Category: General

Where did New York City get its “Big Apple” nickname from?

Jazz club
Broadway musical
Popular restaurant
Horse-racing term

Fact: New York City’s famous nickname is widely credited to 1920s sports journalist John J. Fitz Gerald. In horse racing, a “Big Apple” referred to the rich prize money available at the sport’s most prestigious tracks, many of which were in New York City. After hearing stable hands use the term to describe the city, Fitz Gerald adopted it in his newspaper column, helping popularize the phrase. The nickname experienced a major revival in the 1970s when New York City’s tourism bureau embraced “The Big Apple” in a highly successful marketing campaign.

Correct Answer: Horse-racing term

Who were David Soul and Paul Michael Glaser better known as?

The Blues Brothers
Starsky & Hutch
Penn & Teller
Cheech & Chong

Fact: This iconic cop show starred Paul Michael Glaser as Starsky and David Soul as Hutch. With a frothy mix of action, wisecracks and serious detective work, the beloved show was a major hit on ABC in the 1970s. Taking on dope dealers, muggers, and other thugs, Starsky & Hutch were aided by their red-and-white 1974 Ford Gran Torino and street informant Huggy Bear (Antonio Fargas). Under the radio call sign “Zebra Three”, they were known for tearing around the streets of fictional Bay City, California. The series inspired a theatrical film and a video game.

Correct Answer: Starsky & Hutch

Which feature helps barn swallows in long aerial hunts?

A. Deeply forked tail
B. Short beak
C. Broad wings

Correct Answer: Deeply forked tail

What do barn swallows often do while flying over water?

A. Drink
B. Catch fish
C. Build nests

Correct Answer: Drink

In which type of landscape do barn swallows often breed?

A. Urban rooftops
B. Open grasslands
C. Dense forests

Correct Answer: Open grasslands

What’s the word for the day after tomorrow?

Aftermorrow
Twomorrow
Overmorrow
Postmorrow

Fact: The Oxford English dictionary counts 171,476 words in current use, but there are so many more — by one count, 47,156 — that have been lost to history. Though this word is now usually considered obsolete, overmorrow is the English word for the day after tomorrow. This archaic and now obsolete word appears in the bible and throughout ancient literature. Overmorrow was in Middle English but fell out of the language. So instead of having this word, we have the wordy “day after tomorrow.” German still has this very useful word: übermorgen.

Correct Answer: Overmorrow

Which film was adapted from Philip K. Dick’s novel “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep?”

Robocop
Blade Runner
The Matrix
Total Recall

Fact: Directed by Ridley Scott and starring Harrison Ford, the film Blade Runner is based on Philip K. Dick’s 1968 novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? While the film takes significant creative liberties with the source material, it preserves the novel’s central themes of artificial intelligence, humanity, memory, and identity. Widely regarded as one of the greatest science fiction films ever made, Blade Runner has had an enormous influence on the cyberpunk genre and inspired countless books, films, and video games.

Correct Answer: Blade Runner

Which German state is home to Rakotzbrücke?

A. Saxony
B. Bavaria
C. Thuringia

Fact: Rakotzbrücke, also called the Devil’s Bridge, is located in Saxony, Germany, within Rhododendron Park Kromlau.

Correct Answer: Saxony

What material was used to build Rakotzbrücke?

A. Granite
B. Sandstone
C. Volcanic stone

Fact: Rakotzbrücke was made from locally sourced volcanic stone, chosen for durability and to create its precise arch shape.

Correct Answer: Volcanic stone

Where is Rhododendron Park Kromlau located?

A. Near Polish border
B. Near French border
C. Near Austrian border

Fact: Rhododendron Park Kromlau lies close to the Polish border and features the famous Rakotzbrücke amid scenic gardens.

Correct Answer: Near Polish border