Category: Games

Answer: C. I Am the Walrus

The lyric ‘Yellow matter custard, Dripping from a dead dog’s eye’ in “I am the Walrus,” is based on John Lennon hearing that a Liverpudlian school teacher was teaching a course about the meaning of Beatle songs. The lyric is a Liverpudlian school boy taunt. Lennon thought the kids would get a kick out of it, so he put it into the song.

Answer: D. I Want You (She's So Heavy) – 7:47

Hey Jude – 7:08
It's All Too Much – 6:25
A Day in the Life – 5:39
Helter Skelter – 4:29

"I Want You (She's So Heavy)" is a song written by John Lennon (credited to Lennon–McCartney). The song closes side one on their 1969 album Abbey Road. The song is an unusual Beatles composition for a variety of reasons, namely its length (nearly eight minutes), minimal lyrics, a three-minute descent through repeated guitar chords over a rising background of synthesized white noise, and an abrupt ending. It was the first song recorded for the Abbey Road album but one of the last songs to be finished, on  August 20, 1969, the last time all four Beatles were together in the studio.

Answer: C. Rory Storm and the Hurricanes

Ringo Starr was regarded as the best drummer in Liverpool when he left Rory Storm and the Hurricanes to officially join the join the Beatles in 1962, replacing Pete Best. After their first gig at the Cavern Club in Liverpool, Best's fans were so angry about the switch that a minor riot broke out. The group's followers eventually came around, and he became the most popular member upon their arrival in the US. Though many have tried to emulate his style, drummers had difficulties due to his being left-handed, with his drum kit set for a right hander. Some people erroneously considered his style to be simple, but he diligently followed Lennon’s instructions never to ‘get in the way of the song.'

Rory Storm and the Hurricanes’ popularity rivaled the Beatles popularity, but were never able to transition to US audiences, unlike the Dave Clark Five, Freddie and the Dreamers, The Searchers, Wayne Fontana and the Mindbenders, and Gerry and the Pacemakers. Though electric on stage – some consider Rod Stewart’s stage persona borrowed by him – he suffered from a pronounced stutter while not performing.

Answer: C. Bus driver

George Harrison was born in a modest ‘two-up and two-down’ home on a small cul-de-sac. The most low key of the lads (his moniker was ‘the quiet Beatle’) his father, Harry, continued his career as a public bus driver even after the mop tops hit fame, often driving a bus load of fans trying to find where George lived. Harry never said a word.

Answer: D. Please Please Me

On 26 November,. "Please Please Me" and "Ask My Why" were mono mixed at an unknown time on 30 November, in Studio 2. An edit and stereo mix of "Please Please Me" and a new mono and a stereo mix of "Ask Me Why" were made on 25 February 1963, in Studio 1, for inclusion on the mono and stereo Please Please Me albums.

"Please Please Me" was the second single released by the Beatles in the UK, and their first number one hit. It was also the title track of their first LP. Lennon initially conceived "Please Please Me" as a bluesy, slow tempo song. "I remember the day I wrote it, I heard Roy Orbison doing 'Only the Lonely', or something. And I was also always intrigued by the words to a Bing Crosby song that went, 'Please lend a little ear to my pleas'. The double use of the word 'please'. So it was a combination of Roy Orbison and Bing Crosby."

Over a month after the release of the first single, "Love Me Do," the Beatles returned to Studio 2 to record their second. They also performed an original composition, "Tip of My Tongue," but producer George Martin was unhappy with the arrangement. They never recorded it again and, instead, gave it to Tommy Quickly, another artist managed by their own manager, Brian Epstein.

Answer: C. Vincent D'Onofrio: Full Metal Jacket (1987)

Vincent D'Onofrio (6' 3”) holds the record for gaining the most weight for a role after he put on 70 pounds for Stanley Kubrick's 1987 film Full Metal Jacket.

Russell Crowe (5' 11½) Body of Lies, 63 pounds

Robert De Niro ( 5′ 10″) Raging Bull, 60 pounds

Shelley Winter (5’ 4”) The Poseidon Affair, 43 pounds

Renee Zellweger (5’ 4”) Bridget Jones's Diary 30 pounds

NOTE: Ann-Margret gained many pounds for her appearance in 1971’s Carnal Knowledge. Our staff was unable to find the amount in pounds, but the role transitioned her image from a sex kitten to a serious actor.

Answer: D. Idaho

1. Arkansas

No. of dry counties: 34
Population living in dry counties: 32.3% in 45.0% of state
Pct. of adults who report excessive drinking in dry counties: 14.7%

The sale of alcohol is prohibited in 34 of the 75 counties in Arkansas, home to 32.3% of Arkansas’ population — the largest such share of any state. Like in most states, prohibition in Arkansas is a matter of local jurisdiction, but there are several state hurdles to passing laws allowing the sale of alcohol. Local initiatives on alcohol sales require the signatures of 38% of local registered voters to get on the ballot, far more than the 10% typically required for ballot initiatives.

Proponents for repealing prohibition often cite the economic benefits and tax revenues associated with the sale of alcohol. According to a study commissioned by the state’s largest retailer, Walmart, turning all of the state’s dry counties wet could generate an additional $100 million in economic activity annually.

