or
"Good luck befriend thee" - Milton

1. Many people believe in carrying a talisman for good luck: a lucky penny, a rabbit's foot, etc. True or false: It is a German custom to carry a large scale from the head of a carp eaten on Christmas Eve.
2. Preventing the malocchio (evil eye or evil spell) in Italy can involve many rituals. All of the following precautions are said to be surefire, except one!

   A. Wearing a "horn" charm

   B. Tying a red ribbon on your baby's carriage

   C. Sprinkling pepper on your head

   D. Wearing a number 13 pendant

3. The "luck of the Irish" is loaded with charms. True or false: "Kissing the Blarney Stone" at the famous castle in County Cork is said to bring you wealth.
4. Feng Shui is a combination of Chinese mystical beliefs, astrology, and folklore. In Taipei, Taiwan, many corporate headquarters incorporate Feng Shui features to generate auspicious flows of Chi. Which of these is an inauspicious structure?

   A. Square pillars

   B. Revolving doors

   C. Rounded corners

5. Brazilians often give little children a figa charm to protect them against bad spirits. True or false: The lucky figa is a clenched hand with the thumb sticking up between the index and second fingers.
6. Many Pennsylvania Dutch (including the Amish) observe different means of preserving good fortune. Which of these does not invoke good luck?

   A. Hex signs

   B. Entering and exiting buildings through the same door

   C. Eating salt

7. True or false: Singaporeans consider an overabundance of plants and trees bad luck.
8. At 12:01 a.m. on New Year's Day, one British tradition holds that the first person you want to cross your threshold is:

   A. A lady in red

   B. A dark, handsome man carrying coal

   C. A stranger with a big stick

9. Mexicans sometimes keep little elephant statues to preserve their homes' good fortune. True or false: To work, the pachyderm's trunk must curve upward.
10. Which of the following geometric symbols is not considered auspicious in much of Asia?

    A. A circle

    B. A square

    C. A triangle

Answers

1. True. The clean, dried Christmas Carp scale is considered blessed by the Christ Child.
2. C. Aaaa-chooo!
3. False. Kissing the Blarney Stone gives you "the Gift of the Gab," which the Irish so desperately need.
4. A. Sharp edges represent poison arrows which can cause ill fortune.
5. True. But be careful, the figa is considered obscene in other countries.
6. C.
7. False. Singapore, "Asia's Garden City" uses plants to soften sharp edges on roads and buildings, and introduce Yin elements to Yang structures.
8. B. The man with coal is thought to bring good luck, while the woman in red (or a redhead) brings bad luck.
9. True. If the trunk is curved down all the good luck "runs out."
10. C.

1. True or false: Nine Men's Morris is an English version of a medieval game and is mentioned in the works of Shakespeare.
2. Match each of the following games with their area of origin.

   A. Pente	1. Canada
   B. Tablero de Jesus	2. Greece
   C. Trivial Pursuit	3. Spain

3. Kriegspiel began as a complex game of military strategy in Germany. Which of the following is correct about the modern, chess-based version of Kriegspiel?

   A. It is played with three chessboards.

   B. It requires two players and an umpire.

   C. The two players do not see their opponent's chesspieces.

   D. All of the above

4. The game LAP was invented by Polish game expert Lech Pijanowski. True or false: The word LAP is Polish for "extremely difficult pastime."
5. In the 19th century, Faro (or Pharaoh) was one of the most popular card games in the US and Europe. Faro's origins are obscure, but in which country was it given its name?

   A. France

   B. Italy

   C. The Netherlands

6. Mancala is often called "the national game of Africa." True or false: Mancala dates back at least 3,000 years.
7. Bezique is a card game which is considered a forerunner of Pinochle. Bezique's invention is credited to a schoolmaster by the name of Gustav Flaker. Which country was he from?

   A. Belgium

   B. Scotland

   C. Sweden

8. True or false: The Asian game known as Shogi is often referred to as "Japanese chess."
9. Which of the following games is not believed to have been invented in China?

   A. Go

   B. Mah Jong

   C. Othello

10. Bridge is one of the world's most popular card games. True or false: The first recognized world championship contract bridge match was held in Bermuda in 1950.

