Evaluating AI21 Jurassic-1 Jumbo with GPT-3 Davinci using Water Cooler Trivia dataset
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Table of Contents
Intro
The goal is to evaluate AI21’s Jurassic-1 Jumbo language model and compare it with OpenAI’s GPT-3 davinci model in it’s ability to answer trivia.
Details about experiment setup:
- This experiment builds on WCT’s GPT-3 evaluation study. We take the same set of questions and run it with AI21’s Jurassic-1 Jumbo
- Both the models are comparable wrt the number of parameters - GPT-3 davinci has 175B parameters, while AI21 Jurassic-1 Jumbo has 178B paramters.
- The prompt given AI21’s model was of the format
Q: (question text)\nA:, with temperature=0 & top_p=1 - No example prompt was given to AI21’s model, effectively making it into a zero-shot setting. This is in contrast to what WCT had done. The performance actually degraded when we provided the AI21 model with OpenAI’s Q&A prompt. There is no “official” Q&A prompt available for AI21 as of yet.
- However, despite the zero-shot setting, the model had no issues in detecting the format of the questions and attempted to answer almost all questions. Infact, the model only backed off from answering the question only 4 times out of 157.
- The zero-shot setting actually made the model think it was actually in a game show, leading to some hilarious game-show scripted answers like the following
Q: Singing Siblings: If you met five African American singers from the same family in Indiana whose first names were Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and Tito, what would their last name most likely be?
A: (Drum roll, please) Jackson
Q: Counting Cards: What "shedding-type" card game has been a Mattel brand since 1992 and features cards with titles such as "Wild" and "Reverse?
A: UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO!
Results
Running through the 157 Jeopardy-style WCT questions, the Jurassic-1 178B model was able to answer with a 55.4% accuracy rate. This compares favorably to the 52% average accuracy of humans who had taken the WCT. However, this is significantly worse than the 73% accuracy rate of the GPT-3.
Given below is the raw for all the 157 questions. The Questions, correct answers, human answers are provided courtesy WCT. AI21’s answers have been added inline.
| Question | Correct Answer | Response (Davinci GPT-3) | GPT-Correct | Response (J1-Jumbo) | J1-Jumbo Correct | User-Correct | User-N | Question Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coding Skycraft: Before the 1930s, airport codes were only two letters. /n As a result, some airports added the letter X to the end of the extant code, including what airport code in California? | LAX | The airport code in California is SFO. | 0 | BUR: Burbank Airport, Burbank, California. | 0 | 98% | 618 | Miscellaneous |
| Breakfast Strategies: French Press is a popular style of preparing what type of beverage? | Coffee | Coffee. | 1 | (A) Coffee. French Press is a method of brewing coffee. | 1 | 96% | 7416 | Miscellaneous |
| Timely Tossers: What is the name of the position of the player whose primary responsibility is often considered throwing the football? | Quarterback | Quarterback | 1 | Shotgun: The Shotgun formation is a formation in American football in which three running backs line up in a row about five yards behind the quarterback | 0 | 96% | 3811 | Sports & Games |
| Flexible Fitness: Downward dog, sun salutation, and plank are all poses in what increasingly-common practice? | Yoga | Yoga | 1 | (A) Yoga. (B) Pilates. (C) Tai Chi. (D | 1 | 96% | 8075 | Sports & Games |
| Abbreviated Brands: Originally, they were called Baby Gays. Then they rebranded as Q-Tips, with the Q standing for what word related to high standards? | Quality | Quality | 1 | Quarts | 0 | 96% | 6552 | Miscellaneous |
| Old Objects: Which of the seven wonders of the ancient world were built as ceremonial burial vaults for Egyptian pharaohs? | Great Pyramid of Giza | The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a ceremonial burial vault for Egyptian pharaohs. | 1 | The Pyramids of Giza. | 1 | 95% | 9555 | Social Studies |
| Traffic Talk: Also called a traffic circle, road circle, or rotary, what is the 10-letter term for a circular traffic intersection first used in the U.K. in the early 20th century? | Roundabout | Roundabout | 1 | ROUNDABOUT. Roundabouts, which have been around since 1914, are circular intersections where traffic flows in one direction | 1 | 95% | 5989 | Miscellaneous |
| Retired Slogans: Retired in the 21st century, "it's finger lickin' good" had been the slogan for over 50 years for what restaurant chain? The slogan had been conceived by a franchise owner rather than an ad agency. | KFC | KFC | 1 | (c) Kentucky Fried Chicken | 1 | 95% | 6759 | Miscellaneous |
| Singing Siblings: If you met five African American singers from the same family in Indiana whose first names were Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and Tito, what would their last name most likely be? | Jackson | Jackson | 1 | (Drum roll, please) Jackson | 1 | 95% | 9910 | Fine Arts |
| Caped Cities: What fictional city is the home of Batman? | Gotham City | Gotham City is the home of Batman. | 1 | Fictional city? Gotham, of course | 1 | 95% | 10124 | Pop Culture |
| Recurring Rhymes: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men, couldn't put Humpty Dumpty in his place again." In this poem by Lewis Carroll, what food is Humpty Dumpty commonly portrayed as? | Egg | Eggs | 1 | EGG. The rhyme is from "Through the Looking Glass" by Lewis Carroll. | 1 | 95% | 2620 | Miscellaneous |
| Functional Foods: Found on many types of sushi, nori is the Japanese name for the edible species in the red algae genus Pyropia. Frequently used in the format of dried sheets, what is the English term for this edible ingredient? | Seaweed | Seaweed | 1 | Pressed Sushi: Pressed sushi, or oshizushi, is a type of sushi that is pressed and formed | 1 | 95% | 5007 | Miscellaneous |
| Counting Cards: What "shedding-type" card game has been a Mattel brand since 1992 and features cards with titles such as "Wild" and "Reverse? | Uno | Uno | 1 | UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! UNO! | 1 | 95% | 5154 | Sports & Games |
| Street Smarts: In the U.S., a road sign which is an equilateral triangle is most often associated with what five-letter action? | Yield | Slow Down | 0 | YIELD. The sign is yellow with black letters. | 1 | 95% | 3681 | Miscellaneous |
| Upwards Words: Cumulus and stratus are two of the main types of what object that is seen by most people on most days in some form? | Clouds | Clouds | 1 | CLOUDS! Cumulus clouds are puffy, white, and form in fair weather. Stratus clouds | 1 | 95% | 5903 | Science & Tech |
| Orderly Organs: Your heart is nestled in your chest between the two halves of what other organ? | Lungs | The heart is nestled in the chest between the two halves of the lungs. | 1 | (c) The lungs. The lungs are a pair of spongy organs that fill most of the chest cavity | 1 | 95% | 6648 | Science & Tech |
| Expansive Education: With an annual budget of over $300 million and over 95,000 enrolled students, the Lone Star College System is one of the U.S.'s largest community college systems. In what state will you find all of the school's campuses? | Texas | Texas | 1 | LSC-North Harris, LSC-Tomball, LSC-University Park, LSC- | 0 | 95% | 6038 | Miscellaneous |
| Careful Creators: The process of reducing the number of defects is typically known in manufacturing by the letters QC. What do those letters stand for? | Quality Control | Quality Control | 1 | (1) Quality control, (2) Quality control, (3) Quality control | 1 | 95% | 7051 | Science & Tech |
| Colossal Canines: What "big red dog" introduced in 1963 was named for the imaginary childhood friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife? | Clifford | Clifford the Big Red Dog | 1 | (#1) Clifford the Big Red Dog | 1 | 95% | 4072 | Fine Arts |
| Bread Bowls: Outside of its home city, the St. Louis Bread Company is more popularly known as what chain restaurant? | Panera | Panera Bread | 1 | (D) Panera Bread. The St. Louis Bread Company was founded in 1983 by Ken Rosenthal | 1 | 95% | 3670 | Miscellaneous |
| Hiroshima Hitters: The Chunichi Dragons, Hanshin Tigers, and Hiroshima Toyo Carp all play in what country's professional baseball league? | Japan | Japan's professional baseball league. | 1 | (c) Japan. The Central League, Pacific League, and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB | 1 | 95% | 5310 | Sports & Games |
| Manly Myths: Which of the Greek Gods was considered the ruler of all Greek Gods? The Roman equivalent of this god is Jupiter. | Zeus | Zeus was considered the ruler of all Greek Gods. The Roman equivalent of this god is Jupiter. | 1 | (1) Zeus, (2) Jupiter | 1 | 95% | 2266 | Social Studies |
| Animal Actors: As of 2017, Jack Black has voiced what martial-arts-focused not-actually-a-bear animated character in three films? | Kung Fu Panda | Po from Kung Fu Panda | 1 | (1) Po the Panda, (2) Kung Fu Panda, and (3) Kung Fu | 1 | 95% | 6158 | Pop Culture |
| Acrobatic Attractions: Founded in Quebec, what is the French name of the private entertainment company which has sold over 100 million tickets for its unique blend of continuous live music and circus-like acrobatics? | Cirque du Soleil | Cirque du Soleil | 1 | Circque du Soleil: Founded in Quebec, what is the French name of the private entertainment company which has sold over 100 million | 1 | 95% | 6473 | Pop Culture |
| Cigarette Collectibles: The T206 Honus Wagner card was considered the most valuable sports card throughout most of the 20th century after it was sold for record-breaking sums at multiple auctions. It was initially designed and issued by the American Tobacco Company before Wagner refused to allow production because he did not want children to buy cigarette packs to get his card. What sport did Wagner famously play? | Baseball | Baseball | 1 | Cigarette Collectibles: Wagner was nicknamed “The Flying Dutchman” for his speed, and he played shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates | 0 | 95% | 1715 | Sports & Games |
| Political Power: Hirohito was the Emperor of what country during World War II? | Japan | Japan | 1 | (b) Japan. Hirohito was the Emperor of Japan during World War II. | 1 | 95% | 6192 | Social Studies |
| Famous Founders: 2010 film "The Social Network" was directed by David Fincher, written by Aaron Sorkin, and adapted from the 2009 book "The Accidental Billionaires." The film follows the founding of Facebook, focusing on what current CEO of the company? | Mark Zuckerberg | Mark Zuckerberg | 1 | (c) Mark Zuckerberg. The film was nominated for eight Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Director, and Best Adapted Screenplay. | 1 | 95% | 4517 | Pop Culture |
| Surname Shows: In which TV medical drama was the unconventional lead character with a "residential" name played by Hugh Laurie? | House | House | 1 | HOUSE, M.D. | 1 | 95% | 5698 | Pop Culture |
| Historic Homes: What museum houses the Mona Lisa? | The Louvre | The Louvre Museum houses the Mona Lisa. | 1 | (c) The Louvre Museum in Paris, France | 1 | 95% | 4628 | Fine Arts |
| Podium Pastries: GBBO is a British reality television show which features a group of amateur bakers competing in a series of rounds. What does the acronym stand for? | Great British Bake Off | The acronym stands for Great British Bake Off. | 1 | (c) Great British Bake Off | 1 | 95% | 4226 | Pop Culture |
| Natural Nappers: Many animals estivate for portions of the year. What is the more common American English term for this behavior? | Hibernation | Hibernate | 1 | Hibernate. Hibernate is the correct term | 1 | 95% | 4301 | Science & Tech |
| Talkin' Tech: What word is often abbreviated as Fn on a keyboard? | Function | Function | 1 | Fn stands for function | 1 | 94% | 3619 | Science & Tech |
| Protective Parts: The integumentary system of the human body consists of the hair, nails, and what largest part? | Skin | Skin | 1 | 1. The integumentary system of the human body consists of the hair, nails, and what largest part? | 0 | 94% | 3824 | Science & Tech |
| Furious Freestylers: What American swimmer set a gold medal record at the 2008 Summer Olympics? This person won eight gold medals at a single Olympics. | Michael Phelps | Michael Phelps | 1 | (B) Michael Phelps. Phelps won eight gold medals at the 2008 Summer Olympics, the most ever won by a single athlete | 1 | 94% | 2701 | Sports & Games |
| Holiday Heroes: Although the most popular song on the film's soundtrack is "This Is Halloween" and the main character's name is Jack Skellington, the 1993 cult-classic Tim Burton film that was nominated for a visual effects Oscar includes what OTHER holiday in the film's title? | Christmas (The Nightmare Before Christmas) | The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1 | SLEEPY HOLLOW. The 1999 film, starring Johnny Depp, Christina Ricci, Miranda Richardson, Casper | 0 | 94% | 3551 | Pop Culture |
| Cartoony Creations: In 1999 Shigetaka Kurita invented what keyboard additions for cell phones that would eventually replace emoticons and even get their own movie? | Emojis | The emoji was invented by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999. | 1 | EMOJI: The Movie. Emoji are ideograms and smileys used in electronic messages and web pages | 1 | 94% | 2190 | Science & Tech |
| Fruit Farmers: Although it expanded to grapefruit growers in 1976, the cooperative Ocean Spray has primarily focused on what other fruit throughout its existence? The brand reached viral heights after a 2020 TikTok mashing up Fleetwood Mac, skateboarding, and Ocean Spray juice. | Cranberry | Cranberries | 1 | APPLES | 0 | 94% | 1315 | Pop Culture |
