American Trivia – Aug 4, 2011
1. Christopher Columbus is credited with ‘discovering America’ in what year?
1492
2. How many stripes are on the American flag?
13. Representing the 13 colonies.
3. Our national anthem, the Star Spangled Banner commemorates an American victory in
which war?
War of 1812. Against the British. (Battle of Fort McHenry in defense of Baltimore.)
4. According to the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1807-1882) poem:
‘Listen my children and you shall hear
Of the midnight ride of … [who]?’
Paul Revere. (Revolutionary War)
5. According to the folk song:
‘Yankee Doodle went to town / A-riding on a pony, / Stuck a feather in his cap / And
called it … [what?]‘
‘macaroni'. This is a song of the French and Indian War, 1754-63. (Macaroni wig,
foppishness)
6. The so-called ‘Forever Stamp’ can always be used to mail a first-class letter. What
famous bell is pictured on that stamp.
The Liberty Bell.
7. What is the official residence of the Obama family?
The White House. Official residence of American head of state.
8. The Gettysburg Address begins, ‘Four score and seven years ago …’ How many
years are ‘Four score and seven’?
87 (a score is 20 years – Abraham Lincoln, after battle of Gettysburg)
9. What most famous denim garment was invented in America in 1873?
(blue) jeans
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10. During the last stages of the Civil War, General Sherman issued a field order to
provide a livelihood for newly freed slaves. They would receive 40 acres of land,
and one specific farm animal. What was the farm animal?
A mule. (This became known as the 40 acres and a mule policy)
11. By the time it is five years old, the head feathers of the bird that is America’s
national symbol have turned from brown to their final color. What color is that?
White
12. If someone is authentically American through and through. We may compare
him or her to what kind of fruit pie?
Apple pie.
13. In American culture, if you are taking someone’s photograph, you may ask him
or her to say which word, to ensure a beautiful smile?
Cheese.
14. An attack on U.S. naval forces brought the U.S. into WWII. Where did that attack
occur?
Pearl Harbor, HI
15. During WWII, women in the army were admitted to WAC, the Women’s Army
Corps. Women wanting to join the navy joined a volunteer group called by what
acronymn?
‘WAVES’. Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service.
WAAC: Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps  WAC: Women’s Army Corps
16. Also known as the ‘Tin Lizzie’ this 1908 car mass produced by the Ford Motor
Company was affordable, and so began the Motor Age of American history.
Model T.
17. What does the I stand for in I-75?
Interstate.
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18. In Stephen Foster’s song ‘Oh Susanna’ from what state does the singer come from,
having a banjo on his knee?
Alabama
I come from Alabama with a banjo on my knee,
I'm going to Louisiana, my true love for to see …
Oh, Susanna, don't you cry for me
cos' I come from Alabama
With my banjo on my knee.
19. In American mythology, the hero lumberjack Paul Bunyan has a large animal
companion. What kind of animal was it?
An ox. Babe the Blue Ox.
20. To what continent does Mexico belong?
North America
1) Europe, 2) Australia, 3) Africa, 4) Antarctica, 5) North America, 6) Asia, and 7) South
America.
21. In 1912, 3000 of this kind of tree were donated by the people of Japan to beautify our
nation’s capital.
Cherry trees.
22. America’s favorite stuffed animal, the Teddy Bear was named for which U.S. president?
Theodore Roosevelt. From a story of his refusing to kill a tied up bear (that his attendants
tied up during a hunt).
23. Our nation’s capital is not located in one of the 50 states, but in a special district. What
is the name of that district?
District of Columbia.
24. In the 2000 presidential election between Bush and Gore, the count in the pivotal state
of Florida was close. In the manual recount, officials interpreted the voter intention of a
punchcard ballot where the punched out piece was still attached to the ballot . If it hung by
a corner what was that punched out piece called?
Hanging Chad. Gore was declared to have won, then the election was ‘too close to call’.
Bush was given the win when the recount was stopped. (Two corners attached: swinging
chad. Three, tri-chad. Four, dimpled or pregnant chad.)
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25. How many presidential heads are carved into Mt. Rushmore?
4 (George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, Theodore Roosevelt)
26. The poetic lines,
"Give me your tired, your poor,
Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free …”
are inscribed at the base of which American statue?
Statue of Liberty. From The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus.
27. What famous American delivered the famous line:
‘This is one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.’
Neil Armstrong. First moonwalk.
28. In the folk ballad, ‘Oh my Darling, Clementine’, the lover sings:
In a cavern, in a canyon,
Excavating for a mine
Dwelt a miner forty niner,
And his daughter Clementine
What did Clementine’s father mine for?
Gold. 1849. 1st main year of California Gold Rush.
30. Where was President Barack Obama born?
Honolulu, Hawaii.
31. What U.S. airline has the same two letter abbreviation as the most well-known support
group for alcoholics
American Airlines. AA.
32. During the 1950s, Wham-0 toy company began a craze by marketing a large circular
plastic object whose use gave the hips a real workout. What was it?
Hula hoop
33. In what stately Memphis home did Elvis Presley live from 1957 until his death in 1977.
Graceland.
34. In America, ‘football’ refers to the sport ‘football’ with an oblong ball , touchdowns, and
a 50-yard line. In Britain, the word ‘football’ refers which American sport?
Soccer.
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35. In which musical does A chorus of Puerto Rican girls led by Rita Morena (Anita) sing,
‘I like to be in America
OK by me in America
Everything free in America
(Boys: For a small fee in America!)
West Side Story. 1957: Broadway musical. 1961: Film.
36. In 1892, the U. S. government began processing millions of immigrants through
its most well-known inspection station located on what New York island?
