1. Would you rather have the ability to fly or be invisible?
2. Would you rather be rich and famous or happy and unknown?
- Rich and Famous
- Happy and Unknown
3. Would you rather live in the mountains or by the ocean?
4. Would you rather be able to speak all languages or play all instruments?
- Play all instruments
- Speak all languages
5. If you were to be one, would you be a cat or a dog?
6. If your life were a movie, which type of movie would it be?
7. Would you rather have the ability to fly 2x your height above the ground or have the ability to turn invisible for 10 seconds?
- Fly 2x your height
- Turn invisible for 10 seconds
8. Would you rather have big fluffy paws or a big fluffy tail?
- big fluffy tail
- big fluffy paws
9. The famous painting, The Scream, was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo in 2004.
Correct answer: True
Explanation: The Scream by Edvard Munch is one of the most iconic images in art history, depicting existential angst and was stolen in 2004 but later recovered.
10. Which of the following luxury car brands originated in the United States?
- Jaguar
- Lexus
- Cadillac
- Lincoln
Correct answers: Cadillac, Lincoln
Explanation: Cadillac, founded in 1902, is known for its luxury vehicles and was one of the first companies to mass-produce cars in the U.S.
11. French astronomers discovered the lightest noble gas while observing a solar eclipse in 1868. What's the name of that gas?
Correct answer: Helium
Explanation: Helium is the lightest noble gas and was first identified during a solar eclipse; it actually gets its name from the Greek word 'helios,' meaning sun.
12. Which Country Celebrates the New Year First?
- Kiribati
- Tonga
- Fiji
- New Zealand
Correct answer: Kiribati
Explanation: The first country to celebrate the New Year is the Pacific island nation of Kiribati, specifically its Line Islands, which are in the UTC+14 time zone.
13. Would you rather squeak when you walk or blow bubbles when you talk?
- squeak when you walk
- blow bubbles when you talk
14. Would you rather look like Jar Jar Binks or talk like Jar Jar Binks?
- look like Jar Jar Binks
- talk like Jar Jar Binks
15. What was Google's name initially?
Correct answer: Backrub
Explanation: The founders, Larry Page and Sergey Brin, called their initial search engine "BackRub," named for its analysis of the web's backlinks. Luckily, they changed it to the name we all know and even use as a verb today: Google.
16. In Australia, flip-flops is called ____.
- Slippers
- Jandals
- Thongs
- Sandals
Correct answer: Thongs
Explanation: In Australia, the common term for "flip-flops" is thongs. It is the slang word for the open-toed footwear with a Y-shaped strap.
17. Which of these foods were once considered poisonous in Europe?
- Carrots
- Lobster
- Chocolate
- Potatoes
- Tomatoes
Correct answers: Potatoes, Tomatoes
Explanation: Tomatoes were called "poison apples" because wealthy Europeans died after eating them (actually from lead poisoning from pewter plates). Potatoes were suspected as they're nightshades. Lobster was "poor food," not poison.
18. A group of flamingos is called a "_____."
- Flomany
- Flock
- Pod
- Flamboyance
Correct answer: Flamboyance
Explanation: A group of flamingos is called a flamboyance. They can also be called a "stand" or "colony," but flamboyance is the most colorful term.
19. Which animal's fingerprints are so similar to humans they could contaminate crime scenes?
- Raccoon
- Koala
- Gorilla
- Chimpanzee
Correct answer: Koala
Explanation: Koala fingerprints have the same loops, arches, and whorls as human prints. They're so identical that even experts need microscopic analysis to tell them apart from human prints.
20. Which of these are true?
- Wombat poop is cube-shaped
- Sharks are older than trees
- Dolphins sleep with one eye open
- Polar bears have black skin
- Octopuses have three hearts
Correct answers: Wombat poop is cube-shaped, Sharks are older than trees, Dolphins sleep with one eye open, Polar bears have black skin, Octopuses have three hearts
Explanation: Hah! All are true!
21. Which of these fruits are berries? (Select all that apply)
- Strawberries
- Raspberries
- Grape
- Bananas
Correct answers: Grape, Bananas
Explanation: Interesting right?! Botanically, berries must have seeds inside their flesh. Bananas and grapes qualify as berries; however strawberries and raspberries have seeds on the outside, so they are "accessory fruits," not berries.
22. Bubble wrap was originally invented to be wallpaper.
Correct answer: True
Explanation: True! In 1957, engineers tried to create textured wallpaper by sealing two shower curtains together with air bubbles. It failed as wallpaper but became the world's favorite packing material and stress reliever.
