1.
President Taft was so fat, they had to build a special bathtub in the White House for him that could fit three men.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
President Taft's weight was a well-known fact during his time in office. He weighed over 300 pounds and had difficulty fitting into regular-sized bathtubs. As a result, a custom-made bathtub was installed in the White House that could accommodate his size. This bathtub was larger and stronger than a standard tub, designed to hold the weight of three men. Therefore, the statement that President Taft required a special bathtub in the White House is true.
2.
In his senior year at high school, future astronaut Neil Armstrong was voted “Least Likely to Succeed.”
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
The statement is false. Neil Armstrong was not voted "Least Likely to Succeed" in his senior year at high school.
3.
Albert Einstein usually took a goldfish with him wherever he traveled.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
There is no evidence or historical record to support the claim that Albert Einstein usually took a goldfish with him wherever he traveled. Therefore, the statement is false.
4.
Einstein never liked to wear socks.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Einstein never liked to wear socks. This means that he did not enjoy or prefer wearing socks.
5.
The Sun is about a thousand times the size of the Earth.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
The Sun is about a million times the size of the Earth.
6.
Walt Disney originally wanted to call Mickey Mouse Mortimer Mouse.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
His wife suggested Mickey instead.
7.
Wilma Rudolph, winner of two gold medals as a sprinter in the 1960 Olympics, was told as a child that she would never be able to walk without the help of crutches.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Wilma Rudolph, a sprinter who won two gold medals in the 1960 Olympics, was indeed told as a child that she would never be able to walk without the help of crutches. This statement is true. Despite this initial setback, Rudolph overcame her physical limitations through determination and hard work, ultimately becoming a successful athlete and an inspiration to many.
8.
Famed artist Salvador Dali used to wax his mustache with shoe shine and vinegar.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
Salvador Dali did not wax his mustache with shoe shine and vinegar. This statement is false.
9.
It takes the Earth 365 days to go around the Sun.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
It takes 365 and a quarter days.
10.
In eighth grade, Derek Jeter was voted “Most Likely to Play Shortstop for the New York Yankees.”
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The given statement is true. In eighth grade, Derek Jeter was voted "Most Likely to Play Shortstop for the New York Yankees." This indicates that even at a young age, Jeter showed exceptional talent and potential in baseball, specifically in the position of shortstop. As we know, Jeter went on to have a successful career with the New York Yankees, playing as their shortstop for 20 seasons and becoming one of the most iconic players in the team's history.
11.
Alexander Graham Bell, who held the patent for the telephone, used to like to answer it by saying, “Ahoy!”
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Thomas Edison is often credited with introducing "hello" as the standard answer.
12.
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson both died on the 50th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, July 4th, 1826.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Supposedly, Adams's last words were, "Thomas Jefferson survives." He did not know that TJ had died hours earlier in Virginia. Jefferson had kept waking up, asking, "Is it the fourth?" He died after after midnight, satisfied that he had made it to the Fourth of July.
13.
The last thing President Franklin Roosevelt said before he died was, “I have the most terrible headache.”
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The given statement is true. This is a historical fact that President Franklin Roosevelt's last words before his death were, "I have the most terrible headache." This statement is often cited as evidence of the severe health issues he was facing at the time.
14.
A few minutes before being shot, Abraham Lincoln was heard to say, “This is the greatest day.”
Correct Answer
B. False
15.
President Andrew Jackson had a bullet lodged in his body for a year.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
He had it in his body for nineteen years. He had been shot by Thomas Hart Benton. By the time Jackson had it removed, him and Benton were political allies, so Jackson sent him the bullet, stating that he had had it for twenty years and now Benton could have it back. Benton returned the bulltet, saying it had not quite been twenty years. But Jackson sent it to him again, telling Benton he can forget the one year difference.
16.
General William Tecumseh Sherman told President Lincoln that he was giving him the city of Savannah as a Christmas gift.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
General William Tecumseh Sherman did indeed tell President Lincoln that he was giving him the city of Savannah as a Christmas gift. This occurred during the American Civil War when Sherman and his troops captured Savannah, Georgia, in December 1864. Sherman's capture of Savannah was a significant victory for the Union, and he famously sent a telegram to President Lincoln on December 22, 1864, offering the city as a Christmas present. This gesture symbolized the Union's progress in the war and boosted morale among the Northern population.
17.
When people consulted with him in the Oval Office, President Harry Truman often showed them an X-ray of his heart.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
President Harry Truman did not show people an X-ray of his heart when they consulted with him in the Oval Office. This statement implies that he regularly displayed his X-ray to visitors, which is not true.
18.
Einstein’s brain was kept in a jar for a number of years after he died.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Einstein's brain being kept in a jar after his death is a true statement. This is a well-known fact that after Einstein's death in 1955, his brain was removed during the autopsy without the permission of his family. The brain was then preserved in a jar by the pathologist, Dr. Thomas Harvey, who believed that studying it could reveal insights into Einstein's genius. The brain was eventually dissected and studied by various scientists, contributing to our understanding of the brain's structure and function.
19.
After winning the Superbowl in 1997, Superbowl MVP Desmond Howard did not thank his parents or his coach, but himself instead.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
The given answer is False. The statement suggests that after winning the Superbowl in 1997, Superbowl MVP Desmond Howard did not thank his parents or his coach, but himself instead. However, since there is no information or evidence provided to support this claim, it cannot be considered as a correct answer.
20.
Sound travels at different speeds, depending on where you are.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
For example, it will travel faster under water.
21.
George Lucas originally wanted all of the characters in Star Wars to speak “Ookie,” a language of his own invention.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
George Lucas did not originally want all of the characters in Star Wars to speak "Ookie," a language of his own invention. This statement is false.
22.
Agatha Christie, the famous mystery writer, has sold close to 500 million books.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
She has sold over a billion books.
23.
SpongeBob Squarepants is based on a comedian named Bob Newhart.
Correct Answer
B. False
Explanation
SpongeBob Squarepants is not based on a comedian named Bob Newhart. The show was actually created by Stephen Hillenburg, who was a marine biologist and animator. SpongeBob Squarepants is a fictional character who lives in a pineapple under the sea and has become a beloved cartoon character among children and adults.
24.
Since the time he was three, President Obama saw his father only one time.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
The given statement suggests that President Obama only saw his father once since he was three years old. This implies that there was a significant lack of contact or relationship between them. Therefore, the correct answer is True, indicating that the statement is accurate.
25.
Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton was killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, the Vice President at the time.
Correct Answer
A. True
Explanation
Alexander Hamilton, the Secretary of the Treasury, was indeed killed in a duel by Aaron Burr, who was the Vice President at the time. The duel took place on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey. Hamilton was shot and fatally wounded, leading to his death the next day. This historical event is well-documented and widely known.
26.
Bonus for 5 points:
Which is true?
After winning the women’s 800 meter championship race in Germany, South African Caster Semenya faced controversy because:
Correct Answer
D. People believed she might be a man
Explanation
She was, in fact, disqualified for being considered a man.