Ellis Island.
37. In the popular 19th century song ‘I wish I was in Dixie’, adopted as the anthem
of the Confederacy, the singer wishes he was back in the land of which plant?
Cotton.
I wish I was in the land of cotton,
Old times they are not forgotten;
Look away! Look away! Look away! Dixie Land.
38. In 1830, Joseph Smith received visions that led him to found a new religious
sect, now headquartered in Salt Lake City. Which religion was that?
Mormon.
39. Originating in South America, this tasty red vegetable, which is actually a fruit,
was spread around the world due to Spanish colonization.
Tomato.
40. What was the name of the ship that carried the Pilgrims to Plymouth Rock?
The Mayflower.
41. This native American plant with large fragrant leaves became a number one
cash crop for the state of Kentucky.
Tobacco.
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42. On February 2nd, Americans look for this large rodent to come out of its burrow
and look for its shadow.
Groundhog (also known as woodchuck). If it sees its shadow, 6 more weeks of
winter. If it doesn’t the winter-like weather will soon end.
43. This famous composer/conductor composed the National March of the United
States, ‘The Stars and Stripes Forever.’
John Philip Sousa. (1854-1932)
44. Good, solid American values are to be found in this fictional TV town where Andy
Griffith and Barney Fife lived.
Mayberry, North Carolina. Andy Griffith Show. (1960-1968)
45. The 19th Amendment to the U.S. constitution guaranteed women’s suffrage. What did
it give women the right to do?
Vote.
The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the
United States or by any State on account of sex.
suffrage: late 14c., "prayers or pleas on behalf of another," from O.Fr. suffrage (13c.), from
M.L. suffragium, from L. suffragium "support, vote, right of voting," from suffragari "lend
support, vote for someone," from sub "under" (see sub-) + fragor "crash, din, shouts (as of
approval)," related to frangere "to break" (see fraction). The meaning "right to vote" is first
found in the U.S. Constitution, 1787.
46. Our senator, Rand Paul, would approve. In 1773, unhappy colonists dumped shiploads
of what British product into Boston Harbor, an event leading up to the Revolutionary War.
Tea. (Rand Paul, Rep senator from KY.)
46. The burgling of the Democratic National Committee office in 1972 led Richard
Nixon to resign in disgrace. In what hotel complex was the DNC office located?
Watergate Hotel (and Office Building).
47. This American frontiersman was born right here in Madison County, KY.
There’s an elementary school named after him right down the street.
Kit Carson. (Daniel Boone was born near Reading, PA.)
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48. Pop singer Jennifer Lopez’s parents come from this U.S. territory, which is why
she speaks Spanish.
Puerto Rico.
49. Give one of the 5 most common surnames in America.
Smith, Johnson, Williams, Brown, Jones (2000 census).
50. About 88% of Americans eat this American bird at Thanksgiving dinner.
Turkey. National Turkey Federation survey, 2010 webpage.
51. According to the song, ‘America the Beautiful’, what color are America’s ‘waves
of grain’?
Amber.
O beautiful for spacious skies, For amber waves of grain, For purple mountain
majesties Above the fruited plain! America! America! God shed his grace on thee
And crown thy good with brotherhood From sea to shining sea! 52. What was the 50th state admitted to the U.S.?
Hawaii (Aug 21, 1959). Alaska (Jan 3, 1959).
53. What state would a Hoosier be from?
Indiana.
54. The Pennsylvania Dutch people are not descended from Dutch people from the
Netherlands. Rather, their ancestors came from which country, for example.
Germany, Switzerland. ‘Dutch’ is a pronunciation of ‘deutsch’ which means German.
55. The official office of the U. S. president is located in the West Wing of the White
House? What shape is it?
Oval. The Oval Office.
56. Sonny, of Sonny and Cher fame, went on to become a U.S. Representative from
which state?
California. Elected 1994, served until his death in skiing accident 1998.
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57. A popular variety of potato is named after this state.
Idaho.
58. Legend has it, a young George Washington could not tell a lie to his father about
chopping down what species of tree?
Cherry tree.
59. In which state do most Cajun people live?
Louisiana. Cajun people are descendents of Acadians from Canada.
60. The Revolutionary War was also known as the War of Independence. What
country were the American colonialists trying to gain independence from?
Britain.
61. In the 1980s, the ethnic description ‘black’ was replaced by what term that
referred to geographic origin, not skin color?
African-American.
62. Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world. What is the tallest mountain in
North America?
Mt. McKinley (Alaska).
63. The most gold stored anywhere in the world is stored right here in Kentucky. At
which Army post?
Fort Knox.
64. What breed of dog is the current First Dog of the United States?
Portuguese Water Dog. Relative of the poodle. First daughter Malia Obama suffers
from allergies. So, President Obama got his family a dog of this allegedly hypoallergenic
breed.
65. Hopefully, we won’t go into debt because this government program gives our
seniors an important check benefit check every month.
Social Security.
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66. According to the western song, where do ‘the buffalo roam’ and ‘the deer and
the antelope play’?
‘Home on the range’
Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
Home, home on the range
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day
67. What popular short expression is also the abbreviation for the state of
Oklahoma?
OK
68. ‘Remember the Alamo’ commemorates a battle that occurred in which state?
Texas. A battle of the Texas Revolution. All but two Texas defenders killed by
Mexican troops.
69. Though it’s not our official state motto, this expression is written on the regular
standard vehicle KY license plate.
Unbridled spirit.
Kentucky's official state motto is "United we stand, divided we fall".
70. Herman Melville’s Great American Novel Moby-Dick is set amidst the romance
and drama of which important American industry of previous centuries?
Whaling. Published 1851.