Answer these questions to test your knowledge about salt.
Find the answers below.

1) Which word comes from salt?

1. Salad
2. Salary
3. Salvation
4. Salute

2) Which of the following was Columbus trying to find?

1. Diamonds
2. Rubies
3. Salt
4. Ohio

3) When tossed, which of the following will bring you luck?

1. A coin
2. Salt
3. Salad
4. A Frisbee

4) Which of the following was stolen from George Washington?

1. His teeth
2. His ammo
3. His wig
4. His salt

5) What did Caesar cherish most?

1. Friends
2. Romans
3. Countrymen
4. Salt

6) What shape changed the history of salt?

1. The pyramid
2. The diamond
3. The cylinder
4. The pentagon

7) What defeated Napoleon?

1. The pistol
2. The bayonet
3. The salt shaker
4. The cannon

8) Which of the following made history?

1. Gold
2. Art
3. Tourism
4. Salt

9) Which of these can’t you live without?

1. Money
2. Love
3. Salt
4. Chocolate

Answers

Question #1

B. Salary. The English language is peppered with words related to salt, “Salary” comes from Roman times when salt was so precious it was used as cash. Then there’s salad, sausage, salute, sailor, soda, salvation and so on. See? Even without the swear words, English is a very salty language.

Question #2

C. Salt. Like a lot of history’s great movers and shakers, Columbus owes at least some of his fame to salt. You think Ferdinand and Isabella sent him off to who-knows-where just to find a few bags of gold? Nope. Chris C. also had strict orders to bring home boatloads of salt.

Question #3

B. Salt. While tossing a coin can bring you luck if you happen to be standing in front of a fountain, tossing salt over your left shoulder is considered good luck no matter where you are. Salt is so lucky that in some cultures, brides pour it into their shoes and parents rub it all over their newborn babies. So next time you need a good luck charm, look no further than your kitchen table.

Question #4

D. His salt. In 1777, British troops captured the lion’s share of General Washington’s all-important salt supply. For a time, this starved the upstart Americans of a nutrient absolutely vital to their health. It also served as a reminder that if victory is sweet, defeat is sometimes very, very salty.

Question #5

D. Salt. In the ancient world, salt was as good as gold. Roman soldiers were paid in salt. Trade routes were established because of it. And when supplies ran out, empires fell.

Question #6

C. The cylinder. Before Morton’s cylinder-shaped package came along in 1911, salt was sold in enormous bags and the salt wouldn’t pour when the weather was wet. Morton’s new package was not only moisture-proof, it had a perfect shape for pouring and it came with its own handy spout. And salt has been flowing freely ever since.

Question #7

C. The salt shaker. By 1812, Napoleon’s soldiers were seasoned veterans of war. Turns out, they could have used a little more seasoning. Without enough salt in their diets to sustain them, thousands perished retreating from the Russian front.

Question #8

D. Salt. At its height in the 15th century, Venice was beautiful, powerful, famous and fabulously rich. And though its wealth is often attributed to the trade in spice, the fact is that most of that spice was salt.

Question #9

C. Salt. Although it sure would be nice to have all of the above, the only true necessity, physiologically speaking, is salt. The sodium it provides regulates the heartbeat and the body’s balance of fluids. And not only does salt keep you alive, it’s also pretty tasty.