1. Where is the “ham” in hamburgers?
Answer: The name hamburger is a reference to Hamburg, Germany, where salted beef steaks where a local favorite of sailors back in the day. Hamburgers as we know them today have ties to Texas history. Curious? Go check this out…
Reference: https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/why-aren-t-hamburgers-made-of-ham
2. Where was the first state fair held in the United States?
Answer: The first U.S. state fair was that of New York, held in 1841 in Syracuse, and has been held annually to the present year.
Reference: http://www.syracuseuniversitypress.syr.edu/encyclopedia/entries/new-york-state-fair.html
3. Why are hotdogs called hotdogs instead of hot sausages or hot porkies?
Answer: Those Germans again! Some think it started as a joke about the shape of German dachshunds resembling the delicious sausages they also brought with them to the “new world”.
Reference: http://www.hot-dog.org/culture/hot-dog-history
4. What country is credited as having the first roller coaster?
Answer: We owe Russia for these staples of amusement parks.
Reference: Coker, Robert (2002). Roller Coasters: A Thrill Seeker’s Guide to the Ultimate Scream Machines, Metrobooks, New York. ISBN 1586631721. pg 14
5. What is the smallest town in the U.S.?
Answer: Buford, Wyoming
Reference: https://www.roadsideamerica.com/tip/32954
6. Why do restaurants serve sandwiches with pickles without asking the customer?
Answer: The pickle acts as a palate cleanser and brings out the other flavors of the food.
Reference: http://mentalfloss.com/article/61816/why-does-your-sandwich-come-pickle
7. What is the name of the world’s most expensive diamond ring?
Answer: Blue Moon
Bonus: How much was the ring last appraised for?
Answer: $48.4 million
8. What is the name of the longest novel ever published?
Answer: The Blah Story by Nigel Tomm. 3,277,227 words, which ends up being 7312 pages.
Reference: http://mentalfloss.com/article/18661/quick-10-10-longest-novels-ever
9. What is the highest grossing musical of all time?
Answer: The Sound of Music
Reference: http://www.filmsite.org/boxoffice.html
10. What are the top 10 happiest countries in the world for the past decade?
Answer:
Denmark
Sweden
Australia
New Zealand
The Netherlands
Canada
Finland
Norway
Iceland
Switzerland
Reference: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/travel/top-10/2016-worlds-happiest-countries/