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The First Ever Crossword Trivia Quiz

Just a little quiz about how the crossword was created!

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

Author
TriviaMelee

Time
4 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
104,535

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
1663

Last 3 plays: Guest 121 (4/10), Guest 100 (3/10), Guest 100 (4/10).

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. Who came up with the idea of a word puzzle involving clues and combining letters (aka the crossword)? Hint

Lee O'Connor

George Scott

Arthur Wynne

Francis Bacon

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was the shape of the first crossword? Hint

Square

Diamond

Round

X - shaped

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Question 3 of 10

3. What was the crossword called at first? Hint

Cross-word

Word Puzzle

Definition Scramble

Word-cross

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Question 4 of 10

4. What newspaper did the first crossword appear in? Hint

New York World

Oklahoma Daily

Chicago Tribune

L.A. Times

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Question 5 of 10

5. The crossword was adopted all over the USA immediately.

True

False

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Question 6 of 10

6. Who authored many of the crosswords in the newspaper? Hint

Specially trained puzzlists

Editors

Readers

Professors

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Question 7 of 10

7. The crossword was so popular, the newspaper never stopped running it.

True

False

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Question 8 of 10

8. Who published the first crossword book? Hint

Charles Clooney and Edward Niche

Nicholas Geary and Kristian Belle

Webster Townsend and Larry Hopper

Dick Simon and Lincoln Schuster

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Question 9 of 10

9. When was the first crossword book compiled? Hint

1952

1942

1930

1924

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Question 10 of 10

10. It was only after the first compilation of crossword puzzles were published that crosswords began appearing across the USA.

True

False

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Most Recent Scores

Apr 24 2024 : Guest 121: 4/10
Apr 24 2024 : Guest 100: 3/10
Apr 24 2024 : Guest 100: 4/10
Apr 24 2024 : Guest 207: 6/10

Score Distribution

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. Who came up with the idea of a word puzzle involving clues and combining letters (aka the crossword)?

Answer: Arthur Wynne

It appeared in the Christmas edition of the New York World in 1913.

2. What was the shape of the first crossword?

Answer: Diamond

After toying with all different kinds of shapes, Arthur Wynne finally decided on the rectangle.

3. What was the crossword called at first?

Answer: Word-cross

The name was switched to Cross-word and then the hyphen was dropped.

4. What newspaper did the first crossword appear in?

Answer: New York World

It was in the eight-page section known as "Fun" - Christmas 1913 edition.

5. The crossword was adopted all over the USA immediately.

Answer: False

Surprisingly not. 'The New York World' was the only paper to run a crossword for many years.

6. Who authored many of the crosswords in the newspaper?

Answer: Readers

They kept having so many sent in that by February of 1914 they just started using them.

7. The crossword was so popular, the newspaper never stopped running it.

Answer: False

They stopped the crossword for a little while because they had so many typos. But the public was so outraged that it was only discontinued for a week.

8. Who published the first crossword book?

Answer: Dick Simon and Lincoln Schuster

It was a compilation of all the crosswords submitted to the New York World up to that time.

9. When was the first crossword book compiled?

Answer: 1924

Eleven years after the first one appeared.

10. It was only after the first compilation of crossword puzzles were published that crosswords began appearing across the USA.

Answer: True

Source: Author TriviaMelee

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