Last night’s quiz night had a 1960s theme with the option to dress up for the occasion. Unfortunately, with only one clothing suitcase each, Tom and I didn’t have anything suitable as a costume. Only about 40% of the participants in Quiz Night dressed up, but it was fun to see the various adaptations.
Last week, our same team, but with a sixth participant who’s since left Marloth Park, came in second place, missing first place by only a few points. Last night, much to our delight, the same group of five came in first place. How exciting it was to win! We each received ZAR 115, US $6.31, after each paying ZAR 30, US $1.65 as the entry fee.
None of the players at the eight tables (there were 37 total players last night) play for money. However, the money makes us feel like little kids winning a small prize at a birthday party after playing “Pin the Tail on the Donkey.”
The rules for the game are strict.
- No cell phones may be placed on the table or in a participant’s hand
- Single answer sheets are provided for the group leader to complete based on the consensus of each team..
- No notebooks or cheat sheets are allowed, but each participant may have a pen and a piece of paper to share their answers with the team, to avoid being heard by surrounding teams.
- No shouting answers, even if the wrong answers are shouted to influence other teams wrongfully.
- Answer sheets are passed to the next closest table for scoring, and the moderator announces the team winner after each round. There are usually five rounds of questions.
The quizzes start at 6:30 pm and end around 9:00, and the tally and distribution of the winnings to the top three teams begins immediately after the last round of questions is checked and scored.
Last night, Tom was without a doubt the star of our team, although everyone contributed to our winning score. His recall of useless information always surprises and baffles me. Here’s some information on those who tend to win at trivia games:
Does being good at trivia games indicate intellect?
Being good at trivia games can indicate certain types of intellect, but it’s not a comprehensive measure of overall intelligence. Here’s a breakdown:
What trivia skills do reflect:
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Crystallized intelligence – This is the ability to use knowledge acquired through past learning and experience. Trivia strongly draws on this.
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Memory and recall speed – Fast and accurate memory retrieval is key to trivia success.
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Verbal ability – Understanding and interpreting nuanced or cleverly worded questions often requires strong verbal reasoning.
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Curiosity and information retention – People who enjoy learning random facts often perform better at trivia and tend to retain info well.
These were the finalists who won the best-dressed team in the 1960s attire contest. We know Sandra and Paul, third and fourth from the left.
What trivia doesn’t necessarily reflect:
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Fluid intelligence – The ability to solve new problems, think abstractly, or identify patterns (e.g., logic puzzles or creative problem-solving).
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Emotional intelligence – Understanding and managing emotions, empathy, and social navigation.
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Practical intelligence – Street smarts, common sense, or decision-making under pressure.
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Depth of understanding – Trivia rewards breadth over depth; knowing a fact is not the same as understanding it deeply.
Summary:
Being good at trivia indicates a well-read, curious, quick-minded person with a good memory, but it’s one facet of intellect, not the whole picture. Think of it as a strong specialty in a broader landscape of intelligence.
Nonetheless, it’s an entertaining activity on Tuesday nights, which we’ll continue until we leave in 10 days and upon our return in mid-June.
Be well.
Photo from ten years ago today, May 14, 2015:
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| A lone tree near the shore on the Kauai Path. For more photos, please click here. |
