Thursday, June 12, 2008

Trivia Q&A: June 11

Wednesday night brought out a fine crowd to Professor Thom's for another delayed edition of Trivia Night. We had 17 teams take part, and many of the regulars were on hand. We had some very good scores for Current Events and for Basketball Trivia as well. I would say overall that the scores were higher than normal all around, and 12 of the 17 teams were within six points of the lead going into IQ Trivia.

Two of the leading teams managed to get four of the five IQ questions correct, and The Tornadoes, who have won Trivia Night on several occasions, came out on top by five points over Why'd You Start Without Us?, who did remarkably well, finishing second despite missing the first round. Congratulations to The Tornadoes on their win.

Just a reminder that we have not as yet determined what night we will have Trivia Night next week. If the Celtics win the NBA Finals in five games on Sunday night, we will have Trivia on Tuesday night. But if the Lakers win one more game to force a Game 6 next Tuesday night, we will have Trivia on Monday night. Stay tuned to my site for more details as they become available.

Current Events
1. This former heavyweight champion's $10 million estate in Atlanta last week went under foreclosure and he's being sued for child support and by a landscaping company for a half million dollars.
2. This southern state is becoming the first in the nation to offer a license plate to drivers with a Christian cross on it.
3. This Hollywood actor/director told Spike Lee recently to "shut his face" over Lee's criticism of the lack of black actors in two of most recent films.
4. The Governor's Mansion in this US state was struck by a fire on Sunday, and arson is strongly suspected.
5. Seven people were killed and ten were injured when a man went on a stabbing spree in this city on Sunday.
6. This singer apologized to reporters on Sunday after a video of her was posted on the Internet singing a song with racial epithets in it.
7. This tennis star was routed at the French Open last Sunday and still has never won that Grand Slam event.

Answers: 1. Evander Holyfield; 2. South Carolina; 3. Clint Eastwood; 4. Texas; 5. Tokyo; 6. Amy Winehouse; 7. Roger Federer.

Basketball Trivia
1. In which US state did James Naismith invent the game of basketball? a. MA; b. NY; c. NJ; d. PA.
2. How many titles have the Boston Celtics won in their history? a. 12; b. 14; c. 15; d. 16.
3. What year did the New York Knicks win their first NBA title? a. 1968; b. 1970; b. 1973; d. 1975.
4. In which Olympics did the Soviet Union controversially defeat the US, 51-50 to win the Gold medal? a. 1976; b. 1968; c. 1972; d. 1980.
5. Which superstar player holds the NBA record for scoring 100 points in a single game? a. Michael Jordan; b. Wilt Chamberlain; c. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; d. Magic Johnson.
6. How many titles did Michael Jordan win with the Chicago Bulls? a. 4; b. 5; c. 6; d. 7.
7. Which NBA team has won the second-most titles after the Celtics? a. Los Angeles lakers; b. Chicago Bulls; c. San Antonio Spurs; d. Detroit Pistons.

Answers: 1. a; 2. d; 3. b; 4. c; 5. b; 6. c; 7. a.

True or False ("The Q Train")

1. The Bering Strait connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
2. Cryogenics is concerned with the behavior of materials at very low temperatures.
3. Massachusetts' state motto is "Live Free or Die."
4. The novel and film "Like Water for Chocolate" are set in Mexico.
5. The Carob plant is commonly used as a chocolate substitute.
6. A housefly has compound eyes.
7. A male beetle is called a drone.
8. "Serapes" are traditionally worn in India.
9. Shrimp is normally deveined in preparation for eating.
10. The giant tortoise has a longer average lifespan than humans.

Answers: 1. false, the Strait of Magellan does; 2. true; 3. false, New Hampshire; 4. true; 5. true; 6. true; 7. false, male bee; 8. false, Mexico; 9. true; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. What fictional character befriends a two-headed creature called a "pushmi-pullyu?"
2. What country did Japan fight during the Sino-Japanese Wars?
3. Who was known as "The First Lady of Country Music?"
4. In the US, on a three-prong electrical plaug, the circular prong is referred to as what?
5. The 17th century novel "Don Quixote de la Mancha" is primarily set in what country?
6. By trade, a picador takes part in what event?
7. The music video for Nirvana's 1991 song "Smells Like Teen Spirit" is set in what high school location?

Answers: 1. Dr. Doolittle; 2. China; 3. Tammy Wynette; 4. ground wire; 5. Spain; 6. bullfight; 7. gymnasium.

IQ Trivia
1. Which American filmmaker was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 2001? ( 4 points)
2. Who first said, "Religion without science is blind"? ( 4 points)
3. Gertrude Stein wrote, "There is no there there," in reference to what California city? ( 5 points)
4. Techno recording artist Moby is the great-great-grandnephew of what famous author? ( 3 points)
5. In which US state is the smallest Zip Code, 00501, found? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. Steven Spielberg; 2. Albert Einstein; 3. Oakland; 4. Herman Melville; 5. New York (Holtsville).

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