Knight Ridder

With Thanksgiving approaching, how much do you know about the holiday’s main dish?

1. How many pounds of turkey did Americans eat, per person, in 2004?

A. 8.6 pounds

B. 10.4 pounds

C. 17.1 pounds

D. 21.8 pounds

2. Which founding father championed the choice of the turkey as the official bird of the United States?

A. Benjamin Franklin

B. Thomas Jefferson

C. George Washington

D. John Adams

3. Of the 264 million turkeys raised in 2004, how many were eaten at Thanksgiving?

A. 19 million

B. 46 million

C. 123 million

D. 206 million

4. What percentage of Americans surveyed by the National Turkey Federation eat turkey at Thanksgiving?

A. 45 percent

B. 68 percent

C. 89 percent

D. 97 percent

5. What percentage of a typical turkey is white meat?

A. 30 percent

B. 50 percent

C. 70 percent

D. 90 percent

Answers:

1. C.

2. A. When the bald eagle was chosen, Franklin wrote to his daughter: “I wish the bald eagle had not been chosen as the representative of our country! The turkey is a much more respectable bird, and withal a true original native of America.”

3. B. Also, 19 million at Easter and 22 million at Christmas.

4. D.

5. C.