POP QUIZ
THE NEFF ZONE -- BY JIM NEFF
CADILLAC NEWS -- OCTOBER 21, 2023
Every school kid since the beginning of time has dreaded the sneaky pop quiz. They come unannounced and no one is ever prepared for one. However, sometimes the quiz can actually be fun. It can give you a chance to add to your stockpile of semi-useful information. You never know when you'll need a conversational snippet.
As a public service, here are ten questions. The answers follow, but no fair peeking. There will be no grades, so here we go.
Questions:
1. How many lines, words, and musical notes are there in the “Happy Birthday” song?
2. We all know about the popularity of the Barbie doll, but what is Barbie's full name?
3. Reach into one of your pockets. Is there some unknown stuff wedged at the bottom and in the creases? What's the official term for that junk?
4. Have you ever watched NCIS on television? They often solve crimes using fingerprints. But what if those prints are unavailable? Is there some other part of the human anatomy that is unique for each individual?
5. Where in the United States would you stand in order to be closest to Africa?
6. In 2022, what name for baby girls was based on a tree? Also, what were the most used spellings?
7. What eating utensil was once thought to be sinful to use?
8. What is more dangerous – a shark or a vending machine?
9. What is the term used for when a person experiences fear or anxiety about not having mobile phone connectivity?
10. For 2023, what is the most popular Halloween candy for Michigan kidlings?
Answers:
1. “Its power is in its simplicity. With only six notes, six words, and four lines — three of them the same — “Happy Birthday” is one of the most universal songs on the planet.” (https://www.interestingfacts.com/happy-birthday-song-origins/Y0YE_5X_kAAHBeo9)
2. Barbie's full name is Barbara Millicent Roberts. (https://www.britannica.com/topic/Barbie)
3. The substance that collects over time in the bottoms of pockets or cuffs of trousers is called gnurr. (https://www.thefreedictionary.com/gnurr)
4. “When detectives investigate a crime scene, they’re often on the hunt for one thing: fingerprints. These intricate patterns of whorls and lines are exclusive to each individual. However, our fingerprints are not unique when it comes to being, well, unique. Our tongues, like our fingerprints, are also specific to each individual. That’s right — people have tongue prints,” (https://www.interestingfacts.com/fact/634f37291b727700085866b9)
5. “The closest point in the United States to Africa is Quoddy Head State Park in Maine. The closest point in Africa to the United States is in Safi Province in Morocco.” (https://www.acscdg.com/usaafrica.html)
6. “A host of Oak-names are on the popularity list: Oakley (No. 157), Oaklee (No. 677), Oakleigh (No. 524), Oaklynn (No. 159) and Oaklyn (No. 590).” In the entire country in 2022 there were only 75 newborn baby girls named Tracy, 52 Gretchens and 68 Lacys. (https://www.huffpost.com/entry/surprising-baby-names-trends-2022_l_6511f3aee4b088d5608c847f)
7. “In the Middle Ages, many Christian Europeans considered the act of eating with a fork to be a sinful affront to God. According to some clergymen of the time, God had already given human beings ten natural forks, in the form of the fingers on their own hands, so daring to use an artificial accessory to spear food was an offense to the Lord and his divine gifts. Not only did using a fork insult the fingers that God gifted to humanity, the thinking went, but it also insulted the food God had provided: To use a fork meant you thought the Lord’s bounty was unworthy of being touched by your hands.” (https://historyfacts.com/world-history/fact/forks-were-considered-sinful-in-the-middle-ages/)
8. “The yearly risk (in the United States) of dying from a shark attack is roughly one in 250 million. In contrast, the yearly risk of dying from a vending machine accident is roughly one in 112 million. The vending machine is indeed roughly twice as lethal as the shark!” (https://freakonomics.com/2011/09/how-are-sharks-less-dangerous-than-vending-machines-an-exercise-in-conditional-risk/)
9. “Nomophobia (NO MObile PHone PhoBIA) is considered a modern phobia. It most likely stems from increased reliance on technology and concern over what might happen if you suddenly couldn't access needed information. Symptoms of nomophobia are similar to other phobias and anxiety disorders. Symptoms can include changes in breathing, trembling, sweating, agitation, and disorientation. Research shows that nomophobia could be developed due to the instant communication and instant gratification that smartphones provide. This can develop into addictive and compulsive behavior.” (https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-08-relationship-anxiety-disorders-extensive-mobile.html)
10. CandyStore.com says the top three Halloween candies in Michigan this year are Starburst, Candy Corn, and Butterfinger. “According to the National Retail Federation, Halloween candy spending should hit a whopping $3.6 Billion this year! That's a sixteen percent jump that blows away previous highs. In a dramatic candy twist, M&M's are giving the iconic Reese's Cups a run for their money. Love it or loathe it, Candy Corn is making a comeback! And spice is the name of the game, as Hot Tamales leapfrogs over Skittles.” See the sweet interactive map of all the state-by-state favorites at: https://www.candystore.com/blogs/facts-trivia/halloween-candy-map-popular.
Now that was fun, right? The dreaded quiz really wasn't that dreadful. As previously stated, no grades will be given. However, you'll get extra credit just for being a good sport.
Jim Neff is a local columnist. Read Neff Zone columns online at CadillacNews.com and NeffZone.com/cadillacnews.