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Quiz about Famous Miscalculations
Quiz about Famous Miscalculations

Famous Miscalculations Trivia Quiz


History is filled with incidents of incredibly poor judgment.

A multiple-choice quiz by robert362. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
robert362
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
55,651
Updated
Jan 25 23
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
6 / 10
Plays
5649
Last 3 plays: Guest 149 (5/10), Guest 1 (7/10), Guest 104 (4/10).
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Question 1 of 10
1. Amelia Earhart's ill-fated final trip may have been doomed when she decided to make one of her stops at a tiny island in the vast Pacific Ocean. She never found it. What was the name of the island? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. David Berkowitz, the infamous 'Son of Sam' killer, was caught as a result of a minor oversight. What was it? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. One of the sea's great mysteries involves a ship that was apparently deserted voluntarily by its crew. The crew had, however, failed to attach the lifeboat line to the main ship, so the ship apparently drifted away. What was the name of the ship? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Al Capone was the 'boss' when it came to crime. How was he caught and imprisoned? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. John Wilkes Booth wasn't content to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, he had to add a dramatic flourish by leaping from the balcony onto the stage at Ford's theatre. It was a bad mistake. Why? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Andrew Volstead, an American Congressman, sponsored a bill that sorely miscalculated the mood and temperament of the American people. What was it? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. One of history's most well-known blunders involves the 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. In what war did it occur? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When Bob (and Charlie) Ford shot Jesse James they thought that they would capitalize on their fame. It didn't work out that way. Charlie committed suicide; Bob was killed in a fight. Who was 'the man who killed the man who killed Jesse James'? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The arrest of John Scopes for violation of the Butler Act was supposed to be a big moment for anti-evolution forces. Where was the trial? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. Richard Nixon thought that his tapes would be of historical interest. They were, but not in the way he imagined. Who revealed the existence of the tapes to Watergate investigators? Hint



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Most Recent Scores
Oct 30 2024 : Guest 149: 5/10
Oct 24 2024 : Guest 1: 7/10
Oct 19 2024 : Guest 104: 4/10
Oct 09 2024 : Guest 108: 9/10
Oct 04 2024 : gentlegiant17: 8/10
Sep 27 2024 : Guest 136: 8/10
Sep 18 2024 : Guest 90: 5/10
Sep 04 2024 : Guest 194: 9/10
Sep 03 2024 : Guest 107: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Amelia Earhart's ill-fated final trip may have been doomed when she decided to make one of her stops at a tiny island in the vast Pacific Ocean. She never found it. What was the name of the island?

Answer: Howland

Bad planning. Like trying to find a needle in an (ocean) haystack.
2. David Berkowitz, the infamous 'Son of Sam' killer, was caught as a result of a minor oversight. What was it?

Answer: Parking ticket

He got a parking ticket - at a specific time and location - that led police to investigate, pursue and capture their man.
3. One of the sea's great mysteries involves a ship that was apparently deserted voluntarily by its crew. The crew had, however, failed to attach the lifeboat line to the main ship, so the ship apparently drifted away. What was the name of the ship?

Answer: Mary Celeste

The likely explanation is that the ship was abandoned because of fear of an imminent explosion - that never happened.
4. Al Capone was the 'boss' when it came to crime. How was he caught and imprisoned?

Answer: Tax evasion

He was tried for income tax evasion.
5. John Wilkes Booth wasn't content to assassinate Abraham Lincoln, he had to add a dramatic flourish by leaping from the balcony onto the stage at Ford's theatre. It was a bad mistake. Why?

Answer: It resulted in an injury to him

A touch of bravado, but the broken leg undoubtedly hindered what might otherwise have been a successful flight and escape down country roads. Ultimately, he was captured.
6. Andrew Volstead, an American Congressman, sponsored a bill that sorely miscalculated the mood and temperament of the American people. What was it?

Answer: Prohibition

It was called 'The Volstead Act'.
7. One of history's most well-known blunders involves the 'Charge of the Light Brigade'. In what war did it occur?

Answer: Crimean War

'Not though the soldiers knew someone had blundered'.
8. When Bob (and Charlie) Ford shot Jesse James they thought that they would capitalize on their fame. It didn't work out that way. Charlie committed suicide; Bob was killed in a fight. Who was 'the man who killed the man who killed Jesse James'?

Answer: Edward Kelly

His full name was Edward Capehart O'Kelley. 'The dirty little coward who shot poor Mr. Howard, laid Jesse James in his grave'.
9. The arrest of John Scopes for violation of the Butler Act was supposed to be a big moment for anti-evolution forces. Where was the trial?

Answer: Tennessee

The Butler Act prohibited the teaching of human evolution. He was found guilty and fined $100. The three other states had tried similar measures.
10. Richard Nixon thought that his tapes would be of historical interest. They were, but not in the way he imagined. Who revealed the existence of the tapes to Watergate investigators?

Answer: Alexander Butterfield

Nixon had never looked more evil.
Source: Author robert362

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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