Thanksgiving Day Trivia

I am confident I know about geography

100

This country is known for Mount Fuji

a. India

b. Japan

c. Chile

d. Australia

b. Japan

Mount Fuji, Japan's tallest peak at 3,776 meters, is a sacred symbol of the country and an active stratovolcano last erupting in 1707.

200

Which part of the United States does New England refer to?

a. Western USA

b. Northern USA

c. Eastern USA

d. Southern USA

c. Eastern USA

New England refers to the northeastern region of the United States, which includes states like Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Vermont, known for its colonial history and autumn foliage.

300

What mountain is this?

a. K2 

b. Everest

c. Matterhorn

d. Denali

c. Matterhorn

400

Lake Como is a famous lake located in which country?

a. Italy

b. Missouri, USA

c. Argentina

d. Spain

e. Mexico

f. Greece

a. Italy

Lake Como, known for its breathtaking scenery and luxurious villas, is located in northern Italy near the Alps.

500

Which country is known for having the bright red, martian-like desert known as Wadi Rum?

a. Saudi Arabia

b. Jordan

c. Morocco

d. Egypt

b. Jordan

Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, is a stunning red desert in Jordan, famous for its Martian-like landscapes and use as a filming location for movies like The Martian.

600

Flanders and Wallonia are two regions within which country?

a. South Africa

b. The Netherlands

c. Austria

d. Belgium

d. Belgium

Flanders and Wallonia are two major regions of Belgium, with Flanders being Dutch-speaking in the north and Wallonia being French-speaking in the south

700

Which African country speaks Xhosa (Kosa) as one of their official languages?

a. Angola

b. Botswana

c. Namibia

d. South Africa

d. South Africa

Xhosa is one of South Africa's official languages, spoken by over 8 million people, known for its distinctive click sounds and rich oral tradition.

800

In which Chinese region can you find the "Three Parallel Rivers," a UNESCO World Heritage Site where the Yangtze, Mekong, and Salween rivers run parallel through deep gorges for over 300 kilometers?

a) Sichuan
b) Yunnan
c) Guangxi
d) Tibet 

b) Yunnan

The "Three Parallel Rivers" site in Yunnan Province is a geological marvel, where three of Asia's major rivers flow alongside each other in close proximity without ever merging, creating one of the world's most biodiverse regions.

900

Tamil is an Indian language spoken in which region of the country?

a. North

b. South

c. East

d. West

b. South

1000

Name these two similar flags

Top: Sicily 

Bottom: Isle of Man

History

100

True or False

Martin Luther was an American Civil Rights advocate

False

Martin Luther was a German theologian and key figure in the Protestant Reformation during the 16th century, whereas Martin Luther King Jr. was an American civil rights advocate in the 20th century.

200

The Aztec Empire was a civilization from which modern nation today?

a. Brazil

b. Guatemala

c. Mexico

d. Nicaragua

c. Mexico

The Aztec Empire was centered in what is now modern-day Mexico, with its capital, Tenochtitlán, located in present-day Mexico City.

300

What system of government does the United States have?

a) Monarchy
b) Federal Republic
c) Parliamentary Democracy
d) Socialist State

b) Federal Republic

The United States operates as a federal republic, where power is divided between the national government and individual states, with elected representatives at both levels.

400

Which philosopher was known for physically flexing his muscles before and during a debate with another as an intimidation technique?

a. Socrates

b. Georges deGauliers

c. Plato

d. Max Sterner

e. Immanuel Kant

f. Thomas Aquinas

g. Marcus Aurelius

c. Plato

Known for this subtle intimidation technique, the muscular Plato was known for flexing his muscles before and during debates to weaken the morale of his opponent. 

500

In the iconic façade of the headquarters of Benito Mussolini's Italian Fascist Party for the 1934 Italian Elections, what "phrase" was written on the front of the building?

a. "Credere, obbedire, combattere" ("Believe, Obey, Fight")

b. "Si" (Yes)

c. "Viva il Duce" (Long live The Leader)

d. "a noi" (To us)

b. "Si" (Yes)

For the 1934 Italian elections, the headquarters of Benito Mussolini's Fascist Party featured the word "Si" (Yes) prominently on its façade, symbolizing support for the Fascist regime in the referendum-style election.

