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10 Question Hobbies Quiz: All About Toilets | Homes & Gardens

We all have at least one in our home and we all get to use it. How much do you know about the toilet, water closet, john, lavatory or whatever you may call it?

A multiple-choice quiz by nmerr. Estimated time: 4 mins.

Author
nmerr

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
348,253

Updated
Nov 26 23

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Average

Avg Score
7 / 10

Plays
1199

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Believe it or not, there is a World Toilet Day. What day of the year is it celebrated? Hint

January 23

November 19

April 1

July 23

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Question 2 of 10

2. Back in the days when homes didn't have the luxury of indoor plumbing, outhouses were used to answer the call of nature. Awaking in the middle of the night, in freezing cold temperatures, and entering a dark wooden shed that contained a hole for doing one's business was not anyone's idea of fun. How far did people place their outhouses from their homes to avoid unwelcome odors? Hint

25 ft.

50 ft.

500 ft.

100 ft.

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Question 3 of 10

3. The first toilet in the White House was installed in 1825. Who was President when this occurred? Hint

Thomas Jefferson

James Madison

John Adams

John Quincy Adams

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Question 4 of 10

4. Early versions of the toilet have been around since the Greek and Roman days. In the 1100s Londoners used bathrooms that were called something else. What were they called? Hint

Garderobes

Bathers

Singlets

None of these

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Question 5 of 10

5. In 1596 the godson of Queen Elizabeth 1 invented a toilet that could flush. He actually invented it just for her. What was his name? Hint

John Travolta

John Wainwright

John Harington

John Sutton

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Question 6 of 10

6. The first commercial toilet paper was invented in 1857. Who invented it? Hint

Joseph Clapper

Joseph Lindt

Joseph Gayetty

Joseph Robinson

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Question 7 of 10

7. If you look inside the water tank of a toilet, the mechanisms seem simple. Many toilets have a plastic ball that floats in the water tank. What is it called in the USA? Hint

Thingy

Drop

Float

Buoy

NEXT>

Question 8 of 10

8. There is a toilet-like type of bathroom fixture that is specifically used to freshen oneself after using the toilet. What is it called? Hint

Commode

Stool

Bidet

Lavatory

NEXT>

Question 9 of 10

9. For efficiency and cost-saving measures, the National Energy Policy Act of 1995 requires new toilets to use a maximum of how many gallons of water per flush? Hint

1.6

1.5

2.5

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Question 10 of 10

10. Although the flush toilet was invented during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, the first patent for the design of the flushing toilet was granted in 1775. Who received the patent? Hint

Alexander Cumming

Edward Vanderpoole

Daniel Schuster

Charles de Villiers

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Believe it or not, there is a World Toilet Day. What day of the year is it celebrated?

Answer: November 19

The World Toilet Organization founded WTD in 2001 to bring awareness to those around the globe who live without proper sanitary conditions. The lack of sanitation leads to serious infections and diseases. Donations are eagerly accepted by the World Toilet Organization. You may want to circle WTD on your calender or risk being considered a party pooper.

Answer: 50 ft.

The general consensus was that 50 ft. was far enough to avoid odors but still close enough to avoid any danger that was lurking around.

3. The first toilet in the White House was installed in 1825. Who was President when this occurred?

Answer: John Quincy Adams

At first only the wealthy could afford toilets in their homes. The expense came with the piping that took the wastewater away from the homes. In 1804 Philadelphia was the first city to create a waterworks plan on a large scale. The water came from the Schuylkill River. Public sewer systems eventually made it cheaper for everyone to install a toilet.

4. Early versions of the toilet have been around since the Greek and Roman days. In the 1100s Londoners used bathrooms that were called something else. What were they called?

Answer: Garderobes

Garderobes were medieval toilets. The toilets were connected to pipes that emptied into a pit. Sometimes the toilets emptied into moats or rivers. City folks used chamber pots which were ceramic or metal and often made with handles for portability.

5. In 1596 the godson of Queen Elizabeth 1 invented a toilet that could flush. He actually invented it just for her. What was his name?

Answer: John Harington

Harington's flushing toilet is similar to the ones used today. It took 300 years for the concept to catch on. In 1861 an English plumber by the name of Thomas Crapper improved on Harrington's designs and sold his toilets from his shop.

6. The first commercial toilet paper was invented in 1857. Who invented it?

Answer: Joseph Gayetty

Since his toilet paper contained aloe, Gayetty marketed it as a remedy for hemorrhoids. The paper was sold in packages of 500 sheets. It was not successful. Other inventors tried to improve on what Gayetty invented. It wasn't until the Scott brothers, Edward and Clarence, marketed their toilet paper in small rolls covered in plain brown wrappers that toilet paper sales took off.

7. If you look inside the water tank of a toilet, the mechanisms seem simple. Many toilets have a plastic ball that floats in the water tank. What is it called in the USA?

Answer: Float

When the toilet user flushes, the water empties out and the float falls to the bottom. This triggers the refill mechanism that lets the water back in to refill the tank. Up goes the float to do what it does best... float and wait for the next flush.

8. There is a toilet-like type of bathroom fixture that is specifically used to freshen oneself after using the toilet. What is it called?

Answer: Bidet

Invented in the 1700s in France, the word bidet means pony in French. If you have ever used one, you can understand why. The bidet is a low sink-like fixture with a faucet pointing up that shoots water for cleaning one's bottom areas. Since people didn't bathe as often back then, bidets came in handy. In European countries bidets often sit right next to the toilets.

9. For efficiency and cost-saving measures, the National Energy Policy Act of 1995 requires new toilets to use a maximum of how many gallons of water per flush?

Answer: 1.6

Many older homes have toilets that use up to 6 gallons per flush. The flush valve is a movable part that controls the flow of water in a toilet. On most toilets a chain connects the handle to the flush valve.

10. Although the flush toilet was invented during the reign of Queen Elizabeth 1, the first patent for the design of the flushing toilet was granted in 1775. Who received the patent?

Answer: Alexander Cumming

Cummings was from Edinburgh, Scotland but lived in London. He was a watchmaker by trade. Besides patenting the design for the flushing toilet, Cumming was also a mechanic and a mathematician.

Source: Author nmerr

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