Answers

1. True, in A Midsummer Night's Dream
2. A,2; B,3; C,1
3. D.
4. False. The name LAP came from the inventor's initials.
5. A. In the court of Louis XIV, to be exact.
6. True. Mancala boards have been found in ancient Egyptian temples.
7. C. The name of the game is French, but the inventor was a Swede.
8. True
9. C. The game marketed in the US and Europe as "Othello" was invented in Japan.
10. True. This contest is still called the Bermuda Cup.

1. The national symbol of Scotland is the thistle. True or false: This symbol is traced to the 1263 Battle of Largs, when a hidden Scandinavian invader stepped on a thistle and cried out in pain.
2. Chinese tradition recognizes "Four Gentlemen of Flowers," associating flowers with the seasons. Bamboo is associated with spring; match these other flowers with their seasons.

   A. Plum blossom	1. Summer
   B. Orchid or lotus	2. Fall
   C. Chrysanthemum	3. Winter

3. Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is credited with elevating a humble plant to a national symbol. True or false: The four-leaf clover is the national symbol of Ireland.
4. True or false: The breadfruit tree appears on Bolivia's coat of arms.
5. The Canadian maple leaf is one of the best-known national symbols. How many points does the leaf on the Canadian flag have? (Do not count the leaf's stem.)

   A. Three

   B. Nine

   C. Eleven

6. Some unusual flora has been used in heraldry. True or false: The Spanish coat of arms includes a pomegranate.
7. True or false: The chrysanthemum was (and still is) used to represent Japan.
8. The Wars of the Roses (1455-1485) were largely fought between two English houses. True or false: The house of York adopted a white rose as its symbol, while the house of Lancaster used a red rose.
9. Each state in the USA has its own flag. Match each of the following states with the flora that appears on its flag.

   A. Connecticut	1. Palmetto tree
   B. Nevada	2. Grapevine
   C. South Carolina	3. Sagebrush

10. The fleur-de-lis, a symbolic representation of a lily, was often used by French kings. True or false: The fleur-de-lis was also used as a heraldic symbol in other countries.

Answers

1. True
2. A,2; B,3; C,1
3. False. Ireland's symbol is the three-leaf shamrock.
4. True
5. C. There are eleven points; nine on top and two at the base.
6. True. The pomegranate is the traditional symbol of Granada.
7. True
8. True
9. A,2; B,3; C,1
10. True. For example, it was used in the coat of arms by the kings of Naples, and in English heraldry to identify a sixth son.

1. Some libraries are very specialized. True or false: Washington, DC's Folger Library only houses books about the coffee industry.
2. Many works by Roman and Greek scholars were lost, although some were preserved in Arabic translations. When the Moors were driven out of Europe in 1492, some of these lost works were found in which country?

   A. France

   B. Germany

   C. Spain

3. A library isn't much use unless a user knows what's available. True or false: The first modern library to create a general catalog was Bodleian Library at Oxford University.
4. Public libraries, as we know them today, did not emerge until the mid-nineteenth century. True or false: The first public library in the US was founded in New Hampshire.
5. The International School of Librarianship has trained librarians from all over Latin America. True or false: This school is located in Medellin, Colombia.
6. The Bibliothèque Nationale in France is one of the world's great libraries. Which of the following is not true about this library?

   A. It dates back to the fourteenth century.

   B. It has been housed in a palace for 300 years, and will stay there.

   C. It houses the largest collection of books in France.

7. The Central Library of the National Autonomous University of Mexico is well known. True or false: Besides its collection, this Mexico City library is noted for the multicolored mosaics on its exterior.
8. During the Renaissance, Italian leaders built prestigious libraries. Which of the following was designed by Michelangelo?

   A. The Medici Library in Florence

   B. The Neapolitan Library in Naples

   C. The Vatican Library in Rome

9. China's emperor Shih HuangTi is best known for building the Great Wall. True or false: He also revered books and built one of the word's greatest libraries.
10. Most countries have a national library which collects books from around the world. True or false: The Swiss National Library is unusual in that it only collects Swiss books or books about Switzerland.

