Truth or Fiction: The Scoop on Urban Legends

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. The rumor: Drivers beware! Carjackers are putting ad flyers on the rear windows of cars to help them do their dirty work. Partially true. The ad flyers are being put on the passenger side windows Completely true Completely false Partially true. The ad flyers are being put on the windshield

2. The rumor: The right of African-Americans to vote is not protected by the US Constitution. Completely false Partially true. Congress has to renew the 15th Amendment every five years Completely true Partially true. Each state is responsible for reviewing and renewing that right every ten years

3. The rumor: A Los Angeles man managed to fly to an altitude of 16,000 feet--in a lawn chair. Completely false Partially true. The man used his lawn chair on his own private airplane Partially true. The man was in a recliner Completely true

4. The rumor: The cover of a hip-hop album had to be pulled after the September 11, 2001 attack on America because it depicted the World Trade Center being blown up. Partially true. The building depicted was the Transamerica Pyramid Completely false Completely true Partially true. The building depicted was the Empire State Building

5. The rumor: Dialing a phone number with an area code serving the Caribbean will leave you facing a ridiculously high phone bill. Completely false Partially true. Calling government offices in the Caribbean do require higher charges Completely true Partially true. It's an international call, which makes it slightly higher than a domestic long-distance call

6. The rumor: An exam given in late 19th Century Kansas shows just how much smarter eighth graders were in simpler times. Partially true. The test was real, but only meant for adults Completely true Partially true. The test is real, but one knows for sure who it was written for Completely false

7. The rumor: Cellular phones have been linked to explosions at several gas stations. Completely true Partially true. One explosion actually occurred at an oil refinery Partially true. There have been several fires, but no explosions Completely false

8. The rumor: Beware of blue envelopes coming to you in the mail. They contain the deadly Klingerman Virus. Completely false Partially true. The virus comes in red envelopes. Completely true Partially true. The virus is named the Konawalchuk Virus.

9. The rumor: Companies like Honda, Microsoft and Victoria's Secret will give you free merchandise, if you forward an e-mail to a lot of friends. Completely true Completely false Partially true. Some companies have discontinued this practice Partially true. Some companies give away money instead of merchandise

10. The rumor: Two die-hard Metallica fans died hard trying to crash a concert in Washington State. They also won a Darwin Award for their efforts. Completely true Completely false Partially true. They crashed the concert, but survived Partially true. They bought tickets for the concert, but died trying to get there