Townie Trivia: How Much Do You Know About Cambridge?

Tourists will tell you "that's where Harvard is," while locals know it as "The People's Republic." Whatever you call it, the city of Cambridge carries a long and rich history with it. So, how much do you know about Cambridge?

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1. What was the city's original name?
A. Cambridge
B. Newe Towne
C. Water Towne
D. Charles Towne

2. Cambridge Common is the birthplace of the U.S. Marine Corps.
A. True
B. False

3. Which company employed most Cambridge residents in the early 19th century?
A. New England Glass Company
B. Carter's Ink Company
C. Harvard College
D. Cambridge Ice-Cutting

4. Everybody knows Cambridge is home to MIT and Harvard. Which smaller school is not located in Cambridge?

A. Episcopal Divinity School
B. Hult International Business School
C. Pine Manor College
D. Longy School of Music

5. "Technology Square" is the nickname for which Cambridge neighborhood?
A. Inman Square
B. Central Square
C. Harvard Square
D. Kendall Square

6. Why is Mount Auburn cemetery famous?
A. It was the first cemetery in Massachusetts.
B. It is America's first park-like cemetery.
C. It is one of the country's most expensive cemeteries.
D. It is America's first nondenominational cemetery.

7. Which celebrity has not lived in Cambridge?
A. Conan O'Brien
B. Matt Damon
C. Ben Affleck
D. Dane Cook

8. Cambridge has been a "sanctuary city" for almost 30 years.
A. True
B. False

9. Which tech company does NOT have a Cambridge office?
A. Google
B. Microsoft
C. IBM
D. Lenovo

10. Harvard College was originally founded to extend the studies of University of Cambridge alumni in the colonies.

A. True
B. False

1. What was the city's original name?
A. Cambridge
B. Newe Towne - The settlement, founded in 1630, was originally called "the newe towne." The city took the formal name Newe Towne until it was later named after England's University of Cambridge.
C. Water Towne
D. Charles Towne

2. Cambridge Common is the birthplace of the U.S. Marine Corps.
A. True
B. False - It's the birthplace of the U.S. Army. In 1775, George Washington commanded volunteer soldiers, who camped out on Cambridge Common, thus making the area the birthplace of the Army.

3. Which company employed most Cambridge residents in the early 19th century?
A. New England Glass Company - New England Glass Company was the largest employer to Cambridge residents until production was moved to Toledo, Ohio in 1888.
B. Carter's Ink Company
C. Harvard College
D. Cambridge Ice-Cutting

4. Everybody knows Cambridge is home to MIT and Harvard. Which smaller school is not located in Cambridge?

A. Episcopal Divinity School
B. Hult International Business School
C. Pine Manor College - There are eight higher education institutes in Cambridge, but Pine Manor is not one of them; it is located in Newton.
D. Longy School of Music

5. "Technology Square" is the nickname for which Cambridge neighborhood?
A. Inman Square
B. Central Square
C. Harvard Square
D. Kendall Square - Kendall square is home to part of MIT's campus, tech offices, and laboratories.

6. Why is Mount Auburn cemetery famous?
A. It was the first cemetery in Massachusetts.
B. It is America's first park-like cemetery. - Mount Auburn was the first garden cemetery. It has a rolling landscape terrain with classical monuments. It inspired the style for many of the country's suburban burial grounds.
C. It is one of the country's most expensive cemeteries.
D. It is America's first nondenominational cemetery.

7. Which celebrity has not lived in Cambridge?
A. Conan O'Brien - Damon and Cook were born in the city, and Affleck, with his wife Jennifer Garner, has a house there. O'Brien is from Brookline and never lived in Cambridge.
B. Matt Damon
C. Ben Affleck
D. Dane Cook

8. Cambridge has been a "sanctuary city" for almost 30 years.
A. True - In 1985, Cambridge announced its status as a sanctuary city, one that follows practices to protect immigrants. They city reaffirmed its status in 2006.
B. False

9. Which tech company does NOT have a Cambridge office?
A. Google
B. Microsoft
C. IBM
D. Lenovo - Many Cambridge residents are employed by tech companies. Google, Microsoft, and IBM have offices in the city; Lenovo's only U.S. office is in North Carolina.

10. Harvard College was originally founded to extend the studies of University of Cambridge alumni in the colonies.

A. True
B. False - Harvard College, originally named Newe College, was founded to educate ministers.

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