Are You a Master of Almost Useless Facts?

By: Allison Lips
Estimated Completion Time
3 min
Are You a Master of Almost Useless Facts?
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?
Tennis
Basketball
Handball
Pickleball
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Which country currently has a chewing gum ban?
Australia
Argentina
Singapore
Germany
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

What's another name for the "pound," "number," or "hash" symbol?
An octothorpe
Tic-tac-toe
ampersand
asterisks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which of the following terms is not a collective noun for a group of kangaroos?
Flock
Mob
Swarm
Troop
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is the name of the tallest tree in the world?
Hyperion
Methuselah
Pando
President
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

What is Barbie's full name?
Barbara Millicent Roberts
Barbara Jill Walters
Barbara Karen Smith
Barbara Walker Davis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Which CD was the first to be pressed in the United States?
Born in the U.S.A.
Thriller
Goodbye Cruel World
Appetite for Destruction
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What was Mario from Super Mario Bros. originally named?
Pacman
Luigi
Jumpman
Wario
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which product was the first to have its bar code scanned?
A Jar of Pringles
A Hershey Bar
A bottled of Coca Cola
Juicy Fruit gum
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which book has the first documented appearance of the word "nerd?"
If I Ran the Zoo
The Cat in the Hat
Oh, the Places You'll Go!
Horton Hears a Who!
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is the name of the treaty that prohibits countries from using nuclear weapons in space?
Protecting the Galaxy
Outer Space Treaty
The Milky Way Treaty
The International Treaty for Space
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

How many tines does a standard fork have?
1
2
4
6
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is the common name for the condition of sphenopalatine ganglioneuralgia?
Cold
Flu
Foot falling asleep
Brain freeze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Who invented the chocolate chip cookie?
Frank Epperson
Caroline Tatin
Thomas Edison
Ruth Graves Wakefield
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Where is the world's largest McDonald's located?
Orlando
New York
Chicago
Los Angeles
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

How many flavors is Baskin-Robbins known for?
31
57
80
46
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Which monument is 305 feet tall?
Leaning Tower of Pisa
Washington Monument
Statue of Liberty
Eiffel Tower
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Which garden has a gated area that has a sign that says "These Plants Can Kill?"
The Alnwick Garden
Gardens of Versailles
Brooklyn Botanical Gardens
Keukenhof
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is Cap'n Crunch's full name?
Horatio Magellan Crunch
Aloysius
Oscar Zoroaster Phadric Isaac Diggs
Edgar Mallory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which of the following is not a Kit Kat flavor available in Japan?
Soy Sauce
Kiwi
Roasted Sweet Potato
Steak
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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."

Advertisement

Which "Keeping Up with the Kardashian" cast member is technically not a Kardashian?
Kylie
Kourtney
Kim
Khloe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which M&M does J.K. Simmons lend his voice to?
Red
Yellow
Blue
Green
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is the dot over the letters "i" and "j" called?
grave
Umlaut
Tilde
Tittle
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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."

Advertisement

Who wrote the Johnny Cash song "A Boy Named Sue?"
Paul McCartney
Bob Dylan
Theodore Geisel
Shel Silverstein
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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).

Advertisement

What colony of trees in Oregon is one of the largest known living organisms?
Pando
Prometheus
Methuselah
Jardine Juniper
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which country has won the Eurovision song contest on seven occasions?
England
Ireland
Sweden
France
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is Prince Harry's full name?
Henry Charles Albert David
Henry Alexander Louis
Henry Antony Richard Louis
Henry Albert Christian Edward
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Which color is not a secondary color?
Orange
Green
Purple
Red
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which football team has been to the Super Bowl?
Houston Texans
Philadelphia Eagles
Detroit Lions
Cleveland Browns
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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.

Advertisement

Who invented Lincoln Logs?
Abraham Lincoln
Henry Ford
Willis Carrier
John Lloyd Wright
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which soda is the oldest?
Dr. Pepper
Coca-Cola
Pepsi
Diet Coke
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

What is the hottest location in the United States?
Parker, Arizona
Baker, California
Phoenix Airport
Death Valley
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Who was the last astronaut to walk on the moon?
Neil Armstrong
Gene Cernan
Charles Duke
John Young
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which mountain range serves as a boundary between Europe and Asia?
Appalachian Mountains
Ural Mountains
Himalayas
Alps
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

Which state is the only one with a name that is only one syllable?
Georgia
Maine
New York
Iowa
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

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

Advertisement

You Got:
/35
Hill Street Studios LLC/Royalty-free/GettyImages