In Praise of Purple Trivia Quiz

Answer: Dino

Dino is the Flintstone family's pet "dogasaurus". He is purple with black spots on his back and three black hairs on his head.

Barney is a purple dinosaur children's character. Tinky Winky is a Teletubby. Puff is a magic dragon in a song by Peter, Paul, and Mary.

Answer: Northwestern

Northwestern is a private school in Evanston, Illinois, that is a member of the Big Ten athletic conference. The school colors are purple and white.

The University of Illinois colors are dark blue and orange; Michigan State's colors are green and white; and the University of Nebraska's colors are red and white.

Answer: Alexandrite

Alexandrite is a colorful stone that appears blue/green in daylight that changes a purplish red in incandescent lighting. It was discovered in the Ural Mountains of Russia and named for Tsar Alexander II. Depletion of the mines makes it a rare and expensive gem. It is now being produced synthetically in other places.

Answer: John Steinbeck

Originally published in 1939, Steinbeck received the National Book Award and Pulitzer Prize for this book. The title is derived from the anthem "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" and from Revelation 14:19-20. The phrase is used to portend momentous change.

Julia Ward Howe coined the phrase "trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored" in 1861 as part of more fitting lyrics for the melody of "John Brown's Body".

Alice Walker wrote "The Color Purple".

Answer: Eggplant

Technically a fruit since it has seeds, eggplant is commonly called a vegetable. Along with tomatoes and peppers, it's a member of the nightshade family.

There are also varieties of purple carrots and potatoes. Onions that are purple are actually called red onions.

Antioxidants create the purple color in these vegetables.

Answer: Marvin Gaye

Norman Whitfield and Barrett Strong wrote the song for Motown Records, and it was first recorded in 1967 by Gladys Knight and the Pips. Marvin Gaye had a hit record with it in 1968. Creedence Clearwater Revival made a cover version of it in 1970.

Answer: Colorado Rockies

The Colorado Rockies of Denver are an expansion baseball team in the National League whose uniform jerseys are purple. At home they wear the purple shirts with purple pin-striped white pants. For away games, the jersey is paired with gray pants.

Answer: Johnny Depp

Depp played Gilbert Grape, a young man who struggled supporting his morbidly obese mother and looking after his intellectually challenged younger brother Arnie, portrayed by DiCaprio. The movie hit theaters in 1993.

Answer: Lydia

The book of Acts, chapter 16, relates the story of Lydia. She was a Roman citizen of Greek origin who sold cloth dyed purple. After hearing the Apostle Paul speak, she converted to Christianity and hosted him when he preached in Philippi.

Answer: Prose

Descriptive writing that is so extravagantly wordy that it detracts from the theme is called purple prose.

Journalistic writing that is sensational in nature is referred to as yellow journalism.