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Turkey Trivia

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at the end of each question... but NO FAIR PEEKING!

Answers are also given at the end of the questions, in the

event some mischievous turkey stole them!)

 

1. When was the first American Thanksgiving celebration?

A) 1492
B) 1567
C) 1621
D) 1777

Answer: 1.  C) 1621 - The first Thanksgiving in North America is believed to have been held in the Plymouth, Massachusetts settlement in the fall of 1621, and is reported to have lasted 3 days!  Until 1863, Thanksgiving day had not been celebrated annually since the first feast in 1621. This changed in 1863 when Sarah Josepha Hale encouraged Abraham Lincoln to set aside the last Thursday in November "as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer."

 

2. What did Plymouth Harbor pilgrims most likely NOT eat for the first "Thanksgiving"?

A) Turkey
B) Eels

C) Beans and Corn
D) Duck

E) Popcorn

Answer: 2.  E) Popcorn - Venison, duck, goose, seafood, eels, vegetables, and, of course, turkey were on the menu!

 

3. Has Thanksgiving always been celebrated on the same day?

A) No! In 1863, Abraham Lincoln declared November's LAST Thursday “Thanksgiving"
B) No! In 1939, Roosevelt moved the date one week forward as it is now celebrated
C) Both A and B
D) None of the Above

Answer: 3.  C) Both A and B - Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving holiday to the next to last Thursday in November to create a longer Christmas shopping season.3.  C) Both A and B - Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving holiday to the next to last Thursday in November to create a longer Christmas shopping season.

 

4. What great American statesman lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol?

A) Benjamin Franklin
B) Thomas Jefferson
C) John Adams
D) Andrew Jackson

Answer: 4.  A) Benjamin Franklin – He stated that it was more respectable and a native of North America. Although his bid was unsuccessful, he would likely be pleased to know that the turkey became the state game bird of South Carolina (1976), Alabama (1980), Massachusetts (1992) and recently Oklahoma.

 

5. Where was the turkey first domesticated?

A) Canada
B) Mexico and Central America
C) New Zealand
D) India

Answer: 5.  B) Mexico and Central America

 

6. Can domesticated turkeys fly?

A) No - they are too weak and fat
B) Yes - they ARE birds, after all
C) Only some domesticated turkeys can fly

Answer: 6.  A) No - they are too weak and fat - The largest turkey on record weighed 86 pounds.

 

7. Which country consumes the most turkey per year per capita?

A) The United States
B) Israel
C) Spain
D) The United Kingdom

Answer: 7.  B) Israel – 2001 Highest Per Capita consumption of turkey shows Israel at 28.8 pounds, compared with the U.S. at 17.5, France at 14.5, Italy at 12.3, Germany at 11, United Kingdom at 9.3, Canada at 9.3 pounds.

 

8. Unlike conventional turkeys, organic turkeys...

A) Have daily access to the outdoors
B) Are minimally exposed to pesticides or antibiotics.
C) Have more than 3 square feet of living space
D) Eat no animal byproducts
E) All of the above

Answer: 8.  E) All of the above

 

9. Wild Turkeys run...

A) 43 miles per hour
B) As fast as domestic turkeys
C) 20 miles per hour
D) 1000 mph in November

Answer: 9.  C) 20 miles per hour

 

10. Wild turkeys fly...

A) Up to 55 miles per hour
B) Only around Thanksgiving
C) In annual migratory patterns
D) Less than 30 miles per hour

Answer: 10.  A) Up to 55 miles per hour – for short distances.

 

11. The bronze colored wild turkey...

A) Can glide for at least a half mile or more without fluttering a wing
B) Has two more toes than other wild turkeys
C) Gobbles to disco music but not reggae
D) If female, does not gobble at all
E) A and D
F) B and D

Answer: 11.  E) A and D

 

12. What is a baby turkey called?

A) Chick
B) Poult
C) Peep
D) Thanksgiving Dinner in the making

Answer: 12.  B) Poult – it is tan and brown, just like its egg.

 

13. Aside from "Butterball", which is not a type of "wild turkey"?

A) Gould wild turkey
B) California wild turkey
C) Ocellated wild turkey
D) Rio Grande turkey
E) Bourbon whiskey

Answer: 13.  B) California wild turkey – Yes, there IS a Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey!

 

14. The color of a wild turkey's naked head and neck areas...

A) Can change to blue during courtship
B) Indicates the age of a wild turkey
C) Turns red when the turkey is embarrassed
D) A and C

Answer: 14.  A) Can change to blue during courtship - His head color varies from white to blue to red, depending on level of excitement.

