Fact or Foolery
Fact or Foolery? Missouri Woman Sells Graceland at Auction
Fact. Lisa Jeanine Findley was sentenced to nearly five years in federal prison. The case was investigated and reported by NBC News
Fact or Foolery? Scientists Discover Fashion Trends in Dolphins and Chimpanzees
Fact. Both were published in scientific journals and reported on by NBC and CBC News
Fact or Foolery? Hotel in China Uses Live Red Pandas for Wake-Up Calls
Fact. The hotel was ordered to cease the practice by animal rights groups because of the protected status of the red panda. Yahoo.com and other news sites reported on the story.
In Scotland, April Fool's Day is often called "Hunt the Gowk Day". What is a gowk?
a. a fairy
b. a witch
c. a bird
d. a wild pig
A bird - The word gowk translates to mean a cuckoo.
Many believe that the origin of April Fools deals with the adoption of which new calendar?
a. Julian
b. Solar
c. Romanian
d. Gregorian
d. Gregorian - This calendar, which was adopted in 1582, changed the date of the New Year to January First. People who forgot this change were mocked by their friends.
Which famous painting by artist Edvard Munch was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, on April 1st, 1994?
a. The Scream
b. Mona Lisa
c. The Starry Night
d. The Last Supper
a. The Scream - On April 1st, 1994, Edvard Munch's iconic painting "The Scream" was stolen from the National Gallery in Oslo, Norway, during the Winter Olympics.
Fact or Foolery? “Dancing Hillary” Virus Shuts Down ATMs in India and Pakistan
April Fools! Though undermining public trust is something enemies would like to inflict on one another, the “Dancing Hillary” virus has been little more than a rumor since 2011. It is important to note that the virus was never a real computer virus. It began as an old online chain email hoax around 2011 and from time to time resurfaces on social media
Fact or Foolery? Omaha Steaks Announces “Meat Cute” Romance Novel
April Fools! Though Omaha is not entering the publishing business, a humorous mockup of the first few chapters of Certified Tender can be read on the Omaha website.
Fact or Foolery? Miso Fermented in Space
Fact. The miso is reported to have a different flavor profile from that made on Earth, with a slightly nuttier flavor. The story was reported by Scientific American
One of the greatest pranks of all time was the Spaghetti Tree Prank. In which country were Spaghetti trees said to be growing?
a. Russia
b. Mexico
c. America
d. Switzerland
d. Switzerland - This prank, created by the BBC showed farmers in Switzerland harvesting spaghetti off trees.
Which handy kitchen appliance went on sale on the first of April, 1889?
a. dishwasher
b. blender
c. toaster
d. percolator
a. Dishwasher - Josephine Cochrane is credited with inventing the dishwasher. The first public viewing of the appliance was at the World's Fair
Fact or Foolery? Pennsylvania Flood Museum Closed Due to Flooding
Fact. The story was covered by The Guardian, a major international newspaper. The article also mentions that Johnstown suffered major historic floods in 1936 and 1977.
Fact or Foolery? The Seattle Kraken Mascot Gets Chased by a Grizzly
Fact. Though unintended, the video went viral and circulated widely online and was covered by ESPN. Thankfully, nobody was injured.
Fact or Foolery? The Metro Introduces a Gondola for Traveling on the Potomac Between Richmond, Annapolis, and Washington, D.C.
April Fools! The social media post featuring the gondolier navigating the Potomac with the Washington Monument in the background was AI-generated
According to tradition, what time should all pranks cease?
a. sunset
b. midnight
c. noon
d. 3pm
c. Noon - This tradition is slowing losing favor and pranks are being carried out throughout the day.
What is the term for a practical joke or trick played on April 1st?
a. Gagn
b. Hoaxn
c. Prankn
d. Jest
c. Prank - April Fools' Day is known for its playful pranks and jokes.
Fact or Foolery? Yahoo Announces Grass Keyboard
April Fools! The grass keyboard was a joke. Yahoo posted the idea on its Instagram page as a simple publicity stunt.
Fact or Foolery? Josh Cellars Announces Couch for Wine Lovers
April Fools! The Instagram post reached over 230 “likes,” making it a fairly successful marketing strategy for both parties
Fact or Foolery? Baby Camel Says “Hay”
Fact. A video featuring Faye’s unique talent went viral on the TikTok platform, with Yahoo.com covering the story
The French often stick cutouts of what kind of creature onto people's backs on April first?
a. Pigs
b. Fish
c. Goats
d. Monkeys
b. Fish - This symbol is used because the French often refer to this day as Poisson D'Avril. In French, a poisson is a fish.
What is a "fool's errand"?
a. A pointless task or mission
b. A treasure hunt
c. A comedy show
d. A game of chance
a. A pointless task or mission - On April Fools' Day, people may send others on a "fool's errand" as a prank.