| Tough Training: What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup, and a jump in the air? | Burpee | Tough Training: What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup, and a jump in the air? | 0 | SEEDS, of course. And, of course, the exercise is SEEDS | 0 | 94% | 1131 | Sports & Games |
| Seeing Shapes: Stratus, cumulus, cirrus, and nimbus are all types of what everyday object? | Clouds | Clouds are all types of everyday objects. | 1 | CLOUDS! Clouds form when water vapor condenses in the atmosphere | 1 | 94% | 3462 | Science & Tech |
| Mega Marriages: What SPORT is the superstar British couple nicknamed "Posh and Becks" most associated with? The couple includes a famous singer and a famous athlete. | Soccer (football) | Soccer | 1 | HOCKEY. The singer is Victoria Beckham, and the athlete is David Beckham | 0 | 94% | 2157 | Pop Culture |
| Described Devices: In what sport is a key piece of equipment a circular arrangement of 14 to 16 goose feathers that surround a piece of cork encased in leather? The name of this object is a shuttlecock. | Badminton | Badminton | 1 | Badminton. Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock | 1 | 94% | 1897 | Sports & Games |
| Talkin' Terminology: In the common business or science abbreviation "R&D," what does the letter R stand for? | Research | Research | 1 | (A) Research. (B) Research & Development. (C) Research & Development | 1 | 94% | 2903 | Science & Tech |
| Famous Follicles: The tonsure is a very specific haircut often worn by what profession during the Middle Ages? | Monks | The tonsure is a very specific haircut often worn by monks during the Middle Ages. | 1 | (A) Monks. The tonsure is a type of haircut worn by monks and nuns. The tonsure is a | 1 | 94% | 1012 | Social Studies |
| Faked Fevers: What is the FULL NAME of the movie in which Ben Stein is listed in the end credits as "Economics Teacher" and he utters the famous line "Bueller....Bueller....? | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | 1 | FERRIS BUELLER'S DAY OFF. | 1 | 94% | 3421 | Pop Culture |
| Australian Originals: What is the three-letter name of the second-largest bird on the planet? This animal is found only in Australia and is related to the ostrich. | Emu | Emu | 1 | EMU. The emu is the second-largest bird on the planet, after the ostrich. Emus can grow up to 2. | 1 | 94% | 5362 | Science & Tech |
| Initial Impeachments: What famous female pilot's second-to-last known radio transmission was the following? "...have been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet. | Amelia Earhart | Amelia Earhart's second-to-last known radio transmission was the following: "...have been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet. | 1 | WASP pilot Cornelia Fort | 0 | 93% | 5013 | Social Studies |
| Stolen Snacks: What food of the three bears did Goldilocks eat? | Porridge | Goldilocks ate porridge. | 1 | (1) The porridge was too hot, (2) The porridge was too cold, (3 | 1 | 93% | 4171 | Fine Arts |
| Foot Furniture: The Turkish clan that drove Byzantine forces out of modern-day Turkey became an empire that lasted nearly 600 years and also became the namesake for a specific piece of foot-friendly furniture. What is this empire? | Ottoman Empire | Ottoman Empire | 1 | TURKEY: The Ottoman Empire, which ruled from 1299 to 1923, was centered in modern-day | 1 | 93% | 1624 | Social Studies |
| Traveling Tots: A young boy takes a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in what classic 1985 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg? | The Polar Express | The Polar Express | 1 | c) The Polar Express. | 1 | 93% | 852 | Fine Arts |
| City Spelling: Pittsburgh is typically considered the most commonly misspelled city in the United States. What letter is most commonly forgotten? | H | The letter "H" is most commonly forgotten in the spelling of Pittsburgh. | 1 | (D). The “h” is the most commonly forgotten letter | 1 | 92% | 1715 | Social Studies |
| Symbolic Names: What is the name of the symbol which means "and" as a "conjunction icon?" You can find this symbol above the number seven key on most QWERTY keyboard. We're looking for the NAME of the symbol. | Ampersand | The name of the symbol is "ampersand". | 1 | Logical conjunction is symbolized by "and | 0 | 92% | 4181 | Word Play |
| Memorial Museums: A recovered anchor from the USS Arizona is on display at what memorial's visitor center in Hawaii? | Pearl Harbor | The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center in Hawaii. | 0 | (B) The USS Arizona Memorial visitor center at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, features the 16-ton anchor from | 1 | 92% | 3185 | Social Studies |
| Ancient Arts: Ashtanga, Bikram, and Vinyasa are three of the more popular forms of what practice that originated in ancient India? | Yoga | Yoga | 1 | (c) Hatha Yoga. Hatha Yoga is an umbrella term that refers to all physical practices of yoga | 1 | 91% | 3395 | Sports & Games |
| Tumultuous Travels: What British overseas territory is partially protected from severe hurricanes due to a surrounding coral reef but remains frequently associated with disasters due to an allegedly large number of unexplained aircraft disappearances? | Bermuda | Bermuda | 1 | (1) Bermuda (2) The Falkland Islands (3) The Cayman Islands (4 | 1 | 91% | 3180 | Social Studies |
| Insect Inspiration: What famous athlete famously declared his strategy to be the following nature-full phrase? "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. | Muhammad Ali | Muhammad Ali | 1 | 1) Muhammad Ali (2) Muhammad Ali (3) Muhammad Ali (4) Muhammad Ali | 1 | 91% | 5534 | Sports & Games |
| Worldly Writers: The Shujing, Chunqiu, and Shijing are considered the foundations of the literary tradition in what country? | China | China | 1 | Confucian China. The Shujing (Book of History), Chunqiu (Spring and | 1 | 90% | 1112 | Social Studies |
| Green Waves: In 2010, what iconic Australian building prominently featured green lighting on its famously swooping white panels as part of its first celebration of St. Patrick's Day? The building was designed by Dane Jørn Utzon, but completed by an Australian architectural team in 1973. | Sydney Opera House | The Sydney Opera House | 1 | (c) Sydney Opera House | 1 | 90% | 1961 | Current Events |
| Seasonal Sales: According to a survey by Dance magazine, what Christmas-themed Tchaikovsky ballet accounts for nearly half the annual revenue of many dance companies? | The Nutcracker | The Nutcracker | 1 | NUTCRACKER. The ballet, which premiered in 1892, is a staple of the Christmas ballet season | 1 | 90% | 781 | Fine Arts |
| TV Titles: What cartoon franchise was originally titled "Mysteries Five" and included a banjo-playing Great Dane canine? | Scooby Doo | Scooby-Doo | 1 | (1) Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! | 1 | 89% | 5378 | Fine Arts |
| Creepy Creatures: While promoting his sprawling novel "Freedom" in 2010, Jonathan Franzen was the first American novelist to appear on the cover of Time magazine since what legendary horror writer in 2000? | Stephen King | Stephen King | 1 | R.L. Stine. Franzen's novel, which spans 300 years, was praised by Time as | 0 | 88% | 1190 | Fine Arts |
| Particular Patterns: Iambic pentameter is a type of metric line used in English verse, most famously by William Shakespeare. While "iambic" describes the unstressed/stressed pattern of each two-syllable "foot," the word "pentameter" indicates that there are how many feet within a given line? | Five | Ten | 0 | 5. Iambic pentameter is a type of metric line used in English verse, most famously by William Shakespeare | 1 | 87% | 1165 | Fine Arts |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two rhyming words summarize the following phrase? A zippered piece of warm outerwear for a Serena Williams tool. | Jacket racket | Sweater and coat | 0 | (1) A smocked (2) smock | 0 | 83% | 1509 | Word Play |
| Quirky Quotes: What autumn holiday was described by writer O. Henry as "the one day that is purely American? | Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving | 1 | October 31, Halloween, of course | 0 | 82% | 1621 | Fine Arts |
| Musical Chairs: After Microsoft paid $26 billion for it in 2016, which business website might keep nagging Microsoft to update its resume? | 1 | (1) LinkedIn, (2) Skype, (3) Yammer, (4 | 1 | 80% | 648 | Current Events | ||
| Very V: What synonym for vagabond has the same first three letters? | Vagrant | Vagrant | 1 | VACATION: A vagabond is a person who wanders from place to place without a home or job | 0 | 79% | 2157 | Word Play |
| Technical Terms: Although colloquially used as a term to indicate that the unemployment rate is substantially higher than normal, an economist will tell you that the technical definition reflects two straight calendar quarters of negative growth of real GDP. What is the term? | Recession | Recession | 1 | NAIRU (Non-Accelerating Inflation Rate of Unemployment). | 0 | 77% | 1337 | Word Play |
| Bought Brands: What slang term with Germanic roots meaning "fool" is half the name of a Best Buy subsidiary acquired in 2002? The term is used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people and is typically considered a pejorative term although it can be used self-referentially as a source of pride. | Geek | Geek Squad | 1 | BBY: Best Buy Co., Inc | 0 | 76% | 1382 | Word Play |
| Millennial Meaning: What photographic term was first used (or at least, the first recorded use in print) when Nathan Hope posted an image of his injured face online in 2002? | Selfie | The term "selfie" was first used in 2002. | 1 | Metadata. The term was first used in 2002 by Nathan Hope, who posted an image of his injured face online | 0 | 76% | 1482 | Word Play |
| Mammalian News: The Sumatran species of what famously horned mammal officially went extinct in Malaysia in November 2019? The animal is not yet extinct globally as a few dozen live in Indonesia. | Rhino | The Sumatran species of rhinoceros officially went extinct in Malaysia in November 2019. The animal is not yet extinct globally as a few dozen live in Indonesia. | 1 | (c) Sumatran rhinoceros. The Sumatran rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatr | 1 | 73% | 1341 | Current Events |
| Misspelled Mistakes: Considered the source of many spelling problems, what is the term for words that sound alike but have different meanings and different spellings? | Homophones | Homonyms | 1 | homonyms: Homonyms are words that sound alike but have different meanings and different spellings. | 1 | 72% | 511 | Word Play |
| Latin Language: What common Latin phrase literally means "something for something? | quid pro quo | Quid pro quo" literally means "something for something. | 1 | quid pro quo, meaning "this for that. | 1 | 69% | 2708 | Word Play |
| Faithless" Firsts: Despite not running in the 2016 election, a retired Secretary of State earned three electoral votes for president from "faithless electors" in Washington. This man inadvertently became the first black Republican to earn electoral votes. Who is this man? | Colin Powell | Colin Powell | 1 | (D) Colin Powell. Powell, a retired four-star general, was nominated by the Republican Party in 2016. He earned | 1 | 68% | 1324 | Current Events |
| International Leaders: Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been the president of what country since August 2014? | Turkey | Turkey | 1 | TURKEY | 1 | 67% | 923 | Current Events |
| Double Definitions: What word with a set of double letters could either signify a type of snake or a style of shoe known for its Native American roots? | Moccasin | The word is "moccasin". | 1 | BOOTS! The plural of BOOT is BOOTS, and BOOTS is a word with | 0 | 67% | 1448 | Word Play |
| Wordy World: From the Latin word for "earth," what's a synonym for an outdoor patio? | Terrace | A terrace | 1 | TERRACE: A terrace is an outdoor platform or level area, often paved, adjoining a house or other building. | 1 | 67% | 1937 | Word Play |
| Brief Biographies: Degrees from Stanford, Oxford, and Yale. Former Mayor of Newark. Vegetarian since 1992. Which former contender for the Democratic 2020 Presidential nomination does this describe? | Cory Booker | Cory Booker | 1 | D) Cory Booker. (D) Julian Castro. (D) Kirsten Gillibrand | 1 | 61% | 1468 | Current Events |
| Modern History: In what decade was Hong Kong transferred back under the control of China? The region had been under British control for 155 years. | 1990s | The transfer of Hong Kong back to China occurred in 1997. | 1 | 1997. The handover of Hong Kong, a former British colony, to China took place on July 1, 1997 | 1 | 54% | 1271 | Current Events |
| Presidential Pardons: President Trump's first pardon was used to commute the sentence of what former Arizona Sheriff? | Joe Arpaio | Joe Arpaio | 1 | 85-year-old former Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio | 1 | 52% | 898 | Current Events |
| Overnight Flights: French–Lebanese–Brazilian businessman Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan in the middle of the night on December 30, 2019 by flying to Beirut while possibly hiding in a large black audio equipment box. Ghosn was facing trial in Japan and claimed he "escaped injustice." He was facing false accounting charges related to his 17 years as the CEO of what auto manufacturer? | Nissan | Ghosn was facing trial in Japan and claimed he "escaped injustice." He was facing false accounting charges related to his 17 years as the CEO of Nissan. | 1 | Nissan. Ghosn was facing trial in Japan and claimed he "escaped injustice." He was facing false accounting | 1 | 52% | 1163 | Current Events |
| Estimating Evidence: What 13-letter "P" word typically means a greater or weightier part? It is often used in civil lawsuits when determining the amount of evidence required for conviction. | Preponderance | Preponderance | 1 | preponderance of the evidence. | 1 | 39% | 630 | Word Play |
