Riddles With Answers

Which two U.S. states do not observe Daylight Saving Time?

Alaska & Hawaii
New Mexico & Alaska
Arizona & Hawaii
Arizona & New Mexico

Fact: Most of the nation “sprang forward” and lost an hour of sleep switching to daylight saving time. Arizona and Hawaii did not. Hawaii opts out because its tropical location near the equator results in little seasonal change in daylight hours. Arizona remains on standard time year-round because the extra evening sunlight during summer months would increase energy use for air conditioning. The Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona however, does observe Daylight Saving Time, creating an unusual situation where parts of the state follow different clocks.

Correct Answer: Arizona & Hawaii

Which of these structures is taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza?

Big Ben
Statue of Liberty
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Washington Monument

Fact: For more than 4,000 years, the Great Pyramid of Giza was the tallest human-made structure on Earth, an astonishing feat for a monument built around 2560 BCE. Its record finally ended in 1221 when the completion of St. Paul’s Cathedral in London surpassed its height. Even today, the pyramid remains remarkably imposing: at 449.5 feet tall, standing taller than Big Ben, the Statue of Liberty, and the Leaning Tower of Pisa. By comparison, the Washington Monument rises to 555 feet, making it roughly 100 feet taller than the ancient pyramid.

Correct Answer: Washington Monument

The arcade game Pac-Man features four colorful ghosts named Inky, Blinky, Pinky, and what?

Cletus
Tinky
Clyde
Shadow

Fact: In the 1980 arcade classic Pac-Man, the four ghosts that pursue Pac-Man through the maze each have distinct personalities and names: Blinky (the red ghost), Pinky (pink), Inky (cyan), and Clyde (orange). Blinky aggressively chases Pac-Man, Pinky tries to ambush him by moving ahead of his path, Inky behaves unpredictably using a more complex targeting strategy, and Clyde alternates between chasing Pac-Man and wandering away from the action. These characters became some of the most recognizable enemies in video game history.

Correct Answer: Clyde

What band was known for their iconic album cover featuring a prism?

Queen
Led Zeppelin
The Who
Pink Floyd

Fact: The legendary British rock band Pink Floyd released The Dark Side of the Moon in 1973, featuring one of the most recognizable album covers in music history. Designed by the art collective Hipgnosis, the cover depicts a glass prism refracting a single beam of white light into a vibrant rainbow spectrum against a black background. The minimalist yet conceptually rich design visually echoes the album’s themes of light, sound, time, and human experience. The album became a monumental commercial success, spending over 900 weeks on the Billboard charts.

Correct Answer: Pink Floyd

Which village lies below the slopes of Mam Tor?

A. Bakewell
B. Castleton
C. Buxton

Fact: Mam Tor rises above the village of Castleton in England’s Peak District, making the village a key landmark near its base.

Correct Answer: Castleton

What mineral is uniquely found near Mam Tor?

A. Blue John
B. Amethyst
C. Malachite

Fact: Blue John is a rare form of fluorite found in few places on Earth, with notable deposits in nearby Blue John Cavern.

Correct Answer: Blue John

What does the Old English word ‘mam’ signify?

A. Mother
B. Mountain
C. Hilltop

Fact: In Old English, ‘mam’ means ‘mother’, referring to how Mam Tor appears to cradle surrounding smaller hills.

Correct Answer: Mother

What is the only bird in the world with just two toes on each foot?

Flamingo
Pelican
Roadrunner
Ostrich

Fact: Ostriches only have two toes on each foot, a feature that sets them apart from every other bird. Most birds have four toes, three pointing forward and one backward. The ostrich however has a dominant inner toe measuring roughly 7 inches in length, and a smaller outer toe about four inches long. Despite only having two toes, the ostrich is a skilled runner, able to reach speeds of up to 43 mph. Though flightless, their remarkable sprinting ability allows them to outrun many of their predators.

Correct Answer: Ostrich

Which state’s capital comes first in alphabetical order?

Colorado
Nevada
Iowa
New Hampshire

Fact: While Nevada is best known as the home of Las Vegas, its state capital is actually Carson City. Alphabetically, Carson City is ahead of state capitals Denver (Colorado), Des Moines (Iowa), and Concord (New Hampshire). Despite being the capital, Carson City is small—about 58 thousand residents—giving it the feel of a large town rather than a bustling metropolis. The city takes its name from the famed frontiersman and trailblazer Christopher “Kit” Carson, whose reputation in the American West helped shape the region’s early identity.

Correct Answer: Nevada

In which Italian city is Shakespeare’s tragedy Romeo and Juliet set?

Florence
Venice
Verona
Palermo

Fact: Romeo and Juliet unfolds in the northern Italian city of Verona, where the bitter feud between the Montagues and Capulets frames the doomed romance at the heart of the drama. Shakespeare never visited Italy, yet his remarkably vivid setting proved so persuasive and enduring that Verona eventually embraced the legend as part of its identity. Today, visitors can see sites associated with the story, including the famous balcony and courtyard linked to Juliet, now pilgrimage spots for romantics, students, and theater fans from around the world.

Correct Answer: Verona