Q 01/05

Jacobus, the Latin form of Jacob, also gave English which other common boys' name by way of Old French?

A) John

B) Jason

C) James

D) Julian

Answer · why

C) James

James grew out of a Late Latin variant, Jacomus, which is why the apostles called James in English Bibles are named Jacob in the original Greek.

Q 02/05

John Jacob Astor IV, among the richest men in the world, was the wealthiest passenger lost aboard which ocean liner?

A) RMS Titanic

B) RMS Lusitania

C) HMHS Britannic

D) RMS Olympic

Answer · why

A) RMS Titanic

RMS Titanic sank on her maiden voyage in 1912. He helped his pregnant wife Madeleine into Lifeboat 4 and stayed behind on deck.

Q 03/05

Jacob became the most popular boys' name in the United States in 1999, ending the long reign of which name?

A) Christopher

B) Matthew

C) Joshua

D) Michael

Answer · why

D) Michael

Michael had ranked first every year but one since 1954. Jacob then stayed on top through 2012.

Q 04/05

In Dickens's A Christmas Carol, which dead business partner visits Ebenezer Scrooge on Christmas Eve bound in chains?

A) Bob Cratchit

B) Jacob Marley

C) Old Fezziwig

D) Tiny Tim

Answer · why

B) Jacob Marley

Jacob Marley has been dead for seven years when the story opens, and he warns Scrooge that three more spirits are on their way.

Q 05/05

In the Book of Genesis, Jacob buys the birthright of which older twin brother for a bowl of stew?

A) Esau

B) Ishmael

C) Laban

D) Reuben

Answer · why

A) Esau

Esau sold his rights as firstborn for red lentil pottage, and Genesis ties that colour to his other name, Edom, which means red.