June Trivia Column

The categories and topics that intrigue us change each time we meet. These April questions were the ones we thought other OLLI members would find most interesting. 

Some of our Trivia regulars have begun to bring their own questions for us to ponder in our one-minute breakout groups. If we don’t know the answer, we have a little time to make up a funny or witty response. Whatever the topics, we find lots of opportunities to laugh. We encourage you to join us (with or without your favorite trivia question) for one of our June sessions and the beginning of summer.

1. What bone in the human body is most frequently broken?
2. Who was the first British monarch to set foot on U.S. soil?
3. What state in the U.S. was once known as Franklin?
4. Which U.S. President gave Russia’s Brezhnev at least three cars?
5. What animal is said to have inspired the crouch start in sprinting?
6. What is a group of skylarks called?

Scroll down for the answers!

Trivia Answers!

1. What bone in the human body is most frequently broken?

(the clavicle or collar bone)

The clavicle’s location between the shoulder and rib and its function as the connection for the arm to the rest of the body are contributing factors.

2. Who was the first British monarch to set foot on U.S. soil?

(King George VI)

King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth entered the U.S. on July 7, 1939, at Niagara Falls, having accepted an invitation from Franklin Delano Roosevelt. They attended a reception at the British Embassy and a formal evening event at the White House. The next day, the great-great-great-grandson of King George III visited Mount Vernon and the tomb of George Washington. On Sunday, July 9, the royal couple visited the British Pavilion of the New York World’s Fair, followed by a visit to FDR’s Hyde Park Estate. FDR’s mother, Sarah, was dismayed that the picnic menu for the King and Queen included hot dogs.

3. What state in the U.S. was once known as Franklin?

(Tennessee)

It sounded like a simple answer, and I was surprised to learn how complicated the explanation was.

After the Revolutionary War, communities west of the Appalachian Mountains and east of the Mississippi were not automatically part of the United States—and hadn’t gotten much attention or support from those who were. In 1784, Franklin chose to declare itself an independent state, rather than part of the union. They even considered joining Spain. After five years, in 1789, the leaders of Franklin decided to rejoin North Carolina (The land was previously considered to be four counties in North Carolina. North Carolina had ceded it to the US Government several months before they declared themselves independent.) On today’s map, the land known as Franklin is in northeast Tennessee.

What a complicated scenario! It led to a clause in the Constitution stipulating that new states cannot be formed “within the jurisdiction of any other State,” unless both state legislatures and Congress approve the change. This clause likely also impacted Mainers as they sought to separate from Massachusetts 202 years ago. Fascinating.

4. Which U.S. President gave Russia’s Brezhnev at least three cars?

(Nixon)

• May 29, 1972: Nixon gave Brezhnev, who loved cars, a 1972 Cadillac Eldorado.
• June 19, 1973: Nixon gave Brezhnev a 1973 Lincoln Continental with special black velour upholstery.
• Early July, 1974: Nixon brought a Chevrolet Monte Carlo to Moscow as a gift for Brezhnev. Brezhnev requested the car after reading that it was MotorTrend’s Car of the Year.

5. What animal is said to have inspired the crouch start in sprinting?

(the kangaroo)

6. What is a group of skylarks called? 

(an exaltation)

What a terrific group name! Spring months and the return of migratory birds to our area feels like an exaltation, even though there are not any skylarks in North America! How many collective names for different species of birds do you know? Here’s a link to one list: www.birdspot.co.uk/culture/collective-nouns-for-birds

—Faye Gmeiner