Sunday, November 8, 2026

The tidbits, trivia answers and word pairs from Facts & Games on Sunday, November 8, 2026. Play today’s games · All past days · All past tidbits

Six tidbits

Commonly confused words

venerable vs. vulnerable

venerable: Respected because of age or wisdom. vulnerable: Open to harm or attack. Venerable means revered.

adverse vs. averse

adverse: Harmful or unfavorable. averse: Strongly disliking or opposed to. Conditions are adverse; a person is averse to them.

respectfully vs. respectively

respectfully: With politeness and regard. respectively: In the order already mentioned. Respectively matches items in a list, one by one.

temerity vs. timidity

temerity: Reckless boldness. timidity: A lack of courage. Timidity is timid.

economic vs. economical

economic: Relating to the economy. economical: Thrifty; giving good value. An economical car saves money.

Beatles trivia

1. The insect pun in the band’s name was partly inspired by which Buddy Holly backing band?Answer: The Crickets. John and Stuart Sutcliffe liked the idea of an insect name like Buddy Holly’s Crickets, spelled with “beat” for music.
2. Which make of car is parked on the pavement behind the band on the Abbey Road cover?Answer: A Volkswagen Beetle. A white Volkswagen Beetle sits on the pavement in Iain Macmillan’s famous photo.
3. Which 1965 single features John Lennon playing a harmonium?Answer: We Can Work It Out. John’s harmonium gives “We Can Work It Out” its wheezy, fairground-like texture.
4. In the film Help!, the four Beatles’ separate front doors on a terraced street lead into what?Answer: One shared open-plan home. The four doors open into a single large living space, one of the film’s best-known gags.
5. Which Sgt. Pepper song uses tapes of steam organ music cut into pieces and stuck back together at random?Answer: Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite!. George Martin and engineer Geoff Emerick chopped up fairground organ tapes to create the circus swirl.
6. Who voiced the cartoon Beatles for most of the animated film Yellow Submarine?Answer: Actors hired to imitate them. Actors such as John Clive and Geoffrey Hughes voiced the cartoon band; the real Beatles appear only in a short live-action ending.
7. Which Beatles single was the UK’s Christmas No. 1 in 1967?Answer: Hello, Goodbye. “Hello, Goodbye” topped the UK chart over Christmas 1967.
8. Which ex-Beatle released the album Walls and Bridges?Answer: John Lennon. Walls and Bridges, with “Whatever Gets You thru the Night”, is a John Lennon album.
9. Which ex-Beatle released the album Living in the Material World?Answer: George Harrison. Living in the Material World, with the hit “Give Me Love”, is George Harrison’s follow-up to All Things Must Pass.
10. Before she married Paul, Linda Eastman was best known for what work?Answer: Rock photography. Linda Eastman photographed many rock stars in the 1960s; she met Paul while working as a photographer.
11. What was Pattie Boyd’s job when she met George Harrison?Answer: Model. Pattie Boyd was a model, cast as a schoolgirl in A Hard Day’s Night, where she met George.
12. What was Cynthia Lennon’s surname before she married John?Answer: Powell. John met Cynthia Powell at Liverpool College of Art.
13. In A Hard Day’s Night, which Beatle wanders off alone along a riverside before a show?Answer: Ringo Starr. Ringo’s solo walk, set to an instrumental of “This Boy”, is one of the film’s best-loved scenes.
14. Which UK album includes “Yesterday”?Answer: Help!. “Yesterday” closes side two of Help!, just before “Dizzy Miss Lizzy”.
15. Which UK album includes “Across the Universe”?Answer: Let It Be. “Across the Universe” appears on Let It Be, in a version produced by Phil Spector.
16. Who sings lead on “Lovely Rita”?Answer: Paul McCartney. Paul wrote and sang “Lovely Rita” on Sgt. Pepper.
17. Which guitar maker built the short-scale 325 model John Lennon played in the band’s early years?Answer: Rickenbacker. John bought his Rickenbacker 325 in Hamburg and played it through the early Beatlemania years.
18. On which Abbey Road song does road manager Mal Evans strike an anvil?Answer: Maxwell’s Silver Hammer. Mal Evans hit the anvil that rings out on each “bang” of “Maxwell’s Silver Hammer”.
19. Which Alpine country gave the film Help! its snowy skiing scenes?Answer: Austria. The ski scenes were filmed at Obertauern in Austria.
20. What kind of music was Liverpool’s Cavern Club known for when it first opened?Answer: Jazz. The Cavern opened as a jazz club before beat groups like the Beatles took over.

