These 35 Trivia Questions Will Separate Americans From the Rest the World

By: Jonnathan Chadwick
Estimated Completion Time
4 min
These 35 Trivia Questions Will Separate Americans From the Rest the World
Image: cmannphoto / E+ / Getty Images

About This Quiz

If there's one thing to know about America, it's that it's not even 250 years old. The first Chinese dynasties ruled thousands of years ago; ditto for Greek, Roman and Egyptian Empires. Japan was founded in 660 BC and England was founded in 1066, so take American custom with a grain of salt. Most of our tradition is naturally derived from European ancestors, so we had to tweak a few things to set ourselves apart. Instead of using the Imperial System or Celsius Scale, we decided to use the metric system and Fahrenheit scale. They're still European inventions, but we use them, and that's what makes America America.

Everything from our meal portions to our language seems lawless to an outsider, and deservedly so. We have a fraction of the history of every other country, and our culture looks exactly like a brand new culture is supposed to look like: fast-food, touchdowns, Oscar speeches, iPhone releases, hip-hop, money and war. But underneath it all, there is a method to the madness. If there wasn't, Hollywood wouldn't be leading the world in entertainment, Silicon Valley wouldn't be leading the world in technology and Wall Street wouldn't be leading the world in finance. But if you're American, you already know that. Put your skills to the test and see if you can answer these questions that only Americans know.

Bathroom
Marlene Ford / Moment / Getty Images
What do you call a room that has a sink, toilet and shower?
Water closet
Privy
Bathroom
Loo
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every American knows what a bathroom is, but no American calls it a loo, privy or water closet. This personal hygiene room takes on different names and forms around the globe. You might have to squat if you visit a water closet in Asia, and bidets in European bathrooms are not for washing feet.

Tom Brady
Wiki Commons by Jeffrey Beall
Can you name this quarterback of the New England Patriots who has won six Super Bowls?
Dan Marino
Joe Montana
Brett Favre
Tom Brady
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Being that NFL football is purely American and a Patriot is a pure American, Tom Brady might be the most American athlete in the world. He's been called Captain America as well as the greatest football player to ever live.

Big Mac
skeeze / Pixabay
What is the name of this sandwich made of two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles and onions on a sesame seed bun?
Whopper
Quarter Pounder
Big Mac
McDouble
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Big Mac debuted in 1967 for 45 cents, and in 1968 it went nationwide and revolutionized the hamburger universe. It is one of the most popular fast-food sandwiches in the country and a worldwide symbol for America.

Advertisement

401(k)
Rafe Swan / Cultura / Getty Images
Your employer might match your tax-deferred deposits if you contribute money to what type of account?
Savings account
501(c)
Checking account
401(k)
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

A 401(k) allows employees to take funds out of their paycheck without paying taxes and divert them to a retirement account. Their employer also contributes funds to the account, and it's similar to the U.K.'s personal pension plan (PPP).

Saturday Night Live
NBC
What TV show has been aired from Studio 8H at New York City's Rockefeller Plaza since 1975?
Friends
Saturday Night Live
The Simpsons
The Big Bang Theory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Saturday Night Live is filmed in the same studio it debuted from in New York City. The TV show has sat at the pinnacle of sketch comedy for close to half a century and has helped to launch the careers of some of comedy's biggest names.

Minnesota
Wiki Commons by Farragutful
The Mall of America is Canadian, but where is it located?
Chicago
New York
Washington, D.C.
Minnesota
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Mall of America is owned by a Canadian company and located in Minnesota. It's the largest mall in America and the 12th largest in the world. The Dubai Mall covers more than 12 million square feet and is the largest mall in the world.

Advertisement

Social Security number
John Sommer / E+ / Getty Images
What is the name of the nine-digit number issued to almost every U.S. citizen?
Tax file number
Social Security number
National Insurance number
Personal identification number
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Behind your birthday, address and phone number, your Social Security Number is probably the next number you memorized. It's used for Social Security purposes like retirement and disability benefits, but it has become an official form of identification for almost everything.

Your signature
bauhaus1000 / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images
If someone asks for your John Hancock, what do you need to give them?
Your surname
Your passport
Your signature
Your driver's license
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Anyone who has ever looked at the Declaration of Independence has seen John Hancock's signature jumping off the page. It's so bold and beautiful that it has become a synonym for the word "signature."

Which NBA Team Were You Born to Play For?
Wiki Commons by Tim Shelby
What team does LeBron James play for?
Los Angeles Lakers
Boston Celtics
Golden State Warriors
Toronto Raptors
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

LeBron James rose to fame as a sophomore in high school and has lived up to the hype. He's won one championship with the Cleveland Cavaliers and two with the Miami Heat, and he now plays with the Los Angeles Lakers.

Advertisement

S'more
eddieberman / E+ / Getty Images
Do you know the name of this campfire dessert that consists of marshmallow and chocolate melted between graham crackers?
Twinkie
Whoopie pie
Macaroon
S'more
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's almost no reason in America to start a campfire and not make s'mores. The word s'more is just a contraction for "some more," and these graham cracker sandwiches were invented back in the 1920s by Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts.

