FREE! Click here to Join FunTrivia. Thousands of games, quizzes, and lots more!
Quiz about Unforgiving Lies of History
Quiz about Unforgiving Lies of History

10 Question History Quiz: Unforgiving Lies of History | Mixed Bag


Everybody's been lied to especially in history class. Can you remember these historical lies?

A multiple-choice quiz by Joepetz. Estimated time: 3 mins.
  1. Home
  2. »
  3. Quizzes
  4. »
  5. History Trivia
  6. »
  7. Mixed Bag
  8. »
  9. Blunders, What Ifs, Intrigue

Author
Joepetz
Time
3 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
336,753
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Easy
Avg Score
8 / 10
Plays
2661
Awards
Top 20% Quiz
Last 3 plays: Guest 185 (9/10), 1nn1 (10/10), Guest 172 (7/10).
- -
Question 1 of 10
1. Daniel Ellsberg had documents that proved the U.S. government was lying about the number of soldiers that had been killed during the Vietnam War. What were these incriminating documents called? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered that the world is round, not flat. However, this is another famous lie. Why is that? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. One of the oldest lies in history comes from Virgil's "Aeneid." The Greeks presented a giant wooden statue to the city of Troy and told them it was gift to end the Trojan War. However, inside were Greek soldiers who attacked Troy during the night. What was the statue in the shape of? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. "If they have no bread, let them eat cake" was originally said by Jean Jacques Rousseau, but is often attributed to whom? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Paul Revere shouting "The British are Coming" is absolutely ridiculous. Why? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. In November 1986, Ronald Reagan lied when he said that "we did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages" sparking the Iran-Contra Affair. Where were the Contras located? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. In 1989, what band was exposed as lip-synching their concerts? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. Senator Joseph McCarthy is credited with starting the Second Red Scare during the 1950's. He accused a large number of people within several groups of being Communists. These accusations later turned out to be completely untrue. Which group of people did he accuse of including large numbers of Communists? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. President Eisenhower said that the U.S. was not flying spy planes over what nation, despite the fact that one had been shot down? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. This next lie isn't about a historical figure or a celebrity. Which made-up character is said to hide underneath children's beds and scare them? Hint



(Optional) Create a Free FunTrivia ID to save the points you are about to earn:

arrow Select a User ID:
arrow Choose a Password:
arrow Your Email:




Most Recent Scores
Dec 01 2024 : Guest 185: 9/10
Nov 12 2024 : 1nn1: 10/10
Nov 07 2024 : Guest 172: 7/10
Nov 04 2024 : tuxedokitten86: 7/10
Oct 23 2024 : Guest 1: 9/10
Oct 19 2024 : Guest 104: 8/10
Oct 07 2024 : Guest 174: 10/10

Score Distribution

quiz
Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Daniel Ellsberg had documents that proved the U.S. government was lying about the number of soldiers that had been killed during the Vietnam War. What were these incriminating documents called?

Answer: The Pentagon Papers

The "New York Times" printed these papers in 1971. The Nixon Administration stopped publication of the newspaper. In a landmark Supreme Court decision, the Court said that was wrong to do so.
2. In 1492, Christopher Columbus discovered that the world is round, not flat. However, this is another famous lie. Why is that?

Answer: It was in fact widely accepted that the Earth was spherical

The Greek philosopher, Pythagoras proposed that the world was spherical nearly 2,000 years before Columbus. Most people believed Pythagoras's theory. Also, the techniques Columbus used to get to America would only work if he knew the world was round before his voyage.
3. One of the oldest lies in history comes from Virgil's "Aeneid." The Greeks presented a giant wooden statue to the city of Troy and told them it was gift to end the Trojan War. However, inside were Greek soldiers who attacked Troy during the night. What was the statue in the shape of?

Answer: A horse

There were 32 named soldiers in the horse, but there were actually many more inside. Scholars put the total number at 40.
4. "If they have no bread, let them eat cake" was originally said by Jean Jacques Rousseau, but is often attributed to whom?

Answer: Marie Antoinette

Although the character who says this line in Rousseau's "Confessions" is very similar in manner as Marie Antoinette, the book was actually written when she eight.
5. Paul Revere shouting "The British are Coming" is absolutely ridiculous. Why?

Answer: It was essential that his ride be kept a secret

The rumor that someone else made the historic ride is another famous lie as well. If Revere was shouting as he made his ride, it would no longer be a secret and a British officer may have found out about the pending revolution. The line "The British are Coming" likely originated from the famous poem, "Paul Revere's Ride".
William Dawes and Samuel Prescott rode with him.
6. In November 1986, Ronald Reagan lied when he said that "we did not trade weapons or anything else for hostages" sparking the Iran-Contra Affair. Where were the Contras located?

Answer: Nicaragua

The Contras were a group of rebels in Nicaragua who were infamous for their violence towards others.
7. In 1989, what band was exposed as lip-synching their concerts?

Answer: Milli Vanilli

The first incident happened when a recording skipped and kept repeating the same line over and over again. It is rumored that the fans didn't even notice.
8. Senator Joseph McCarthy is credited with starting the Second Red Scare during the 1950's. He accused a large number of people within several groups of being Communists. These accusations later turned out to be completely untrue. Which group of people did he accuse of including large numbers of Communists?

Answer: All of these groups

Some compared his attacks to witch hunts. One of the more famous people accused was Arthur Miller who later wrote the play "The Crucible" based on his experiences. Some people believe that McCarthy was using these "Commie Hunts" to boost his reputation.
9. President Eisenhower said that the U.S. was not flying spy planes over what nation, despite the fact that one had been shot down?

Answer: Soviet Union

This shocked most Americans who thought that their government would never lie to them and that only the "evil" Soviets were the liars.
10. This next lie isn't about a historical figure or a celebrity. Which made-up character is said to hide underneath children's beds and scare them?

Answer: Bogeyman

Bogeyman lore varies from region to region. In other cultures, the Bogeyman is called Sack Man and it is said that during the Napoleonic Wars, children were told that 'Boney' (Napoleon Bonaparte) would come for them if they were naughty.
Source: Author Joepetz

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
Any errors found in FunTrivia content are routinely corrected through our feedback system.
12/2/2024, Copyright 2024 FunTrivia, Inc. - Report an Error / Contact Us