A Very Hard Quiz

Answer: Craps

Craps is a casino game played with dice. A hard number is a number formed by a pair. For example, a pair of threes is a hard six, and a pair of fours is a hard eight. A 3-5 or a 2-6 would be an easy eight. There are four hard numbers you can bet on in the game of craps: 4,6,8, and 10. If you bet a number the hard way, you win if it comes up hard before a 7 or an easy version of the number is rolled.

At most American casinos, the hard 4 and hard 10 pay off at odds of 7:1, and the hard 6 and 8 pay 9:1.

The hard ways have a house edge of between 9% and 11%, which makes them a rather poor bet.

Answer: Apple cider

Hard cider, also known as apple wine and scrumpy, was a very popular drink during U.S. colonial times. It is made by fermenting apple juice. Nonfermented apple juice is simply called cider, or sometimes "sweet cider." Naturally fermented hard cider has a fairly low alcohol content, but sugar is often added to increase the alcohol level.

Many companies produce hard cider commercially, in the United States, Canada and Great Britain.

Answer: Savannah

"Hard-Hearted Hannah, The Vamp of Savannah," was written in 1924 by Jack Yellen, Bob Bigelow and Charles Bates. Yellen is also known for writing the standards "Happy Days Are Here Again" and "Ain't She Sweet?" The song was a major hit for blues singer Dolly Kay in 1924, and has remained popular ever since. "They call her Hard-Hearted Hannah / The Vamp of Savannah / The meanest gal in town / Leather is tough / But Hannah's heart is tougher / She's a gal who likes to see men suffer." The song has been recorded by hundreds of artists, including Sophie Tucker, Ella Fitzgerald, and even Jim Croce.

Answer: Hard Times

"Hard Times" is one Dickens' shortest novels, and was written to boost the circulation of his magazine, "Household Words," in which the novel was serialised between April and August, 1854. The novel is often seen as an attack upon the philosophy of Utilitarianism, and an indictment of the working conditions in English factories of the time. "Hard Times" or "Hard Times Come Again No More," is one of Foster's most popular songs.

It was first recorded in 1905 by the Edison Company, and remains popular today.

Answer: Books

Hardbound, hardcover, and hardback are all synonymous words to describe a book bound with stiff, protective covers (usually cardboard) that are covered with cloth or leather. Hardcover books are usually more expensive than paperback or softcover books because they cost more to produce. Many hardcover books have an additional paper covering called a dust jacket.

Answer: Hard hats

A hard hat is a type of protective helmet worn by construction workers to protect their heads from injury at construction sites. Hard hats may be made of a variety of materials, but nowadays most are made of plastic. In addition to protecting the wearer, different colored hats may indicate a particular person's job. Managers, foremen and other supervisors often wear white hard hats.

Answer: Annie

"Annie" opened on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre on April 21, 1977 and ran for 2,377 performances before closing on January 2, 1983. It was nominated for ten Tony Awards, winning seven, including Best Musical. The most famous song from the play is "Tomorrow."

Answer: Harding

Warren G. Harding, the 29th President of the United States, is remembered today primarily for the numerous scandals that plagued his administration. Tonya Harding was a champion figure skater who gained notoriety for her part in an assault on her rival skater, Nancy Kerrigan, in 1994. Ann Harding was a beautiful and talented actress who received an Academy Award nomination for Best Actress for her role in the 1930 film "Holiday."

Answer: Arteries

Atherosclerosis, or hardening of the arteries, occurs when calcium compounds and/or fatty deposits build up on the walls of arteries, causing them to lose their natural elasticity. This leads to decreased blood flow, and can increase blood pressure. If the coronary arteries are affected, this condition can easily lead to a heart attack. Diet plays a part in the development of atherosclerosis, but there are genetic factors as well.

As many one-third of all deaths in people over the age of 35 in the United States may be caused by atherosclerosis.

Answer: Night

"A Hard Day's Night" was shot in black-and-white on a modest budget of only about $500,000. It turned out to be a both a popular and critical success, and earned a great deal of money for United Artists. It was shot over a period of seven weeks, mostly in or near London.

The film doesn't have much of a plot, and serves mostly as a showcase for various Beatles songs. British actor Wilfred Brambell plays Paul McCartney's grandfather in the movie, although he was only 52 at the time it was filmed.