Please Help Me Write Trivia Questions

Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
1

I’ve been assigned to task of writing trivia questions for a trivia night fundraiser some friends at church are holding. The theme is “Around the World in 80 Days,” and the questions will be drawn from culture, movies, music, religion, food, customs, history, etc. etc. etc., from countries around the world.

Please help me come up with some good questions.

Here’s what I’ve come up with so far; NOTE: the goal is 10 categories, 10 questions each. Thanks!

Category: Odds & Ends

  1. The Ga people of Ghana practice what unusual burial custom?
    –They bury their dead in elaborate, themed coffins.

  2. During the Spanish festival of El Colacho, men dressed as The Devil jump over what?
    –Babies

  3. What religion is practiced by approximately 64% of the population of Jamaica?
    –Christianity.

  4. Kopi Luwak, widely considered to be the most exquisite coffee in the world, is harvested from what?
    –Poop

  5. On an episode of The Big Bang Theory, Rajesh says that one of his goals is to discover a planet, and give it what name?
    –Planet Bollywood

  6. Who is the odd man out in this list? Jim Carrey, John Cusack, Bryan Adams, Mike Myers?
    –John Cusack; he’s the only non-Canadian

  7. What is the name of the scale that measures heat from a chili pepper? For example, a jalapeno has about 5,000 of these units; a naga jolokia has about one million of them.
    –Scoville scale, or Scoville units

  8. Those Greek sandwiches that include lamb meat, veggies, and cucumber sauce are delicious. But how the heck do you pronounce it?
    –Yee-row

  9. What South American country has provided the most adopted children in the U.S.?
    –Columbia
    Category: International Politics

  10. What is First Lady Michelle Obama’s maiden name?
    –Michelle Robinson

  11. Who is the Prime Minister of Canada?
    –Stephen Harper

  12. Who is the President of Mexico?
    –Enrique Pena Nieto

  13. Who is the Prime Minister of Great Britain?
    –David Cameron

  14. Peter Turkson of Ghana, Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Argentina, and Marc Ouellet of Canada have all been mentioned as possible contenders for what job?
    –Pope

  15. Before converting to the Euro in 2002, the Escudo was the currency of what European nation?
    –Portugal

Category: Foreign Movies

  1. What name comes next in this series: George Lazenby, Timothy Dalton, Pierce Brosnan, ____:
    –Daniel Craig (actors that have portrayed James Bond)

  2. The American Horror film The Ring is a remake of a horror film from what country?
    –Japan (Ringu)

  3. What 2008 film tells the story of a Mumbai tea server who wins 20 million rupees?
    Slumdog Millionaire

  4. In this 1998 Irish comedy, a town comes together to split the winnings from a dead man’s lottery ticket.
    –Waking Ned Devine

  5. Focusing largely on horror films, the term “Nollywood” colloquially refers to the film industry in what developing nation?
    –Nigeria

  6. Of the following Disney movies, which one does not belong? Beauty and the Beast, The Princess and the Frog, Mulan, 101 Dalmatians?
    –The Princess and the Frog (It’s the only one that takes place in the U.S.)

Category: Song & Dance

  1. The popular song “Little Talks” is performed by Of Monsters and Men, an Indie Pop band from what country?
    –Iceland

  2. One-hit-wonder band Los del Rio performed what 1995 song that was accompanied by a dance craze?
    –Macarena

  3. What early 80’s Puerto Rican boy band shares a name with a Mexican tripe soup?
    –Menudo

  4. My playlist includes Buju Banton, Peter Tosh, and Matisyahu. What genre of music am I listening to?
    –Reggae

  5. “The History of Everything,” by Canadian rock band Barenaked Ladies, is the theme song of what popular sitcom?
    –The Big Bang Theory

  6. What 1963 French-language song by a Belgian nun became a hit in the U.S.?
    –Dominique

  7. What kind of singing is this? Seven Styles of Overtone Singing (Tuvan Throat Singing) - YouTube (begin at 2:15)
    –Kargyraa, Tuvan throat singing, throat singing, overtone singing, etc.

