Welcome to HomeIQ, a lighthearted quiz series where we invite you to test your knowledge. Each month, we’ll be presenting you with a wide range of questions about the world around us.
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Q: How short is the world’s shortest flight?
December 20, 2024
1.7 miles
5 miles
12 miles
16 miles
See the answer
1.7 miles. Operated by Loganair, the world’s shortest commercial flight connects the Scottish islands of Westray and Papa Westray and typically takes only around 90 seconds to complete. Some flights can even last as little as 53 seconds depending on wind conditions.
Q: Which common fruit is naturally radioactive?
November 22, 2024
Bananas
Apples
Plums
Pineapple
See the answer
Bananas. Along with Brazil nuts, bananas have naturally high levels of potassium-40, a small fraction of which is radioactive. However, this level is so small that it is not harmful. In fact, you would need to eat approximately 274 bananas a day for 7 years before experiencing any health side effects. So go ahead, grab a banana and consider this a friendly reminder to get your daily intake of fruit. Your body will thank you!
Q: In what country did the first Starbucks open outside of North America?
October 25, 2024
Uruguay
Colombia
Italy
Japan
See the answer
Japan. The coffee giant took their first step outside North America in 1996, opening a store in Tokyo’s upscale Ginza district. Overseas locations now constitute almost one third of Starbucks worldwide.
Q: Which of the following was once an Olympic event?
August 16, 2024
Dodgeball
Architecture
Chess
Juggling
See the answer
Architecture. Beginning at the 1912 Olympics in Stockholm, medals were awarded in five categories: architecture, literature, music, painting and sculpture. The arts competition continued to be a feature of the Olympics until 1949, when the IOC congress concluded that since almost all contestants in the art competitions were professionals, it didn’t reflect the amateur status of the Olympics.
Q: What does the “QR” in QR code stand for?
July 26, 2024
Quick Response
Quantum Reader
Quality Recognition
Quick Reference
See the answer
“QR” stands for “quick response. The technology was initially developed by a Toyota subsidiary in the 90s as a way to track auto parts has become ubiquitous in our daily lives, from restaurant menus to museum exhibits.
Q: Which legendary NBA player is famously known as ‘The Logo’?
June 28, 2024
Magic Johnson
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird
Jerry West
See the answer
Jerry West. Designed by Alan Siegel in 1969, the iconic NBA logo is based on a photograph of legendary Lakers player Jerry West in action. The image captures West’s distinctive dribbling style, which was considered to perfectly embody the skill and athleticism of basketball.
Q: Approximately how many teeth can a great white shark expect to lose throughout its lifetime?
May 17, 2024
3,000
10,000
30,000
100,000
See the answer
The great white shark can grow and use approximately 30,000 teeth in its lifetime. Sometimes lost teeth can even be replaced in as little as 24 hours.
Q: In what year was the first email sent?
April 26, 2024
1965
1971
1980
1990
See the answer
The first email was sent in 1971 by Ray Tomlinson, an American computer programmer. He is credited with choosing the ‘@” symbol to designate email addresses and sent a test message between two computers located side by side. Unfortunately, the exact content of the first email was not recorded.
Q: In what year was the first recorded dunk in basketball history?
March 22, 2024
1967
1976
1936
1982
See the answer
In 1936, Joe Fortenberry, performed the first-ever dunk in a game of organized basketball. The feat was immortalized by Arthur Daley, Pulitzer Prize winning sports writer for The New York Times in an article in March 1936. He wrote that Fortenberry “leaped up and pitched the ball downward into the hoop, much like a cafeteria customer dunking a roll in coffee.”
Q: Which country developed the tradition of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards?
February 16, 2024
France
England
United States
Portugal
See the answer
The correct answer is England.
While the roots of Valentine’s Day stretch back to ancient Roman festivals and the legends of Saint Valentine, the tradition of exchanging Valentine’s Day cards as we know them today took root in England during the 17th and 18th centuries. The oldest printed Valentine card in existence is believed to be from England, dating back to 1797.
Q: What percentage of the global population is active on social media?
January 26, 2024
36%
40%
61%
80%
See the answer
The correct answer is 61%, or roughly 4.95 billion active users worldwide.