23. What color was the Statue of Liberty when it was first assembled?
Correct answer: Brown
Explanation: The Statue of Liberty was shiny copper brown when unveiled in 1886. It turned green over 30 years due to oxidation. The green patina actually protects the copper from further corrosion.
24. The fear of long words is called what?
- Logophobia
- Lexicophobia
- Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
- Verbophobia
Correct answer: Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia
Explanation: *insert blinking guy meme here. Hippopotomonstrosesquippedaliophobia is the ironic 36-letter word for fear of long words. It's essentially a joke term - the medical term is actually sesquipedalophobia, which is still pretty long!
25. Which of these is a real IKEA furniture name?
Correct answers: BILLY, POÄNG, LACK
Explanation: IKEA's naming system is based on a combination of Swedish place names, human names, and other Swedish words. BILLY (bookcase), LACK (table), and POÄNG (chair) are real IKEA products. KIRJAHYLLY is Finnish for bookcase.
26. A day on Venus is longer than a _____ on Venus.
Correct answer: year
Explanation: Venus takes 243 Earth days to rotate once but only 225 Earth days to orbit the Sun. So if you lived on Venus, you'd celebrate your birthday before the day ends!
27. Which company used to make toilet paper before becoming a major phone manufacturer?
Correct answer: Nokia
Explanation: Nokia started in 1865 as a paper mill company in Finland. They made toilet paper, rubber boots, and car tires before transitioning to electronics in the 1960s.
28. Oxford University is older than the _____ Empire.
- Egyptian
- Persian
- Aztec
- Roman
Correct answer: Aztec
Explanation: Oxford University began teaching in 1096, while the Aztec Empire was founded in 1428. Oxford is so old that when it was founded, the Easter Island statues didn't exist yet!
29. The unicorn is the national animal of _____.
- Scotland
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Basque
Correct answer: Scotland
Explanation: Scotland chose the unicorn in the 12th century because it symbolized purity, power, and pride. In Celtic mythology, it represented dominance and chivalry. Today, it appears on the Royal Coat of Arms.
30. Which planet in our solar system rotates sideways?
- Jupiter
- Neptune
- Venus
- Uranus
Correct answer: Uranus
Explanation: Most planets spin with their poles pointing almost straight up as they go around the Sun. But Uranus is tilted on its side about 98 degrees. So instead of spinning upright, it moves around the Sun rolling on its side.
31. There are more possible games of chess than there are _____ in the observable universe.
- stars
- galaxies
- planets
- atoms
Correct answer: atoms
Explanation: Interesting right!? The Shannon Number estimates 10^120 possible chess games, while there are "only" about 10^80 atoms in the observable universe.
32. ___ of the world's population has never seen snow in person.
Correct answer: 70%
Explanation: About 70% of people have never seen snow! Most humans live in tropical and subtropical regions where it never snows. Countries like Indonesia, India's southern regions, and much of Africa never experience snow.
33. Cookie Monster's real name is what?
Correct answer: Sid
Explanation: Before he became Cookie Monster, he was "Sid" in three commercials. He became Cookie Monster after eating his first cookie and going crazy for them. His full name is Sidney Monster!
34. Which of these are real McDonald's menu items from around the world?
- McRice Burger
- McSpaghetti
- McSushi
- McWine
- McKroket
Correct answers: McRice Burger, McSpaghetti, McKroket
Explanation: McRice Burger (Asia), McSpaghetti (Philippines), and McKroket (Netherlands) are real. McDonald's has never served McWine or McSushi.
35. There are more fake flamingos in the world than real flamingos.
Correct answer: True
Explanation: True! There are only about 2-3 million real flamingos worldwide, but Americans alone have bought over 20 million plastic lawn flamingos since 1957 when Don Featherstone created the iconic decoration.
36. Which planet could theoretically float in water?
Correct answer: Saturn
Explanation: Saturn's density is only 0.687 g/cm³, less than water's 1 g/cm³, so it would float! Of course, you'd need an impossibly large ocean, and Saturn would eventually dissolve, but theoretically it works!
37. Which of these Shakespeare quotes are actually NOT from Shakespeare?
- "Beam me up, Scotty"
- "All that glitters is not gold"
- "To be or not to be"
- "Elementary, my dear Watson"
Correct answers: "Beam me up, Scotty", "Elementary, my dear Watson"
Explanation: "Elementary, my dear Watson" is from Sherlock Holmes (not even in original Doyle books), and "Beam me up, Scotty" was never said in Star Trek. The others are genuine Shakespeare, though often misquoted.
