Marine Biology
Cartoons
Random
Circus
Historical Beauty
100
Sea cucumbers expel ____ to defend themselves against predators:
A) Ink
B) A translucent and pungent gel
C) Their internal organs
D) A dense gas
C) Their internal organs!
Sea cucumbers have a remarkable ability to defend themselves through a process called evisceration or autotomy, where they expel their internal organs, such as intestines, to deter or distract predators.
100
What animal was Betty Boop originally modeled after?
A) A cat
B) A dog
C) A bird
D) A fish
B) A dog!
Betty Boop initially started out as a dog-like character. In her first appearance in the 1930 short "Dizzy Dishes," she was depicted as an anthropomorphic French poodle. Over time, her design evolved, with her dog ears transforming into hoop earrings and her overall appearance becoming more human-like.
100
In human anatomy, what does the “hallux” refer to?
A) The belly button
B) The big toe
C) The spleen
D) The nape
B) The big toe!
100
Many circus performers used to carry ___ in their pocket for good luck:
A) Glitter
B) Hair from an elephant's tail
C) Peanut shells
D) A red ribbon
B) Hair from an elephant's tail!
Circus performers consider whistling and eating peanuts backstage bad luck. They carry hair from an elephant's tail in their pocket for good luck.
100
Cleopatra commonly bathed in the soured milk of which animal?:
A) Manatee
B) Lion
C) Donkey
D) Camel
C) Donkey!
Cleopatra was renowned for her beauty, and according to legend, she achieved it, in part, through regular donkey milk baths. These baths, particularly those using sour milk, were believed to have a beautifying effect due to the presence of lactic acid. Modern science supports the idea that lactic acid, an alpha hydroxy acid, can exfoliate the skin, potentially reducing wrinkles and improving texture.
200
How many brains does an octopus have?
A) 1
B) 3
C) 9
D) 11
C) 9!
Octopuses have nine brains. They have a central brain that controls their overall body functions, and eight smaller brains, one in each arm. These smaller brains allow each arm to move independently and make decisions without input from the central brain. This decentralized nervous system gives octopuses incredible dexterity and allows them to perform complex tasks, such as opening jars or solving puzzles.
200
What is the name of Popeye’s love interest?
A) Daisy Duke
B) Olive Oyl
C) Bettie Spaghettie
D) Lulu Belle
B) Olive Oyl!
200
What is the only food that can never go bad?
A) Honey
B) Mustard
C) Sugar
D) Oatmeal
A) Honey!
The only food that is generally considered to never go bad is honey. It is naturally antibacterial and has a very low moisture content, which prevents the growth of bacteria and spoilage. Even if it crystallizes or solidifies over time, it can be safely consumed after being reheated.
200
What is a free ticket to a Circus often referred to?:
A) A starbird
B) an Annie Oakley
C) A free flyer
D) a Mollie Pitcher
B) an Annie Oakley!
A free ticket is called an "Annie Oakley" because of the way complimentary tickets were traditionally punched with holes. These holes, often made to prevent resale, resembled the playing cards that sharpshooter Annie Oakley would shoot holes through during her performances. This resemblance led to the association of the punched tickets with her name.
200
Women in the 1920s would commonly nibble on wafers containing this toxic ingredient to improve their complexions:
A) Lead
B) Nioxin
C) Arsenic
D) Ethylene
C) Arsenic!
In the 1920s, arsenic wafers were sold as beauty products, marketed to improve complexion by removing freckles and blemishes. These wafers, often packaged in tins or boxes, were a continuation of a trend from the late 19th century where arsenic was used in various cosmetic products. Despite the advertised benefits, the arsenic was a poison and could cause serious health problems.
300
A “smack” is the name for a gathering of what sea creature?
A) Jellyfish
B) Sea Urchins
C) Manatees
D) Eels
A) Jellyfish!
300
In, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, how did Billy and Mandy win Grim?
A) In a game of hide and seek
B) In a basketball game
C) In a game of poker
D) In a game of limbo
D) In a game of limbo!
300
What is the official state beverage of Oregon?
A) Milk
B) Lemonade
C) Sprite
D) Carrot Juice
A) Milk!
300
What was the original name of Cotton Candy?:
A) Lamb's Wool
B) Cloud Candy
C) Sugar Tops
D) Fairy Floss
D) Fairy Floss!
