Trick Questions

Polycarp · #1 01-20-2005, 08:31 PM

This is a thread for those little pieces of trivia you run into which don't quite conform to what you expect. If you know (or can find out) the right answer to a question, you get to pose the next one. The point, of course, is that the "obvious" answer is wrong.

Two questions to start us off. Answer either correctly and pose the next question; that way we have two sequences going at once, in order to prevent "stalling" when nobody can come up with the answer to the one current question.

1. What animal were the Canary Islands named after?

2. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located in a city whose name is part of the racetrack's name. What city is it located in?

LifeOnWry · #2 01-20-2005, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polycarp

This is a thread for those little pieces of trivia you run into which don't quite conform to what you expect. If you know (or can find out) the right answer to a question, you get to pose the next one. The point, of course, is that the "obvious" answer is wrong.

Two questions to start us off. Answer either correctly and pose the next question; that way we have two sequences going at once, in order to prevent "stalling" when nobody can come up with the answer to the one current question.

1. What animal were the Canary Islands named after?

2. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located in a city whose name is part of the racetrack's name. What city is it located in?

1. Canary Tortoise? That's just a guess.
2. Speedway, IN

Askance · #3 01-20-2005, 08:35 PM

1. Dog, from "canares", from which we also get canine.

2. No idea but I'll guess Anapolis (or maybe Diana?).

3. From what is a camel hair coat made?

4. From what are Moleskin trousers made?

Scarlett67 · #4 01-20-2005, 08:35 PM

Quote:

1. What animal were the Canary Islands named after?

Dogs.

What's Michael J. Fox's middle initial?

LifeOnWry · #5 01-20-2005, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scarlett67

Dogs.

What's Michael J. Fox's middle initial?

A, for Andrew.

LifeOnWry · #6 01-20-2005, 08:40 PM

I was supposed to come up with some questions, wasn't I?

Ummm.

Crap. I'll get back to you.

Richard Parker · #7 01-20-2005, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by askance

From what is a camel hair coat made?

Many "camel hair coats" are made from real camel hair. Am I missing something with this question?

My favorite "trick" question is: who won the French and Indian war?

Duke · #8 01-20-2005, 08:48 PM

The British, or at least the British colonials.

How long was the Hundred Years' War? How long was the Thirty Years' War?

Askance · #9 01-20-2005, 08:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zhao Daoli

Many "camel hair coats" are made from real camel hair. Am I missing something with this question?

How did "coat" get in there? Of course I meant "camel hair brush" !

Polycarp · #10 01-20-2005, 08:49 PM

Life on Wry got #2; Askance and Scarlett67 simulposted #1. (And Life on Wry got the Michael J. Fox one too; I happened to have run into the answer on that earlier today.

Answers:

3. Rabbit fur?

4. Tightly woven brushed cotton

6*. What was Buffalo, New York named after?

* I'm attributing #5 to the Michael J. Fox question, which wasn't numbered.

Anaamika · #11 01-20-2005, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

T

How long was the Hundred Years' War?

I think it was either 112 years or 118 years. Can't remember though.

Cunctator · #12 01-20-2005, 08:51 PM

From memory, 115 years for the Hundred Years' War?

Askance · #13 01-20-2005, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duke

How long was the Hundred Years' War? How long was the Thirty Years' War?

116 years. 30 years.

Where did Panama hats come from originally?

Askance · #14 01-20-2005, 08:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cunctator

From memory, 115 years for the Hundred Years' War?

From memory? You're older than you look.

iampunha · #15 01-20-2005, 10:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Askance

From memory? You're older than you look.

He's the bastard child of Paul Newman and Dick Clark.

(No way am I doing an hour's worth of research on Buffalo, NY) 7. What is the answer to the -gry riddle as it is originally posed? [Bonus points: what three -gry words does Cecil give?]

picunurse · #16 01-21-2005, 12:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Askance

Where did Panama hats come from originally?

Ecuador?

danceswithcats · #17 01-21-2005, 01:43 AM

3. Squirrel hair.

9. (I think) With what words was MTV launched?

matt_mcl · #18 01-21-2005, 01:54 AM

What colonies came together to form Canada in 1867?

danceswithcats · #19 01-21-2005, 02:05 AM

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Canada, the latter being divided into Ontario and Quebec. (My Grammie was from Sydney Mines)

matt_mcl · #20 01-21-2005, 02:11 AM

Right. (Most people forget that Upper and Lower Canada had been fused into the Province of Canada some time beforehand.)

