more money D) stop swearing
B!
Among Americans who are making New Year's resolutions, the most common ones are exercising more (50%), saving money (49%), eating more healthily (43%), and losing weight (37%).
200
In Alaska, it is illegal to _______ in a bar.
A) get drunk B) dance C) talk
D) wear glasses
A!
In Alaska it is illegal to be drunk… in a bar. Per state laws, a person who is already drunk may not “knowingly” enter a bar to drink more, or remain in the bar that got them drunk in the first place.
200
In Arizona, if you steal soap, you must:
A) hop on one foot for one hour
B) wash yourself with the soap until it's gone
C) pay double the price of the soap
D) eat it
B!
In Mohave County, Arizona, if anyone is caught stealing soap, he must wash himself with it until the soap is gone.
200
You can feasibly eat 3000 year old ____ because it does not spoil.
A) hard candy B) honey C) syrup
D) vinegar
B!
If you're considering throwing it away, think again. You don't have to toss that honey! Even if honey had been sitting on your shelf for 2,000 years, that honey would still be as good as the day you opened it. In a nutshell, well-stored honey never expires or spoils, even if it's been previously opened.
200
Humans are the only animals with _______:
A) eyebrows B) chins
C) the ball on your ankle D) bending thumbs
B!
Put simply, our chin is the protrusion of the bone that appears below the front wall of the human mandible (lower jaw). No other animals have chins – chimpanzee and ape jaws slant inwards for instance.
300
What do people think eating black eyed peas on New Years Day promote?
A) prosperity B) weight loss C) courage
D) good year to come
A!
In the Southern United States, eating black-eyed peas or Hoppin' John (a traditional soul food) on New Year's Day is thought to bring prosperity in the new year.
300
In Georgia, it is illegal to eat fried chicken with _______.
A) ranch dressing B) ketchup
C) utensils D) napkins
C!
For chicken eaters in Gainesville, Georgia, “finger-lickin’” is not a suggestion—it is mandatory. Thanks to a 1961 law added to the city code as a publicity stunt, it is illegal to eat fried chicken in “the poultry capital of the world” with anything other than your fingers. A tourist was “arrested” for such a chicken-forking violation in 2009.
300
In Michigan, it is illegal to tie a ________ to a fire hydrant.
A) dog B) balloon C) car
D) crocadile
D!
So while it's technically illegal to tie an alligator to a fire hydrant in Michigan, the Michigan law doesn't mention alligators at all. The reason for the law is to prevent obstruction of fire hydrants, and I think that's a law we can all support.
300
What two fears are you born with?
A) fear of falling/fear of loud noises
B) fear of falling/ fear of snakes
C) fear of snakes/fear of spiders
D) fear of spiders/fear of loud noises
A!
While it might seem like you've been afraid of snakes and spiders since you were born, that's not totally true. Scientists have found that humans have just two innate fears: the fear of falling and the fear of loud sounds. The rest of your phobias are learned over time.
300
What is the world's biggest tire producer?
A) Goodyear B) Michelin C) Lego
D) Bridgestone
C!
The toy company produces approximately 306 million tires per year—far more than any other manufacturer in the world. They may be tiny toy tires, but the fact still stands.
400
How much confetti is dropped in Times Square when the ball drops?
A) 300 lbs B) 770 lbs C) 1370 lbs
D) 2000 lbs
D!!
Confetti may not be a new concept, but in 2015 "wishfetti" became a part of the tradition. People write their wishes for the new year and submit them to the Wish Wall in Times Square (or online) and those wishes are turned into the confetti that falls over the crowd at midnight.
400
It is very illegal to steal someone elses _______ in Lousiana.
A) crawfish B) shoes C) fishing rod
D) car
A!
In Louisiana it is illegal to steal someone else’s crawfish—like, really illegal. Meriting its own state law, crawfish theft in excess of $1,500 can land the offender with up to ten years prison time or a $3,000 fine. But mostly, they will have to endure the humiliation of being called shellfish for the rest of their life.
400
In South Dakota, you can fall asleep almost anywhere... except ___________.
A) a shoe store B) a cheese factory
C) a grocery store D) your car
B!
In South Dakota it is against the law to fall asleep in a cheese factory believe it or not. Make sure you catch your z's before going to one of the five factories; but the closest one to us is Hoven, South Dakota.
400
What causes the most power outages in the US?
A) wind B) lightning strikes
C) squirrels D) rainfall
C!
The American Public Power Association (APPA) says that squirrels are the most frequent cause of power outages in the U.S. The APPA even developed a data tracker called "The Squirrel Index" that analyzes the patterns and timing of squirrels' impact on electrical power systems. Turns out, the peak times of the year for squirrel attacks are from May to June and October to November.
400
What is the closest animal to a T-Rex?
A) Rhino B) Bat C) Ostrich
D) Hippo
C!
The closest living relatives of Tyrannosaurus rex are birds such as chickens and ostriches, according to research published today in Science (and promptly reported in the New York Times).
500
What is a New Year's tradition in Italy that is considered 'lucky'?
A) wearing sunglasses when the ball drops
B) wearing red underwear
C) a New Year's kiss
D) eating meatballs at midnight
B!
If you live in Italy, wearing red underwear is considered lucky. Wearing red underwear on New Year's will supposedly bring good fortune in the coming year. It's also considered the color of fertility so for those hoping to conceive, it's considered double lucky.
500
In Minnesota, it is illegal to put grease on a ____.
A) baking sheet B) pig
C) sidewalk D) potato
B!
Long winters can be boring, but that’s no good reason to hold a greased pig contest in your parlor. Since 1971, it has been considered a misdemeanor to operate, run, or participate in any activity where a pig is oiled up and released with the object of being recaptured.
500
In Switzerland, it is illegal to own ______ guinea pig(s).
A) just one B) more than one
C) black D) blind
A!
Denying your pet the chance to make friends with members of its own species could be considered an act of cruelty—at least in Switzerland. An animal rights law introduced there in 2008 makes it illegal to own just one guinea pig at a time.
500
What is the official bird of Rendondo Beach, CA?
A) pelican B) pigeon C) cockatoo
D) Goodyear blimp
D!
The Goodyear Blimp is surely iconic, but it's not exactly a living, breathing creature. Still, that didn't stop Redondo Beach—a coastal city situated near the Goodyear Blimp's home airport in Carson, California—from passing a resolution in 1983 to make the blimp its official bird.
500
What is the smartest animal in the world?
A) raven B) parrot C) gorilla
D) chimp
D!
The impressive intellectual abilities of this animal have long fascinated humans. They can make and use tools, hunt collectively, and are capable of advanced problem-solving.