Here’s everything you never knew you always wanted to know about the telephone. How many questions can you answer correctly?
1. What greeting was first used when answering the telephone?
- Speak!
- Hello!
- Ahoy!
- At your service!
2. What is one of the most common ways to disguise cell phone towers?
- It’s illegal to disguise them.
- As plastic trees.
- Attached to the structure of tall buildings.
- Behind highway beautification walls.
3. What is telephonophobia?
- A fear of cell phones.
- It’s not a real word.
- A fear of making and receiving calls.
- A fear of hearing the phone ring.
4. A recent U.N. study found that of the world’s estimated 7 billion people, 6 billion have access to mobile phones – but only 4.5 billion people have access to this.
- Working toilets.
- Running water.
- Electricity.
- Proper nutrition.
5. The original cell phone, first demonstrated in 1973, weighed how many pounds?
- 5 pounds
- 5 pounds
- 2 pounds
- 3 pounds
6. In a 2012 poll by TIME magazine, what percentage of people said they can’t go a day without their cell phones?
- 92%
- 73%
- 49%
- 84%
7. What numerals on the telephone do not have corresponding letters?
- 1
- 9 and 0
- 0
- 1 and 0
8. What letters did old rotary phones not use?
- Q and W
- Y and Z
- Q and Z
- X and Z
9. The first universal emergency number was established in Great Britain in 1937. To receive police, fire or ambulance assistance, an individual would dial which numbers?
- 999
- 900
- 911
- 000
10. What were the first words ever spoken on the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell?
- “Mr. Holmes – come here – I need you.”
- “Mr. Watson – come here – I want to see you.”
- “Mr. Wilson – come here – you are needed.”
- “Mr. Henry – come here – your assistance is requested.”
Answers: 1. C, 2. B, 3. C, 4. A, 5. B, 6. D, 7. D, 8. C, 9. A, 10. B