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#1 What is the Italian word for "tomato"?
Explanation
'Pomodoro' literally means 'golden apple' in Italian, reflecting how tomatoes were initially received when brought from the Americas to Europe in the 16th century.
#2 The commercial UK channel ITV stands for "International Television".
Explanation
ITV stands for 'Independent Television,' launched in 1955 as the UK's first commercial television network to compete with the BBC.
#3 What are the three starter Pokemon available in Pokemon Black and White?
Explanation
The Unova region starters are Snivy (Grass-type), Tepig (Fire-type), and Oshawott (Water-type), following the traditional starter type triangle introduced in Generation V.
#4 What is the star sign of someone born on Valentines day?
Explanation
February 14th falls within the Aquarius period (January 20 - February 18), making anyone born on Valentine's Day an Aquarius in astrological terms.
#5 What was Mountain Dew's original slogan?
Explanation
Mountain Dew's original 1940s slogan emphasized its hillbilly roots and unique citrus flavor, before evolving into the more famous 'Do the Dew' campaign of the 1990s.
#6 What is the unit of currency in Laos?
Explanation
The Lao kip has been the official currency of Laos since 1955, replacing the French Indochinese piastre after the country gained independence from France.
#7 The average woman is 5 inches / 13 centimeters shorter than the average man.
Explanation
Global statistics show that men are on average about 5 inches (12-13 cm) taller than women, though this varies by population and geographic region.
#8 Albert Einstein had trouble with mathematics when he was in school.
Explanation
This is a persistent myth. Einstein was actually exceptional at mathematics from a young age, mastering calculus before age 15 and excelling in physics and math throughout his education.
#9 Which river flows through the Scottish city of Glasgow?
Explanation
The River Clyde flows through Glasgow and was crucial to the city's industrial development, particularly in shipbuilding during the 19th and early 20th centuries.
#10 In a 1994 CBS interview, Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates performed what unusual trick on camera?
Explanation
Bill Gates demonstrated his athleticism by jumping over an office chair from a standing position during a 1994 interview, surprising viewers with this unexpected display of agility.
#11 The term "scientist" was coined in which year?
Explanation
William Whewell coined the term 'scientist' in 1833, before which people engaged in scientific research were called 'natural philosophers' or 'men of science.'
#12 What character was once considered to be the 27th letter of the alphabet?
Explanation
The ampersand (&) was taught as the 27th letter of the alphabet in the 1800s. Students would recite 'X, Y, Z, and per se and,' which became 'ampersand.'
#13 Which item of clothing is usually worn by a Scotsman at a wedding?
Explanation
The kilt is traditional Scottish Highland dress, typically made of tartan wool. It's commonly worn at formal occasions like weddings, representing clan heritage and Scottish identity.
#14 Which logical fallacy means to attack the character of your opponent rather than their arguments?
Explanation
Ad hominem (Latin for 'to the person') is a logical fallacy where someone attacks the character or personal traits of their opponent instead of addressing their actual argument.
#15 The pickled gherkin was first added to hamburgers because a US health law required all fast-food to include a source of Vitamin C.
Explanation
Pickles were added to hamburgers for taste and preservation, not for health regulations. They provide tangy flavor and help cut through the richness of meat and cheese.
#16 What name represents the letter "M" in the NATO phonetic alphabet?
Explanation
The NATO phonetic alphabet uses 'Mike' for the letter M. This standardized system ensures clear communication in military, aviation, and emergency services worldwide.
#17 Which of these American singers and songwriters won a Nobel Prize in Literature?
Explanation
Bob Dylan won the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature 'for having created new poetic expressions within the great American song tradition,' making him the first musician to receive this honor.
#18 Kissing someone for one minute burns about 2 calories.
Explanation
A passionate one-minute kiss can burn approximately 2-3 calories due to increased heart rate and the physical activity of facial muscles and breathing.
#19 What year was the first Apple iPod introduced?
Explanation
Apple launched the first iPod on October 23, 2001, with the slogan '1,000 songs in your pocket,' revolutionizing portable music and helping transform Apple into a consumer electronics giant.
#20 Fast food restaurant chains Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are owned by the same company.
Explanation
Both Carl's Jr. and Hardee's are owned by CKE Restaurants Holdings, with Carl's Jr. primarily on the West Coast and Hardee's on the East Coast and Midwest.
#21 What year was Apple Inc. founded?
Explanation
Apple was founded on April 1, 1976, by Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak, and Ronald Wayne in Jobs' family garage in Los Altos, California.
#22 What is the defining characteristic of someone who is described as hirsute?
Explanation
Hirsute comes from the Latin 'hirsutus' meaning rough or shaggy, and describes someone with excessive or abundant body hair, particularly facial or body hair.
#23 What alcoholic drink is mainly made from juniper berries?
Explanation
Gin is a spirit flavored primarily with juniper berries, which give it its distinctive piney taste. The name 'gin' derives from 'genever,' the Dutch word for juniper.
#24 The term "Spam" came before the food product "Spam".
Explanation
The Spam meat product was introduced by Hormel in 1937. The internet term 'spam' for unwanted messages came much later, named after the repetitive Monty Python 'Spam' sketch.
#25 What is the German word for "spoon"?
Explanation
'Löffel' is German for spoon. The other options are 'Gabel' (fork), 'Messer' (knife), and 'Essstäbchen' (chopsticks).
#26 Who is a co-founder of music streaming service Spotify?
Explanation
Daniel Ek co-founded Spotify in 2006 with Martin Lorentzon in Sweden, revolutionizing music streaming and becoming one of the world's largest music platforms.
