"The little-known stories behind well-known inventions"

Wrap up 2005 with this quiz about inventions          By Paul Niemann

[DEC. 29, 2005]  The staff of two here at the Invention Mysteries World Headquarters, which consists of my dog -- Patent, The Wonder Pup -- and I, help you welcome in the new year. Patent and I also welcome you to the fourth year of this syndicated newspaper column.

The quiz gives you a chance to see what you've learned about inventions. All of the questions and answers are taken directly from the columns over the last three months, and the answers are at the end of the quiz. Good luck!

1. What was the main profession of John Dunlop, of Dunlop Tire fame, when he invented the first working inflatable tire in 1888?

1. Accountant
2. College professor
3. Veterinarian
4. Magician

[Article]

2. Milton Hershey has a town named after him. In which state is the town of Hershey located?

1. Delaware
2. Illinois
3. Pennsylvania
4. Missouri

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3. A Hungarian with an unusual name invented a revolutionary toy in the '80s. What is her or his name?

1. Harry Houdini (he was also an inventor)
2. Zsa Zsa Gabor
3. Erno Rubik
4. Nikola Tesla

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4. Becky Schroeder is in the Ohio Inventors Hall of Fame for her Glo-Sheet invention of the 1970s. Both the U.S. Navy and NASA contacted Becky about buying the rights of the Glo-Sheet from her. What was unique about Becky?

1. She was colorblind.
2. She was totally blind.
3. She was only 10 years old at the time.
4. She was ambidextrous (meaning she was both left-handed and right-handed).

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5. In 1864, Norbert Rillieux created a method of processing sugar that is used all over the world to this day. What did his father have in common with President Thomas Jefferson?

1. He was also a successful inventor, like Jefferson was.
2. He also ran for president but, unlike Jefferson, he lost.
3. He had a slave mistress.
4. Both were left-handed.

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6. Whitcomb Judson's invention was known as a "clasp locker." What did the clasp locker evolve into?

1. The time-delayed lock
2. The combination lock
3. The zipper
4. Velcro

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7. Robert Chesebrough of Chesebrough-Ponds invented the process of manufacturing Vaseline. He also claimed that he ate a teaspoon of Vaseline everyday, apparently for the health benefits that he believed it would bring him. How old did Robert live to be?

1. 36
2. 46
3. 96
4. 106

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8. Frank and Lillian Gilbreth developed their "time and motion studies," which helped workers perform their tasks more efficiently and safely. How many children did the Gilbreths have?

1. 6
2. 9
3. 12
4. 15

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9. Benjamin Holt and Daniel Best merged their companies to form which company?

1. IBM
2. John Deere
3. Caterpillar
4. Xerox

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10. Igor Sikorsky was born in which country?

1. Czechoslovakia
2. Albania
3. Russia
4. Afghanistan

[Article]

Answers: All of the answers are "C," but you probably figured that out by now, didn't you?

[Paul Niemann]

Paul Niemann may be reached at [e-mail].

Copyright Paul Niemann 2005