 

15. About how many feathers do turkeys have at maturity?

A) 3,500
B) 5,005
C) 1,003
D) Turkeys have feathers?? I thought they came in plastic wrap

Answer: 15.  A) 3,500 - Domesticated Turkeys have been bred to have white feathers so there are no unsightly pigment spots under the skin when they are plucked.

 

16. What is the long, red fleshy growth from the base of the beak that hangs down over the neck?

A) Snood
B) Caruncle
C) Beard
D) Wattle

Answer: 16.  A) Snood - The Caruncle is the red/pink fleshy growth on the head and upper neck of the turkey. The beard is a black lock of hair found on the chest of the male turkey.  The Wattle is the bright red appendage at the neck.

 

17. What is a female turkey called?

A) Rooster
B) Cuckoo
C) Chick
D) Hen

E) Lunch

Answer: 17.  D) Hen

 

18. What are male turkeys called?

A) Jack
B) Tom
C) Jerry
D) Husband
E) Dinner

Answer: 18.  B) Tom

 

19. What color are turkey eggs?

A) Pale creamy tan with brown speckles
B) Brown
C) White with tan speckles
D) White with brown speckles
E) White

Answer: 19.  A) Pale creamy tan with brown speckles – Domesticated turkey hens are artificially inseminated. They lay 80 - 100 eggs during a 25 week laying cycle, and the eggs are twice as large as chicken eggs. They hatch in 28 days. A nest of turkey eggs is called a clutch.

 

20.  Which state produces the most turkeys annually?

A) Minnesota
B) Alabama
C) Arkansas
D) North Carolina

Answer: 20.  D) North Carolina – 2002 estimates show North Carolina produced 44.5 million turkeys annually, more than any other state. Minnesota (44 million) and Arkansas (29 million) are number two and three.  However Alabama has one of the largest per acre populations of wild turkeys of any state.  In 2000, total turkey production in the U.S. was 269,969,000 turkeys.

 

21. Approximately what percentage of American homes eats turkey on Thanksgiving?

A) 49%
B) 67%
C) 82%
D) 90%

Answer: 21.  D) 90% - At Christmas, it’s just 50%. More than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten during Thanksgiving. Americans feast on approximately 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.  The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. A 15-pound turkey typically has about 70% white meat and 30% dark meat.  According to the National Turkey Federation, about 24% of Americans purchase fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving, and 69% purchase frozen turkeys.

 

22. What is the fastest way to defrost a turkey?

A) with a hair dryer
B) in the refrigerator
C) in cold water
D) in the microwave oven

Answer: 22.  C) in cold water – That’s the fastest way, although the Butterball corporation recommends thawing an unwrapped turkey in the refrigerator for one whole day for every 4 pounds.  How do you thaw a frozen turkey?  "Blow in its ear."(according to Johnny Carson)

 

23. The top five most popular ways to serve leftover Thanksgiving turkey are:

A)     Sandwich

B)      Soup or stew

C)      Casserole

D)     Stir-fry

E)      A salad

F)      All of the above

Answer: 23.  F) All of the above - Almost 50% of Americans eat turkey at least once every 2 weeks. Californians are the biggest turkey eaters in the country. They eat three pounds more turkey than the average American consumer. "No more turkey, but I'd like another helping of that bread he ate."- Anonymous, quoted in Joy of Cooking.

 

24. Turkeys have:

A)     A great sense of hearing

B)      2 pair of ears

C)      Crossed eyes, making vision poor

D)     8 toes on each foot

Answer: 24.  A) A great sense of hearing - Turkeys have great hearing, a poor sense of smell, but an excellent sense of taste. They can also see in color, and have excellent visual acuity and a wide field of vision (about 270 degrees), which makes sneaking up on them difficult. However, a turkey's night vision and depth perception are poor.

 

25. In English, turkeys say "gobble gobble gobble." What do turkeys say in Portuguese?

A) Kalkoen kluek
B) Krull Krull
C) Kalkunen Klukker
D) Glugluglugluglu

Answer: 25.  D) Glugluglugluglu - Only male turkeys (toms) gobble; females (hens) make a clicking noise. The gobble is a seasonal call during the Spring and Fall. Hens are attracted for mating when a tom gobbles. Wild toms love to gobble when they hear loud sounds or settle in for the night.  Turkey gobbles can be heard from as far as a mile away.

 

26.  The first department store to hold a Thanksgiving Day parade was:

A)     Montgomery Ward

B)      J.C. Penney

C)      Gimbel

D)     Macy

E)      None of the above

Answer: 26.  C) Gimbel – in Philadelphia, 1920.  Macy’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924 - More than a thousand employees took part in the 5-mile parade, originally called Macy's Christmas Parade. Today the route is 2.5 miles long and millions of television viewers watch the trademark giant balloons march down the street.