Benjamin Franklin
dem10 / E+ / Getty Images
Which Founding Father is featured on the 100 dollar bill?
Benjamin Franklin
George Washington
Thomas Jefferson
Andrew Jackson
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American polymath Ben Franklin has been featured on the bill since 1914, and his name is now synonymous with money in general. "Benjis," "Benjamins," "Bens" and "Franklins" are all slang terms for 100 dollar bills, and "it's all about the Benjamins" means "it's all about the money."

Breaking Bad
AMC / High Bridge Entertainment / Gran Via Productions / Sony Pictures Television
What TV show follows a high school chemistry teacher who resorts to anything necessary to pay his medical bills?
The Wire
Breaking Bad
The Sopranos
Mad Men
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Few things are more American than astronomical medical bills, destructive epidemics and the southwest desert. They all came together in the AMC hit series "Breaking Bad," and the show will go down in history as one of America's best.

Advertisement

South Dakota
Jacobs Stock Photography Ltd / DigitalVision / Getty Images
There are more than 2,500 National Historic Landmarks in the U.S. Where is Mount Rushmore located?
South Dakota
Montana
Washington, D.C.
Washington
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mount Rushmore is located in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and it took about 15 years to build. It was originally supposed to depict each president down to their waist, but funding for the project ran dry.

10 days
Bounce / Cultura / Getty Images
It's American tradition to work 40 hours a week. How many vacation days does the average employee get a year?
20 days
15 days
10 days
5 days
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, American employees are granted 10 vacation days on average. Employees with 15 years of experience get 15 days, and those with 20 years get 20 days. Entry-level employees across Europe commonly see 20-30 vacation days a year on top of holidays, and the U.S. is only one of 13 countries that don't guarantee paid vacation.

Get the most bang for your buck
kali9 / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these common phrases best describes the goal of buying a new car?
To go back to square one
Beat around the bush
Break a leg
Get the most bang for your buck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you know that a buck is a slang term for a dollar, then you understand that getting the most bang for your buck means to get the most possible for the least amount of money. Shopping for a car is usually a large purchase, and most people want to get the most they can for the least amount of money.

Advertisement

Mia Hamm
Wiki Commons by Johnmaxmena2
Can you name this soccer icon who led the U.S. Women's National team to two FIFA World Cup victories?
Julie Ertz
Carli Lloyd
Mia Hamm
Alex Morgan
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Mia Hamm is an international legend and the most popular American soccer player, male or female. She played from 1987 to 2004 and won two FIFA World Cups and two Olympic gold medals during the time. She is married to Red Sox great Nomar Garciaparra.

Ketchup
pjohnson1 / E+ / Getty Images
Which of these condiments is most likely to come with an order of french fries?
Mayonnaise
Mustard
Ketchup
Barbecue sauce
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ketchup sales are directly proportional to french-fry sales in America. Ketchup is the No. 1 condiment used for french fries, and the de facto accompaniment at any restaurant in the country. You'll find mayo around Europe, and Asia loves its chili sauce.

20 cents
philipdyer / E+ / Getty Images
You can't be American if you don't know money. Which of these values is not represented in an American coin?
10 cents
20 cents
25 cents
50 cents
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American coins are the penny (1 cent), nickel (5 cents), dime (10 cents) and quarter (25 cents). Half-dollars and dollar-coins are in circulation, but they aren't as popular. A penny costs more to make than it's worth, and a nickel is mostly made of copper.

Advertisement

Junior
FatCamera / E+ / Getty Images
A student who is in their 11th year of school is known as a what?
Freshman
Sophomore
Junior
Senior
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Being that America is a fairly new country, our education system isn't the world's oldest, and when we invented it we decided to label students with the names freshman, sophomore, junior and senior. These names mean nothing in most countries, but a high school junior is in 11th grade.

Texas
Yuri_Arcurs / E+ / Getty Images
What state is known as The Lone Star State?
Texas
Hawaii
Alaska
California
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Texas is the heart of the country and the largest state in the contiguous United States. It's known for its country music and barbecue food, and its slogan is "Everything is bigger in Texas." The state was once independent and is the only state that signed a treaty to join the Union.

America the Beautiful
Jose Luis Pelaez Inc / DigitalVision / Getty Images
Which of the following is not commonly played or recited at the start of each school day?
The Pledge of Allegiance
Attendance
The Star Spangled Banner
America the Beautiful
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

These customs vary state by state, but most U.S. public schools start the day reciting or playing either the National Anthem or Pledge of Allegiance (or both). It is uncommon and unusual to sing "America the Beautiful" before class each day.

Advertisement

I plead the fifth
Image Source / Photodisc / Getty Images
If you're asked an incriminating question you don't want to answer, you might respond by saying what?
It's a free country
I plead the fifth
What goes around comes around
You don't know what you don't know
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects defendants from testifying against themselves and guarantees other rights during a criminal procedure. It is part of the first 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights.

Kobe and Shaq
Wiki Commons by United States Marine Corps & Steve Lipofsky
Who is this dynamic duo that won three NBA championships from 2000 to 2002?
Jordan and Pippen
Kobe and Shaq
Stockton and Malone
The Splash Brothers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

There's no telling how many championships Shaq and Kobe would've won if they could've gotten along with each other, but Shaq won another championship with the Miami Heat, and Kobe won two more with the Lakers.