Category: Television Around the World

  1. What American sitcom is a remake of the British sitcom Steptoe & Son?
    –Sanford & Son

  2. The Swedish TV show Expedition Robinson is remade in the U.S. as:
    –Survivor

  3. Singer Susan Boyle got her start on what TV show?
    –Britain’s Got Talent

  4. This joint Canadian-American production is the longest-running animated children’s TV series in history.
    –Arthur

  5. The Israeli version of this children’s show is called Rechov SumSum.
    –Sesame Street

Category: Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?

  1. Carmen is talking like a pirate in the largest (by population) city in the Caribbean. What city is she in?
    –Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (also will accept Havana, Cuba, since estimates vary as the to size of Havana and it may actually be bigger)

  2. [redacted because it won’t make any sense unless you know the reason for the fundraiser, which isn’t relevant to this thread]

  3. Carmen is studying cartography in the smallest (by area) U.S. state WEST of the Mississippi River. What state is she in?
    –Hawaii

  4. Carmen is studying Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, in the ruins of the ancient city of Ephesus. What country is she in?
    –Turkey

  5. Carmen is floating down the river, admiring the ancient city of Buda on one shore, and the ancient city of Pesht on the other; it’s now one city called Budapest. What river is she on?
    –The Danube

Category: Literature (*I name an author and one of his/her books, you tell me where the author is from)

  1. Lucy Maud Montgomery, Anne of Green Gables.
    –Canada

  2. Stieg Larsson, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
    –Sweden

  3. Hans Christian Andersen, The Little Mermaid
    –Denmark

Category: Food (*I name a food, you tell me what country it comes from)

  1. Pho; noodles, meat, and herbs in a broth.
    –Vietnam

2.Gaegogi; it’s probably best that I don’t tell you what it is. OK it’s dog.
–Korea

  1. Casu Marzu; it’s probably best that I don’t tell you what it is. OK, it’s cheese with live maggots in it.
    –Italy

  2. Paella; rice, garlic, spices, and steamed mussels.
    –Spain

  3. Chicken tandoori; chicken, yogurt and spices cooked in a clay oven called a tandoor.
    –India

  4. Poutine: French fries, cheese curds, and brown gravy.
    –Canada

  5. Ratatouille: tomatoes, onions, zucchini, eggplant, garlic and herbs.
    –France

  6. Couscous: Steamed semolina with chickpeas, vegetables, and sometimes meat.
    –Morocco (will also accept Algeria, Tunisia, Libya, or North Africa)

  7. Moussaka: eggplant and ground meat, with a savory custard on top.
    –Greece

  8. Jerk chicken: chicken, Scotch Bonnet peppers, cloves, scallions, and other spices, often cooked in a re-purposed oil drum.
    –Jamaica

2

Who is the odd one out of this list? Ferdinand Magellan, Phileas Fogg, Amelia Earhart, John Glenn?

[spoiler]-- Magellan; they all circumnavigated (or tried to) but he’s the only one to do so east-to-west, the others all went west-to-east.

However, nobody ever gets that question right. You might change it by making it four questions, asking which direction each traveled.[/spoiler]

Here’s another one no one ever gets right:

Who is the odd man out in this list; George Lazenby, Pope Pius XII, Conan O’Brien, Benjamin Harrison?[spoiler]Pope Pius XII; the others all had jobs where their predecessor was also their successor, George Lazenby by Sean Connery in the James Bond films, Conan O’Brien by Jay Leno as host of the Tonight Show, Benjamin Harrison by Grover Cleveland as president of the U.S.

(I used to use Hugh Downs in place of Conan O’Brien. Downs was also host of the Tonight Show for a month when Jack Paar walked out over a dispute with the censors, then returned.[/spoiler]

Odd-man-out questions are tricky (mine included). My answer was 101 Dalmatians; it’s the only one without a female protagonist.

Would you consider a sports category?

