Wednesday, April 08, 2009

Trivia Q&A: April 7

We had a huge crowd in Professor Thom's on Tuesday, as the Red Sox opened their 2009 season in the late afternoon after being rained out Monday. A very big crowd turned out for the Sox 5-3 win and some stayed until Trivia Night started about two hours later.

We had 23 teams take part. The scorews weren't bad for Current Events and April baseball Trivia, but nothing spectacular. The scores were close throughout, and no team led by more than a point after any round. In IQ Trivia, the team of Gay Corn Huskers came from sixth place and six points down to capture a one-point win, as they were the only team to get three questions right in the round.

It was the team's very first win on Trivia Night, and my congratulations to them.

Current Events
1. Mount Redoubt, a volcano in this US state, had a series of explosive eruptions over the last few weeks.
2. A recent study found that this Eastern US city was the second "Least Wasteful City" among the top 25 cities in terms of conservation, after San Francisco.
3. The Postal Service announced last week that this TV family will be honored later this year with their own postage stamp.
4. A report by a group called Freedom House, a human rights group, says that this nation's Internet is the most controlled and the least free than any country in the world.
5. This daytime drama (aka soap opera) was canceled after being on the air for 72 years, as it began originally on the radio in 1937.
6. This New England city got the top spot in Forbes.com's rankings of "America's Most Liveable Cities" for 2009.
7. Name one of the two Eastern European nations that joined NATO for the first time last week.

Answers: 1. Alaska; 2. New York City; 3. The Simpsons; 4. China; 5. "The Guiding Light;" 6. Portland, Maine; 7. Albania and Croatia.

April Baseball Trivia
1. Which Hall of Fame pitcher is the only pitcher to throw a no-hitter on Opening Day? a. Bob Feller; b. Nolan Ryan; c. Catfish Hunter; d. Bob Gibson.
2. What city, for many years, hosted the "traditional" first Opening Day game? a. Boston; b. Chicago; c. Cincinnati; d. Detroit.
3. In April of what year did Hank Aaron break Babe Ruth's home run record? a. 1973; b. 1974; c. 1975; d. 1976.
4. Against what team did Roger Clemens set the single game strikeout record in April 1986? a. New York Yankees; b. Detroit Tigers; c. Seattle Mariners; d. Kansas City Royals.
5. What position did Jackie Robinson play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in his debut in April 1947? a. 1B; b. 2B; c. SS; d. 3B.
6. In April 1985, which Yankees manager was replaced by Billy Martin 16 games into the season? a. Bob Lemon; b. Dick Howser; c. Gene Michael; d. Yogi Berra.
7. Which slugging 1B holds the record for home runs in the month of April in the NL with 14? a. Derrek Lee; b. Albert Pujols; c. Adrian Gonzalez; d. Carlos Delgado.

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

True or False Trivia ("The Q Train")
1. A holographic will is one that is unsigned.
2. Bananas originated on the continent of Asia.
3. New Zealand was the first nation to grant women the right to vote.
4. The Curie is a unit that measures radioactivity.
5. A tie-game in tic-tac-toe is called a goose's game.
6. Almost all clouds are formed in the troposhere.
7. Muenster cheese is not considered a blue cheese.
8. A standard stick of butter weighs 8 ounces.
9. Nashville, TN is west of the Mississippi River.
10. The word "guru" originates from the Hindu religion.

Answer: 1. false, it is handwritten; 2. true; 3. true; 4. true; 5. false, a cat's game; 6. true; 7. true; 8. false, four; 9. false, east; 10. true.

General Knowledge
1. What is California's one-word state motto?
2. "Ars Gratia Artis" is a slogan featured on what movie studio's logo?
3. In 1986, Fannie Farmer published a classic book on what subject?
4. What is the largest lake in North America?
5. In what city is the largest Chinese settlement outside of Asia?
6. What famous rock group was originally called The Quarrymen?
7. Name 1 of the 2 countries that lies on "The Mosquito Coast."

Answers: 1. Eureka; 2. MGM; 3. cooking; 4. Lake Superior; 5. San Francisco; 6. The Beatles; 7. Nicaragua and Honduras.

IQ Trivia
1. In which of the 48 contiguous US states is the northernmost point in the United States? ( 3 points)
2. In what place of business would you find a Brannock device? ( 4 points)
3. Who was the first woman to be commemorated on a US postage stamp? ( 5 points)
4. Convicted criminal William Kemmler had the distinction of being the first to do what in 1890? ( 4 points)
5. In 1995, which Southern state was the last US state to ban the sale of alcohol to people under the age of 21? ( 4 points)

Answers: 1. Minnesota; 2. shoe store; 3. Martha Washington; 4. die in the electric chair; 5. Louisiana.

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