Answers

1. False. Folger houses the world's leading collection of works by and about Shakespeare.
2. C.
3. True
4. True. Founded in Peterborough in 1833, the library was the first to be financed by tax dollars.
5. True
6. B. It has outgrown its old home in the palace of Cardinal Mazarin and is being moved.
7. True. It is one of the most photographed libraries in Latin America.
8. A.
9. False. He was one of China's greatest book-burners, ordering the destruction of thousands of books in 213 B.C.
10. True

1. Each year, Jamaica produces and exports more than 2 million pounds of an herb used to relieve motion sickness, sore throats, morning sickness and migraines. What is the herb?

   A. Ginger

   B. Ginko

   C. Kava

2. Native Americans used many herbal remedies long before Columbus arrived. Can you match each of the following ailments to the appropriate herbal treatments?

   A. Colds	1. Juniper
   B. Rheumatism	2. St. John’s Wort
   C. Depression or Insomnia	3. Echinacea (Purple Coneflower)

3. Stevia, a substance harvested in Paraguay, is used as a noncaloric sweetener in Japan. True or False: Stevia is less sweet than cane sugar.
4. Tea tree oil is an antiseptic used to treat acne and fungal nail infections. Tea trees are native to which country?

   A. Australia

   B. Colombia

   C. South Africa

5. True or False: The French product known as vinaigre des quatre voleurs (four thieves vinegar) dates back to 1721, when four condemned criminals drank it to remain healthy while burying plague victims.
6. Brazilian lapacho is used to treat a variety of conditions, ranging from fungal infections to cancer. True or False: LaPacho is difficult to produce because it comes from a very small Amazonian flower.
7. Each of the following drinks contain caffeine. Which of these is considered “the national drink of Argentina”?

   A. Coffee

   B. Mate

   C. Tea

8. True or False: During the Second World War, British Royal Air Force pilots reported improved night vision after eating Bilberries (European Blueberries).
9. Gugulipid, used today for treatment of obesity and to lower cholesterol levels, is derived from which of these items, all of which were known 2,000 years ago in the Middle East?

   A. Gold

   B. Frankincense

   C. Myrrh

10. The enzyme Bromelain is used to treat arthritis, inflammation and sports injuries. Commercially produced in Hawaii, Taiwan and Japan, Bromelain is extracted from which fruit?

    A. Apples

    B. Bananas

    C. Pineapples

Answers

1. A.
2. A,3; B,1; C,2
3. False. Stevia is some 200 times sweeter than sugar.
4. A. It is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia.
5. True. The active ingredient in this vinegar is macerated garlic.
6. False. LaPacho comes from the bark of the Tabebuia tree, which can grow 125 feet tall!
7. B. The average Argentine consumes more than 10 pounds of mate per year!
8. True. Bilberries are now used in Europe for several eyesight ailments.
9. C. Gugulipid is a resin derived from the mukul myrrh tree, which grows in Arabia and India.
10. C.

1. All scent hounds have incredibly acute olfactory skills. Match each of the following scent hounds with its country of origin.

   A. Kerry Beagle	1. Spain
   B. Podenco Ibicenco	2. USA
   C. Bluetick Hound	3. Ireland

2. True or False: Many dog experts consider Germany's Alsatian (or German Shepherd) to be the least adaptable of all dog breeds.
3. The Akita is the national dog of Japan. What other spitz-type breeds are indigenous to this country?

   A. Chow Chow and Shar Pei

   B. Maremma Sheepdog and Neapolitan Mastiff

   C. Ainu (Hokkaido) Dog and Shiba Inu

4. True or False: Despite the Islamic belief that dogs are unclean animals, the Saluki is a welcome addition to many Arab homes.
5. Certain Mexican dog breeds tend to have very short hair. Can you identify which breed is NOT indigenous to Mexico?

   A. Segugio

   B. Xoloitzcuintli

   C. Chihuahua

6. Dogs can fuel an entire evening's conversation in England. True or False: The Bulldog is one of Great Britain's most ancient breeds.
7. True or False: The Landseer is the national dog of Switzerland and is the breed known for rescuing lost travelers.
8. Can you identify the Polish dogs that were rescued from extinction by diligent Polish breeders?

