Famous Pairs
Which pair is best known for their long‑running television comedy partnership?
A. Laurel and Hardy
B. Burns and Allen
C. Abbott and Costello
D. Hope and Crosby
C. Abbott and Costello
What is the main difference between a hurricane and a tornado?
A. Hurricanes form over water; tornadoes form over land
B. Hurricanes are shorter‑lived than tornadoes
C. Tornadoes always cause more damage
D. Tornadoes occur only in winter
A. Hurricanes form over water; tornadoes form over land
Which classic movie starred Humphrey Bogart as a private detective searching for a missing man?
A. Casablanca
B. The Big Sleep
C. Key Largo
D. The African Queen
B. The Big Sleep
What does the phrase “once in a blue moon” mean?
A. Something that happens at night
B. Something that happens very rarely
C. Something related to astronomy
D. Something that happens once a year
B. Something that happens very rarely
The word “robot” comes from a Czech word referring to what kind of work?
A. Skilled craftsmanship
B. Factory labor
C. Forced labor
D. Volunteer service
C. Forced labor
This famous husband‑and‑wife team worked together on radio, film, and television for decades.
A. George and Gracie Allen
B. Desi and Lucy Arnaz
C. Paul and Joanne Newman
D. Orson and Rita Welles
A. George and Gracie Allen
What distinguishes a peninsula from an island?
A. A peninsula is smaller than an island
B. A peninsula is connected to land on one side
C. An island has no vegetation
D. An island is always volcanic
B. A peninsula is connected to land on one side
Which movie made Alfred Hitchcock’s name widely known to American audiences in the 1940s?
A. Notorious
B. Rebecca
C. Rear Window
D. Vertigo
A. Notorious
What is the main difference between a deadline and a due date?
A. A deadline cannot be changed; a due date sometimes can
B. A due date applies only to schoolwork
C. A deadline is informal
D. A due date applies only to bills
A. A deadline cannot be changed; a due date sometimes can
The word “candidate” comes from a Latin term meaning “clothed in white.” Why?
A. White symbolized honesty
B. White showed wealth
C. White was easier to see
D. White was required by law
A. White symbolized honesty
Which famous pair is best known for developing a scientific theory together, even though only one became widely famous during their lifetime?
A. Marie and Pierre Curie
B. James Watson and Francis Crick
C. Galileo Galilei and Johannes Kepler
D. Charles Darwin and Alfred Russel Wallace
A. Marie and Pierre Curie
What is the main difference between a hobby and a habit?
A. A hobby is done for enjoyment; a habit is done regularly, often automatically
B. A hobby costs money; a habit does not
C. A habit is healthier than a hobby
D. A hobby takes more time than a habit
A. A hobby is done for enjoyment; a habit is done regularly, often automatically
Which actor starred as the lead in both The Fugitive television series and the movie The Hasty Heart?
A. Richard Widmark
B. Burt Lancaster
C. David Janssen
D. Jack Webb
C. David Janssen
What is the main difference between a calendar year and a leap year?
A. A leap year has 364 days
B. A leap year adds one extra day
C. A calendar year skips a month
D. A calendar year has fewer weekends
B. A leap year adds one extra day
Why does the word “deadline” have such a grim origin?
A. It referred to a final exam date
B. It originally described a prison boundary
C. It was first used in warfare
D. It came from early factory rules
B. It originally described a prison boundary
These two artists are often linked for their groundbreaking work during the Renaissance, despite being strong rivals.
A. Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael
B. Michelangelo and Donatello
C. Raphael and Titian
D. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo
D. Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo
What separates a rumor from a verified fact?
A. A rumor spreads faster
B. A fact is always positive
C. A fact is supported by reliable evidence
D. A rumor is always intentional
C. A fact is supported by reliable evidence
Which classic television show helped launch the film career of Clint Eastwood?
A. Bonanza
B. Rawhide
C. Gunsmoke
D. Wagon Train
B. Rawhide
What separates “procrastinating” from simply “postponing” a task?
A. Procrastinating always involves forgetting
B. Postponing is planned; procrastinating is avoidance
C. Postponing takes more time
D. Procrastinating happens only at work
B. Postponing is planned; procrastinating is avoidance
The word “nostalgia” was first used to describe what?
A. Homesickness treated as an illness
B. Sad memories of childhood
C. Longing for romance
D. Fear of change
A. Homesickness treated as an illness
This real‑life pair helped break the color barrier in professional sports, one on the field and one in management.
A. Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese
B. Joe Louis and Jesse Owens
C. Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey
D. Willie Mays and Hank Aaron
C. Jackie Robinson and Branch Rickey
What is the practical difference between depreciation and appreciation?
A. One applies only to homes
B. One affects taxes; the other does not
C. Depreciation lowers value; appreciation raises value
D. Appreciation happens faster than depreciation
C. Depreciation lowers value; appreciation raises value
Which film was the first to win Academy Awards for Best Picture, Best Actor, Best Actress, Best Director, and Best Screenplay?
A. Gone with the Wind
B. It Happened One Night
C. All About Eve
D. On the Waterfront
B. It Happened One Night
Why are time zones used around the world?
A. To match national borders
B. To keep clocks accurate with the position of the sun
C. To simplify airline schedules
D. To reduce energy use
B. To keep clocks accurate with the position of the sun
The word “trivia” originally referred to what?
A. Unimportant information
B. Three related facts
C. A crossroads
D. Questions used for teaching
C. A crossroads