Answers, correct percentages (out of 52 submissions), and (for some questions) additional notes can be revealed by clicking “Answer” below each question. Percentages are rounded down to the closest whole number.
1. What was the name of David Mitchell’s 2004 novel that was made into a 2012 film starring Tom Hanks?
2. In what year was the most recent amendment to the U. S. Constitution ratified?
3. Five of the ten tallest buildings in Africa are located in what nation?
4. What is the name for the type of optical phenomenon that can be categorized as “inferior,” “superior,” or “Fata Morgana”?
5. Although it was originally composed as a military march, “Entrance of the Gladiators” by Czech composer Julius Fučík is today more commonly associated with what type of performer?
6. What early 20th Century art movement, led by Henri Matisse and André Derain, has a French name that means “the wild beasts”?
7. Saffron comes from the stigmas of what type of flower?
8. In a theater, what is the term for the seating area that is between the floor level and below (or in front of) the balcony level?
9. What animal, native to South America, is the largest member of the rodentia order?
10. What color is the wallpaper in the title of a Charlotte Perkins Gilman short story about a sequestered woman’s descent into madness?
11. In Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus, what is Venus standing on?
12. In the U. S. line of presidential succession, who comes after the president pro tempore of the Senate?
13. Name any one of the residents of the fictional city of Equestria.
14. Name the Norwegian explorer who led expeditions to both of the Earth’s poles, making him the first person to have visited both.
15. Two artists have each won eight Grammys in a single night – one in 1984 and one in 2000. Name them both.
16. What was the name of Charles Dickens’ first novel, which was published in 1836 and introduced the character Sam Weller?
17. Menlo Park, home to Thomas Edison’s research laboratory, is in what U.S. state?
18. What band performs the theme song for the CBS sitcom The Big Bang Theory?
19. What is the only state to have a motto that’s in the Spanish language?
20. Who is the only performer from New Zealand to win a Grammy for Song of the Year? Hint: The Grammy was won in 2014.
21. What Spanish explorer was the first European to reach the Pacific coast of the Americas?
22. Name the American street artist, alive from 1960 to 1988, who used a number of recurring symbols in his works, most notably a crown with three points.
23. What color is most prominently associated with the Netherlands national football team?
24. To which royal house does Queen Elizabeth II belong?
25. What English writer authored the graphic novels Watchmen and V for Vendetta?
26. The movie “The King’s Speech” is about which monarch of the United Kingdom?
27. What would you expect to find inside an ossuary?
28. Who was the leader of the musical group “the Tijiuana Brass”?
29. What two countries participate in the Ashes, an annual cricket series?
30. The software program Adobe Acrobat is used for the creation and editing of what file format?
31. Where would you most likely see a “Landolt C” or an “E Chart”?
32. What American politician and diplomat was born Marie Jana Korbelová in Prague in 1937?
33. What modern technological word comes from the Czech for “forced labor,” and was coined in an early 20th Century play?
34. What is the name for the reddish-brown clay-based ceramic material whose name comes from the Italian for “baked earth”?
35. What 1938 Pulitzer Prize-winning play is, according the script, to be performed with no set and minimal props?
36. Roll Me Up and Smoke Me When I Die is a 2012 book written by what musician?
37. In what decade did the Pirates of the Caribbean ride open in Disneyland?
38. What restaurant chain is known for their Cheddar Bay biscuits?
39. Which actress starred in the title role of the 1960s ABC sitcom The Flying Nun?
40. “Shift,” “jumper,” and “maxi” are all styles of what?
41. Hand with Reflecting Sphere is a self-portrait by what 20th Century artist, most known for his woodcuts, lithographs, and mezzotints?
42. Who was the only U.S. president to never marry?
43. If something is “xanthic,” what color is it?
44. What Atlantic archipelago, Spain’s southernmost autonomous community, includes the islands of Tenerife and Fuerteventura?
45. Arguably one of the best selling books of all time, Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-tung is commonly known in the West by a different title, which references the size and color of the most popular printings. What is this title?
46. “Stick and poke” is a recently popularized DIY method used by amateur artists in what medium?
47. Which is the only of Ian Fleming’s original James Bond novels to be written in first person, from the point of view of a woman? (Hint: the title was used for a Bond film, although the plot of the book was not used.)
48. What social network was co-founded by Thomas Anderson in 2003?
49. The Zambezi River ends in Mozambique, where it flows into what ocean?
50. What author wrote The Dark Tower series of novels?
51. What is the (appropriate) first name of Bill Murray’s character in the movie Groundhog Day?
52. What is the term for a rope shaped into a lasso, which is also used for a style of necklace?
53. What is the name of the hip hop record label, which existed from 1979 until 1986, produced a namesake “gang,” and was named after an affluent neighborhood of Harlem?
54. Silflay (“to eat outside”) and Crixa (“The center of Efrafa, at the crossing point of two bridle paths”) are two examples words from the Lapine language. What 1972 novel introduced this fictional language?
55. What country’s second most populous city is Busan? According to 2012 data, Busan had a population of 3.5 million, while the most populous city, its country’s capital, had a population of 10.2 million.