| Reformulated Recipes: In 2017 Coca-Cola modified the recipe of Coke Zero and rebranded the product with what similar name? | Coke Zero Sugar | Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | 1 | Sprite Zero. Coca-Cola Zero was rebranded as Coca-Cola Zero Sugar in 2017 | 1 | 37% | 1398 | Current Events |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two-word rhyming phrase could mean the following? Trefoil found surrounding the Capitol in Delaware. | Dover Clover | Two'fer Goofer: What two-word rhyming phrase could mean the following? Trefoil found surrounding the Capitol in Delaware. | 0 | (1) "The (2) (3) (4) (5 | 0 | 37% | 691 | Word Play |
| Explaining Away: What is the most commonly used English word with at least seven letters? | Because | The most commonly used English word with at least seven letters is "set". | 0 | Explanation. | 0 | 34% | 806 | Word Play |
| Wordy World: If bovine describes a cow and equine describes a horse, what adjective describes a pig? | Porcine | Porcine | 1 | (A) Porcine. (B) Swine. (C) Swineish. | 1 | 34% | 752 | Word Play |
| Rideshare Royalty: The man who replaced Travis Kalanick as CEO of Uber in 2017 was previously CEO of what U.S.-based travel company with a name mean to evoke speed and convenience? | Expedia | Dara Khosrowshahi was previously CEO of Expedia. | 1 | LYFT. Dara Khosrowshahi, who replaced Travis Kalanick as CEO of Uber in 2017 | 0 | 33% | 706 | Current Events |
| Unique Sequences: What sarcastic word has all five English vowels in alphabetical order? | Facetious | Aardvark | 0 | Vowels: A, E, I, O, U. | 0 | 33% | 1499 | Word Play |
| Notable Names: What was the name for an early movie theater offering silent films with piano accompaniment that typically charged five cents for entrance? | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon | 1 | 5-Cent Theater. The 5-Cent Theater was an early movie theater offering silent films with piano accompaniment that | 0 | 32% | 1178 | Word Play |
| Triangular Times: The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what portmanteau that combines the names of all three of its cities? As a hint so you can focus on portmanteau-building, the cities are Cambridge, London, and Oxford. | Loxbridge | The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what portmanteau that combines the names of all three of its cities? As a hint so you can focus on portmanteau-building, the cities are Cambridge, London, and Oxford. | 0 | C) The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what port | 0 | 32% | 591 | Word Play |
| Musical Chairs: The European internet company Skype was purchased by eBay in 2005 for 8.5 billion? | Microsoft | Microsoft | 1 | Microsoft. Microsoft purchased Skype in 2011 for $8.5 billion | 1 | 31% | 625 | Current Events |
| Theatrical Theft: The silkworm’s unique traits made it an incredibly valuable creature for thousands of years before the creatures were allegedly smuggled out of China in a hollow stick and sold to what Empire? | Byzantine Empire | The silkworm’s unique traits made it an incredibly valuable creature for thousands of years before the creatures were allegedly smuggled out of China in a hollow stick and sold to what Empire? | 0 | (A) The Roman Empire. | 0 | 29% | 718 | Current Events |
| Special Spoonerisms: Spoonerism: two pairs of words with the first sounds or letters swapped, such as blushing crow and crushing blow.What spoonerism describes these two objects? A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. | faked beast | A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. | 0 | (1) A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. (2) A feigned animal | 0 | 29% | 1297 | Word Play |
| Piloting Pasta: In 2017, the Italian port city of Genoa added one exception to the 100-milliliter limit for carrying liquids onto airplanes. What famed regional sauce can passengers now carry in quantities up to 500 grams when flying? | Pesto | Passengers can now carry up to 500 grams of pesto. | 1 | Arrabbiata: The spicy sauce, which originated in the port city of Bari, is made with tomatoes, garlic, chili | 0 | 28% | 1324 | Current Events |
| Many Meanings: What 11-letter word can mean either a trunk or a word which blends the sound and meaning of two other words? Yeah, this question's a mouthful. | Portmanteau | A trunk is a large, strong box used for storage. A blend is a word that is a combination of two other words. | 0 | BLEND. Blend can mean either "a mixture of two or more substances," or "to combine or unite. | 0 | 25% | 1376 | Word Play |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two rhyming words summarize the following phrase? A gatherer and organizer of large, dangerous jungle felines. | Leopard shepherd | Poacher and Trapper | 0 | (1) Lion tamer and (2) tiger tamer. | 0 | 22% | 1187 | Word Play |
| Allowing Agency: While serving as president of the NBA Players Association, what Hall of Fame basketball player, led a suit against the NBA that delayed its merger with the ABA and laid the groundwork for the eventual introduction of free agency to the league? The player was famously the only player in league history to average a triple-double until 2017. | Oscar Robertson | Oscar Robertson | 1 | (c) Larry Bird. The 1979 merger between the National Basketball Association and the American Basketball Association was challenged by the ABA, | 0 | 20% | 862 | Sports & Games |
| Soccer Standards: How many yards is it from the penalty mark to the goal line on a standard soccer field? | 12 | The penalty mark is 11 yards from the goal line. | 0 | 12 yards. The penalty mark is 12 yards from the goal line. | 1 | 19% | 1096 | Sports & Games |
| Many Meanings: What board game has a history that can be traced back nearly 5,000 years and has pieces that are referred to as checkers, draughts, stones, men, counters, pawns, discs, pips, chips, or nips? | Backgammon | Checkers | 0 | CHESS! Chess is believed to have originated in India, and the earliest known chess pieces were carved from ivory and date | 0 | 18% | 1098 | Sports & Games |
| Warrior Weights: In Olympic boxing, the maximum weight for the "cocky" little fighters is 123 pounds in what division? | bantamweight | The maximum weight for the "cocky" little fighters is 123 pounds in the flyweight division. | 0 | 49 kg (108.5 lbs). | 0 | 17% | 1104 | Sports & Games |
| Latitude Attitude: Although the NBA champion Toronto Raptors claim the slogan “We The North,” they play home games at only 43 degrees latitude. Which NBA team has the true claim to the north, with their home stadium coming in at 45 degrees latitude? | Portland Trailblazers | The Golden State Warriors have the true claim to the north, with their home stadium coming in at 45 degrees latitude. | 0 | (D) The Minnesota Timberwolves | 0 | 17% | 894 | Sports & Games |
| Business Barons: She made her fortune by developing and marketing cosmetics and hair care products for black women. She's also listed as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Who is this woman? | Madam C. J. Walker | Madam C. J. Walker | 1 | Her name is Madam C.J. Walker | 1 | 17% | 679 | Science & Tech |
| Acclaimed Authors: Considered one of the innovators of creative nonfiction via New Journalism, what American author's best-known work "The Executioner's Song" won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? This "postal" author also ran in the Democratic primary for NYC's mayoral race of 1969 with a platform including the secession of New York City as the 51st US state. | Norman Mailer | Norman Mailer | 1 | E.L. Doctorow. Doctorow's 1975 novel "Ragtime" won the National Book Critics Circle | 0 | 16% | 1082 | Fine Arts |
| TV Shows: Since its inception, Saturday Night Live has broadcast from what alphanumeric studio within NBC's headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza? | 8H | Studio 8H | 1 | 30 Rockefeller Plaza, Studio 8H. | 1 | 16% | 1005 | Pop Culture |
| Double Duty: Although most well-known for his flair as a circus owner, P.T. Barnum also served in elected office as a mayor and in the state legislature in what east coast state? | Connecticut | Connecticut | 1 | CONNECTICUT: Barnum was elected mayor of Bridgeport, Connecticut in 1854. He later served two terms in the Connecticut | 1 | 16% | 1117 | Miscellaneous |
| Teenage 007: What Anthony Horowitz-created character is sometimes referred to as a “Teenage James Bond?” He is the main character in a series of books that starts with “Stormbreaker.” | Alex Rider | Alex Rider | 1 | SPY | 0 | 16% | 571 | Fine Arts |
| Rock and Roll: In Rolling Stone's latest version of the greatest guitarists of all time, No. 5 was a man with a monosyllabic first and last name. This man was one of the three guitarists for The Yardbirds, and he spent decades exploring innovative guitar sounds. Who is he? | Jeff Beck | Jeff Beck | 1 | (Drum roll, please) Eric Clapton | 0 | 16% | 1125 | Pop Culture |
| Consistent Champs: 1987 was the first time in 13 years that what American woman did not win a tennis Grand Slam event? | Chris Evert | Chris Evert did not win a Grand Slam event in 1987. | 1 | 1987 was the first year since 1973 that an American woman did not win a Grand Slam event | 0 | 16% | 1085 | Sports & Games |
| Confounding Creatures: What frequently-misnomered mammal has fingerprints so indistinguishable from humans that they have occasionally been wrongfully collected as evidence at crime scenes? | Koalas | The sloth. | 0 | (The answer is) the possum | 0 | 16% | 961 | Miscellaneous |
| Site Surnames: Craigslist is named after its founder. What is Craig's seven-letter two-syllable "N" last name? | Newmark | Craig Newmark | 1 | (c) craigslist.org. The "N" is for Newmark | 1 | 15% | 1453 | Science & Tech |
| Beautifying Bodies: What mineral, which is most concentrated in keratin, is known as "nature's beauty mineral" and helps the body produce collagen to keep skin looking young and fresh? | Sulphur | Calcium | 0 | CALCIUM. Calcium is the most abundant mineral in the body. It plays an essential role in maintaining strong bones and teeth, and in | 0 | 15% | 1272 | Science & Tech |
| Teamed Threes: Who formed the first Triumvirate with Crassus and Julius Caesar? | Pompey | Pompey the Great | 1 | (a) Pompey, (b) Crassus, (c) Caesar. | 1 | 15% | 975 | Science & Tech |
| Elderly Experts: Fitting for her famous nickname, what American artist took up painting after she had turned 70? In part, her passion for art was delayed due to her time-intensive work on a farm for much of her life. "Sugaring Off" and "Fourth of July" are two of her most famous works. | Grandma Moses | Georgia O'Keeffe | 0 | (c) Grandma Moses. Born in 1860, Moses took up painting in her 70s. She sold her first painting | 1 | 15% | 933 | Fine Arts |
| Bantering Brits: What American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor, comedian and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe was born in Minnesota, spent his teen years in Los Angeles, and is now only a citizen of the United Kingdom? | Terry Gilliam | Terry Gilliam | 1 | (Answer at bottom of column) | 0 | 14% | 1161 | Pop Culture |
| Turkey Time: What do the letters "ZIP" stand for in the United States postal code? | Zone Improvement Plan | ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan. | 1 | (From the December 2002 issue of "The Straight Dope"): The "Zone Improvement Plan | 1 | 14% | 877 | Miscellaneous |
| Medical Miracles: The term "magic bullet" was coined by German scientist Paul Ehrlich to describe a compound that would kill only a specifically targeted organism. Ehrlich even invented the "first magic bullet" with Salvarsan, which was used to treat which disease? | Syphillis | Syphilis | 1 | Rheumatic Fever. Ehrlich's "magic bullet" was a compound that would kill only a specific organism. | 0 | 14% | 942 | Science & Tech |
| Trifecta Phrases: Which three-word English idiom of British origin derives its meaning from the "mm" sound made when one speaks through closed lips? | Mum's the word | Mum's the word | 1 | Fiddlesticks, fiddle-de-dee, and fiddle-de-dee. | 0 | 14% | 1382 | Miscellaneous |
| TV Talkers: Mario Lopez hosted the first seven seasons of what dance competition show from 2008 - 2012? | America's Best Dance Crew | Dancing with the Stars | 0 | Dancing with the Stars. | 0 | 14% | 1058 | Pop Culture |
| Nike: The founders of Nike started the business as distributors for what "Tiger" footwear brand from Japan? | Onitsuka | The founders of Nike started the business as distributors for Onitsuka Tiger. | 1 | (c) Onitsuka Tiger. The founders were Philip Knight and Bill Bowerman | 1 | 14% | 963 | Pop Culture |
| Pop music: What musician is the lead singer of both Blur and Gorillaz, two popular British bands? | Damon Albarn | Damon Albarn | 1 | B) Damon Albarn. Blur and Gorillaz are British bands that achieved international success. Blur formed in | 1 | 14% | 1243 | Pop Culture |
| Spicy Snacks: Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork dish made from parts such as the shoulder and belly. What European country does this dish call home? | Italy | Italy | 1 | (D) Italy. Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork dish made from parts such as the shoulder and belly | 1 | 14% | 1015 | Miscellaneous |
| Required Reading: Although this Thomas Pynchon novel was considered one of the "All-Time Greatest 100 Novels" by Time, the 1974 Pulitzer Prize jury on fiction was offended by its content, some of which was described as "unreadable, overwritten, and obscene." What is this two-word novel? | Gravity's Rainbow | Gravity's Rainbow | 1 | **************__************** | 0 | 14% | 929 | Fine Arts |
