Trivia Q&A: January 19

We had a terrific crowd in for Trivia Night on Tuesday, as 19 teams took part. Many of the folks had their eye on the Massachusetts Senate race returns, which started coming in about an hour before we got going.

The scores were about average for Current Events, as some of the questions were on the difficult side. "Q Up", the new category will be putting into rotation, went down pretty well, and the scores were good as well. The General Knowledge round was also difficult, as only one team got as many as 10 points out of a possible 12.

The numbers on IQ Trivia was better than I would thought, as many teams got three of the five correct. But the team of If It's Brown, Flush It Down, who also got three right, wound up winning by just two points. Congratulations guys, as they also won "the double": Trivia Night champions and Best Team Name as well.

And also congratulations to Trivia Night regulars Rob and Melinda, who announced their engagement in the bar during the night. We had a champagne toast to them. I hope you have a lifetime of happiness together, you crazy kids!

Current Events
1. This country, whose exports rose a reported 17% in December, has now overtaken Germany and has become the world's largest exporter.
2. This rock band will perform a song at the upcoming Grammy Awards based on an interactive fan vote, the first time this has ever occurred.
3. This US state passed a bill in its legislature legalizing the use of medical marijuana recently.
4. This European country is taking the first steps to completely eliminate smoking totally from the country, gaining the ire of smokers as well as the tobacco industry there.
5. This 2001 film about the netherworld of Hollywood was chosen by the Los Angeles Film Critics Society as their Best Movie of the Decade last week.
6. This Oscar-winning director is planning to make a six-part documentary on the rebuilding of the World Trade Center, to be seen on the Science Channel in 2011.
7. This company issued a recall of nearly 53 million bottles of over-the-counter products such as Motrin and Rolaids after unusual odors were detected and many people suffered nausea and diarrhea from them.

Answers: 1. China; 2. Bon Jovi; 3. New Jersey; 4. Finland; 5. "Mulholland Drive;" 6. Steven Spielberg; 7. Johnson & Johnson.

Q Up (Name the Next in the Series)
1. Pisces, Aries, Taurus.
2. Benjamin Harrison, Grover Cleveland, William McKinley.
3. Chicago White Sox, St. Louis Cardinals, Boston Red Sox.
4. Help, Rubber Soul, Revolver.
5. New Mexico, Arizona, Alaska.
6. Enero, Febrero, Marzo.
7. England, Brazil, West Germany.

Answers: 1. Gemini (Signs of the Zodiac); 2. Theodore Roosevelt (US Presidents); 3. Philadelphia Phillies (World Series winners in this decade); 4. Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band (Beatles albums); 5. Hawaii (Last four states entering the Union); 6. Abril (Months of the year in Spanish); 7. Argentina (World Cup soccer champions).

1-10 Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. This is the atomic number of lithium.
2. The number of interlocking rings in the Olympic Games symbol.
3. From the book of Exodus, this is the number of plagues inflicted on Egypt.
4. NFL Hall of Famer John Elway wore this number.
5. Mars is this number planet from the Sun.
6. In astrology, Taurus is this number sign of the Zodiac.
7. This was the number of Chiago White Sox players banned from MLB after dumping the 1919 World Series.
8. This is the number of US Supreme Court members currently sitting on the bench.
9. This was the number of days Israel was at war with Egypt, Jordan and Syria in 1967.
10. This number US Highway runs over 2,000 miles from Key West, FL to Maine.

Answers: 1. three; 2. five; 3. ten; 4. seven; 5. four; 6. two; 7. eight; 8. nine; 9. six; 10. one.

General Knowledge
1. What city became the capital of Wales in 1955? ( 1 pt)
2. In 1969, Dave Thomas opened what fast food restaurant? ( 1 pt)
3. What fictional detective did Mickey Spillane create? ( 1 pt)
4. Who wrote the novels "Ivanhoe" and "Rob Roy?" ( 2 pt)
5. In 1931, Al Capone was convicted of what crime? ( 2 pt)
6. Burt Lancaster won the Best Actor Oscar for what film? ( 2 pt)
7. What is the only country that borders the White Sea? ( 3 pt)

Answers: 1. Cardiff; 2. Wendy's; 3. Mike Hammer; 4. Sir Walter Scott; 5. income tax evasion; 6. "Elmer Gantry;" 7. Russia.

IQ Trivia
1. In 1885, the first of what type of surgical operation was performed by Dr. William Grant? ( 3 points)
2. The painting "Woman With a Hat" is among the most famous works by what early 20th century artist? ( 5 points)
3. The band Zuzu's Petals gets its name from what classic film? ( 4 points)
4. The State of Deseret was a provisional state of the United States that was proposed in the mid-19th century by what group? ( 4 points)
5. Goa is the smallest state in what country? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. appendectomy; 2. Henri Matisse; 3. "It's a Wonderful Life;" 4. Mormons; 5. India.