Knowing and yet forgetting is the worst part of playing at trivia.  I did succeed in getting one of these right for the team.  Another was half-right, and a third was written down correctly but scratched out because I thought of a logical reason why it would be wrong.  

What ethical theory prescribes actions that  maximize happiness in total for the people affected?

What kind of animal is Major General Sir Nils Olav III, the mascot of the Norwegian King's Guard?

What highly-viscous fluid is used in the "world's longest continuously running laboratory experiment", having released only 9 "drops" in over 90 years?

What movie earned Clark Gable's only Oscar, which he gave away to demonstrate that the trophy wasn't important?

Our community college French class is reading an extremely abbreviated adaptation of the "Hunchback of Notre Dame" novel, and I started reading the preface to get an idea of how this particular adaptation was done.  Each of the first two sentences has 5 commas, and the second sentence is 57 words long.  As I was despairing of ever reaching the subject and verb of this sentence, I exclaimed:  "This author sounds just like Victor Hugo!"

Yes, dear reader.  That preface was written by Victor Hugo.

P.S.  "How long is Notre-Dame de Paris" yields "Notre-Dame de Paris is approximately 128 meters (420 feet) long."  The answer I was looking for is "940 pages, in 3 volumes".  We're working with 127 pages, many of which are comprehension exercises.

Who was the most recent person to win NFL MVP as a defensive player?

What island was part of the Ryūkyū Kingdom before annexation by Japan in 1879 and a WWII battle in 1945?

What state gave its name to the Great Compromise of 1787 assigning proportional representation to only one house of the U.S. legislature?

A multiple choice question is never a good choice for the final game-changing question, but this one was particularly bad:  Abscission is the name for A) plants losing their leaves, B) deer dropping their antlers, C) snakes shedding their skin, or D) crabs molting their exoskeletons?

What is the name of the fictional language in the novel 1984 by George Orwell?

What Belgian artist painted The Son of Man in 1964?  [Not pictured:  nerdsholmferret with his face obscured by an Apple]

What is the name of the chemical reaction between amino acids and sugars that gives seared steaks and toasted marshmallows a distinct flavor?

What Norwegian explorer led the first expedition to reach the South Pole in 1911?

George Maciunas, "One Year" 1973–74

At 4:17 a.m. the National Weather Service sent us an Emergency Alert Snow Squall Warning for about one sixteenth of an inch of snow.  Okay, reduced visibility is a road hazard, but could we save the OMG WAKE UP noises for something like a tornado that might kill me in my sleep?

I made an "Alternative Christmas" word search for my extended family in lieu of a crossword.  A representative quote: "Kyle's cheating and looking at my chickens!"

NEKCIHCCNCNCHICKEN
CECHICHHHEHHNIHNCE
CHKICHIIKIKECHIEHK
NHICHICCCNKCHINKIC
​​​​​​​EIIKIKIHECCHICECKI
KCHEEHCKINHICHKIEH
CIINCNCHICNNKCCHNC
IHNCHICCINKNEIHCEH
HCIEHCCHICKENKHHKI
CHICKENINHKCNICICC
HINEKCIHCIHECHIIIK
ICHICEICIKCKNEKEHE
KCHIKENHHNEKCIHCCC
NENEKCIHCNKICHENEN

In what country do people rollerskate through the streets of Caracas on their way to Christmas Mass?

What substance with atomic number 82 was used to manufacture tinsel until its use was discontinued in the 1970s due to health hazards?

The version of "Pennies From Heaven" featured in the movie Elf  is by what singer also known for voicing King Louie in The Jungle Book (1967)?

What ancient Lycian port city (located in modern Turkey) was the birthplace of Saint Nicholas?

Eowyn, a shieldmaiden of Rohan,
Pining for the king without a crown...
Who can kill the Witch King?
He'll say "No man".
But she can do the job when he is down.

Later on, things are dire.
Frodo stands by the fire.
His friends are betrayed,
But Gollum's repaid
Falling with the One Ring in his hand.

The winning team had 9 players in flagrant violation of the rules, but we're not going to file a formal protest over a free appetizer, right?

What 2014 film directed by Damien Chazelle tells the story of Andrew Neiman, who attends the fictional Shaffer Conservatory?

What vocal group was formed by the 1961 merger of two friendly rival groups, Otis Williams & The Distants, and The Primes?

What Confederate city was captured after the decisive battle of Forts Jackson and St. Philip?

What are the two non-Ivy "Colonial colleges"?  [10 other schools have historical roots predating the American Revolution and are excluded from the list on bogus technicalities​​​​​​​ because they were not formally chartered as colleges with degree-granting powers, but we're not going to complain about that, either.]