Food for Thought - Comestibles with Attitude Quiz

Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. My older brother used to encourage me to do things that would get me in trouble. What did he do?

Answer: Egged me on

"Egged me on" is a phrase that means to encourage one to do a bad act - typically the "egger" runs away before the participant gets caught. Throwing tomatoes at people is an age old symbol of disagreement and is also a part of a great festival in Spain (La Tomatina in the Valencian town of Bunol.) The term "toasted my bread" is my term for something that makes me very angry.

2. Police charged into my kitchen and found the illegal figs that I use in my jam. They did not have a warrant. Which "fruit" does the law refer to describe evidence not legally obtained, in the USA?

Answer: Fruit of a poison tree

The correct answer is the legal term used in the USA to describe evidence that was tainted because it was obtained illegally. The others are fruity answers that are incorrect.

3. He lived from 1774 to 1845. He was a kind, gentle soul who was a missionary for The New Church (Swedenborgian). He was most known for his conservation and foliage nursery efforts in the early American frontier areas. What is his nickname?

Answer: Johnny Appleseed

John Chapman was an incredible individual who demonstrated both moral and ethical strength. Among his attributes, he had a respect for Earth's creatures. According to contemporary Henry Howe (who traveled with Chapman) in the 1830s, Chapman made a campfire near a hollow log in which he intended to sleep.

He then found a small bear and her cubs were already occupants. He moved his fire away and slept in the open rather than disturb the family. The other foils are incorrect.

4. My friends are coming for dinner so I made my famous fruit salad. Which of the following would I not include because it is technically NOT a fruit?

Answer: leek

According to plant classifications, a fruit is the part of a plant that bears seeds. A tomato, avocado and cucumber all bear seeds. The leek not so much. (Check out Nationalgeographic.com for a Supreme Court decision about the fruit/vegetable issue - it involves taxation (gasp))

5. This is a little furry pet kept in a cage in some European/American households. Interestingly enough, it is also a source of protein in Peru. What is it?

Answer: Guinea Pig

The guinea pig was first discovered in Peru around 1845 by British and German explorers. The cavia species is thought to be the ancestor of the common household pet. A famous painting in a Catholic Cathedral in Cusco, Peru shows Jesus and the Disciples dining on guinea pigs.

Hamsters are native to Europe and Northern Asia - they are known for their cheek capacity. Lemurs are incredibly cute arboreal primates indigenous to Madagascar (if you are not familiar with this species, please check them out...cute with a capital "C") Ferrets are considered "domesticated polecats" bred in Europe and used for chasing rabbits and rats.

6. Over one million people died between 1842 and 1852 due to a blight in an important staple in Ireland. This led to starvation, disease and the Irish exodus to America. What was the crop that failed?

Answer: potato

According to Britannica.com the "worst famine to occur in Europe in the 19th century was the Irish Potato Famine." Many folks died, others fled the land of their birth and some of those arrived in the United States of America.

7. My family lives in the Western USA - we enjoy Nature's creatures. This Thanksgiving, Swim Girl and Trap Boy will provide the turkey. Which part of a turkey will I use to make gravy?

Answer: Giblets

Giblets are organs (and neck) are often used in a slow recipe infused with vegetables and spices that are reduced to a thick sauce to serve over entrees and potatoes. Or you can open a jar of Turkey Gravy and call it good! A thyroid is a gland found in the necks of mammals - it is an important producer of growth and energy hormones. (Cite Guyton and Hall, 2011 and as far back as the original medical journal Grey's Anatomy of London.) Intestines and lower bowel are not often mentioned in gravy recipes.

8. In the 2010 film "Despicable Me," the evil supervillain "Gru" had small yellow Minions. This story has evolved through the years but the Minions still have a craving for fruit...especially which one?

Answer: Bananas

BANANAS is the answer. Minions are the cutest little yellow evil folks around. I am still a child in my mind...I love their movies! Grapefruit and oranges are citrus fruits that contain Vitamin C essential for good health. Avocados are often incorrectly described as a vegetable but truly belong in the fruit family.

9. I am a 16th century swain. I presented my beloved with botanical symbols of my affection. Called "love apples," what lovely red fruits did I bestow?

Answer: Tomatoes

Yes indeed...I gave my love tomatoes! Called "pomme d'amour" in French and "liebesapfel" in German, the origin of the "love apple" term is unclear. Everyone knows strawberries and cherries, but please enjoy Braeburn apples. They are crisp and tart - perfect for eating out-of-hand and making pies.

10. I visited the 2008 Olympics in China and was unable to sample a special entr�e the Beijing Catering Trade Association banned. I could still sample this in Switzerland as of 2012. What is this unique food?

Answer: Dog meat

In Switzerland, it is still allowed for rural farmers to raise and eat dogs and cats for personal consumption. (Cite Swiss newspaper Tages-Anzeiger 2012.) Over ten million dogs per year are slaughtered for human consumption in China, yet the country wished to preserve the Olympic guests' sensibilities during the Olympic event.

Source: Author Jinxgirl

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor agony before going online.
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Food for Thought - Comestibles with Attitude Quiz

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