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1940s All-American History 1 Trivia Quiz

My three quizzes on the 1930s received a good response so here is the follow-up quiz which requires general knowledge of the decade that changed the focus of world power.

A multiple-choice quiz by brewster76. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
brewster76

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
287,715

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
6 / 10

Plays
3028

Awards
Top 20% Quiz

Last 3 plays: Guest 98 (3/10), Guest 66 (7/10), Guest 172 (7/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. No quiz on the 1940s would be complete without some questions on THE big event of the decade, WWII. Who was the American Vice-President when the US entered the war? Hint

Harry Truman

John Nance Garner

Adlai Stevenson

Henry Wallace

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Question 2 of 10

2. In 2007 The American Film Institute issued its list "100 Years, 100 Films" which ranked the greatest American films of all time. Which of these movie classics from the list was NOT released in the 1940s? Hint

"Some Like It Hot"

"Double Indemnity"

"Casablanca "

"Treasure of the Sierra Madre"

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Question 3 of 10

3. Who was the world heavyweight boxing champion for most of the 1940s? Hint

Rocky Graziano

Sugar Ray Robinson

Joe Louis

Jake LaMotta

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Question 4 of 10

4. This Hollywood gossip maven had a popular radio show and wrote an influential newspaper column for the LA Times for more than 20 years. She was at the zenith of her power in the 1940s and was known for wearing outlandish hats. Which woman was she? Hint

Zasu Pitts

Hedda Hopper

Tallulah Bankhead

Louella Patterson

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Question 5 of 10

5. When did President Franklin Roosevelt die? Hint

July 4, 1944

January 22, 1943

December 21, 1946

April 12, 1945

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Question 6 of 10

6. According to the US Bureau of the Census which was NOT one of the five largest US cities in the 1940s? Hint

Los Angeles

Boston

Detroit

Philadelphia

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Question 7 of 10

7. This book, first published in 1946, is the 7th biggest seller of all time according to "The Top 10 of Everything" by Russell Ash (Hamlyn, 2008). It has sold over 50 million copies. Which book is it Hint

"Valley of the Dolls" by Jacqueline Susann

"The Catcher in the Rye" by J.D. Salinger

"Quotations from Chairman Mao " by Mao Tse-Tung

"The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" by Dr. Benjamin Spock

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1947 this golfer, a former Olympic gold medalist, won the British Open for the first time, and in a career of more than 20 years won an astounding 82 tournaments in all. Who was it? Hint

Ben Hogan

Sam Snead

Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Byron Nelson

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Question 9 of 10

9. This organization was founded in Fontana, California in 1948. Rumor has it that its rules include that no prospective member may have ever applied to be in law enforcement. It has been a favorite target of the US Department of Justice and the FBI. Can you name this outlaw group? Hint

Hell's Angels

The Moral Majority

Black Panthers

The Weathermen

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Question 10 of 10

10. During WWII women entered the ranks of Navy duty in a group known as the "WAVES". These women held positions in wide ranging fields that freed up men for combat duty. What did the acronym "WAVES" stand for? Hint

We Are Vixens Entering the Service

Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

Women And Volunteers on Enlisted Status

Wartime Aid Volunteers Enlisted for Seaduty

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Most Recent Scores

Nov 18 2024 : Guest 98: 3/10
Nov 08 2024 : Guest 66: 7/10
Oct 29 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
Oct 27 2024 : calmdecember: 9/10
Oct 16 2024 : Guest 165: 5/10
Oct 15 2024 : Guest 64: 9/10
Oct 14 2024 : Guest 202: 6/10
Sep 26 2024 : Guest 96: 5/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. No quiz on the 1940s would be complete without some questions on THE big event of the decade, WWII. Who was the American Vice-President when the US entered the war?

Answer: Henry Wallace

The US declared war on Japan immediately following the bombing of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, and war with Germany and Italy followed within a few days. Henry Wallace had succeeded John Nance Garner as vice-president in January, 1941. He was replaced on the 1944 Democratic ticket by Missouri Senator Harry Truman because party leaders feared for President Roosevelt's health and felt Truman was a more neutral choice should he succeed Roosevelt as president.

Answer: "Some Like It Hot"

"Some Like It Hot" hit the silver screen in 1959. The American Film Institute ranks it the funniest movie of all time. It is said that Jack Lemmon and Joe E. Brown learned to dance the tango from co-star George Raft.

3. Who was the world heavyweight boxing champion for most of the 1940s?

Answer: Joe Louis

Joe Louis ruled the heavyweight ring from 1937 to mid-1949. The other choices were also world boxing champions, but not in the heavyweight class.

Answer: Hedda Hopper

Hopper's son, William Hopper, played private detective Paul Drake on the "Perry Mason" television show (1957-1966). Louella Parsons was a rival columnist and the founder of the Hollywood Women's Press Club.

5. When did President Franklin Roosevelt die?

Answer: April 12, 1945

As WWII was drawing to a close one of newly sworn-in President Truman's first decisions was whether to drop the atomic bomb on Japan. It is widely believed that he didn't know of its existence prior to Roosevelt's death.

6. According to the US Bureau of the Census which was NOT one of the five largest US cities in the 1940s?

Answer: Boston

Boston was ranked the 9th largest US city in the 1940s. New York was #1, Chicago was #2, Philadelphia was #3, Detroit was #4 and Los Angeles was #5. Times change - by 1990, Boston had dropped to the #20.

Answer: "The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care" by Dr. Benjamin Spock

Dr. Spock, not to be confused with Mr. Spock, had the revolutionary idea that parents should trust their own common sense because "you know more than you think." He was blamed by some that this concept led to the self-indulgence of the flower power generation of the 1960s.

8. In 1947 this golfer, a former Olympic gold medalist, won the British Open for the first time, and in a career of more than 20 years won an astounding 82 tournaments in all. Who was it?

Answer: Babe Didrikson Zaharias

Mildred "Babe" Didrikson won gold medals at the 1932 Los Angeles Olympics in the javelin, high jump and hurdles. She was the first woman to compete in a men's golf tournament, something no other woman even tried for more than half a century. In 1938 she married wrestler George Zaharias and died of cancer in 1956.

Answer: Hell's Angels

The 1954 Marlon Brando film "The Wild One" is said to be based on a violent incident in Hollister, CA that occurred in the early days of Hell's Angels. Their outlaw rebel chic was glamorized in the 1960s film "Easy Rider."

Answer: Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service

Members of the WAVES worked in fields ranging from secretarial and clerical duties to jobs in the aviation, intelligence, medical and communications communities.

Source: Author brewster76

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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