 

 

Answers

1.  C) 1621 - The first Thanksgiving in North America is believed to have been held in the Plymouth, Massachusetts settlement in the fall of 1621, and is reported to have lasted 3 days!  Until 1863, Thanksgiving day had not been celebrated annually since the first feast in 1621. This changed in 1863 when Sarah Josepha Hale encouraged Abraham Lincoln to set aside the last Thursday in November "as a day for national thanksgiving and prayer."
 2.  E) Popcorn - Venison, duck, goose, seafood, eels, vegetables, and, of course, turkey were on the menu!

3.  C) Both A and B - Franklin D. Roosevelt moved the Thanksgiving holiday to the next to last Thursday in November to create a longer Christmas shopping season.
4.  A) Benjamin Franklin – He stated that it was more respectable and a native of North America. Although his bid was unsuccessful, he would likely be pleased to know that the turkey became the state game bird of South Carolina (1976), Alabama (1980), Massachusetts (1992) and recently Oklahoma.

5.  B) Mexico and Central America

6.  A) No - they are too weak and fat - The largest turkey on record weighed 86 pounds.

7.  B) Israel – 2001 Highest Per Capita consumption of turkey shows Israel at 28.8 pounds, compared with the U.S. at 17.5, France at 14.5, Italy at 12.3, Germany at 11, United Kingdom at 9.3, Canada at 9.3 pounds.
8.  E) All of the above

9.  C) 20 miles per hour

10.  A) Up to 55 miles per hour – for short distances.

11.  E) A and D

12.  B) Poult – it is tan and brown, just like its egg.

13.  B) California wild turkey – Yes, there IS a Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey!

14.  A) Can change to blue during courtship - His head color varies from white to blue to red, depending on level of excitement.

15.  A) 3,500 - Domesticated Turkeys have been bred to have white feathers so there are no unsightly pigment spots under the skin when they are plucked.

16.  A) Snood - The Caruncle is the red/pink fleshy growth on the head and upper neck of the turkey. The beard is a black lock of hair found on the chest of the male turkey.  The Wattle is the bright red appendage at the neck.
17.  D) Hen

18.  B) Tom

19.  A) Pale creamy tan with brown speckles – Domesticated turkey hens are artificially inseminated. They lay 80 - 100 eggs during a 25 week laying cycle, and the eggs are twice as large as chicken eggs. They hatch in 28 days. A nest of turkey eggs is called a clutch.

20.  D) North Carolina – 2002 estimates show North Carolina produced 44.5 million turkeys annually, more than any other state. Minnesota (44 million) and Arkansas (29 million) are number two and three.  However Alabama has one of the largest per acre populations of wild turkeys of any state.  In 2000, total turkey production in the U.S. was 269,969,000 turkeys.

21.  D) 90% - At Christmas, it’s just 50%. More than 45 million turkeys are cooked and eaten during Thanksgiving. Americans feast on approximately 535 million pounds of turkey on Thanksgiving.  The average weight of turkeys purchased for Thanksgiving is 15 pounds. A 15-pound turkey typically has about 70% white meat and 30% dark meat.  According to the National Turkey Federation, about 24% of Americans purchase fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving, and 69% purchase frozen turkeys.

22.  C) in cold water – That’s the fastest way, although the Butterball corporation recommends thawing an unwrapped turkey in the refrigerator for one whole day for every 4 pounds.  How do you thaw a frozen turkey?  "Blow in its ear." (according to Johnny Carson)

23.  F) All of the above - Almost 50% of Americans eat turkey at least once every 2 weeks. Californians are the biggest turkey eaters in the country. They eat three pounds more turkey than the average American consumer. "No more turkey, but I'd like another helping of that bread he ate."- Anonymous, quoted in Joy of Cooking.

24.  A) A great sense of hearing - Turkeys have great hearing, a poor sense of smell, but an excellent sense of taste. They can also see in color, and have excellent visual acuity and a wide field of vision (about 270 degrees), which makes sneaking up on them difficult. However, a turkey's night vision and depth perception are poor.

25.  D) Glugluglugluglu - Only male turkeys (toms) gobble; females (hens) make a clicking noise. The gobble is a seasonal call during the Spring and Fall. Hens are attracted for mating when a tom gobbles. Wild toms love to gobble when they hear loud sounds or settle in for the night.  Turkey gobbles can be heard from as far as a mile away.

26.  C) Gimbel – in Philadelphia, November 25, 1920 – created by Store President, Ellis Gimbel.  Macy’s first Thanksgiving Day Parade took place in 1924 - More than a thousand employees took part in the 5-mile parade, originally called Macy's Christmas Parade. Today the route is 2.5 miles long and millions of television viewers watch the trademark giant balloons march down the street.

  

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