Taylor Swift trivia

1. Which Midnights song did Swift co-write with “William Bowery”?Answer: Sweet Nothing. “William Bowery” is the pen name of actor Joe Alwyn, who co-wrote “Sweet Nothing” with Swift.
2. Counting from her 2006 debut, which was Swift’s seventh studio album?Answer: Lover. Lover followed Taylor Swift, Fearless, Speak Now, Red, 1989 and Reputation.
3. Besides Melbourne, which Australian city hosted Eras Tour shows?Answer: Sydney. The Eras Tour played Melbourne Cricket Ground and then Accor Stadium in Sydney.
4. Before its final shows in Vancouver, the Eras Tour played six nights in which Canadian city?Answer: Toronto. Swift played six sold-out nights at Toronto’s Rogers Centre before the tour ended in Vancouver.
5. Besides Rio de Janeiro, which Brazilian city hosted Eras Tour shows?Answer: São Paulo. The Eras Tour’s Brazilian dates were in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
6. On the Eras Tour, which album’s act was performed around a moss-covered cabin?Answer: Folklore. The Folklore set put Swift on and around a mossy woodland cabin.
7. What jersey number does Travis Kelce wear for the Kansas City Chiefs?Answer: 87. Kelce has worn No. 87 throughout his career with the Chiefs.
8. Evermore’s “Happiness” nods to which F. Scott Fitzgerald novel?Answer: The Great Gatsby. The song borrows an idea from The Great Gatsby, where Daisy hopes her daughter will be a “beautiful little fool.”
9. The title track of The Tortured Poets Department jokes that which pop singer should be a bigger artist?Answer: Charlie Puth. The song name-checks Charlie Puth, which helped send his catalog up the streaming charts.
10. Which character does Swift play in David O. Russell’s film Amsterdam?Answer: Liz Meekins. Swift plays Liz Meekins, the daughter of a murdered general whose death sets the plot moving.
11. In the film Valentine’s Day, who plays the boyfriend of Swift’s character, Felicia?Answer: Taylor Lautner. Taylor Lautner plays Willy, Felicia’s high-school boyfriend.
12. OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder co-wrote “I Know Places” and which other 1989 song?Answer: Welcome to New York. Tedder co-wrote and co-produced the album’s opener, “Welcome to New York.”
13. In the “Bad Blood” video, what is the code name of Swift’s character?Answer: Catastrophe. Swift plays Catastrophe, who is betrayed by Arsyn, played by Selena Gomez.
14. Which song closed every Eras Tour show?Answer: Karma. The Midnights act ended each night with “Karma” and a burst of confetti and fireworks.
15. Swift’s Wonderstruck fragrance was made with which beauty company?Answer: Elizabeth Arden. Swift’s perfumes, starting with Wonderstruck, were made with Elizabeth Arden.
16. Swift’s Speak Now song “Enchanted” is widely reported to be about which Owl City singer?Answer: Adam Young. Owl City’s Adam Young later released a cover of “Enchanted” as a reply.
17. Which Irish city hosted Eras Tour shows at Aviva Stadium?Answer: Dublin. The Eras Tour played three nights at Aviva Stadium in Dublin.
18. Swift played three Eras Tour nights in her home state at which Philadelphia stadium?Answer: Lincoln Financial Field. Lincoln Financial Field, home of the Philadelphia Eagles, hosted three Eras Tour shows.
19. Which quarterback is Travis Kelce’s longtime Chiefs teammate?Answer: Patrick Mahomes. Mahomes and Kelce have been teammates since the Chiefs drafted Mahomes in 2017.
20. Swedish producer Ali Payami co-wrote and co-produced which 1989 single?Answer: Style. “Style” was written by Swift, Max Martin, Shellback and Ali Payami.

Football trivia

1. Who was the first overall pick in the 2007 NFL Draft?Answer: JaMarcus Russell. The Oakland Raiders took LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell first overall.
2. Who was the first overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft?Answer: Carson Palmer. The Cincinnati Bengals drafted USC quarterback Carson Palmer, the 2002 Heisman Trophy winner.
3. Which Buccaneers safety was named MVP of Super Bowl XXXVII?Answer: Dexter Jackson. Dexter Jackson intercepted two passes in Tampa Bay’s rout of the Raiders.
4. Who was named MVP of Super Bowl XLV, the Packers’ win over the Steelers?Answer: Aaron Rodgers. Aaron Rodgers threw three touchdown passes in Green Bay’s 31–25 win.
5. Which Dolphins safety was named MVP of Super Bowl VII?Answer: Jake Scott. Jake Scott intercepted two passes as Miami completed its perfect season.
6. Which Rams and 49ers linebacker was nicknamed “Hacksaw”?Answer: Jack Reynolds. Jack Reynolds got the nickname after sawing a car in half in frustration at a college loss.
7. Which hard-hitting Raiders safety was nicknamed “The Assassin”?Answer: Jack Tatum. Jack Tatum was known for some of the hardest hits of the 1970s.
8. Which Steelers player, who lined up at quarterback, receiver and running back, was nicknamed “Slash”?Answer: Kordell Stewart. Kordell Stewart’s many roles earned him the nickname, after the slash in “QB/WR/RB.”
9. Which Hall of Fame quarterback was famous as “Scramblin’ Fran”?Answer: Fran Tarkenton. Fran Tarkenton’s escapes from the pocket made him one of the first great scrambling quarterbacks.
10. In football, what is an “audible”?Answer: A play changed at the line of scrimmage. The quarterback calls out a new play at the line after reading the defense.
11. What is “intentional grounding”?Answer: Throwing the ball away with no receiver nearby to avoid a sack. Quarterbacks under pressure can’t simply dump the ball where no eligible receiver is near.
12. How many yards is the penalty for offensive holding?Answer: 10. Offensive holding is a 10-yard penalty.
13. Which team drafted Dan Marino in 1983?Answer: Miami Dolphins. Miami took Marino 27th overall, and he played all 17 of his seasons there.
14. Which team did the New England Patriots beat in Super Bowl XXXIX?Answer: Philadelphia Eagles. New England beat Philadelphia 24–21 for its third title in four seasons.
15. Who coached the Dallas Cowboys to back-to-back Super Bowl wins in the early 1990s?Answer: Jimmy Johnson. Jimmy Johnson won two titles before leaving; Barry Switzer won a third a few years later.
16. Who coached the New Orleans Saints to their Super Bowl XLIV win?Answer: Sean Payton. Sean Payton’s Saints beat the Colts for the franchise’s first title.
17. Who coached the Denver Broncos to Super Bowl wins with John Elway?Answer: Mike Shanahan. Mike Shanahan won Super Bowls XXXII and XXXIII as Denver’s coach.
18. Which college did Patrick Mahomes play for?Answer: Texas Tech. Mahomes starred for the Texas Tech Red Raiders before the Chiefs drafted him.
19. Which college did Joe Namath play for?Answer: Alabama. Namath played for Bear Bryant at Alabama before joining the Jets.
20. Who was the first player to be named Super Bowl MVP three times?Answer: Joe Montana. Joe Montana won it after Super Bowls XVI, XIX and XXIV; Tom Brady later won five.

