Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: What does Linus always carry with him in “Peanuts”?

Blanket
Kite
Pet bird
Baseball mitt

Correct Answer: Blanket

So why is this answer correct? : Back in 1950, Charles M. Schulz created some of the most beloved comic characters of all time. Until 2000, the “Peanuts” comic strip ran in 75 countries and was translated into 21 different languages; its influence is indisputable. Lucy and Linus van Pelt were a brother-sister duo and part of the recurring gang centered around Charlie Brown. Linus was intellectual and expressed his opinions on ethical matters. He frequently carried his “security blanket” around with him and sucked his thumb for comfort. Schulz modeled Linus after one of his own children.

Which film featured a portrayal of WWI German ace Baron Von Richthofen (the Red Baron), played by the long-forgotten actor Carl Schell?

A Farewell to Arms
The Blue Max
Clipped Wings
Hell Below
Hell in the Heavens

Correct Answer: The Blue Max

What famous director, himself a wartime aviator, directed the 1927 movie “Wings,” an aerial combat film set during WWI?

Howard Hawks
James Whale
John Ford
William Wellman
Erich von Stroheim

Correct Answer: William Wellman

What was the name of the 1930 movie about WWI pilots that was directed by Howard Hughes?

Lost Squadron
Lion Has Wings
Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines
Hell’s Angels
A Wing and a Prayer

Correct Answer: Hell’s Angels

Trivia: What is the original translation of the word “bonfire”?

A good fire
A fire of bones
A beautiful fire
A fire at midnight

Correct Answer: A fire of bones

So why is this answer correct? : While many believe that “bonfire” comes from the French term “bon,” meaning “good,” it actually came from the Old English word “bonefire,” which refers to a fire of bones. The word has been around since at least the 15th century, appearing in various forms of English, one of the oldest being Scotland’s “banefyres.” Today, bonfires are fun gatherings with family and friends and are popular in the fall. Centuries ago, they were held to worship saints, or simply to get rid of unwanted materials around the house.

Trivia: Which is NOT one of the full moons that occur during the fall season?

Hunter’s moon
Harvest moon
Corn moon
Wolf moon

Correct Answer: Wolf moon

So why is this answer correct? : Full moons go by different names depending on what month they land in. Since ancient times, the harvest moon (the full moon that happens closest to the fall equinox) has been celebrated with festivals to give thanks for the year’s final harvest. If September’s full moon is closer to the equinox, it is called the harvest moon, and October’s full moon will be called the hunter’s moon. Conversely, if October’s full moon falls closer to the fall equinox, it will be the harvest moon and September’s full moon will be called the corn moon.

Trivia: What type of fall drink is wassail?

Spiked coffee
Pumpkin smoothie
Mulled cider
Hot chocolate

Correct Answer: Mulled cider

So why is this answer correct? : The word “wassail” comes from the Old Norse phrase “ves heill,” meaning “be healthy.” It’s a salutation and also the name of a popular drink better known as mulled cider. The connection comes from the medieval tradition of wassailing in England, when groups would gather during the apple harvest to celebrate a good crop. The drink of choice during the event was mulled cider, which is apple cider that is heated and mixed with orange peels, cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, and other spices.

Trivia: The first American agricultural fair was held for what purpose?

Public apple picking
Corn eating competition
Sheep shearing demonstration
Pumpkin carving contest

Correct Answer: Sheep shearing demonstration

So why is this answer correct? : American agricultural fairs celebrate the fall harvest and offer a fun way to learn about crops, animals, and everything else that makes American farms special. The first state fair in the U.S. was held in 1807 in Pittsfield, Massachusetts, by agriculturist Elkanah Watson, and featured only sheep shearing demonstrations. Other farmers began to showcase their livestock at public gatherings, eventually leading to large agricultural fairs. Today, farms around the country host seasonal fairs, complete with apple cider donuts, kids’ games, farm animals, and hayrides.

Trivia: Which of the following is true about these fall favorites?

All squash are pumpkins
All pumpkins are squash
All gourds are pumpkins
All squash are gourds

Correct Answer: All pumpkins are squash

So why is this answer correct? : Pumpkins, squash, and gourds belong to the Cucurbitaceae family, which contains more than 900 species of fruits. The relationship between these three autumn essentials is complicated. Squash can be divided into two broad categories: summer squash and winter squash. Pumpkins, along with butternut and acorn squashes, are winter squash. So, all pumpkins are squash but not all squash are pumpkins. The key identifier for a gourd is that they are grown for decoration, not for eating. So, gourds are basically an inedible squash. To further complicate things, pumpkins can also be considered a gourd, especially the decorative ones not meant for eating.

Trivia: Germany’s Oktoberfest was originally a celebration of what?

King Louis I’s marriage
The invention of beer
A celebration of the fall harvest
The birth of Frederick the Great

Correct Answer: King Louis I’s marriage

So why is this answer correct? : Today, Oktoberfest celebrations in Germany and America are meant for beer drinking. In 1810, the very first Oktoberfest looked quite different. It was a wedding celebration for the then-crown prince of Bavaria, who went on to become King Louis I. Eventually, the festival combined with state fairs, making it a very large, public event full of drinks and food. By the late 19th century, large wooden beer halls were set up for the festivities, becoming more like the Oktoberfest we know today.