2. Florida

No. of dry counties: 3
Population living in dry counties: 0.2% in 3.1% of state
Pct. of adults who report excessive drinking in dry counties: 16.4%

The three counties where the sale of alcohol is prohibited in Florida — Lafayette, Liberty, and Washington — are located in the Panhandle region and represent just 0.2% of the state’s population. Like most states with dry counties, Florida law allows local jurisdictions to hold public referendums to approve local laws and regulations relating to the sale of alcohol.

The most recent county to repeal prohibition in Florida, Madison County, voted to allow alcohol sales in August 2012. The county had previously banned the sale of alcohol in 1906, 14 years before national prohibition. Lafayette County, one of the remaining dry counties, voted for prohibition in 1912, eight years before the nationwide ban on alcohol.

3. Georgia

No. of dry counties: 5
Population living in dry counties: 2.4% in 3.7% of state
Pct. of adults who report excessive drinking in dry counties: 16.5%

Georgia first banned statewide alcohol sales in 1908, 12 years before national prohibition. Today, five of the 159 counties in Georgia still do not allow the sale of alcohol. Attitudes toward alcohol sales throughout the state were recently gauged in 2011, when Georgia held a local vote on repealing the statewide ban on Sunday alcohol sales. Some 83% of cities and counties that participated in the referendum favored an end to the ban.

Local prohibition laws may have little effect on the consumption of alcohol in Georgia’s dry counties. According to data from the research program County Health Rankings & Roadmaps, 16.5% of adults in Georgia’s dry counties drink excessively, more than the 15.1% of adults who report excessive drinking across the state.

4. Kansas

No. of dry counties: 3
Population living in dry counties: 0.3% in 2.6% of state
Pct. of adults who report excessive drinking in dry counties: 15.6%

While national prohibition lasted from 1920 until 1933, a statewide ban on alcohol sales existed in Kansas from 1881 to 1948 — longer than any other state. Today, alcohol is still entirely banned in three counties in the state that cover 0.3% of the state population and 2.6% of land area.

Kansas is one of just three states that is entirely dry by default and requires localities to take specific steps to allow the sale of alcohol. While 102 of the 105 counties in Kansas have voted to legalize the sale of alcohol to the general public since the end of prohibition, alcohol sales are still subject to strict regulation in most parts of the state. In 67 counties, for example, restaurants must derive at least 30% of their revenue from food sales in order to sell liquor by the drink.

5. Kentucky

No. of dry counties: 15
Population living in dry counties: 3.8% in 11.3% of state
Pct. of adults who report excessive drinking in dry counties: 13.3%

While Kentucky is home to some of the most famous bourbon brands in the country, such as Jim Beam and Maker’s Mark, the sale of alcohol is prohibited in 15 of the state’s 120 counties. Dry counties are home to 3.8% of Kentucky’s population, the third largest share of any state.

While the relationship between the legality of alcohol sales and consumption is complicated and is heavily affected by factors such as income and religion, states with more dry counties tend to have lower levels of excessive drinking. In Kentucky’s dry counties, just 13.3% of adults report drinking excessively, compared to 15.8% of adults throughout the state and 18.0% of adults nationwide.

Answer: A. Congo River

1. The Congo River

From its tributaries to where it meets the Atlantic Ocean, the massive river includes rapids, wetlands, floodplains, lakes and swamps. In addition, the Congo River is the world's deepest recorded river at 720 feet (220 meters) deep in parts — too deep for light to penetrate. The Congo discharges 43,300 cubic meters (1,460,000 cubic feet) of water into the Atlantic Ocean each second. The only river on Earth with a greater rate of discharge is the Amazon. The Congo River gets up to 90 inches of rainfall a year. It has within its banks 30 waterfalls and thousands of islands, at least 50 of which are more than 10 miles in length.

5. The Mekong River ~ 100 meters (328 ft)

The Mekong River is the longest river in the Southeast Asian region. It is 2,700 miles (or 4,350 kilometers) and flows through through China, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam. The Mekong basin is one of the richest areas of biodiversity in the world. Only the Amazon boasts a higher level of biodiversity. Biota estimates for the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) include 20,000 plant species, 430 mammals, 1,200 birds, 800 reptiles and amphibians  and an estimated 850 fish species.

4. The Zambezi River ~ 116 meters (381 ft)

The Zambezi is the fourth-longest river in Africa, and the largest flowing into the Indian Ocean from Africa. The area of its basin is 1,390,000 square kilometers (540,000 sq mi), slightly less than half that of the Nile. The 3,540-kilometre-long river (2,200 mi) has its source in Zambia and flows through Angola, along the borders of Namibia, Botswana, Zambia again, and Zimbabwe, to Mozambique, where it empties into the Indian Ocean.

The Zambezi's most spectacular feature is the beautiful Victoria Falls. Other notable falls include the Chavuma Falls at the border between Zambia and Angola, and Ngonye Falls, near Sioma in Western Zambia.

3. The Danube River ~ 178 meters (584 ft)

The Danube is Europe's second longest river after the Volga. It is classified as an international waterway. The river originates in the Black Forest mountain range in Germany as the much smaller Brigach and Breg rivers which join at the German town of Donaueschingen. After that it is known as the Danube and flows southeastward for a distance of some 2,872 km (1,785 mi), passing through four Central and Eastern European capitals, before emptying into the Black Sea via the Danube Delta in Romania and Ukraine. The Danube flows through four capital cities, more than any river in the world.