600

What year did Pope Benedict XVI step down from the papacy?

a. 2009

b. 2013

c. 2010

d. 2014

b. 2013

Pope Benedict XVI was the first pope to resign in nearly 600 years, citing his advanced age and declining strength as reasons for his unprecedented decision.

700

Bernie Madoff, an American financier and criminal, was known to have pulled the largest what kind of scheme?

a. Pyramid

b. Work-at-home

c. Ponzi

d. P&D (Pump-and-dump)

c. Ponzi

Bernie Madoff orchestrated the largest Ponzi scheme in history, defrauding investors of approximately $65 billion by using new investors' funds to pay returns to earlier investors.

800

The United States went to war over a fruit. What fruit was it?

a. Pineapples

b. Bananas

c. Grapes

d. Strawberries

b. Bananas

The United States engaged in military interventions in Latin American and Caribbean countries in the early 1900s to protect its commercial interests, which became known as the Banana Wars

900

Which founder of a well-established beer brand was kidnapped?

a. Corona

b. Budweiser

c. Sapporo

d. Heineken

e. Stella Artois

f. Guinness

g. Dos Equis

d. Heineken

Alfred Heineken, the heir and CEO of the Heineken beer empire, was kidnapped in 1983 in Amsterdam by a group demanding a ransom. He was eventually rescued after being held captive for 21 days.

1000

The Nine Worthies are nine historical, scriptural, and legendary men of distinction who personify the ideals of chivalry established in the Middle Ages. Name two of them. 

 

The Nine Worthies include three pagans (Hector, Alexander the Great, and Julius Caesar), three Jews (Joshua, David, and Judas Maccabeus), and three Christians (King Arthur, Charlemagne, and Godfrey of Bouillon).

Tales

100

Which country wrote the famous story "The Little Match Girl"?

a. Germany

b. Russia

c. The Netherlands

d. Denmark

d. Denmark

"The Little Match Girl" was written by Hans Christian Andersen, a Danish author, and is one of Denmark's most famous literary works.

200

In the fairy tale "The Frog Prince," what act transforms the frog back into a prince?

a) A kiss from a princess
b) Eating a magical apple
c) Drinking from a golden chalice
d) Sleeping under the moonlight

a) A kiss from a princess

In "The Frog Prince," the spell on the frog is broken when the princess kisses him, revealing his true form as a prince.

300

In the tale Hansel and Gretel, what ultimately was the witch's fate?

a. Hunters caught her after trying to chase after the two kids escaping

b. She was pushed into an oven by Gretel, burning to death.

c. She was pushed into an oven by Hansel, burning to death.

d. The kids break off pieces of the house, and the structure ultimately collapses and crushes the witch. 

b. She was pushed into an oven by Gretel, burning to death.

In the tale of Hansel and Gretel, Gretel tricks the witch and pushes her into her own oven, ensuring the two's escape and ending the witch's reign of terror.

400

Morgan le Fay is a character in which mythology?

a. English (spf. Arthurian)

b. Celtic (Irish)

c. Frankish (French)

d. Germanic Paganism

a. English (Arthurian)

Morgan le Fay is a prominent enchantress in Arthurian legend, which is part of English mythology.

500

In the Brothers Grimm version of "Rumpelstiltskin," what happens to Rumpelstiltskin at the end of the tale?

a) He disappears into a puff of smoke
b) He falls into an endless pit
c) He tears himself in half out of anger
d) He turns back into a human prince

c) He tears himself in half out of anger

In the Brothers Grimm version, Rumpelstiltskin becomes so enraged when the queen guesses his name that he stomps his foot into the ground and tears himself in half.

600

In the original version of "The Little Mermaid" by Hans Christian Andersen, what happens to the mermaid when the prince marries someone else?

a) She turns into salt and ceases to exist
b) She is cursed to remain a mermaid forever
c) She is banished to the ocean depths by the sea witch
d) She transforms into a spirit of the air

d) She transforms into a spirit of the air

In Hans Christian Andersen's tale, when the prince marries another, the mermaid chooses not to kill him to save herself and instead turns into a "daughter of the air," earning the chance to gain an immortal soul through good deeds.

