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All About "Nothing" Trivia Quiz

Most quizzes are generally about something, however, this one is mostly about "nothing", though "zero" makes its appearance.

A multiple-choice quiz by mike32768. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
mike32768

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
257,570

Updated
Jul 23 22

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1119

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What ancient culture is generally credited with being the first to use the number zero? Hint

Indian

Persian

Babylonian

Chinese

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Question 2 of 10

2. Which 1990s American sitcom was often referred to as "The Show About Nothing"? Hint

Friends

Mad About You

Frasier

Seinfeld

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Question 3 of 10

3. "Much Ado About Nothing" is a comedy by William Shakespeare. Its main characters include: Hint

Lucentio, Kate, Bianca and Hortensio

Shylock, Bassanio, Portia and Antonio

Puck, Oberon, Titania and Lysander

Claudio, Hero, Benedick and Beatrice

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Question 4 of 10

4. Mid 1980s hit, "Money for Nothing" was recorded by the UK-based band, Dire Straits. Who provided some of the background vocals? Hint

David Bowie

Sting

Bono

Mick Jagger

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Question 5 of 10

5. Zero Mostel was well known for his stage and film roles including Tevye the Milkman in "A Fiddler on the Roof". For what other event was he also well known? Hint

He participated in numerous, often violent Civil Rights marches.

He ran an unsuccessful campaign for state senator.

He was killed by a drunk driver.

He stood up to the interrogators of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

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Question 6 of 10

6. In World War II, the Japanese "Zero" aircraft was a much respected and feared weapon of war in the Pacific. It was manufactured by which company? Hint

Mitsui

Matshushita

Mitsubishi

Marunouchi

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Question 7 of 10

7. In the comic strip, "Beetle Bailey", the character "Zero" is best described by which of the following? Hint

Sgt Snorkel's dog

Heavy drinking, foul-mouthed base commander

Buck-toothed, uneducated country boy

An Asian corporal

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Question 8 of 10

8. The town of Nothing, which had a population of four in the 2000 census, is in which southwestern USA state? Hint

Pennsylvania

South Dakota

Arizona

North Dakota

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Question 9 of 10

9. On a typical Roulette wheel, what color are the zero and double-zero spaces? Hint

Green

Black

Red

Blue

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Question 10 of 10

10. Which of the following European language words does NOT literally mean "nothing"? Hint

cero

nichevo

nichts

rien

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What ancient culture is generally credited with being the first to use the number zero?

Answer: Indian

While most cultures had the concept of "nothing", ancient texts indicate that Hindu Indians were probably the earliest developers of the use of the numeral zero both as a place holder and as a number in its own right. The earliest indisputable evidence of use of "zero" appeared on a stone tablet dating from 876, found in the city of Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India.

2. Which 1990s American sitcom was often referred to as "The Show About Nothing"?

Answer: Seinfeld

The show was often self-referencing and self-deprecating. In one of the episodes, having been invited to NBC Television to pitch their ideas, the characters Jerry and George are in the coffee shop, trying to come up with a basis for a sitcom.

GEORGE: Everybody's doing something, we'll do nothing.
JERRY: So, we go into NBC, we tell them we've got an idea for a show about nothing.
GEORGE: Exactly.
JERRY: They say, "What's your show about?" I say, "Nothing."
GEORGE: There you go.
(pause)
JERRY: (Nodding his head) I think you may have something there.

3. "Much Ado About Nothing" is a comedy by William Shakespeare. Its main characters include:

Answer: Claudio, Hero, Benedick and Beatrice

Lucentio, Kate, Bianca and Hortensio are from "The Taming of the Shrew".
Puck, Oberon, Titania and Lysander are from "A Midsummer Night's Dream".
Shylock, Bassanio, Portia and Antonio are from "The Merchant of Venice".

4. Mid 1980s hit, "Money for Nothing" was recorded by the UK-based band, Dire Straits. Who provided some of the background vocals?

Answer: Sting

Sting (Gordon Sumner) was hired to proved background vocals and was later apparently embarrased that his publishers insisted he be given writing credit for having provided only the line, "I Want My MTV".

5. Zero Mostel was well known for his stage and film roles including Tevye the Milkman in "A Fiddler on the Roof". For what other event was he also well known?

Answer: He stood up to the interrogators of the House Committee on Un-American Activities.

Born in Brooklyn in 1915 as Samuel Joel Mostel, he also played Pseudolus in "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum" and Max Bialystock in "The Producers". During the 1950s' House Un-American Activities Committee's anti-communist investigations in the US, Mr. Mostel, in an act of defiance, refused to "name names" while being interrogated. This caused him to be blacklisted.

6. In World War II, the Japanese "Zero" aircraft was a much respected and feared weapon of war in the Pacific. It was manufactured by which company?

Answer: Mitsubishi

In 1937, the Imperial Japanese Navy sent a specification for a new aircraft carrier-based fighter to two Japanese companies, Nakajima and Mitsubishi. Both firms began design work but when newer requirements arrived, which Nakajima thought were impossible, they pulled out leaving it to Mitsubishi.

7. In the comic strip, "Beetle Bailey", the character "Zero" is best described by which of the following?

Answer: Buck-toothed, uneducated country boy

Zero is the simple-minded country boy. Sgt Snorkel's dog is Otto, and the Asian corporal is Corporal Yo. The sometimes sexist, mostly inept base commander is Brigadier General Halftrack.

8. The town of Nothing, which had a population of four in the 2000 census, is in which southwestern USA state?

Answer: Arizona

Nothing is located 50 miles north of Phoenix, Arizona and was established in 1977. As for the other choices, Pennsylvania is in the northeast and North and South Dakota are in the upper midwest.

9. On a typical Roulette wheel, what color are the zero and double-zero spaces?

Answer: Green

A typical wheel has the numbers 1-36, a zero and a double zero (in some countries, e.g. Australia, the wheel has a zero but not a double-zero). The zero and double-zero are green, the odd numbers are red and the even numbers are black.

10. Which of the following European language words does NOT literally mean "nothing"?

Answer: cero

Cero means "zero" in Spanish, not "nothing". "Nada" means nothing.
Nichts is nothing in German.
Nichevo is nothing in Russian.
Rien is nothing in French.

Source: Author mike32768

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor gtho4 before going online.
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