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This American Life Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
This American Life Quizzes, Trivia

This American Life Trivia

This American Life Trivia Quizzes

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Fun Trivia
2 quizzes and 20 trivia questions.
1.
  "This American Life" 1    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This quiz is a sampling of questions from all years of the radio program "This American Life," broadcast nationwide on Public Radio International and found online at thislife.org. Good luck!
Difficult, 10 Qns, aislina, Jul 29 10
Difficult
aislina
259 plays
2.
  "This American Life" 2    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
This is the second in my series of quizzes based on the program "This American Life," distributed by Public Radio International and available online at http://www.thislife.org . Good luck!
Difficult, 10 Qns, aislina, Apr 21 10
Difficult
aislina
232 plays

This American Life Trivia Questions
1. Contributor Davy Rothbart collects things that have been abandoned by their original owners; notes, photos, and letters. What is the name of the journal he publishes to document his collection?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: Found

The magazine (and website) is a sometimes startling, often touching glimpse into the things people write for a smaller audience, and the things they leave behind. You can check out some of the collection at http://www.foundmagazine.com/ . (From the program "Lost in America", produced in 2003.)

2. During his first day on the job, a policeman found himself faced with a wild animal. What did he have to remove from a house on that fateful day?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Squirrel

The poor man ended up in the midst of a complete fiasco! Called to remove a helpless creature from the attic, the policeman thought he'd be the one to save the day. What happened instead involves blood, fire, upturned furniture and a whole lot of embarrassment! (From the program "First Day").

3. Theorizing that a 24-hour restaurant must be full of interesting tales, the staff decided to interview everyone at every table for an entire day. What was the name of the diner they chose?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Golden Apple

In fact, they ended up with an interesting patchwork of city life -- from the men who came to flirt with the waitresses (sometimes multiple times a day), to the little kids eating character pancakes, to the after bar crowd. In addition, we learned that pie sells better when it spins. You can't learn something like that every day! (From the program "24 Hours at the Golden Apple").

4. Josh Lovell felt that he wasn't special enough to fit in with all of the worldly, accomplished freshmen as he began his first year at an Ivy League university. What persona did he take on, and maintain, in order to stand out?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: A vegetarian

He thought that the only way to make his rural upbringing exciting to the others was to paint his parents as leftists who had dropped out of society in the 60s and gone back to the land. In point of fact, his meat-loving family took full advantage of Arby's Roast Beef sandwich sales and froze dozens of them at a time in order to have them around for easy snacks. (From the program "Hoaxing Yourself", produced in 2000.)

5. The last week of the summer session took on special significance for the kids at Lake of the Woods Camp. What was the final event which ended the camp season?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Color Days

It was Blue versus White in this tale of raw emotion, lost voices, and Ouija boards! Some of the challenges: sing while eating peanut butter sandwiches, make and unmake beds, do a math problem, then finally light a rope on fire, Survivor-style, by building the biggest, hottest fire. And I won't give away who wins! (From the program "Notes on Camp.")

6. Senior Producer Julie Snyder fought a debilitating and frustrating battle with her phone company for almost a year. Which phone company, publicly disclosed in the course of the show, was responsible for all of the drama?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: MCI

The issue was finally resolved after the power of the media was unleashed upon the telephone company. A poor misguided VP, after handling the situation for her, gave out his personal extension on the air and was subequently flooded with calls from dissatisfied customers. (From the program "The Middle of Nowhere", produced in 2003.)

7. Commentator David Sedaris had a lot to say about his adventures working in a major metropolitan department store. What was his job?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Elf

He applied for the job on a dare, but was accepted -- mostly because he fit into the suit! He soon became known as "Crumpet," the Magic Window/Elf Island/"Oh My God!"/Santa Elf. He is forevermore (much to his chagrin) to be connected with Christmas by anyone who hears this show. (From the program "Christmas and Commerce.")

8. Ten-year old Sarah York had a very unusual pen-pal. Though she was from a small town in Michigan, her correspondence with this person gained national attention. Who was he?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: Manuel Noriega

The whole affair began after her father admired the hat Mr. Noriega was wearing on TV. Sarah wrote to ask about it, and the correspondence blossomed. Sarah and her mother were invited to spend a few weeks as his guests in Panama, and they went, to the disgust of the United States Government. (From the program "My Pen Pal", produced in 2003.)

9. Starlee and Jonathan vied for bragging rights on a rather unusual karaoke night. What was the key to Starlee's success?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Comic timing

The two had found a bar that had comedy on its karaoke menu, in addition to the usual "Dust In the Wind" and "We've Got the Beat" standards. Starlee's man-dissing routine got top honors, leading Jonathan to wonder about the true meaning of "chops," (from the program "Lost in Translation.").

10. Former Prime Minister of France Francois Mitterand decided what his last meal would be; unfortunately for him, it had been a protected species in France since 1999. What was this animal?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: A small bird

The good man decided the his last meal would be tiny songbirds called "ortolans" - traditionally eaten in their entirety (except the beaks) with a cloth over one's head to capture the smell (and some say, to hide your deed from the eyes of God.) You can see a picture of ortolan eaters at http://www.offbeat-paris.org/3arr.htm . (From the program "Poultry Slam '98", produced in - you guessed it - 1998.)

11. Danielle and her sister had communicated for well over twenty years in a bizarre and mysterious way. This was:

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: With a puppet

It all began when they were children, and the younger sister Ashley was given a puppet named "Duki" (pronounced "Duckie.") Danielle was much nicer to Duki than to Ashley - and so it began, involving the whole family to the point that the Thanksgiving dinner cannot be referred to in any way as a bird, lest Duki become upset. (From the program "Poultry Slam '99.")

12. Contributor Kitty Felde had a relative who owned a conversation-piece of a weapon - one he made himself, and which was engineered on a relatively large scale. What sort of weapon had the man created?

From Quiz "This American Life" 2

Answer: A Potato Cannon

The allure of this spud gun was so great that police called to investigate the sound of its firing invariably asked the shooter to make them one! This cannon is propelled by a humble can of Aqua-Net hairspray. (From the program "Lessons", produced in 1996).

13. Commentator Sarah Vowell worried that she looked too nice, and decided to get a Goth makeover to rectify the situation. What did she choose as her "Goth Name"?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Becky

This inspired choice impressed her mentors with its sophistication. "Pinkness" is only for the elite in the Goth world. She went to the head of the class, out to a dark and depressing nightclub, and glimpsed the scarier side...For a little while. (From the program "What You Lookin' At?")

14. Who is the host and creator of "This American Life"?

From Quiz "This American Life" 1

Answer: Ira Glass & Glass

Mr. Glass has had a variety of jobs with NPR. "This American Life" first hit the airwaves in November of 1995. If you're interested to hear more about the shows referred to in the questions, this show is online at thislife.org.

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