Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: What is not an ingredient in the Brazilian national dish feijoada?

Bacon
Black beans
Chorizo
Cheese

The correct answer is Cheese

So why is this answer correct? : Brazilian steakhouses may get more attention in the U.S., but a stew of black beans and various meats is the national dish of Brazil. Feijoada can contain any number of cuts of pork and beef, and it is often made on Saturdays using the week’s leftovers. The hearty meal is served with rice, sauteed greens, orange slices, and topped with manioc, a meal of toasted cassava flour.

Trivia: Which European country fought alongside Britain during the war?

Germany
Russia
Turkey
Norway

The correct answer is Germany

So why is this answer correct? : Unlike Spain and France, both of which sided with the American colonists, Germany sent troops to support the British Army. The largest contribution came from the state of Hesse-Cassel, which is why the Germans who served with the British were known as “Hessians.” In total, around 30,000 Hessians fought for King George III.

Trivia: What is a typical filling in the cookie sandwiches called alfajores?

Bean paste
Dulce de leche
Buttercream
Caramelized banana

The correct answer is Dulce de leche

So why is this answer correct? : Alfajores are found throughout Latin America, but especially in Argentina. Perhaps the most common type is alfajores de maicena, two cookies sandwiched around dulce de leche (sweet caramelized milk) and decorated with powdered sugar and dried shredded coconut. The tasty treat was originally an Arabic biscuit, dating to at least the eighth century.

Trivia: For which battle did Washington famously cross the Delaware River?

Yorktown
Bunker Hill
Charleston
Trenton

The correct answer is Trenton

So why is this answer correct? : On Christmas Day in 1776, George Washington led troops across the icy Delaware River to march on the Hessians at Trenton. Thanks to the unexpected timing of the attack and Washington’s effective flanking strategy, the Continental Army decimated its opponent, capturing over 900 Hessians while suffering just two casualties.

Trivia: What is considered the national dish of El Salvador?

Ceviche
Arroz con pollo
Pupusas
Ropa vieja

The correct answer is Pupusas

So why is this answer correct? : A pupusa is a thick corn flour tortilla cooked on a skillet, stuffed with cheese, beans, and meat — or nearly any other filling you can think of. It is often served with curtido, a fermented cabbage dish that has been compared to sauerkraut or kimchi. In El Salvador, the second Sunday in November is National Pupusas Day, celebrated with pupusa-eating contests.

Trivia: Who was the first American secretary of war?

Patrick Henry
Henry Knox
Thomas Jefferson
Roger Sherman

The correct answer is Henry Knox

So why is this answer correct? : Inquisitive from a young age, founding father Henry Knox opened a bookstore at age 21, devouring books on famous military battles, engineering, and mathematics in order to teach himself the art of war. He joined a local militia a year later in 1772, successfully leading troops in the American Revolution, and later ascending to the secretary of war position under President George Washington.

Trivia: The meat of which animal is commonly eaten during Lent in Venezuela?

Crocodile
Capybara
Armadillo
Anteater

The correct answer is Capybara

So why is this answer correct? : The capybara is the world’s largest rodent, but in Venezuela, it is considered a fish. Hundreds of years ago, the Catholic Church declared the capybara, which lives in or near water, as a fish in order to accommodate the popularity of eating capybara during Lent in Venezuela (when meat is forbidden on Fridays). The meat is dried and salted, similar to jerky, and diners say it does taste a bit fishy, since capybara eat primarily aquatic grasses.

Trivia: Which founding father led troops alongside George Washington at Yorktown?

James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
Thomas Paine
John Hancock

The correct answer is Alexander Hamilton

So why is this answer correct? : Alexander Hamilton, the nation’s first secretary of the treasury, was known more for his economic prowess than his military ability. In fact, he wasn’t the first pick for the command at Yorktown, one of the decisive battles of the Revolutionary War. Hamilton was eager to prove himself in battle and convinced General George Washington to give him the role, which proved instrumental in sealing the American victory.

Trivia: In which country is horchata prepared with more than 28 ingredients?

Ecuador
Chile
Venezuela
Uruguay

The correct answer is Ecuador

So why is this answer correct? : There are many different types of horchata, but Americans are probably most familiar with a version made with rice, condensed milk, and cinnamon. In Ecuador, however, the traditional horchata starts to resemble a complicated tea with a long list of ingredients, including several medicinal herbs.

Trivia: Where was the colonial government headquartered for most of the war?

New York
Philadelphia
Richmond
Boston

The correct answer is Philadelphia

So why is this answer correct? : Leading up to and during the American Revolution, the political heart of the colonies was in Philadelphia. Both the First and Second Continental Congresses convened in the Pennsylvania capital and the Declaration of Independence was drafted there. British general William Howe took the city in September 1777, but congress retreated in time, and Howe returned to New York eight months later.