Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. This hoax involves a British astronomer who announced on BBC radio that an amazing astronomical event was to take place. As he stated, the planet of Pluto would pass behind Jupiter, and as this alignment took place, it would induce a counteraction in a phenomenon that would allow people to experience a floating sensation if they jumped into the air. What phenomenon was supposedly "counteracted" on earth by the planetary alignment?
2. This hoax involves a fierce creature known as the "hotheaded naked ice borer". This creature was documented in the scientific magazine "Discovery" (of course the April issue). This creature would use its burning-hot head to bore through ice at extremely quick speeds. Unfortunately, its main source of food included the penguin, in which it and many others of its kind would melt the ice directly beneath the poor creature and feed on it. Because of its nature, in which continent was the hotheaded naked ice borer likely to be located?
3. This hoax originated in a full page advertisement in "USA Today" that was purchased by Burger King to introduce their new product. Their new product consisted of a new twist on an old classic. Their "new" burger now came in a left-handed version where the condiments had been shifted 180 degrees in order to satisfy those left-handed eaters. Which of the following burgers did Burger King spice up by creating the left-handed masterpiece?
4. This hoax comes from the "New Mexicans for Science and Reason" newsletter. An article within the newsletter claimed that the Alabama state legislature was planning on changing the value of Pi to the "Biblical value of 3.0". Which rounded value of Pi were they planning to change the value from?
5. This hoax involves a stunt pulled by the National Public Radio show "Talk of the Nation". They had announced that a former president was going to be running for president again in the 1992 election. The former president's slogan was supposedly going to be, "I didn't do anything wrong, and I won't do it again". Which nearly impeached U.S. president was to be the candidate that was running for election again, but really turned out to be a hoax?
6. This hoax originated in the British newspaper "The Guardian". An island named San Serriffe was documented as a real destination in the Indian Ocean (the location changed over time as it turned out). With its leader General Pica, its main two islands Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse, and capital of Bodoni, it even sounded like a nice place to visit. But, alas, the place was a hoax with words that shared a theme with what process? (Hint: read the names of the island's features a bit more closely)
7. This hoax was perpetrated by another restaurant franchise that bought a full page newspaper advertisement, but this time it occurred in the "New York Times". In this advertisement, the restaurant chain had announced their purchase of the Liberty Bell. The premise was that they were trying to help solve the national debt problem by buying a sponsorship for the national icon. Which chain hoaxed customers into their restaurants for buying and changing the name of the Liberty Bell to something similar to its appellation?
8. This hoax happened to take place in Sweden in 1962. Their only television station at the time broadcasted in black and white. The television station's technical expert then appeared on the news one day to announce to the Swedes that they could start receiving color on their already existing television sets. Intrigued, many listened in to hear what they had to do. According to the technical expert, they could convert to color by stretching what material over the screens of their TV's?
9. This hoax involves a story published in "Sports Illustrated". The story reported on the miraculous new prospect of Sidd Finch for the Major League Baseball team the New York Mets. The article detailed how Finch had used yogic techniques learned in Tibet to perfect a talent that was optimally used in baseball. Sidd Finch had never had any experience in baseball before, so many were eager to see how developed the rookie's talents were. Many Mets fans were anxiously awaiting their luck and which likely position for Sidd Finch?
10. This hoax occurred on the British news show "Panorama" in 1957. The broadcast reported on a particularly good harvest of a Swiss crop. The bumper harvest had been a result of a mild winter, and vivid pictures were shown of people picking the crop off of trees. What "crop", which was somewhat exotic to the British at the time, was the one picked from the trees in Switzerland?
Source: Author
trident
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Bruyere before going online.
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