Cotton candy was introduced in 1900 and was originally called "fairy floss." In 1990 it became the single best-selling confection at the circus.
300
Which 19th-century diet fad involved swallowing a parasite to “help” with weight loss?
A) Leech therapy
B) The tapeworm diet
C) Vinegar worm treatment
D) Roundworm smoothies
B) The tapeworm diet!
Victorian Era Origins: The idea of using tapeworms for weight loss emerged in the late 19th century, driven by the era's ideal of slender figures. Victorian society valued pale skin, dilated eyes, and a tiny waist, and women pursued various extreme measures to achieve this look, including wearing tight corsets and reportedly even ingesting tapeworm eggs.
400
Cetology is the study of...
A) Squids
B) Coral
C) Whales
D) Crustaceans
C) Whales!
Cetology or whalelore is the branch of marine mammal science that studies the approximately eighty species of whales, dolphins, and porpoises in the scientific infraorder Cetacea.
400
What does SpongeBob forget when he tries to become a perfect fine dining waiter in the episode "Squilliam Returns"?
A) How to tie his shoes
B) Where he works
C) His name
D) How to cook Krabby Patties
C) His name!
400
What was the primary vector (carrier) that spread the Black Death to humans?
A) Ticks on dogs
B) Mosquitoes
C) Fleas on rats
D) Airborne spores
C) Fleas on rats!
Fleas, particularly Oriental rat fleas, are the primary vectors for transmitting the plague bacteria, Yersinia pestis, from rodents to humans. When rodents die from the plague, the fleas, needing a new host, will bite humans, thus spreading the disease. While rats are often associated with plague outbreaks, it's the fleas that directly transmit the bacteria.
400
What is the fear of clowns called?:
A) Coulrophobia
B) Globophobia
C) Elurophobia
D) Chionophobia
A) Coulrophobia!
Coulrophobia, or the fear of clowns, is often attributed to a combination of factors including the "uncanny valley" effect, negative media portrayals, and personal experiences. The uncanny valley suggests that things that look human but not quite right can be unsettling, and clowns' exaggerated features and makeup can trigger this feeling. Negative media depictions, like in horror films, can also contribute to the fear. Additionally, some individuals may develop coulrophobia due to traumatic experiences with clowns in their past or through observing fearful behavior from family members.
400
In 1936, Isabelle Gilbert invented a bizarre beauty device designed to create what facial feature?
A) Dimples
B) A more prominent jawline
C) Rosy cheeks
D )High cheekbones
A) Dimples!
500
How old is the oldest lobster in the world ever recorded?
140 years old!
The oldest lobster ever recorded was estimated to be 140 years old. This lobster, named George, was caught off the coast of Newfoundland in 2008 and lived at a restaurant in New York for a time before being released back into the ocean
500
SpongeBob's sundae, featured in the episode "Something Smells," famously contains ketchup, onions, and ____.
A) A peanut plant
B) Sea pickles
C) Kelp
D) Snail food
A) A peanut plant!
500
What was the first vegetable ever to be grown in space?
A) An onion
B) A zucchini
C) Spinach
D) A potato
D) A potato!
The first vegetable grown in space was the potato, in 1995. NASA and the University of Wisconsin collaborated on the experiment, growing potatoes aboard the Space Shuttle Columbia.
500
Many circus performers consider this color to be unlucky to wear in the ring:
A) Purple
B) Black
C) Yellow
D) Green
D) Green!
The superstition surrounding green in the circus is believed to originate from the death of Lillian Leitzle, a renowned aerialist who tragically fell and passed away while wearing a green costume.
500
In the Victorian era, women used wigs styled with pastes made of bear grease and beef lard. What unexpected problem did this create?
A) The wigs would melt in hot weather
B) The grease caused severe scalp infections
C) The scent attracted rats that nested in the wigs
D) The wigs often caught fire from candles
C) The scent attracted rats that nested in the wigs
Big hair has been a symbol of beauty throughout the ages, but most ladies in the Middle Ages didn’t get the kind of nutrition necessary to really grow and style luxurious locks. So they faked it with wigs. However, these giant hairpieces weren’t all too sanitary. Victorian wigs were constructed out of wooden frames that hair was draped over and then glued on with pastes of bear grease and beef lard. That tasty mixture was irresistible to rats, which would often nest inside the hairpieces while they were not worn, until “wig cages” were invented to keep them safe while the wearer was sleeping.
