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
Which former talk-show host began his career as a weatherman?
Arsenio Hall
David Letterman
Jay Leno
Jon Stewart
Fact: David Letterman began his broadcast career as a television weatherman and news anchor in Indianapolis, Indiana. He received attention for his unpredictable on-air behavior, which included congratulating a tropical storm for being upgraded to a hurricane and predicting hail stones “the size of canned hams.” His brand of humor was already evident as he would often report the weather for fictitious cities (“Eight inches of snow in Bingree and surrounding areas”). His big break came when he appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He was eventually offered his own program, Late Night with David Letterman.
Correct Answer: David Letterman
Which person is NOT mentioned in the lyrics of Billy Joel’s 1989 hit “We Didn’t Start the Fire”?
Harry Truman
Doris Day
Joe DiMaggio
Muhammad Ali
Fact: “We Didn’t Start the Fire,” released by Billy Joel in 1989, is a fast-paced anthem built on a driving beat and a rapid-fire list of names, places, and events. The song serves as a musical timeline of the Cold War era, spanning from Joel’s birth in 1949 through the late 1980s. Its lyrics catalog politics, culture, science, and entertainment, capturing the turbulence and transformation of the mid-20th century. The song opens with the line: “Harry Truman, Doris Day, Red China, Johnnie Ray, South Pacific, Walter Winchell, Joe DiMaggio.”
Correct Answer: Muhammad Ali
The first album sold online was by what musical artist?
Sting
Madonna
Whitney Houston
Bruce Springsteen
Fact: Sting holds the distinction of the first album ever sold online. On September 27, 1994, his album Ten Summoner’s Tales was sold on the internet through a pioneering service run by NetMarket. At the time, digital distribution was virtually unheard of, and the transaction marked one of the first credit card transactions online — often cited as the very first retail transaction on the internet. Sting’s early involvement highlighted the potential of digital distribution years before platforms like iTunes and Spotify would redefine the music industry.
Correct Answer: Sting
What time of year do the aspens typically change colour?
A July to August
B September to October
C November to December
Fact: The aspens typically begin their colour change in September and early October. This seasonal transformation is influenced by various environmental factors, making this period significant for viewing their vibrant hues.
Correct Answer: September to October