US Geography
US History
Hollywood
US Government
US Pop Culture
100
Which US States makeup New England
Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, Connecticut, and Vermont
100
What are the first three words of the Constitution?
"We The People"
100
What is the famous Hollywood sign originally meant to promote?
a) Real estate development
b) Movie theater
c) Film studio
d) Entertainment park
Real Estate Development
Read HOLLYWOODLAND, it was originally erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a local real estate development. Due to increasing recognition, the sign was left up, with the last four letters "LAND" removed in 1949.
100
What is the name of the group of presidential electors required by the Constitution to form every four years for the sole purpose of electing the president and vice president?
The Electoral College
100
What year was Harper Lee’s To Kill a Mockingbird published?
1960
200
What type of territory is Washington, D.C.?
A Federal District
200
What are the first ten amendments to the constitution called?
The Bill of Rights
200
Who is considered the first major Hollywood movie star?
a) Mary Pickford
b) Charlie Chaplin
c) Rudolph Valentino
d) Douglas Fairbanks
Mary Pickford
Beginning her film career in 1909, Pickford became Hollywood's first millionaire by 1916, and, at the height of her career, had complete creative control of her films and was one of the most recognizable women in the world
200
What is the name of the President’s advisory body made up of the heads of the 15 executive departments?
The Cabinet
200
Whitney Houston covered “I Will Always Love You.” Who sang (and wrote) the original?
Dolly Parton
300
Name all of the Great Lakes
Huron, Ontario, Michigan, Eerie, and Superior
300
During what war was the Battle of Gettysburg fought?
The Civil War
The Battle of Gettysburg fought July 1, 1863 through July 3, 1863. It was considered by most military historians the turning point of the American Civil War.
300
Which film won the first Academy Award for Best Picture?
a) Wings
b) Gone with the Wind
c) Casablanca
d) The Godfather
Wings
Wings is a 1927 American silent and synchronized sound war film
300
How long is a U.S. Senator's term?
six years
A U.S. Senator is elected for a term of six years. Since they are elected for a longer term they are supposed to be in touch with the needs of the national government. Conversely, Representatives are supposed to be more in touch with the wishes of their state.
300
What does “the day the music died” refer to in the classic song “American Pie“?
Feb. 3, 1959, the day three musicians, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “the Big Bopper”), died in a plane crash
400
The movie’s soundtrack became one of the bestselling albums ever until this Michael Jackson album eclipsed it six years later
What is Thriller?
According to Travolta, the Bee Gees’ music wasn’t added to the movie until post-production. It’s hard to imagine Saturday Night Fever without the Bee Gees!
400
Which happened in 1849?
The Civil War
Birth of Robert E.Lee
Invention of the telegraph
The Gold Rush
The Gold Rush
Many Americans hoped to get rich quick by striking gold in California.
400
Which actress has won the most Academy Awards for Best Actress?
a) Katharine Hepburn
b) Meryl Streep
c) Bette Davis
d) Cate Blanchett
Katharine Hepburn
Hepburn won four Academy Awards, the record number for a performer, and received a total of 12 Oscar nominations for Best Actress—a number surpassed only by Meryl Streep. Hepburn also holds the record for the longest time span between first and last Oscar nominations, at 48 years.
400
What word is used for a long speech by a Senator that halts the passage of a bill?
Filibuster
A Filibuster occurs when a senator makes a long speech so that a bill is not able to come up for a vote. This could never occur in the House because there are rules about the length of debate and speeches. The House has many more rules than the Senate because of its size.
400
Who was the first Disney princess?
Persephone. That’s right —it’s not Snow White. In 1934, Walt Disney released a Silly Symphonies short called The Goddess of Spring that starred Persephone, the daughter of Zeus.
500
How many time zones are there in the US?
six (6) time zones; Eastern, Central, Mountain, Pacific, Alaskan, and Hawaii-Aleutian
500
Though not as famous as nearby Salem, which "A" Massachusetts town also had witch hunts and witch trials in 1692?
Amesbury
Arlington
Andover
Attleboro
Andover
The witch hunts in Andover occurred at the same time as the ones in Salem. The hunts in Andover were started by Joseph Ballard who believed his wife Elizabeth had been bewitched after several girls in the town told him his wife was possessed. Ultimately more than 40 people were tried and convicted but only 3 were hanged.
However, by 1693 most of the convictions were overturned and the accused were freed. They were not officially pardoned until 1713.
500
Which actress became the youngest person to win four Academy Awards by the age of 26?
a) Jennifer Lawrence
b) Jodie Foster
c) Kate Winslet
d) Cate Blanchett
Jodie Foster
Foster started her career as a child actor before establishing herself as leading actress in film.
500
Who was the first U.S. president to serve two non-consecutive terms?
Grover Cleveland
Grover Cleveland was the 22nd and 24th President of the United States. He served from 1885-1889 and then again from 1893-1897.
500
What word is missing from this quote from Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights? “Whatever our ___ are made of, his and mine are the same.”
Souls
600
What is the lowest point in the US?
BONUS: What State is it located in?
Death Valley
California
600
There were concerns that computers would have trouble with their internal clock and calendars when the year went from 1999 to 2000. What was this coined as?
Y2k
individual companies predicted the global damage caused by the bug would require anything between $400 million and $600 billion to rectify.[2] A lack of clarity regarding the potential dangers of the bug led some to stock up on food, water, and firearms, purchase backup generators, and withdraw large sums of money in anticipation of a computer-induced apocalypse.
600
Who directed the film “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”?
a) Steven Spielberg
b) George Lucas
c) Ridley Scott
d) James Cameron
Steven Spielberg
Spielberg is widely regarded as one of the greatest film directors of all time and is the highest-grossing film director of all time.
600
What was our first written document that established our colonial government, in 1777?
Articles of Confederation
This document didn't work correctly for the young nation. For starters, the states would have been basically separate nations with no strong central government. The U.S. Government would not be able to raise taxes, control the economy or solve problems between the states.
600
What was Stephen King’s first published novel?
Carrie
It was published in 1974
700
How many large islands make up Hawaii?
8 Large Islands
700
This man became the 10th president of the United States in 1841, after the death of William Henry Harrison.
John Tyler
Urban legend says he died of a cold after giving his inauguration speech in the rain but modern research suggests he may have had enteric fever from Washington's water supply.
700
Who is the director of the film “Citizen Kane,” often considered one of the greatest movies ever made?
a) Orson Welles
b) Alfred Hitchcock
c) Steven Spielberg
d) Martin Scorsese
Orson Welles
His first film was Citizen Kane (1941), which he co-wrote, produced, directed and starred in as the title character
700
What is the term for the minimum number of House members who must be present for business to be conducted?
quorum
To see how many members are present, a 'quorum call' can be initiated in the House. A quorum call is also used to stall a bill from being voted on
700
Which American musician was known for recording some of their live albums at prisons?
Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison wasn’t Cash’s first time performing behind the walls of a penitentiary. In fact, the idea had been cemented in his mind for many years. He first did a show in Huntsville State Prison in Huntsville, Texas, in 1957.