2. The Yangtze River~ 200 meters (656 ft)

The Yangtze River is the longest river in China and Asia, and the third longest river in the world. The Three Gorges section is the most important and famous section of the Yangtze River for tourism, flood protection, electricity generation and water conservation.

Answer: B. Hermann Goering, WW1 German war hero

Answer: E. Norway

The Norwegian Armed Forces (Norwegian: Forsvaret, "The Defence") is the military organization responsible for the defense of Norway.

• Military age: Male: 17-44 (55 for officers) years
• Reserve personnel: 40,000 in the Norwegian Home Guard (2019)
• Reaching military age annually: 31,980 males, 30,543 females
• Active personnel: 23,250 (2019)

Comments about Japan:

• Reason 1: After WW II, Japan's new constitution was made and enacted under the Allied occupation. Japan cannot keep a standing army, although it keeps a small armed force called the Self Defense Forces, to deal with internal disorders.
• Reason 2: Japan is riding on the United States for its security.

Answer: B. Andrew Jackson

On May 26, 1830, Jackson signed the Indian Removal Act, which relocated most members of the Native American tribes in the South to Oklahoma Indian Territory in order to allow white settlement of their ancestral lands. Although many tribes resisted, they were forcibly removed by the United States government in a march to the west that later became known as the Trail of Tears. This legislation has been referred to as an act of genocide as the relocated peoples suffered from exposure, disease, and starvation while en route to their newly-designated reserve in Oklahoma, and approximately 4,000 died before reaching their destinations or shortly after from disease.

Read more about the Indian Removal Act and Trail of Tears.

Answer: C. Preston Brooks attacking Charles Sumner in the House of Representatives

The Brooks–Sumner Affair or the Caning of Charles Sumner, occurred on May 22, 1856, in the United States Senate, when Representative Preston Brooks, a pro-slavery Democrat from South Carolina, used a walking cane to attack Senator Charles Sumner, an abolitionist Republican from Massachusetts, in retaliation for a speech given by Sumner two days earlier in which he fiercely criticized slaveholders, including a relative of Brooks. The beating nearly killed Sumner and it contributed significantly to the country's polarization over the issue of slavery. It has been considered symbolic of the "breakdown of reasoned discourse" and the use of violence that eventually led to the Civil War. Brooks was praised by Southern newspapers. The Richmond Enquirer editorialized that Sumner should be caned "every morning", praising the attack as "good in conception, better in execution, and best of all in consequences" and denounced "these vulgar abolitionists in the Senate" who "have been suffered to run too long without collars. They must be lashed into submission." Southerners sent Brooks hundreds of new canes in endorsement of his assault. One was inscribed "Hit him again."

Answer: E. They lived in a “GHETTO”

The word "GHETTO" comes from the Jewish area of Venice, the Venetian Ghetto in Cannaregio. However, there is no agreement among etymologists about the origins of the Venetian language term. The various theories trace it to: a special use of Venetian getto, or "foundry" (there was one near the site of that city's ghetto in 1516); Yiddish get, or "deed of separation;" a clipped form of Egitto ("Egypt"), from Latin Aegyptus (presumably in memory of the exile); or Italian borghetto, or "small section of a town" (diminutive of borgo, which is of Germanic origin; see borough). By 1899 the term had been extended to crowded urban quarters of other minority groups. If you’re referencing historical ghettos, such as those where Jewish people were forced to live, the word is accepted in writing and polite conversation.

"GYPPED" means fraud; cheat or swindle. It stems from "Gypsy" (Romani people from India). Europeans thought the nomadic Romani were from Egypt, hence Gypsy.

"WELSHED" is a derogatory Anglo-Saxon expression directed at the people of Wales, with whom they felt were wild and inferior, who did not pay their bets.

TRICK QUESTION: Though many perceive the term “CRACKER” as a semi-literate “GOOD OLE BOY” from the southern US, others wear the moniker proudly. Think, ”Cracker Barrel” restaurant. The real story is that in the late 19th century and the early part of the 20th century, Georgia ranchers came to be known as "Georgia Crackers" by Floridians when they drove their cattle down into the grassy flatlands of Central Florida to graze in the winter. In order to get the cattle's attention they became very adept at cracking a bullwhip. Here’s an interesting election stat: counties with “Cracker Barrel” restaurants went to outgoing President Trump, while counties with “Whole Foods” voted for President-Elect Joe Biden.

"MIDGET" is a term for a person of unusually short stature that is considered to be a pejorative. While not a medical term, it has been applied to persons of unusually short stature, often with the medical condition dwarfism, particularly proportionate dwarfism. Although preferred terms vary by person and community, according to the Little People of America website, many short people prefer the term "little person." Also, the Little People of America states that dwarfism is "a medical or genetic condition that usually results in an adult height of 4 ft. 10 inches or shorter, among both men and women." An example of this slur is outgoing President Trump referring to former NYC mayor Mike Bloomberg as "Midget Mike."

Answer: B. Tom Hanks slept 14 straight nights in a space craft in preparation for his role in Apollo 13.

