Wednesday, September 26, 2007

Trivia Q&A: September 25

We had 10 teams in for Trivia Night on Tuesday. There was a good crowd in for the Red Sox game, but the game ran a bit long, so we had to limit the trivia contest to just four rounds, as True or False was bumped to next week.

September 25th Trivia was rather well-received, as three teams got at least nine correct. Five teams got perfect scores in the General Knowledge questions, so I'd better make them a little tougher next week. In the final round of IQ Trivia, at least half the teams got at least 15 out of the possible 25 points, and when the dust cleared, we had a tie between two teams: They're Not Booing, They're Saying Lugo, and My Friends Are Getting Married, I'm Just Getting Drunk.

We broke the tie with a question I had written for a friend of mine in another trivia contest. (It had to be a numerical one, as the closest team to the answer would win.) The question was, "How many colleges and universities are there in Boston?" Both teams guessed numbers far lower than the actual number (47), but My Friends were closest and awarded the win.

Next week there will be no baseball game on Tuesday night, as the MLB playoffs don't begin until the next day, so we will have a full slate of Q&A, and it will begin shortly after 9 PM that night. I hope you can join us.

Current Events
1. This Hollywood superstar was hurt in a crash in New Jersey last Friday and suffered a fractured rib.
2. The MTA is proposing to raise the fare of single subway ride to this price, possibly by early next year.
3. This rock singer will announce a grant to NYC public schools for AIDS education to the tune of $300,000 later tonight.
4. The New York State Attorney General accused the social-networking Web site of failing to keep its users safe from sexual predators and not responding to complaints yesterday.
5. This tropical storm strengthened earlier today in the Atlantic, but as of now poses no threat to land.
6. This movie and TV star was arrested early on Tuesday morning on drunken driving charges after failing a sobriety test in L.A.
7. Thousands of Buddhist monks and their sympathizers in this Southeast Asian country are protesting the government denying freedom of speech, assembly and worship.
8. A strike by UAW members that began yesterday against this automotive giant could end up costing them billions if it lasts more than a week or two.
9. Former president Alberto Fujimori was extradited from Chile back to the country he once led to face charges of corruption and human rights abuses.
10. This American cyclist was officially stripped of his 2006 Tour de France title yesterday for the illegal use of synthetic testosterone.

Answers: 1. George Clooney; 2. $2.25; 3. Elton John; 4. Facebook; 5. Karen; 6. Kiefer Sutherland; 7. Myanmar (Burma); 8. General Motors; 9. Peru; 10. Floyd Landis.

September 25th Trivia
1. On this date in 1513, Spanish explorer Vasco Nunez de Balboa first reached this body of water.
2. In 1789, the US Congress passed this number of amendments to the Constitution, ten of which are known as The Bill of Rights.
3. In 1976, at the home of drummer Larry Mullen, this legendary rock band was formed.
4. In 1981, this woman became the 102nd, and first female, to become a Supreme Court justice.
5. In 1983, 38 prisoners escaped from Long Kesh prison, which was the largest prison escape since WWII. In what country is Long Kesh prison?
6. In 2006, this sports venue officially reopened after it was damaged by Hurricane Katrina.
7. Ground was officially broken on this date for this famous baseball stadium in 1911, and it's still going strong.
8. This musician/actor, who starred in such films as "Enemy of the State" and "Independence Day" turns 39 today.
9. Don Adams, who played Agent 86 on this classic TV series, died on this day in 2005.
10. This future US president led American forces in the capture of Monterrey in the Mexican War on this date in 1846.

Answers: 1. Pacific Ocean; 2. twelve; 3. U2; 4. Sandra Day O'Connor; 5. Northern Ireland; 6. Louisiana Superdome; 7. Fenway Park; 8. Will Smith; 9. "Get Smart;" 10. Zachary Taylor.

General Knowledge
1. What is the occupation of the brothers Mario and Luigi in Nintendo's Super Mario Brothers game?
2. What country is the home to the movie-producing city that is nicknamed "Bollywood?"
3. In which European city is the famed 17th century "Bridge of Sighs?"
4. The Norse god Thor carries what magic weapon?
5. What is the name for the part of speech that modifies a verb?
6. In the animated TV series, "King of the Hill," what is Hank Hill's profession?
7. The phrase "Manifest Destiny" was first used in the 1840s to justify what US movement?
8. Having gained fame as a child prodigy, Midori is renowned for playing what instrument?
9. In which author's works would you find Flopsy, Mopsy and Cottontail?
10. In the 1982 film "Reservoir Dogs," the main characters have code names that are all what?

Answers: 1. plumbers; 2. India; 3. Venice; 4. hammer; 5. adverb; 6. propane gas salesman; 7. territorial expansion; 8. violin; 9. Beatrix Potter; 10. colors.

IQ Trivia
1. What Academy Award-winning actress was a regular on the TV series, "A Different World?" (5 points)
2. In Greek mythology, what is the name of the creature that guarded Hades? (6 points)
3. The poem, "The Charge of the Light Brigade" immortalizes a battle from which 19th century war? ( 5 points)
4. On the TV series, "Magnum PI," Thomas Magnum usually wears the baseball cap of which MLB team? (4 points)
5. Which classical composer wrote the melody for the wedding march, "Here Comes the Bride?" ( 5 points)

Answers: 1. Marisa Tomei; 2. Cerberus; 3. Crimean War; 4. Detroit Tigers; 5. Richard Wagner.

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