Riddles With Answers

Who made history by appearing on three consecutive Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue covers in 1979, 1980, and 1981?

Cheryl Tiegs
Christie Brinkley
Kathy Ireland
Elle Macpherson

Fact: Christie Brinkley became a Sports Illustrated icon when she graced the cover of the magazine’s Swimsuit Issue three years in a row — 1979, 1980, and 1981. This unprecedented streak cemented her status as one of the most recognizable and marketable supermodels of the late 20th century and elevated the Swimsuit Issue, transforming it into a launchpad for models to achieve mainstream celebrity. Brinkley’s success paved the way for the “supermodel era” of the 1980s and ’90s, when models like Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, and Tyra Banks transcended the runway to become pop culture icons.

Correct Answer: Christie Brinkley

Peyton Manning, Brad Paisley, and Julia Roberts have all performed which well-known advertising jingle?

“Like a Good Neighbor”
“I’m Lovin’ It”
“Have It Your Way”
“Nationwide is on Your Side”

Fact: The jingle “Nationwide is on Your Side” has been performed by a surprising range of celebrities, including NFL legend Peyton Manning, country music star Brad Paisley, and Academy Award-winning actress Julia Roberts. Originally written in 1965 by jingle writer Steve Karmen, the tune has become one of the most recognizable in advertising history. Nationwide has frequently enlisted celebrities to bring new life to the jingle, whether through humorous commercials or heartfelt renditions, helping the brand maintain its cultural relevance across generations.

Correct Answer: “Nationwide is on Your Side”

Which of these cooking gurus was once a professional stockbroker?

Rachael Ray
Martha Stewart
Gordon Ramsay
Bobby Flay

Fact: Lifestyle guru and media mogul Martha Stewart has had a fascinating career path from model, to stockbroker, to media mogul. Upon graduating from Barnard College, she became a stockbroker on Wall Street, where she gained her early business training. She worked on Wall Street until 1972, but her passions lay elsewhere. After moving to Westport, Connecticut, she developed a catering business that showcased her remarkable talent. She would soon go on to become a renowned television personality, businesswoman, and cookbook author.

Correct Answer: Martha Stewart

Which popular consumer product was once marketed as a floor cleaner?

WD-40
Pepto-Bismol
Listerine
Mountain Dew

Fact: Listerine, now best known as a mouthwash, was originally marketed in the late 19th century as a versatile antiseptic and later as a floor cleaner. Developed in 1879 by Dr. Joseph Lawrence, it was sold as a powerful disinfectant for hospitals and households, advertised for cleaning floors, sterilizing surgical instruments, and treating wounds. Its potent formula of alcohol and essential oils made it an effective germ killer, though it wasn’t specifically marketed for oral hygiene until the 1920s. Only later, after aggressive advertising campaigns, did Listerine transform into the mouthwash we know today.

Correct Answer: Listerine

Which woodswallow species is featured in today’s image celebrating Cousins Day?

A Ashy
B Fiji
C Masked

Fact: The ashy woodswallow is found across South Asia, including India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Nepal. These gregarious birds often perch closely together on branches and powerlines. Primarily insectivorous, they are also known to feed on nectar and toxic butterflies.

Correct Answer: Ashy

Which zodiac sign is commonly associated with the 1960s hippie movement?

Leo
Pisces
Aquarius
Sagittarius

Fact: The zodiac sign tied to the 1960s hippie movement is Aquarius, symbolizing innovation, rebellion, and humanitarian ideals. The era was often dubbed the “Age of Aquarius,” popularized by the 1969 musical Hair and its hit song “Aquarius/Let the Sunshine In.” Astrologically, Aquarius represents freedom, social progress, and breaking away from tradition—all key values of the counterculture. Though not everyone involved in the movement was born under this sign, Aquarius became a cultural emblem of peace, love, and a vision for a new, more harmonious world.

Correct Answer: Aquarius

Who is the only person named Oscar to win an Oscar?

Oscar de la Renta
Oscar Wilde
Oscar Hammerstein
Oscar the Grouch

Fact: Lyricist Oscar Hammerstein II is the only person named Oscar to win an “Oscar” at the Academy Awards. Oscar Hammerstein was perhaps the most influential lyricist of the American theater. Major musicals for which he wrote the lyrics include Showboat, South Pacific, The King and I, and The Sound of Music. Hammerstein won two Oscar awards in the Best Original Song category, one for “The Last Time I Saw Paris” from Lady Be Good in 1941, and a second award for “It Might as Well Be Spring” from State Fair in 1945.

Correct Answer: Oscar Hammerstein

Before its extinction, where did the dodo bird live?

Australia
Mauritius
Bahamas
Madagascar

Fact: The dodo bird, a flightless bird that became extinct in the late 17th century, lived exclusively on the island of Mauritius in the Indian Ocean. First encountered by Dutch sailors around 1598, the dodo thrived in isolation for centuries with no natural predators. Unfortunately, the arrival of humans brought hunting and invasive species like rats, pigs, and monkeys, which devastated the dodo population by preying on their eggs and competing for food. Within less than a century of its discovery, the dodo was driven to extinction.

Correct Answer: Mauritius

Which musician played all 27 instruments on his debut album “For You”?

Prince
Paul McCartney
Stevie Wonder
Phil Collins

Fact: Prince, the musical prodigy from Minneapolis, showcased his extraordinary talent on his debut album For You (1978) by playing all 27 instruments featured on the record. Only 19 years old at the time, Prince arranged, composed, and produced the entire album himself—a feat that stunned the music industry and foreshadowed his career as one of the most innovative and self-sufficient artists in pop history. This early display of his multi-instrumental skills set the stage for his future as a groundbreaking icon in funk, pop, and rock music.

Correct Answer: Prince

Who holds the title of the longest-running U.S. female game show host in television history?

Betty White
Jane Lynch
Meredith Vieira
Anne Robinson

Fact: Meredith Vieira holds the distinction of being the longest-running female game show host in U.S. television history, thanks to her 11-year tenure as the host of the syndicated version of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire from 2002 to 2013. Over the course of more than 1,800 episodes, Vieira became a familiar and trusted figure for millions of viewers, guiding contestants through the show’s tense, high-stakes format. Her work earned her two Daytime Emmy Awards for Outstanding Game Show Host, solidifying her place in television history.

Correct Answer: Meredith Vieira