ACTORS’ COMMENTS:

Amanda Brugel said the rocks in her shoe help define Rita's "Martha-swagger" while filming The Handmaid's Tale’s

Foster, in preparation for “Silence of the Lambs” said the one thing she learned at Quantico was, "You can't rely on the MOs (Methods of Operation) when investigating serial killers. Killers have been known to travel 3,000 miles to kill somebody and then travel 3,000 miles back. There are no clues. Makes no sense."

For playing Christy Brown, an artist with cerebral palsy in My Left Foot, Daniel Day Lewis remained in his wheelchair in between takes and even had crew members feed him. He also taught himself to put a record on a turntable with his toes.

As the wounded Vietnam vet, Nicolas Cage had two teeth removed for his role in “Birdy,” without anesthesia to better his understanding of the character.

Answer: A. Fame

John Lennon co-wrote the song Fame with David Bowie. It was Bowie’s first number one hit in the US. Along with co-writing the song, Lennon, also played guitar and sang backup vocals, credited under the pseudonym Dr. Winston O'Boogie.

Answer: E. West Virginia


The panhandles of Florida and Oklahoma are probably the most recognizable, but look closely at a map and you’ll notice them on several other U.S. states: Alaska, Connecticut, Idaho, Maryland, Nebraska, and Texas among them — a northern one that hugs the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania and an eastern one that sits directly below Maryland’s panhandle. The state was originally part of Virginia, and its boundaries stretched west to the Ohio River, which formed the northern panhandle between Pennsylvania and Ohio. In 1861, West Virginia separated from Virginia when it joined the Confederacy, splitting mostly along the Allegheny Mountain range and extending the eastern panhandle to include the town of Harper’s Ferry.

Answer: E. Quebec


Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha! — apparently the only town in the world with two exclamation points in its name — sits at the top of the Témiscouata valley. Some believe that the exclamatory portion of the town’s name comes from the sound that newcomers would make upon seeing the valley’s shining lake for the first time: ha! ha! Others say that the name comes from the fact that “haha” was once a synonym for cul-de-sac (a possible reference to Lake Témiscouata presenting an obstacle to roads). Either way, this funny Canadian town name has had visitors chuckling for generations.

As well as being apologetic, Canadians are pretty funny. This town, in Quebec, is up there with some of the most amusing names we've heard. There is a little more to it than just wanting to sound amusing, though. The expression ha-ha was used in the country to explain an unexpected obstacle, in this case, nearby Lake Témiscouata. What’s more, the town is the only place name in the world with two exclamation marks. It’s so surprising, they exclaimed it twice.

Answer: E. Wagner

As a child, Wagner showed little interest in music. He was the only child in his family not to receive piano lessons. Wagner's musical career remained on shaky ground; he was no child prodigy. It was through the theater group at Magdeburg that Wagner met his first wife, Minna Planer, an attractive, though somewhat disturbed, young actress Born in Germany on May 22, 1813, Richard Wagner went on to become one of the world's most influential — and controversial — composers. He is famous for both his epic operas, including the four-part, 18-hour Ring Cycle, as well as for his anti-semitic writings, which, posthumously, made him a favorite of Adolf Hitler. There is evidence that Wagner's music was played at the Dachau concentration camp to "re-educate" the prisoners. Wagner had a tumultuous love life, which involved several scandalous affairs. He died of a heart attack in Venice on February 13, 1883.

Answer: B. Manitoba


If you’re afraid of snakes, then Manitoba may well not be the place for you, especially in May. The snake population in the early 2000s was dangerously low, so the Narcisse Snake Pits Wildlife Management Area was born. Today, the area has the largest population of snakes in the world, around 70,000, in fact. The most prolific are the red-sided garter snakes.

Answer: A. The original recipe called for equal parts of one pound of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour, keeping it simple for those with illiteracy.

If you've never had a pound cake, it's essentially a very sweet, heavy, and rich cake from a recipe that's been passed down through generations. But where did it start? The original recipe called for one pound each of butter, sugar, eggs, and flour. That's right — no yeast, no baking powder or soda, no leaveners. The simplicity of the recipe may explain why it has stuck around through the yingredien tears; pound cake was invented in the 1700s, an era with low literacy, so knowing all you needed was a pound of each ingredient made it a snap to remember and make. As you can imagine, with such big portions of each ingredient, a finished pound cake was large and meant to serve multiple families. Over time, the recipe was adapted and altered to make a lighter, smaller cake, but the name stuck around, as did the core four ingredients.

Answer: E. Rigoletto — Giuseppe Verdi

Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi was an Italian opera composer. He was born near Busseto to a provincial family of moderate means, and developed a musical education with the help of a local patron. Verdi came to dominate the Italian opera scene after the era of Vincenzo Bellini, Gaetano Donizetti, and Gioachino Rossini, whose works significantly influenced him.

Answer: E. 20th century

English playwright William Shakespeare's iconic Romeo and Juliet remains a huge tourist attraction in Verona. Even though it's a work of fiction, visitors flock to Juliet's house in the city. The house itself is said to date back to the 13th century, but the famous balcony was only added in the 20th century. There is also no evidence Shakespeare visited Verona before or after writing the tragedy.

