Flash in the pan, fly-by-night idea, weird obsession. . . the fad is always changing, but there's always one going on. Test your knowledge.

Think you know your fads? Answer the questions.

1. When Roman ladies attended the Colosseum, what fad was obvious from their appearance?
   
   • They wore hoopskirts.
   • They dressed like boys.
   • They wore blonde wigs.
   • They wore tattoos.
2. What fad caused people to make and lose fortunes in Amsterdam in 1637?
   
   • Beatlemanie.
   • Tulpenmanie.
   • Windmolenmanie.
   • Wooden shoe collecting.

3. In 18th-century London, what was meant by 'macaroni'?
   
   • 'That Italian who runs the ice cream parlour.'
   • 'That American colonist with the straw in his hair.'
   • 'That spy from the Vatican.'
   • 'That idiot in the ridiculous wig.'
4. Why did 18th-century women carry small dogs around?
   
   • To protect against pickpockets.
   • To keep from itching.
   • To keep their hands warm.
   • To match their outfits.
5. What item of faddish women's clothing provided 19th-century ladies with a weapon in the gender wars?
   
   • The parasol.
   • The handmuff.
   • The hoopskirt.
   • The bonnet.
6. What male fad led to the invention of a special item in the household china cupboard?
   
   • Hair oil.
   • The moustache.
   • The pince nez.
   • Pocket watches.
7. What dangerous 1890-1900 food fad items led to a change in the Boy Scout manual?
   
   • Ice cream cones.
   • Bananas.
   • Hot dogs.
   • Popcorn.
8. You think this one is new, but it's really old. Which 1950s fad toy first showed up in Greece in 500 BCE?
   
   • The hula hoop.
   • The top.
   • The gyroscope.
   • The slinky.
9. Another fad toy that appeared in the 1950s was the frisbee. Where does the name come from?
   
   • Greek for 'flying disk'.
   • The name of the toy company.
   • The name of a bakery.
   • The name of the inventor.
10. Speaking of names, what much-hyped hopeful 21st-century fad was originally and mysteriously named 'Ginger'?
    
    • The hoverboard.
    • The ipod.
    • The ipad.
    • The Segway.

How faddish are you? Click on the picture to see the answers.

Dmitri Gheorgheni

09.07.12 Front Page

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