Basketball trivia

1. Who was the first overall pick in the 2004 NBA draft?Answer: Dwight Howard. The Orlando Magic took Dwight Howard straight out of high school.
2. Who was the first overall pick in the 1999 NBA draft?Answer: Elton Brand. The Chicago Bulls took Duke forward Elton Brand first.
3. Who was the first overall pick in the 1998 NBA draft?Answer: Michael Olowokandi. The Los Angeles Clippers took center Michael Olowokandi first.
4. Which college did Jerry West play for?Answer: West Virginia. West starred for West Virginia, his home state, before joining the Lakers.
5. Which college did Oscar Robertson play for?Answer: Cincinnati. The Big O was a three-time national scoring leader at Cincinnati.
6. Which college did Ja Morant play for?Answer: Murray State. Morant starred at Murray State before Memphis drafted him second overall.
7. Which college did Kevin McHale play for?Answer: Minnesota. McHale grew up in Hibbing, Minnesota, and played for the Golden Gophers.
8. Which Utah Jazz guard was nicknamed “Dr. Dunkenstein”?Answer: Darrell Griffith. Darrell Griffith earned the nickname with his high-flying dunks at Louisville.
9. Which high-leaping Denver star was nicknamed “Skywalker”?Answer: David Thompson. David Thompson was famous for his leaping, at NC State and with the Nuggets.
10. Which tattooed shot-blocker, a 2013 champion with the Heat, was known as “Birdman”?Answer: Chris Andersen. Chris Andersen flapped his arms like wings after big plays.
11. Which team did the Los Angeles Lakers beat in the 1988 NBA Finals?Answer: Detroit Pistons. The Lakers beat the Pistons in seven games to become the first repeat champions in 19 years.
12. Which team did the Houston Rockets beat in the 1994 NBA Finals?Answer: New York Knicks. Houston beat the Knicks in seven games for its first title.
13. Who was Finals MVP when the Lakers beat the Celtics in 1985?Answer: Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. At 38, Kareem became the oldest Finals MVP.
14. Who was Finals MVP when the Celtics beat the Rockets in 1981?Answer: Cedric Maxwell. Forward Cedric Maxwell won the award over teammates Larry Bird and Robert Parish.
15. Who was Finals MVP when the Pistons swept the Lakers in 1989?Answer: Joe Dumars. Guard Joe Dumars led Detroit in scoring in the four-game sweep.
16. Who won the NBA MVP award for the 2000–01 season?Answer: Allen Iverson. Allen Iverson won MVP and led the 76ers to the Finals.
17. Who won the NBA MVP award for the 2007–08 season?Answer: Kobe Bryant. It was Kobe Bryant’s only regular-season MVP award.
18. What is the “restricted area” arc under the basket?Answer: Where a defender can’t draw a charge. A defender standing inside the arc can’t take a charging foul.
19. Which team drafted Bill Russell before trading his rights to the Celtics?Answer: St. Louis Hawks. The Hawks drafted Russell and traded him to Boston for Ed Macauley and Cliff Hagan.
20. Which team began as the Tri-Cities Blackhawks?Answer: Atlanta Hawks. The franchise moved to Milwaukee, St. Louis and finally Atlanta.

Baseball trivia

1. Which Orioles slugger was nicknamed “Steady Eddie”?Answer: Eddie Murray. Eddie Murray’s calm consistency earned him the nickname on the way to 504 home runs and 3,255 hits.
2. Which Yankees pitcher was nicknamed “The Chairman of the Board”?Answer: Whitey Ford. Whitey Ford’s cool command earned him the nickname; all 236 of his wins came for the Yankees.
3. Which Dodgers pitcher did manager Tommy Lasorda nickname “Bulldog”?Answer: Orel Hershiser. Lasorda gave the mild-mannered Orel Hershiser the tough-sounding name to boost his confidence.
4. In a baseball scorebook, which number stands for the shortstop?Answer: 6. Positions are numbered 1 (pitcher) to 9 (right field), and the shortstop is 6.
5. Fans of which team do the “Tomahawk Chop”?Answer: Atlanta Braves. Braves fans chant and chop their arms in rhythm, a tradition since the early 1990s.
6. Which Braves pitcher is the only pitcher to hit two grand slams in one game?Answer: Tony Cloninger. Tony Cloninger hit two grand slams and drove in nine runs against the Giants.
7. Don Mattingly, Dale Long and Ken Griffey Jr. share the record for homering in how many straight games?Answer: Eight. Each of them hit a home run in eight consecutive games.
8. Who hit the most career home runs as a switch-hitter?Answer: Mickey Mantle. Mickey Mantle hit 536 home runs batting from both sides of the plate.
9. Which manager was nicknamed “The Old Perfessor”?Answer: Casey Stengel. Casey Stengel, famous for his rambling wit, managed the Yankees and the early Mets.
10. Which brothers won the most combined games of any brothers in MLB history?Answer: Phil and Joe Niekro. The knuckleballing Niekros won 539 games between them.
11. Who wrote “The Boys of Summer,” about the Brooklyn Dodgers of the 1950s?Answer: Roger Kahn. Roger Kahn covered the Dodgers as a young reporter and revisited the players years later.
12. In the movie “The Sandlot,” what do the kids call the huge dog behind the fence?Answer: The Beast. The Beast guards the yard where the kids’ Babe Ruth–signed ball lands.
13. Who holds MLB’s career record for walks?Answer: Barry Bonds. Barry Bonds drew 2,558 walks, including a record 688 intentional ones.
14. Which first baseman, famous for his long routine between pitches, was nicknamed “The Human Rain Delay”?Answer: Mike Hargrove. Mike Hargrove adjusted his gloves, helmet and sleeves before nearly every pitch.
15. Which Cuban-born Yankees pitcher was nicknamed “El Duque”?Answer: Orlando Hernández. Orlando “El Duque” Hernández, Liván’s half-brother, won three World Series with the Yankees.
16. Which Hall of Fame outfielder was nicknamed “The Hawk”?Answer: Andre Dawson. Andre Dawson, “The Hawk,” won the 1987 NL MVP with the Cubs.
17. What did Reds slugger Ted Kluszewski famously cut off his jerseys to free his huge arms?Answer: The sleeves. Big Klu cut off his sleeves because they were too tight around his biceps.
18. In 1986, which Red Sox pitcher won both the AL Cy Young Award and the AL MVP?Answer: Roger Clemens. Roger Clemens went 24–4 and swept both awards.
19. Which colorful reliever was nicknamed “The Mad Hungarian”?Answer: Al Hrabosky. Al Hrabosky psyched himself up behind the mound before facing each batter.
20. In baseball, what is a “seeing-eye single”?Answer: A ground ball that just finds a hole between fielders. The ball seems to “see” its way through the gap for a hit.

