Wow! Palindromes! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Teddy Roosevelt

Although Theodore Roosevelt provided the political will, motivation and vision to take on the monumental task of building a canal across Panama after a French firm failed in the 1880s, and it never would have happened without him, the true man with the plan was John Stephens, who replaced original chief engineer John Findley Wallace in 1904, and got the project on track primarily by first building a thorough and sanitary working environment in the jungle, which essentially eradicated the malaria and yellow fever which plagued earlier efforts.

After nine long years, much sweat, and considerable loss of life, the job was finished in May, 1914, and the first tugboat successfully went through on September 26th. (thanks to PBS.org "The American Experience")

Answer: Eve

As a bonus, the correct answer, Eve, fits the theme, if we assume a formal introduction in the garden of Eden.

Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

This refers to the island of Elba, to which the emperor Napoleon was exiled for nine months in 1814 and early 1815. Correctly gauging his lasting popularity in France, he returned while Europe dithered and almost realized his dream of European conquest before suffering a final decisive defeat at Waterloo June 18, 1815. By the way, Churchill was never Earl of Marlboro (see Winston)

Answer: Mother Teresa

The answer is Mother Teresa, a towering figure of humanitarian good works who founded the Missionaries of Charity, a Catholic service and relief organization started in her adopted country of India and which is now world wide. Their philosophy is perfectly summed up in their fourth vow, to give "wholehearted free service to the poorest of the poor." Mother Hubbard is the nursery rhyme character who had nothing for her dog. Aunt Jemima is the fictional icon used by Quaker Oats company to market their breakfast food, e.g. pancakes and syrup.

Answer: The United States Senate

There is probably no one being called sir in the outback or on American Idol, and Westminster Abbey is the most famous church in England, where royal weddings, funerals, coronations of the monarch, and other ceremonies have occurred for centuries, without much voting. So the answer is the US Senate.

Answer: Lon Nol

The correct answer is Lon Nol, a Cambodian general and head of state during the latter part of the 20th century. He was ultimately deposed of power in the 1970s and fled the country before the onset of the Khmer Rouge, the grass roots communist revolutionary force which threatened to execute him and all former leaders of the country, and which ultimately threw the country into chaos and slaughter with their notorious "killing fields." Scatman Crothers is the only other real person listed.

He was a composer, musician and actor who appeared in the movie "The Shining." He died in 1986 and is NOT A PALINDROME! Remember the quiz title.

Answer: Hannah and Her Sisters

Hannah is the palindromic protagonist of one of Allen's most successful and critically acclaimed movies, "Hannah an Her Sisters." The film garnered three 1986 Oscars; for screenplay (Allen), best supporting actor (Michael Caine), and best supporting actress (Dianne Wiest).

The other answers are made-up movie titles. "Annie (not Anna) Hall" was Allen's 1977 best picture winnner, often considered his defining film.

Answer: Dubya won? No way, bud

Although two of the other answers (Dennis sinned is a red herring) could conceivably be relevant, we gotta go with the 'Dubya' answer, since it fits so perfectly. Dubya, of course, is the middle initial-based nickname for George W. Bush, whose presidential race against Al Gore in 2000 came down to a hotly disputed and unbelievably close vote tally in the state of Florida. Florida secretary of state Katherine Harris, co-chair of the Bush campaign in the state, attempted to end a lawfully mandated ongoing recount of the vote. Gore supporters sued in court to allow the recount to continue, won in the Florida Supreme Court, but were ultimately defeated when the US Supreme Court voted, 5 to 4, granting the Bush camp an emergency stay, effectively ending the recount and deciding the election for Bush. Amid charges of voter suppression, indecipherable ballots (anyone remember the 'hanging chad'?) and in light of the partisan split of the Supreme Court vote, the election continues to generate controversy to this day. Among the few things people agree on: Al Gore won the popular vote (country-wide, more people cast a ballot for Gore than for Bush); George Bush did become the 43rd president, was re-elected, and served two terms in office.

Answer: Amore, Roma

"Amore, Roma" means "love, Rome" in Italian. The other answers, besides being somewhat ridiculous, do have an Italian connection, but are not particularly affectionate.

Answer: A Fish Called Otto

"A Fish Called Otto" is the correct, non-title here. The great and quirky comedy from 1988 was "A Fish Called Wanda," starring John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis and Kevin Kline as Otto. "What About Bob" is the amusing 1991 comedy starring Richard Dreyfus as a psychiatrist and Bill Murray as the patient who unhinges him. "Anna Karenina" is the Tolstoy's classic tale of a Russian princess and her affair, which has had many film treatments, including a 2012 version featuring Keira Knightley. 1950's All About Eve, another film classic, about ambition and betrayal in the theater world, won six Oscars including best picture, and starred Bette Davis.