Random
What six-letter word beginning with G can describe elaborate 13th to 15th century churches and a style of clothing?
Gothic
Gothic architecture was popular during the late medieval period. Gothic fashion is characterized by a pale complexion with dyed black hair, black lips, and black clothes.
What is the secondhighest-ranking official in the Catholic Church?
Cardinal
The pope is the highest.
Which of these is not a type of marble used for play: aggie, cat’s eye, sheep’s wool, or clam broth?
Sheep’s wool
Clam broth is one of the most popular marbles for collectors due to its contrasting milkywhite and swirling colors.
What kind of rich, creamy sauce made with butter, egg yolks, and lemon juice is named after a European country?
Hollandaise
Hollandaise sauce is a component of eggs Benedict.
Traditional forms of the game of jacks include play with animal bones as well as what plant-growing small items?
Seeds
Egyptian children sometimes used apricot seeds, while early versions of the game in Eastern Europe traditionally used cleaned bones.
What sport did Ernie Davis, Archie Griffin, and Tony Dorsett play?
Football
They were recipients of the Heisman Trophy (the award given to the best college football player each year)
What French philosopher and mathematician created analytical geometry?
René Descartes
Coordinate geometry is another name for analytical geometry. It is used in physics and engineering.
Twelfth Night, a play by what early playwright, mentions marbles?
William Shakespeare
In ancient Egypt, marbles was played using stone or polished nuts.
What is Romeo’s last name in Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?
Montague
Juliet’s last name is Capulet. The play was first published around 1594.
How many prongs are on a typical jack in the modern version of the game?
Six
Modern jacks are often made of plastic or lightweight metal.
What is the name for the dish of cooked land snails?
Escargot
It is a delicacy in France. Escargot means “snail” in French.
What fruit is the only one to have seeds on the outside?
Strawberry
The first garden strawberry was grown in France in the late 18th century. Strawberries were found in the wild and used for medicinal purposes long before then.
During what century were glass marbles first produced?
The 19th century
The story goes that glassmakers used leftover bits to create marbles for their children.
What animal is considered sacred in India?
Cow Hindus
believe the cow is a symbol of wealth, strength, abundance, selfless giving, and a full earthly life.
Which of these items is not a typical game piece for playing jacks: rubber or wooden ball, jacks, or game board?
Game board
Most versions of the game involve bouncing a ball and picking up jacks before the ball bounces.
What snacks are mentioned in the song “Take Me Out to the Ball Game”?
Peanuts and Cracker Jack
The popular song is typically sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a professional baseball game
Which occurred first: the formation of the Pony Express or the invention of the telegram?
The formation of the Pony Express
The Pony Express was a horseback mail service that delivered messages from Missouri to California. Once the telegraph was established, the Pony Express was no longer needed
What is a marble used for in a can of spray paint?
As a mixing ball
The marbles in cans of spray paint are made from metal or ceramic material. Marbles are also important in some air and water filtration methods, so they are not just for kids.
Who wrote The Old Man and the Sea?
Ernest Hemingway
He also authored The Sun Also Rises, For Whom the Bell Tolls, A Farewell to Arms, and The Snows of Kilimanjaro.
In what area of the world is a similar game played with bags of rice, sand, or beans?
East Asia
Japanese and Chinese versions of jacks involve tossing a bag of grain and picking up others while it is aloft.
What musical instrument did Fats Domino play?
Piano
Fats Domino performed both rhythm and blues and rock and roll music. “Blueberry Hill” was his most popular song.
What actor won an Oscar for his role in The African Queen?
Humphrey Bogart
The 1951 Academy Award was his only Oscar.
What ancient civilization in the Mediterranean used clay balls for marbles?
The Romans
Clay replaced nuts and was then replaced with stone from German quarries.
What is the most frequently sung song in the world?
“Happy Birthday”
The actual name of the song is “Happy Birthday to You.” It is the most recognized song in the English language.
Which of these is another name used globally for jacks: Cinco Marias, Statues, or Skippyroo Kangaroo?
Cinco Marias
This version of jacks is played in Brazil and uses five stones or beanbags in place of the spiky jacks we know.