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Quiz about Sinister People Favoring The Left Hand
Quiz about Sinister People Favoring The Left Hand

Sinister People: Favoring The Left Hand Quiz


Left-handed people, such as myself, have historically been viewed with suspicion: the word "sinister" is Latin for "left". But we are people, too! Do you know who we are?

A multiple-choice quiz by akg1486. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
akg1486
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
395,381
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
323
Awards
Top 35% Quiz
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. In the late 19th century, a young Serbian scientist came to New York to work with his idol, Thomas Edison. Rather than becoming friends, they became great rivals. Who was this left-handed person? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. Of the eight US presidents following Richard Nixon, no fewer than five have been left-handed, including which of the following? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In the 1960s, The Beatles took the world of pop music by storm. Who among them played his instrument left-handed? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. Left-handed athletes often enjoy an advantage in sports where you face your opponents: table tennis, baseball, fencing, etc. Which of the following tennis players held the racket in the left hand? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Who was the first left-handed actress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress portraying a real, right-handed, person? She got the award for her interpretation of Erin Brockovich? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. Even though many kitchen utensils are made for right-handed people, this left-handed angry chef made his way from a young boy wanting to play soccer to world-wide fame in TV shows such as "Kitchen Nightmares" and "MasterChef"? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Bill Gates is the left-handed co-founder of which technology company? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. When Guillermo del Toro hired left-handed actor Ron Perlman for the lead in a 2004 superhero movie he chose better than he knew: they didn't need to move the giant "Right Hand of Doom" to the left arm to accommodate the actor. Which superhero did Ron portray? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. I share birthday with at least two fellow left-handers: American singer Pink and the UK actor perhaps best known for playing Dr Watson in the TV-series "Sherlock" and the titular character in the movie trilogy "The Hobbit". Who is that actor? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. If you're left-handed, it's cumbersome to write from left to right, especially if you use a pen or quill and ink: you must push the tip and your hand smudges the ink. Which quintessential renaissance man solved this by using mirror writing, protecting his notes from prying eyes at the same time? Hint





Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. In the late 19th century, a young Serbian scientist came to New York to work with his idol, Thomas Edison. Rather than becoming friends, they became great rivals. Who was this left-handed person?

Answer: Nikola Tesla

Thomas Edison based his system for electricity on direct current (DC) while Tesla advocated alternate current (AC). In the end, Tesla's solution won out, but the man is not as well remembered as Edison. Today, his name is honored by Elon Musk's electric car company.
2. Of the eight US presidents following Richard Nixon, no fewer than five have been left-handed, including which of the following?

Answer: Ronald Reagan

Gerald Ford, George HW Bush (Bush Sr), Bill Clinton and Barack Obama were also left-handed. Some claim this as proof positive that left-handed people are more accomplished than others since only 10-15% of the general population are 'lefties'. With such small samples, you will however always find statistical anomalies.
3. In the 1960s, The Beatles took the world of pop music by storm. Who among them played his instrument left-handed?

Answer: Paul McCartney

Paul McCartney played the bass guitar. Some left-handed guitar players simply turn an ordinary guitar upside down, but most (like Paul) re-string them so the string with the lowest pitch is on top. Ringo Starr is also left-handed, but like so many was forced to use his right hand as a child and is therefore comfortable playing a right-handed drum kit.
4. Left-handed athletes often enjoy an advantage in sports where you face your opponents: table tennis, baseball, fencing, etc. Which of the following tennis players held the racket in the left hand?

Answer: John McEnroe

Other left-handed tennis players include Jimmy Connors and Monica Seles. In fencing, reportedly as many as 50% of the top athletes are left-handed.
5. Who was the first left-handed actress to win an Academy Award for Best Actress portraying a real, right-handed, person? She got the award for her interpretation of Erin Brockovich?

Answer: Julia Roberts

Nicole Kidman, also left-handed, later won an Academy Award playing the right-handed role of Virginia Woolf in "The Hours".
6. Even though many kitchen utensils are made for right-handed people, this left-handed angry chef made his way from a young boy wanting to play soccer to world-wide fame in TV shows such as "Kitchen Nightmares" and "MasterChef"?

Answer: Gordon Ramsay

Tin openers, scissors and other kitchen essentials are available for left-handed people, too. But many of us simply learn how to use the right-handed versions. Did you know that if it hadn't been for a knee injury at a young age, Gordon Ramsay would probably have become a professional athlete rather than a chef?
7. Bill Gates is the left-handed co-founder of which technology company?

Answer: Microsoft

Computer keyboards don't really favor any 'handedness'. If you're left-handed, you can configure your computer mouse to work "in reverse". But then you need to remember to swap "left-click" and "right-click".
8. When Guillermo del Toro hired left-handed actor Ron Perlman for the lead in a 2004 superhero movie he chose better than he knew: they didn't need to move the giant "Right Hand of Doom" to the left arm to accommodate the actor. Which superhero did Ron portray?

Answer: Hellboy

Wolverine has also been portrayed by a left-handed actor: Hugh Jackman. The Hellboy franchise is being re-booted in 2019 with David Harbour in the lead. I don't know if he's left- or right-handed.
9. I share birthday with at least two fellow left-handers: American singer Pink and the UK actor perhaps best known for playing Dr Watson in the TV-series "Sherlock" and the titular character in the movie trilogy "The Hobbit". Who is that actor?

Answer: Martin Freeman

Benedict Cumberbatch also starred in both shows mentioned: as Sherlock Holmes in "Sherlock" and as the voices of The Necromancer and Smaug in "The Hobbit". Mark Gatiss played Mycroft Holmes in "Sherlock" and Ian McKellan returned as Gandalf in "The Hobbit", having played that role in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
10. If you're left-handed, it's cumbersome to write from left to right, especially if you use a pen or quill and ink: you must push the tip and your hand smudges the ink. Which quintessential renaissance man solved this by using mirror writing, protecting his notes from prying eyes at the same time?

Answer: Leonardo da Vinci

Nobody knows for sure why Leonardo used mirror writing. As a code, it's not very impressive even though it makes it harder to see what's written when just catching a glimpse. The practical benefit of not messing up the writing is probably of more importance.
Source: Author akg1486

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