56. The most prominent American to contribute to the Art Nouveau movement was a stained glass designer from New York. His father founded a jewelry company and created the first American retail catalog. What is their last name?
57. A turning point in the American Revolution, the Battle of Freeman’s Farm and the Battle of Bemis Heights are collectively known as the “Battles of” what New York town?
58. Name the Impressionist painter whose works, including The Child’s Bath, Little Girl in Blue Armchair, and Young Mother Sewing, prominently featured the private lives of women, often including their small children.
59. 17th Century German scientist Johannes Kepler is most known for developing a set of laws that pertain with the movement of what?
60. Name the golfer who in 2011, at the age of 16, became the youngest-ever winner of an LPGA tournament.
61. What is the specific honorific currently held by Anne, Queen Elizabeth II’s daughter only?
62. The 22nd Amendment to the U.S. Constitution limits what to a total of two?
63. What are the only two South American countries that do not share a land border with Brazil?
64. “Oops! All Berries” is the name of a variation of what breakfast cereal?
65. In the 1968 song by Donovan, what title location is “way down below the ocean, where I want to be”?
66. The Steve Wilkos Show debuted shortly after Wilkos departure from what other daytime talk show in 2007?
67. A series of attacks on (predominantly) Mexican American youths in Los Angeles in 1943 were named after what type of garment? The name is also referenced in a song that became popular during the late 1990s swing music revival.
68. According to the rules of the NHL, how much game time must a player spend in the penalty box for incurring a minor penalty?
69. The Duncan Toys Company, founded in 1929, is best known for producing what type of toy?
70. What name is shared by the second-largest moon of Saturn and a Cheers cast member?
71. “The world below the brine; Forests at the bottom of the sea — the branches and leaves, sea-lettuce, vast lichens, strange flowers and seeds.” In a season 21 episode of The Simpsons, Lisa reads to a beached whale from what 19th Century work?
72. The capitals of both North Dakota and South Dakota (along with one other state capital) lie along what river?
73. What is the musical term (also a term in psychiatry) for a contrapuntal compositional technique in two or more voices, built on a musical theme that is introduced at the beginning in imitation (repetition at different pitches) and which recurs frequently in the course of the composition?
74. Whether or not you consider it a Christmas movie, it is indisputable that this 1988 film was based on Roderick Thorp’s 1979 novel Nothing Lasts Forever. Name the movie, which is ranked #39 on AFI’s “100 Years… 100 Thrills” list.
75. What Greek letter is used in math and science to represent difference or change?
76. In Greek mythology, the monster Typhon was trapped under what mountain by Zeus? The mountain is also the tallest active volcano in Europe, and the highest peak in Italy south of the Alps.
77. Krylon, Rust-Oleum, and Montana are among the most popular brands of what specific art material?
78. Schweigt stille, plaudert nicht is a mini-comic opera (though sometimes referred to as a cantata) by Johann Sebastian Bach that humorously depicts addiction to what substance?
79. The Oakland Athletics use what type of animal as their mascot, originally adopted in response to an insult from an opposing team’s manager, implying that the Athletics’ owner had an unprofitable team on his hands?
80. “Red October” is one of the common names for an uprising which was one of the inciting events for which country’s civil war?
81. In 1960, it was a horror comedy film directed by Roger Corman. In 1986, it was a horror comedy musical film directed by Frank Oz. In 2003, the musical went to Broadway. What is the title of the work?
82. Ouro Preto, located in the one of the main areas of an 18th Century gold rush, is located in what country?
83. The Rum Rebellion was a successful armed takeover of government in 1808 in what (then) colony, during which Governor William Bligh was deposed?
84. What is the name for the style of lottery, originated in China, in which players choose numbers (typically) ranging from 1 to 80 before a random draw of 20 numbers is made?
85. Name the 18th Century German botanist and zoologist after whom species of eagle, jay, and sea lion are named.
86. Pharrell’s notorious hat from the 2014 Grammy Awards was a vintage women’s hat created by what British fashion designer, famous for popularizing punk and New Wave fashions?
87. The United States Electoral College is made up of how many electors? (Hint: Nate Silver would certainly be able to help you out with this one.)
88. A member of the Byrds, a member of Buffalo Springfield, and a member of the Hollies together make up what folk rock trio that released singles that include “Southern Cross” and “Just a Song Before I Go”?
89. Speakers of the three most widely spoken languages in the world can be called “sinophones,” “hispanophones,” and “anglophones.” Speakers of the sixth most popular language can be called “lusophones.” What language do those people speak?
90. What is the name of the water sport, similar to water skiing, in which the participant rides on a single board behind a motorboat?
91. According to Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s famous poem, in Xanadu “a stately pleasure dome” was decreed by which East Asian ruler of the 13th Century?
92. The title character of a 1749 comic novel by Henry Fielding shares a name with a Welsh singer who scored two U.S. top 10 hits in 1965 (according to the Billboard Hot 100). What name do both share?
93. Tristan da Cunha is a British Overseas Territory and the most remote inhabited archipelago in the world, lying 1,200 miles from the nearest inhabited land. In which ocean is it located?