#27 This field is sometimes known as "The Dismal Science."
Explanation
Thomas Carlyle coined the term 'dismal science' for economics in 1849, criticizing the field's pessimistic predictions about human behavior and resource scarcity.
#28 Sitting for more than three hours a day can cut two years off a person's life expectancy.
Explanation
Research published in BMJ Open found that reducing sitting time to less than 3 hours daily could increase life expectancy by 2 years, highlighting the health risks of sedentary behavior.
#29 Which of these words means "idle spectator"?
Explanation
A gongoozler is British dialect for someone who stares idly at activity, particularly watching boats or workers on canals. The term originated in the early 20th century.
#30 Which language is NOT Indo-European?
Explanation
Hungarian belongs to the Finno-Ugric family, related to Finnish and Estonian. Russian, Greek, and Latvian are all Indo-European languages with common ancestral roots.
#31 Which of the General Mills Corporation's monster cereals was the last to be released in the 1970's?
Explanation
Fruit Brute was introduced in 1974 as the fourth monster cereal, featuring a werewolf mascot and lime flavor. It was discontinued in 1982, making it the rarest of the monster cereals.
#32 Popcorn was invented in 1871 by Frederick W. Rueckheim in the USA where he sold the snack on the streets of Chicago.
Explanation
Popcorn wasn't invented by Rueckheim; it dates back thousands of years to ancient civilizations. Rueckheim created Cracker Jack in 1871, which contained popcorn, but he didn't invent popcorn itself.
#33 What is the romanized Russian word for "winter"?
Explanation
In Russian, 'zima' means winter, 'leto' means summer, 'vesna' means spring, and 'osen'' means autumn. These seasonal words are fundamental vocabulary in Russian.
#34 The lesser-known continuation of the saying "Curiosity killed the cat..." is:
Explanation
The complete saying 'Curiosity killed the cat, but satisfaction brought it back' emphasizes that while curiosity can be dangerous, gaining knowledge and satisfaction makes it worthwhile.
#35 Instant mashed potatoes were invented by Canadian Edward Asselbergs in 1962.
Explanation
Edward Asselbergs, working for Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, developed the process for instant mashed potatoes in 1962, revolutionizing convenience food preparation.
#36 Where does water from Poland Spring water bottles come from?
Explanation
Despite its name, Poland Spring water comes from springs in Maine, USA, not Poland. The brand was named after the town of Poland, Maine, where it originated in 1845.
#37 Which of these is the name of a Japanese system of alternative medicine, literally meaning "finger pressure"?
Explanation
Shiatsu combines 'shi' (finger) and 'atsu' (pressure) in Japanese. It's a therapeutic technique using finger and palm pressure on specific body points, similar to acupuncture without needles.
#38 What is the average life span of a queen garden ant?
Explanation
Queen garden ants can live up to 15 years, while worker ants typically live only a few months to a year. The queen's longevity allows her to maintain the colony for extended periods.
#39 What was the soft drink Pepsi originally introduced as?
Explanation
Caleb Bradham created 'Brad's Drink' in 1893 at his pharmacy in North Carolina. It was renamed Pepsi-Cola in 1898, supposedly after the digestive enzyme pepsin.
#40 What is the full title of the Prime Minister of the UK?
Explanation
The UK Prime Minister's official title is 'First Lord of the Treasury,' reflecting their role in overseeing government finances and their residence at 10 Downing Street.
#41 Coca-Cola's original colour was green.
Explanation
Coca-Cola has always been brown/caramel colored due to its ingredients. The green color myth likely stems from old green-tinted bottles that were used to protect the cola from sunlight.
#42 Who invented Pastafarianism?
Explanation
Bobby Henderson created Pastafarianism (Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster) in 2005 as a satirical response to teaching intelligent design in schools, advocating for evidence-based education.
#43 What is a "dakimakura"?
Explanation
Dakimakura is a Japanese term meaning 'hugging pillow' - a large body pillow, often featuring anime characters, used for comfort and companionship while sleeping.
#44 The vapor produced by e-cigarettes is actually water.
Explanation
E-cigarette vapor contains propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, flavorings, and often nicotine - not just water. While it may contain some water vapor, it's primarily these other chemicals.
#45 An eggplant is a vegetable.
Explanation
Botanically, eggplant is a fruit because it develops from the flower and contains seeds. Culinary-wise it's treated as a vegetable, but scientifically it's a berry.
#46 The scientific name for the Southern Lights is Aurora Australis?
Explanation
Aurora Australis is indeed the scientific name for the Southern Lights, visible in the Southern Hemisphere. The Northern Lights are called Aurora Borealis.
#47 Macintosh has named six of its operating systems after big cats. What big cat did Macintosh name their 2007 release after?
Explanation
Mac OS X 10.5 Leopard was released in October 2007, featuring over 300 new features including Time Machine backup and a redesigned Finder interface.
#48 What is the name of the popular animatronic singing fish prop, singing such hits such as "Don't Worry, Be Happy"?
Explanation
Big Mouth Billy Bass was a novelty animatronic fish that became a pop culture phenomenon in the late 1990s, singing songs like 'Take Me to the River' and 'Don't Worry, Be Happy.'
#49 Death Valley's Badwater Basin is North America's point of lowest elevation at how many feet below sea level?
Explanation
Badwater Basin in Death Valley, California, sits at 282 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point in North America and one of the hottest places on Earth.
#50 Apple co-founder Steve Jobs died from complications of which form of cancer?
Explanation
Steve Jobs died on October 5, 2011, from complications related to pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor, a rare form of pancreatic cancer he had battled since 2003.