Mr. Write's Page

The Questions…

1. A standard piano has 88 keys. How many are white, and how many are black?

2. In 1861, the U.S. government desperately needed money for the war effort against the Confederacy. What was the solution?

3. When Paul Revere made his famous midnight ride to warn that the British were coming, he did so on a borrowed horse. What do we know about that noble steed?

4. What is the most common liability claim filed against U.S. homeowners?

5. Worldwide, what food item is stolen most often?

The Answers…

1. 52 are white, 36 are black.

2. The solution was the Revenue Act of 1861, which established a tax on personal income and created the Internal Revenue Service to collect it.

3. The horse was Brown Beauty, a reportedly fine animal borrowed for the occasion from John Larkin, a church deacon. After the ride, a party of redcoats detained and questioned Revere. They let him go, but confiscated Brown Beauty.

4. Dog bites. They account for about one-third of all claims. Homeowners insurance usually covers dog bites, up to the policy limit. The industry pays about $30,000 per dog bite claim.

5. Cheese. About four percent of the cheese stocked in stores is pilfered.