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We  are kicking off with some regulation Soccer Trivia! See how well you score . . .

1. TRUE or FALSE? Soccer cleats and baseball cleats are the same.
2. The World Cup (the world championship of soccer) is played every ________ years?
3. Who won the 2014 World Cup? A) Brazil B) Argentina C) Germany D) United States
4. What is it called when you hit the soccer ball with your head?
5. In soccer rules, what does it mean if the referee shows you a red card?
6. The handsome and ridiculously talented Cristiano Ronaldo is from what country?
7. Americans call it soccer, but what is this sport called in most other countries around the world? (Hint: It is not called “soccer” in England.)
8. In youth soccer, what do the terms U-8 and U-10 mean?
9. Only 1 player on the soccer field is allowed to touch the ball with his or her hands. What is this player called?
10. How many players from each team are on the soccer field at a time?

Scroll down to see the answers.

1. ANSWER: FALSE. Soccer cleats have spikes usually made from rubber or plastic and are lightweight and flexible for running on grass. Baseball cleats have metal or hard thin spikes to grip the clay/dirt on the field, and are bulkier and stiffer for support.
2. ANSWER: Every 4 years. The next World Cup will be in Russia in 2018.
3. ANSWER: Germany won (beating Argentina in the championship).
4. ANSWER: A “header.” Believe it or not, if you hit it in the right place on your head, it doesn’t hurt that much.
5. ANSWER: It’s a penalty card, and you are kicked out of the game. Also if you receive 2 “yellow cards” (warning cards) it equals a red card and you’re kicked out of the game! Yikes, talk about fiery red.
6. ANSWER: Portugal. He plays for the Portugal National Team, and also the Spanish club Real Madrid C.F.
7. ANSWER: Football. The United States, Canada, and Australia call it soccer but most other countries call it football, futbol, or “footie.”
8. ANSWER: U-8 is a division for kids aged 8 and under. U-10 is for kids 10 and under.
9. Only the goalkeeper or “goalie” is allowed to use his or her hands while on the field. Of course, any player may use his or her hands to take a throw-in from off the field.
10. ANSWER: In professional, high school, and college soccer 11 players total (10 plus a goalkeeper). Although in youth leagues it can be 4 vs. 4, 6 vs. 6 or 8 vs. 8.

Are you a soccer fan or a soccer player? Shout out to your favorite teams in the Comments below!

-Ratha, STACKS Writer

Arjen Robben photo credit Global Panorama

Famous Books Written by Literary Dogs

We already know that cats are literary geniuses. While people consider dogs to be “human’s best friend,” did you know that they’re also great writers? I had no idea how many famous books were written by dogs until I found this stash of books hidden out in the dog house . . . buried under a few of my dog’s favorite chew toys.

Can you identify these famous literary masterpieces written by dogs?

• Hairy Pawter and the Sorcerer’s Bone by J.K. Rawhide
• The Woof According to Humphrey by Betty G. Bark-ney
• Diary of a Wimpy Dog: Doggy Days by Jeff Kennel
• Dear Dalmatian Diary by Jim Bone-ton
• I Survived Hurricane CAT-trina by Lauren Terrier

Leave your answers in the Comments below, and let us know what books you would find in your dog library!

-Ratha, STACKS Writer

“The Librarian” Flickr photo by aussiegall adapted with permission
“Dog Looks Like Harry Potter” Flickr photo by Pets Advisor adapted with permission

Happy April Fools’ Day!

Yesterday, we posted an April Fools’ Day Trivia Quiz. Were you fooled, or did you guess the answers?

