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This & That
Flag Trivia
Potpourri
100

What famous Canadian actor plays Captain von Trapp in the musical film The Sound of Music?

Christopher Plummer 

He is the only Canadian actor to have won the Triple Crown of Acting—an Academy Award, an Emmy Award, and a Tony Award

100

What cruise line was featured in the TV show The Love Boat?

Princess Cruises 

The show was filmed aboard the Pacific Princess and Island Princess ships.

100

What are the names of Donald Duck’s nephews?

Huey, Dewey, and Louie 

The identical triplets first appeared in the comic strip in 1937. Their theatrical debut was in an animated short in 1938

100

 Who cut the American flag into pieces and was honored for doing so? 

Robert Peary, an arctic explorer who left pieces of the flag scattered at the North Pole. 

Peary’s wife, Josephine, made him the flag in 1898, and he carried it with him as he journeyed north. Peary cut pieces from the flag and buried them every time he broke a “farthest north” record. Many of the pieces have since been recovered.

100

Who wrote the line, “Rose is a rose is a rose is a rose”?

Gertrude Stein 

The famous quotation is a part of the 1913 poem “Sacred Emily.” Stein used other variations of this sentence in later writings.

200

Which of the Great Lakes is located entirely within the United States?

Lake Michigan 

The other four Great Lakes (Huron, Ontario, Erie, and Superior) are located between Canada and the United States.

200

Which ocean do cruises to Tahiti and Fiji primarily sail through?

The South Pacific Ocean 

The Pacific Ocean is the largest and deepest ocean on Earth, covering more than 30 percent of the planet’s surface. The South Pacific includes thousands of island nations and territories

200

What cartoonist has won the most Academy Awards?

Walt Disney 

He has a total of 26 (22 Academy Awards and four honorary Academy Awards). It is doubtful that anyone will ever beat his record.

200

How many changes has the American flag undergone since its first iteration: 10, 15, or 27?

27 

The American flag has changed designs more than any other flag in the world.

200

What kicking, punching animal is native to Australia?

Kangaroo 

Other animals unique to the “Land Down Under” are the emu and the koala

300

What three animals are mentioned in the nursery rhyme “Hey, Diddle Diddle”?

A cat, a cow, and a dog Many sources indicate the nursery rhyme has been around since the 16th century. Theories about the meaning of the rhyme have been unproven. Most say it is simply a nonsense poem

300

What is the maritime term for the left side of a ship?

Port 

The term port replaced the older word larboard in the 19th century to prevent confusion with starboard. Port is always on the left side when facing the bow (front).

300

How many sides does a decagon have?

Deca means 10.

300

When was the last time the design of the U.S. flag was changed and why?

The present-day flag became official on July 4, 1960, when a star was added for the 50th state, Hawaii.

300

What is the plural form of the word fungus?

Fungi 

Some strains of fungus can glow in the dark because of luciferins, the same compounds that make fireflies light up at night and some sea creatures glow.

400

What are the main ingredients of a rye and ginger cocktail?

Rye whiskey and ginger ale Prior to Prohibition, many people drank rye whiskey straight. During Prohibition, grain alcohol was passed off as rye whiskey, and ginger ale was added to make it more drinkable

400

What is the capital city of Fiji?

Suva Suva is located on the island of Viti Levu and is one of the largest cities in the South Pacific.

400

Who is the Greek god of the sea?

Poseidon 

Zeus and Hades are his brothers. Neptune is the Roman god of the sea

400

How many rows of stars are on the flag today?  

There are nine rows—five rows with six stars each and four rows with five stars each.

400

How is the steak in steak tartare cooked?

It is not cooked 

It is served raw. The dish is sometimes served with a raw egg as well.

500

What does al dente mean when cooking pasta?

Pasta should be cooked firm but not hard

500

What is a harbor pilot?

A local navigation expert who guides ships into port Pilots board ships before entering difficult harbors. Harbor pilots have detailed knowledge of local tides, currents, reefs, and harbor layouts. Large cruise ships are legally required to take a pilot aboard when entering many ports.

500

What Canadian city was formerly known as Bytown?

Ottawa 

It was known as Bytown until 1855.

500

On Flag Day, American citizens are supposed to say the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag. How many words are in the Pledge?  

There are 31 words in the Pledge of Allegiance.

500

Who composed the music for Cats?

Andrew Lloyd Webber 

It is the second-longest-running show in Broadway history. Phantom of the Opera, also composed by Webber, is the only musical to run for a longer period