Riddles With Answers

Which U.S. state once had its own monarch before becoming part of the United States?

Texas
Hawaii
Louisiana
Rhode Island

Fact: Hawaii is the only U.S. state that was once an independent kingdom ruled by its own monarchs. Established as the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1810 under King Kamehameha I, the islands remained an independent nation for nearly a century, recognized by major world powers. The Hawaiian monarchy lasted until 1893, when Queen Lili’uokalani was overthrown by American-backed interests. The islands were later annexed by the United States in 1898 and became the 50th state in 1959. Hawaii’s royal legacy remains a enduring part of its cultural identity.

Correct Answer: Hawaii

What is the largest internal organ in the human body?

Heart
Liver
Brain
Spleen

Fact: The liver is the largest internal organ in the human body, weighing about three pounds in an average adult. It plays a vital role in hundreds of bodily functions, including detoxifying harmful chemicals, producing bile to aid digestion, regulating blood sugar levels, and storing nutrients. While the skin is technically the body’s largest organ overall, the liver holds the title for the largest internal organ by both size and weight. Remarkably, it has the ability to regenerate lost tissue, allowing it to recover from damage or partial surgical removal.

Correct Answer: Liver

What is the primary purpose of World Migratory Bird Day?

To celebrate birdwatching
To highlight the challenges faced by migratory birds
To promote bird conservation in urban areas

Fact: World Migratory Bird Day was established to raise awareness about the difficulties migratory birds face, including habitat loss and climate change, as well as to promote conservation measures for these species.

Correct Answer: To highlight the challenges faced by migratory birds

Which bird is known for making long migrations, logging about 44,000 miles a year?

Ruby-throated hummingbird
Arctic tern
Wood duck

Fact: The Arctic tern is renowned for its incredible migratory journey, covering an impressive distance of around 44,000 miles annually between its breeding and wintering grounds.

Correct Answer: Arctic tern

Where do northern wood duck hens typically migrate to during colder months?

From Asia to North America
From the Arctic to Canada
From northern United States to southern regions

Fact: Northern wood duck hens migrate south from their breeding grounds in the northern United States to seek milder climates, often reaching areas in the southern states and Mexico.

Correct Answer: From northern United States to southern regions

Which television personality is married to veteran newswoman Connie Chung?

Tom Brokaw
Phil Donahue
Maury Povich
Geraldo Rivera

Fact: Connie Chung, a pioneering broadcast journalist who anchored for CBS, NBC, and CNN, has been happily married since 1984 to Maury Povich, the longtime television host best known for his daytime talk show Maury. Povich’s program became famous for its dramatic paternity test segments and memorable pop-culture catchphrases, while Chung’s career highlighted hard news, high-profile interviews, and prestigious network anchor roles. Together, they represent one of the most notable and enduring media marriages in American television history.

Correct Answer: Maury Povich

Before founding Wendy’s, Dave Thomas was a franchise owner in which fast food chain?

Pizza Hut
McDonald’s
Burger King
Kentucky Fried Chicken

Fact: Before starting Wendy’s, Dave Thomas worked closely with Colonel Harland Sanders as one of Kentucky Fried Chicken’s early franchise owners. In the 1960s, he played a crucial role in reviving struggling KFC locations, even suggesting the now-famous rotating bucket sign, which became a KFC trademark and helped boost sales. His success not only made him financially secure but also gave him the confidence and business know-how to launch Wendy’s in 1969, which went on to become one of the most recognizable fast-food chains in the world.

Correct Answer: Kentucky Fried Chicken

What first name is shared by major characters in the shows M*A*S*H, Father Knows Best, and Dennis the Menace?

Frank
Benjamin
Henry
Margaret

Fact: The name Margaret links together three beloved TV shows from very different eras and genres. In Dennis the Menace (1959–1963), Jeannie Russell played Margaret Wade, the bright, bossy neighbor who often sparred with mischievous Dennis. On M*A*S*H (1972–1983), Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan, portrayed by Loretta Swit, is the strong-willed and sharp-tongued head nurse at the 4077th. And in Father Knows Best (1954–1960), Jane Wyatt brought warmth, wisdom, and grace to the role of Margaret Anderson, the steady matriarch of the Anderson family.

Correct Answer: Margaret

Ralph Waldo Emerson and Harriet Beecher Stowe helped found what magazine?

The Atlantic
The New Yorker
National Review
Harper’s Weekly

Fact: The Atlantic Monthly, first published in 1857 in Boston, quickly became one of America’s most important literary and cultural magazines. It was founded by a group of prominent New England writers and intellectuals, including Ralph Waldo Emerson, Harriet Beecher Stowe, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, and Oliver Wendell Holmes Sr. The magazine aimed to shape American literature and thought by publishing essays, poetry, fiction, and commentary on pressing political and social issues—particularly abolition and the fight against slavery. It remains a respected publication to this day.

Correct Answer: The Atlantic

What color were most carrots before the late 16th century?

Orange
Purple
Green
White

Fact: Though orange carrots are the norm today, most carrots grown before the late 1500s were actually purple. The earliest cultivated varieties, traced back to Central Asia, came in shades of purple and yellow. The now-familiar orange carrot was selectively bred in the Netherlands during the 16th and 17th centuries, partly for its appealing color and sweeter taste. Over time, orange carrots became the dominant variety worldwide, while purple and other heirloom types became rarer until their recent revival in specialty markets.

Correct Answer: Purple