A Holiday Bond Trivia Quiz

Answer: Scrooge McDuck

Scrooge McDuck first appeared in 1947, in "Christmas on Bear Mountain" and has been described as the "richest duck in the world". He is Donald's uncle on his mother's side, and often appears with Donald's nephews Huey, Dewey and Louie. Uncle Scrooge is known to be "careful" with his riches, as befits his Scottish heritage. The photo of a plush duck was meant to steer you towards the ducky answer.

Richie Rich is the "poor little rich boy" of comics; Montgomery Burns is the rich owner of the power plant in "The Simpsons" television show; Rich Uncle Pennybags is the mascot of the board game "Monopoly".

Answer: Ghost

In her winning role, Whoopi's character was a bogus medium, who was surprised to be approached by a ghost (Sam, played by Patrick Swayze) who needed her help to protect his lover, Molly (Demi Moore) from his murderer. The screenplay of "Ghost" (1990) also won an Oscar. The ghosts in the photo were your clue here.

Goldberg was nominated as Best Actress for "The Color Purple" (1985) but did not win. She also appeared in "Sister Act" (1992) and its sequel, but not in "Halloween", which was a complete red herring.

Answer: Jacob

Jacob's dream, as described in Genesis 28:10-19, was about a ladder (or stairway) stretching up to heaven and populated by angels moving along it, and the photo of a ship's ladder is meant to suggest this to you.

Abraham was Jacob's grandfather, and Reuben and Benjamin were the eldest and youngest of Jacob's twelve sons, whose own descendents became the Twelve Tribes of Israel.

Answer: Bob Marley

Robert Nesta "Bob" Marley was born in Jamaica in 1945, and died of a form of cancer at the age of 36, in 1981 in Miami, Florida, USA. Recognized as a pioneer of reggae music, his many accolades include induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1994 and a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2001.

If closely scrutinized, the photo shows a sign reading "Kingston", which was meant to suggest Marley's birth country of Jamaica (although the Kingston in the photo is in Canada).

The incorrect choices are all musicians from Trinidad and Tobago, Rudder and Botus mostly in calypso and Ocean in R&B.

Answer: Past

"Beware the Past" by British author Joy Ellis is a mystery novel featuring Detective Chief Inspector Matt Ballard, and the first in a series featuring that character. David Lowenthal's "The Past Is a Foreign Country", on the other hand, is a nonfiction work of both history and philosophy (and perhaps more), exploring the impact that "the past" has on the present and the future, and different interpretations of the same.

The photograph of an old United Empire Loyalist cemetery in Ontario is meant to evoke the idea of the past.

Answer: Present

You can gift a present, or present an award or award a gift to someone, and any of these can be a donation, but of the four words, only "present" can also be a moment in time. So, "At present, one can present this present to this person who is present at the gathering." Whoops, there's another meaning of "present" - "attending"!

The photo is a little pile of presents (or gifts) ready for me to present them to members of my family.

Answer: Canada goose

In fact, this is B. canadensis maxima, the largest species of Canada goose, and I speak from experience when I say "Don't come too close to those babies!". The adult birds will set up a great honking and begin walking toward you in a menacing manner, even though all you want to do is take a photograph. They will chase you across the road and keep a wary eye on you until they are sure you are leaving.

Of the incorrect choices, the "ugly duckling" is from a children's story, and turned out to be a swan, while the mallard is a type of duck, and a crane is, well, a crane.

Answer: Tiny Tim

The marriage of Tiny Tim to Miss Vicki (Victoria Budinger) on "The Tonight Show" in December 1969, was something of a stunt, but they did have one daughter (Tulip Victoria) before divorcing in 1977. Each later married other people. The tulips in the photo relate less to their daughter than to Tiny Tim's falsetto rendition of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" for which he was famous.

Of the incorrect choices, Boy George is also a singer and entertainer; "Magic Mike" is a movie series and "Big John" was a song about a heroic miner.

Answer: (God) Bless you!

Many people who speak English also use the German "Gesundheit!" to wish a person who has just sneezed well, though they could as easily say "Bless you!". In Spain it is common to say "Jesús!" with the same intention. A direct translation of the German word would be closer to "good health".

The photo of a box of tissues is just to represent the sneezing person in need of good wishes (not reprimands!)

Answer: A Christmas Carol

"A Christmas Carol" by Charles Dickens is a novella published in 1843, which since the advent of the moving picture has been filmed many times. One version or another is sure to be available to watch during every Christmas season.

The main character, Ebenezer Scrooge (Q1) is a mean, miserly businessman, who one Christmas Eve is visited by a number of ghosts (Q2). The first is that of his late partner, Jacob Marley (Qs 3 and 4), followed by the Ghosts of Christmas Past (Q5), Present (Q6) and Yet to Come. They show him scenes from his own life, including what might happen if he does not change his selfish ways. In one such scene he is shown his overworked and underpaid employee, Bob Cratchit, trying to feed his very large family Christmas dinner consisting of a very small goose (Q7). Cratchit's youngest son, Tiny Tim (Q8) is frail and unlikely to live long, but luckily Scrooge changes his ways and sends an enormous turkey to the Cratchits for their dinner, and vows to help however he can. Tiny Tim will live, and utters the words "God bless us, everyone!" (Q9) in the spirit of the day.

The photograph is some little wooden ornaments, at least two of whom (the penguins) are undoubtedly singing Christmas carols!