Massachusetts Trivia | Dorky Geeky Nerdy Podcast

Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia

170 | Massachusetts Trivia

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The Trivia is coming! The Trivia is coming! This week, we’ve got Massachusetts Trivia. Thirty questions about one of the oldest states in the country and the birthplace of the American Revolution. Needless to say, there is a LOT of history to cover and we’re only skimming the surface of the state. If you’re a history nerd, feel free to check out the Extra Credit links below to get even more information about Massachusetts.

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Episode Transcript/Quiz

Episode Intro

Park the car in the yard, and let’s have some trivia.

Hey gang, this is episode 170 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. I’m your host, Brian Rollins and this week, based on my terrible attempt at a Boston accent, is all about Massachusetts.

One of the earliest colonies and states, Massachusetts has a huge history as well as a number of famous people from there.

We’ve got a lot of ground to cover, so let’s get started with…

The Dorky Round

1. What is the capital of Massachusetts?

Boston

2. What Massachusetts football team holds the record for most Super Bowl appearances?

The New England Patriots. They’ve been eleven times and won 6.

3. What Boston silversmith was immortalized for his Midnight Ride warning Americans that the British were coming?

Paul Revere

4. The Mayflower Pilgrims founded what town in 1620?

Plymouth

5. What is the two-letter abbreviation for Massachusetts?

6. What is children's author and artist Theodor Geisel better known as?

Dr. Suess. He was born in Springfield, MA in 1905.

7. What town was made famous (or infamous) for its witch trials during the 1600s?

Salem, MA. 19 people were hanged. No one was burned at the stake.

8. Speaking of Salem, what Arthur Miller play tells the story of the panic?

The Crucible. Miller used the events to draw parallels to the McCarthy hearings of the 1950s.

9. What future US president was born in Brookline, MA in 1917?

John F. Kennedy

10. What Bostonian, along with Ben Affleck, won an Oscar for Good Will Hunting's screenplay?

Matt Damon

The Geeky Round

1. Of the four US presidents to be born in Massachusetts, which was the first?

John Adams, the second president

2. Which Star Trek actor & director was born in Boston in 1931?

Leonard Nimoy. Supposedly, his unusual way of saying ‘sensors’ was to cover up his Bostonian accent.

3. What woman was tried and acquitted of murdering her father and step-mother in 1892?

Lizzie Borden

4. What Bostonian was a Minister to France & Sweden as well as the first Postmaster General in the US?

Benjamin Franklin

5. If you live in Boston, you're never more than 1.5 miles from what restaurant?

Dunkin’ Donuts. There are 350 stores in Massachusetts

6. Massachusetts does not refer to itself as a state, but rather as a what?

A Commonwealth

7. What two states border Massachusetts to the South?

Connecticut and Rhode Island

8. What large bay is formed by Massachusetts' 'hook'?

Cape Cod Bay

9. How would you spell the city of 'Wooster'?

W-O-R-C-E-S-T-E-R (pronounced Woo-ster)

10. What two towns were the sites of the first military engagements of the American Revolution?

Lexington and Concord

The Nerdy Round

1. Of the four US presidents to be born in Massachusetts, which was the most recent?

George HW Bush

2. What Civil War Colonel and leader of the Massachusetts 54th Regiment, was one of the main characters in the 1989 movie, Glory?

Robert Gould Shaw

3. What is the official nickname of Massachusetts?

The Bay State

4. Born in Braintree, who was the first person to sign the Declaration of Independence?

John Hancock

5. What pre-Revolutionary War event was known as the 'Incident on King Street' in Great Britain?

The Boston Massacre. Slightly different spin.

6. What activist and botanist was born in Leominster in 1774?

John Chapman, better known as Johnny Appleseed

7. A tank containing what exploded in Boston in 1919?

Molasses. The Great Molasses Flood (no I’m not making that up), injured 150 people and killed 21.

8. What two stars of the series, Friends, were born in Massachusetts?

Matt LeBlanc and Matthew Perry

9. On what island was then-Senator Ted Kennedy when he crashed his car, killing a 29-year-old woman?

Chappaquiddick

10. What Massachusetts island is one of the earliest known deaf communities?

Martha’s Vineyard. Due to hereditary deafness, the community developed its own sign language.

Episode Conclusion

And that’s it for this week’s show. Massachusetts is crammed full of historical nuggets. I only scratched the surface here. I’ll see you back here for trivia, next week. Here’s a clue to tide you over.

What US state has the highest divorce rate?

For those that are familiar with the state, this one should be pretty easy to guess. I’ll see you back here next Wednesday.

This has been episode 170 of the Dorky Geeky Nerdy Trivia Podcast. The music has been provided by Jason Shaw at Audionautix.com. I’m your host, Brian Rollins. Come say hi to me at TheVoicesInMyHead.com.

Thanks for listening.