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Quiz about Predictions that became Fictions

Predictions that became Fictions Quiz

Man has tried to predict what the future holds. Here are the people that made a few predictions that missed their mark.

A multiple-choice quiz by Rhyno53. Estimated time: 6 mins.

Author
Rhyno53

Time
6 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
366,796

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
454

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. In 1929 someone predicted that "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." Which of these people said that? Hint

Irving Fisher

Clarence Hatry

Charles E. Mitchell

Albert Wiggin

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Question 2 of 10

2. Who made the forecast in 1949 that "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."? Hint

IBM

none of these

US President Zachary Taylor

Popular Mechanics

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Question 3 of 10

3. In 1894 who predicted that heavier-than-air flying machine were impossible? Hint

William Thomson

William Hopkins

John Pringle Nichol

Andrew Gray

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Question 4 of 10

4. Who in 1889 was famous for making the statement "Everything that can be invented has been invented"? Hint

Mark Twain

Robert Goddard

Pierre Pachet

Charles H. Duell

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Question 5 of 10

5. "By 2000, the machines will be producing so much that everyone in the U.S. will, in effect, be independently wealthy." Who made this claim in 1966? Hint

Readers Digest

Edgar Cayce

National Geography Magazine

Time Magazine

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Question 6 of 10

6. In 1982 who claimed "$100 million dollars is way too much to pay for Microsoft."? Hint

Apple Computer Inc.

IBM

Warren Buffet

all of these

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Question 7 of 10

7. Which one made the statement "The abdomen, the chest and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon" in 1873? Hint

Sir John Eric Erichsen

Pierre Pachet

Edwin L. Drake

H.M. Warner

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who's 1927 prediction was this, referring to silent movies? "Who the h*ll wants to hear actors talk?" Hint

Joseph Carl Breil

Francis Ford Copola

Carl Davis

H.M. Warner

9. "The wireless music box has no imaginable commercial value. Who would pay for a message sent to nobody in particular?" Whose response was this when being urged to invest in wireless radio in the 1920s? Hint

Owen D. Young

David Sarnoff's associates

Edward J. Nally

Rosh Hashanah

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Question 10 of 10

10. Who stated back in 1977 that "There is no reason any individual to have a computer in their home."? Hint

Bill Gates

Ken Olson

Steve Wozniak

Albert Einstein

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. In 1929 someone predicted that "Stocks have reached what looks like a permanently high plateau." Which of these people said that?

Answer: Irving Fisher

Irving was the Professor of Economics at Yale University at that time. He made the statement shortly before the 1929 Stock Market crash.

2. Who made the forecast in 1949 that "Computers in the future may weigh no more than 1.5 tons."?

Answer: Popular Mechanics

The University of Manchester developed the "Manchester Mark 1" that took up an entire room. It achieved what was a high mark in those days of running error-free for nine hours on June 16th, 1949.

3. In 1894 who predicted that heavier-than-air flying machine were impossible?

Answer: William Thomson

Lord Kelvin, as he was also known, was the Professor of Natural Philosophy (a now oldfashioned name for physics) for over 50 years at the University of Glasgow and became President of the Royal Society. He was a very smart man and contributed important ideas in mathematical analysis, physics, absolute zero and on and on. But he did miss it on this one.

4. Who in 1889 was famous for making the statement "Everything that can be invented has been invented"?

Answer: Charles H. Duell

It has been questioned as to whether he actually made the statement, but he became famous for it anyway. In 1902 he said, "In my opinion, all previous advances in the various lines of invention will appear totally insignificant when compared with those which the present century will witness." This last quotation is of course at odds with the earlier one.

5. "By 2000, the machines will be producing so much that everyone in the U.S. will, in effect, be independently wealthy." Who made this claim in 1966?

Answer: Time Magazine

Machines have come a long way since 1966. They help us to communicate, fight our wars and do many of the manual labor in our factories that we used to do. But it fell way short of making everyone rich.

6. In 1982 who claimed "$100 million dollars is way too much to pay for Microsoft."?

Answer: IBM

In September of 2011 IBM's value passed Microsoft by almost 1 billion US dollars. And in 2013, Microsoft's total assets was in excess of 142 Billion US dollars.

7. Which one made the statement "The abdomen, the chest and the brain will forever be shut from the intrusion of the wise and humane surgeon" in 1873?

Answer: Sir John Eric Erichsen

He was the British surgeon appointed "Surgeon-Extraordinary" to Queen Victoria.
He also stated years later "I wish I hadn't said that."

8. Who's 1927 prediction was this, referring to silent movies? "Who the h*ll wants to hear actors talk?"

Answer: H.M. Warner

Later that same year was the effective end of the silent film era, when Warner Brothers produced "The Jazz Singer", the first widely-screened full-length talkie movie. It was the top grossing movie in 1927.

Answer: David Sarnoff's associates

David started working for RCA shortly after it began in 1919 until he retired in 1970. He claimed to be the sole hero who stayed by his telegraph key for three days during the Titanic disaster in April of 1912. Some historians feel this is untrue.

10. Who stated back in 1977 that "There is no reason any individual to have a computer in their home."?

Answer: Ken Olson

Ken was president, chairman and founder of Digital Equipment Corporation in 1957. In 1996 he was inducted into the "Computer Hall of Fame".

Source: Author Rhyno53

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