Category: General

Which artist wrote the Bangles’ 1986 hit “Manic Monday”?

Elton John
Prince
Michael Jackson
Barry Gibb

Fact: Prince wrote “Manic Monday” under the pseudonym Christopher, a reference to his character Christopher Tracy in the film Under the Cherry Moon. Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6, the song eventually went to the Bangles, who recorded it for their 1986 album Different Light. Its catchy melody and relatable story about the start of the workweek helped make it a major hit. In an unusual twist, “Manic Monday” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was kept from the top spot by Prince’s own song, “Kiss.”

Correct Answer: Prince

U.S. paper money is made from a blend of cotton and which other material?

Wood pulp
Linen
Nylon
Rayon

Fact: Paper money isn’t actually paper at all. At 75% cotton and 25% linen, it’s essentially fabric, making it much more durable than actual paper would be. This is what gives United States currency its distinct look and feel. For denominations of $5 and above, security threads, and watermarks are already built into the paper when it is received. For the $100 note, a 6mm wide 3-D holographic blue security ribbon is woven into the paper. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing claims it would take 4,000 double folds (forwards and backwards) before a note will tear.

Correct Answer: Linen

Brothers Malcolm and Angus Young co-founded which hard rock band?

Led Zeppelin
AC/DC
ZZ Top
Judas Priest

Fact: Malcolm and Angus Young formed AC/DC in Sydney, Australia, in 1973. Malcolm’s powerful rhythm guitar anchored the band’s sound, while Angus’s fiery solos, energetic stage presence, and signature schoolboy outfit became trademarks. Their blues-inspired riffs fueled hits like “Highway to Hell,” “Back in Black,” and “Thunderstruck,” earning them a worldwide following. After singer Bon Scott died in 1980, Brian Johnson joined the band and recorded Back in Black, which became one of the best-selling albums in music history.

Correct Answer: AC/DC

What is the name of the nearly 20-foot-tall bronze statue that stands atop the U.S. Capitol dome?

Statue of Unity
Statue of Democracy
Statue of Freedom
Statue of Independence

Fact: Standing atop the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., the Statue of Freedom is a nearly 20-foot-tall bronze sculpture symbolizing liberty and the spirit of the American nation. Designed by Thomas Crawford, the statue was installed in 1863 during the Civil War. Weighing 15,000 pounds, the female figure wears a military-style helmet adorned with an eagle’s head and feathers. She holds a sheathed sword in one hand and a laurel wreath of victory in the other, while a shield bearing the letters U.S. rests at her side.

Correct Answer: Statue of Freedom

Which lake supplies the glacial silt in Kasilof River?

A. Skilak Lake
B. Tustumena Lake
C. Eklutna Lake

Fact: Tustumena Lake, one of Alaska’s largest freshwater lakes, feeds the Kasilof River with glacial silt, giving the water its vivid turquoise color.

Correct Answer: Tustumena Lake

Into which inlet does the Kasilof River ultimately flow?

A. Cook Inlet
B. Norton Sound
C. Prince William Sound

Fact: The Kasilof River flows about 17 miles from Tustumena Lake before emptying into Cook Inlet on Alaska’s Kenai Peninsula.

Correct Answer: Cook Inlet

Which fish species draws many anglers to Kasilof River?

A. trout
B. salmon
C. halibut

Fact: The Kasilof River is famous for its salmon runs, which attract commercial, subsistence, and recreational anglers from around the region.

Correct Answer: salmon

What does Hershey call the thin paper strip sticking out of a Hershey’s Kiss wrapper?

Hersh
Plume
Tassel
Pennant

Fact: The thin paper strip peeking out of every foil-wrapped Hershey’s Kiss is called a plume. Hershey introduced the distinctive printed plume in 1921, when new machinery began wrapping the bite-sized chocolates, which had previously been wrapped by hand. Originally printed with “Hershey’s,” the little strip helped customers distinguish the company’s chocolates from similar candies made by competitors. “KISSES” was added later in the 1920s, but it wasn’t until 1994 that “KISSES” alone replaced the original brand name on the plume.

Correct Answer: Plume

Who was the first solo female anchor of a major network’s evening news?

Diane Sawyer
Connie Chung
Katie Couric
Barbara Walters

Fact: On September 5, 2006, Katie Couric made her historic debut as the permanent solo anchor of CBS Evening News, becoming the first woman to hold that role on a major U.S. broadcast network’s weekday evening newscast. Couric was already a familiar face to millions of viewers after spending 15 years as co-host of NBC’s popular morning program, Today. Her move marked a significant milestone for women in broadcast journalism: she took sole responsibility for a flagship evening news program, a position traditionally held by men.

Correct Answer: Katie Couric

Which element is named after the creator of the periodic table?

Einsteinium
Rutherfordium
Nobelium
Mendelevium

Fact: Mendelevium is a synthetic element with the symbol Md (formerly Mv). It was named after Dmitri Mendeleev, father of the periodic table of the chemical elements. A century and a half ago, Dmitri Mendeleev took a crucial step in this search for order among the elements, by publishing the first draft of his periodic table. The Russian chemist jotted down the symbols for the chemical elements, putting them in order according to their atomic weights and inventing the periodic table. It was perhaps the greatest breakthrough in the history of chemistry.

Correct Answer: Mendelevium