Author: Evelyn Beresford

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “Which actor turned down the role of Archie Bunker?” …Former MGM star Mickey Rooney turned down the role of bigoted family man Archie Bunker in the 1970s sitcom All in the Family. The former child star was convinced that the show would bomb, and he wasn’t willing to jeopardize his professional reputation. Little-known character actor Carroll O’Connor won the role as a result of Norman Lear, All in the Family’s creator, spotting him in the film “What Did You Do In the War, Daddy?” The show took off after a rough start and dominated television…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “What rapper turned actor had a hit with the 1988 song “Parents Just Don’t Understand”?” Will Smith met Jeff Townes at age 16, and the duo launched a successful rap career as DJ Jazzy Jeff & The Fresh Prince. “Parents Just Don’t Understand” became the second single from their second studio album, He’s the DJ, I’m the Rapper. The song won a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance at the 1989 Grammy Awards. It peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100. Will Smith transitioned from successful rapper to Hollywood A-lister, starring on “The Fresh…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “Which of the following Ben and Jerry’s ice cream flavors is named after a music group?” …Phish is an American rock band that was founded at the University of Vermont in 1983. The band is known for musical improvisation, extended jams, blending of genres, and a dedicated fan base. Vermont-based ice cream conglomerate Ben & Jerry’s launched “Phish Food” in recognition of their shared Vermont heritage. The band officially licensed their name for use with the product, and were directly involved with the creation of the flavor. Phish’s portion of the proceeds from the flavor…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “Known as an aphrodisiac, the Spanish fly is not a fly, but rather a species of what insect?” …The Spanish fly exists, only it’s actually a beetle. Oh, and you might die excruciatingly if you eat it. The Found predominantly throughout Europe and Central Asia, Spanish flies are small, usually reaching no longer than 20mm. The Spanish fly has been thought of as an aphrodisiac for hundreds of years, but it’s actually an irritant that can cause blistering. Spanish flies are extremely toxic due to a substance they secrete known as cantharidin. When the human…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “What were the Oscar statuettes made of during World War II?” Officially named the Academy Award of Merit, the statuette is better known by its nickname, Oscar. Throughout most of Academy Award history, the Oscar statuettes have been crafted of solid bronze and plated in 24-karat gold. However, due to a metal shortage during World War II, Oscars were made of painted plaster for three years. Following the war, the Academy invited recipients to redeem the plaster figures for gold-plated versions. The design of the statuette depicts a knight standing on a reel of film,…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “In blackjack, which of these hands is a “soft 14”?” A soft blackjack hand is any hand of two cards which contains an ace. A soft hand is one that cannot be busted by taking one hit. In other words, if you are dealt a soft hand, you cannot bust the hand with the first hit. You can only improve the hand. This is because in blackjack, an ace can be counted as one or eleven. When you are dealt an ace and a three (soft 14), the dealer will speak of your hand as…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “Which luxury brand shares its name with the French explorer who is credited with naming Canada?” …French explorer Jacques Cartier is known chiefly for exploring the St. Lawrence River and giving Canada its name. In 1534, France’s King Francis I authorized Cartier to lead a voyage to the New World. Cartier’s three expeditions along the St. Lawrence River would later enable France to lay claim to the lands that would become Canada. Although Cartier named the land he traveled to “Canada,” the word actually comes from the Iroquois-Huron language. These natives referred to their village…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “What city is famous for having more bicycles on the road than cars?” Bicycling is the preferred Dutch way to experience Amsterdam and by far the most popular form of getting around. In fact, Amsterdam has been ranked as the most bicycle-friendly city in the world. There are more than 881,000 bicycles in Amsterdam. That’s four times the number of cars. In addition, approximately 57% of Amsterdammers use their bicycle on a daily basis. Yes, even when it snows! Amsterdam also has the only museum in the world you can actually cycle through which is…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “What did Chicago’s Wrigley Field NOT have until the 1988?” On this day in 1988, the Chicago Cubs hosted the first night game in the history of Wrigley Field. The first-ever big league night game in professional baseball took place 50 years earlier in Cincinnati, Ohio. Over the next 13 seasons, the rest of the major league parks followed suit, with one exception, Wrigley Field. For 74 seasons, the Cubs played only day games at home. Finally, on August 8, 1988, the Cubs played the Philadelphia Phillies in the park’s first night game. Ninety-one-year-old Cubs…

Step 1 : Introduction to the question “Which of these chemical elements is represented on the atomic table by a single letter?” Every element in the Periodic Table has been given a unique 1, 2 or 3 letter symbol. The first letter of an element symbol is always a capital letter. Many of the element symbols are quickly remembered with just one letter. These elements are: B for Boron, C for Carbon, F for Fluorine, H for Hydrogen, I for Iodine, K for Potassium, N for Nitrogen, O for Oxygen, P for Phosphorus, S for Sulfur, U for Uranium, V for Vanadium,…