| Pop Apps: Beating out Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, what other massively popular online service was the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2018? Fine print: we're talking free apps, and not including apps that come pre-downloaded on iPhones. | YouTube | Fortnite was the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2018. | 0 | (Drum roll, please): Google Maps | 0 | 13% | 559 | Pop Culture |
| Numbered Names: Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley are collectively known by what name as a famed set of Canadian landscape painters in the first half of the 20th century? | Group of Seven or Algonquin School | The Group of Seven | 1 | (A) The Group of Seven | 1 | 13% | 928 | Fine Arts |
| Beauty Time: What is the animal term associated with some lip gloss applicators? The name does not come from the fuzzy tip resembling fur, but rather from the hoof-shaped, angular tip of the applicator. | Doe foot | Lipstick | 0 | (From the March 2008 issue of Glamour magazine): The applicators in question are called “spool | 0 | 13% | 742 | Miscellaneous |
| Original Owners: Nicknamed "Commy" or "the Old Roman," what American man helped form the American League, owned one of its teams, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939? | Charles Comiskey | George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr. | 0 | August Herrmann (1862-1939), a Cincinnati native, was president of the Cincinnati Reds from 1902 to | 0 | 13% | 989 | Sports & Games |
| Viral Viruses: The first death outside of China from the novel coronavirus occurred in February 2020 in what Asian nation? | The Philippines | Unknown | 0 | (#1) South Korea | 0 | 12% | 944 | Current Events |
| Cantation Collections: What three-word phrase does not actually refer to a specific binding or list of songs, but instead represents a loosely-defined set of enduring songs from the 1920s to the 1950s created for musical theater and Hollywood? | Great American Songbook | Great American Songbook | 1 | (1) The Great American Songboo | 1 | 12% | 773 | Fine Arts |
| Produced Playwrights: "A Raisin in the Sun," the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway, opened in March 1959. The author was a 29-year-old woman who won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. Name the author. | Lorraine Hansberry | Lorraine Hansberry | 1 | (D) Lorraine Hansberry. The play was adapted by Hansberry from her 1959 novel of the same title | 1 | 12% | 821 | Fine Arts |
| Kooky Kingdoms: What is the collective name for any eukaryotic organism that is not a plant, animal, or fungus? | Protist | The collective name for any eukaryotic organism that is not a plant, animal, or fungus is "Kooky Kingdom". | 0 | Protists: Protists, or Protoctista, are a group of eukaryotic organisms that lack cell walls | 1 | 12% | 937 | Science & Tech |
| Beauty Shots: What is the nine-letter term for the appearance of a white cast on one's skin caused by a makeup product captured with flash photography? This is often caused by SPF in foundation and powders. | Flashback | Flashback | 1 | Translucent. The nine-letter term for the appearance of a white cast on one's skin caused by a makeup product captured with flash photography is | 0 | 12% | 985 | Miscellaneous |
| Cricket Legends: Informally known as "The God of Cricket," what former Indian cricketer is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport and is the highest run-scorer of all time in international competition? | Sachin Tendulkar | Sachin Tendulkar | 1 | c) Sachin Tendulkar | 1 | 12% | 887 | Sports & Games |
| Scientific States: CERN hosts the Large Hadron Collider, the world's highest energy particle collider which opened underneath the Swiss-French border in 2008. The LHC surpassed the prior record-holding particle accelerator in what U.S. state? | Illinois | The LHC surpassed the prior record-holding particle accelerator in New York. | 0 | (c) Illinois. The Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory (Fermilab), located in Batavia, Illinois | 1 | 12% | 1182 | Science & Tech |
| Crime Capitals: As of 2018, what American city had the highest murder rate per capita? (minimum population of 300,000) | St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | 1 | (Tie) St. Louis, Missouri and Baltimore, Maryland | 1 | 11% | 856 | Current Events |
| Foreign Flags: When ignoring the stem, how many points does the maple leaf on the Canadian flag have? | 11 | 11 | 1 | 3 points. The maple leaf on the Canadian flag is 3 points | 0 | 11% | 1135 | Social Studies |
| Common Cantations: What is the most commonly used NAMED spell in the Harry Potter book series? Hint: it's different than the answer would be for the film series, which is Wingardium Leviosa. | Accio | The most commonly used named spell in the Harry Potter book series is Accio. | 1 | (1) Expelliarmus. (2) Lumos. | 0 | 11% | 601 | Fine Arts |
| Banned Beefs: What is the two-word "religious" idiom for the prohibition of eating a certain type of meat? The earliest known instance of this prohibition likely arose around 600 B.C. | sacred cow | Kosher | 0 | kashrut, from the Hebrew root kasher, meaning "fit, proper, or correct. | 0 | 11% | 501 | Social Studies |
| Dead Presidents: Only one U.S. President is buried in Washington, DC. Which man is this? | Woodrow Wilson | James Monroe is the only U.S. President buried in Washington, DC. | 0 | (1) George Washington (2) Thomas Jefferson (3) James Madison (4) James Monroe | 0 | 11% | 905 | Social Studies |
| Speedy Shoes: Marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge was the first person to run the distance of a marathon in under two hours (in part due to a team of pacers and a flat course) in October 2019. Kipchoge was wearing custom Nike Vaporfly shoes and ran the event in what European city? | Vienna | Berlin, Germany | 0 | (c) Monza, Italy. Kipchoge ran 26.2 miles in 1 hour | 0 | 10% | 817 | Sports & Games |
| Penning Pulitzers: "A Visit from the Goon Squad" won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and intersected across characters and formats while the titular "goon squad" was simply time itself. What woman penned this novel? | Jennifer Egan | Jennifer Egan | 1 | E.L. Doctorow. The 84-year-old author, who has written 11 novels, 4 short story collections | 0 | 10% | 832 | Fine Arts |
| Stately Objections: In January 2017, President Trump issued an executive order restricting immigration to the U.S. from seven countries. A lawsuit opposing this order eventually made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Which of the 50 states filed this lawsuit and was thus included in the court case's name? | Hawaii | Washington State filed the lawsuit and was thus included in the court case's name. | 0 | (c) Hawaii. Hawaii's attorney general, along with attorneys general from Maryland and Minnesota, filed the lawsuit. | 1 | 10% | 662 | Social Studies |
| Country Classrooms: According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, what is the most educated country on the planet as of 2019? To measure this, they are ranking countries based on the share of adult residents between the ages of 25 and 64 with a "tertiary education," meaning a two-year or four-year degree or education via vocational program. The leader had ~56% of the population with tertiary education. | Canada | The most educated country on the planet as of 2019 is South Korea. | 0 | (1) Japan (2) Israel (3) South Korea (4) Canada | 0 | 10% | 667 | Miscellaneous |
| Utopian Architecture: At the height of Frank Lloyd Wright's career in 1927, he surprised contemporaries by designing what type of retail outlet? The design was part of his utopian city concept and although intended for Buffalo, NY the structure was eventually built in Cloquet, MN where it remains in business. | Gas Station | A gas station. | 1 | Skyscraper: Wright's design for a skyscraper was part of his utopian city concept. The 17-story structure was intended for | 0 | 10% | 1177 | Science & Tech |
| Broadcasting Brothers: Hank Green is an American entrepreneur, musician, educator, producer, vlogger, and author that lives in Missoula, Montana. What was the name of Green's YouTube channel that launched him and his brother to fame in the early 2000s? | Vlogbrothers | Vlogbrothers | 1 | FTBA Records: DFTBA Records is a record label founded by Hank Green and his brother, John Green, in | 0 | 10% | 1080 | Pop Culture |
| TV Shows: Originally conceived by its eponymous founder as a place for choral music without religious affiliation, what famed music venue in Toronto was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981? The venue shares its name with an American actor, dancer, and rapper who reached childhood fame with his role on "That's So Raven. | Massey Hall | Roy Thomson Hall | 0 | (B) Massey Hall. The hall's namesake, Vincent Massey, was Canada's first Canadian-born | 1 | 10% | 1017 | Pop Culture |
| Timed Travels: Including the mandatory training period, how many months of commitment is the standard Peace Corps Volunteer assignment? | 27 | The standard Peace Corps Volunteer assignment is 27 months. | 1 | 27 months. Peace Corps Volunteers serve two 6-month terms, separated by 3 months of vacation | 1 | 10% | 997 | Social Studies |
| Cash Clues: Using the International Monetary Fund (2018) as your source, choose the continent (excluding Antarctica of course) with the highest GDP per capita. Now choose the country within that continent with the highest GDP per capita. What is the country? | Australia | The country is Qatar. | 0 | (1) Europe (2) Luxembourg | 0 | 9% | 1132 | Social Studies |
| Border Boundaries: Congress granted Michigan the Upper Peninsula after a dispute over shoreline with what neighboring state? | Ohio | Wisconsin | 0 | B) Wisconsin. The Upper Peninsula was ceded to Michigan in 1836. The boundary between Michigan and | 0 | 9% | 1300 | Social Studies |
| Religious Roles: Fittingly, what is the name of the hero of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" who flees from the City of Destiny to the Celestial City? | Christian | Christian | 1 | (#1) Christian. (#2) Faithful. (#3) Hopeful | 1 | 9% | 918 | Fine Arts |
| Big Bakeries: There's a town in the Peloponnese region of Greece with a namesake food item known for its purple color and smooth meaty texture. What is this fruit? | Kalamata Olive | The fruit is a fig. | 0 | Figs! The Peloponnese region, which spans the northwestern part of the mainland, is famous for its figs | 0 | 9% | 974 | Miscellaneous |
| Regional Reps: In the 2019 United States Congress, how many of the 50 U.S. states have only 1 Representative elected to represent the entire state? | 7 | There are no states with only 1 Representative. | 0 | 7 states: Alaska, Delaware, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wyoming | 1 | 9% | 1025 | Social Studies |
| Global Guides: In an effort to address (albeit in a small way) a public health crisis, the Google __ Indicator, sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development was integrated into Google Maps in India in 2016. What word fills in the blank? | Toilet | The Google Flu Trends Indicator, sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development was integrated into Google Maps in India in 2016. | 0 | ******____******: In an effort to address (albeit in a small way | 0 | 8% | 748 | Social Studies |
| Replete Resumes: Prior to being a U.S. President, what man had been a senator, minister to France, England and Spain, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Governor of Virginia? | James Monroe | Thomas Jefferson | 0 | (1) Thomas Jefferson, (2) James Madison, (3) James Monroe, ( | 0 | 7% | 815 | Social Studies |
| Precocious Players: In what year was American soccer player Freddy Adu born? Adu rose to international fame when he signed a professional sports contract in the U.S. at the age of 14. | 1989 | Freddy Adu was born in 1989. | 1 | 1993. Adu was born in Ghana and moved to the United States when he was 6 years old. He became the youngest player ever to sign with Major League Soccer | 0 | 7% | 530 | Sports & Games |
| TV Shows: Creator Larry David had a famous policy for Seinfeld in which he wanted to scrupulously avoid sentimentality and moral lessons. What four-word phrase is the quote often attributed to David as the summary of this policy? | No hugging, no learning | No hugging, no learning. | 1 | ”No hugging, no learning” | 1 | 6% | 944 | Pop Culture |
| Elementary Education: What is the name of the international Language Arts competition for students in grades 3 - 8 which has thrice-annual challenges of twenty analogies? The purpose is to learn a new set of vocabulary words. | WordMasters | The name of the international Language Arts competition for students in grades 3 - 8 which has thrice-annual challenges of twenty analogies is the Global Classroom. | 0 | Synonyms: The Synonyms Challenge is sponsored by the Synonyms Club, a 501(c | 0 | 5% | 1023 | Miscellaneous |
| Time Turners: What did the U.S. Congress enact for almost ten months in 1974 to combat fuel shortages? | Daylight Savings time | The Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 | 0 | Sunday driving restrictions. The Sunday Restriction Act, which took effect on January 1, | 0 | 3% | 1106 | Science & Tech |
| Fractal Flowers: What is the name for a "flower" that is actually composed of thousands of flowers grouped together to form a single flower-like structure? The botanical term for this is a pseudanthium. | Composite flower | A pseudanthium is a flower-like structure composed of thousands of flowers grouped together to form a single flower-like structure. | 0 | (c) A pseudanthium is a type of inflorescence, or flower cluster, in which the main axis | 0 | 3% | 501 | Science & Tech |
Q&A prompt Results
The performance of the AI21 model actually was worse with the prompt. This is perhaps because the prompt is not specially tuned for AI21’s models.
