Places
What is sometimes referred to by the nickname “The Windy City”?
Chicago
Many say the city’s skyscrapers contribute to the blustery wind gusts, as they funnel wind from Lake Michigan.
Michael Jordan is a celebrity primarily known for playing which sport?
Basketball
The athlete is also an avid golfer and enjoys baseball.
What is the longest-running soap opera in the history of American television?
Guiding Light
The soap opera ran from 1937 until 2009, starting on radio and later crossing over to television.
Which chemical element is represented by the letter C?
Carbon
It is the sixth-most common element in the universe and is seen in a variety of forms, from charcoal to diamond.
The kangaroo is native only to which continent?
Australia Although other marsupials can be found in Asia and the Americas, Australia has the most marsupial species in the world.
Which superhero is known for the catchphrase “Up, up, and away”?
Superman
The phrase became popular from the 1940s Superman radio show as a way to let listeners know Superman was taking flight, since they couldn’t see him.
What nation includes the regions Brittany, Corsica, and Normandy?
France
There are 13 administrative regions in France; France also has 12 wine-growing regions
Who was Britain’s longest-reigning monarch?
Queen Elizabeth II
She was the first British monarch to rule for more than 70 years.
In what year was the Declaration of Independence signed?
1776
The Continental Congress adopted the Declaration on July 4, 1776. Delegates began signing it on August 2 of that year.
The word tsunami comes from what language?
Japanese
References to this word in Japanese date back to the 1890s, while the word has been in use in English for at least 100 years.
What popular snack has the tagline “the snack that smiles back”?
Goldfish
Goldfish were first marketed in 1962 by Margaret Rudkin, founder of Pepperidge Farm.
“Where Everybody Knows Your Name” is the theme song for what television program?
Cheers
The show about a bar is said to have always been careful not to portray patrons driving home while intoxicated.
One of the wonders of the ancient world, the Hanging Gardens, were likely located in what city?
Babylon
Historians debate the exact structure of the gardens; they might have been ziggurat terraces or rooftop gardens.
Who was the first vice president of the United States?
John Adams
Adams went on to serve as the second U.S. president from 1797–1801.
Who wrote 1984?
George Orwell
When he was drafting the novel, Orwell nearly titled it The Last Man in Europe.
The equation E=mc2 is also called the theory of what?
Relativity
The equation expresses the relationship between energy and matter.
The Galapagos Islands are famous as the home of what kind of shelled reptiles?
Tortoises
The Galapagos giant tortoise is the largest living species of tortoise. It can grow up to six feet long and weigh up to 573 pounds.
What is the meaning of the word laud?
To praise or honor
The word is derived from the Latin laudere, which means “to praise.”
Fiji is a country located in which ocean?
The Pacific Ocean
It sits north of New Zealand and is composed of more than 300 islands.
What artist is known for painting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel?
Michelangelo
He began work on the masterpiece in 1508, replacing the previous starry blue design
Which shaving cream company was known for its clever road signs, especially along Route 66?
Burma-Shave
The rhyming signs were a hallmark of American road trips during the 1920s through the ’60s.
What ship is also called “Old Ironsides”?
The U.S.S. Constitution
Constitution is the oldest commissioned warship still afloat and is still a commissioned navy vessel.
What is the national mascot of Canada?
The beaver
The beaver became an important part of Canadian history as a part of the fur trade and has served as a symbol on many Canadian coats of arms.
To what plant does the rhyme “leaves of three, let it be” refer?
Poison ivy
Although the plant isn’t really poisonous, it contains an irritating and very sticky oil that contaminates anything it touches.
The first kindergarten in America was founded in which state?
Wisconsin
The idea for a kindergarten was developed by German reformer Friedrich Froebel; America’s first kindergarten was founded by Margarethe Schurz.
Who is generally credited with inventing the telephone?
Alexander Graham Bell
Bell’s telephone patent was filed on February 14, 1876—the same day that another man, Elisha Gray, filed a patent for a similar device.
What is the normal freezing point of water?
32 degrees Fahrenheit (or 0 degrees Celsius)
The freezing point can vary based on atmospheric pressure or by adding impurities (like salt or sugar) to the water
What are the three main ingredients in poutine, a common Canadian snack?
French fries, cheese curds, and gravy
The recipe came from the rural Quebec snack bars of the 1950s
What color is a polar bear’s skin?
Black
There are around 19 subpopulations of polar bears in different areas of the Arctic.
What musical group is known for its song “Sunshine of Your Love”?
Cream
The song was released in 1967 and became the group’s signature song.