Great Lakes
Name the Language
Superstitions
Classic Film & TV
1950s Hits and Artists
100

Which is the largest of the Great Lakes by surface area?

Lake Superior. It is the world’s largest freshwater lake by area and the coldest and deepest of the Great Lakes.

100

Carpe diem

What is Latin? It means “seize the day.

100

It’s considered bad luck to walk under this

What is a ladder? Originally, this superstition referenced only a leaning ladder. When a ladder leans against a structure, it forms a triangle, and 5,000 years ago, the Egyptians felt walking through a triangle was an affront to their trinity of gods.

100

Tarzan’s female companion

Who is Jane? Gorillas raised Tarzan and spoke the language of animals, but he marries Jane. Theirs is a story of love transcending different backgrounds

100

This Beatle released the hit song “Imagine.”

Who is John Lennon? When video footage emerged of Lennon crediting Yoko Ono with significant contribution to the song, she was given a songwriting credit for “Imagine”—more than 40 years after the tune’s release.

200

How many Great Lakes are there?

Five. Altogether, the five lakes cover over 94,000 square miles (244,000 square kilometers)—an area larger than the UK

200

Zeitgeist

What is German? It means “the essence of an era.” For example, “free love” was the zeitgeist of the 1960s. It was the secondary theme of Woodstock, and it was a theme of musicals (Hair), movies, and music.

200

 Knock on or touch this for good luck. 


What is wood? This superstition has no definitive origin; however, there are two theories. One is that touching a crucifix was once the custom when taking an oath. The other explanation is that European peasants knocked loudly to guard against evil spirits.

200

Lucy and Ricky’s landlord in I Love Lucy

Who is Fred (Mertz)? Fred (William Frawley) and Ethyl (Vivian Vance) were not friendly in real life. The actors hated each other.

200

“Dancing Queen” is performed by this band

Who is ABBA? They’re a Swedish band. Have you ever noticed how it’s difficult to detect accents when European artists sing? That’s because the mechanics of singing and speaking differ due to how people breathe and articulate vowels.

300

What are the names of the five Great Lakes?

Superior, Michigan, Huron, Erie, and Ontario. The lakes are home to more than 3,500 plant and animal species, and the Great Lakes region has a robust economy

300

Rouge

What is French? It means “red.”

300

Throwing this over your shoulder is said to bring good luck.

What is salt? Throw it over your left shoulder. Salt has long been a prized commodity; the word salary is derived from the Latin word salarium, which means “salt money.

300

Gilligan’s first name

What is Willie? There was no resolution for the stranded passengers on Gilligan’s Island because the fourth season was canceled at the last minute to accommodate Gunsmoke.

300

Her album Tapestry contains the hits “It’s Too Late” and “I Feel the Earth Move Under My Feet.”

Who is Carole King? Tapestry went platinum more than 14 times.

400

Which Great Lake has a region similar to the Bermuda Triangle, with unexplained disappearances of ships and planes?

Lake Michigan. The area is dubbed the Michigan Triangle and is near a strange rock formation, which some believe creates the mysterious phenomenon.

400

Disculpe

What is Spanish? This is a good one to know if you’re around Spanish speakers. It means “excuse me.”

400

They say that bad luck comes in this number of occurrences

What is three? Throughout history, the number three has been associated with the triangle and said to represent balance. From the Holy Trinity, to the Trimurti in Hinduism, to Aristotle’s three principles and beyond, the number three brings stability and comfort. So why is it associated with bad luck? Scholars don’t know the origin for sure, but they suspect it has something to do with people wanting certainty—a guaranteed number of bad things that will happen, and then the bad luck will end

400

Jimmy Stewart’s character’s profession in Vertigo

What is a detective? When the story begins, he has retired early as a police detective. He becomes obsessed with two women and tries to transform the second woman into the first one.

400

This band released Dark Side of the Moon in 1973.

Who are Pink Floyd? The album spent an astonishing 917 weeks on the Billboard 200 chart, the record by far.

500

The Jet Express is a ferry service in which of the Great Lakes?

Lake Erie. The company was founded in 1988 as the Put-in-Bay Boat Line Company

500

Holoholo

What is Hawaiian? It means “to go for a walk.”

500

In Russia, this color flower is thought to bring bad luck.

What is yellow? Yellow flowers are said to bring infidelity, separation, and worse.

500

Actor who plays the wheelchair-bound character in the 1954 film Rear Window

Who is Jimmy Stewart? When the story opens, we find his character, L. B. “Jeff” Jeffries, in a wheelchair after being shot while attending an auto race. Jeffries believes he might have witnessed a murder.

500

She wrote the 1969 single “Woodstock” but didn’t attend the festival.

Who is Joni Mitchell? She was also a painter and a poker expert. She was most comfortable singing to small groups, particularly in coffee houses where she could mingle and sit with the audience