Vinko Bogataj is most associated with what sport?[spoiler]Ski jumping (or ski flying); a clip of him tumbling off the end of a jump symbolized “the agony of defeat” for years on the opening credits of ABC’s Wide World of Sports.

Whether you use that might depend on the age of your audience. The show has been off the air for years and younger people might not even have heard of it.[/spoiler]

3

<nitpick>The country is Colombia. The university is Columbia. </nitpick>

Could just as easily answer any of those.
Beauty & Beast- Only one that takes place in France
Mulan - China
101 Dalmations - England
To add some suggested questions:

International Politics:

Q. In 2012 Michael Misick, the former premier of what British Overseas Territory, was arrested in Brazil on an international warrant related to a corruption investigation.
A. Turks & Caicos Islands

Category: Where in the World is Carmen San Diego?:

Q. Carmen is exploring the ruins of ancient Carthage. What present day country is she in?
A. Tunisia

Q. Carmen is climbing the Chimborazo volcano to reach the point on the Earth’s surface furtherest from the center of the Earth. In what equatorial country is Carmen?
A. Ecuador

4
  1. If I just performed a Telemark, Viennese Cross, and Double Reverse Spin with Bombshell ending, what am I doing?
    –Waltz
5

Some of these may not fit your categories:

Carmen is standing in the middle of the largest (area-wise) capital city in the United States. What is the city and state? - Juneau, Alaska (at 3255 sq mi) Alternatively, you could make the question "the only US capital city accessible only by air or water.

Carmen is hiking through the Darien Gap. What country is she in? --Panama

Television: In the old TV series Dobie Gillis, Dobie’s best friend was Maynard G. Krebs. What did the “G” stand for? - Walter, according to Maynard

Mali is in the news. What ancient animist tribe in Mali lives at the foot of the Badiagara Escarpment and buries its dead in the niches of the cliff? - The Dogon tribe

How many species of penguin are there in the Arctic? - None; penguins reside in Antarctica.

Food:
biryani; India; a flavorful rice dish that can contain fish, shrimp, spices, dried fruits, nuts, etc.

Lumpia (loom’-pee-ya): Philippines; similar to spring roll but with a thinner wrapper, may be fresh or fried, filled with vegetable or meat mixture.

Posho (also called ugali or sembe): Africa’s so-called “Great Lakes” region. Made with cornmeal and water into a porridge or dough consistency.

Mauby (or maubi): Virgin Islands/Caribbean; a drink made from sugar and tree bark, sometimes fermented or spiced.

6

Anita and Perdy don’t count? :dubious:

7

<Nitpick> “Dalmatians” is spelled with three "a"s, no "o"s.

Q: In what modern country is the historical Dalmatia located?

A: Croatia (in the former Yugoslavia).

Q: In what country did the Pomeranian breed of dog originate?

A: Germany/Prussia (Pomerania, on the Baltic coast, is now divided between Germany and Poland).

Q: What is the only breed of dog to have originated in Cuba?

A: Havanese.

8

In what country did the Australian Shepherd originate? --Western United States

9

The Canary Islands got their name from what type of animal?

Dog. Specifically Presa Canario.

10

Food and Drink

Q: The French term bouillabaisse, translated roughly, means what?

A: “Fish stew.” (Anyone who ever watched “Gilligan’s Island” would know that.)

Q: What is the one ingredient that purists say should never be used in Texan chili con carne?

A: Beans. If you must have them, they should be served on the side.

Q: The Russian dish Beef Stroganov usually consists of beef, onions, mushrooms, and what other main ingredient?

A: Sour cream (smetana). It can be served over rice or egg noodles, or with a side of fried potato sticks. One story says it was created for a Count Stroganov who had no teeth.

Q: Name three things that Kosher Jewish cuisine prohibits.

A: Shellfish, swine products (pork, ham, bacon), and the mixing of meat and dairy foods.

Q: What is Wienerschnitzel?

A: Viennese-style breaded veal cutlets.

Q: Russian pelmeni, Polish pierogi, Czech knedlicky, and German Spätzle are all called what in English?

