Mixed Doubles Trivia Quiz

Answer: James M. Cain

"Double Indemnity" is the story of an insurance salesman who becomes involved with a married woman. She not only convinces him to help her take out a life insurance policy with a double indemnity clause, but also to help murder her husband in a staged accident in order to collect the money.

The story was loosely based on a real case, the Snyder/Gray case of 1927, in which Ruth Snyder and Judd Gray murdered Albert Snyder. Cain used elements of the Snyder/Gray case in two novels - "Double Indemnity" and "The Postman Always Rings Twice".

Answer: Macbeth

These lines are chanted by the three witches casting a spell in Act IV, Scene I of "Macbeth". There is a legend in the theatre that the first time "Macbeth" was performed in 1606, the young boy playing Lady Macbeth died of fever. Because of this and because the play involved witchcraft, there has been a tradition or superstition of bad luck associated with it ever since.

It is believed by many that uttering the name "Macbeth" in a theatre will bring bad luck. It is often referred to as "the Scottish play" instead.

Answer: We don't know who invented it

James Naismith invented basketball. Alexander Cartwright, Daniel "Doc" Adams and Abner Doubleday have all been credited with the invention of baseball but the correct answer is that no-one really knows for sure who invented it. In fact, it appears to be a game which "evolved" from the English game of "rounders" which was also known as base-ball. Jane Austen mentioned the game of base-ball in 1798 in her novel, "Northanger Abbey", thirty years before Doubleday and Cartwright were even born.

Answer: Pink

The double letter score squares are light blue, triple letter score squares are dark blue and triple word score squares are red. The centre square of the Scrabble board, where the game must commence, is pink and there are 16 additional pink double word score squares on the board.

Answer: Fifth

The Fifth Amendment states, in part, "nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb". Generally speaking, once acquitted, a person may not be retried for the same offence (although there are some rare exceptional circumstances to this clause).

The Fifth Amendment also allows a person to refuse to answer a question because the answer might incriminate them. This is sometimes referred to as "pleading the Fifth" or "taking the Fifth". The First Amendment deals with rights such as freedom of speech and religion.

The Thirteenth Amendment abolishes slavery and the Sixteenth Amendment allows federal taxes on income.

Answer: John Lennon

In 1980, John Lennon and Yoko Ono produced the album "Double Fantasy". The title of this album was allegedly inspired by the name of a flower John Lennon saw at an exhibition. "Double Fantasy" was released in the U.K. on November 17. On the morning of December 8, Mark David Chapman intercepted John Lennon outside his apartment and Lennon signed Chapman's copy of "Double Fantasy".

In the evening, as Lennon returned to his apartment, Chapman killed him.

Answer: Wrigley's

The original jingle for Wrigley's Doublemint chewing gum was "Double your pleasure, double your fun, with Doublemint, Doublemint, chewing gum!" It was first sold in the U.S.A. in 1914. In 1956, Wrigley's began using twins in their advertising campaigns. The original "Doublemint Twins" were Jayne and Joan Boyd of Indiana.

Answer: Elvis Presley

In 1966, Elvis Presley was the highest paid actor in the world. He has never received much credit for his acting ability despite the fact that all his films were box office successes. Today his movies are generally viewed as merely vehicles for his songs. "Double Trouble" was his 24th movie. He played Guy Lambert, a rock singer touring London and Belgium.

Answer: Agatha Christie

"Double Sin" is not one of Agatha Christie's better known works although it did feature her two most celebrated detectives, Jane Marple and Hercule Poirot. According to Agatha Christie's official website (www.agathachristie.com), most of the short stories in "Double Sin" were adapted for television in Britain in the 1990s, starring David Suchet as Poirot.

Answer: DNA

DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid) is a substance found in the nucleus of living cells that contains the genetic information essential for life and reproduction. It is a large, double stranded helical molecule, which resembles a twisted ladder. It was first described in 1953 by James Watson and Francis Crick who were awarded a Nobel Prize in 1962 for their work.