   A. Polski Owczarek Nizinny, Owczarek Podhalanski, Ogar Polski

   B. Hamiltonstovare (Hound), Drever, Elkhound

   C. Bouvier de Flanders, Schipperke, Griffon

9. True or False: Most dog experts would consider the French Poodle to be a frivolous featherweight in the Dog I.Q. Olympics.
10. Which of the following dogs were specifically bred to cope with the climate and terrain of Australia?

    A. Basenji and Sloughi

    B. Dachshund and Rottweiler

    C. Cattle Dog and Kelpie

Answers

1. A,3; B,1; C,2
2. False. The German Shepherd is one of the most adaptable of breeds.
3. C.
4. True. Salukis are valued for their excellent hunting skills and gentle nature.
5. A. The Segugio is Italian. The Xoloitzcuintli is identified with the modern Mexican Hairless.
6. True. The British Bulldog is thought to be descended from ancient Mastiff-type dogs brought to England by the Phoenicians.
7. False. The St. Bernard was one of the first types of dogs developed to rescue missing people.
8. A. The survival of these dogs was threatened by the aftermaths of the two World Wars.
9. False. The Poodle is considered one of the most intelligent breeds.
10. C. The (Australian) Cattle Dog and the (Australian) Kelpie were bred to be able to drive or herd various types of livestock across the huge spaces and the long distances of Australia's ranching country.

1. Comanche Moon, the latest novel by US author Larry McMurtry, tells the early story of characters from which of his previous books?

   A. Horseman, Pass By

   B. The Last Picture Show

   C. Lonesome Dove

2. The 1963 novel Rayuela was a revolutionary work by Argentine author Julio Cortázar. True or false: The novel was noted for its unusual structure, which allowed the reader to begin reading at different chapters in the book.
3. Polish author Henryk Sienkiewicz's trilogy was so popular that it was translated into more than forty languages. Which one of these works by Sienkiewicz is not part of the trilogy?

   A. The Deluge

   B. With Fire and Sword

   C. Quo Vadis?

4. True or false: The 1994 Booker Prize, awarded to James Kelman for How Late It Was, How Late, was controversial because of the book's profanity and arcane Scots dialect.
5. Although most Central American authors write in Spanish, Beka Lamb author Zee Edgell writes in English, the official language of her native country. Which country is it?

   A. Belize

   B. Costa Rica

   C. Panama

6. The Dream of the Red Chamber, by Cao Xuequin, was first published in 1765. True or false: This work is often considered the finest novel ever written in vernacular Chinese.
7. Colombian author Gabriel García Márquez won the Nobel Prize for literature in 1982. True or false: He is the author of the international bestseller One Hundred Years of Solitude.
8. True or false: The hero of Brazilian author Moacyr Scliar's first novel, The Centaur in the Garden, is the half-human, half-horse son born to Jewish parents who immigrated to Brazil.
9. French novelist Jean Cocteau penned the famous novel Les Enfants Terribles in 1929. True or false: Twenty-one years later, Cocteau adapted the novel into film.
10. True or false: German novelist Günter Grass is the author of such classic books as Siddhartha and Steppenwolf.

Answers

1. C. The novel won the 1986 Pullitzer Prize for fiction.
2. True
3. C. Quo Vadis? focuses on early Christians persecuted by the Roman Empire.
4. True
5. A. Beka Lamb was a joint winner of the 1982 Fawcett Society Book Prize.
6. True. It also had a tremendous influence on later art forms, including Chinese opera.
7. True. Best-selling author Márquez is also credited with popularizing the literary genre known as magic realism (lo real maravilloso).
8. True.
9. True. Besides being a filmmaker and novelist, Cocteau was also a poet, dramatist, and artist.
10. False. Those novels were written by the late German novelist Hermann Hesse. Günter Grass is best known for his 1959 novel The Tin Drum.

1. True or false: The Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri families were best known for making exquisite Italian harps.
2. Most wind and brass instruments are played with the mouth. Match these characteristic mouthpieces to their instruments.

   A. Double-reed	1. Irish tin whistle
   B. Fipple	2. English horn
   C. Funnel	3. French horn

3. In the West Indies, the tops of oil drums are tempered in fire and used to make harmonic instruments. True or false: Musicians who play these steel drums are called panmen.
4. In Japan, geishas are famous for playing which instrument?