700

In Greek mythology, who was the primordial deity of the night, feared even by Zeus?

a) Nyx
b) Erebus
c) Hecate
d) Thanatos

a) Nyx

Nyx, the goddess of the night, was a primordial deity so powerful that even Zeus, the king of the gods, was reluctant to confront her.

800

In Norse mythology, what is the name of the ship made from the fingernails and toenails of the dead, prophesied to carry the giants during Ragnarok? 

a) Naglfar
b) Skidbladnir
c) Gungnir
d) Jörmungandr 

a) Naglfar

Naglfar is a ship in Norse mythology constructed from the nails of the dead, and it is said to ferry the giants to battle the gods during Ragnarok, the end of the world.

900

In the Brothers Grimm fairy tale "The Six Swans," how does the sister break the curse that turned her brothers into swans?

a) She sews shirts out of stinging nettles and remains silent for six years
b) She crafts necklaces from moonlight and dew to place around their necks
c) She plants six enchanted trees that grow into her brothers at dawn
d) She weaves cloaks from dragon silk and sings an ancient song 

a) She sews shirts out of stinging nettles and remains silent for six years

In "The Six Swans," the sister must sew six shirts from stinging nettles and remain completely silent for six years to lift the curse on her brothers, a task that tests her endurance and loyalty.

1000

In the Epic of Gilgamesh, what is the name of the creature that guards the Cedar Forest, whom Gilgamesh and Enkidu must defeat?

a) Anzu
b) Humbaba
c) Utnapishtim
d) Ereshkigal

b) Humbaba

Humbaba, appointed by the god Enlil, is the fearsome guardian of the Cedar Forest, defeated by Gilgamesh and Enkidu as part of their quest for fame and glory.

Random

100

What is the main ingredient in a traditional pesto sauce? 

a) Basil
b) Spinach
c) Cilantro
d) Mint

a. Basil

The main ingredient in a traditional pesto sauce is basil, which gives it its signature flavor and aroma.

200

What is New York City's nickname?

a. The Concrete Jungle

b. Liberty City

c. The Big Apple

d. The American Dream

c. The Big Apple

NYC's nickname, "The Big Apple," became popular in the 1920s through a horse racing column by journalist John J. Fitz Gerald and was later revived in the 1970s as part of a tourism campaign to attract visitors.

300

Venison is a type of meat from which animal?

a. Deer

b. Turkey

c. Sheep

d. Rabbit

a. Deer

Venison is the term used for meat from deer, prized for its rich flavor and lean texture, often featured in game-hunting cuisine.

400

Who is believed to have buried Jesus Christ after his crucifixion?

a. Joseph of Arimathea

b. Pontius Pilate

c. Nicodemus

d. Mary Magdalene

a. Joseph of Arimathea

Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy disciple of Jesus, buried Him in his tomb, fulfilling biblical prophecy about the Messiah's burial.

500

True or False

Thermal cameras can see through smoke

True

Thermal cameras can see through smoke because infrared radiation passes through it, allowing the camera to detect heat sources obscured by smoke.

600

In rowing, what is the role of the coxswain?

a) To back any rower who loses pacing

b) To steer the boat and coordinate the crew

c) To set up the equipment before a race

d) To time the rowers' strokes 

b) To steer the boat and coordinate the crew

The coxswain does not row but is responsible for steering the boat, maintaining rhythm among the rowers, and providing tactical instructions to optimize performance.

700

In marksmanship (skill in shooting), the term "zeroing" a rifle means to

a) Cleaning the barrel for better accuracy

b) Adjusting the sights to hit the target at a specific range

c) Firing the first shot to measure distance

d) Reducing recoil for better aim 

b) Adjusting the sights to hit the target at a specific range

Zeroing ensures the sights align with the rifle's barrel, allowing accurate shots at a chosen distance.

800

In mathematics, what does the term "logarithmic" mean?
a) A type of multiplication
b) A way to measure angles
c) Finding the power of a number that gives a certain result
d) A method for dividing numbers

c) Finding the power of a number that gives a certain result 

In mathematics, "logarithmic" refers to calculating the power you need to raise a base number (like 10) to reach a specific value

900

What is the name of the world’s most expensive cheese, made from the milk of Balkan donkeys?

a) Pule Cheese
b) Cabrales
c) Beaufort d’Alpage
d) Vacherin Mont d'Or

a) Pule Cheese

Pule Cheese, produced in Serbia using milk from rare Balkan donkeys, costs over $1,000 per kilogram due to its labor-intensive production and the small quantities of milk each donkey produces.

