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Quiz about The Strange But True Why We Love History

The Strange But True - Why We Love History Quiz

Let explore some "strange but true" bits of history.

A multiple-choice quiz by amcoffice. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
amcoffice

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
384,137

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
482

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1919, Boston, Massachusetts experienced an unusual flood of what substance? Hint

water from the Charles River

crude molasses

frogs

oil byproducts

NEXT>

Question 2 of 10

2. Established in 930 AD, the Althingi (parliament) of what country is one of the oldest parliaments in the world? Hint

Sweden

Iceland

Jordan

Malta

NEXT>

Question 3 of 10

3. Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin once studied to join what unlikely profession? (He would later have many in that profession targeted for execution.) Hint

priesthood

butler

chef

boxer

NEXT>

Question 4 of 10

4. Why did the Ottoman Empire's Sultan Ibrahim I (reigned 1640-48) reportedly have 280 of his concubines drowned? Hint

one of them slept with another man

to alter the line of succession

distraction for battle maneuvers

budget problems

NEXT>

Question 5 of 10

5. Why did Mexican General Santa Anna hold a burial with full honors prior to his death? Hint

He said that practice makes perfect

For his amputated leg

Mexico was boring back then

He said that funerals are jolly occasions

NEXT>

Question 6 of 10

6. Why did Egyptian pharaoh Pepi II Neferkare have his servants smeared with honey? Hint

to exfoliate the skin

as sun protection from the desert sun

for wrestling competitions

to attract flies away from the pharaoh

NEXT>

Question 7 of 10

7. What curious uses did the ancient Romans have for human urine? Hint

antibiotic and analgesic

teeth whitener and stain removal

food preservative and fuel

aphrodisiac and contraceptive

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. What 755 AD conflict against the Chinese Tang Dynasty caused millions of deaths, killing approximately one-eighth to one-fifth of the world's population of the time? Hint

An Lushan (or An-Shi) Rebellion

Tang Dynasty Conflict

Boxer Rebellion

The Ming Wars

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. Why did the city of Detroit, Michigan, give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a key to the city in 1980? Hint

Michigan need some good press

Hussein was really a good guy at heart

Hussein donated lots of money to a Michigan church

Hussein loved rock 'n roll

10. The Nazis used their Lebensborn program to "enrich" the Aryan gene pool by forcing Norwegian women to have children with German SS soldiers. A singer with what successful music group was born from that "program"? Hint

The Lennon Sisters

ABBA

Herman's Hermits

Savage Garden

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1919, Boston, Massachusetts experienced an unusual flood of what substance?

Answer: crude molasses

The flood started at the United States Industrial Alcohol Company when a tank containing over two million pounds of crude molasses exploded. The molasses was used in the making of rum. This created a "wall of molasses" that ran through the streets of Boston, washing away buildings and vehicles, and killing over 20 people.

2. Established in 930 AD, the Althingi (parliament) of what country is one of the oldest parliaments in the world?

Answer: Iceland

The Althingi is the national parliament of Iceland. Founded in 930 AD at Thingvellir, it is believed to be the oldest parliamentary institutions in the world, along with the Jamtamot parliament of Sweden.

3. Soviet tyrant Joseph Stalin once studied to join what unlikely profession? (He would later have many in that profession targeted for execution.)

Answer: priesthood

Stalin's mother enrolled him in a Russian Orthodox seminary over his father's objections. Stalin, however, reportedly became an atheist during his first year at the school. In the 1930s, and amongst other atrocities, then Soviet dictator Stalin effectively worked to purge the Russian Orthodox Church, tearing down many of its churches and executing thousands of its priests and monks.

4. Why did the Ottoman Empire's Sultan Ibrahim I (reigned 1640-48) reportedly have 280 of his concubines drowned?

Answer: one of them slept with another man

Ibrahim (also known as "Ibrahim the Mad") faced numerous rebellions during his reign. It is said that the story of the concubine drownings led to his ultimate downfall and execution by strangulation in 1648. At least one his concubines (Turhan Hatice) survived.

5. Why did Mexican General Santa Anna hold a burial with full honors prior to his death?

Answer: For his amputated leg

In 1838, cannon fire shattered the left ankle of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna (President of Mexico), which led to the amputation of his left leg. He ordered a full military burial for his lost limb as a sign of his sacrifice for Mexico. He subsequently used a prosthetic cork leg, which is displayed at the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield, Illinois.

6. Why did Egyptian pharaoh Pepi II Neferkare have his servants smeared with honey?

Answer: to attract flies away from the pharaoh

Pepi II so despised flies that he kept naked honey-covered servants nearby him to attract flies away from him. While the exact dates of his reign are unclear, Pepi II likely ruled Egypt for at least 60 years in the the 2200-2100 BC timeframe.

7. What curious uses did the ancient Romans have for human urine?

Answer: teeth whitener and stain removal

Ancient Romans used urine to white their teeth and to remove grease stains. Roman emperor Nero (54-68 AD) even imposed a tax on the 'urine industry'.

8. What 755 AD conflict against the Chinese Tang Dynasty caused millions of deaths, killing approximately one-eighth to one-fifth of the world's population of the time?

Answer: An Lushan (or An-Shi) Rebellion

The An Lushan Rebellion (also known as An-Shi Rebellion) lasted over the reign of three Tang emperors and severely weakened the Tang Dynasty. The conflict began 755 AD (when General An Lushan fronted a challenge to the ruling dynasty by proclaiming himself emperor of Northern China) and "officially" ended in 763 AD, although the adverse effects lasted much longer.

The death tolls for this wide-ranging rebellion range from 13 to 36 million, all suggesting that the conflict killed off a significant percentage of the world's then population.

9. Why did the city of Detroit, Michigan, give Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a key to the city in 1980?

Answer: Hussein donated lots of money to a Michigan church

In 1980, Detroit Mayor Coleman Young gave Iraqi President Saddam Hussein a key to the city. The claimed reason for the award was Hussein's donating hundreds of thousands of dollars to a Michigan church. It should be noted that Hussein was seen as a virtual puppet of the US government at the time.

Answer: ABBA

The Nazis' Lebensborn program was a scheme run by Heinrich Himmler, the leader of Hitler's feared SS, to "enrich" its attempt to create a "master" race. Anni-Frid Lyngstad (of ABBA fame) was born in 1945 as a result of the forced liaison of her Norwegian mother Synni with German sergeant Alfred Haase.

Although she had believed that her father had died in World War II, Lyngstad eventually met her father for the first time in 1977.

Source: Author amcoffice

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