Hockey trivia

1. Which Canadiens goalie won the Vezina Trophy five years in a row, from 1956 to 1960?Answer: Jacques Plante. Jacques Plante won seven Vezinas in all, five straight during Montreal’s dynasty.
2. Which team plays its home games at American Airlines Center?Answer: Dallas Stars. The Stars share American Airlines Center with the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks.
3. Which team plays its home games at Crypto.com Arena?Answer: Los Angeles Kings. The Kings share the downtown Los Angeles arena with the Lakers and Clippers.
4. Who was the first overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft?Answer: Jack Hughes. The Devils took Jack Hughes first and the Rangers took Kaapo Kakko second.
5. Who won the first Hart Trophy as NHL MVP?Answer: Frank Nighbor. Ottawa’s Frank Nighbor won the first Hart Trophy, for the 1923–24 season.
6. What does an “A” on a player’s jersey mean?Answer: Alternate captain. The captain wears a “C” and up to two alternate captains wear an “A”.
7. How many players, counting goalies, may an NHL team dress for a game?Answer: 20. Teams dress 18 skaters and two goalies.
8. In hockey, what is a “saucer pass”?Answer: A pass that floats flat over an opponent’s stick. The puck spins like a flying saucer, lifting over sticks and landing flat.
9. In hockey, what is “the point”?Answer: The spot just inside the opponent’s blue line where defensemen set up. Defensemen “at the point” keep the puck in the zone and fire shots from the blue line.
10. Which 1967 expansion team played its home games in Oakland?Answer: The Seals. The California (later Oakland and California Golden) Seals moved to Cleveland in 1976.
11. The Memorial Cup is the championship of what?Answer: Canadian major junior hockey. The OHL, WHL and QMJHL champions and a host team play for the Memorial Cup.
12. Which jersey number did Mark Messier wear?Answer: 11. Mark Messier wore No. 11, retired by both the Oilers and the Rangers.
13. In 1983, who became the first American-born player taken first overall in the NHL draft?Answer: Brian Lawton. The Minnesota North Stars chose Brian Lawton, then a high school star at Rhode Island’s Mount St. Charles Academy.
14. Which team set the NHL record with a 35-game unbeaten streak?Answer: Philadelphia Flyers. The Flyers went 25–0–10 over 35 games without a loss.
15. Which star was nicknamed “Le Magnifique”?Answer: Mario Lemieux. Mario Lemieux’s grace and skill earned him the French nickname “The Magnificent One”.
16. Which Swedish star was nicknamed “Foppa”?Answer: Peter Forsberg. Peter Forsberg, “Foppa,” won two Stanley Cups with Colorado.
17. Which early hockey star was nicknamed “Cyclone”?Answer: Fred Taylor. Fred “Cyclone” Taylor starred for Ottawa and Vancouver before the NHL was founded.
18. Toronto star Auston Matthews grew up in which U.S. state?Answer: Arizona. Matthews fell for hockey watching the Coyotes and grew up in Scottsdale, Arizona.
19. Which team’s mascot is Spartacat?Answer: Ottawa Senators. Spartacat, a lion, has cheered for the Senators since the early 1990s.
20. Which nickname is often used for the penalty box?Answer: The sin bin. Players serve their penalties in the “sin bin” beside the rink.

Soccer trivia

1. Neymar left which Brazilian club to join Barcelona in 2013?Answer: Santos. Neymar came through the youth ranks at Santos, Pelé’s old club, before moving to Barcelona in 2013.
2. Zinedine Zidane scored two headers in the 1998 World Cup final against which team?Answer: Brazil. Zidane headed in two corners as host France beat Brazil 3–0 at the Stade de France.
3. Which London club plays its home games at Selhurst Park?Answer: Crystal Palace. Crystal Palace have played at Selhurst Park in south London since 1924.
4. Which Spanish club plays its home games at San Mamés?Answer: Athletic Bilbao. San Mamés in Bilbao, nicknamed “La Catedral,” is Athletic Club’s home ground.
5. Which country won its first Africa Cup of Nations in early 2022, beating Egypt on penalties in the final?Answer: Senegal. Sadio Mané scored the winning penalty as Senegal won the tournament held in Cameroon.
6. Which German club plays its home games at the Veltins-Arena in Gelsenkirchen?Answer: Schalke 04. Schalke 04 has played at the Veltins-Arena, with its retractable roof, since it opened in 2001.
7. Who coached Argentina to the 2022 World Cup title?Answer: Lionel Scaloni. Lionel Scaloni, who took charge in 2018, also led Argentina to the 2021 Copa América.
8. Which South Korean forward shared the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021–22?Answer: Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min scored 23 league goals for Tottenham, level with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
9. Manchester City signed Kevin De Bruyne from which club in 2015?Answer: VfL Wolfsburg. De Bruyne starred for Wolfsburg in 2014–15 before his move to Manchester City.
10. Who scored the only goal of the U.S. men’s 1–0 upset of England at the 1950 World Cup?Answer: Joe Gaetjens. Haitian-born Joe Gaetjens got a head to Walter Bahr’s shot in Belo Horizonte.
11. Who won the Golden Boot at the 2022 Women’s European Championship?Answer: Beth Mead. Beth Mead and Germany’s Alexandra Popp both scored six goals, and Mead took the award on assists.
12. Which striker is the all-time leading scorer for Australia’s Matildas?Answer: Sam Kerr. Sam Kerr holds the Matildas’ record and has scored more international goals than any Australian man.
13. Which German striker was named FIFA’s women’s World Player of the Year three years in a row from 2003?Answer: Birgit Prinz. Birgit Prinz won the award in 2003, 2004 and 2005 and helped Germany win the 2003 and 2007 Women’s World Cups.
14. Which Italian club won Serie A in 2022–23, its first league title in 33 years?Answer: Napoli. Napoli’s previous titles had come in the Diego Maradona era.
15. Which club won La Liga in 1999–2000, the only Spanish title in its history?Answer: Deportivo La Coruña. Deportivo La Coruña, known as “Super Depor,” won their only league title that season.
16. Which club won seven straight French league titles from 2002 to 2008?Answer: Lyon. Olympique Lyonnais were champions every season from 2001–02 to 2007–08.
17. Which Scottish club won nine league titles in a row under manager Jock Stein?Answer: Celtic. Celtic were Scottish champions every season from 1965–66 to 1973–74.
18. In soccer, what does “tiki-taka” describe?Answer: A style built on short, quick passing. Barcelona and Spain made tiki-taka famous by keeping the ball with short passes and constant movement.
19. Who is Manchester United’s all-time leading goalscorer?Answer: Wayne Rooney. Wayne Rooney scored 253 goals for United, passing Bobby Charlton’s record of 249 in 2017.
20. How many points does each team earn for a draw in league play?Answer: One. A draw is worth one point to each side, while a win is worth three.

