California quiz

1. California is one of four states that have, at one point in their histories, declared themselves to be independent nations. What was the country of California called?

Alta California

Sonoma

Pacific States of America

Bear Flag Republic

2. What was the first capital of the state of California?

San Jose

San Francisco

Benicia

Sacramento

3. Lassen Peak is one of three US volcanoes outside of Alaska and Hawaii that has erupted since 1800. When did it last erupt?

1836

1939

1917

1971

4. California voters chose Arnold Schwarzenegger to replace which governor in the 2003 recall election?

Pete Wilson

Dan Lungren

George Deukmejian

Gray Davis

5. Who wrote, “You can take Hollywood for granted like I did, or you can dismiss it with the contempt we reserve for things that we don’t understand. It can be understood, too, but only dimly and in flashes.”

John Steinbeck

John Updike

Ernest Hemingway

F. Scott Fitzgerald

6. In which movie do three Black Hawk helicopters emerge from under the Golden Gate Bridge on their way to save San Francisco from a payload of biological weapons on Alcatraz?

"Monsters vs. Aliens" (2009)

"The Rock" (1996)

"X-Men: The Last Stand" (2006)

"A View to a Kill" (1985)

7. After Los Angeles, which is California’s second most populous city?

San Diego

San Jose

San Francisco

Sacramento

8. The California mission system was built between 1769 and 1823 for what purpose?

To provide religious respite for gold rushers awestruck by the prospect of instant wealth.

To provide religious education and training for Mexican farmers and their families.

To spread the Christian faith among the local native Americans.

To provide lodging for California settlers and pioneers.

9. For several years, California’s “three strikes, you’re out” law (passed in 1994) was considered by legal analysts to be stronger than those of 26 states that followed. How?

Left judges with no choice but to sentence to life imprisonment without parole those convicted of three felonies.

Broadly defined what the third offense could be to include minor crimes such as shoplifting and taking pizza from children.

Created a "two strikes" rule for serious crimes including rape, burglary, and assault.

Added a penalty for resisting third arrest and trying to flee.

10. Who referred to California’s Mojave desert as “Tierra el Muertos” ("Land of the Dead")?

Ronald Reagan as host of “Death Valley Days”

Spanish explorer Juan Bautista de Anza

Tonto on the “The Lone Ranger”

NBC news broadcast correspondent Sander Vanocur

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