Fun & Games

History exam

Everyone over 40 should have a pretty easy time at this exam. If you are under 40, you can claim a handicap. This is a history exam for those who don’t mind seeing how much they really remember about what went on in their life. Get paper and pencil and write down numbers from 1 to 15. Write the letter of each answer and score at the end.

1. In the 1940s, where were automobile headlight dimmer switches located?

a. On the floor shift knob b. On the floorboard, to the left of the clutch c. Next to the horn

2. The bottle top of a Royal Crown Cola bottle had holes in it. For what was it used?

a. Capture lightning bugs b. To sprinkle clothes before ironing c. Large salt shaker

3. What was the popular chewing gum named for a game of chance?

a. Blackjack b. Gin c. Craps!

4. What method did women use to look as if they were wearing stockings when none were available due to rationing during WWII?

a. Suntan b. Leg painting c. Wearing slacks

5. What postwar car turned automotive design on its ear when you couldn’t tell whether it was coming or going?

a. Studebaker b. Nash Metro c. Tucker

6. Which was a popular candy when you were a kid?

a. Strips of dried peanut butter b. Chocolate licorice bars c. Wax coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water inside

7. How was Butch wax used?

a. To stiffen a flat-top haircut so it stood up b. To make floors shiny and prevent scuffing c. On the wheels of roller skates to prevent rust

8. How did you keep your roller skates attached to your shoes?

a With clamps, tightened by a skate key b. Woven straps that crossed the foot c. Long pieces of twine

9. As a kid, what was considered the best way to reach a decision?

a. Consider all the facts b. Ask mom c. Eeny-meeny-miney-mo

10. What was the name of Caroline Kennedy’s pet pony?

a. Old Blue b. Paint c. Macaroni

11. What was a “duck-and-cover” drill?

a. Part of the game of hide and seek b. What you did when your Mom called you in to do chores c. Hiding under your desk and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill.

12. What was the name of the Indian Princess on “The “Howdy Doody Show”?

a. Princess Summerfallwinterspring b. Princess Sacajawea c. Princess Moonshadow

13. What did all the really savvy students do when mimeographed tests were handed out in school?

a. Immediately sniffed the purple ink, as this was believed to get you high b. Made paper airplanes to see who could sail theirs out the window c. Wrote another pupil’s name on the top, to avoid their failure

14. What was the name of the singing group that made the song “Cabdriver” a hit?

a. The Ink Spots b. The Supremes c. The Esquires

15. Who left his heart in San Francisco?

a. Tony Bennett b. Xavier Cugat c. George Gershwin

ANSWERS

1. b) On the floor, to the left of the clutch. Hand controls, popular in Europe, took until the late ’60’s to catch on.

2. b) To sprinkle clothes before ironing. Who had a steam iron? 3. a) Blackjack gum. 4. b) Special makeup was applied, followed by drawing a seam down the back of the leg with an eyebrow pencil.

5. a) 1946 Studebaker. 6. c) Wax coke bottles containing super-sweet colored water. 7 a) Wax for your flat top (butch) haircut. 8. a) With clamps, tightened by a skate key, which you wore on a shoestring around your neck. 9. c) Eeny-meeny-miney-mo. 10. c) Macaroni. 11. c) Hiding under your desk and covering your head with your arms in an A-bomb drill. 12. a) Princess Summerfallwinterspring. 

13. a) Immediately sniffed the purple ink to get a high. 14. a) The famous 50s group, The Inkspots.

15. a) Tony Bennett, and he sounds just as good today.

SCORING

12 - 15 correct: You are older than dirt and obviously gifted with mental abilities. Now if you could only find your glasses. Definitely someone who should share your wisdom!

8 -11 correct: Not quite dirt yet, but you’re getting there!

0 -7 correct: You are not old enough to share the wisdom of your experiences.