More "Now I Know" Trivia Quiz

Answer: Ampersand

The ampersand first appeared in the Roman alphabet in the seventh century BC. When included in the alphabet, it normally would be at the end. The ampersand was simply 'and' and could stand alone. No one knows why the ampersand fell out of the alphabet, perhaps because it was considered too informal or colloquial.

It is also noted that the letters J, U, and W did not become letters until the sixteenth century but were often represented by I or V.

Answer: As a passenger on a civilian aircraft

Due to faulty German intelligence, a German Messerschmidt shot down a civilian plane leaving Algiers believing Winston Churchill was aboard. He was not.

Answer: The bats flew away and did not return

This was an artificial habitat for these flying mammals and not in their nature to adapt or adopt. At first opportunity they flew out for a meal of insects and never returned.

Answer: Port for zeppelins (dirigibles)

Although the 'announced' purpose was as a port for air ships, the architects and engineers were in a secret war with competitors who were building the Chrysler Building at the same time as to who was to construct the tallest building. Adding 200 feet to the Empire State Building was a sham. Gusty winds and other dangers made it extremely dangerous to even attempt to dock there. And none ever did.

Answer: Halifax

An empty freight ship, SS Imo, entered Halifax harbor and collided with the Mont Blanc, a French munitions ship. A fire ensued. The crew abandoned the ship and sought help from local authorities but since they spoke French and the local people spoke English, there was confusion and a delay in addressing the issue. The explosion of the Mont Blanc has been estimated at about 20% of the A-Bomb that struck Hiroshima. The Mont Blanc was instantly vaporized and a plume shot a mile in the air. Everything within a mile was destroyed and considered uninhabitable. The sound of the blast was heard 200 miles away. The ship's anchor was found two miles away.

The after effects included a sixty foot high tsunami and black rain caused by debris. Help arrived from the Red Cross and the Massachusetts Public Safety. To this day Halifax donates an evergreen tree to Boston for the Christmas season.

Answer: No

Nevertheless, after Kroc's death in 1984, McDonald's has experimented with the McHotDog in a number of locations but not in general policy. One franchise in Toronto, Canada near the ball park where the Blue Jays play baseball serve hot dogs. After all, what is more traditional than baseball and hot dogs? (Unless it's brats in Milwaukee.)

Answer: Kidney stones

Lemonade has a high concentration of citric acid. In medical studies it was found that four ounces of lemon diluted into two liters of water reduced kidney stone build up by eighty percent. Other citrus fruit also contain citrate but not to the strength of the lemon.

Answer: Brain freeze

An ice cream headache involves sharp pain in the forehead. The pain peaks about 20 to 60 seconds after it begins. This headache happens when cold materials such as frozen drinks or ice cream hit the warm roof of your mouth. Local blood vessels constrict to reduce the loss of body heat and then relax and allow the blood flow to increase. This is sometimes called referred pain as it is transferred from the mouth to the forehead.

Did you ever hear of a company called Unilever? It owns Breyers, Ben and Jerry's, Klondike, Good Humor, and Popsicle. Don't worry about the sugar and fat--they also own Slim Fast.

Answer: Banana

Although in large amounts this fruit has a radioactive potential, if you ate 2,000 bananas it would be about equivalent to smoking one and a half cigarettes. By the way, the seeds of the three incorrect answers all contain cyanide but at such low levels that they are not a health risk.

Answer: A shell explosion during the Union closing the fort and lowering the flag

As a concession for the surrender of Fort Sumter, Union commander Major Robert Anderson asked that his men be allowed to have a hundred gun salute as the flag was lowered. During the ceremony, an ammunition shell accidentally exploded killing Privates Edward Galloway and Daniel Hough. They were the first casualties of the American Civil War.