What are the best types of trivia questions?
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When I started hosting trivia events, I quickly realized that some questions were too hard. People would say, "We can't figure it out, even as a team." So, I adjusted the content to include a mix of easy and hard questions, which made people feel more engaged and willing to participate. Eventually, I found the right balance, and people seemed to enjoy it. The questions are best when they are fun, educational, and interesting.
I believe my approach stands out because my content could be used in high schools and colleges. I prioritize questions that are educational and thought-provoking. For example, if I hear an interesting lyric in a rock and roll song, I'll develop a question from it. A new one I haven't used yet is, "What is the name of the song that repeats the lyrics 'a little bit softer now' 17 times and 'a little bit louder now' 12 times?" The answer is "Shout" by the Isley Brothers.
Sometimes, I create unique questions you won't find anywhere else. For instance, I once looked up how many number-one songs the Beatles had on the Billboard chart—it's 20. I use these types of questions to break ties at the end of my events.
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I believe my approach stands out because my content could be used in high schools and colleges. I prioritize questions that are educational and thought-provoking. For example, if I hear an interesting lyric in a rock and roll song, I'll develop a question from it. A new one I haven't used yet is, "What is the name of the song that repeats the lyrics 'a little bit softer now' 17 times and 'a little bit louder now' 12 times?" The answer is "Shout" by the Isley Brothers.
Sometimes, I create unique questions you won't find anywhere else. For instance, I once looked up how many number-one songs the Beatles had on the Billboard chart—it's 20. I use these types of questions to break ties at the end of my events.
When choosing trivia questions, select a variety of categories (math, science, literature, geography, history, technology, pop culture, sports, food, etc.) and levels of difficulty. You can also use various types of questions, including multiple choice, true or false, short answer, fill in the blank, and matching.
Here are some short-answer trivia questions in a variety of categories to get you started:
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Here are some short-answer trivia questions in a variety of categories to get you started:
- How many feet are in a meter?
- What species of fish is Nemo from Finding Nemo?
- Who wrote The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn?
- Which continent is the Tigris River in?
- What was the first state in the USA?
- What year was AOL founded?
- Who was the lead singer of the band Queen?
- What sport is known as America's favorite pastime?
- Which country produces the most coffee?
To me, a really good trivia question is something that you can puzzle out, and if you don't get the right answer, you feel good about having learned it. I get really annoyed when I hear a trivia question, and when I find out the answer, I don't care. So my goal when I write trivia is to write trivia that you either can get to by puzzling out or enjoy learning.
For example, the largest boat evacuation in US history was 500,000 people. What event was this for? It was during 9/11 out of Manhattan. That's a great fun fact and excellent piece of trivia.
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For example, the largest boat evacuation in US history was 500,000 people. What event was this for? It was during 9/11 out of Manhattan. That's a great fun fact and excellent piece of trivia.
Do a single topic like a who knows Sabrina carpenter better or me or you know a topic. Pick a popular one.
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