Answer: B. Canada

Poutine is a hearty, heavenly combination of French fries and cheese curds smothered in gravy. The dish was invented in Canada’s Quebec province in the 1950s, though like many popular national dishes, its origins are somewhat unclear. Many accounts point to the farming town of Warwick in 1957, where a customer at L’Idéal restaurant ordered French fries and cheese curds (which are simply fresh, unaged cheddar cheese) together in the same bag because he was in a rush. He called it “poutine,” a Québécois slang word for “mess.” Later, the gravy was added in nearby Drummondville at Le Roy Jucep restaurant. Today, poutine is so ubiquitous in Canada that it appears on the menu at McDonald’s and Burger King, and you can even find it across the border in many U.S. cities.

Answer: A. Denmark


Denmark's flag might look simple, but there's more to it than meets the eye. This impressive flag is actually a Guinness World Record holder since it's. It was first adopted in 1625, which makes it nearly 400 years old. Still, some version of this flag was in use as long ago as the 1370s. The red and white flag can be spotted in a watercolor from 1585 and was flown during Denmark's naval battles against Sweden in the 1560s. As with other Nordic flags, the cross on the flag is a symbol of Christianity. Interestingly, the white-on-red design was used by the kings of Denmark as far back as the 14th century.

Answer: E. Wyoming

As the first territory to give women the right to vote in 1869 and the first state to swear in a female governor in 1924, Wyoming has a long history to back up its nickname of the “The Equality State.” Wyoming’s official state motto, “Equal Rights,” adorns the state flag and state seal. But while the state may have had progressive views on women’s suffrage for the time, one reason they were the first state to pass the women’s vote was due to the state’s population size — or lack thereof. Without women being granted the vote, the state would have fallen short for the population requirement for statehood. But they did kick off a trend for women’s suffrage, with Utah, Washington, Montana, and Alaska soon following suit.

Connecticut: “Constitution State”

Delaware: “Liberty and independence”

Vermont: "Freedom and Unity"

The Washington state motto "Al-ki" or "Alki" is Native American (Chinook) and in English it means "Bye and Bye" or "Hope for the Future."

List of U.S. State Mottos

State	Motto	Translation (if applicable)
Alabama	Audemus jura nostra defendere	(Latin, "We dare to defend our rights" or "We Dare Maintain Our Rights")
Alaska	North to the Future
Arizona	Ditat Deus	(Latin, "God enriches")
Arkansas	Regnat populus	(Latin, "The people rule")
California	Eureka	(Greek, "I have found it")
Colorado	Nil sine numine	(Latin, "Nothing without Providence" or "Nothing without the Deity")
Connecticut	Qui transtulit sustinet	(Latin, "He who transplanted sustains")
Delaware	Liberty and independence
Florida	In God we trust
Georgia	Wisdom, Justice, Moderation
Hawaii	Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ‘Aina i ka Pono	(Hawaiian, "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness")
Idaho	Esto perpetua	(Latin, "Let it be perpetual")
Illinois	State sovereignty, national union
Indiana	The crossroads of America
Iowa	Our liberties we prize and our rights we will maintain
Kansas	Ad astra per aspera	(Latin, "To the stars through difficulties")
Kentucky	English: United we stand, divided we fall Latin: Deo gratiam habeamus	(Latin, "Let us be grateful to God"; adopted in 2002)
Louisiana	Union, justice, and confidence
Maine	Dirigo	(Latin, "I direct")
Maryland	Fatti maschi, parole femmine	(Italian, "Strong deeds, gentle words")
Massachusetts	Ense petit placidam sub libertate quietem	(Latin, "By the sword we seek peace, but peace only under liberty")
Michigan	Si quaeris peninsulam amoenam circumspice / Tuebor	(Latin, "If you seek a pleasant peninsula, look about you") / (Latin, "I will defend")
Minnesota	L'étoile du Nord (Official state motto) / Quae sursum volo videre (Territorial motto never repealed)	(French, "The star of the North") / (Latin, "I long to see what is beyond")
Mississippi	Virtute et armis	(Latin, "By valor and arms")
Missouri	Salus populi suprema lex esto	(Latin, "The Welfare of the People is the Highest Law")
Montana	Oro y plata	(Spanish, "Gold and silver")
Nebraska	Equality before the law
Nevada	All for our country
New Hampshire	Live free or die
New Jersey	Liberty and Prosperity
New Mexico	Crescit eundo	(Latin, "It grows as it goes")
New York	Excelsior!	(Latin, "Ever Upward!")
North Carolina	Esse quam videri	(Latin, "To be, rather than to seem")
North Dakota	Liberty and union, now and forever, one and inseparable / Strength from the soil	Daniel Webster quote used on the Great Seal / motto used on the Coat of Arms
Ohio	With God, all things are possible
Oklahoma	Labor omnia vincit	(Latin, "Hard work conquers all things")
Oregon	The Union, and Alis volat propriis	(Latin, "She flies with her own wings")
Pennsylvania	Virtue, Liberty and Independence
Rhode Island	Hope
South Carolina	Dum spiro spero	(Latin, "While I breathe, I hope")
South Dakota	Under God the people rule
Tennessee	Agriculture and commerce
Texas	Friendship
Utah	Industry
Vermont	Freedom and Unity and Stella quarta decima fulgeat	(Latin, "May the 14th star shine bright")
Virginia	Sic semper tyrannis	(Latin, "Thus always to tyrants")
Washington	Al-ki	(Chinook Jargon, "By and by")
West Virginia	Montani semper liberi	(Latin, "Mountaineers are always free")
Wisconsin	Forward
Wyoming	Equal Rights

