Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: The poodle skirt was invented for what occasion?

Prom
USO tour
Slumber party
Christmas

The correct answer is Christmas

So why is this answer correct? : In the late 1940s, future fashion designer Juli Lynne Charlot was short on money to buy herself a new Christmas skirt. Luckily, her mother owned a felt factory and Charlot was able to put together a skirt using motif appliques. The felt skirts were a hit, even selling out at Beverly Hills boutiques, where non-holiday designs were requested. Dachshunds were the first dogs to adorn the shirts before poodles became popular.

Trivia: What does the name of Ca’ D’oro on Venice’s Grand Canal translate to?

Castle of the Gods
Palace of Birds
House of Gold
Cathedral of Song

The correct answer is House of Gold

So why is this answer correct? : Remnants of this Renaissance can be seen all along the Grand Canal of Venice today. One such example is the Ca’ D’oro (the “House of Gold) that was built in 1428 for the Contarini family, one of the most prominent families in the city. Its name comes from its original façade, which was once covered in shimmering gold leaf.

Trivia: The first shopping mall opened in 1956 in which city?

Gary, Indiana
Beverly Hills, California
Edina, Minnesota
Jacksonville, Florida

The correct answer is Edina, Minnesota

So why is this answer correct? : Mall culture got its start in 1956 when the Southdale Center opened its doors in Edina, Minnesota, a suburb of Minneapolis. Southdale’s real claim to fame is being the first fully enclosed shopping center — a must-have in a climate that is notoriously frigid in winter. The mall still stands in Edina to this day, and despite extensive renovations, retains much of its original infrastructure.

Trivia: Which city is home to Piazza delle Erbe (Square of the Herbs)?

Verona
Marsala
Pisa
Palermo

The correct answer is Verona

So why is this answer correct? : Verona’s Piazza delle Erbe was named for the many food vendors that would line the streets during the time of the Ancient Romans. The Madonna Verona Fountain stands proudly at the hub of this plaza, built by the Della Scala family in 1368. Many other Renaissance-era buildings line the streets of this well-preserved UNESCO World Heritage-listed city.

Trivia: What influential vaccine was first distributed in 1955?

Scarlet fever
Smallpox
Hepatitis
Polio

The correct answer is Polio

So why is this answer correct? : Prior to the development of the polio vaccine, as many as 16,000 polio cases occurred per year, causing debilitating effects in children. By the early 1950s, American virologist Jonas E. Salk and a team of researchers were hard at work to find a vaccine. They finally released one in 1955 that all but eliminated the disease among the vaccinated.

Trivia: What was the original purpose of Florence’s Ospedale degli Innocenti?

An orphanage
A bank
A winery
A royal residence

The correct answer is An orphanage

So why is this answer correct? : The Ospedale degli Innocenti (“Hospital of the Innocents”) was a center for the care of infants and children for over five centuries. The building is located in Florence, the heart of the Italian Renaissance. Built by Filippo Brunelleschi in 1419, it is revered as a prime example of Early Renaissance architecture, from its cloisters and porticoes to the design of its interior frescoes. The structure is also home to works of art by Botticelli, Roselli, and Pacetti.

Trivia: What was the entree in the first-ever Swanson TV dinner?

Chicken pot pie
Turkey with stuffing
Beef stroganoff
Mini corn dogs

The correct answer is Turkey with stuffing

So why is this answer correct? : Although the technology to make prepackaged meals was invented in the 1920s, it wasn’t until the Swanson food company had a massive overstock of post-Thanksgiving turkeys that the idea got put to use in earnest. The first-ever Swanson TV dinner featured a turkey slab with cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes, and veggies — all for the bargain price of $0.69.

Trivia: Which of these crafty activities took off after debuting in the 1950s?

Paint by numbers
Macrame
Tie dye
Velvet paintings

The correct answer is Paint by numbers

So why is this answer correct? : The mission was simple: Sell more paint. Commercial artist Dan Robbins drew inspiration from Leonardo da Vinci’s teaching system (numbering sections of a canvas) to develop the “paint by numbers” concept. Robbins segmented small sections of an image with specific paint colors to make the big picture a little easier to comprehend. The masterful idea helped paint by numbers take off like a rocket, selling 20 million kits by 1955.

The Quiz: If the world you’re wondering about is paranormal and European, we discovered several haunted German castles you can stay in. This hilltop castle was built in the 11th century and primarily served as a military outpost until it became a residence in the 1500s, and now a four-star haunted hotel.

1. Colmberg Castle
2. Hugenpoet Castle
3. Burg Hornberg
4. Wartburg Castle

The correct answer to this quiz is Hugenpoet Castle.

Trivia: What U.S. President called a Super Bowl coach to suggest a play?

Barack Obama
Bill Clinton
Richard Nixon
Lyndon Johnson

The correct answer is Richard Nixon

So why is this answer correct? : Super Bowl-winning coaches can usually expect a congratulatory phone call from the President of the United States after the game. Getting a call before the game, though, is pretty unusual — though not unheard of, thanks to President Richard Nixon. A huge football fan, President Nixon called up legendary Miami Dolphins head coach Don Shula with a suggestion ahead of the 1972 Super Bowl. The President thought Shula should try a “down-and-in” pattern on a receiving play against the tough Dallas Cowboys defense. The play didn’t work, though, and the Dolphins ultimately got trounced by a 21-point margin in Super Bowl VI. But in fairness to the President, it takes more than one botched play to lose by that much. The Dolphins came back with a vengeance the next season, though: They won the 1973 Super Bowl with a perfect record.