Old Wives' Tales Trivia Quiz

Answer: False

The Common Cold Unit in Salisbury, England, conducted repeated experiments in which people were left shivering in the cold. They did not come down with any more colds than those people who were allowed to stay warm. Studies done in Texas actually dropped viruses into the subjects' noses, but exposure to low temperature made no difference as to frequency or severity of colds.

Answer: True

A black eye is simply a bruise. The best treatment for a bruise is an immediate application of anything cold, which keeps the swelling down and helps stop the internal bleeding by constricting the broken blood vessels. A raw steak is cold and also flexible to conform to the contours of the face. Most health professionals, however, discourage this because of the possibility of bacteria.

Answer: False

Doctors stress that it is important pregnant women eat a balanced diet and that includes plenty of fruit. There's no scientific basis linking any foods, eaten while pregnant, with any kind of birthmark - gynecologists say they are genetically determined.

Answer: False

The color of the shell has nothing to do with nutrition or flavor. It only depends on which type of hen is laying the eggs.

Answer: True

Carrots are full of Vitamin A, which is necessary for maintaining normal epithelial tissue, including the cornea and conjunctiva of the eyes. It's also essential in helping the eye adjust efficiently to changes in the intensity of light, like going outside on a sunny day. A Vitamin A deficiency can cause eye problems, such as burning, itching, and inflamed eyes.

Answer: False

This old wives' tale was probably invented by mothers who couldn't wait to send their teenagers off to bed.

Answer: True

The 'haloes' we sometimes see around the moon are caused by the moonlight shining through ice crystals hovering at around 20,000 feet. These ice crystals are part of a cloud called cirrostratus: high, wispy clouds that are very often a sign of approaching bad weather.

The moon can also look 'watery' because it is seen through a lower and denser cloud, and this can also mean a rainy day is ahead.

Answer: False

While it's true that caffeine may help relieve a hangover and may help a person stay awake, it does not lower the alcohol content in the body. So what you really have is a wide awake drunk. Better to drink a lot of fruit juice and wait until the sugar burns up enough alcohol. Also, a bartender told me that coffee can actually make you get drunk faster and that water is the best thing for sobering up.

Answer: False

A large potato contains 130 calories, no more than a serving of cottage cheese or tuna fish. Plus, it's free of fat and cholesterol, as long as you leave off the butter, sour cream, cheddar cheese, and gravy!

Answer: True

Milk is rich in calcium, which helps relax muscles, and is also a source of tryptophan, a protein that enables the brain to produce serotonin. This chemical helps switch on the brain's sleep centers.