All Around Town with Brown Trivia Quiz

Acorns are nuts of the mighty oak tree and they're one of the most important wildlife foods for small mammals or rodents like mice and squirrels, as well as, some birds because they contain protein and nutrients. Larger mammals like deer or bears eat great amounts especially in the autumn and winter. Acorns have one seed inside a hard, tough shell. When acorns are young they're greenish in color because they contains moisture, as they grow (mature or ripen) acorns are brown.

Did you know that acorns could be ground up to make flour for bread, pasta, cookies and even pancakes?

Wooden benches can be found in many places in your city or town; perhaps in gardens, parks, street corners, bus stops, churches and playgrounds. Surprisingly wooden benches are very durable, meaning they can resist damage or pressure. The natural strength of wood helps it tolerate different weather conditions too.

You may see some benches in your city or town with a plaque or plate showing the name of a special person or group. These benches are dedicated to people who have made an important contribution to the area during their lifetime, or perhaps the bench commemorates a historical event.

You can think of the trunk as the "stem" of a tree. We can identify different types of trees by their bark. Some trees, like Scotch pine, have trunks of thick, rough bark; others, like cherry trees, have smooth bark. Trees grow new layers of bark on their trunks in the spring. The trunk has a very important job. It holds tube-like structures called xylem which send water and nutrients up to the leaves.

A hollowed-out space in tree trunk (or even a stump) can be home to those naughty "masked bandits"--raccoons!

Chocolate or cocoa is made from the dried seeds of the cacao tree. It takes a whopping 400 cocoa beans to make just one pound of chocolate! Some of the top chocolate producing countries are the United Kingdom, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, the United States and France.

Did you know that George Washington liked chocolate so much that he included it in the soldiers' food portions (rations)? Sometimes the soldiers were even paid in chocolate!

What we call coffee beans are actually seeds from the coffee plants which produce different colored small fruits, and the beans are the seed found inside. Most of the world's coffee beans come from areas around the Equator which includes parts of India, Southeast Asia, Africa, Central and South America. This area is called the "Bean Belt". Depending on the amount of sunlight and water, type of soil and altitude (meaning the height above sea level or land) coffee tastes can vary slightly. Coffee beans, when ground or powdered can be used in cooking, baking and even flavoring for ice cream!

Did you know that coffee is rich in some vitamins/nutrients, especially nitrogen, and used coffee grounds may sometimes help garden soil?

At one time catchers caught the baseball with bare hands, which was very painful, so they started wearing heavy work gloves with the fingertip part of the glove cut off. Eventually padding attached to a wire frame was placed in a leather glove and the finger parts were sewn together, but that was very bulky and awkward--like trying to catch the ball with a pillow! Catchers' mitts have come a long way since then. Today they can be precisely made of quality leather and Kevlar, which is the same material used to make policemen's vests.

Mitts come in different colors, too, but in Major League Baseball white or gray mitts are not allowed because the light color could make the ball difficult to see.

Paper bags are important to our environment because they are biodegradable, which means they can be broken down naturally and be recycled. Paper bags are used in supermarkets, department stores, restaurants and many other places too. Do you ever carry your lunch in brown paper bag? When you do, you could say that you're "brown bagging it". Paper bags can be used for fun things too, like crafts, gift-wrapping or book covers. Can you think of something fun to make with a brown paper bag?

Did you know that some fruits will ripen faster if stored in a paper bag? Certain fruits release a gas that helps them ripen called ethylene. When kept in a bag the ethylene stays inside, speeding up the ripening process.

Boots have been around for thousands and thousands of years. Early man covered their feet and lower part of the legs to protect against water, mud and and provide warmth. They were made from animal skin or fur. Nowadays, boots are commonly worn by the military and other occupations like construction workers, firemen and more--even everyday use in rain, snow or certain sports--just about anytime!

The Bata Shoe Museum, located in Toronto, Canada, has over 13,000 shoes, boots and other footwear on display!

Pinecones have been around for millions of years! Dinosaurs enjoyed munching on them when they were softer, thinner and longer. Research tells us that pinecones adapted and became harder and thicker to avoid being the large predator's snack and they certainly managed to survive through the ages. Pinecones protect and keep their precious seeds safe. The scales close up in in windy, cold weather or to protect the seeds from animals. When the seeds are mature and weather is mild and dry (summer into early fall) the cones open and release their seeds.

Did you know that Coulter pine trees, found in Southern California and parts of Mexico, have some of the largest pinecones? They can be over a foot long, nine inches wide and weigh up to 11 pounds!

Backpacks (knapsacks, rucksacks) can be used for traveling, sports, carrying school books, camping, military or just about anything. Usually they have smaller zipper compartments attached or sewn inside. Backpacks can be flexible (able to bend) or have a metal frame inside for extra support. Long ago, hunters would wrap their "catches" in the animal skin and easily carry it on their backs.

Did you know that special backpacks (called Primary Life Support Systems or PLSS) are used by astronauts? Of course, they look different from the "everyday" versions we use. They're especially used to provide oxygen and remove carbon dioxide. The PLSS also supplies power the astronaut's spacesuit, regulates temperature enables two-way conversations.

Pretzels are a popular snack food usually in a shape that resembles a knot, but you can also find pretzel sticks, rings or nuggets and they can be hard (crunchy) or soft. Some pretzels are covered in chocolate or vanilla yogurt, cinnamon or sugar but usually they're sprinkled with salt. At one time pretzels were made by hand. According to the Guiness Book of World Records a pretzel weighing 842 lbs., which was 26 ft. long, was made in Germany in 2008!

Did you know that pretzels that are not covered in salt are called "baldies"?

In the USA the National Football League uses natural brown leather footballs. At one time night games were played with a white football but with improved lighting it was no longer necessary. They're usually 11 to 11 1/4 inches long and weigh about 15 ounces.

Did you ever notice that footballs used in the National Football League (NFL) are darker than ones you buy in a store? That's because new footballs are never used. Their waxy and somewhat shiny surface makes them a poor choice. Instead the footballs used have been soaked and seasoned for months! They are prepared according to the needs of the starting quarterback.