Nightwatch Trailer · #21 01-21-2005, 02:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iampunha

7. What is the answer to the -gry riddle as it is originally posed? [Bonus points: what three -gry words does Cecil give?]

I'm not sure what the "original" is, but the answer to the version I remember is "language."

Quote:

Originally Posted by danceswithcats

9. (I think) With what words was MTV launched?

The first video was "Video Killed the Radio Star"...is that what you're aiming at?

I guess this would be...
11. Twice, Pulitzer Prizes were awarded to John Kennedy. What books were they for?

iampunha · #22 01-21-2005, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

I'm not sure what the "original" is, but the answer to the version I remember is "language."

I'm going with "original" as in "originally appearing in The Straight Dope Column". Your answer matches what I remember, FWIW.

Quote:

11. Twice, Pulitzer Prizes were awarded to John Kennedy. What books were they for?

One of 'em is Profiles in Courage (without Google). Unless there's a book written about Kennedy, and it earned a Pulitzer, I have to say Google is completely stumped

danceswithcats · #23 01-21-2005, 03:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

The first video was "Video Killed the Radio Star"...is that what you're aiming at?

Nope. Before the Buggles video (incidentally-from the 'Age of Plastic' album) there was a brief intro. What was it?

Nightwatch Trailer · #24 01-21-2005, 11:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iampunha

One of 'em is Profiles in Courage (without Google). Unless there's a book written about Kennedy, and it earned a Pulitzer, I have to say Google is completely stumped

Maybe you should add an indefinite article before the name "John Kennedy" in my original question.

pulykamell · #25 01-21-2005, 11:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

Maybe you should add an indefinite article before the name "John Kennedy" in my original question.

"A Confederacy of Dunces" by John Kennedy Toole

What state contains the US's easternmost point? (I actually don't like the answer to this question, but it's the only trick question I could think of.)

Robot Arm · #26 01-21-2005, 12:12 PM

Alaska

Traveling south from Detroit, what's the first foreign country you come to?

Nightwatch Trailer · #27 01-21-2005, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Robot Arm

Alaska

Traveling south from Detroit, what's the first foreign country you come to?

Canada.

We still have open:

Where did Panama hats come from originally? (Answered but not confirmed.)

With what words was MTV launched?

What was Buffalo, New York named after?

vetbridge · #28 01-21-2005, 01:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

What was Buffalo, New York named after?

A river or stream (not sure which).

vetbridge · #29 01-21-2005, 01:08 PM

Ooops...forgot the question...

Who played slide guitar for Derek and the Dominos Layla?

E-Sabbath · #30 01-21-2005, 01:22 PM

Ladies and gentlemen, rock and roll!

I saw it.

Mmm, okay, okay. Who was the first Marvel comics Mutant?
Who was the first Comic Book Mutant?

Hm... no, all too easy and also focused. Aha!
Who invented the hydroplane?

Neurotik · #31 01-21-2005, 02:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

Where did Panama hats come from originally? (Answered but not confirmed.)

I'll confirm, it's Ecuador.

Colibri · #32 01-21-2005, 02:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nightwatch Trailer

Canada.

Where did Panama hats come from originally? (Answered but not confirmed.)

The previously given answer "Ecuador" is correct. (I should know.)

Quote:

What was Buffalo, New York named after?

[b]vetbridge[/i] seems to be correct: It was named after Buffalo Creek.

brianjedi · #33 01-21-2005, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vetbridge

Ooops...forgot the question...

Who played slide guitar for Derek and the Dominos Layla?

Duane Allman.

My question: What sport has the University of Kentucky won the most national championships in?

Polycarp · #34 01-21-2005, 02:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colibri

[b]vetbridge[/i] seems to be correct: It was named after Buffalo Creek.

Confirmed. I believe it's still debatable whether or not it's true that Buffalo Creek (AKA Buffalo River) as a placename had its origins in a voyageur describing it as a beau (or bon) fleuve.

stargazer · #35 01-21-2005, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Colibri

The previously given answer "Ecuador" is correct. (I should know.)

[b]vetbridge[/i] seems to be correct: It was named after Buffalo Creek.