94. In the movie Twilight: New Moon, each actor portraying one of the wolf pack was required to have documentation proving what?
95. What textile-based craft, whose name comes from the Arabic for “fringe,” uses knotting, rather than weaving or knitting?
96. What is the title of the English translation of the novel originally published as Im Westen nichts Neues?
97. According to Apple, what app developed by Niantic was the most-downloaded game in the App Store in 2016?
98. Which NFL team is most commonly referred to as “The Dirty Birds”?
99. Zippy, the mascot for the University of Akron’s sports teams, is notable for being one of the few primary college mascots that is depicted as female. What type of animal is Zippy?
100. An annual (and often controversial) art prize awarded by the Tate in London is named in honor of what English landscape painter?
101. What pop vocal group, named for their lead singer, had a disco hit with “Lady Marmalade” in 1974?
102. What type of animal is depicted on the state flag of Louisiana?
103. What is the name of the Hindu spring festival, also known as the festival of colors, during which (amongst other activities) pigmented water is joyfully thrown/sprayed/splashed, leaving participants splattered with an array of bright colors?
104. What method of communication was invented in 1824 and was based on “night writing,” a system used by the French Army?
105. In August 2014, at age 13, Mo’ne Davis made a name for herself while competing in what sport?
106. Nickelodeon’s nighttime block of programming (Nick at Nite) was spun-off into its own 24-hour cable channel beginning in 1996. What is this channel’s current name?
107. Name the naturalist who founded the Sierra Club and has had many namesakes, including a trail in the Sierra Nevada, a college at UC San Diego, a glacier, and a long-distance route in Scotland.
108. The Ochroma pyramidale is commonly known as what type of tree, native to South and Central America, known for its lightweight, high strength wood?
109. Jean Rhys was born on the island of Dominica (one of the Caribbean’s Windward Islands), but her most famous novel Wide Sargasso Sea is set on a much larger island among the Greater Antilles. Name this island, which was also part of the British West Indies.
110. What is the name of the widespread archipelago located off the western coast of Scotland that is separated into “Inner” and “Outer” groups?
111. A hedcut is a specific style of portrait illustration (using stipple and hatching methods to emulate the look of a woodcut illustration) that has been prominently utilized by what publication since 1979?
112. Today, television writer/producer Chuck Lorre’s name is most associated with shows like The Big Bang Theory and Mike and Molly, but what 90’s sitcom was the first to have Chuck Lorre as an executive producer (for it’s 1991-1992 season)?
113. Paper or cardboard produced from chemical pulp, typically brown in color with uses including paper grocery bags and food packaging, is known by what five-letter name?
114. Malcolm X was born with what surname?
115. What is the branded name for the high intensity fitness program created by Greg Glassman in the late 20th Century? The regimen is considered both an exercise philosophy and a competitive sport and has its own set of jargon, including “WOD” (workout of the day) and “box” (an affiliated gym).
116. Singer is a popular brand of what type of device? They have been making variations of this product since their founding in 1851, including the first electric version, which they introduced in 1889.
117. Rapper Wiz Khalifa’s first number one single on the Billboard Hot 100, released in 2010, references what two colors in its title?
118. What is the name for a subatomic particle that is made of quarks and is subject to the strong interaction?
119. What name was given to Lorelai’s dog on Gilmore Girls, in honor of a crooner known for songs including “Diana” and “Put Your Head on my Shoulder”?
120. Name the child star, born in 1928, who retired from film at age 22 and later became a U.S. Ambassador.
121. What medium-sized antelope of eastern and southern Africa is also the name of an American car model?
122. A common tradition amongst Christians trying to sell a house is to bury a statue of what saint, the patron saint of house sellers as well as craftsmen, in the yard, upside down and facing the house?
123. What is the title of Leslie Gore’s 1963 sequel to her first pop hit “It’s My Party,” which continues the plotline of the love triangle described in the earlier song?
124. Mount Mitchell, the highest peak in the United States east of the Mississippi River, is located in what state?
125. In what year did Michael Jordan receive his first Most Valuable Player Award?
Visual Question Set
126. What is the name for this type of photograph, an early form of 3D entertainment?
127. This redacted image is a book cover of what 1953 novel?
128. Name this vacuum-powered hair cutting device that was heavily marketed in 1980s infomercials.
129. What country does this (redacted) coin originate from?
130. This album cover art was created as an homage to what musician’s self-titled debut album?
131. What is the name for this device, a type of mechanical analog computer?
132. Identify this Scandinavian nobleman and scientist.
133. These results depict the final standings of a competition in what sport at the 2016 Olympics?
134. This image is taken from what 1980s film?
135. This variety of Girl Scout cookie is sold under two different names. Name either one.
136. What whiskey cocktail (made with bitters, sugar, and a citrus rind) is depicted here?
137. This image depicts the outline of which African country?
138. What is the name for this type of knot?
139. This redacted image is a screenshot of what still-active website’s home page, as it appeared in December 1998?
140. This image is taken from the opening credits of what 1980s NBC crime drama?
