Riddles With Answers

What is the proper name for the pointed prongs on a fork?

Tines
Spikes
Teeth
Prickers

Fact: The pointed ends of a fork are called tines. The origins of the word tine can be traced back to the Old English tind, which means “sharp point,” and is related to the German word Zinne, or “pinnacle.” Different types of forks may have two, three, or four tines depending on their purpose, from carving meats to twirling pasta. In fact, early forks often had only two tines, which made them useful for spearing food but awkward for balancing smaller bites. By the 18th century, four-tined forks became the standard in Europe because they were more versatile and efficient.

Answer: Tines

What is the primary diet of whale sharks?

A Plankton
B Fish
C Crustaceans

Fact: Whale sharks are known as plankton-eating giants. They filter their food from the water through their large mouths, solely consuming small marine organisms, primarily plankton.

Correct Answer: Plankton

What is the significance of International Whale Shark Day?

A To raise awareness about pollution
B To celebrate whale shark hunting
C To promote conservation efforts

Fact: International Whale Shark Day is dedicated to highlighting the conservation needs of whale sharks and the threats they face, thus focusing on preserving marine biodiversity.

Correct Answer: To promote conservation efforts

How do researchers identify individual whale sharks?

A By their swimming speed
B By their size
C By unique patterns of spots and stripes

Fact: Each whale shark has a distinctive pattern of white spots and stripes, which researchers use to identify and track individuals over time, as no two patterns are alike.

Correct Answer: By unique patterns of spots and stripes

What retailer was originally named Sound of Music?

Sears
RadioShack
Circuit City
Best Buy

Fact: Best Buy, the electronics giant we know today, began in 1966 as a single audio specialty store in St. Paul, Minnesota, called Sound of Music. The store primarily sold stereos and other high-fidelity sound equipment. After a successful “Superstore” promotion in 1981 that emphasized discounted appliances and a broader product mix, founder Richard Schulze decided to rebrand the company as Best Buy in 1983. The new name reflected its shift toward offering a wider variety of consumer electronics at competitive prices, paving the way for its growth into one of the largest electronics retailers in the world.

Correct Answer: Best Buy

What host of “Let’s Make a Deal” lends his name to a probability problem?

Bob Barker
Monty Hall
Richard Dawson
Wink Martindale

Fact: The “Monty Hall Problem” is a statistical probability puzzle named after Monty Hall, the original host of the game show Let’s Make a Deal. In the puzzle, a contestant chooses one of three mystery doors, knowing that one hides a grand prize and the other two hide goats. After the choice, Monty opens one of the other doors to reveal a goat. The contestant must then decide: stay with the original pick or switch to the last unopened door. While it feels like the odds are 50/50, the math shows otherwise—staying gives a 1 in 3 chance of winning, while switching doors actually doubles your chances to 2 in 3.

Correct Answer: Monty Hall

Which legendary musician released the song “Isn’t She Lovely” in 1976?

Marvin Gaye
Stevie Wonder
Lionel Richie
Ray Charles

Fact: “Isn’t She Lovely” was released in 1976 on Stevie Wonder’s landmark double album Songs in the Key of Life. Wonder wrote the song to celebrate the birth of his daughter, Aisha Morris, who was born in February 1975. The track opens with Aisha’s first cries recorded during childbirth and later includes the sounds of Wonder bathing her as a toddler, along with her laughter, making the song deeply personal and unique. At more than six minutes long, it was never released as a commercial single because Wonder refused to cut it down for the 45 rpm format. ,

Correct Answer: Stevie Wonder

Which television series took its title from a widely used medical textbook?

Fact: The medical drama Grey’s Anatomy, which debuted in 2005, was named after Gray’s Anatomy, the landmark medical textbook first published by British anatomist Henry Gray in 1858. The book became a foundational reference for generations of doctors, known for its detailed illustrations and descriptions of the human body. The show cleverly plays on the textbook’s name while centering on the lives of surgical interns and doctors at a fictional Seattle hospital. The pun in the title—switching “Gray” to “Grey,” after lead character Meredith Grey—links medical history with modern storytelling.

Correct Answer: Grey’s Anatomy

Which of these countries was once a territory of the United States?

Haiti
Iceland
Jamaica
Philippines

Fact: The Philippines was a territory of the United States from 1898 to 1946. After the Spanish–American War, Spain ceded the Philippines to the U.S. under the Treaty of Paris. For nearly five decades, the islands were governed as an American colony, during which time the U.S. invested in infrastructure, education, and government reforms, though Filipino independence movements were strong throughout. During World War II, the Philippines was occupied by Japan, but after liberation, the U.S. granted the country full independence on July 4, 1946.

Correct Answer: Philippines

What was the first toy ever advertised on television?

Barbie
Mr. Potato Head
Play-Doh
Slinky

Fact: In 1952, Mr. Potato Head made history as the first toy to be advertised on television. The original kit contained plastic body parts and accessories—such as eyes, noses, and mouths—that children could stick into a real potato. The TV commercials, directly targeting children rather than parents, were revolutionary for their time and sparked enormous demand. The success of TV campaign not only made the toy a household name but also transformed the way toys were marketed, setting the stage for future iconic ads like those for Barbie and GI Joe.

Correct Answer: Mr. Potato Head