Around America in Limerick Form Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. I once was a rich sovereign land; A fact which Dole, Inc. couldn't stand. So they made quite a scene, And ran out my queen, Now tourists enjoy surf and sand. (Which state am I talking about?)

Answer: Hawaii

In 1893, the Queen of Hawaii, Liliuokalani, was overthrown by the most powerful foreigners on the island, the Euro-American plantation owners and fruit growers (Dole and others), who formed a Provisional Government. US President Grover Cleveland was horrified and sent the Blount Commission to investigate.

They ruled that the new Provisional Government was illegal and ordered the Queen restored, but the Provisional Government refused to yield. They then formed the Republic of Hawaii, but yearned for annexation to the U.S.; under William McKinley, Cleveland's successor, they got their wish.

2. The Spaniards gave me my name: They saw flowers and green when they came. An Indian chief, Osceola, went deep Into swamps and refused to be tamed. (Which state would this describe?)

Answer: Florida

"Florida" means flowery or lush in Spanish. Osceola was a Seminole leader, who influenced them to flee into the Everglades and fight a guerrilla war against the United States. Oddly enough, Osceola was born Billy Powell, a mixed-blood who was part Scotch-Irish, English, Muscogee Indian, and Black. Captured by the US Army, he died shortly afterward of malaria.

3. An original Brit colony, Now a heck of a Blue State, you see; The "most unionized" workforce, Says C.I.O. web source. My capital's called Albany. (Which state would this describe?)

Answer: New York

New York has the highest percentage of unionized-workers-to-workforce in the US.
Although the majority population of the state, situated in the NYC/Westchester/ Long Island area, has tilted New York "Blue" for many years, sparsely populated upper New York has been strongly Republican. The state's Western regions proceeding out from the "backbone" of the Hudson Valley make it look vaguely like a key.

4. My syrup of maple tastes great; Ethan Allen would swear it first-rate. Outsiders recall My bright colors in fall; See Montpelier before it's too late. (Which state am I describing?)

Answer: Vermont

Montpelier, Vermont is a charming city, but less-remembered among U.S. state capitals. American Revolutionary War figure Ethan Allen led the "Green Mountain Boys" in the capture of Fort Ticonderoga. Vermont is derived from the French for "Green Mountain." Vermont's fall foliage can only be described as spectacular, but peak foliage is late September/early October. By Halloween, it's all over.

5. Hyannis Port, Cape Cod and Back Bay, And Worcester. Those Bosox DO play! On my coast, near and far; You'll never hear "r," It's Hah-vad! That's what they say! (Which state am I talking about here?)

Answer: Massachusetts

Although the inhabitants of New York City, Connecticut, New Jersey and the coastal areas of the Deep South also have trouble with their internal "Rs," in my opinion, Boston seems to hold the record for it (but not the western part of the state). However, as a former New Yorker myself, I love the accent! What's most unsatisfying to me is watching a TV show or a movie that is supposedly set in Boston, yet all the characters speak Californian.

6. Pirates no longer sail up Three Rivers; Valley Forge gave old George the shivers. Famed steel girders they forge, And on cheese steak they gorge; Want cho-co-late? One town delivers! (Which state am I describing?)

Answer: Pennsylvania

Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh, former home of the Pirates and Steelers, was demolished in 2001. Valley Forge, in the winter of 1777-8, tested the mettle of the Continental Army. Pennsylvania used to be the bedrock of steel production in the U.S., but has lost many jobs and much glory due to out-sourcing. Philly cheese steak? Yum! And speaking of yum, Hershey PA, named after chocolate mogul Milton Hershey, is referred to as "the Sweetest Place on Earth."

7. It was known for its cotton; Yee-haw! Cattle, cowboys so quick on the draw; Then Spindletop blew And oil industries grew. They had "Rangers" to handle the law. (Which state is described here?)

Answer: Texas

Spindletop, near Beaumont Texas, was thought to have oil potential (because of the presence of natural gas), and in 1901 an exploratory drill hit a huge gusher and soon Texaco and Gulf Oil were organized just to pull the 100,000 barrels of oil - per day - from the ground. Before oil, Texas was known as an agricultural and cattle state; it is still competitive in those fields today.

The famed "Texas Rangers" (the oldest state law enforcement agency) were absorbed into the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) in 1991.

8. A world-famous "nation" we share With America: Stephen Colbert! Yet we're still proud to be First in "Confederacy" 'Bout Dixie we can't help but care. (Which state would this be?)

Answer: South Carolina

Stephen Colbert (b. 1964), standard-bearer of "Colbert Nation," grew up in South Carolina in an Irish-Catholic family. He had ten siblings, two of which (as well as his father) died in a plane crash when Colbert was ten years old. South Carolina was the first state to secede from the United States on 20 December 1860, and is sometimes referred to as "the Cradle of the Confederacy" for that reason.

9. Some call me the Golden State; And golden's the hue of my "gate". Sutter's Mill had the gold, And yet, truth be told, The Silver Screen's fame was my fate. (Which state does this ditty describe?)

Answer: California

On January 24, 1848, James Marshall discovered a few gold flakes at Sutter's Mill in Coloma California. Although he and Sutter tried to keep it a secret, they were unsuccessful, and by the next year, more than 300,000 people took off for California. (Hence the term "49ers").

But it was the southern part of the state to which the fledgling motion picture industry flocked, setting up shop in L.A. (before Hollywood) in 1906.

10. "Sin City," our most famous venue, Sticks out in your mem'ry, but when you Take in Burning Man, Our snow, trees and sand, You remember there's more on the menu! (Which state fits this ditty?)

Answer: Nevada

Las Vegas - hotbed of illicit activities - is where most peoples' exposure to Nevada begins and ends. Although it is the 7th largest U.S. state in area, 85% of Nevada's population lives in the greater Las Vegas or Reno areas. Don't just think desert; snow and Juniper forests cover large expanses of the central and northern parts of the state.

In fact, "Nevada" means snowy. "Burning Man" is a week long artsy-craftsy free-bird-type ceremony, ending on Labor Day, which features a wooden effigy being burned.

The ritual started in 1986 in California with an eight-foot guy; it has since been moved to Black Rock, Nevada and in 2010 the effigy itself was about forty feet high with a 64-foot base (also burned)!

Source: Author snediger

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

Now try my "States Quiz" on Fun Trivia / In limerick form I will give-i-ya / I know I'm no bard / And don't think too hard / I don't want to have to re-viv-i-ya! (And I won't mention "the man from Nantucket"!)

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