Which type of bamboo found in the Sagano Bamboo Forest is known for its height and strength?
A Fargesia
B Phyllostachys
C Madake
Fact: Madake bamboo is renowned for its height and strength, making it a popular choice in Japanese architecture and crafts. The Sagano Bamboo Forest features this variety, which is iconic to the region.
Correct Answer: Madake
What do the bamboo groves in Japan symbolically represent in their culture?
A Longevity and wisdom
B Wealth and prosperity
C Strength and flexibility
Fact: Bamboo is celebrated in Japanese culture for its resilience and rapid growth, symbolising strength and flexibility. These qualities are admired and respected, often reflecting the cultural values of adaptability.
Correct Answer: Strength and flexibility
Michael Jackson offered $1 million for the bones of which person?
King Tut
Howard Hughes
Malcolm X
The Elephant Man
Fact: In 1987, Michael Jackson offered $1 million to buy the skeleton of the “Elephant Man” to add to his collection of rare and unusual memorabilia. The London Hospital Medical College, where the skeleton is on display, politely turned down Jackson’s offer. John Merrick, who is better known as the “Elephant Man” was a hideously deformed man with a rare disease who died in 1890 and inspired the hit movie ‘Elephant Man.’ In rejecting the offer, the hospital said the skeleton was not for sale. The skeleton of the Elephant Man has been preserved at the Royal London Hospital ever since 1890, the year of his death.
Correct Answer: The Elephant Man
What was the name of the first English child born in the Americas?
John Smith
Virginia Dare
Elizabeth Hopkins
Anne Burras
Fact: Virginia Dare, born on August 18, 1587, in the Roanoke Colony, is recognized as the first English child born in the Americas. Named after the colony of Virginia and the granddaughter of Governor John White, she became a symbol of England’s early hopes to establish a foothold in the New World. Just months after her birth, the colony vanished, leaving only the word “CROATOAN” carved into a post as a cryptic clue. Though the fate of Virginia Dare and the settlers remains unknown, her name endures in American folklore and history as part of one of the nation’s most enduring mysteries.
Correct Answer: Virginia Dare
What is a notable characteristic of the bison as described?
A It is a solitary animal that prefers dense forests.
B It embodies immense strength paired with quiet calm.
C It primarily inhabits mountainous regions.
Fact: The bison is described as a paradox, showcasing a combination of immense strength and a calm demeanor, highlighting its unique nature in the ecosystem.
Correct Answer: It embodies immense strength paired with quiet calm.
Where do bison typically roam in North America?
A In urban environments and wetlands.
B In coastal areas and deserts.
C Within grasslands and river valleys.
Fact: Bison are known to inhabit North America’s grasslands and river valleys, where they form mobile herds, making this option the most accurate.
Correct Answer: Within grasslands and river valleys.
What cultural significance do bison hold for many Native Nations?
A They serve as spiritual relatives and are used for various resources.
B They are regarded merely as livestock.
C They are seen as pests that disrupt agriculture.
Fact: Many Native Nations regard bison as teachers and spiritual relatives, utilising every part of the animal for sustenance and cultural practices, underscoring their importance.
Correct Answer: They serve as spiritual relatives and are used for various resources.
Which actress made her film debut in the original Halloween movie?
Demi Moore
Carrie Fisher
Sigourney Weaver
Jamie Lee Curtis
Fact: Jamie Lee Curtis made her film debut in the 1978 horror classic Halloween. Although she wasn’t director John Carpenter’s first choice, he ultimately cast her after discovering she was the daughter of Janet Leigh, the iconic star of Psycho. Carpenter viewed the casting as a fitting tribute to Alfred Hitchcock. Halloween was a major success and became the highest grossing independent film of its time and solidifying its place in horror history. Curtis was subsequently cast in several horror films, garnering her the title of a “scream queen.”
Correct Answer: Jamie Lee Curtis
Which man died on Halloween from a ruptured appendix?
Charlie Chaplin
Alfred Hitchcock
Harry Houdini
Mark Twain
Fact: Harry Houdini, the legendary escape artist and illusionist, died on Halloween in 1926 from complications of a ruptured appendix, adding an eerie twist to his already mystifying legacy. Days before his death, Houdini was reportedly punched in the abdomen by a college student testing his claim that he could withstand powerful blows — a moment many believe may have worsened an undiagnosed case of appendicitis. After refusing medical care, Houdini’s condition rapidly deteriorated, and he passed away at the age of 52.
Correct Answer: Harry Houdini
What would you say to a strawberry claiming it’s a banana?
Answer:
“I think you’re just in denial!” 🍓🍌
Explanation:
This is a pun-based joke. The humor comes from the play on words between “denial” and “the Nile” — referring to the famous river in Egypt. The phrase “in denial” means someone refuses to accept the truth. So, when the strawberry claims to be a banana (something it clearly isn’t), you could jokingly say it’s “in denial.”
In short, the riddle is funny because it mixes wordplay with a silly situation — a strawberry that refuses to admit it’s a strawberry!