With the prompt the AI21 model backs off more aggresively, and gets about 46.15% accuracy on the WCT quiz, which is significantly worse than the zero-shot model.
The following was the prompt given:
This prompt can be accessed in AI21 studio using this link
Another interesting thing that stuck out was – minor changes in the prompt (like an extra empty line in the beginning of the prompt, or an extra space at the end of a sentence) can drastically change the answers the model gives.
Raw data follows:
| Question | Correct Answer | Response (Davinci GPT-3) | GPT-Correct | Response (J1-Jumbo) | J1-Jumbo Correct | User-Correct | User-N | Question Category |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coding Skycraft: Before the 1930s, airport codes were only two letters. As a result, some airports added the letter X to the end of the extant code, including what airport code in California? | LAX | The airport code in California is SFO. | 0 | BURX | 0 | 98% | 618 | Miscellaneous |
| Breakfast Strategies: French Press is a popular style of preparing what type of beverage? | Coffee | Coffee. | 1 | Pressed coffee | 1 | 96% | 7416 | Miscellaneous |
| Timely Tossers: What is the name of the position of the player whose primary responsibility is often considered throwing the football? | Quarterback | Quarterback | 1 | Shotgun | 0 | 96% | 3811 | Sports & Games |
| Flexible Fitness: Downward dog, sun salutation, and plank are all poses in what increasingly-common practice? | Yoga | Yoga | 1 | Yoga | 1 | 96% | 8075 | Sports & Games |
| Abbreviated Brands: Originally, they were called Baby Gays. Then they rebranded as Q-Tips, with the Q standing for what word related to high standards? | Quality | Quality | 1 | Quarts | 0 | 96% | 6552 | Miscellaneous |
| Old Objects: Which of the seven wonders of the ancient world were built as ceremonial burial vaults for Egyptian pharaohs? | Great Pyramid of Giza | The Great Pyramid of Giza was built as a ceremonial burial vault for Egyptian pharaohs. | 1 | 1. The Pyramids of Giza | 1 | 95% | 9555 | Social Studies |
| Traffic Talk: Also called a traffic circle, road circle, or rotary, what is the 10-letter term for a circular traffic intersection first used in the U.K. in the early 20th century? | Roundabout | Roundabout | 1 | Intersection | 1 | 95% | 5989 | Miscellaneous |
| Retired Slogans: Retired in the 21st century, "it's finger lickin' good" had been the slogan for over 50 years for what restaurant chain? The slogan had been conceived by a franchise owner rather than an ad agency. | KFC | KFC | 1 | Kentucky Fried Chicken | 1 | 95% | 6759 | Miscellaneous |
| Singing Siblings: If you met five African American singers from the same family in Indiana whose first names were Jackie, Jermaine, Marlon, Michael and Tito, what would their last name most likely be? | Jackson | Jackson | 1 | Jackson | 1 | 95% | 9910 | Fine Arts |
| Caped Cities: What fictional city is the home of Batman? | Gotham City | Gotham City is the home of Batman. | 1 | Fictional city is the home of Batman is Gotham City. | 1 | 95% | 10124 | Pop Culture |
| Recurring Rhymes: "Humpty Dumpty sat on a wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall. All the king's horses and all the king's men, couldn't put Humpty Dumpty in his place again." In this poem by Lewis Carroll, what food is Humpty Dumpty commonly portrayed as? | Egg | Eggs | 1 | A egg | 1 | 95% | 2620 | Miscellaneous |
| Functional Foods: Found on many types of sushi, nori is the Japanese name for the edible species in the red algae genus Pyropia. Frequently used in the format of dried sheets, what is the English term for this edible ingredient? | Seaweed | Seaweed | 1 | nori | 0 | 95% | 5007 | Miscellaneous |
| Counting Cards: What "shedding-type" card game has been a Mattel brand since 1992 and features cards with titles such as "Wild" and "Reverse? | Uno | Uno | 1 | UNO | 1 | 95% | 5154 | Sports & Games |
| Street Smarts: In the U.S., a road sign which is an equilateral triangle is most often associated with what five-letter action? | Yield | Slow Down | 0 | Intersection | 1 | 95% | 3681 | Miscellaneous |
| Upwards Words: Cumulus and stratus are two of the main types of what object that is seen by most people on most days in some form? | Clouds | Clouds | 1 | CLOUDS | 1 | 95% | 5903 | Science & Tech |
| Orderly Organs: Your heart is nestled in your chest between the two halves of what other organ? | Lungs | The heart is nestled in the chest between the two halves of the lungs. | 1 | Unknown | 0 | 95% | 6648 | Science & Tech |
| Expansive Education: With an annual budget of over $300 million and over 95,000 enrolled students, the Lone Star College System is one of the U.S.'s largest community college systems. In what state will you find all of the school's campuses? | Texas | Texas | 1 | LSC is located in Texas. | 1 | 95% | 6038 | Miscellaneous |
| Careful Creators: The process of reducing the number of defects is typically known in manufacturing by the letters QC. What do those letters stand for? | Quality Control | Quality Control | 1 | (QC) Quality Control | 1 | 95% | 7051 | Science & Tech |
| Colossal Canines: What "big red dog" introduced in 1963 was named for the imaginary childhood friend of creator Norman Bridwell's wife? | Clifford | Clifford the Big Red Dog | 1 | Clifford the Big Red Dog | 1 | 95% | 4072 | Fine Arts |
| Bread Bowls: Outside of its home city, the St. Louis Bread Company is more popularly known as what chain restaurant? | Panera | Panera Bread | 1 | The St. Louis Bread Company is more popularly known as Panera Bread. | 1 | 95% | 3670 | Miscellaneous |
| Hiroshima Hitters: The Chunichi Dragons, Hanshin Tigers, and Hiroshima Toyo Carp all play in what country's professional baseball league? | Japan | Japan's professional baseball league. | 1 | Japan | 1 | 95% | 5310 | Sports & Games |
| Manly Myths: Which of the Greek Gods was considered the ruler of all Greek Gods? The Roman equivalent of this god is Jupiter. | Zeus | Zeus was considered the ruler of all Greek Gods. The Roman equivalent of this god is Jupiter. | 1 | Zeus was considered the ruler of all Greek Gods. The Roman equivalent of this god is Jupiter. | 1 | 95% | 2266 | Social Studies |
| Animal Actors: As of 2017, Jack Black has voiced what martial-arts-focused not-actually-a-bear animated character in three films? | Kung Fu Panda | Po from Kung Fu Panda | 1 | 0 | 95% | 6158 | Pop Culture | |
| Acrobatic Attractions: Founded in Quebec, what is the French name of the private entertainment company which has sold over 100 million tickets for its unique blend of continuous live music and circus-like acrobatics? | Cirque du Soleil | Cirque du Soleil | 1 | (Unknown) | 0 | 95% | 6473 | Pop Culture |
| Cigarette Collectibles: The T206 Honus Wagner card was considered the most valuable sports card throughout most of the 20th century after it was sold for record-breaking sums at multiple auctions. It was initially designed and issued by the American Tobacco Company before Wagner refused to allow production because he did not want children to buy cigarette packs to get his card. What sport did Wagner famously play? | Baseball | Baseball | 1 | Ice hockey | 0 | 95% | 1715 | Sports & Games |
| Political Power: Hirohito was the Emperor of what country during World War II? | Japan | Japan | 1 | Hirohito was the Emperor of Japan during World War II. | 1 | 95% | 6192 | Social Studies |
| Famous Founders: 2010 film "The Social Network" was directed by David Fincher, written by Aaron Sorkin, and adapted from the 2009 book "The Accidental Billionaires." The film follows the founding of Facebook, focusing on what current CEO of the company? | Mark Zuckerberg | Mark Zuckerberg | 1 | 2010 film "The Social Network" was directed by David Fincher, written by Aaron Sorkin, and adapted from the 2009 | 0 | 95% | 4517 | Pop Culture |
| Surname Shows: In which TV medical drama was the unconventional lead character with a "residential" name played by Hugh Laurie? | House | House | 1 | House | 1 | 95% | 5698 | Pop Culture |
| Historic Homes: What museum houses the Mona Lisa? | The Louvre | The Louvre Museum houses the Mona Lisa. | 1 | The Louvre Museum in Paris, France houses the Mona Lisa. | 1 | 95% | 4628 | Fine Arts |
| Podium Pastries: GBBO is a British reality television show which features a group of amateur bakers competing in a series of rounds. What does the acronym stand for? | Great British Bake Off | The acronym stands for Great British Bake Off. | 1 | (GBBO) stands for The Great British Bake Off. | 1 | 95% | 4226 | Pop Culture |
| Natural Nappers: Many animals estivate for portions of the year. What is the more common American English term for this behavior? | Hibernation | Hibernate | 1 | Hibernate | 1 | 95% | 4301 | Science & Tech |
| Talkin' Tech: What word is often abbreviated as Fn on a keyboard? | Function | Function | 1 | Fn is often abbreviated as Fn on a keyboard. | 0 | 94% | 3619 | Science & Tech |
| Protective Parts: The integumentary system of the human body consists of the hair, nails, and what largest part? | Skin | Skin | 1 | The integumentary system of the human body consists of the hair, nails, and skin. | 1 | 94% | 3824 | Science & Tech |
| Furious Freestylers: What American swimmer set a gold medal record at the 2008 Summer Olympics? This person won eight gold medals at a single Olympics. | Michael Phelps | Michael Phelps | 1 | Michael Phelps | 1 | 94% | 2701 | Sports & Games |
| Holiday Heroes: Although the most popular song on the film's soundtrack is "This Is Halloween" and the main character's name is Jack Skellington, the 1993 cult-classic Tim Burton film that was nominated for a visual effects Oscar includes what OTHER holiday in the film's title? | Christmas (The Nightmare Before Christmas) | The Nightmare Before Christmas | 1 | (Answer: Nightmare Before Christmas) | 1 | 94% | 3551 | Pop Culture |
| Cartoony Creations: In 1999 Shigetaka Kurita invented what keyboard additions for cell phones that would eventually replace emoticons and even get their own movie? | Emojis | The emoji was invented by Shigetaka Kurita in 1999. | 1 | EMOJI | 1 | 94% | 2190 | Science & Tech |
| Fruit Farmers: Although it expanded to grapefruit growers in 1976, the cooperative Ocean Spray has primarily focused on what other fruit throughout its existence? The brand reached viral heights after a 2020 TikTok mashing up Fleetwood Mac, skateboarding, and Ocean Spray juice. | Cranberry | Cranberries | 1 | 0 | 94% | 1315 | Pop Culture | |
| Tough Training: What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup, and a jump in the air? | Burpee | Tough Training: What six-letter word names both a seed company and an exercise that combines a squat, a pushup, and a jump in the air? | 0 | SQUATS | 0 | 94% | 1131 | Sports & Games |
| Seeing Shapes: Stratus, cumulus, cirrus, and nimbus are all types of what everyday object? | Clouds | Clouds are all types of everyday objects. | 1 | (Unknown) | 0 | 94% | 3462 | Science & Tech |
| Mega Marriages: What SPORT is the superstar British couple nicknamed "Posh and Becks" most associated with? The couple includes a famous singer and a famous athlete. | Soccer (football) | Soccer | 1 | Ice hockey | 0 | 94% | 2157 | Pop Culture |
| Described Devices: In what sport is a key piece of equipment a circular arrangement of 14 to 16 goose feathers that surround a piece of cork encased in leather? The name of this object is a shuttlecock. | Badminton | Badminton | 1 | Badminton | 1 | 94% | 1897 | Sports & Games |