District of Columbia and United States Territories

Jurisdiction	Motto	Translation (if applicable)
American Samoa	Samoa, Muamua Le Atua	(Samoan, "Samoa, Let God be First")
District of Columbia	Justitia Omnibus	(Latin, "Justice for all")
Puerto Rico	Joannes Est Nomen Eius	(Latin, "John is his name") In honor of San Juan, i.e. John the Baptist
Guam	Where America's Day Begins
Virgin Islands	United in Pride and Hope

Answer: E. Mark Twain

Answer: E. World Kindness Movement

The World Kindness Movement celebrates World Kindness Day  annually on  November 13th. On this day, participants attempt to make the world a better place by celebrating and promoting good deeds and pledging acts of kindness, either as individuals or as organizations.

World Kindness Day was first launched in 1998 by The World Kindness Movement, an organizations formed at a 1997 Tokyo conference of like-minded kindness organizations from around the world. There are currently over 28 nations involved in The World Kindness Movement which is not affiliated with any religion or political movement. The mission of the World Kindness Movement and World Kindness Day is to create a kinder world by inspiring individuals and nations towards greater kindness.

Answer: B. The island nation of Fiji

“Bula” is the most common word you'll hear right across Fiji and it is used to greet people or say hello. When you say “Bula” to someone, you are actually wishing them happiness, good health and the energy of life.

Answer: B. No

The Swedish/Norwegian/Danish word “skål” simply means "bowl" or "cup" — referring to a communal bowl (often filled with beer) that was passed around. Each person would take a drink and then say “skål,” similar to the English version of “Cheers.”  This is related to the Old Norse word “skalli” which mean "bald head," which is bowl-shaped. Vikings initially drank from horns of cattle or goats. But later used glass cups and wooden or metal beakers too. The word itself dates back more than a thousand years, and is pronounced with a rounder “O” than the version known in the U.S. today.

“It was a greeting of warmth and camaraderie,” says Gregg White, Executive Director of the Swedish Council of America.

White says there is no evidence that “skål” was used as an ancient war cry by the Vikings, despite the word’s use by fans of today’s Minnesota Vikings football team.

And, for the story that skol came from Vikings drinking beer from the skulls of their enemies? White calls it “a wonderful myth,” but not fact.

Answer: D. Hamana Kalili, descendant of Hawaiian chiefs


Hamana Kalili was there to greet me, his right hand extended in the gentle “shaka” symbol of all is well. His statue stands at the entrance of the Polynesian Cultural Center on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu. A descendant of Hawaiian ali’i (chiefs), Kalili (1882-1958) lost the middle, index and ring fingers on his right hand in sugar mill accident. Reassigned to oversee train safety, he would wave his right hand, devoid of the middle three fingers, indicating to the train conductor that all is clear and the train is ready to go. For this, Kalili is considered the originator of the iconic “shaka.” Hawaiian children and surfers would emulate the “shaka” and soon the symbol would traverse around the globe and transition to other uplifting meanings:  “Hang loose,” “Right on,” “Thank you,” “Things are great,” primarily by surfers.

Answer: C. God Save the Queen

Our World was the first live, international, satellite television production, which was broadcast on 25 June 1967. Creative artists, including the Beatles, opera singer Maria Callas, and painter Pablo Picasso – representing nineteen nations – were invited to perform or appear in separate segments featuring their respective countries. The two-and-a-half-hour event had the largest television audience ever up to that date: an estimated 400 to 700 million people around the globe watched the broadcast. Today, it is most famous for the segment from the United Kingdom starring the Beatles. They performed their song "All You Need Is Love" for the first time to close the broadcast. With an orchestral arrangement by George Martin, the song begins with a portion of the French national anthem and ends with musical quotations from works such as Glenn Miller's "In the Mood", "Greensleeves", Bach's Invention No. 8 in F major, and the Beatles' 1963 hit "She Loves You."

"All You Need Is Love" was released as a non-album single in July 1967. It was written by John Lennon, and credited to the Lennon–McCartney partnership. The song was Britain's contribution to Our World, the first live global television link, for which the band were filmed performing it at EMI Studios in London on 25 June. The program was broadcast via satellite and seen by an audience of over 400 million in 25 countries. Lennon's lyrics were deliberately simplistic, to allow for the show's international audience, and captured the utopian ideals associated with the Summer of Love. The single topped sales charts in Britain, the United States and many other countries, and became an anthem for the counterculture's embrace of flower power philosophy.

Our World coincided with the height of the Beatles' popularity and influence, following the release of their album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band. Rather than perform the song entirely live, the group played to a pre-recorded backing track. Adding to the broadcast's festive atmosphere, the studio was adorned with signs and streamers, and filled with guests dressed in psychedelic attire, including members of the Rolling Stones, the Who and the Small Faces. Brian Epstein, the Beatles' manager, described the performance as the band's "finest" moment.