Twinkie
skeeze / Pixabay
What is the name of this legendary midnight snack made of sponge cake and cream filling?
Twinkie
Ding Dong
Whoopie pie
Honey bun
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

American culture as we know it almost ended in 2012 when the makers of Twinkies filed for bankruptcy and suspended production of the delightful snack. Luckily, production resumed in 2013 and the country was reunited with the spongecake treat that was invented in 1930. It originally featured banana cream filling, but a banana shortage during WWII forced the switch to vanilla cream, and the rest is history.

Advertisement

15% - 20% of the bill
Fuse / Corbis / Getty Images
When dining out at a restaurant, how much money should you tip your server?
15-20% of the bill
Whatever change is left over
50% of the bill
Nothing
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Tipping isn't an exact science but is a very exact custom. In some countries, you don't tip food servers. In some countries, you tip nurses. You should always research the tipping etiquette for whatever country you're in. It's customary to tip food servers 15-20% in the U.S. and Canada.

Howard Stern
Wiki Commons by Bill Norton
Can you name this shock jock who is the self-proclaimed "King of All Media"?
David Letterman
Howard Stern
Bill Maher
Donald Trump
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Howard Stern began working in radio at Boston University in 1976 and might be the most controversial radio personality in American history. He proclaimed himself the king of all media, and aside from radio success, he has written two best-sellers and starred in a hit movie.

13
cipella / E+ / Getty Images
The American flag was made in 1777 and is nicknamed "Old Glory." How many stripes are on the flag?
25
13
10
15
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The 13 stripes on the American flag represent America's first 13 colonies. The flag has been redesigned 27 times since it was created in 1777. There are seven red stripes and six white stripes, and the 50 stars represent the 50 states.

Advertisement

New Year's Eve
svetikd / E+ / Getty Images
There is a holiday celebrated somewhere in the world every day of the year. Which of the following is not a U.S. federal holiday?
New Year's Eve
Memorial Day
Thanksgiving
Labor Day
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

New Year's Eve is not one of the 10 federal holidays in America, but New Year's Day is. Sydney Harbor in Australia and New York City's Times Square are two of the most popular places in the world to ring in the New Year.

A rescheduled appointment
Comstock / Stockbyte / Getty Images
How much is a rain check worth?
One year of free water
A rescheduled appointment
$100
A day off from work or school
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

This is an American term that stemmed from America's game: baseball. Back in the late 19th century, fans at rainy ballparks (another American word) were reimbursed for the canceled game with tickets for a future game. These tickets came to be known as rain checks.

Wayne Gretzky
Wiki Commons by Håkan Dahlström
Who is this NHL legend nicknamed "The Great One"?
Wayne Gretzky
Mario Lemieux
Mark Messier
Martin Brodeur
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Wayne Gretzky is the undisputed best hockey player in American history, and his number 99 is the only one retired across the entire National Hockey League. He won four Stanley Cups over his 20 seasons and countless awards and records.

Advertisement

Philadelphia
wsmahar / E+ / Getty Images
What city is known for sandwiches that consist of steak, cheese, onions and peppers?
Miami
New York City
Boston
Philadelphia
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To know America, you need to know its food. Philly is the place for the cheesesteak. Jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish are must-tries in New Orleans. Visit the North Atlantic for lobster rolls, Texas for barbecue and hit either NYC or Chicago for pizza, depending on your preference.

Sales tax
igor kisselev, www.close-up.biz / Moment / Getty Images
Why would a bottle of wine that has a price tag of $22.00 end up costing $22.85 at the register?
Capital gains tax
Income tax
Sales tax
Value-Added Tax
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

It's somewhat startling for tourists to see the price of an item change once they pay for it, but that's because of sales tax, and almost every state in America has it. Many countries around the world include a value-added tax (VAT) in the price already on the tag, so the price doesn't change when you pay.

Mark Twain
Wiki Commons by Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Who wrote "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer"?
John Steinbeck
Harper Lee
Charles Dickens
Mark Twain
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Every American school student is familiar with Tom Sawyer, Huck Finn and Mark Twain. The story about an orphan growing up on the Mississippi River in the 1840s is literary canon in the American education system.

Advertisement

First Amendment
Vincent Besnault / Photodisc / Getty Images
What Amendment to the U.S. Constitution protects the freedom of speech?
Second Amendment
First Amendment
Ninth Amendment
Third Amendment
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution is the most powerful law in the world, and it guarantees the freedom of speech, freedom of the press, the right to peacefully gather, the right to petition the government and ensures the separation between church and state.

1776
Erin Garvey / Stockbyte / Getty Images
What year was the Declaration of Independence signed?
1771
1776
1800
1804
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

We celebrate July Fourth every year because it is the day that the wording of the Declaration of Independence was finalized. The American Revolution had already been going on for a year, and the document fleshed out the reasons why the 13 colonies wanted independence.

You Got:
/35
cmannphoto / E+ / Getty Images