Category: Brain Teasers

Which one of the following U.S. submarines was tragically sunk by its own torpedo in 1944?

USS Devilfish
USS Bowfin
USS Tang
USS Pampanito
USS Sea Dog

The correct answer is USS Tang

Which one of the following World War II submarine types was capable of carrying aircraft onboard?

Type XXIII (Germany)
X-class (United Kingdom)
Balao-class (United States)
Zulu-class (Soviet Union)
I-400-class (Japan)

The correct answer is I-400-class (Japan)

The German U-boats of World War II that hunted the enemy in large groups were dubbed what by the British?

Wolf pack
Bee Swarm
Vipers Nest
Shark Herd
Lions Den

The correct answer is Wolf pack

Trivia: Where did the bulk of sand on Key West’s beaches come from?

Florida
Caribbean
South Carolina
Mexico

The correct answer is Caribbean

So why is this answer correct? : It may be a beach getaway, but Key West’s shores aren’t as sandy as they seem. A vast coral reef system off the coast serves as a barrier for sand. Sand is imported from the Caribbean — giving visitors that beach getaway without compromising its coral reefs.

Trivia: Chicago’s Navy Pier is famous for what nearly 200-foot-tall attraction?

Water fountain
Naval museum
Ferris wheel
Clock

The correct answer is Ferris wheel

So why is this answer correct? : The buildings on Navy Pier were originally erected on an existing shipping pier to house soldiers and sailors and military operations during World War I, a use that continued through the end of World War II. In 1995, the 50-acre site was transformed into an amusement and entertainment hub, topped by an enormous 196-foot Ferris wheel that is a fixture of the Chicago skyline.

Trivia: Disney’s EPCOT stands for “Experimental Prototype Community of” what?

Technology
Teamwork
Today
Tomorrow

The correct answer is Tomorrow

So why is this answer correct? : Opened at Florida’s Walt Disney World on October 1, 1982, EPCOT is an acronym for “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow.” The revolutionary theme park sought to bring together the newest technologies and innovations of its time in one futuristic utopia, which is now one of the country’s most popular tourist attractions.

Trivia: How many waterfalls are found at Niagara Falls?

1
3
7
15

The correct answer is 3

So why is this answer correct? : You’ll need your passport to visit all three waterfalls that make up Niagara Falls. The main waterfall, Niagara Falls, straddles the border of Canada and the U.S., while Canada boasts the attraction’s Horseshoe Falls, and the U.S. claims Bridal Veil Falls.

Trivia: What was the previous name for the White House?

The Great House
Executive Mansion
Washington’s Palace
Presidential Residence

The correct answer is Executive Mansion

So why is this answer correct? : Before it was known simply as the White House, the U.S. President’s place of residence enjoyed several different nicknames. Initially denoted on early maps as the President’s Palace, the White House was officially named the Executive Mansion in 1819, in order to avoid any monarchical undertones. The “White House” nickname was in use around that time, and it was President Theodore Roosevelt who made the nickname official in 1902.

Trivia: What do the Lincoln Memorial’s columns represent?

States
Battles
Laws
Presidents

The correct answer is States

So why is this answer correct? : The Lincoln Memorial’s 36 columns were built to represent the Union states that existed at the time of President Abraham Lincoln’s death in 1865. The architect, Henry Bacon, used stones from Georgia, Tennessee, Colorado, Indiana, Alabama, and Massachusetts, to exemplify the importance of unity. The dates of each state’s admission into the Union are engraved in Roman numerals.

Trivia: Pike Place Market was the original home of which coffee chain?

Dunkin’
Peet’s
Tim Hortons
Starbucks

The correct answer is Starbucks

So why is this answer correct? : True Starbucks aficionados know that the coffee shop got its start in Seattle, Washington, at Pike Place Market, the city’s beloved public market. (Or perhaps you’ve noticed that the brand’s signature house blend of coffee is called Pike Place.) The market was established on August 17, 1907 — making it one of the oldest continuously operated farmers markets in the U.S.