Answer: D. Praia do Cassino Beach, Brazil

1. At over 150 miles in length, Praia do Cassino Beach is the longest beach in the entire world. Brazil’s beaches are known for their white sand, warm temperatures and welcoming locals. Any trip here is going to be hot, hot, hot! All sorts of water activities can be enjoyed here but surfing is the most popular pastime.



2. Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh

This beach has the distinction of being the world’s longest ‘natural sand’ beach, stretching across 150 miles. It’s an interesting place which is one of the most popular tourist attractions in Bangladesh but remains relatively little known amongst travelers in general since Bangladesh is not considered a top destination for the average family. The people who do go here will find that there are three separate spots to enjoy: Laboni Beach which is the main beach close to town, Humchari which is loved for its waterfalls and Inani Beach which is favored for suntanning. You may hear people here calling the beach Panowa; the term means ‘little flower’ and is the nickname that locals know the place by.



3. Padre Island, Texas

This beach is about 130 miles long and is known for being one of the longest drivable beaches in the world. Located in Texas, the water here is from the Gulf of Mexico so it’s a place where the water is warm enough for swimming nearly all year round. There are two distinct sides to this beach; the north side is a party spot for spring break kids and the south side is a National Seashore where visitors can see the dunes and tides preserved in their original state. Make sure to look for the sea turtles which are a favorite tourist attraction here.



4. Ninety Mile Beach, Australia

At just over ninety miles, this is a beautiful Australian beach dotted with charming coastal towns. Unfortunately, there aren’t terrific swimming or surfing conditions here most of the time so it’s not necessarily a favourite beach for watersports. Nevertheless, people who are seeking to get great beach photographs will find miles and miles of picture perfect spots here.



5. Ninety Mile Beach, New Zealand

Not to be outdone by Australia, this neighboring country also has a Ninety Mile Beach. However, this one is slightly shorter at about 88 miles in length. It’s a popular tourist destination because the sand dunes here look a lot like desert land which provides an interesting contrast to the ocean.

Answer: C. Peru

Before the Incas or the Spanish, the Moche and Chimu cultures inhabited the north of Peru. Their communities along the coast depended greatly on fishing as a means for food. Each morning the fishermen would fish on their boats made of bounded reeds. To get back to shore, the fisherman would surf the waves with their fish-filled nets in hand. Peru’s north coast, where there is evidence of the Moche and Chimu’s presence, is also home to some of the world’s best waves, especially at Chicama. According to Moche and Chimu pottery art, this method of riding waves after fishing has been practiced for at least the last 2000 years. There is even evidence in the pottery art that the waves were ridden for fun and not just out of necessity.

The western world considered the Tahitians the first to surf, using large wooden boards to ride waves as we do today. This history has for the most part gone unchallenged until it was discovered that a civilization has been riding waves for at least 2000 years off the north coast of Peru. One of the most famous written accounts of surfing is the diary of European captain James Cook who witnessed Tahitian surfers in 1778. He and his crew were shocked to see men riding the waves on planks on wood. James Cook’s diary provided readers with lots of valuable information about sailing in the Pacific. Still, the Europeans had never seen anything like surfing. They were even worried about the surfers because they expected the waves to throw them on jagged rocks near the shore. Of course, those Tahitian surfers came from a culture where everyone knew how to hold their own in the water. The men jumped off their boards before reaching the rocks, and even smiled while doing it. For them, it was just another day of sunshine and surf.



The Polynesians colonized the uninhabited Hawaiian Islands and brought surfing along with them. When European settlers first came to Hawaii, locals were steered away from surfing by Protestant Christian missionaries along with other sacred Hawaiian traditions. Sadly, plantation owners and missionaries introduced the Hawaiian people to canned meat which resulted in obesity, in which there was none before. Still, surfing was such an essential part of Hawaiian culture that people never stopped doing it entirely. Around the end of the 19th century, tourism began to develop, and surfing started to make a huge comeback. People from all over the world started to notice how awesome surfing is, and this was fantastic for Hawaiian tourism. One of the most prominent early players in modern surfing was Duke Kahanamoku. Born in 1890, “The Duke” was one of the best surfers of his time and also an accomplished Olympic swimmer. Once Duke’s fame as an athlete reached a certain point, he decided to go on a world tour to showcase his skills and spread the love of surfing. From California to Australia, he traveled, surfed, and caught the eyes of thousands of eager spectators. He single-handedly popularized the Hawaiian surf tradition. While we can’t say that The Duke invented surfing, but surfing was a massive part of his legacy, and his influence played a pivotal role in the history of surfing. Thanks to his enthusiasm and athleticism, the sport gained more attention than ever before. Today, Hawaii has established itself as the de-facto surfing capital of world.

Answer: G. Waimea Beach, Kauai, Hawaii


The rare  black sand Waimea Beach is located on Kauai’s relatively undeveloped western shore. This Kauai gem does not present conditions ideal for surfing or swimming, but as the island’s only black sand beach, it will absolutely enchant you. Usually black sand beaches are found near volcanoes, and these magical glossy fragments are made up of lava when it touches the ocean waters.

