Trivia Time: 20 Questions about Veggies!

Time for some more Expat Living trivia! Here’s a fast fact for a start: did you know that 1 October is World Vegetarian Day? In our quiz this month, we’re giving you your daily fill of vegetables, with 20 questions about every veg from corn to cabbage to cucumber. Avo go at these!

#1 Which common vegetable was the first to be grown in space?

#2 George H W Bush once said, “I’m President of the United States, and I’m not going to eat any more blank!” – which vegetable was he referring to, starting with “b”?

#3 Kimchi is a Korean dish of fermented what?

#4 What happened to Cinderella’s carriage at midnight? 

#5 What part of celery is most commonly eaten: the leaves, roots, stems or flowers?

#6 Starting with “b”, what’s the common Asian name for the eggplant or aubergine?

#7 Which TV cartoon character said “You don’t win friends with salad”?

#8 Which vegetable is said to be good at repelling vampires?

#9 Kohlrabi, cannonball and savoy are all types of which vegetable?

#10 Which famous fairy tale was first published in the 18th century as “The Story of Jack Spriggins and the Enchanted Bean”?

#11 According to the botanical definition, a tomato is a fruit – true or false?

#12 What’s the common name for the long threads of material that grow under the husk of corn?

#13 Which vegetable was the first to be canned: peas, tomatoes or corn?

#14 Which vegetable-themed toy was the first toy ever advertised on television, back in the 1950s?

#15 What type of beans are found in a tin of Heinz Baked Beans?

#16 Which green bulbous vegetable has an aniseed flavour?

#17 Which famous American band released a song called “Vegetables” in 1967, with lyrics that included “I’m gonna chow down my vegetables”? 

#18 What two vegetables constitute the Scottish dish of “neeps and tatties”, commonly served with haggis?

#19 At a famous annual festival in Valencia, Spain, participants throw huge quantities of what food at each other? 

#20 The hottest chilli in the world is thought to be the Carolina what, starting with “R”?

Bonus

Who am I?

(If you can answer correctly on the first clue, you get 10 points, but you lose a point for each additional clue you require after that.)

• I’m a prominent vegetarian. (10)
• One story says I became a vegetarian after a fishing trip; another that I made my mind up after watching lambs play in a field. (9)
• Along with being vegetarian, I’m an avid animal rights activist. (8)
• In a recent video for PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals), I said, “All I’ve ever wanted for my birthday is peace on Earth – including for animals.” (7)
• I once recited a lentil recipe that was used as a secret hidden message on an episode of The Simpsons. (6)
• In 2014, I released a song called “Meat Free Monday” and an accompanying music video. (5) 
• It’s not the only song I’ve written. In fact, I’ve written lots and lots of songs that are very well known. (4)
• I recently launched a family cookbook of plant-based recipes with my two daughters. It featured recipes from my late wife, too. (3)
• I was a Beatle. (2)
• I am Sir Paul who, starting with M? (1)

All the answers!

#1 Potato
#2 Broccoli
#3 Cabbage
#4 It turned back into a pumpkin
#5 Stems
#6 Brinjal
#7 Homer Simpson
#8 Garlic
#9 Cabbage
#10 Jack and the Beanstalk
#11 True; the same applies to cucumbers, avocados, eggplants and many other foods we commonly refer to as vegetables
#12 Silk
#13 Peas
#14 Mr. Potato Head
#15 Haricot or navy beans
#16 Fennel
#17 The Beach Boys
#18 Turnips and potatoes
#19 Tomatoes
#20 Reaper

Bonus: Sir Paul McCartney

Looking for something else to do? See our What’s On section!

Shamus Sillar

While he has worked as a magazine editor since 2003, Shamus also has a PhD in Roman History (useful!) and is a published author. He writes mostly on travel but also covers food, history, sport, trivia and more, across Expat Living’s publications and websites in Singapore and Hong Kong.