   A. Maraca

   B. Samisen

   C. Taiko drum

5. During radio's heyday in the United States, sales of sheet music took off, along with sales of which instrument?

   A. Trombone

   B. Piano

   C. Drum

6. Few instruments can be traced to a single inventor, but, in 1829,Englishman Sir Charles Wheatstone introduced what he called a "symphonium with bellows." The instrument's name was later changed to:

   A. Accordion

   B. Steam-powered calliope

   C. Concertina

7. Originally, hammers set in a large rotating cylinder struck and played the bell instrument known as a:

   A. Gong

   B. Carillon

   C. Bell tower

8. The Belgian who invented the saxophone never heard jazz or the blues. True or false: Antoine-Joseph Sax's instrument was originally used in military bands and symphony orchestras.
9. The ligawka is a Polish horn traditionally played during Advent to summon people to church. True or false: It is a small, hand-held instrument.
10. Although most South African music is entirely vocal, indigenous musical instruments do exist. Which of the following instruments is used in traditional South African music?

    A. Marinba (gourd-resonated xylophone)

    B. Mbila (hand piano)

    C. Both

Answers

1. False. Each of these families crafted world-renowned violins.
2. A, 2; B, 1; C, 3
3. True. The top of the steel drum is called the pan.
4. B. Geishas play the samisen, which is a three-stringed instrument. The taiko is a huge barrel drum. Maracas are dried gourd rattles.
5. B. Before the advent of television, many large homes had pianos— generally Steinways.
6. C
7. B
8. True. Military bands were popular in 1846, when the sax was invented.
9. False. The ligawka is a large instrument, often two or three yards long, and is usually supported on a fence while being played.
10. C

1. True or false: One of the world's oldest known paintings was found on a cave wall in Pech-Merle, France.
2. Most Muslim art, including architecture and paintings, is limited by which of the following proscriptions?

   A. Blue and red may not be used together

   B. Geometric patterns may not be depicted.

   C. Images of humans and animals may not be depicted.

3. Which of the following cities was Japan's traditional center for art, as well as the country's ancient capital?

   A. Kyoto

   B. Osaka

   C. Tokyo

4. The two largest collections of sculptor Auguste Rodin's work are found in Rodin museums located in which two cities?

   A. Frankfurt and Montreal

   B. Paris and Philadelphia

   C. Brussels and Warsaw

5. True or false: The center of Brazil's capital city, Brasília, is a wonderful place to stroll, but contains nothing of architectural interest.
6. One of the most expensive opera houses constructed in the twentieth century was designed by the Danish architect Joern Utzon. Where is this building?

   A. Zurich

   B. Sydney

   C. Johannesburg

7. True or false: John Constable is considered by many to be England's greatest naturalistic landscape painter.
8. The National Gallery of Canada, renowned for its unique architecture, can be found in which Canadian city?

   A. Vancouver

   B. Montreal

   C. Ottawa

9. True or false: The Medicis of Florence, Italy, are universally associated with the Renaissance because of the role they played as patrons of the arts.
10. The Louvre, the Museo del Prado, and the Metropolitan Museum of Art are three of the world's most outstanding art museums. In which three cities are they found?

    A. Quebec, Rome, and Los Angeles

    B. London, Milan, and Boston

    C. Paris, Madrid, and New York

Answers

1. True. The painting depicts the image of a white hand surrounded by red ocher.
2. C. Not all Muslim countries, however, adhere to this restriction.
3. A. Japan's capital was moved to Tokyo in 1869.
4. B. Philadelphia's Rodin Museum is second only to the Musée Auguste Rodin in Paris.
5. False. Brasília's architecture is so impressive that UNESCO placed the city on the list of World Heritage Sites. Built on a grand scale for automobiles, Brasília is not a comfortable place to walk.
6. B. The Sydney Opera House was expected to take four years and $7 million to build, but it took fourteen years and more than $100 million to erect.
7. True
8. C. Ottawa is also Canada's capital city.
9. True. The Medicis were also important Renaissance politicians, merchants, and religious leaders.
10. C