1. What date is April Fools’ Day?
   ANSWER: April 1st.
2. According to one belief, April Fools’ Day is said to have started in which country? (Hint: Eiffel Tower)
   ANSWER: France. According to one story, in 1582 Pope Gregory XIII changed New Year’s Day from April 1 to January 1. People weren’t happy with this, and kept celebrating on April 1. The January people made fun of the April people, and tricked them into running “fools’ errands” and playing tricks on them. Hmm . . . sounds complicated. I’ll just stick to putting rubber bugs in my family’s beds!
3. In 1998, which restaurant published a fake advertisement for a hamburger for left-handed people? (McDonald’s or Burger King)
   ANSWER: Burger King! They put an ad in the newspaper announcing a new menu item: the Left-Handed Whopper. It had the same ingredients as the original Whopper, but rotated the condiments 180 degrees. Thousands of customers went into BK requesting the new sandwich which was not real!
4. Back in 2011, which celebrity teen heartthrob singer pretended to let talk show host Jimmy Kimmel shave off his hair?
   ANSWER: Justin Bieber! Luckily, it was all a joke.
5. TRUE or APRIL FOOL: In 2005, NASA posted on their website that water had been found on Mars. Was water really found on Mars?
   ANSWER: APRIL FOOL! Well . . . actually yes and no. When readers scrolled down, they saw a picture of a glass of water placed on a Mars candy bar. (Good one!)
6. What would YOU rather do: put Vaseline on your parents’ toilet seat OR a mustache tattoo on your sister while she’s sleeping?
   ANSWER: No wrong answer, you sneaky trickster, you!
7. TRUE or APRIL FOOL: In 1957, Swiss farmers enjoyed a surprise “spaghetti crop” when spaghetti grew on trees.
   ANSWER: APRIL FOOL! It was a BBC prank.

Did you pull any good pranks for April Fools’ Day? I’m looking for some good ideas for next year, so let me know in the Comments below!

-Ratha, STACKS Writer

April Fools’ Day Trivia Quiz

There’s one day in the year when you can’t get in trouble for playing pranks on people. April Fools’ Day! Who can resist getting a glass of “moldy” milk or a gummy worm in your apple?

Are you prepared for April Fools’ Day? To get you in the mood, take a jab at our April Fools’ Day Trivia Quiz. You might get some good ideas!

1. What date is April Fools’ Day?
2. According to one belief, April Fools’ Day is said to have started in which country? (Hint: Eiffel Tower)
3. In 1998, which restaurant published a fake advertisement for a hamburger for left-handed people? (McDonald’s or Burger King)
4. Back in 2011, which celebrity teen heartthrob singer pretended to let talk show host Jimmy Kimmel shave off his hair?
5. TRUE or APRIL FOOL: In 2005, NASA posted on their website that water had been found on Mars. Was water really found on Mars?
6. What would YOU rather do: put Vaseline on your parents’ toilet seat OR a mustache tattoo on your sister while she’s sleeping?
7. TRUE or APRIL FOOL: In 1957, Swiss farmers enjoyed a surprise “spaghetti crop” when spaghetti grew on trees.

If you refuse to be fooled, let us know your answers in the Comments below! Then check back on April Fools’ Day for the answers.

-Ratha, STACKS Writer

In order to celebrate Trivia Day, we have put together a quiz with questions chosen at random from Very Short Introductions online. This is the perfect quiz for those who know a little about a lot. The topics range from Geopolitics to Happiness, and from French Literature to Mathematics. Do you have what it takes to take on this very short trivia quiz and become a trivia master? Take the quiz to find out…

We hope you enjoyed testing your trivia knowledge in this very short quiz.

Headline image credit: Pondering Away. © GlobalStock  via iStock Photo.

The post A very short trivia quiz appeared first on OUPblog.

        

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Baby Names ANSWERS: What’s Hot and What’s Not in 2014!

Last week we posted 2014 Baby Names Trivia. How did you do? Check out the answers below!

