or “Good luck befriend thee” – Milton 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. Preventing the malocchio (evil eye or evil spell) […]
True or false: Nine Men’s Morris is an English version of a medieval game and is mentioned in the works of Shakespeare. 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 Kriegspiel began as a complex game of […]
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. Chinese tradition recognizes “Four Gentlemen of Flowers,” associating flowers with the seasons. Bamboo is associated with spring; match these other […]
Some libraries are very specialized. True or false: Washington, DC’s Folger Library only houses books about the coffee industry. 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? […]
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 Native Americans used many herbal remedies long before Columbus arrived. Can you match each of the following ailments to the […]
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 True or False: Many dog experts consider Germany’s Alsatian (or German Shepherd) to be the least adaptable of all dog […]
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 The 1963 novel Rayuela was a revolutionary work by Argentine author Julio Cortázar. True or false: The novel was noted for […]
True or false: The Amati, Stradivari, and Guarneri families were best known for making exquisite Italian harps. 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 In the West Indies, the […]
True or false: One of the world’s oldest known paintings was found on a cave wall in Pech-Merle, France. 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 […]
