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History of Dining Utensils Trivia Quiz

Have you ever noticed the dining utensils you use everyday? See how much you know about how some of these items evolved.

A multiple-choice quiz by pshelton. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
pshelton

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
287,746

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Difficult

Avg Score
4 / 10

Plays
879

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Spoons were among the earliest of eating utensils and the Romans commonly used two types of spoons. The ligula was for soup, but how was the second spoon, cochleare, used? Hint

Eating rice

Sipping wine

Eating shellfish and eggs

Ladling broth

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Question 2 of 10

2. In the early middle ages, most people ate with their fingers, though the upper class found a way to differentiate themselves from the general populace. What was their affectation? Hint

They ate with the pinky finger extended.

Servants fed the upper class so they did not touch the food.

They ate with elaborately decorated gloves.

They ate only with the first three fingers

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Question 3 of 10

3. Which culture was the first to use a fork to bring food to the mouth? Hint

Romans

Persians

Egyptians

Ancient Greeks

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Question 4 of 10

4. Domenico Selvo is credited with bringing forks to western Europe in the 11th century. What event enabled Selvo to introduce these utensils? Hint

He found them on a ship wrecked near his home

Inherited from his grandmother

Marriage

He captured them during the Crusades

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Question 5 of 10

5. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used 'serviettes' when they dined. What were these items? Hint

Small, sharp knives for cutting meat

Large goblets which were shared among guests

Napkins the size of bath towels

Brass basins for washing their hands

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Question 6 of 10

6. Which country was the first to develop the chopstick? Hint

Mongolia

Japan

China

Korea

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Question 7 of 10

7. In 1630s France, Armand Jean du Plessis began the custom of using blunt knives at the table instead of sharp ones. Why was he motivated to do so? Hint

He was annoyed by guests who used sharp knives to pick their teeth.

He was fearful of being attacked by a knife-wielding guest.

It was costly to keep the knife tips sharpened.

He had only one hand and a sharp knife was hard for him to use.

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Question 8 of 10

8. In 1630 who owned the first fork brought to America? Hint

Governor William Bradford

Governor John Winthrop

There were no forks in America in 1630

John Alden

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Question 9 of 10

9. Wari-bashi were developed in Japan in 1878. What were they? Hint

Ornate heirloom chopsticks

Portable chopsticks

Ornate knives used for cutting food

Wide spoons for rice

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which country instituted the practice of holding the food with the left hand when cutting and switching to the right when eating? Hint

Canada

United States of America

Great Britain

Ireland

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Spoons were among the earliest of eating utensils and the Romans commonly used two types of spoons. The ligula was for soup, but how was the second spoon, cochleare, used?

Answer: Eating shellfish and eggs

The spoon is the first utensil that was designed to put food in the mouth and has been found in Paleolithic sites. The spoon in England resembled the early Roman spoons, likely due to the Roman occupation of the island. The term cochleare amplum still appears as a medical term denoting a tablespoon full.

2. In the early middle ages, most people ate with their fingers, though the upper class found a way to differentiate themselves from the general populace. What was their affectation?

Answer: They ate only with the first three fingers

At that time, eating with the first three fingers was considered more refined.

3. Which culture was the first to use a fork to bring food to the mouth?

Answer: Ancient Greeks

By the 7th century C.E. forks were common in the Middle East and by the 13th century they were popular with the wealthy Byzantine upper class. The fork was a serving implement much earlier with mention of it in the Book of Samuel in the Bible.

4. Domenico Selvo is credited with bringing forks to western Europe in the 11th century. What event enabled Selvo to introduce these utensils?

Answer: Marriage

Domenico Selvo was the Doge of Venice from 1071 to 1084. His wife, Teodora was the daughter of the Byzantine emperor Constantine X and brought to her husband's court, not only forks, but finger bowls and napkins. She was unpopular due to her haughty demeanor and unusual eating habits, and when she died after a long illness, the Venetian populace saw her demise as judgment from God. Forks did not become common in Italy until the 16th century.

5. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans used 'serviettes' when they dined. What were these items?

Answer: Napkins the size of bath towels

Food must have splattered a great deal to require such large napkins. Serviette is still a term used for napkin.

6. Which country was the first to develop the chopstick?

Answer: China

Chopsticks were found in China by the 3rd century B.C.E. It is thought by some scholars that in that time period food in China was scarce and was chopped into small pieces to cook more quickly. Those eating from this common pot used sticks to pull out their portion of the food.

7. In 1630s France, Armand Jean du Plessis began the custom of using blunt knives at the table instead of sharp ones. Why was he motivated to do so?

Answer: He was annoyed by guests who used sharp knives to pick their teeth.

Since du Plessis was one of King Louis XIII's chief ministers, this custom caught on and by 1669 Louis XIV banned sharp knives at the table. By this time, forks and spoons were widespread and more suited to bringing food to the mouth than a knife.

8. In 1630 who owned the first fork brought to America?

Answer: Governor John Winthrop

Governor Winthrop not only had the first fork in America, in 1630 it was the only known fork in America. Forks were not common in his native England, having been brought to that country around 1611 by Thomas Coryate who acquired them while traveling.

9. Wari-bashi were developed in Japan in 1878. What were they?

Answer: Portable chopsticks

The Japanese carried these portable chopsticks in their obi. Mongolians soon adopted the wari-bashi, preferring to carry them in the sash.

10. Which country instituted the practice of holding the food with the left hand when cutting and switching to the right when eating?

Answer: United States of America

In the 17th and 18th century, forks were still uncommon in America. The spoon was held in the left hand to steady the food while cutting with the right hand. The spoon was then switched to the right hand to scoop the food and carry it to the mouth.

Source: Author pshelton

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