A: Dumplings.

Q: If you order Mushrooms julienne at a European restaurant, what will you be served?

A: Chopped mushrooms baked in a sour cream sauce.

Q: What are the two main fillings of a hot Cuban sandwich?

A: Roast pork and ham.

Q: What common legume is the national dish of Latvia?

A: Chick peas, aka garbanzo beans.

Q: Name the two main divisions of Italian cuisine.

A: Northern (with emphasis on meat, game, and cream sauces) and Southern (with emphasis on tomato sauces and seafood).

Q: What are the two main traditional divisions of beer?

A: “Warm temperature” (those made with a top-fermenting yeast, e.g., ales, porters, stouts) and “low temperature” (those made with bottom-fermenting yeasts, e.g., Pilsners and American malt liquor).

Q: What are the three main ingredients of the Scottish liqueur Drambuie?

A: Scotch whiskey, honey, and herbs (according to a secret recipe).

Q: The Italian liqueur Grappa can be said to taste like what?

A: Diesel fuel. It’s made by distilling the mess left over from winemaking.

11

Raki is a clear Turkish liquor. What is it flavored with, and what is typically added to it to turn it cloudy? --Anise and chilled water

12

This is not certain. It’s one of several possibilities. Another is that the islands were named after the Canarii people that lived there.

13

TV and Cinema

Q: The German animated series Trickfilmzeit mit Adelheid (“Cartoon Time with Adelheid,” a kangaroo) featured what well-known character reading poetry?

A: Bullwinkle the Moose, of course!

Q: The British comedy series The Good Life was known as what in the US?

A: Good Neighbors, shown on PBS.

A: The title of the French action-adventure series Les Chevaliers du Ciel translates into English as what?

A: “Knights of the Sky.” It was about a squadron of jet pilots serving in the French air force.

Q: What classic American series took its name from a group of men who couldn’t be bribed?

A: The Untouchables.

Q: In the comedy series SCTV, what was the alternate title for the “Great White North” segment?

A: “Kanadian Korner.”

Q: The British comedy series The Fosters, about a Jamaican immigrant family living in Brixton, was an adaptation of which American series?

A: Good Times.

Q: What famous Russian silent movie was parodied in 1994’s The Naked Gun 33&1/3: The Final Insult?

A: Battleship Potempkin (in the scene with the baby carriage rolling down the staircase).

Q: In the French film The Train starring Burt Lancaster and Paul Scofield, what is the secret cargo being shipped to Germany before the Allies can reach Paris in 1944?

A: Looted art treasures.

Q: What is the connection between George Bernard Shaw and Margaret Mitchell?

A: The British actor Leslie Howard, who played Henry Higgins in the film version of Pygmalion (1938) and the dashing Ashley Wilkes in Gone with the Wind (1939).

Q: In the film of the same name, who was Anne of the Thousand Days?

A: Henry VIII’s wife Anne Boleyn, played by the French-Canadian actress Genevieve Bujold.

Q: On the SF series Star Trek: Voyager, who was the original Captain Janeway?

A: The French-Canadian actress Genevieve Bujold. (Janeway’s first name was originally “Nicole.”) Bujold quit after the first day of shooting and was replaced by Kate Mulgrew.

14

I quite like some of your questions. But beware of questions that have more than one possible answer. For example,

What if someone comes up with something else that three of them have in common?

Also, having posted so many of these online, you’d better hope that nobody who actually attends the event has seen this thread beforehand (maybe having Googled the name of the event?).

Have you read the advice On Writing Questions at springfieldtrivia.com?

15

It’s highly unlikely that anyone from church reads the 'Dope. And thanks for the link-- I’ll take a look.

16

My favorite trivia questions are ones that require knowledge of more than one topic. A wonderful example from last week’s bar trivia game:

“If Tommy Lee Jones’ character from Men In Black were a chemical element, which one would he be?”

Jones played Agent K, and K is the symbol for potassium. The answer is potassium. Awesome question.