Movies trivia

1. Who played Cady Heron in Mean Girls (2004)?Answer: Lindsay Lohan. Lindsay Lohan played Cady, the new girl who falls in with the Plastics.
2. In The Breakfast Club, on which day of the week do the five students serve detention?Answer: Saturday. The film follows an all-day Saturday detention at Shermer High School.
3. In Forrest Gump, which business does Forrest go into with the boat he buys after the Army?Answer: Shrimping. He keeps his promise to his late friend Bubba and starts the Bubba Gump Shrimp Company.
4. Who starred opposite Patrick Swayze in Ghost (1990)?Answer: Demi Moore. Demi Moore played Molly, whose murdered boyfriend Sam stays behind as a ghost.
5. Who played Indiana Jones’s father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade?Answer: Sean Connery. Sean Connery played Professor Henry Jones Sr., the Grail-obsessed father of Indy.
6. Which silent comedian dangles from the hands of a giant clock high above the street in Safety Last!?Answer: Harold Lloyd. Harold Lloyd’s clock-hanging scene in Safety Last! is one of the most famous images of the silent era.
7. Who played faded silent star Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard?Answer: Gloria Swanson. Gloria Swanson, herself a former silent star, played Norma Desmond.
8. Who played Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show?Answer: Tim Curry. Tim Curry played Frank-N-Furter on stage in London and then in the film.
9. In The Princess Bride, what is unusual about the right hand of the man Inigo Montoya is hunting?Answer: It has six fingers. Inigo seeks the six-fingered man who killed his father, who turns out to be Count Rugen.
10. Who played Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984)?Answer: Harold Ramis. Harold Ramis played Egon and co-wrote the film with Dan Aykroyd.
11. In Whiplash, which instrument does music student Andrew Neiman play?Answer: Drums. Miles Teller’s Andrew is a jazz drummer pushed to the limit by J.K. Simmons’s band leader.
12. Who played Colonel Walter Kurtz in Apocalypse Now?Answer: Marlon Brando. Marlon Brando played Kurtz, the renegade officer Martin Sheen’s Captain Willard is sent to find.
13. Who played Lois Lane in Superman (1978)?Answer: Margot Kidder. Margot Kidder played Lois opposite Christopher Reeve.
14. In Titanic (1997), what is the blue diamond necklace called?Answer: The Heart of the Ocean. Rose’s fiancé gives her the Heart of the Ocean, which old Rose drops into the sea at the end.
15. In Monsters, Inc., what powers the city of Monstropolis?Answer: Children’s screams. Monsters collect kids’ screams for energy, until they learn laughter is even more powerful.
16. Who played the title role in Tootsie (1982)?Answer: Dustin Hoffman. Dustin Hoffman played an out-of-work actor who lands a soap role by posing as Dorothy Michaels.
17. Gary Cooper plays a marshal who must face a gang of outlaws alone in which 1952 western?Answer: High Noon. High Noon plays out almost in real time as Marshal Will Kane waits for the noon train.
18. Who played James Bond in GoldenEye (1995)?Answer: Pierce Brosnan. GoldenEye was Pierce Brosnan’s first of four Bond films.
19. Which film about two British runners at the 1924 Paris Olympics won Best Picture for 1981?Answer: Chariots of Fire. Chariots of Fire follows Harold Abrahams and Eric Liddell and won Best Picture at the 1982 Oscars.
20. Who plays Elphaba in the 2024 film Wicked?Answer: Cynthia Erivo. Cynthia Erivo plays Elphaba, opposite Ariana Grande as Glinda.