| Talkin' Terminology: In the common business or science abbreviation "R&D," what does the letter R stand for? | Research | Research | 1 | Abbreviation for research and development. | 1 | 94% | 2903 | Science & Tech |
| Famous Follicles: The tonsure is a very specific haircut often worn by what profession during the Middle Ages? | Monks | The tonsure is a very specific haircut often worn by monks during the Middle Ages. | 1 | The tonsure is a very specific haircut often worn by monks during the Middle Ages. | 1 | 94% | 1012 | Social Studies |
| Faked Fevers: What is the FULL NAME of the movie in which Ben Stein is listed in the end credits as "Economics Teacher" and he utters the famous line "Bueller....Bueller....? | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | 1 | Ferris Bueller's Day Off | 1 | 94% | 3421 | Pop Culture |
| Australian Originals: What is the three-letter name of the second-largest bird on the planet? This animal is found only in Australia and is related to the ostrich. | Emu | Emu | 1 | emu | 1 | 94% | 5362 | Science & Tech |
| Initial Impeachments: What famous female pilot's second-to-last known radio transmission was the following? "...have been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet. | Amelia Earhart | Amelia Earhart's second-to-last known radio transmission was the following: "...have been unable to reach you by radio. We are flying at 1,000 feet. | 1 | Amelia Earhart | 0 | 93% | 5013 | Social Studies |
| Stolen Snacks: What food of the three bears did Goldilocks eat? | Porridge | Goldilocks ate porridge. | 1 | 0 | 93% | 4171 | Fine Arts | |
| Foot Furniture: The Turkish clan that drove Byzantine forces out of modern-day Turkey became an empire that lasted nearly 600 years and also became the namesake for a specific piece of foot-friendly furniture. What is this empire? | Ottoman Empire | Ottoman Empire | 1 | The Ottoman Empire | 1 | 93% | 1624 | Social Studies |
| Traveling Tots: A young boy takes a train to the North Pole on Christmas Eve in what classic 1985 children's book by Chris Van Allsburg? | The Polar Express | The Polar Express | 1 | The Polar Express | 1 | 93% | 852 | Fine Arts |
| City Spelling: Pittsburgh is typically considered the most commonly misspelled city in the United States. What letter is most commonly forgotten? | H | The letter "H" is most commonly forgotten in the spelling of Pittsburgh. | 1 | o | 0 | 92% | 1715 | Social Studies |
| Symbolic Names: What is the name of the symbol which means "and" as a "conjunction icon?" You can find this symbol above the number seven key on most QWERTY keyboard. We're looking for the NAME of the symbol. | Ampersand | The name of the symbol is "ampersand". | 1 | Logical conjunction | 0 | 92% | 4181 | Word Play |
| Memorial Museums: A recovered anchor from the USS Arizona is on display at what memorial's visitor center in Hawaii? | Pearl Harbor | The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center in Hawaii. | 0 | The USS Arizona Memorial Visitor Center | 0 | 92% | 3185 | Social Studies |
| Ancient Arts: Ashtanga, Bikram, and Vinyasa are three of the more popular forms of what practice that originated in ancient India? | Yoga | Yoga | 1 | Yoga | 1 | 91% | 3395 | Sports & Games |
| Tumultuous Travels: What British overseas territory is partially protected from severe hurricanes due to a surrounding coral reef but remains frequently associated with disasters due to an allegedly large number of unexplained aircraft disappearances? | Bermuda | Bermuda | 1 | The Bermuda Triangle. | 1 | 91% | 3180 | Social Studies |
| Insect Inspiration: What famous athlete famously declared his strategy to be the following nature-full phrase? "Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee. | Muhammad Ali | Muhammad Ali | 1 | Muhammad Ali | 1 | 91% | 5534 | Sports & Games |
| Worldly Writers: The Shujing, Chunqiu, and Shijing are considered the foundations of the literary tradition in what country? | China | China | 1 | China | 1 | 90% | 1112 | Social Studies |
| Green Waves: In 2010, what iconic Australian building prominently featured green lighting on its famously swooping white panels as part of its first celebration of St. Patrick's Day? The building was designed by Dane Jørn Utzon, but completed by an Australian architectural team in 1973. | Sydney Opera House | The Sydney Opera House | 1 | 0 | 90% | 1961 | Current Events | |
| Seasonal Sales: According to a survey by Dance magazine, what Christmas-themed Tchaikovsky ballet accounts for nearly half the annual revenue of many dance companies? | The Nutcracker | The Nutcracker | 1 | The Nutcracker | 1 | 90% | 781 | Fine Arts |
| TV Titles: What cartoon franchise was originally titled "Mysteries Five" and included a banjo-playing Great Dane canine? | Scooby Doo | Scooby-Doo | 1 | The Simpsons | 0 | 89% | 5378 | Fine Arts |
| Creepy Creatures: While promoting his sprawling novel "Freedom" in 2010, Jonathan Franzen was the first American novelist to appear on the cover of Time magazine since what legendary horror writer in 2000? | Stephen King | Stephen King | 1 | R.L. Stine | 0 | 88% | 1190 | Fine Arts |
| Particular Patterns: Iambic pentameter is a type of metric line used in English verse, most famously by William Shakespeare. While "iambic" describes the unstressed/stressed pattern of each two-syllable "foot," the word "pentameter" indicates that there are how many feet within a given line? | Five | Ten | 0 | 5 | 1 | 87% | 1165 | Fine Arts |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two rhyming words summarize the following phrase? A zippered piece of warm outerwear for a Serena Williams tool. | Jacket racket | Sweater and coat | 0 | (A) coat and (B) tool | 0 | 83% | 1509 | Word Play |
| Quirky Quotes: What autumn holiday was described by writer O. Henry as "the one day that is purely American? | Thanksgiving | Thanksgiving | 1 | October 31, Halloween. | 0 | 82% | 1621 | Fine Arts |
| Musical Chairs: After Microsoft paid $26 billion for it in 2016, which business website might keep nagging Microsoft to update its resume? | 1 | Microsoft. | 1 | 80% | 648 | Current Events | ||
| Very V: What synonym for vagabond has the same first three letters? | Vagrant | Vagrant | 1 | vagrant | 1 | 79% | 2157 | Word Play |
| Technical Terms: Although colloquially used as a term to indicate that the unemployment rate is substantially higher than normal, an economist will tell you that the technical definition reflects two straight calendar quarters of negative growth of real GDP. What is the term? | Recession | Recession | 1 | NAIRU | 0 | 77% | 1337 | Word Play |
| Bought Brands: What slang term with Germanic roots meaning "fool" is half the name of a Best Buy subsidiary acquired in 2002? The term is used to describe eccentric or non-mainstream people and is typically considered a pejorative term although it can be used self-referentially as a source of pride. | Geek | Geek Squad | 1 | BBY | 0 | 76% | 1382 | Word Play |
| Millennial Meaning: What photographic term was first used (or at least, the first recorded use in print) when Nathan Hope posted an image of his injured face online in 2002? | Selfie | The term "selfie" was first used in 2002. | 1 | 0 | 76% | 1482 | Word Play | |
| Mammalian News: The Sumatran species of what famously horned mammal officially went extinct in Malaysia in November 2019? The animal is not yet extinct globally as a few dozen live in Indonesia. | Rhino | The Sumatran species of rhinoceros officially went extinct in Malaysia in November 2019. The animal is not yet extinct globally as a few dozen live in Indonesia. | 1 | 0 | 73% | 1341 | Current Events | |
| Misspelled Mistakes: Considered the source of many spelling problems, what is the term for words that sound alike but have different meanings and different spellings? | Homophones | Homonyms | 1 | homonyms | 1 | 72% | 511 | Word Play |
| Latin Language: What common Latin phrase literally means "something for something? | quid pro quo | Quid pro quo" literally means "something for something. | 1 | quid pro quo | 1 | 69% | 2708 | Word Play |
| Faithless" Firsts: Despite not running in the 2016 election, a retired Secretary of State earned three electoral votes for president from "faithless electors" in Washington. This man inadvertently became the first black Republican to earn electoral votes. Who is this man? | Colin Powell | Colin Powell | 1 | Colin Powell | 1 | 68% | 1324 | Current Events |
| International Leaders: Recep Tayyip Erdogan has been the president of what country since August 2014? | Turkey | Turkey | 1 | Turkey | 1 | 67% | 923 | Current Events |
| Double Definitions: What word with a set of double letters could either signify a type of snake or a style of shoe known for its Native American roots? | Moccasin | The word is "moccasin". | 1 | moccasins | 1 | 67% | 1448 | Word Play |
| Wordy World: From the Latin word for "earth," what's a synonym for an outdoor patio? | Terrace | A terrace | 1 | Synonym for an outdoor patio is courtyard. | 0 | 67% | 1937 | Word Play |
| Brief Biographies: Degrees from Stanford, Oxford, and Yale. Former Mayor of Newark. Vegetarian since 1992. Which former contender for the Democratic 2020 Presidential nomination does this describe? | Cory Booker | Cory Booker | 1 | Kamala Devi Harris | 0 | 61% | 1468 | Current Events |
| Modern History: In what decade was Hong Kong transferred back under the control of China? The region had been under British control for 155 years. | 1990s | The transfer of Hong Kong back to China occurred in 1997. | 1 | 1997 | 1 | 54% | 1271 | Current Events |
| Presidential Pardons: President Trump's first pardon was used to commute the sentence of what former Arizona Sheriff? | Joe Arpaio | Joe Arpaio | 1 | Joe Arpaio | 1 | 52% | 898 | Current Events |
| Overnight Flights: French–Lebanese–Brazilian businessman Carlos Ghosn escaped Japan in the middle of the night on December 30, 2019 by flying to Beirut while possibly hiding in a large black audio equipment box. Ghosn was facing trial in Japan and claimed he "escaped injustice." He was facing false accounting charges related to his 17 years as the CEO of what auto manufacturer? | Nissan | Ghosn was facing trial in Japan and claimed he "escaped injustice." He was facing false accounting charges related to his 17 years as the CEO of Nissan. | 1 | Nissan | 1 | 52% | 1163 | Current Events |
| Estimating Evidence: What 13-letter "P" word typically means a greater or weightier part? It is often used in civil lawsuits when determining the amount of evidence required for conviction. | Preponderance | Preponderance | 1 | preponderance of the evidence | 1 | 39% | 630 | Word Play |
| Reformulated Recipes: In 2017 Coca-Cola modified the recipe of Coke Zero and rebranded the product with what similar name? | Coke Zero Sugar | Coca-Cola Zero Sugar | 1 | Sprite Zero | 0 | 37% | 1398 | Current Events |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two-word rhyming phrase could mean the following? Trefoil found surrounding the Capitol in Delaware. | Dover Clover | Two'fer Goofer: What two-word rhyming phrase could mean the following? Trefoil found surrounding the Capitol in Delaware. | 0 | 0 | 37% | 691 | Word Play | |
| Explaining Away: What is the most commonly used English word with at least seven letters? | Because | The most commonly used English word with at least seven letters is "set". | 0 | The is the most common English word with at least seven letters. | 0 | 34% | 806 | Word Play |
| Wordy World: If bovine describes a cow and equine describes a horse, what adjective describes a pig? | Porcine | Porcine | 1 | swinish | 0 | 34% | 752 | Word Play |
