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Words by Decade 1931-1940 Trivia Quiz

This is a decade that begins with the Depression and ends with the Second World War. Check out the only thing not in short supply and that is new words entering English and American English dictionaries.

A multiple-choice quiz by Philian. Estimated time: 5 mins.

Author
Philian

Time
5 mins

Type
Multiple Choice

Quiz #
155,004

Updated
Dec 03 21

# Qns
10

Difficulty
Tough

Avg Score
5 / 10

Plays
2344

Awards
Top 35% Quiz

One at a Time - Single Page - Timed Game

Question 1 of 10

1. What was "Asdic" whose development was first recorded in 1939? Hint

an echo-sounding device for the detection of submarines

the name of the treaty between Germany and Italy

a device for detecting incoming aircraft by using radar

the monetary system of the Axis powers

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Question 2 of 10

2. What was a "Blattnerphone"? Hint

an early form of walkie-talkie

someone who hated jazz music

a special form of office intercom

an early type of tape recorder

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Question 3 of 10

3. From the attack on which city does the term "fifth-column" first come into the language? Hint

Cordoba

Barcelona

Madrid

Seville

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Question 4 of 10

4. What extra specific meaning did the term "guinea-pig" come to have during World War II? Hint

a person who would use small animals for scientific testing

a person who was billetted or evacuated to a strange town or village

a person who would import a large number of rodents from Guinea

a person who volunteered for a scientific test in a laboratory

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Question 5 of 10

5. Which of the following items of underclothing was NOT first entered into the dictionary during the 1930s? Hint

bra

panties

G-string

briefs

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Question 6 of 10

6. What sort of town was a "Hooverville"? Hint

a temporary shanty town

a town where the main products were electrical ones

a town fit for the president of the U.S.A.

a town where the main products were agricultural ones

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Question 7 of 10

7. From which popular game did the slang term "screwball" meaning an eccentric or irrational person originally derive? Hint

ice hockey

American football

baseball

soccer

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Question 8 of 10

8. Which vivid color was introduced into the language by Italian-born fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli? Hint

passionate purple

emerald green

electric blue

shocking pink

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Question 9 of 10

9. What would you do if you started to "simonize"? Hint

You would would use one of the early dish-washers.

You would apply a wax substance in order to polish something.

You would use a high powered chainsaw.

You would diagnose character from someone's doodles.

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Question 10 of 10

10. In the U.S.A. in the 1930s what would you expect to find a "thumber" doing? Hint

He is someone who passes counterfeit coins and bills.

He is someone who thumbs a lift, a hitch-hiker.

He is someone who helps get legislation through Congress.

He is a magician who specializes in card tricks.

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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts

1. What was "Asdic" whose development was first recorded in 1939?

Answer: an echo-sounding device for the detection of submarines

Asdic is an acronym formed from the rather clumsy Allied Submarine Detection Investigation Committee. In the early part of the war it was supposedly a secret apparatus but in fact both the Germans and the Japanese knew all about it.

2. What was a "Blattnerphone"?

Answer: an early type of tape recorder

The Blattnerphone recorded on magnetic steel tape. It was named after its inventor L.Blattner (1881-1935)

3. From the attack on which city does the term "fifth-column" first come into the language?

Answer: Madrid

The expression was first used by General Mola as he was besieging Madrid with four columns of troops. The fifth column was the band of his supporters that were waiting for the word to attack inside the city. It came to refer to any enemy planted in your country.

4. What extra specific meaning did the term "guinea-pig" come to have during World War II?

Answer: a person who was billetted or evacuated to a strange town or village

The more familiar use to refer to the subject of an experimental procedure stems from earlier in the century, and did not arise at the time specified in the question. Guinea-pigs were commonly used for scientific testing by the 1920s. The exact date when the meaning extended to human subjects for testing is not fixed.

The use of the phrase in reference to wartime evacuees was documented in a number of publications, although the reason why it was applied is not clear. John Ayto in "20th Century Words" quotes an example of the use of the term "guinea-pig" to apply to evacuees in the "Daily Dispatch" of 1939. He also suggests (without proof) that it came from British slang for the billeting allowance of a guinea. Again a guinea was not the actual allowance.

5. Which of the following items of underclothing was NOT first entered into the dictionary during the 1930s?

Answer: panties

"Panties" first made its appearance in 1908. "Brassiere" existed as early as 1909 but was only clipped to "bra" in 1937. For a while the clipping "bras" survived until "bra" took over. "G-string" had originally been used as a description of a garment worn by Native American women but the striptease idea drove out this old meaning.

6. What sort of town was a "Hooverville"?

Answer: a temporary shanty town

The name does indeed commemorate Herbert Hoover, President of the U.S.A. from 1929-1933. It is a poignant reminder of the years of economic depression. Amongst the "Hoovervilles" that grew up were ones thrown together by the workers involved in the construction of the Hoover Dam. It is a term used more than once by John Steinbeck.

7. From which popular game did the slang term "screwball" meaning an eccentric or irrational person originally derive?

Answer: baseball

Later the noun "screwball" turned also into an adjective giving rise to such expressions as "screwball comedy" for movies such as "Bringing up Baby".

8. Which vivid color was introduced into the language by Italian-born fashion designer Elsa Schiaparelli?

Answer: shocking pink

Some people called it garish but it caught on. Even Dali is said to have dyed an enormous stuffed bear in shocking pink.

9. What would you do if you started to "simonize"?

Answer: You would apply a wax substance in order to polish something.

"Simonize" is the brand name of a wax polish designed to be mainly used on cars. It is first recorded by John Ayto in "20th Century Words" as entering the written language in 1934.

10. In the U.S.A. in the 1930s what would you expect to find a "thumber" doing?

Answer: He is someone who thumbs a lift, a hitch-hiker.

No one knows for sure whether the expressions "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" were ever really used in the gladiators' arenas of ancient Rome. When hitching a lift the raised thumb was usually meant to symbolize agreement or friendliness in order to get people to stop.

Source: Author Philian

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