Fact or Foolery? Scientists Develop Shark-Proof Wetsuit
Fact. The Guardian news source reported that such suits could reduce the severity of puncture damage from shark attacks. This new model sells for over $500.)
Fact or Foolery? Elephant Raids Convenience Store
Fact. The elephant is a male in his 20s named Plai Biang Lek and wandered into the store from the nearby Khao Yai National Park. CNN and others reported on the story, which was surprisingly not a viral marketing campaign
Fact or Foolery? Man Eats 35,000 Big Macs
Fact. Gorske does in fact hold the Guinness World Record for most Big Macs eaten, and the story was covered by Spectrum News, among others
Which famous celebrity was shot on April 1st, 1984?
a. Marvin Gaye
b. Sam Cooke
c. John Lennon
a. Marvin Gaye - Marvin was shot by his father, with a revolver.
Which famous landmark did a British tabloid claim was going to be relocated for restoration as an April Fools' prank?
a. Eiffel Towern
b. Statue of Libertyn
c. Big Benn
d. Sydney Opera House
c. Big Ben - In 1980, the Daily Mail announced that Big Ben was to be dismantled and moved to a new location.
Fact or Foolery? Gaming Company Announces Translator for Gen Z and Alpha slang
April Fools! Razer’s marketing gimmick in 2025 was at the expense of their younger customer base and their wacky lingo
Fact or Foolery? Reese’s Announces Chocolatey Bread for PB&J Sandwiches
April Fools! The Instagram post was nothing more than marketing, though many users expressed a sincere desire for the product to be real
Fact or Foolery? King’s College Choir Switches from Boys to Men with Helium
April Fools! The video posted to the King’s College Choir YouTube channel was nothing more than an April Fools’ Day joke
What island was hit by a tsunami on the First of April, 1946?
a. Sicily
b. Hawaii
c. Madagascar
d. Japan
b. Hawaii - This tsunami killed 159 people. Many people on the Island thought the warning was an April Fool's Day joke.
Which famous company once announced they were launching a line of scratch-and-sniff computer screens as an April Fools' joke?
a. Apple
b. Microsoft
c. Google
d. Amazon
c. Google - In 2013, Google claimed they were developing a technology called "Google Nose" that allowed users to smell scents through their computers.
Fact or Foolery? Holographic Cops Fight Crime in South Korea
Fact. The BBC reports the holograms pop up every two minutes in Jeo-Dong Park in Seoul
Fact or Foolery? Chinese Inventor Builds Bed on Wheels
Fact. Though one of a kind for now, the invention was covered by the South China Morning Post
Fact or Foolery? Tourist Breaks Museum Chair by Sitting on It
Fact. The museum filed a police report, and the story was covered by The Guardian. A crystal-covered chair inspired by a Van Gogh work in Italy was broken after an American tourist tried to sit on it. A video recording shows the chair, covered in Swarovski crystals, buckling under the weight of a man who flees the scene shortly after
Which famous American actress mother who starred in Singin' in the Rain, was born on April 1st, 1932?
a. Elizabeth Taylor
b. Debbie Reynolds
c. Madonna
d. Rita Hayworth
b. Debbie Reynolds
Which famous author wrote the short story "The April Fool of Gotham" in 1869?
a. Mark Twain
b. Edgar Allan Poe
c. Washington Irving
d. Nathaniel Hawthorne
c. Washington Irving - Washington Irving, best known for "The Legend of Sleepy Hollow" and "Rip Van Winkle," wrote "The April Fool of Gotham" as a humorous tale.
Fact or Foolery? Duolingo Announces Five-Year Cruise for People Who Are Serious About Their Lessons
April Fools! Though Duolingo is always trying to get users to stick to their studies, a five-year cruise is too much commitment for most. Duolingo revealed the hoax on social media and released some merchandise of the promotion
Fact or Foolery? Crunch Bars Announce Quiet Candy Bar Made with Cooked Rice
April Fools! The Quiet Crunch was nothing more than a marketing post on Crunch Bar’s Instagram
Fact or Foolery? New Two Fifty Tower in Philly will stand 1,776 Feet Tall
April Fools! Philly is not getting a massive obelisk any time soon. The story came from a post on OFC Realty’s Instagram account. Philadelphia is planning a new, more modest monument to be installed in LOVE Park, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer.
On April 1st, 1938, which American actor famously tricked audiences into believing that aliens were invading Earth through a radio broadcast?
a. Orson Welles
b. Humphrey Bogart
c. Clark Gable
d. James Stewart
a. Orson Welles - Orson Welles famously directed and narrated the radio drama "The War of the Worlds," which aired on April 1st, 1938, causing panic among listeners who believed it to be a real news broadcast.
On April 1st, 1976, which technology company was founded by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne?
a. IBM
b. Microsoft
c. Apple Inc.
d. Google
c. Apple Inc. - April 1st, 1976, marks the founding date of Apple Inc.