TRIVIA QUESTIONS FOR JULY 31, 2013

(Program held at Duffy’s)

1. ADVERTISING: When the fast –food company, Wendy’s, rolled out its first new logo in 29 year in March, it wasn’t hard to notice the softer font, more vibrant colors, and the absence of Wendy’s striped, puffed-sleeved shirt. What was harder to see was what bloggers this month have been calling a “hidden message”. What was this message? The word “mom” appearing in Wendy’s ruffled collar.

2. ACTORS & ACTRESSES: (Multiple choice) Meryl Streep is an accomplished and well-respected actress. Which of the following 4 names is her actual given name? A. Margie Lipowitz; B. Mary Louise Streep; C. Marcy Streeple; D. Miriam Streep. B-Mary Louise Streep.

3. AMUSEMENT PARKS: Six Flags Entertainment Corporation is the world’s largest regional theme park company with $1.1 billion in revenue and 18 parks across North America. The company operates 16 parks in the United States, one in Mexico City, and one in Montreal, Canada. What is the significance of the name “Six Flags”? The company was founded in Texas and took its name from its first property, Six Flags Over Texas. The name refers to the flags of the six different nations that have governed Texas: Spain, France, Mexico, the Republic of Texas, the United States, and the Confederate States of America.

4. BUSINESS SHAKE-UPS: George Zimmerman has been in the news a great deal lately. In June, New York businessman George Zimmer made headlines. Why? He was fired as the executive chairman and chief spokesman of Men’s Wearhouse, which he had founded 40 years ago.

5. FOOD: Evidence shows that early varieties of this vegetable were red, purple, yellow, white, and black. It was cultivated pre-900s in Afghanistan and surrounding areas, and by the 1000s, in Iran, northern Arabia, Syria, and North Africa. It was introduced to the U.S. in the 17th Century but did not become popular until after World War I. Approximately 2 billion pounds are now grown in the U.S. each year, the majority of which are grown in Texas, California, and Michigan. I am describing what common vegetable? Carrots

6. CENTRAL AMERICA: What small country, southeast of Mexico and formerly known as British Honduras, was settled by the English in the 1630s? Belize

7. SILENT SPRING I: True or False. Many insect species and their biologic and synthetic controls are discussed by Rachel Carson but notably absent is the Japanese beetle. This is because the beetle was not imported into the United States (New Jersey) until after Silent Spring was published. False:

8. GAME SHOWS: The pilot for this game show was originally taped in 1973 and called Shoppers Bazaar. The host was Chuck Woolery. The pilot was a series of disasters and the show never aired. A different renamed version appeared on daytime TV in 1975, and the show recently celebrated its 30th year of syndication. Name the show. Wheel of Fortune

9. COMMEMORATIVE MONTH: August is National Admit You’re Happy Month. Which of the three following statements is true? A) It takes fewer muscles to smile than it does to frown; B) It takes more muscles to smile than it does to frown; or C) Nobody’s really sure. C

10. HAUTE CUISINE: What type of Swiss cheese is an important ingredient in fondues, crepes, and gratins? Gruyere

11. FUNGUS IN THE NEWS (Multiple Choice): Coccidioidomycosis, (kok-sid-ee-oy- doh-my-KOH-sis), results in more than 20,000 cases of lung, skin, bone and brain infections in the American Southwest each year. It is caused by a fungus (or mold) that lives in the soil of dry areas. When it becomes airborne, it can lodge in the lungs, causing a flu-like illness, with fever, cough, headache, rash and muscle aches. What is the more common name of this disease? A) Hantavirus; B)Valley fever; C)Cattle plague; or D) Cryptosporangium. B-Valley fever. Thedisease is named for the San Joaquin Valley, a hot spot.

12. LITERATURE: Who wrote Native Son? Richard Wright 13. MOSQUITOES: What is the primary chemical that mosquitoes (and other blood-feeding insects) typically detect in an animal that draws them in for the potential of a meal? Carbon dioxide, exhaled each time you breathe.

14. MAINE CREATURES: What is a mudpuppy? Maine’s largest salamander

15. INTERESTING PASTIMES: Last week, tens of thousands of people packed into the main square in Pamplona, Spain for the party that kicks off the famous Running of the Bulls, during the annual week-long San Fermin Festival. How far do the bulls run between the corral and the bullring? The fenced rout the bulls run through is about 825 meters or half a mile.

16. MEDICINE: What is the primary component of smelling salts? Ammonia

17. SILENT SPRINT II: In Chapter 10, “Indiscriminately from the Skies”, Carson stated that what insect “suddenly became the target of a barrage of government releases, motion pictures, and government-inspired stories portraying it as a despoiler of southern agriculture and a killer of birds, livestock, and man”? The fire ant.

18. NUCLEAR PHYSICS: What is the term for the least amount of fuel needed to keep up a chain reaction in a reactor? Crtitical mass

19. MEDICINE: (Multiple choice) Studies in Britain and Denmark have found that rates of this illness have dropped sharply in the elderly as the population has grown healthier and better educated. A) Arthritis; B) Parkinson’s; C) Dementia; or D) Heart disease. C-Dementia

20. SOCIAL MEDIA: Recently, Rusty went missing from the Smithsonian’s National Zoo. When frantic zoo keepers discovered his absence, they immediately posted messages on Facebook and Twitter. A woman who lives near the zoo saw Rusty, tweeted a picture and called the zoo. Rusty was successfully captured and returned home safe and sound. What type of animal is Rusty? A red panda

21. SPORTS: On July 21st, Phil Mickelson of the United States won the British Open Golf Championship at Muirfield, Scotland. What is the name of the trophy awarded the winner (since 1872)? The Claret Jug (also known as the Golf Champion Trophy)

22. STATE SONGS: In 1978, this state’s legislature adopted “Yankee Doodle” as the state song. Name the state. Connecticut

23. U.S. HISTORY: Dozens of Civil War re-enactors gathered on July 18th to commemorate the 150th anniversary of a famed attack by the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry-a battle that showed the world black soldiers could fight, and which was chronicled in the movie Glory. In what state did this take place? South Carolina (Morris Island)

24. TRANSPORTATION: In the Old West, what railroad, named for three cities, was said to have “started nowhere and went nowhere”? Atchison, Topeka, & Santa Fe

25. SILENT SPRING III: (Multiple choice) Maine was mentioned in an incident in Chapter 6, “Earth’s Green Mantle”. What was the unfortunate scenario? A) Brown, dying roadside plants having been sprayed with herbicides; B) Polluted lake water with dead, floating fish; C) Poisoned squirrels; or D) Moth balls found on southern beaches. A-sprayed roadside plants.