# The Hardest Quiz Ever **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [January 6, 2006, 6:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772 "2006-01-06T18:41:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/61 "2006-01-09T04:46:11Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > 19 (and this is a guess) > > the words have at least one letter that is either silent or pronounced other that its norm. So #4 Whisk is the one that fits Right answer, entirely wrong reasoning though. ---
**Author:** ![wolf\_meister](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolf_meister/32/15202_2.png) [@wolf\_meister](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolf_meister)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/62 "2006-01-09T05:46:57Z")
**ShibbOleth** Yeah, I’m sorry about those postings. (Just proves that no one should post when it’s _really_ late and they’re _very_ tired). ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/63 "2006-01-09T05:54:05Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Right answer, entirely wrong reasoning though. LOL so what’s the right reasoning? ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/64 "2006-01-09T06:20:07Z")
Question 45: [spoiler]Peru The middle letters of Memory, when reversed, spell out Rome, the capital of Italy. The middle letters of Family, when reversed, spell out Lima, the capital of Peru.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hilarity_n.suze/32/6223_2.png) [@Hilarity\_N.Suze](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hilarity_N.Suze)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/65 "2006-01-09T06:29:54Z")
27–Has this been answered? Art Spiegleman, _Maus II_ ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/66 "2006-01-09T06:45:50Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > 27–Has this been answered? > > Art Spiegleman, _Maus II_ I was going to guess Capote for the “non-fiction novel” _In Cold Blood_ ---
**Author:** ![auRa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c4cdca/32.png) [@auRa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/auRa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/67 "2006-01-09T08:20:50Z")
In #19, I thought the correct answer was “circle”. I pronounce “whisk” with a definite “i” sound, but the “i” in “circle” is…well, more of an “urrr.” Like the “a” in “collar” and the first “e” in “verge”. What’s the correct word for that pronunciation? I forget. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/68 "2006-01-09T12:52:05Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Question 45: > > [spoiler]Peru > > The middle letters of Memory, when reversed, spell out Rome, the capital of Italy. The middle letters of Family, when reversed, spell out Lima, the capital of Peru.[/spoiler] That’s correct. Nice. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/69 "2006-01-09T12:55:28Z")
> [@Hilarity N. Suze](#): > > 27–Has this been answered? > > Art Spiegleman, _Maus II_ I think that might be correct but don’t have the solutions with me at work. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/70 "2006-01-09T12:56:37Z")
> [@auRa](#): > > In #19, > > I thought the correct answer was “circle”. I pronounce “whisk” with a definite “i” sound, but the “i” in “circle” is…well, more of an “urrr.” Like the “a” in “collar” and the first “e” in “verge”. What’s the correct word for that pronunciation? I forget. Your answer is more on the right track than Rose’s attempt, but still not quite there yet. There’s another, different connection to make. This one is pretty difficult in my opinion. ---
**Author:** ![anyrose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/54ee81/32.png) [@anyrose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/anyrose)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/71 "2006-01-09T15:45:57Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > Your answer is more on the right track than Rose’s attempt, but still not quite there yet. There’s another, different connection to make. This one is pretty difficult in my opinion. well, since we both got the right answer, please just tell us why it’s right. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 3:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/72 "2006-01-09T15:58:44Z")
> [@anyrose](#): > > well, since we both got the right answer, please just tell us why it’s right. **auRa** ’s reasoning was more in line with the correct answer but was not the correct answer. Your answer was correct but just lucky (no slight intended - I know you’re a smarty from that tough film game we did before). I’ll let this one stew a bit longer before placing the correct answer/logic in a spoiler box. ---
**Author:** ![matt\_mcl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/7ab992/32.png) [@matt\_mcl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/matt_mcl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/73 "2006-01-09T16:21:20Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > 1. **Draelin** A: Anne Rice Anyone mind explaining that one to me? As I understand it, it was a boy-named-Sue situation – her parents really wanted a boy, or something. ---
**Author:** ![Draelin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ce73a5/32.png) [@Draelin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Draelin)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 4:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/74 "2006-01-09T16:33:18Z")
> [@matt\_mcl](#): > > As I understand it, it was a boy-named-Sue situation – her parents really wanted a boy, or something. I believe that’s what happened, yes. I can’t remember the story, and I couldn’t remember if the name was Harold or Howard, but I recognized the maiden name. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/75 "2006-01-09T17:10:28Z")
> [@Draelin](#): > > I believe that’s what happened, yes. I can’t remember the story, and I couldn’t remember if the name was Harold or Howard, but I recognized the maiden name. How long did they have her go by that name? Has she written on how it affected her later in life, if at all? I assume she didn’t love the name, since that’s not the name she currently uses. ---
**Author:** ![Mbossa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/73ab20/32.png) [@Mbossa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mbossa)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/76 "2006-01-09T20:47:21Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > **auRa** ’s reasoning was more in line with the correct answer but was not the correct answer. Your answer was correct but just lucky (no slight intended - I know you’re a smarty from that tough film game we did before). I’ll let this one stew a bit longer before placing the correct answer/logic in a spoiler box. Before you post the correct reasoning, can you please give us another subtle hint? I’m not ready to give up yet! ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 9:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/77 "2006-01-09T21:11:15Z")
> [@Mbossa](#): > > Before you post the correct reasoning, can you please give us another subtle hint? I’m not ready to give up yet! Hint: It has to do with a connection in the pronounciation of part of each word. ---
**Author:** ![Cunctator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/43a26b/32.png) [@Cunctator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cunctator)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 10:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/78 "2006-01-09T22:05:16Z")
Thanks for the hint for question 19 **ShibbOleth**. I think it’s: [spoiler]Each of the words in the left hand column, when pronounced, sounds like the start of the name of an American state e.g. collar for Colorado, kinetic for Connecticut etc. So the correct word from the right hand column is whisk, for Wisconsin.[/spoiler] ---
**Author:** ![Reloy3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c68b51/32.png) [@Reloy3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Reloy3)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/79 "2006-01-09T23:25:55Z")
#24 gladiolus The winning words from the Scripps Howard National Spelling Bee. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2006, 11:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772/80 "2006-01-09T23:35:19Z")
> [@Cunctator](#): > > Thanks for the hint for question 19 **ShibbOleth**. I think it’s: > > [spoiler]Each of the words in the left hand column, when pronounced, sounds like the start of the name of an American state e.g. collar for Colorado, kinetic for Connecticut etc. > > So the correct word from the right hand column is whisk, for Wisconsin.[/spoiler] That is correct. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-hardest-quiz-ever/338772.md?page=5)