Television trivia

1. On Cheers, what was Sam Malone’s job before he ran the bar?Answer: Relief pitcher for the Boston Red Sox. Sam “Mayday” Malone was a former Red Sox relief pitcher.
2. Which job does George Costanza most often pretend to have on Seinfeld?Answer: Architect. George’s dream of being an architect is a running joke; he even poses as one.
3. On Friends, which two pets do Joey and Chandler keep in their apartment?Answer: A chick and a duck. The Chick and the Duck became running characters in the show.
4. On The Golden Girls, Rose Nylund grew up in which Minnesota town?Answer: St. Olaf. Rose’s endless stories about the odd folk of St. Olaf were a running gag.
5. Which drama starred Andy Griffith as a folksy defense lawyer in Atlanta?Answer: Matlock. Andy Griffith played Ben Matlock from 1986 to 1995.
6. Who played the cross-dressing Corporal Klinger on M*A*S*H?Answer: Jamie Farr. Jamie Farr played Max Klinger through the show’s whole run after his first appearance.
7. On The Simpsons, who is Mr. Burns’s loyal assistant?Answer: Waylon Smithers. Waylon Smithers is devoted to his boss at the nuclear plant.
8. On Schitt’s Creek, which business do Johnny Rose and Stevie Budd run together?Answer: A motel. Johnny and Stevie turn the Rosebud Motel into a growing motel business.
9. On Grey’s Anatomy, what nickname was given to neurosurgeon Derek Shepherd?Answer: McDreamy. Patrick Dempsey’s Derek was “McDreamy”; his friend Mark Sloan was “McSteamy.”
10. Which longtime host of The Price Is Right closed each show by urging viewers to have their pets spayed or neutered?Answer: Bob Barker. Bob Barker, an animal rights supporter, ended every episode with that reminder.
11. What was the name of Shari Lewis’s famous sock-puppet lamb?Answer: Lamb Chop. Lamb Chop was Shari Lewis’s best-known puppet for decades.
12. On Breaking Bad, which subject did Walter White teach in high school?Answer: Chemistry. Walter White was a high school chemistry teacher in Albuquerque.
13. On The Sopranos, what is the name of the strip club where Tony does business?Answer: Bada Bing!. The Bada Bing! was owned by Silvio Dante and served as the crew’s hangout.
14. Who played Ethel Mertz on I Love Lucy?Answer: Vivian Vance. Vivian Vance won an Emmy for playing Lucy’s best friend and landlady.
15. Michael Landon played Charles Ingalls on which family drama?Answer: Little House on the Prairie. Little House on the Prairie was based on Laura Ingalls Wilder’s books.
16. Which spy spoof starred Don Adams as Maxwell Smart, Agent 86?Answer: Get Smart. Get Smart was created by Mel Brooks and Buck Henry.
17. Which sitcom starred Sally Field as a nun who could fly?Answer: The Flying Nun. Sally Field played Sister Bertrille, whose light weight and big hat let her fly.
18. Who has hosted Survivor since it began?Answer: Jeff Probst. Jeff Probst has hosted every season and won several Emmys for it.
19. Who played President Josiah Bartlet on The West Wing?Answer: Martin Sheen. Martin Sheen played President Jed Bartlet for all seven seasons.
20. What is the name of the prequel series that follows The Big Bang Theory’s Sheldon Cooper as a boy?Answer: Young Sheldon. Young Sheldon ran on CBS for seven seasons, narrated by Jim Parsons as adult Sheldon.

Fantasy trivia

1. Which planet does the Death Star destroy in the original Star Wars?Answer: Alderaan. Grand Moff Tarkin destroys Alderaan, Princess Leia’s home world, to show off the Death Star’s power.
2. Who played Finn in the Star Wars sequel trilogy?Answer: John Boyega. John Boyega played Finn, a stormtrooper who deserts the First Order.
3. Who played Commander William Riker in Star Trek: The Next Generation?Answer: Jonathan Frakes. Jonathan Frakes played Picard’s first officer and later directed two Star Trek films.
4. In Star Trek, what color is Vulcan blood?Answer: Green. Vulcan blood is copper-based, which makes it green.
5. Who played Feyd-Rautha Harkonnen in Dune: Part Two?Answer: Austin Butler. Austin Butler played the Baron’s ruthless nephew; Sting had the role in David Lynch’s Dune.
6. Who played Ash, the Nostromo’s science officer, in Alien?Answer: Ian Holm. Ian Holm played Ash, who is revealed to be an android.
7. In The Matrix films, what is the last human city called?Answer: Zion. Zion is hidden deep underground, where the freed humans hold out against the machines.
8. Who directed Terminator 2: Judgment Day?Answer: James Cameron. James Cameron directed and co-wrote both The Terminator and its sequel.
9. In Jurassic Park, which dinosaur spits venom at Dennis Nedry?Answer: Dilophosaurus. The film gave its Dilophosaurus a neck frill and venom-spitting, both invented for the story.
10. Who played Marty McFly in Back to the Future?Answer: Michael J. Fox. Michael J. Fox replaced Eric Stoltz, who had already filmed scenes as Marty for several weeks.
11. Who played Frodo Baggins in Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings films?Answer: Elijah Wood. Elijah Wood played Frodo, while Monaghan, Boyd and Astin played his fellow hobbits.
12. Which subject does Professor McGonagall teach at Hogwarts?Answer: Transfiguration. Minerva McGonagall teaches Transfiguration and is head of Gryffindor House.
13. Who played Harry Potter in the films?Answer: Daniel Radcliffe. Daniel Radcliffe was cast at age 11 and played Harry in all eight films.
14. Which villain gathers the Infinity Stones in Avengers: Infinity War?Answer: Thanos. Thanos collects all six stones and wipes out half of all life with a snap of his fingers.
15. What is the surname of Batman’s ally in the Gotham City police, Commissioner James ___?Answer: Gordon. Jim Gordon is the honest police commissioner who lights the Bat-Signal.
16. In Doctor Who, what does TARDIS stand for?Answer: Time And Relative Dimension In Space. The name fits a ship that is much bigger on the inside than on the outside.
17. In Game of Thrones, which character is nicknamed “the Hound”?Answer: Sandor Clegane. Sandor Clegane is the Hound; his older brother Gregor is known as the Mountain.
18. In The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, what kind of creature is Mr. Tumnus?Answer: A faun. Lucy meets the faun Mr. Tumnus by the lamppost on her first visit to Narnia.
19. Who played President Snow in The Hunger Games films?Answer: Donald Sutherland. Donald Sutherland played Panem’s ruler in all four Hunger Games films.
20. Which Ghostbuster did Dan Aykroyd play?Answer: Ray Stantz. Aykroyd, who co-wrote the film with Harold Ramis, played the eager Ray Stantz.

