I was watching a game show recently (The Chase, which I recommend quite highly, currently available on Netflix), and the question asked was:
“What movie actor immediately preceded Jerry Brown as governor of California?”
The contestant answered with “Ronald Reagan”. This was counted as incorrect, with the correct answer being “Arnold Schwarzenegger”. However, at the end of the round, ad judgment was made that Ronald Reagan was ALSO correct, and the contestant was awarded the point.
Which, when you think about it, is pretty remarkable.
“What movie actor immediately preceded Jerry Brown as governor of California?” is not a question that even HINTS at the possibility that it has two correct answers. For it to have two correct answers, then (a) Jerry Brown had to have been elected governor of California twice, nonconsecutively. Which is certainly not unknown, but is certainly unusual. And then (b) each of those times had to be immediately following a movie actor. Which is even less likely. In fact, Arnie and Reagan are between them probably at least half of the movie actors ever elected governor of ANY state.
So the fact that there are two valid answers that question is quite an amazing coincidence. And, for the purposes of this thread, one that you would not even get a hint was possible just from the question itself.
Anyone else have an example of a question of this sort?
Once on Jeopardy, I heard them say “this president was the only one who was preceded and succeeded by the same man”. The answer given was Benjamin Harrison who was elected between Cleveland’s two terms. But if you think about it, Cleveland was succeeded and preceded by Harrison, too.
“This Harvard graduate from the most powerful family in Massachusetts became President shortly after his predecessor, America’s top general, gave a famed speech warning America against foolish military policies.”
This one actually happened to me. It was on the Usenet trivia newsgroup.
What was the first Nasdaq-traded stock included in the Dow-Jones Industrial Average?
Well I happened to know that the first two were added on the same day, so I chose one of them (Intel). Everyone else gave the other answer (Microsoft) and that was the official answer too. I had to protest, which was upheld. I probably should have pointed it out when I answered.
What actor who starred in the 1987 sci-fi action thriller Predator later went on to become governor of a U.S. state?
Bathurst Island (named after Henry Bathurst, the British Secretary of State for War and the Colonies) and Melville Island (named after Robert Dundas, 2nd Viscount Melville, First Lord of the Admiralty) are part of what country?
Which U.S. President:
Graduated from Harvard
Attended Columbia University Law School
Served in the New York state legislature
Served as Governor of New York
Served as Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Defied tradition by running for third term as President
Was noted for promoting a major domestic program with the nickname “____ Deal”
(HINT: His last name was “Roosevelt”.)
Most questions that can be answered with “Istanbul” could also be answered with “constantinople” if time isn’t a factor. (sorry, I’ve had that song stuck in my head forever)
