Category: Brain Teasers

Trivia: What type of jewelry comes from a living organism?

Jade
Pearl
Emerald
Moonstone

Correct Answer: Pearl

So why is this answer correct? : Pearls are one of the most enduring jewelry trends of all time, found on the necklaces of Hollywood stars and the crowns of royalty. While all mollusks can technically make pearls, only a few kinds — saltwater clams and freshwater mussels — can make gem-grade pearls. The exclusivity of authentic, high-quality pearls also contributes to their high price tag.

Trivia: What jewelry brand is known for its robin’s egg blue packaging?

Cartier
Van Cleef & Arpels
Swarovski
Tiffany & Co.

Correct Answer: Tiffany & Co.

So why is this answer correct? : Tiffany & Co.’s signature robin’s-egg blue is Pantone “1837 Blue.” The name is in honor of the year the jewelry brand was established. No one is certain why founder Charles Lewis Tiffany chose this color, but it’s been suggested that he picked it because turquoise jewelry was a popular bridal gift in Victorian times. Tiffany boxes in the iconic hue are so sought after that the company has a rule only to allow people to have a box if they have purchased a Tiffany’s product to go in it.

The battlecruiser HMS Repulse and which British battleship — both part of the Force Z squadron tasked with halting a Japanese landing force — were sunk off Malaysia on December 10, 1941?

HMS King George V
HMS Duke of York
HMS Prince of Wales
HMS Howe
HMS Anson

Correct Answer: HMS Prince of Wales

The USS Bullhead — a Balao-class submarine that was the last U.S. Navy vessel to be sunk in World War II — was lost on the same day as which historic event?

Mussolini executed
Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima
D-Day Landings
Opening of the Yalta Conference
Hitler commits suicide

Correct Answer: Atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima

On Nov. 29, 1944, torpedoes from the USS Archerfish destroyed what Japanese carrier, still considered the largest warship ever sunk by a submarine?

Kaga
Taiho
Akagi
Shinano
Hosho

Correct Answer: Shinano

Trivia: Achaar is a popular condiment in what region?

Central America
Caribbean
Scandinavia
South Asia

Correct Answer: South Asia

So why is this answer correct? : In South Asia, pickles are known as “achaar,” which are tangy, sweet complements to rices, curries, and other regional dishes. Achaar pickles often include fruits and aromatics, such as mango, garlic, ginger, and spicy chilies. These pickles also have regional differences — in northern India, achaar is made using mustard oil, while southern India uses sesame oil.

Trivia: The word “pickle” is derived from what language?

Dutch
Lao
French
Arabic

Correct Answer: Dutch

So why is this answer correct? : The word “pickle” first appeared in the Middle English poem “Morte Arthure.” Etymologists believe the word was derived from another language — Middle Dutch — as “pekel” means “brine.” The Oxford English Dictionary, however, suggests that “pickle” was taken from the Middle Dutch word “peken,” meaning “to pierce.” Regardless of origin, pickles have a unique place in Dutch culture — a popular street snack consists of brined herring and chopped onions with pickles on the side.

Trivia: Pickleback shots feature what spirit?

Gin
Vermouth
Pisco
Whiskey

Correct Answer: Whiskey

So why is this answer correct? : Picklebacks are a shot of whiskey chased by a shot of pickle brine. While it is believed that the combination first originated among truck drivers in the Southern U.S., picklebacks first gained popularity in 2006 at a bar in Brooklyn, when a bartender combined whiskey with pickle juice at the recommendation of a customer.

Trivia: Pickles are served alongside pastrami sandwiches in what style of cuisine?

Italian
Thai
Jewish
Peruvian

Correct Answer: Jewish

So why is this answer correct? : Jewish delis first became prominent in New York City in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. In the 1930s, Jewish delicatessen owners began serving dill pickles alongside fatty pastrami sandwiches. The acidity of the pickle acts as a palate cleanser to cut through the fattiness of the meat. Pickles soon became a popular side dish at Jewish delis around the world.

Trivia: What state produces the most cucumbers for pickling?

Hawaii
Michigan
Florida
Maine

Correct Answer: Michigan

So why is this answer correct? : Michigan produces the largest number of cucumbers in the U.S. In 2016, the state produced a whopping 236,700 tons of pickling cucumbers, along with an additional 68 million pounds to be sold fresh at stores.