A Date with the Dewey Decimal System Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Rachel likes to read romance novels. Novels of this type are not classified with a number but are placed in the "Fiction" section. They are organized by the last and then first name of the author. Who of the following is a romance author?

Answer: Jude Deveraux

Jude Deveraux is known for her romance novels. She also writes paranormal stories. The heroines in her novels are strong and confident. Her motto is "be thankful for the small things". She was an elementary teacher prior to her start in writing books.

2. Sam is so into sports, it's all he seems to talk about. Sports are classified in section 796. Which one of these writers has written books about sports?

Answer: Dan Shaughnessy

Dan not only has written, or contributed to the writing of, sports books. He began his career as a beat writer. His first position was with the Baltimore Sun in 1977. He wrote "The Curse of the Bambino". Dan believes Boston, Massachusetts is the best sports city in the USA.

3. Haley tells everyone about the folk tales she likes to read. Stories of this type are placed in section 398. Which of these authors writes folk tales?

Answer: Malachy Doyle

Malachy is Irish and was born in 1954 in Northern Ireland. He is named for an Irish saint and is the seventh child of eight children. He is a member of the Welsh Academy. Prior to a career in writing, he worked packing Polo Mints for six months. He took a creative writing class in an effort to deal with the long Welsh winters. His wife, Anna, suggested he write about his childhood.

4. Brian has an amazing garden and a degree in botany. His neighbors are always asking him for advice. Botany books are classified in section 580. Do you know the name of an author of botany?

Answer: Michael Pollan

Michael has also written for the "New York Times Magazine". "Eat food. Not too much. Mostly plants" is one of his many principles. Michael believes we should eat food more in line with what the generation of his grandmother would have eaten. Fast food, and some foods in markets, are not even considered to be food by Michael. His sister, Tracy, is married to Michael J. Fox.

5. Animals are one subject Oscar is always willing to discuss. Books about animals are placed in section 590 of the library. Which of the following people is an author of animal books?

Answer: Christine Davis

Christine writes about the connections animals have with humans. She has a blog entitled "Lighthearted Press". Her books cover a large range of subjects. They include coping with the loss of a pet, the story a shelter dog and animals and their afterlives. She writes about both cats and dogs.

6. Astronomy, astronomy, astronomy....Paul's thoughts are more in the skies. If he could, he would move into space. Books about astronomy are kept in section 520 of the library. What is the name of an author who writes of astronomy?

Answer: Carl Sagan

Carl was interested in the search for extraterrestrial life-forms. He promoted the Search for Extra-Terrestrial Intelligence. It is also referred to as SETI. The movie "Contact" is based upon his novel. Carl's contributions regarding Venus helped prove it was not the paradise some envisioned but rather a high temperature environment.

7. Peter is always building something. He spends a great deal of time in section 690 of his library. Which of the following is the name of a writer who wrote about architect I. M. Pei?

Answer: Carter Wiseman

"A Profile in American Architecture" is just one book by Carter. The creations of I. M. Pei reflect more of a desire for function. Many of his designs incorporate Chinese building traditions and symbols. I. M. Pei utilized the Bible and the works of Charles Dickens to teach himself English. I. M. Pei created the NCAR (National Center for Atmospheric Research) building located in Boulder, Colorado. NCAR is one of my favorite places of exploration. Admission is free. Carter has also written about Louis I. Kahn, another architect.

8. Language is something Stephanie will pursue in college. She already knows three languages. The classifications for languages are in the 400 series. Who of the following has written language books?

Answer: Steven Pinker

Steven wrote the book entitled "The Language Instinct". The basis of the book is our brains are born already possessing a capacity for language. After all, before babies "learn" to speak, they create their own language of sounds, "types" of words, and so on.

Although we, as adults, may not be able to understand their language, it does not mean it is not a language to the babies. Twins often share a language known only to each other.

9. My husband tells me my knack for arranging items in our home to be pleasing to the eye is a gift. Books on interior decorating are organized in section 747. Which of these people writes books on interior decorating?

Answer: Lauri Ward

Lauri bases her methods of decorating on using what you currently have in your home and getting it done in a day. Rather than changing what is in people's homes, she believes in better utilization of current possessions. One book entitled "Downsizing Your Home with Style: Living Well In a Smaller Space" is a favorite of mine.

10. Planning for weddings has been a passion for Dayna since she was a child. She often may be found in section 395. Do you know which of the following people has written books on planning weddings?

Answer: Beverly Clark

"A Wedding To Remember" is a book a bride-to-be should seriously consider before she begins planning her "perfect" wedding. Beverly's other books cover topics from ordering the cake to making toasts. Many weddings are considered to be grand productions. Beverly's books can make the entire process less stressful.

Source: Author Deunan

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor Snowman before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.

Melvil Dewey invented the Dewey Decimal System for library classification. Here are some examples of his system. See if you can figure out which author matches the classification mentioned in each question.

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