Riddles With Answers

Victorinox, a company founded in 1884, is the maker of what well known product?

Zippo lighter
Chapstick
Cracker Jacks
Swiss Army knife

Fact: Victorinox is a knife manufacturer best known for its Swiss Army knives. They are currently the sole supplier of multi-purpose knives to the Swiss army, and the biggest manufacturer of pocket knives in the world. The Swiss Army knife generally has a main spearpoint blade, a can opener, screwdrivers, and many other tools and blades which are stowed inside the handle of the knife. The Swiss coat of arms has served as the company’s logo since 1909. The term “Swiss Army knife” was coined by American soldiers after World War II due to the difficulty they had in pronouncing “Offiziersmesser”, the German name.

Correct Answer: Swiss Army knife

What surprising ingredient was mixed into the mortar used to build parts of the Great Wall of China?

Wasabi
Egg whites
Honey
Sticky rice

Fact: Sticky rice wasn’t just a staple of Chinese meals. It also helped hold together parts of the Great Wall of China. Builders mixed sticky rice with slaked lime to create a durable mortar for binding bricks and stones. The rice contains amylopectin, a starch that helps control the formation of calcium carbonate crystals, producing a denser structure. Research has shown that adding sticky rice can improve lime mortar’s strength and durability. This resourceful building technique was also used in other historic Chinese structures.

Correct Answer: Sticky rice

Which of King Henry VIII’s six wives was married to him the longest?

Anne Boleyn
Catherine Parr
Jane Seymour
Catherine of Aragon

Fact: Catherine of Aragon, Henry VIII’s first wife, was married to him for nearly 24 years, from June 1509 until their marriage was annulled in May 1533. Their marriage lasted longer than his other five marriages combined. Catherine had previously been married to Henry’s older brother, Arthur, who died in 1502. Her marriage to Henry produced one surviving child, the future Queen Mary I of England. Henry’s desire for a male heir and his determination to marry Anne Boleyn led him to seek an annulment of their lengthy marriage.

Correct Answer: Catherine of Aragon

Who was the youngest solo artist to win a Grammy Award?

Billie Eilish
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
LeAnn Rimes

Fact: LeAnn Rimes made Grammy history in 1997 when she won two awards at just 14 years old: Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Blue.” Her powerful voice and traditional country sound had already attracted widespread attention following the song’s release in 1996. Winning both awards established her as one of country music’s brightest young stars. The distinction of youngest solo artist is important, since younger performers have received Grammys as members of groups or contributors to award-winning projects.

Correct Answer: LeAnn Rimes

Who was the youngest solo artist to win a Grammy Award?

Billie Eilish
Michael Jackson
Stevie Wonder
LeAnn Rimes

Fact: LeAnn Rimes made Grammy history in 1997 when she won two awards at just 14 years old: Best New Artist and Best Female Country Vocal Performance for “Blue.” Her powerful voice and traditional country sound had already attracted widespread attention following the song’s release in 1996. Winning both awards established her as one of country music’s brightest young stars. The distinction of youngest solo artist is important, since younger performers have received Grammys as members of groups or contributors to award-winning projects.

Correct Answer: LeAnn Rimes

Which artist wrote the Bangles’ 1986 hit “Manic Monday”?

Elton John
Prince
Michael Jackson
Barry Gibb

Fact: Prince wrote “Manic Monday” under the pseudonym Christopher, a reference to his character Christopher Tracy in the film Under the Cherry Moon. Originally intended for the group Apollonia 6, the song eventually went to the Bangles, who recorded it for their 1986 album Different Light. Its catchy melody and relatable story about the start of the workweek helped make it a major hit. In an unusual twist, “Manic Monday” reached No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100 but was kept from the top spot by Prince’s own song, “Kiss.”

Correct Answer: Prince

U.S. paper money is made from a blend of cotton and which other material?

Wood pulp
Linen
Nylon
Rayon

Fact: Paper money isn’t actually paper at all. At 75% cotton and 25% linen, it’s essentially fabric, making it much more durable than actual paper would be. This is what gives United States currency its distinct look and feel. For denominations of $5 and above, security threads, and watermarks are already built into the paper when it is received. For the $100 note, a 6mm wide 3-D holographic blue security ribbon is woven into the paper. The Bureau of Engraving and Printing claims it would take 4,000 double folds (forwards and backwards) before a note will tear.

Correct Answer: Linen

Brothers Malcolm and Angus Young co-founded which hard rock band?

Led Zeppelin
AC/DC
ZZ Top
Judas Priest

Fact: Malcolm and Angus Young formed AC/DC in Sydney, Australia, in 1973. Malcolm’s powerful rhythm guitar anchored the band’s sound, while Angus’s fiery solos, energetic stage presence, and signature schoolboy outfit became trademarks. Their blues-inspired riffs fueled hits like “Highway to Hell,” “Back in Black,” and “Thunderstruck,” earning them a worldwide following. After singer Bon Scott died in 1980, Brian Johnson joined the band and recorded Back in Black, which became one of the best-selling albums in music history.

Correct Answer: AC/DC

What is the name of the nearly 20-foot-tall bronze statue that stands atop the U.S. Capitol dome?

Statue of Unity
Statue of Democracy
Statue of Freedom
Statue of Independence

Fact: Standing atop the U.S. Capitol dome in Washington, D.C., the Statue of Freedom is a nearly 20-foot-tall bronze sculpture symbolizing liberty and the spirit of the American nation. Designed by Thomas Crawford, the statue was installed in 1863 during the Civil War. Weighing 15,000 pounds, the female figure wears a military-style helmet adorned with an eagle’s head and feathers. She holds a sheathed sword in one hand and a laurel wreath of victory in the other, while a shield bearing the letters U.S. rests at her side.

Correct Answer: Statue of Freedom

Which lake supplies the glacial silt in Kasilof River?

A. Skilak Lake
B. Tustumena Lake
C. Eklutna Lake

Fact: Tustumena Lake, one of Alaska’s largest freshwater lakes, feeds the Kasilof River with glacial silt, giving the water its vivid turquoise color.

Correct Answer: Tustumena Lake