Scotland Trivia
We Sing the Songs
Ivy League Schools
Easy Peasy
Musicals
April Showers and More
100

This is the alcoholic beverage Scottland is known for producing.

What is Whiskey?

With over 130 different distilleries, Scotland is the country with the highest concentration of whisky production in the world.

100

They released their Abbey Road album in 1969.

Who are the Beatles? It was No. 1 in the United States, and it held that spot for 11 out of its 83 weeks on the charts.

100

This Ivy League school was founded by Ben Franklin and sounds like a state university.

What is the University of Pennsylvania? It was founded in 1740 and was one of the first in the United States to admit women as students.

100

This is a nickname for New Orleans.

What is “The Big Easy”? Some believe the nickname is intended to show its contrast with New York City, aka “The Big Apple.” NYC is considered a city that never sleeps, with a frenzied, fast-paced lifestyle, while New Orleans claims a more relaxed, laid-back vibe.

100

He has no heart in The Wizard of Oz.

Who is the Tin Man? Before the hit film version, there was a silent version. Oliver Hardy (of Laurel and Hardy) portrays the Tin Man in that version.

100

April showers are said to bring these.

What are May flowers? April is rainy, but the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association says June is the wettest month of the year in the United States.

200

This term is used for the garment that resembles a plaid, wraparound, knee-length skirt.

What is a Kilt?

The kilt is traditional Scottish dress for men.  It is a symbol of patriotism, has deep roots in Celtic history, and it is worn to pay tribute to Scottish heritage.

200

Their hits include “Witchy Woman,” “Hotel California,” and “Desperado.”

Who are the Eagles? The band broke up in 1980 but reunited in 1994. The photo on their Hotel California album is of the Beverly Hills Hotel.

200

Four recent presidents, starting with President Gerald Ford, have graduated from Yale. Name one of the other three.

Who are George H. W. Bush, Bill Clinton, and George W. Bush? The fifth president who attended Yale was President William Taft. Ford and Clinton graduated from Yale Law. The Bushes and Taft went there for their undergraduate studies.

200

Finish the expression: “Easy come…”

What is “easy go”? The idiom dates to the 1800s, but the similar Chinese expression “quickly come, quickly go” dates to 400 BC.

200

She plays Mary Poppins in the film with the same name.

Who is Julie Andrews? Andrews was pregnant when she was cast, and they waited to start filming until after she gave birth.

200

On April 23, 1985, Coca-Cola released this disaster of a product to replace its legacy flagship beverage.

What is New Coke? We’ve all heard the marketing axiom “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” After 79 days, Coke held a press conference announcing the return of its original Coke formula and apologizing for its mistake.

400

This woodwind instrument consists of single-reed pipes and a reservoir for air.

What are bagpipes?

During the First World War, Scottish soldiers would often march into battle playing the bagpipes.  Many of the generals believed the sound of the bagpipes would strike fear in the enemy.

400

“I Write the Songs” is one of his hit songs.

Who is Barry Manilow? He co-wrote “Copacabana,” “Dancin’ Fool,” “It’s a Miracle,” and many more.

400

When the Ivy Leagues refused to admit women, the top seven women’s colleges were collectively known as this. They were the equivalent of Ivy League schools for women.

What are the Seven Sisters? The seven schools were primarily liberal arts colleges and were comprised of Vassar, Wellesley, Smith, Bryn Mawr, Barnard, Radcliffe, and Mount Holyoke.

400

When someone is good-looking, people sometimes say they are easy on these.

What are the eyes? It means they’re aesthetically pleasing.

400

She stars in the 1972 film Cabaret as Sally Bowles.

Who is Liza Minnelli? The character was based on aspiring actress Jean Ross. Minnelli wanted to meet her, but Ross declined because she didn’t like her portrayal in the film.

400

April’s weather is the seasonal equivalent of this month’s weather in the southern hemisphere.

What is October? We associate the holidays with wintry weather, while many people south of the equator spend the holidays at the beach.

600

This traditional Scottish dish consists of onion, pork, fat, oatmeal, and spices.

What is black pudding?

The traditional recipe for black pudding calls for pigs’ blood to combine all the ingredients.

600

They recorded “Mrs. Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter” and “There’s a Kind of Hush.”

Who are Herman’s Hermits? They frequently hit the top of the charts from 1964 to 1967.

600

Brown University is in this state.

What is Rhode Island? Brown is in Providence, which holds an annual Halloween spooky concert at midnight complete with costumes as the preferred attire.

600

People who sail through life are said to live here.

What is Easy Street? This usually applies to financial matters. Those with no worries about finances live on Easy Street.

600

He is the lead chipmunk in The Chipmunks franchise.

Who is Alvin? Their signature tune is “I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus.”

600

On April 15, 1912, this ship sank.

What is the RMS Titanic? The ship was billed as unsinkable, but it sank on its inaugural voyage after hitting an iceberg.

800

These three languages are recognized as the official languages in Scotland.

What are the English, Scots, and Gaelic languages?

Scots is an indigenous language of Scotland and is spoken by an estimated 1.5 million people across the country. Gaelic, however, is spoken by only an estimated 85,000 people.

800

This man co-wrote the song “Tutti Frutti” in 1955.

Who is Little Richard? He wrote the song while he was working as a dishwasher at a Greyhound bus station.

800

This is Brooke Shields’ alma mater.

What is Princeton? Her majors were Romance languages and literature, and she graduated with honors.

800

This genre of music is sometimes called elevator music.

What is easy listening? When easy-listening music is played in the elevator, it’s often instrumental.

800

Tevye (TEV-ya) is the patriarch in this musical.

What is Fiddler on the Roof? Zero Mostel played Tevye in the original 1964 Broadway musical, and Topol (TOW-paal) plays him in the 1971 film.

800

On April 26, 1986, a nuclear plant exploded in what is now this country.

What is Ukraine? At the time, Ukraine was part of the Soviet Union. Known as the Chernobyl disaster, the explosion released 400 times the radiation of the nuclear bomb that hit Hiroshima.

1000

This animal is observed as Scotland’s national animal.

What is the unicorn?

In Celtic mythology, the unicorn is a figure of innocence, purity, and power. Scotland has a national Unicorn Day that is held each year on April 9th.

1000

The title of the Hollies’ hit “He Ain’t Heavy, He’s My Brother” comes from the slogan of this homeless children’s organization headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska.

What is Boys Town? The Boys Town motto is “He ain’t heavy, Father… he’s m’ brother.” Boys Town was founded in 1917.

1000

The eight Ivy League Schools go by this moniker.

What is the Ancient Eight? Seven of them date to colonial times.

1000

This is Rodney Dangerfield’s “easy” 1983 movie.

What is Easy Money? In Easy Money, Dangerfield plays a gambling addict who could inherit his mother-in-law’s fortune if he can change his ways.

1000

“Getting to Know You” and “I Whistle a Happy Tune” are two songs from this Broadway production and film.

What is The King and I? Yul Brynner starred as King Mongkut (MAANG-kuht) of Siam in the original Broadway production and the 1956 film.

1000

April is the fourth month on the Gregorian calendar; it was this month on the Roman republican calendar.

What is the second? In 1572, Pope Gregory adopted the Gregorian calendar because the first day of spring and Easter were falling too early in the year.