| Rideshare Royalty: The man who replaced Travis Kalanick as CEO of Uber in 2017 was previously CEO of what U.S.-based travel company with a name mean to evoke speed and convenience? | Expedia | Dara Khosrowshahi was previously CEO of Expedia. | 1 | LYFT | 0 | 33% | 706 | Current Events |
| Unique Sequences: What sarcastic word has all five English vowels in alphabetical order? | Facetious | Aardvark | 0 | Vowels | 0 | 33% | 1499 | Word Play |
| Notable Names: What was the name for an early movie theater offering silent films with piano accompaniment that typically charged five cents for entrance? | Nickelodeon | Nickelodeon | 1 | Nickelodeon | 1 | 32% | 1178 | Word Play |
| Triangular Times: The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what portmanteau that combines the names of all three of its cities? As a hint so you can focus on portmanteau-building, the cities are Cambridge, London, and Oxford. | Loxbridge | The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what portmanteau that combines the names of all three of its cities? As a hint so you can focus on portmanteau-building, the cities are Cambridge, London, and Oxford. | 0 | The "golden triangle" is an unofficial group of universities located in southeast England which is occasionally referred to by what portmanteau that combines | 0 | 32% | 591 | Word Play |
| Musical Chairs: The European internet company Skype was purchased by eBay in 2005 for 8.5 billion? | Microsoft | Microsoft | 1 | Microsoft. | 1 | 31% | 625 | Current Events |
| Theatrical Theft: The silkworm’s unique traits made it an incredibly valuable creature for thousands of years before the creatures were allegedly smuggled out of China in a hollow stick and sold to what Empire? | Byzantine Empire | The silkworm’s unique traits made it an incredibly valuable creature for thousands of years before the creatures were allegedly smuggled out of China in a hollow stick and sold to what Empire? | 0 | The silkworm’s unique traits made it an incredibly valuable creature for thousands of years before the creatures were allegedly smuggled out of China in a hollow stick | 0 | 29% | 718 | Current Events |
| Special Spoonerisms: Spoonerism: two pairs of words with the first sounds or letters swapped, such as blushing crow and crushing blow.What spoonerism describes these two objects? A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. | faked beast | A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. | 0 | (1) A feigned animal and large meal cooked in an oven. | 0 | 29% | 1297 | Word Play |
| Piloting Pasta: In 2017, the Italian port city of Genoa added one exception to the 100-milliliter limit for carrying liquids onto airplanes. What famed regional sauce can passengers now carry in quantities up to 500 grams when flying? | Pesto | Passengers can now carry up to 500 grams of pesto. | 1 | Arrabbiata sauce | 0 | 28% | 1324 | Current Events |
| Many Meanings: What 11-letter word can mean either a trunk or a word which blends the sound and meaning of two other words? Yeah, this question's a mouthful. | Portmanteau | A trunk is a large, strong box used for storage. A blend is a word that is a combination of two other words. | 0 | Synonym | 0 | 25% | 1376 | Word Play |
| Two'fer Goofer: What two rhyming words summarize the following phrase? A gatherer and organizer of large, dangerous jungle felines. | Leopard shepherd | Poacher and Trapper | 0 | (A) Gatherer and organizer of large, dangerous jungle felines. | 0 | 22% | 1187 | Word Play |
| Allowing Agency: While serving as president of the NBA Players Association, what Hall of Fame basketball player, led a suit against the NBA that delayed its merger with the ABA and laid the groundwork for the eventual introduction of free agency to the league? The player was famously the only player in league history to average a triple-double until 2017. | Oscar Robertson | Oscar Robertson | 1 | 0 | 20% | 862 | Sports & Games | |
| Soccer Standards: How many yards is it from the penalty mark to the goal line on a standard soccer field? | 12 | The penalty mark is 11 yards from the goal line. | 0 | 100 yards | 0 | 19% | 1096 | Sports & Games |
| Many Meanings: What board game has a history that can be traced back nearly 5,000 years and has pieces that are referred to as checkers, draughts, stones, men, counters, pawns, discs, pips, chips, or nips? | Backgammon | Checkers | 0 | CHESS | 0 | 18% | 1098 | Sports & Games |
| Warrior Weights: In Olympic boxing, the maximum weight for the "cocky" little fighters is 123 pounds in what division? | bantamweight | The maximum weight for the "cocky" little fighters is 123 pounds in the flyweight division. | 0 | 123 pounds in the flyweight division. | 0 | 17% | 1104 | Sports & Games |
| Latitude Attitude: Although the NBA champion Toronto Raptors claim the slogan “We The North,” they play home games at only 43 degrees latitude. Which NBA team has the true claim to the north, with their home stadium coming in at 45 degrees latitude? | Portland Trailblazers | The Golden State Warriors have the true claim to the north, with their home stadium coming in at 45 degrees latitude. | 0 | 45 degrees latitude | 0 | 17% | 894 | Sports & Games |
| Business Barons: She made her fortune by developing and marketing cosmetics and hair care products for black women. She's also listed as the first female self-made millionaire in America in the Guinness Book of World Records. Who is this woman? | Madam C. J. Walker | Madam C. J. Walker | 1 | Madam C.J. Walker | 1 | 17% | 679 | Science & Tech |
| Acclaimed Authors: Considered one of the innovators of creative nonfiction via New Journalism, what American author's best-known work "The Executioner's Song" won the 1979 Pulitzer Prize for fiction? This "postal" author also ran in the Democratic primary for NYC's mayoral race of 1969 with a platform including the secession of New York City as the 51st US state. | Norman Mailer | Norman Mailer | 1 | Mailer, Norman | 1 | 16% | 1082 | Fine Arts |
| TV Shows: Since its inception, Saturday Night Live has broadcast from what alphanumeric studio within NBC's headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza? | 8H | Studio 8H | 1 | 30 Rockefeller Plaza | 0 | 16% | 1005 | Pop Culture |
| Double Duty: Although most well-known for his flair as a circus owner, P.T. Barnum also served in elected office as a mayor and in the state legislature in what east coast state? | Connecticut | Connecticut | 1 | Unknown | 0 | 16% | 1117 | Miscellaneous |
| Teenage 007: What Anthony Horowitz-created character is sometimes referred to as a “Teenage James Bond?” He is the main character in a series of books that starts with “Stormbreaker.” | Alex Rider | Alex Rider | 1 | Alex Rider | 1 | 16% | 571 | Fine Arts |
| Rock and Roll: In Rolling Stone's latest version of the greatest guitarists of all time, No. 5 was a man with a monosyllabic first and last name. This man was one of the three guitarists for The Yardbirds, and he spent decades exploring innovative guitar sounds. Who is he? | Jeff Beck | Jeff Beck | 1 | Jeff Beck | 1 | 16% | 1125 | Pop Culture |
| Consistent Champs: 1987 was the first time in 13 years that what American woman did not win a tennis Grand Slam event? | Chris Evert | Chris Evert did not win a Grand Slam event in 1987. | 1 | 1987 was the first time in 13 years that Steffi Graf did not win a tennis Grand Slam event. | 0 | 16% | 1085 | Sports & Games |
| Confounding Creatures: What frequently-misnomered mammal has fingerprints so indistinguishable from humans that they have occasionally been wrongfully collected as evidence at crime scenes? | Koalas | The sloth. | 0 | Homo sapiens | 0 | 16% | 961 | Miscellaneous |
| Site Surnames: Craigslist is named after its founder. What is Craig's seven-letter two-syllable "N" last name? | Newmark | Craig Newmark | 1 | craigs | 1 | 15% | 1453 | Science & Tech |
| Beautifying Bodies: What mineral, which is most concentrated in keratin, is known as "nature's beauty mineral" and helps the body produce collagen to keep skin looking young and fresh? | Sulphur | Calcium | 0 | Unknown | 0 | 15% | 1272 | Science & Tech |
| Teamed Threes: Who formed the first Triumvirate with Crassus and Julius Caesar? | Pompey | Pompey the Great | 1 | 0 | 15% | 975 | Science & Tech | |
| Elderly Experts: Fitting for her famous nickname, what American artist took up painting after she had turned 70? In part, her passion for art was delayed due to her time-intensive work on a farm for much of her life. "Sugaring Off" and "Fourth of July" are two of her most famous works. | Grandma Moses | Georgia O'Keeffe | 0 | Grandma Moses | 1 | 15% | 933 | Fine Arts |
| Bantering Brits: What American-born British screenwriter, film director, animator, actor, comedian and former member of the Monty Python comedy troupe was born in Minnesota, spent his teen years in Los Angeles, and is now only a citizen of the United Kingdom? | Terry Gilliam | Terry Gilliam | 1 | 0 | 14% | 1161 | Pop Culture | |
| Turkey Time: What do the letters "ZIP" stand for in the United States postal code? | Zone Improvement Plan | ZIP stands for Zone Improvement Plan. | 1 | Abbreviation for Zone Improvement Plan. | 1 | 14% | 877 | Miscellaneous |
| Medical Miracles: The term "magic bullet" was coined by German scientist Paul Ehrlich to describe a compound that would kill only a specifically targeted organism. Ehrlich even invented the "first magic bullet" with Salvarsan, which was used to treat which disease? | Syphillis | Syphilis | 1 | Syphilis | 1 | 14% | 942 | Science & Tech |
| Trifecta Phrases: Which three-word English idiom of British origin derives its meaning from the "mm" sound made when one speaks through closed lips? | Mum's the word | Mum's the word | 1 | (1) "Bite the bullet", (2) "Bite your tongue", | 0 | 14% | 1382 | Miscellaneous |
| TV Talkers: Mario Lopez hosted the first seven seasons of what dance competition show from 2008 - 2012? | America's Best Dance Crew | Dancing with the Stars | 0 | Dancing with the Stars | 0 | 14% | 1058 | Pop Culture |
| Nike: The founders of Nike started the business as distributors for what "Tiger" footwear brand from Japan? | Onitsuka | The founders of Nike started the business as distributors for Onitsuka Tiger. | 1 | They started the business as distributors for Onitsuka Tiger. | 1 | 14% | 963 | Pop Culture |
| Pop music: What musician is the lead singer of both Blur and Gorillaz, two popular British bands? | Damon Albarn | Damon Albarn | 1 | Damon Albarn is the lead singer of both Blur and Gorillaz, two popular British bands. | 1 | 14% | 1243 | Pop Culture |
| Spicy Snacks: Nduja is a spicy, spreadable pork dish made from parts such as the shoulder and belly. What European country does this dish call home? | Italy | Italy | 1 | Unknown | 0 | 14% | 1015 | Miscellaneous |
| Required Reading: Although this Thomas Pynchon novel was considered one of the "All-Time Greatest 100 Novels" by Time, the 1974 Pulitzer Prize jury on fiction was offended by its content, some of which was described as "unreadable, overwritten, and obscene." What is this two-word novel? | Gravity's Rainbow | Gravity's Rainbow | 1 | ******__****** | 0 | 14% | 929 | Fine Arts |
| Pop Apps: Beating out Facebook, Instagram, and Snapchat, what other massively popular online service was the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2018? Fine print: we're talking free apps, and not including apps that come pre-downloaded on iPhones. | YouTube | Fortnite was the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2018. | 0 | TikTok was the most-downloaded iPhone app of 2018. | 0 | 13% | 559 | Pop Culture |
