Trivia Q&A: January 15

We had another busy night of Trivia, as 18 teams took part. Many of the regulars came out for it, and it's good to see so many of the same faces week in and week out. The numbers on the first two categories were a bit low, as I guess I made Current Events and Music Trivia a bit hard this week. The numbers were stronger in the next two categories, but no one got a "10" in any of the four categories all night long. I can't remember the last time we had a night where no one ran the table in any category.

It was a close game going into IQ Trivia, with the top four teams separated by just two points. But the team of Two Chairs and a Lady got four of the five IQ Trivia questions correct (and most teams only got one or two right) for 20 points, and wound up winning the contest by a comfortable eight points. Congratulations to them.

Current Events
1. This 1942 classic film was chosen last week as the greatest of all the Best Picture Oscar winners.
2. A recent survey by Pew Global Attitudes found that two nations who openly admire the US the most are from this continent.
3. It was revealed last week that this TV mogul who died last summer had the following line but on his tombstone: "I will not be right back after this message."
4. A recent survey revealed that this Eastern state now has the highest percentage of millionaires in the US residing there, just over 7%.
5. The NASA space probe Messenger this week became the first space mission since 1975 to reach this planet.
6. This presidential candidate has now been listed by Las Vegas oddsmakers as a 6-5 favorite to become the 44th President of the United States.
7. Johnny Podres, who won Game 7 of the 1955 World Series for this team, died Sunday at the age of 75.
8. This talk show host replaced Oprah Winfrey as the favorite TV personality in the Harris Poll's yearly survey of TV stars.
9. The Kuomintang and its allies won a landslide victory in the legislature of this Asian nation last weekend.
10. This Middle Eastern hot spot city reported that snow fell there for the first time in over 100 years last Friday.

Answers: 1. "Casablanca;" 2. Africa (Ivory Coast and Kenya); 3. Merv Griffin; 4. New Jersey; 5. Mercury; 6. Hillary Clinton; 7. Brooklyn Dodgers; 8.Ellen DeGeneres; 9. Taiwan; 10. Baghdad.

Music Trivia
1. What movie actress appeared in a series of music videos for the band Aerosmith?
2. What pop group was Beyonce Knowles a part of?
3. What is the name of Prince's recording studio complex in Minnesota?
4. George Benson is best known for playing what instrument?
5. The musical instrument as the steel drum was originally developed on what island?
6. What 1960s rock band was Robby Krieger the lead guitarist?
7. What rock legend was born David Jones, but changed his name as to not be confused with the member of the Monkees?
8. What female singer was nicknamed "The Empress of the Blues?"
9. What rap star had an alter ego named "Slim Shady?"
10. What guitarist was both a member of Jane's Addiction and The Red Hot Chili Peppers?

Answers: 1. Alicia Silverstone; 2. Destiny's Child; 3. Paisley Park; 4. guitar; 5. Trinidad; 6. The Doors; 7. David Bowie; 8. Bessie Smith; 9. Eminem; 10. Dave Navarro.

True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. In the US, a cornucopia is traditionally displayed during the holiday of Easter.
2. In 1999, the Peregrine Falcon was taken off the endangered species list after being on it for 29 years.
3. George Washington gave his first State of the Union Address in 1790 in Philadelphia.
4. The fast-food chain Wendy's was founded by the late Dave Thomas.
5. The particle that orbits around the nucleus of an atom is called an electron.
6. In 1994, Rush Limbaugh briefly ran for governor of New York on the Libertarian Party ticket.
7. The TV series "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" takes place in the town of Sunnydale.
8. In the "Nutty Professor" films, Eddie Murphy's character is a microbiology professor.
9. A person who has been impaneled is about to serve on a jury.
10. New England is a region that comprises five states.

Answers: 1. false, Thanksgiving Day; 2. true; 3. false, New York; 4. true; 5. true; 6. false, Howard Stern; 7. true; 8. false, chemistry professor; 9. true; 10. false, it has six states.

General Knowledge
1. The ruins of the ancient city of Pompeii are located in what country?
2. In the movie, "Six Degrees of Separation," a character claims to be the son of which real-life actor?
3. In what level of the Earth's atmosphere do commercial airplanes normally travel?
4. The term "Pilates" refers to a form of what?
5. Marin County is located outside of what major US city?
6. A vulcanologist is a person who studies what?
7. Which US president declared a famous "War on Poverty?"
8. What game show host legend was the original host of "The Newlywed Game?"
9. The Left Bank in Paris lies along what river?
10. How many stars were on the US flag when America entered World War I?

Answers: 1. Italy; 2. Sidney Poitier; 3. stratosphere; 4. exercising; 5. San Francisco; 6. volcanoes; 7. Lyndon Johnson; 8. Bob Eubanks; 9. Seine; 10. forty-eight.

IQ Trivia
1. An amethyst is a variety of what gemstone? (4 points)
2. Eamon de Valera was a former president and a national hero of what country? ( 5 points)
3. In 1975, Ella Grasso became the first elected woman to become governor of what Eastern state? ( 5 points)
4. What tiny European country gained its independence in 1297? ( 5 points)
5. In 1948, the accuser of alleged spy Alger Hiss handed over microfilm that had been hidden inside what object? ( 6 points)

Answers: 1. quartz; 2. Ireland; 3. Connecticut; 4. Monaco; 5. pumpkin.