Broadway trivia

1. In Little Shop of Horrors, Mushnik’s flower shop is on which run-down street?Answer: Skid Row. The show’s big opening number is “Skid Row (Downtown).”
2. “You’ll Never Walk Alone” comes from which Rodgers and Hammerstein musical?Answer: Carousel. Nettie Fowler sings it to comfort Julie Jordan in Carousel.
3. “Some Enchanted Evening” comes from which musical?Answer: South Pacific. Emile de Becque sings it in South Pacific.
4. “Shall We Dance?” comes from which musical?Answer: The King and I. Anna and the King dance a polka to it in The King and I.
5. “Sit Down, You’re Rockin’ the Boat” comes from which musical?Answer: Guys and Dolls. Nicely-Nicely Johnson sings it at the prayer meeting in Guys and Dolls.
6. In Guys and Dolls, how long has Adelaide been engaged to Nathan Detroit?Answer: 14 years. Their fourteen-year engagement is a running joke in the show.
7. In Into the Woods, what is the name of Jack’s cow?Answer: Milky White. Jack sells Milky White to the Baker for five magic beans.
8. In Hamilton, which number closes Act One?Answer: Non-Stop. “Non-Stop” ends the first act as Hamilton writes most of the Federalist Papers.
9. In Cabaret, the singer Sally Bowles comes from which country?Answer: England. Sally is an English singer performing at Berlin’s Kit Kat Klub.
10. Who originated the role of Roxie Hart in Chicago in 1975?Answer: Gwen Verdon. Gwen Verdon starred as Roxie opposite Chita Rivera’s Velma.
11. Who originated the role of Mimi in Rent on Broadway?Answer: Daphne Rubin-Vega. Daphne Rubin-Vega earned a Tony nomination for playing Mimi Márquez.
12. Who won a Tony for playing Hermes in Hadestown?Answer: André De Shields. André De Shields won Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Hermes.
13. Which musical won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Musical?Answer: Kinky Boots. Kinky Boots won six Tonys, including Best Musical.
14. Which musical won the 2009 Tony Award for Best Musical?Answer: Billy Elliot the Musical. Billy Elliot the Musical won ten Tonys that night.
15. In theatre, what is the fly system used for?Answer: Raising and lowering scenery above the stage. Ropes, pulleys and battens let crews “fly” scenery in and out.
16. Which Thornton Wilder play follows the Antrobus family through the ages?Answer: The Skin of Our Teeth. The Skin of Our Teeth won Wilder the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
17. Which August Wilson play centres on a family’s fight over an heirloom piano?Answer: The Piano Lesson. The Piano Lesson, set in Pittsburgh, won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama.
18. Which Neil Simon play begins his trilogy about young Eugene Jerome?Answer: Brighton Beach Memoirs. Brighton Beach Memoirs was followed by Biloxi Blues and Broadway Bound.
19. In which Eugene O’Neill play do bar regulars wait for the salesman Hickey?Answer: The Iceman Cometh. The Iceman Cometh is set in Harry Hope’s saloon in 1912.
20. On the Town follows three sailors on a 24-hour shore leave in which city?Answer: New York City. The show, with music by Leonard Bernstein, opens with “New York, New York.”

U.S. History trivia

1. Who designed the Union ironclad USS Monitor?Answer: John Ericsson. Swedish-born engineer John Ericsson designed the Monitor, with its revolving gun turret.
2. Which Texas city was devastated by the 1900 hurricane, the deadliest natural disaster in U.S. history?Answer: Galveston. The storm killed thousands in Galveston, which then raised the whole city and built a seawall.
3. The Erie Canal ran from Albany on the Hudson River to which city on Lake Erie?Answer: Buffalo. The canal crossed upstate New York to Buffalo, turning it into a boomtown.
4. The Pony Express carried mail between St. Joseph, Missouri, and which California city?Answer: Sacramento. Riders ended their run in Sacramento, where the mail went on to San Francisco by boat.
5. Which magazine editor lobbied for years to make Thanksgiving a national holiday?Answer: Sarah Josepha Hale. Sarah Josepha Hale, who also wrote “Mary Had a Little Lamb,” campaigned until Lincoln proclaimed the holiday.
6. Whose design won the competition for the U.S. Capitol in the 1790s?Answer: William Thornton. Physician and amateur architect William Thornton drew the winning design; others later carried it out.
7. Which city opened America’s first subway, in 1897?Answer: Boston. Boston’s Tremont Street Subway opened in 1897, seven years before New York’s first line.
8. Which city opened the first zoo in the United States, in 1874?Answer: Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Zoo, chartered in 1859, opened its gates in 1874.
9. At which New Jersey naval air station did the airship Hindenburg burst into flames?Answer: Lakehurst. The Hindenburg caught fire while landing at Naval Air Station Lakehurst.
10. What is the official name of the Statue of Liberty?Answer: Liberty Enlightening the World. Its formal title is “Liberty Enlightening the World.”
11. Which engineer designed the iron framework inside the Statue of Liberty?Answer: Gustave Eiffel. Gustave Eiffel, later famous for his Paris tower, designed the statue’s internal support.
12. American infantrymen in World War I were popularly called what?Answer: Doughboys. “Doughboys” was the popular nickname for U.S. soldiers in World War I.
13. Before it was called Independence Hall, the building was known as what?Answer: The Pennsylvania State House. It was built as the Pennsylvania State House, where both the Declaration and the Constitution were debated.
14. The 442nd Regimental Combat Team, one of the most decorated units in U.S. history, was made up mostly of soldiers of which background?Answer: Japanese American. The 442nd was formed largely of Japanese American soldiers and fought in Italy and France in World War II.
15. Which New Deal agency put young men to work planting trees and building trails in parks?Answer: Civilian Conservation Corps. The Civilian Conservation Corps employed millions of young men on outdoor conservation projects.
16. Before settling at Plymouth, the Mayflower first anchored off the tip of which cape?Answer: Cape Cod. The Pilgrims first anchored in what is now Provincetown Harbor, at the tip of Cape Cod.
17. Which first lady saved a portrait of George Washington as the British approached the White House in 1814?Answer: Dolley Madison. Dolley Madison made sure the large Washington portrait was taken to safety before British troops arrived.
18. Pikes Peak in Colorado is named after which explorer?Answer: Zebulon Pike. Zebulon Pike led an expedition that sighted the mountain in 1806.
19. Which Massachusetts woman disguised herself as a man to fight in the Continental Army?Answer: Deborah Sampson. Deborah Sampson enlisted as “Robert Shurtleff” and served until she was wounded and discovered.
20. Which state was the first to join the Union after the original 13?Answer: Vermont. Vermont became the 14th state in 1791, a year before Kentucky.

