Are You a Master of Almost Useless Facts?

EDUCATION

By: Allison Lips

6 Min Quiz

Image: Hill Street Studios LLC/Royalty-free/GettyImages

About This Quiz

We all have a wealth of practically useless information that we trot out at parties, pub quizzes, and yell at the television when we watch Jeopardy! or Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?  While few of us will ever make money off of our vast knowledge of the trivial, it is still fun to collect the information and learn things simply because they intrigue you. 

After all, finding out about novel and unusual things keeps this interesting. Life would get boring if we all focused solely on our professions. Everyone knows an accountant who knows just as much history as the average history teacher or the nurse who is secretly an expert on the works of Shakespeare. 

Do you always win your local bar's trivia night? Could you be a Jeopardy! champion in the future? Are you fluent in Klingon? Have you ever gotten sucked into an online list of random or useless facts? If so, you're going to love this quiz. This quiz will test your knowledge of plants, pop culture and things that we see every day but don't often think about. Will you prove to your friends that you are the king or queen of trivia, or will you discover that you have more to learn? There's only one way to find out! 


What type of court is jokingly called "the highest court in the land" because it is located on the top floor of the U.S. Supreme Court building?

The basketball court is located on The Supreme Court Building's fifth flour. The room was originally meant for storage. Some time in the 1940, it was used as a makeshift tennis court , which eventually became a basketball court.

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Which country currently has a chewing gum ban?

Since 1992, it has been illegal to sell or import chewing gum in Singapore. In 2004, the law was modified to allow pharmacists and dentists to sell gum for therapeutic purposes.

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What's another name for the "pound," "number," or "hash" symbol?

Octothorpe was coined in 1971. The "octo-" comes from the eight points on the symbol's circumference.

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Which of the following terms is not a collective noun for a group of kangaroos?

Kangaroos are herbivores that live mainly in Australia's deserts and grasslands. In the wild, kangaroos live an average of six years.

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What is the name of the tallest tree in the world?

Hyperion is 369 feet tall. The redwood is located in California. However, its exact location has not been released to the general public to prevent visitors from damaging the tree.

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What is Barbie's full name?

Barbie is the only doll with a full name. Ken's name is Kenneth Carson. The two met on the set of a 1961 TV commercial.

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Which CD was the first to be pressed in the United States?

CBS owned the first American compact disc pressing plant. On Sept. 21, 1984, it opened in Terre Haute, Indiana.

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What was Mario from Super Mario Bros. originally named?

In 1981, Jumpman made his first appearance in "Donkey Kong." The following year, the character appeared in "Donkey Kong Junior" as Mario.

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Which product was the first to have its bar code scanned?

A 10-pack of Juicy Fruit gum was scanned at a Marsh supermarket in Troy, Ohio. It was June 26, 1974.

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Which book has the first documented appearance of the word "nerd?"

In 1950, "If I Ran the Zoo" was published. It tells the story of Gerald McGrew, who wants to change the zoo.

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What is the name of the treaty that prohibits countries from using nuclear weapons in space?

In 1967, the Outer Space Treaty was signed. It is formerly known as Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, Including the Moon and Other Celestial Bodies.

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How many tines does a standard fork have?

Forks were not commonly used in the American colonies at the beginning of the 17th Century. However, they became common by the 1850s.

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What is the common name for the condition of sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia?

Brain freeze is also called a cold-stimulus headache. They occur when someone consumes a cold beverage or food quickly. The prevailing theory is that the cold substance touches the roof of the mouth and causes small blood vessels in that area to rapidly dilate.

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Who invented the chocolate chip cookie?

In 1930, Ruth Graves Wakefield accidentally invented the chocolate chip cookie. She ran out of baker's chocolate and substituted a block of chocolate given to her by Andrew Nestle. Her recipe is now printed on Nestle's bags of chocolate chips.

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Where is the world's largest McDonald's located?

On top of serving the regular fare, the world's largest McDonald's gives customers the chance to customize pizza, pasta, waffles and omelets. The building is three stories and 19,000 square feet.

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How many flavors is Baskin-Robbins known for?

While Baskin-Robbins' slogan says 31 flavors, the company has introduced more than 1,000 flavors since 1945. The company has over 7,700 stores in over 50 countries.

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Which monument is 305 feet tall?

From the base of the pedestal to the tip of the torch, the Statue of Liberty is 305 feet and 6 inches. From her heel to the top of her head, the statue is 111 feet and 6 inches.

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Which garden has a gated area that has a sign that says "These Plants Can Kill?"

Jane Percy, the Duchess of Northumberland, created the Poison Garden in Alnwick, England. The are approximately 100 plants currently in the Poison Garden.

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What is Cap'n Crunch's full name?

Cap'n Crunch debuted in 1963. His shipped is called the S.S. Guppy.

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Which of the following is not a Kit Kat flavor available in Japan?

Nestle Japan has sold more than 300 flavors of Kit Kats in Japan. The name of the candy is similar to the Japanese phrase "kitto katsu," which roughly translates as "you will surely win."

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Which "Keeping Up with the Kardashian" cast member is technically not a Kardashian?

Kylie's last name is Jenner. She is the daughter of Caitlyn and Kris Jenner.

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Which M&M does J.K. Simmons lend his voice to?

J.K. Simmons won an Academy Award for his performance in "Whiplash." He is also known for playing Dr. Emil Skoda on "Law & Order."

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What is the dot over the letters "i" and "j" called?

In the 14th century, title began to be used to describe the dot over a "j" or an "I." It is derived from the Medieval Latin "titulus."

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Who wrote the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue?"

Johnny Cash's version of "A Boy Named Sue" was released on July 26, 1969. Shel Silverstein also recorded a version that is featured on his album "Boy Named Sue (and His Other Country Songs).

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What colony of trees in Oregon is one of the largest known living organisms?

Pando is also known as The Trembling Giant. It spans 107 acres. It is a clonal colony of the quaking aspen.

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Which country has won the Eurovision song contest on seven occasions?

Ireland first participated in the Eurovision song contest in 1965. The country won in 1970, 1993, 1980, 1987, 1992, 1994 and 1996.

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What is Prince Harry's full name?

Prince Harry was born on September 15, 1984. He founded the Invictus Games in 2014. During the Invictus Games, wounded armed services personnel and veterans compete in various sports.

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Which color is not a secondary color?

The primary colors are yellow red and blue. If you mix a primary color with a secondary color, you get a tertiary color.

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Which football team has been to the Super Bowl?

The Jacksonville Jaguars is the fourth team never to have been in a Super Bowl. The teams that have been to the Super Bowl, but never won are the Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, Buffalo Bills, Carolina Panthers, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angles Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, and Tennessee Vikings.

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Who invented Lincoln Logs?

John Lloyd Wright was Frank Lloyd Wright's second son. John Lloyd Wright invented Lincoln Logs in 1916.

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Which soda is the oldest?

Dr. Pepper was first sold in 1885. It was created in Waco, Texas and available at Morrison's Old Corner Drug Store.

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What is the hottest location in the United States?

Death Valley reached the hottest temperature ever recorded on July 10, 1913. The temperature was a record 135 degrees Fahrenheit.

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Who was the last astronaut to walk on the moon?

Cernan flew on Apollo 17. On Dec. 11, 1972, he walked on the moon.

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Which mountain range serves as a boundary between Europe and Asia?

The Ural Mountains are over 2,000 miles long. Mount Narodnaya is the highest peak in the mountain range.

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Which state is the only one with a name that is only one syllable?

On March 15, 1820, Maine became the 23rd state. The state has 3,500 miles of coastline and 17 million acres of forest.

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