Twenty Questions

Good morning all. I thought it might be fun to give you a little trivia quiz today just for grins and giggles. There is no particular logic to the questions other than the facts are kind of fun. If you can answer all twenty questions WITHOUT using Google, you'll win a lollipop and a gold star. Have fun.

1. What secretive medieval organization effectively founded the first international banking system?

2. Who was the only former U.S. President to swear in a successor?

3. Who invented FM radio?

4. Name two southern female authors who became internationally famous on just one novel each.

5. Who discovered alternating current?

6. Which famous silent film era comedian made a cameo appearance in Sunset Boulevard?
     a. Charlie Chaplin
     b. Buster Keaton
     c. Oliver Hardy

7. What world renowned composer was born on this date (March 21) in 1685?

8. In 1972, members of the Palestinian Group Black September kidnapped and later killed eleven members of the Israeli Olympic team. In what city did this attack occur?

9. Orson Welles' 1941 masterpiece Citizen Kane  is based on the life of what American newspaper baron?

10. In his famous fifth, Beethoven introduced two instruments never before used in a symphony. What were they?

11. Why is November 22 a significant day for musicians?

12. What famous Broadway and Film musical is based on Christopher Isherwood's Berlin Diaries?

13. What are you if you're a sesquipedalienist?

14. Why are nickels larger than dimes?

15. Who was the first African-American to sing at the Metropolitan Opera?

16. Who invented the swivel chair?

17. Who said "Give me liberty, or give me death!"?

18. What makes white asparagus white?

19. Where were Orville and Wilbur Wright born?

20. Name two words in English that have no rhyme.