U.S. Presidents trivia

1. Camp David was renamed for the father and grandson of which president?Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower. Eisenhower renamed FDR’s “Shangri-La” after his father and his grandson, both named David.
2. Who gave the longest inaugural address in history?Answer: William Henry Harrison. Harrison spoke for nearly two hours, more than 8,000 words.
3. Which president signed the law creating the Secret Service on the day he was shot?Answer: Abraham Lincoln. The Secret Service was first set up to fight counterfeit money; protecting presidents came later.
4. Millie, an English springer spaniel whose “memoir” became a bestseller, belonged to which president?Answer: George H. W. Bush. Barbara Bush wrote Millie’s Book in the voice of the family dog.
5. Which future president commanded the Navy torpedo boat PT-109 in World War II?Answer: John F. Kennedy. After a Japanese destroyer cut PT-109 in two, Kennedy led his surviving crew to safety.
6. Which president vetoed the most bills?Answer: Franklin D. Roosevelt. Franklin D. Roosevelt issued 635 vetoes during his more than 12 years in office.
7. Which president fathered the most children, 15 in all?Answer: John Tyler. John Tyler had eight children with his first wife and seven with his second.
8. Which president kept a jar of jelly beans on his desk?Answer: Ronald Reagan. Ronald Reagan’s fondness for jelly beans made them a White House staple.
9. Which president was born Leslie Lynch King Jr.?Answer: Gerald Ford. He took the name of his stepfather, Gerald R. Ford.
10. Which president was born Hiram Ulysses Grant?Answer: Ulysses S. Grant. A paperwork mix-up at West Point turned him into “Ulysses S. Grant.”
11. What was Grover Cleveland’s real first name?Answer: Stephen. He was born Stephen Grover Cleveland but went by his middle name.
12. Who is the only president to hold a U.S. patent?Answer: Abraham Lincoln. Lincoln patented a device for lifting boats over shoals.
13. Which president won the 1906 Nobel Peace Prize for helping end the Russo-Japanese War?Answer: Theodore Roosevelt. Theodore Roosevelt brokered the peace talks held in Portsmouth, New Hampshire.
14. Rebecca, a raccoon sent to the White House for a Thanksgiving dinner, became a pet of which president?Answer: Calvin Coolidge. Instead of being eaten, Rebecca the raccoon became a Coolidge family pet.
15. Who is the only former president to be elected to the U.S. Senate afterward?Answer: Andrew Johnson. Andrew Johnson returned to the Senate for Tennessee in 1875, months before his death.
16. Who was the first president to ride on a railroad train?Answer: Andrew Jackson. Andrew Jackson rode a Baltimore and Ohio train in 1833.
17. Who was the first sitting president to attend a World Series game?Answer: Woodrow Wilson. Wilson watched a game of the 1915 World Series in Philadelphia.
18. Which president’s time in office was called the “Era of Good Feelings”?Answer: James Monroe. Monroe’s years brought a lull in party fighting, so a newspaper dubbed them the Era of Good Feelings.
19. Whose inauguration was the first broadcast nationally on radio?Answer: Calvin Coolidge. Calvin Coolidge’s 1925 inauguration went out over a nationwide radio hookup.
20. Algonquin, a pony that once rode the White House elevator, belonged to the children of which president?Answer: Theodore Roosevelt. The Roosevelt boys brought the pony upstairs to cheer up their sick brother Archie.

Geography trivia

1. Which country has more ancient pyramids than any other, even Egypt?Answer: Sudan. Sudan has roughly 200 or more pyramids, built by the kings of ancient Kush.
2. What is the name of the southernmost point of Africa?Answer: Cape Agulhas. Cape Agulhas, not the Cape of Good Hope, is Africa’s southern tip.
3. Easter Island, home of the moai statues, belongs to which country?Answer: Chile. Easter Island, or Rapa Nui, has been part of Chile since 1888.
4. China’s Three Gorges Dam is on which river?Answer: Yangtze. The Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, spans the Yangtze.
5. Which Central American country abolished its army in the 1940s?Answer: Costa Rica. Costa Rica abolished its military after a brief civil war, and its constitution forbids a standing army.
6. The Cliffs of Moher are in which country?Answer: Ireland. The cliffs rise above the Atlantic in County Clare, on Ireland’s west coast.
7. Lake Como is in which country?Answer: Italy. Lake Como lies in northern Italy’s Lombardy region, at the foot of the Alps.
8. Mount Olympus, legendary home of the gods, is in which country?Answer: Greece. Mount Olympus, Greece’s highest mountain, stands between Thessaly and Macedonia.
9. Banff National Park is in which country?Answer: Canada. Banff, in the Canadian Rockies of Alberta, is Canada’s oldest national park.
10. Which country’s name comes from the Latin word for silver?Answer: Argentina. Argentina comes from argentum, Latin for silver.
11. Which country’s name means “little Venice”?Answer: Venezuela. Explorers named it after Venice, inspired by houses on stilts over Lake Maracaibo.
12. The famous Opera House with sail-like roofs is in which city?Answer: Sydney. The Sydney Opera House stands on Bennelong Point in Sydney Harbour.
13. Lake Bled, with its tiny church on an island, is in which country?Answer: Slovenia. Lake Bled lies in the Julian Alps of northwestern Slovenia.
14. Ha Long Bay, dotted with limestone islands, is in which country?Answer: Vietnam. Ha Long Bay is in northern Vietnam, on the Gulf of Tonkin.
15. The “Ring of Fire,” a horseshoe of volcanoes and earthquakes, surrounds which ocean?Answer: Pacific. Most of the world’s earthquakes and many of its volcanoes lie around the Pacific basin.
16. The Skeleton Coast, littered with shipwrecks, is in which country?Answer: Namibia. The Skeleton Coast runs along northern Namibia’s Atlantic shore.
17. The ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus are in which country?Answer: Turkey. Ephesus stands near the Aegean coast of western Turkey.
18. The Black Forest is a wooded mountain region in which country?Answer: Germany. The Black Forest covers much of Baden-Württemberg in southwestern Germany.
19. The Petronas Towers stand in which city?Answer: Kuala Lumpur. The twin towers in Kuala Lumpur were the world’s tallest buildings from 1998 to 2004.
20. The Maya ruins of Chichén Itzá are in which country?Answer: Mexico. Chichén Itzá is on Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.