38. What was ketchup used for in the 1830s?
- Cream for burns
- Natural Paint
- Medicine
- Hair dye
Correct answer: Medicine
Explanation: Dr. John Cook Bennett sold tomato ketchup as medicine in pill form to cure diarrhea, indigestion, and jaundice. Tomatoes were thought to have medicinal properties. The pills were a scam but helped popularize tomato ketchup.
39. Cleopatra lived closer in time to the Moon landing than to the building of the Great Pyramid.
Correct answer: True
Explanation: True! Cleopatra died in 30 BCE. The Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BCE (2,530 years before her), while the Moon landing was in 1969 CE (only 1,999 years after her).
40. The inventor of the Pringles can is buried in a Pringles can.
Correct answer: True
Explanation: Fredric Baur invented the Pringles can in 1966. When he died in 2008, his cremated ashes were buried in an Original flavor Pringles can, per his request. His family honored his wish and bought a can at Walgreens for the burial.
41. Which animal can survive being frozen solid and thawed back to life?
- Wood frog
- Polar bear
- Arctic ground squirrel
- Trout fish
Correct answer: Wood frog
Explanation: Wood frogs can freeze up to 60% of their body in winter. Their hearts stop, they don't breathe, and they're clinically dead. Come spring, they thaw and hop away! They produce a natural antifreeze from urea and glucose.
42. Which body part continues growing throughout your entire life?
Correct answer: Nose
Explanation: Your nose (and ears) never stop growing due to gravity and continuous cartilage growth. They grow about 0.22mm per year. That's why elderly people often have notably larger noses and ears.
43. Which of these foods contains the most vitamin C?
- Lemons
- Red peppers
- Kiwis
- Oranges
Correct answer: Red peppers
Explanation: Most people think of oranges when the topic is vitamin C richness. But, red peppers have about 3x more than oranges.
44. The Great Wall of China was built using _____ as mortar.
- rice
- crushed crabs
- clay
- bamboo paste
Correct answer: rice
Explanation: Sticky rice was mixed with slaked lime to create "sticky rice mortar" during the Ming dynasty. The amylopectin from rice created a remarkably strong, water-resistant bond that's lasted centuries.
45. What is the only letter that doesn't appear in any U.S. state name?
Correct answer: Q
Explanation: Q is the only letter missing from all 50 U.S. state names. J appears in New Jersey, X in Texas and New Mexico, and Z in Arizona.
46. Which of these signs is called "octothorpe"?
Correct answer: #
Explanation: The # symbol is called octothorpe. It's also called hash, pound sign, or hashtag depending on context.
47. The term "buttload" is an actual unit of measurement. It equals to how many gallons?
Correct answer: 126
Explanation: A "butt" is a traditional wine cask holding 126 gallons (477 liters). So a "buttload" is literally a cart-full of wine butts. The word comes from Medieval Latin "buttis" meaning cask.
48. The Moon is moving away from Earth at _____ centimeters per year.
Correct answer: 3.8
Explanation: The Moon drifts 3.8 cm away annually due to tidal forces. In 600 million years, total solar eclipses will be impossible because the Moon will appear too small to cover the Sun completely.
49. Which word "___" has the most definitions in the English dictionary with over 430 different meanings?
Correct answer: set
Explanation: "Set" has 430+ definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary, taking 60,000 words to explain them all.
50. Which of these things are illegal in Switzerland?
- Washing your car on Sunday
- Mowing lawn on Sunday
- Flushing toilet after 10pm in apartments
- Hiking naked
- Owning a guinea pig
Correct answers: Washing your car on Sunday, Mowing lawn on Sunday, Flushing toilet after 10pm in apartments, Owning a guinea pig
Explanation: Switzerland bans single guinea pigs (they're social animals), Sunday lawn mowing (noise), late-night toilet flushing (noise), and Sunday car washing (religious day of rest). Naked hiking is actually legal on designated trails!
51. Which beverage was originally marketed as a medicine for headaches and exhaustion?
- Dr Pepper
- Coca-Cola
- 7-Up
- Pepsi
Correct answer: Coca-Cola
Explanation: Coca-Cola was invented by pharmacist John Pemberton in 1886 as a "brain tonic" containing cocaine (hence "Coca") and caffeine. It was sold at pharmacy soda fountains as medicine before becoming a soft drink.
52. Which soft drink was created specifically to mix with whiskey?
- Mountain Dew
- Dr Pepper
- Canada Dry
- Coca-Cola
Correct answer: Mountain Dew
Explanation: Mountain Dew was created in 1940s Tennessee as a whiskey mixer. The name is slang for moonshine. The original bottles had a hillbilly shooting at a revener. It was reformulated as a citrus soda in 1958.