1. Which Frozen character name shot up 29% this year? A) Olaf. B) Bulda. C) Elsa. D) Kristoff. ANSWER: Elsa . . . of course! Hans also was up 19%, but Elsa still beat him out.
2. Which is NOT one of the top 3 girls’ names of 2014? A) Olivia. B) Sophia. C) Josephine. D) Emma. ANSWER: Josephine.
3. Which city or borough would you rather be named after – Denver OR Bronx? Both were popular names in 2014! ANSWER: It’s up to you!
4. Which name was NOT new to the girls top 100 list this year? A) Cora. B) Piper. C) Paisley. D) Clara. E) Ava. F) Cadence. ANSWER: Ava was not new. (It’s #4.) However, check out these new additions: Cora is #92. Piper is #94. Paisley is #96. Clara is #99. Cadence is #100.
5. The names Easton, Xander, and Ryder are all new to the top 100 boys’ names this year. TRUE or FALSE? ANSWER: TRUE. Welcome aboard, guys!
6. These boys’ names fell in popularity this year, and may soon be making their exit from the top 100. Which would YOU pick to be named before they fall of the list? Brayden (down 19 spots to #45) Chase (down 17 to #86) Colin (down 11 to #89) Zachary (down 9 to #67) ANSWER: Up to you! Personally, I love them all!
7. Which “Fancy” Australian rapper’s real name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly? Her names shot up on the popularity charts in 2014! ANSWER: Iggy Azalea. Iggy gained 75% in boys’ names, and Amethyst was up 55%!
8. These names all fell OUT of the top 100 names this year: Bentley, Riley, Mateo, Jake, Ruby, Taylor. TRUE or FALSE? ANSWER: TRUE! Hard to believe, right? Maybe they’ll make a comeback.

- Ratha, STACKS Writer

The post Baby Names of 2014 appeared first on Ink Splot 26.

Baby Names: What’s Hot and What’s Not in 2014!

Now that the year is winding down, the polls are closing on the most popular baby names from 2014. Not too much has changed since last year’s Top Baby Names. For example the girls’ #1 name is still Sophia, and boys’ #1 is Jackson. But there are some new entries into the top 100 list . . . and there are some names that didn’t make the list this year! How name savvy are you? Check out our Baby Names Trivia below . . .

1. Which Frozen character’s name shot up 29% this year? A) Olaf. B) Bulda. C) Elsa. D) Kristoff.
2. Which is NOT one of the top 3 girls’ names of 2014? A) Olivia. B) Sophia. C) Josephine. D) Emma.
3. Which city or borough would you rather be named after – Denver OR Bronx? Both were popular names in 2014!
4. Which name was NOT new to the top 100 girls’ names list this year? A) Cora. B) Piper. C) Paisley. D) Clara. E) Ava. F) Cadence.
5. The names Easton, Xander, and Ryder are all new to the top 100 boys’ names this year. TRUE or FALSE?
6. These boys’ names fell in popularity this year, and may soon be making their exit from the top 100 – boo. Which would YOU pick to be named before they fall of the list? (Personally, I love them all!) Brayden (down 19 spots to #45) Chase (down 17 to #86) Colin (down 11 to #89) Zachary (down 9 to #67)
7. Which “Fancy” Australian rapper’s real name is Amethyst Amelia Kelly? Her names shot up on the popularity charts in 2014!
8. These names all fell OUT of the top 100 baby names this year: Bentley, Riley, Mateo, Jake, Ruby, Taylor. TRUE or FALSE?

NAME your answers in the Comments below, and check back on New Year’s Day for the answers!

- Ratha, STACKS Writer

The post Baby Names of 2014 appeared first on Ink Splot 26.

Test Your Holiday Song Smarts!

You know it’s finally the holiday season when you turn on the radio and it’s nothing but your favorite holiday jams! Nothing gets me into the holiday spirit like a great holiday song. So I thought it would be a great idea to give y’all a trivia quiz featuring mashed-up, mixed-up holiday song titles!

In case you’re new to the world of title combination quizzes, here’s how to play. Below is a list of 10 holiday songs, but they’re not the songs you’re familiar with. I combined two song titles together, and you get to determine the two original song titles!

For example, “We Wish You A Merry Silent Night” is a mashup of “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” and “Silent Night.”

Can you decode the titles below?

1. All I Want for Christmas is Bell Rock
2. Do You Want to Build a Red-Nosed Reindeer?
3. Rockin’ Around the Navidad
4. Holly Jolly Mean One, Mister Grinch
5. It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
6. Where Are You Silver Bells?
7. Deck the Christmas Wrapping
8. 12 Days of Comin’ To Town
9. Let It Snow Home for Christmas
10. Have Yourself a Merry Little Sleigh Ride
11. Frosty the Jingle Bells

BONUS: Auld Lang Wenceslas

Can you figure out what the original song titles are? Share your answers in the Comments below!