1000

In golf, what is the term for when a player’s ball is in a bunker, but they accidentally ground their club by touching the sand before making the shot, and what is the penalty under the current rules?

a) "Grounding," one-stroke penalty
b) "Bunker Breach," loss of hole
c) "Testing the Sand," no penalty if unintentional
d) "Loose Impediment," two-stroke penalty

c) "Testing the Sand," no penalty if unintentional

Under the 2019 Rules of Golf, players are no longer penalized for accidentally grounding their club in a bunker as long as it is not done to test the sand or gain an advantage, modernizing play to reduce unnecessary penalties

Random 2

100

What is my Windows screen saver picture?

a. A screenshot of the movie Interstellar

b. A photo of Annette and I

c. A frog

d. An equation

c. A frog

200

"Wabbit Twouble" is an episode of a Bugs Bunny (Merry Melodies) cartoon that spawned this iconic meme

a. Harambe

b. Grimace Shake

c. Big Chungus

d. Skibidi Toilet

c. Big Chungus

"Wabbit Twouble" features a scene where Bugs Bunny inflates himself to mock Elmer Fudd, which later became the basis for the "Big Chungus" meme depicting an exaggerated, rotund version of Bugs Bunny.

300

What does the term "Rumspringa" mean in Amish culture?
a) A time of fasting and prayer
b) A rite of passage for young adults to explore the outside world
c) A communal harvest festival
d) A traditional Amish wedding ceremony

b) A rite of passage for young adults to explore the outside world 

"Rumspringa" is a term used by the Amish to describe a period of adolescence when young members are allowed to experience the outside world before deciding whether to commit to the Amish way of life.

400

What are the 4 Taco Bell Hot Sauces in order?

Mild, Hot, Fire!, Diablo

500

What Lego set is on top of James's and Katherine's right bookshelf closest to the kitchen door?

a. Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris Set

b. The Endeavour Space Shuttle Set

c. The City of Tokyo Skyline Set

d. The Autumn Series Cornucopia Set

a.  Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Paris 

600

Why did McDonald's remove the McRib from their permanent menu and make it seasonal?

a. It was unpopular as a permanent item

b. It was expensive for McDonald's to keep it on the permanent menu. 

c. McDonald's wanted a varied menu throughout the year

d. To create buzz and anticipation among customers 

d) To create buzz and anticipation among customers 

McDonald's makes the McRib a seasonal item to generate excitement and a sense of urgency among customers, boosting sales during its limited-time availability.

700

What is the name of the ring the Pope wears?

Ring of the Fisherman

An official part of the regalia worn by the pope, who according to Catholic theology is the head of the Catholic Church and successor of Saint Peter, who was a fisherman by trade.

800

What is the proper (full) name of the mathematical symbol known as "e"?

a. Euler's Number

b. Euclid's Number

c. Eudoxus's Constant

d. Eratosthenes’s Number

a) Euler’s Number (e)

Euler’s Number (e), named after mathematician Leonhard Euler, is a fundamental constant in mathematics, approximately equal to 2.718, widely used in exponential and logarithmic functions.

900

Which civil engineer, known as "the engineer of heaven", saved a Romanian Orthodox Church from destruction during the rule of the dictator Nicolae Ceaușescu in the 1980s?

a. Eugeniu Iordachescu

b. Emilian Matasereanu

c. Katarina Matei

d. Alcina Dimitrescu

a. Eugeniu Iordachescu

Eugeniu Iordachescu devised an ingenious method to move several Romanian Orthodox churches to save them from demolition during Nicolae Ceaușescu’s regime by devising a system that lifted them onto railroad tracks and allowed them to be moved out of harm’s way. 

1000

What is the name of the small plastic or metal tube that protects the end of a shoelace and prevents it from fraying?

a) Aglet
b) Eyelet
c) Ferrule
d) Thimble
e) Grommet

 a) Aglet

Explanation: An aglet is a tiny tube at the end of a shoelace, often overlooked but essential for threading the lace through eyelets and keeping it from unraveling over time.