I'm still looking for a cite, but I was given to believe that the word "buffalo" (and therefore the name of the town) came from the French, "beau fleuve", meaning beautiful river.

I'll get back to you on that, though.

stargazer · #36 01-21-2005, 03:13 PM

D'oh! That's what I get for previewing, answering the phone, then posting. Drat.

E-Sabbath · #37 01-21-2005, 03:28 PM

To clarify, "Ladies and Gentlemen, Rock and Roll!" was how MTV was introduced. Martha Quinn was from my home town, so we had this big watching party at a rich kid's house. It was a big thing back then.

Ephemera · #38 01-21-2005, 03:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E-Sabbath

Mmm, okay, okay. Who was the first Marvel comics Mutant?

By appearance or origin? I'm guessing Namor for the first and Apocalypse for the other.

ParentalAdvisory · #39 01-21-2005, 03:57 PM

This is more visual, but still a trick question:

Lay a penny, a nickel, and a quarter down (then tell the story).

Bobs Mom has three kids. The penny is named 'penny', and the nickel is named 'nickel'. What is the name of the last coin?

caphis · #40 01-21-2005, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ParentalAdvisory

This is more visual, but still a trick question:

Lay a penny, a nickel, and a quarter down (then tell the story).

Bobs Mom has three kids. The penny is named 'penny', and the nickel is named 'nickel'. What is the name of the last coin?

Did you type that right? The last coin is called a "quarter," regardless. Perhaps you meant:

Quote:

Lay a penny, a nickel, and a quarter down (then tell the story).

Bobs Mom has three kids. The first child is named 'penny', and the second child is named 'nickel'. What is the name of the last child?

ParentalAdvisory · #41 01-21-2005, 04:53 PM

You're probably right. But either would work, maybe more so of my example because you're pointing to the 'coin' while asking them to name it. In their head, they're thinking the coins name must be 'quarter'. I don't know, I give up.

Punoqllads · #42 01-21-2005, 05:33 PM

Bob's Mom's third child is named "Bob".

If I flip a coin 10 times, and each time it comes up heads, what are the odds that that just happened?

ouryL · #43 01-21-2005, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polycarp

This is a thread for those little pieces of trivia you run into which don't quite conform to what you expect. If you know (or can find out) the right answer to a question, you get to pose the next one. The point, of course, is that the "obvious" answer is wrong.

Two questions to start us off. Answer either correctly and pose the next question; that way we have two sequences going at once, in order to prevent "stalling" when nobody can come up with the answer to the one current question.

1. What animal were the Canary Islands named after?

2. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway is located in a city whose name is part of the racetrack's name. What city is it located in?

Dogs, canaries were named after the islands.

Shagnasty · #44 01-21-2005, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by iampunha

He's the bastard child of Paul Newman and Dick Clark.

(No way am I doing an hour's worth of research on Buffalo, NY) 7. What is the answer to the -gry riddle as it is originally posed? [Bonus points: what three -gry words does Cecil give?]

I don't know what others said but "gry" itself is a word as is "aggry". So that means that there are at least four. After "hungry" and "angry" most people get stumped.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=gry

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=aggry

Jimmy Chitwood · #45 01-21-2005, 06:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianjedi

Duane Allman.

My question: What sport has the University of Kentucky won the most national championships in?

Cheerleading, right? Fifteen or so?

Garfield226 · #46 01-21-2005, 06:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Punoqllads

If I flip a coin 10 times, and each time it comes up heads, what are the odds that that just happened?

1.

ianzin · #47 01-21-2005, 06:58 PM

Some of these are just trivia qs, not ones to which the answer is intrinsically counter-intuitive, which is what I think the OP was after.

One for my fellow Brits: approximately how many kings have been crowned in England since the Norman Conquest?

Tripler · #48 01-21-2005, 07:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zhao Daoli

My favorite "trick" question is: who won the French and Indian war?

The British.

Tripler
I'm still working on my trick question.

Colibri · #49 01-21-2005, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polycarp

Confirmed. I believe it's still debatable whether or not it's true that Buffalo Creek (AKA Buffalo River) as a placename had its origins in a voyageur describing it as a beau (or bon) fleuve.

This site (only the cache seems to be available) has a lot of theories. They prefer the one that says the creek was named after an Indian named Buffalo.