| Numbered Names: Franklin Carmichael, Lawren Harris, A. Y. Jackson, Frank Johnston, Arthur Lismer, J. E. H. MacDonald, and Frederick Varley are collectively known by what name as a famed set of Canadian landscape painters in the first half of the 20th century? | Group of Seven or Algonquin School | The Group of Seven | 1 | The Group of Seven | 1 | 13% | 928 | Fine Arts |
| Beauty Time: What is the animal term associated with some lip gloss applicators? The name does not come from the fuzzy tip resembling fur, but rather from the hoof-shaped, angular tip of the applicator. | Doe foot | Lipstick | 0 | Tweezers | 0 | 13% | 742 | Miscellaneous |
| Original Owners: Nicknamed "Commy" or "the Old Roman," what American man helped form the American League, owned one of its teams, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939? | Charles Comiskey | George Herman "Babe" Ruth, Jr. | 0 | William Hulbert "Commy" Armour | 0 | 13% | 989 | Sports & Games |
| Viral Viruses: The first death outside of China from the novel coronavirus occurred in February 2020 in what Asian nation? | The Philippines | Unknown | 0 | Mainland China | 0 | 12% | 944 | Current Events |
| Cantation Collections: What three-word phrase does not actually refer to a specific binding or list of songs, but instead represents a loosely-defined set of enduring songs from the 1920s to the 1950s created for musical theater and Hollywood? | Great American Songbook | Great American Songbook | 1 | Lullaby | 0 | 12% | 773 | Fine Arts |
| Produced Playwrights: "A Raisin in the Sun," the first play written by an African American woman to be produced on Broadway, opened in March 1959. The author was a 29-year-old woman who won the New York Drama Critics Circle Award for Best Play. Name the author. | Lorraine Hansberry | Lorraine Hansberry | 1 | Lorraine Hansberry | 1 | 12% | 821 | Fine Arts |
| Kooky Kingdoms: What is the collective name for any eukaryotic organism that is not a plant, animal, or fungus? | Protist | The collective name for any eukaryotic organism that is not a plant, animal, or fungus is "Kooky Kingdom". | 0 | Archaea | 0 | 12% | 937 | Science & Tech |
| Beauty Shots: What is the nine-letter term for the appearance of a white cast on one's skin caused by a makeup product captured with flash photography? This is often caused by SPF in foundation and powders. | Flashback | Flashback | 1 | sallow | 0 | 12% | 985 | Miscellaneous |
| Cricket Legends: Informally known as "The God of Cricket," what former Indian cricketer is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport and is the highest run-scorer of all time in international competition? | Sachin Tendulkar | Sachin Tendulkar | 1 | Sachin Tendulkar is widely regarded as one of the greatest batsmen in the history of the sport and is the highest run-scorer of all time in international competition. | 1 | 12% | 887 | Sports & Games |
| Scientific States: CERN hosts the Large Hadron Collider, the world's highest energy particle collider which opened underneath the Swiss-French border in 2008. The LHC surpassed the prior record-holding particle accelerator in what U.S. state? | Illinois | The LHC surpassed the prior record-holding particle accelerator in New York. | 0 | Illinois | 1 | 12% | 1182 | Science & Tech |
| Crime Capitals: As of 2018, what American city had the highest murder rate per capita? (minimum population of 300,000) | St. Louis | St. Louis, Missouri | 1 | 0 | 11% | 856 | Current Events | |
| Foreign Flags: When ignoring the stem, how many points does the maple leaf on the Canadian flag have? | 11 | 11 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 11% | 1135 | Social Studies |
| Common Cantations: What is the most commonly used NAMED spell in the Harry Potter book series? Hint: it's different than the answer would be for the film series, which is Wingardium Leviosa. | Accio | The most commonly used named spell in the Harry Potter book series is Accio. | 1 | Finite Incantatem | 0 | 11% | 601 | Fine Arts |
| Banned Beefs: What is the two-word "religious" idiom for the prohibition of eating a certain type of meat? The earliest known instance of this prohibition likely arose around 600 B.C. | sacred cow | Kosher | 0 | 0 | 11% | 501 | Social Studies | |
| Dead Presidents: Only one U.S. President is buried in Washington, DC. Which man is this? | Woodrow Wilson | James Monroe is the only U.S. President buried in Washington, DC. | 0 | George Washington | 0 | 11% | 905 | Social Studies |
| Speedy Shoes: Marathon world record holder Eliud Kipchoge was the first person to run the distance of a marathon in under two hours (in part due to a team of pacers and a flat course) in October 2019. Kipchoge was wearing custom Nike Vaporfly shoes and ran the event in what European city? | Vienna | Berlin, Germany | 0 | Unknown | 0 | 10% | 817 | Sports & Games |
| Penning Pulitzers: "A Visit from the Goon Squad" won the 2011 Pulitzer Prize for Fiction and intersected across characters and formats while the titular "goon squad" was simply time itself. What woman penned this novel? | Jennifer Egan | Jennifer Egan | 1 | Jennifer Egan | 0 | 10% | 832 | Fine Arts |
| Stately Objections: In January 2017, President Trump issued an executive order restricting immigration to the U.S. from seven countries. A lawsuit opposing this order eventually made it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Which of the 50 states filed this lawsuit and was thus included in the court case's name? | Hawaii | Washington State filed the lawsuit and was thus included in the court case's name. | 0 | 17 states, including California, New York, and Virginia, filed this lawsuit. | 0 | 10% | 662 | Social Studies |
| Country Classrooms: According to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, what is the most educated country on the planet as of 2019? To measure this, they are ranking countries based on the share of adult residents between the ages of 25 and 64 with a "tertiary education," meaning a two-year or four-year degree or education via vocational program. The leader had ~56% of the population with tertiary education. | Canada | The most educated country on the planet as of 2019 is South Korea. | 0 | 0 | 10% | 667 | Miscellaneous | |
| Utopian Architecture: At the height of Frank Lloyd Wright's career in 1927, he surprised contemporaries by designing what type of retail outlet? The design was part of his utopian city concept and although intended for Buffalo, NY the structure was eventually built in Cloquet, MN where it remains in business. | Gas Station | A gas station. | 1 | A gas station | 1 | 10% | 1177 | Science & Tech |
| Broadcasting Brothers: Hank Green is an American entrepreneur, musician, educator, producer, vlogger, and author that lives in Missoula, Montana. What was the name of Green's YouTube channel that launched him and his brother to fame in the early 2000s? | Vlogbrothers | Vlogbrothers | 1 | DFTBA Records | 0 | 10% | 1080 | Pop Culture |
| TV Shows: Originally conceived by its eponymous founder as a place for choral music without religious affiliation, what famed music venue in Toronto was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1981? The venue shares its name with an American actor, dancer, and rapper who reached childhood fame with his role on "That's So Raven. | Massey Hall | Roy Thomson Hall | 0 | Massey Hall | 1 | 10% | 1017 | Pop Culture |
| Timed Travels: Including the mandatory training period, how many months of commitment is the standard Peace Corps Volunteer assignment? | 27 | The standard Peace Corps Volunteer assignment is 27 months. | 1 | 27 months | 1 | 10% | 997 | Social Studies |
| Cash Clues: Using the International Monetary Fund (2018) as your source, choose the continent (excluding Antarctica of course) with the highest GDP per capita. Now choose the country within that continent with the highest GDP per capita. What is the country? | Australia | The country is Qatar. | 0 | (1) Europe (2) Luxembourg | 0 | 9% | 1132 | Social Studies |
| Border Boundaries: Congress granted Michigan the Upper Peninsula after a dispute over shoreline with what neighboring state? | Ohio | Wisconsin | 0 | 0 | 9% | 1300 | Social Studies | |
| Religious Roles: Fittingly, what is the name of the hero of John Bunyan's "Pilgrim's Progress" who flees from the City of Destiny to the Celestial City? | Christian | Christian | 1 | Unknown | 0 | 9% | 918 | Fine Arts |
| Big Bakeries: There's a town in the Peloponnese region of Greece with a namesake food item known for its purple color and smooth meaty texture. What is this fruit? | Kalamata Olive | The fruit is a fig. | 0 | Figs | 1 | 9% | 974 | Miscellaneous |
| Regional Reps: In the 2019 United States Congress, how many of the 50 U.S. states have only 1 Representative elected to represent the entire state? | 7 | There are no states with only 1 Representative. | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9% | 1025 | Social Studies |
| Global Guides: In an effort to address (albeit in a small way) a public health crisis, the Google __ Indicator, sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development was integrated into Google Maps in India in 2016. What word fills in the blank? | Toilet | The Google Flu Trends Indicator, sponsored by the Indian Ministry of Urban Development was integrated into Google Maps in India in 2016. | 0 | __ | 0 | 8% | 748 | Social Studies |
| Replete Resumes: Prior to being a U.S. President, what man had been a senator, minister to France, England and Spain, Secretary of War, Secretary of State, and Governor of Virginia? | James Monroe | Thomas Jefferson | 0 | Thomas Jefferson | 1 | 7% | 815 | Social Studies |
| Precocious Players: In what year was American soccer player Freddy Adu born? Adu rose to international fame when he signed a professional sports contract in the U.S. at the age of 14. | 1989 | Freddy Adu was born in 1989. | 1 | 1993 | 0 | 7% | 530 | Sports & Games |
| TV Shows: Creator Larry David had a famous policy for Seinfeld in which he wanted to scrupulously avoid sentimentality and moral lessons. What four-word phrase is the quote often attributed to David as the summary of this policy? | No hugging, no learning | No hugging, no learning. | 1 | No hugging, no learning. | 1 | 6% | 944 | Pop Culture |
| Elementary Education: What is the name of the international Language Arts competition for students in grades 3 - 8 which has thrice-annual challenges of twenty analogies? The purpose is to learn a new set of vocabulary words. | WordMasters | The name of the international Language Arts competition for students in grades 3 - 8 which has thrice-annual challenges of twenty analogies is the Global Classroom. | 0 | Synonyms | 0 | 5% | 1023 | Miscellaneous |
| Time Turners: What did the U.S. Congress enact for almost ten months in 1974 to combat fuel shortages? | Daylight Savings time | The Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act of 1973 | 0 | 1974-1975: The Emergency Petroleum Allocation Act. | 0 | 3% | 1106 | Science & Tech |
| Fractal Flowers: What is the name for a "flower" that is actually composed of thousands of flowers grouped together to form a single flower-like structure? The botanical term for this is a pseudanthium. | Composite flower | A pseudanthium is a flower-like structure composed of thousands of flowers grouped together to form a single flower-like structure. | 0 | Chrysanthemum | 0 | 3% | 501 | Science & Tech |
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