What skill sets the best Santa Catarina surfers apart?
A. Listening to waves
B. Lifting heavier boards
C. Swimming long distances
Fact: The most skilled surfers excel by reading ocean cues, interpreting moving water like a language rather than relying solely on strength.
Correct Answer: Listening to waves
Which character on M*A*S*H often wore women’s clothing in hopes of being discharged from the Army?
Hawkeye Pierce
B.J. Hunnicutt
Radar O’Reilly
Maxwell Klinger
Fact: Corporal Maxwell Q. Klinger, played by Jamie Farr, famously wore women’s clothing in an attempt to convince the Army that he was mentally unfit for service and earn a Section 8 discharge. His schemes became one of M*A*S*H’s most recognizable running jokes, with Klinger appearing in everything from dresses and hats to elaborate evening gowns. The character was originally intended to appear in only one episode, but proved so popular that Farr became a regular cast member. His outrageous outfits became a signature part of the series.
Correct Answer: Maxwell Klinger
Who was the first real-life celebrity to have a Barbie doll made in her likeness?
Twiggy
Farrah Fawcett
Elizabeth Taylor
Diana Ross
Fact: British supermodel Twiggy became the first real-life celebrity to have a Barbie doll made in her likeness when Mattel introduced the Twiggy doll in 1967. Famous for her short hair, large eyes, and slender figure, Twiggy was one of the defining faces of the 1960s and a symbol of London’s fashionable “Swinging Sixties.” Her doll began a long tradition of celebrity-inspired Barbies. Over the years, Mattel has created dolls honoring stars such as Cher, Elizabeth Taylor, Audrey Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe, Jennifer Lopez, and Beyoncé.
Correct Answer: Twiggy
Which airline held a near-monopoly on international flights until 1978?
Trans World Airlines
American Airlines
United Airlines
Pan American World Airways
Fact: Pan American World Airways, better known as Pan Am, dominated U.S. international air travel for decades, holding a near-monopoly on many overseas routes. Famous for its blue globe logo and luxurious “Clipper” service, Pan Am helped pioneer transatlantic and transpacific travel and ushered in the jet age. Unlike most major U.S. carriers, Pan Am had virtually no domestic network. Airline deregulation in 1978 brought increased competition, contributing to the airline’s decline. Pan Am ultimately ceased operations in 1991.
Correct Answer: Pan American World Airways
Who came to power after the overthrow of her husband, Peter III?
Marie Antoinette
Queen Victoria
Catherine the Great
Mary, Queen of Scots
Fact: Catherine the Great came to power in 1762 after her husband, Emperor Peter III, was overthrown in a coup supported by military officers and Russian nobles. Peter was forced to abdicate and died under mysterious circumstances just days later. Catherine was crowned Empress of Russia and went on to rule for more than three decades, becoming one of the country’s most powerful monarchs. During her reign, Russia expanded its territory, and strengthened its position as a major European power. She ruled until her death in 1796.
Correct Answer: Catherine the Great
The bikini swimsuit was named after which of the following?
A fashion designer
A Pacific island
A Hawaiian flower
A popular nightclub
Fact: The bikini was named after Bikini Atoll, a group of Pacific islands where the United States conducted nuclear weapons tests beginning in 1946. That same year, French designer Louis Réard introduced his daring two-piece swimsuit in Paris and named it the “bikini.” Réard believed the revealing swimsuit would create a sensation as explosive as the atomic tests at Bikini Atoll. The design was considered so scandalous that professional models reportedly refused to wear it, forcing Réard to hire a nude dancer to debut his creation.
Correct Answer: A Pacific island
Which US state is home to towering coast redwoods?
A. Oregon
B. Washington
C. California
Fact: Redwood National and State Parks are located in northern California, showcasing some of the tallest trees on Earth.
Correct Answer: California
What plant often carpets the floor beneath coast redwoods?
A. Cactus
B. Ferns
C. Sagebrush
Fact: The lush understory of redwood forests is often covered by ferns, creating a green carpet beneath the towering trees.
Correct Answer: Ferns
Which law created the National Park Service?
A. Wilderness Act
B. Antiquities Act
C. Organic Act
Fact: The Organic Act, signed by President Woodrow Wilson in 1916, formally established the National Park Service.
Correct Answer: Organic Act
The presidential library located in Abilene, Kansas, honors which U.S. president?
Harry S. Truman
Gerald Ford
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Fact: “The proudest thing I can claim is that I am from Abilene,” Dwight D. Eisenhower said during the opening of his presidential library. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Presidential Library, Museum and Boyhood Home is located in Abilene, Kansas, where Eisenhower grew up. Before becoming the 34th president in 1953, Eisenhower achieved international fame as Supreme Commander of Allied forces in Europe during World War II and oversaw the D-Day invasion. The presidential complex includes his boyhood home, museum, library and final resting place.
Correct Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower