Riddles With Answers

Which musician sparked endless speculation with her song “You’re So Vain”?

Stevie Nicks
Carly Simon
Carole King
Joni Mitchell

Fact: Carly Simon’s 1972 hit “You’re So Vain” became one of pop music’s greatest guessing games, sparking endless speculation over who the song was about. Its biting lyrics ignited endless speculation about which man from her high-profile social circle had inspired the song. Over the years, fans and the media have floated names like Warren Beatty, Mick Jagger, Kris Kristofferson, David Bowie, and James Taylor. Simon has only ever confirmed that one verse refers to Beatty, keeping the rest a secret despite intense curiosity.

Correct Answer: Carly Simon

The best-selling pinball machine of all time was inspired by which movie?

Lord of the Rings
The Addams Family
Spider-Man
Indiana Jones

Fact: The Addams Family pinball machine is the best-selling pinball machine of all time having sold more than 20,000 units. It was based on the 1991 movie starring Raul Julia and Anjelica Huston as the married couple at the center of a strange family. The game has a quirky aesthetic that closely aligns with the spooky vibe of the film. The pinball machine features the characters from The Addams Family as well as many sound bites from the feature film. The machine’s game card describes the game objective as being to “Explore the strange world of the Addams Family.”

Correct Answer: The Addams Family

Which 1994 film won the Academy Award for Best Picture?

Titanic
Forrest Gump
Gladiator
Driving Miss Daisy

Fact: Forrest Gump won the Academy Award for Best Picture at the 67th Oscars, honoring the standout films of 1994. The heartfelt and enduring drama, starring Tom Hanks, became a true cultural phenomenon, earning six Oscars in total, including Best Director for Robert Zemeckis and Best Actor for Hanks. The other films listed were also Best Picture winners, but in different years: Driving Miss Daisy claimed the award for 1989, Titanic dominated the 1997 Oscars with a record-tying 11 wins, and Gladiator triumphantly took home the top prize for 2000.

Correct Answer: Forrest Gump

What long-running TV show first aired in 1947?

Meet the Press
The Today Show
Days of Our Lives
The Tonight Show

Fact: Meet the Press debuted on television on November 6, 1947, making it the longest-running TV show in American history. Originally launched as a radio program in 1945, the NBC news show brought political figures, journalists, and world leaders together for in-depth interviews and discussions. The first episode, hosted by creator Martha Rountree, featured James Farley, Franklin D. Roosevelt’s former postmaster general, as its inaugural guest. More than 75 years and 3,600 episodes later, Meet the Press remains a Sunday morning institution, now moderated by Kristen Welker.

Correct Answer: Meet the Press

Which cartoon dog was voiced by the same actor who voiced Scooby-Doo?

Astro
Huckleberry Hound
Pluto
Clifford the Big Red Dog

Fact: Legendary voice actor Don Messick, best known for bringing Scooby-Doo to life starting in 1969, also lent his distinctive voice to another beloved animated canine: Astro from The Jetsons. Messick’s versatile growls, barks, and playful speech made Astro instantly recognizable, with his trademark catchphrase “Ruh-roh!”—a vocal quirk that carried over to Scooby-Doo as well. Over his prolific career, Messick voiced dozens of iconic characters, including Bamm-Bamm and Hoppy in The Flintstones and Papa Smurf and Azrael in The Smurfs.

Correct Answer: Astro

The co-owner of which department store died in the sinking of the Titanic?

Macy’s
Bloomingdale’s
Saks Fifth Avenue
Sears, Roebuck & Co.

Fact: In 1912, the RMS Titanic sank in the North Atlantic Ocean, less than three hours after striking an iceberg. Two of the ill-fated passengers on the Titanic were Isidor Straus and his wife Ida. Isidor co-owned Macy’s department store with his brother, Nathan Straus. On the night of the disaster, Isidor refused to get on a lifeboat as long as there were women and children still remaining on the ship. His wife is reported to have said, “I will not be separated from my husband. As we have lived, so will we die, together.” Both perished when the ship sank at 2:20 a.m.

Correct Answer: Macy’s

Which retailer has been famously associated with its iconic “brown bag” since the 1970s?

Nordstrom
Macy’s
Neiman Marcus
Bloomingdale’s

Fact: Bloomingdale’s, the upscale department store, introduced its now-iconic “Big Brown Bag” in 1973 as a way to brand its shopping bags with a bold, minimalist design. Created by marketing executive Marvin Traub and graphic designer Massimo Vignelli, the bag’s simple brown kraft paper with oversized, lowercase lettering quickly became a recognizable fashion statement in itself. Over time, Bloomingdale’s expanded the line to include the “Little Brown Bag” and “Medium Brown Bag,” turning its shopping bags into collectible cultural icons.

Correct Answer: Bloomingdale’s

What does “ravioli” mean in Italian?

Little tongues
Little ribbons
Little sleeves
Little turnips

Fact: The word ravioli has a surprisingly humble origin: in Italian, it literally means “little turnips.” The name comes from rapa, the Italian word for turnip, combined with the diminutive suffix -ioli, which implies “small ones.” In medieval Italy, turnips were a common and inexpensive ingredient, often used as filling in the earliest forms of the dish. While modern ravioli are typically filled with cheese, meats, or vegetables, the name remains a quirky linguistic reminder of the dish’s simple beginnings in 14th-century Italy, when turnips were common staples for the filling.

Correct Answer: Little turnips

Where can you find a school of blacktip barracudas in Egypt?

A Nile River
B Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed National Park
C Lake Nasser

Fact: The school of blacktip barracudas is notably observed at Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed National Park, a region celebrated for its rich marine life.

Correct Answer: Shark Reef in Ras Mohammed National Park

Why do blacktip barracudas primarily gather in close groups during the day?

A To reproduce
B To rest and hide from predators
C For safety and hunting advantage

Fact: Blacktip barracudas gather in groups as a behavioral strategy for safety and to effectively coordinate their hunting efforts, increasing their chances of catching prey.

Correct Answer: For safety and hunting advantage