En-Szu, STACKS Writer

Read the answers to our Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Trivia Quiz.

To get you in the spirit of Thanksgiving, I posted a Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade Trivia Quiz! Did you gobble up the questions, and spit out the answers? Or did it give you indigestion? (I hope not!) Without further ado, check out the answers below:

Photo by Sachyn Mital

1. Which city is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade held in? ANSWER: New York City. It starts at 77^th St./Central Park West and ends at 34^th St. in front of Macy’s . . . (of course).
2. Who is always on the LAST float in the parade? ANSWER: B) Santa Claus! Every year since 1924 Santa and Mrs. Claus close the parade.
3. Which book character will be a balloon in the 2014 parade? ANSWER: A) Greg Heffley! Although I would like to see Slappy one year . . . 
4. Macy’s symbol is a red _________. ANSWER: Star.
5. The Radio City _________ also perform a famous holiday dance number in the parade. ANSWER: Radio City Rockettes.
6. Which character has never been a balloon in the parade? ANSWER: D) Elsa from Frozen. Although Idina Menzel (the actress who does Elsa’s voice) is set to perform this year!
7. Which float has been in the parade for 40 years straight? ANSWER: A) Sesame Street!
8. In 1997, several balloons had to come down due to high winds and safety concerns during the parade. Which balloon caused the most serious damage? ANSWER: A) The Cat in the Hat. The balloon was as tall as a 6-story building, and was careening out of control before it crashed into and broke the arm off a lamp post at 72^nd St. Those winds can be hazardous!

Hope you enjoy the parade and turkey today! Gobble, gobble.

Ratha, Stacks Writer

Halloween Poll

Moderator Katie on the Reading Buzz Message Board posted a poll-type quiz with questions contributed by Go-green-or-else, DreamtimeDetermined14, BreezeBrain39, WinterWonder9300, and DarkRising6.

MU HA HA HA! Let the fun begin!

1. What’s your favorite thing about Halloween?
2. What’s your favorite type of candy?
3. What are you being for Halloween this year?
4. What’s your favorite Halloween costume you’ve ever had?
5. What do you usually do for Halloween (trick-or-treat, party, stay home)?
6. What’s the most IDEAL Halloween costume?
7. Do you have any Halloween traditions?
8. On a scale of 1-10, how much do you like Halloween?
9. Do you know the history of Halloween? Do you care?

There are lots more questions to answer in the Halloween Quiz post. Go check them out and tell Moderator Katie I said, “Hi!” Happy Halloween!!

 — Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Your challenge today was to name the book titles just by looking at these little pieces of the book covers

Here are the answers:

1. Goosebumps: One Day at HorrorLand
2. Goosebumps Most wanted: Son of Slappy
3. Goosebumps: The Werewolf of Fever Swamp
4. Goosebumps: Night of the Living Dummy
5. Goosebumps: The Haunted Mask

How did you do? Have you read all these books? Then you should totally join us for the rest of the Halloween Book Challenge 

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

We are celebrating Goosebumps books this October. Can you guess the book titles from this tiny sliver of each cover? I’ll give you an obvious hint: They are all in the Goosebumps series.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Back-to-School Word Scramble AnswersCatGymnastics

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Back-to-School Word ScrambleCatGymnastics173!

Can you unscramble these school-related words?

Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Your challenge yesterday was to name the book titles just by looking at these little pieces of the book covers

Here are the answers:

1. The Kane Chronicles:

How did you do? Have you read all these books? Then you should totally join us for the rest of the Adventure Books Bash

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

We are celebrating books of adventurous action this August. Can you guess the book titles from this tiny sliver of each cover? I’ll give you a hint: They are all really, really action-filled adventure books!

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

Leave your guesses in the Comments.

— Sonja, STACKS Staffer

1. Austin Mahone: