Give Me a Hand Quiz | Thematic Body Parts

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What did Julius Caesar have done to the hands of captured warriors before returning them back to their home countries?

Answer: Amputated their thumbs

During the Gallic wars, Julius Caesar apparently amputated the thumbs of captured warriors. When these men were released, they became examples of what would happen to you if you dared to fight the Roman Army. These men were unable to use weapons again.

The repercussions of losing their thumbs followed them all their lives. This practice was known to be used in other wars and occasionally in the slave trade where it was not as popular as it could inhibit the ability of the slave to perform certain tasks.

2. If someone says that the palms of your hand are glabrous, what do they mean?

Answer: They have no hair

Glabrousness is a technical term that indicates that something has no hair. While many people, most often men, have hair on the back of the hands, it is very unusual for someone to have hair of any kind on their palms.

3. Which of the following options is the best description of chirology?

Answer: It is a form of palm reading

Chirology is one of the many words for palm read. Other related words are chiromancy and palmistry. These words refer to the foretelling of the future or divination of personality traits by studying the hands. The lines of the palm, the shape of fingers and nails are all studied. The study of the hands is universal, with forms of the practice found on all continents except Antarctica.

4. How did Ashly Covington, Steve Altes, and Ellen Sirot use their hands to make over a million dollars each?

Answer: They are hand models

These three people are among the elite hand models in the world. Ashly Covington has clients that include Maybelline, Target, and Miller Lite. Her hands have been used for Charlize Theron and Brooke Shields. Steve Altes is one of the few male hand models in the world and his hands have graced advertisements for Folgers, Mitsubishi, and multiple beer companies. Ellen Sirot is a hand and foot model who has made millions selling hand and foot beauty treatments.

5. In 17th century Ireland, what was used to make the "limerick gloves" often worn on the hands of the wealthy?

Answer: Unborn calf skin

"Limerick gloves" were made using the skin of unborn calves to ensure softness. They were manufactured in the city from which they derive their name and were coveted by wealthy women all over Europe. Occasionally the skin of unborn or newly born sheep was used.

6. Why is Richard C. Weaver known as the "Handshake Man"?

Answer: He got by Secret Service agents so he could shake the hand of the President

Weaver has managed to get by the U.S. Secret Service at least three and possibly five times in attempts the shake the hand of the President of the United States. In 1997, he managed to shake Bill Clinton's hand at his inauguration. He has a photo of himself on his website with George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush while these men were in office.

He also claims to have shaken the hand of Jimmy Carter while he was president. All this was done without the Secret Service catching him. He is considered a possible danger as he also claimed to be a modern day prophet who spoke directly to God.

In 2005 Weaver was arrested after he passed a letter to the younger Bush which rambled on about Iraq and was signed "from God". That incident occurred in 2003.

7. Which Asian martial art translates into "empty hand" in English?

Answer: Karate

The modern day founder of karate Gichin Fuakoshi was responsible for bringing the martial art from China to Japan in 1922. The original Chinese characters for the word translated as "Chinese Hand" or "Tang Hand". The symbols were changed in Japan and the translation is now "Empty Hand".

This was partly due to its meaning in Zen Buddhist philosophy: "rendering oneself empty". Karate is more than a martial art, it is a an all-encompassing life-style.

8. Which English queen was rumored to have six fingers on her left hand?

Answer: Anne Boleyn

Anne Boleyn, second wife of Henry VIII, was rumored to have a sixth finger. Some reports claim a full finger complete with nail, while others record an elongated growth. Writings of the times did mention that she always wore very long sleeves, which may have been an attempt to cover her disfigurement.

Many writings of the times also describe her fine fashion sense which she may have picked up while she was a lady-in-waiting to Margret of Austria, who was scheduled to become the future Queen of France. Either of these could be the reason for her love of long sleeves.

She was also reputed to have a large mole on her neck which could have been an unrecognised goiter. Neither is shown in period paintings of her, which does not prove or disprove the rumors as paintings of the time were meant to be flattering.

9. When you are typing in English, the left hand typically does more work than the right hand.

Answer: True

Think about this for a minute. All the most common letters (a,e,r,s,t) are all located on the left hand side of the keyboard. This means these letters are typed more often and the left hand is busier.

10. There is one more bone in the right hand than there is in the left hand of the average human.

Answer: False

The right hand contains a total of 28 muscles, three main nerves, two major arteries and 27 bones. This is exactly the same as the left hand.

Source: Author dcpddc478

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

Give Me a Hand Trivia Quiz

All the questions in this quiz have something to do with our wonderful appendage, the hand. Have fun!

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