Just Three Facts: Real George Edition Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. 1. I was born into slavery. 2. I am best known for my work with peanuts and sweet potatoes. 3. I appeared on both a US postage stamp and a US commemorative coin.

Answer: George Washington Carver

George Washington Carver (c. 1864-1943) taught at Tuskegee Institute for 47 years. He saw that one of the benefits of farmers in the south planting peanuts and/or sweet potatoes was that they restored the nitrogen depleted from the soil through repeated cotton crops.

His work garnered the attention of prominent Americans including Henry Wallace, Secretary of Agriculture (1933-1940) and vice president (1941-1945) during Franklin Roosevelt's administration. He appeared on a three-cent US stamp in 1948 and on a commemorative half dollar along with Booker T. Washington from 1951-1954.

2. 1. I was born in Helsinki, Finland. 2. I served in the Royal Netherlands Navy during World War Two. 3. In the movies I led a Police Academy.

Answer: George Gaynes

George Gaynes (born Jongejans) (1918-2016) was born to one Dutch and one Russian parent. After his naval service, he emigrated to the United States. He starred as Jupiter in the Cole Porter musical "Out of This World" (1950). He also played the roles of Henry in the sit-com "Punky Brewster" and Commandant Lassard in the "Police Academy" series.

3. 1. My daughter is considered by some to be an early computer programmer. 2. I fought in the 19th century Greek Wars of Independence. 3. One of my famous poems is "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage".

Answer: George Gordon Byron

George Gordon, Lord Byron (1788-1824) was a poet whose personal life may be better known than his poetry. His daughter, Ada, Countess Lovelace, was a friend and collaborator with the early computer designer Charles Babbage. His poem "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage" was one of the inspirations for Stephen King's "Dark Tower" series.

4. 1. I unexpectedly took over the "family business" when my brother gave it up to marry a divorced woman. 2. I received some help from Lionel Logue. 3. My daughter Elizabeth followed in my footsteps.

Answer: George VI

George VI (1895-1952) became king (1936-1952) after his brother Edward VIII abdicated to marry Wallas Simpson. George served in the Royal Navy during World War I. Australian speech therapist Lionel Logue helped George to overcome the stammer that had plagued him since childhood. George was succeeded as monarch by his daughter, Elizabeth II, who has since become the longest reigning monarch in British history.

5. 1. My sons all share my name. 2. I was a long-time boxer. 3. I promoted a self-titled kitchen appliance.

Answer: George Foreman

George Foreman (born 1949) won a gold medal in the 1968 Olympics for boxing. In his professional career, he went 76-5, with 68 knockouts. In 1994, at 45, he became the oldest heavyweight champ in history. His five sons are all named George. Although he did not invent the "George Foreman Grill", his promotion of it brought him considerable extra wealth.

6. 1. I was born in what is now Germany. 2. I composed music to be played on the water. 3. One of my most famous compositions brings the audience to their feet literally.

Answer: George Frederick Handel

George Frederick Handel (1685-1759) was one of the great Baroque composers in history. He was born in Germany, but spent most of his life in England. His "Water Music" (1717) was designed to be played by an orchestra on a barge behind the barge of King George I as it travelled up the Thames River.

A popular story suggests that King George II stood during the premiere performance of the "Hallelujah" chorus though it is unclear if this actually happened. The chorus is part of Handel's "Messiah" (1742) which was originally performed for the Easter season, not the Christmas season.

7. 1. I was famous for my partnership with my wife. 2. I played "God" in a series of films. 3. I smoked cigars nearly all of my life.

Answer: George Burns

George Burns (1896-1996) was the stage name of Nathan Birnbaum. He was involved in many fields of entertainment--radio, television, movies. With his wife Gracie Allen, he appeared in first popular radio shows and then a popular television show. After Gracie's death, he starred in the "Oh, God!" series of films as the title character.

In later years, he timed his comedy monologues to the amount of time it took to burn through one of his trademark cigars.

8. 1. I was once a journalist. 2. I was the political leader of my country. 3. I was very critical of Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points".

Answer: Georges Clemenceau

Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929) served two terms as France's Prime Minister (1906-1909, 1917-1920) playing an important role in the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles (1919) that was meant to bring peace between Germany and the Allies after World War I.

The religiously skeptical Clemenceau was critical of Wilson's "Fourteen Points"--ideas for the peace treaty, saying "The good Lord only had ten!" He graduated university with a medical degree and worked as a journalist in the 1860s. While working as the editor of a newspaper, he published Emile Zola's "J'accuse" letter about the Dreyfus affair.

9. 1. I have a popular Facebook page. 2. I was not a space pilot, but I played one on television. 3. I appeared in a movie with John Wayne.

Answer: George Takei

George Takei (born 1937) may be best known for playing Starship Enterprise helmsman Lt. Sulu on "Star Trek: The Original Series" (1966-1969) and in several following feature films. He also appeared in several additional feature films including "The Green Berets" (1968) with John Wayne. Takei was involved in Los Angeles area politics--running for a city council seat in the 1970s.

His Facebook page, begun in 2011, has millions of followers.

10. 1. I am very associated with England although I never lived there. 2. My most famous action involves a mythical creature. 3. My faith was very important to me.

Answer: St. George

St. George (c. AD 280-303) was a Roman soldier of Greek descent. According to medieval legend, George slew a dragon while in Libya. He did so to save the life of a princess. The very public Christian George was ordered executed by the Roman emperor Diocletian for refusing to renounce his faith despite being given several opportunities to do so. George was declared a saint in the fifth century and eventually became the patron saint of England.

His cross (a red cross on a white field) is the flag of England and forms part of the Union Jack flag of the United Kingdom.

Source: Author bernie73

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Questions		Choices
1. 1. I was born into slavery. 2. I am best known for my work with peanuts and sweet potatoes. 3. I appeared on both a US postage stamp and a US commemorative coin.		Georges Clemenceau
2. 1. I was born in Helsinki, Finland. 2. I served in the Royal Netherlands Navy during World War Two. 3. In the movies I led a Police Academy.		George Gordon Byron
3. 1. My daughter is considered by some to be an early computer programmer. 2. I fought in the 19th century Greek Wars of Independence. 3. One of my famous poems is "Childe Harold's Pilgrimage".		George Takei
4. 1. I unexpectedly took over the "family business" when my brother gave it up to marry a divorced woman. 2. I received some help from Lionel Logue. 3. My daughter Elizabeth followed in my footsteps.		George Frederick Handel
5. 1. My sons all share my name. 2. I was a long-time boxer. 3. I promoted a self-titled kitchen appliance.		George VI
6. 1. I was born in what is now Germany. 2. I composed music to be played on the water. 3. One of my most famous compositions brings the audience to their feet literally.		George Burns
7. 1. I was famous for my partnership with my wife. 2. I played "God" in a series of films. 3. I smoked cigars nearly all of my life.		George Washington Carver
8. 1. I was once a journalist. 2. I was the political leader of my country. 3. I was very critical of Woodrow Wilson's "Fourteen Points".		George Gaynes
9. 1. I have a popular Facebook page. 2. I was not a space pilot, but I played one on television. 3. I appeared in a movie with John Wayne.		George Foreman
10. 1. I am very associated with England although I never lived there. 2. My most famous action involves a mythical creature. 3. My faith was very important to me.		St. George

Based on the three facts I give you, match the description to the famous George.