Pink Sand Beaches

Elafonisi Beach – Crete, Greece: Elafonisi has the amenities of a popular vacation beach (parking lot, nearby bathrooms) but the feel of a remote oasis, thanks to its location removed from major cities. After swimming in the shallow waters, walk across the sandbar to snap some photos of wildflowers.

Horseshoe Bay – Bermuda: Horseshoe Bay is situated on Bermuda’s south coast. It’s tucked between astounding natural limestone cliffs and glistening pink sand that skims the Atlantic Ocean, which is filled with a plethora of coral reefs, a variety of fish, and other marine life. The bay is a fantastic location for snorkeling, volleyball, and kickball. The bay’s long trails are also awesome for jogging or hiking.

Crane Beach – Barbados: Located on the rugged east coast of Barbados, the pink shoreline of Crane Beach is flanked by lush vegetation and turquoise waters. The beach is known for its boogie board–ready waves, and luxe hotels where you can dry off after pulling yourself out of your beach chair.

Spiaggia Rosa – Northern Sardinia, Italy: As gorgeous as its pink sand beach might be, Italy’s Spiaggia Rosa is off-limits to the public. The beach can be viewed via boat or from a nearby cliff that overlooks it, but no one is allowed onto the beach itself. This is due to preserving the beach’s vibrant pink hues, which believe it or not, used to be brighter before visitors began taking jars of it with them.

Playa de Ses Illetes –  Formentera, Spain:  Formentera is a less-crowded alternative to nearby Ibiza, and Playa de Ses Illetes is its most fashionable beach. For a full day, share some rosy sand with yacht-owning vacationers, then enjoy a plate of fish at one of the island's glitzy restaurants.

Thunder Cove Beach – Prince Edward Island, Canada: If you want to see red sand, one hidden gem is Thunder Cove Beach. The beach is only a short drive from the famous Cavendish Beach which attracts Anne of Green Gables fans and is an excellent spot to escape the crowds.

Answer: B. Emily Dickinson

The influential American poet Emily Dickinson wrote "I started Early – Took my Dog –" sometime around 1862. In the poem, a young woman walks to the shore with her dog and looks at the sea. The boats and mermaids seem to call out to the speaker, while the water, treated as a male figure in the poem, begins to creep up the speaker's body. She initially seems excited by this, but as the tide turns and the sea makes to consume the speaker, she abruptly turns away and rushes back to town. According to many readers, these events suggest that the speaker experiences a sexual awakening yet struggles to embrace her own sexual desires. The poem can also be read as being more generally about the allure of adventure, escape, and temptation, and about the simultaneous thrill and fear of embracing the new and unknown. The poem features common meter, as is the case with much of Dickinson's writing. Dickinson left her work untitled, and this poem's title is taken from its first line.

Answer: A. Coronado Beach, California



Regularly cropping up near the top of Best Comedy of All Time lists (and boasting the best last line ever), the exteriors for Billy Wilder’s classic were filmed in a mere seven days at Coronado Beach near San Diego, standing in for 1920s 'Florida.'

The ‘Miami’ hotel, where ‘Daphne’ and ‘Josephine’ (Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis) hide out with Sugar Kane (Marilyn Monroe) and the girl band, is the Hotel Del Coronado, This 700-room Victorian fantasy, built in 1888, has long been frequented by the rich and famous, including no less than eight US presidents, stage actress Sarah Bernhardt, Charlie Chaplin, and – according to legend – it’s where king-to-be Edward met Mrs. Wallis Simpson.

Answer: C. Ethiopia

Abyssenia, now modern day Ethiopia, is considered the birthplace of coffee. Ancient Ethiopian history tells us that around the year 850, there was a goatherd by the name of Kaldi, responsible for discovering the now famous plant and introducing it to Abyssenian culture. He saw his goats eating coffee cherries. Afterwards, he observed a change in their behavior, gaining  a high amount of energy and unable to sleep at night.

Upon his arrival at a local monastery, the goatherd presented the coffee berries to the head Monk, ecstatically exclaiming the effect that these berries had: he’d never felt so elated in thought and body after trying one! The head Monk grabbed the berries from Kaldi’s outstretched hand and threw them into the fire, deeming them the “Devil’s work.”

Within moments, the chamber was filled with the smell of roasting coffee. This brought other Monks out to investigate what was making the indelible aroma.

Intrigued, the curious Monks raked the coffee beans from the fire and crushed them in order to put out the molten embers. The Monks poured hot water  over the now powdered coffee. The Monks stayed up all night drinking this new concoction, vowing to always drink it in order to stay awake for their nocturnal devotions. News of this event spread, and soon coffee was consumed throughout the country.

Coffee was introduced to the trade world in 1454 when the Mufti of Aden visited Ethiopia and sampled the beverage. Claiming that the drink had cured him of some affliction, his approval carried so much weight amongst his men that soon word of mouth spread like wildfire. His men introduced coffee to the ports in Yemen and Mecca - and coffee was seemingly on the menu everywhere.

Coffee Facts

• Coffee is a fruit, the pit of a berry.
• Coffee has no calories
• Coffee is the world’s 2nd largest traded commodity.  Crude oil is first.
• The lighter the bean, the more caffeine.
• Europe imports more coffee than the USA.
• Brazil is the lead exporting country in coffee
• Finland consumes the most coffee per ratio in the world.
• U.S. citizens spend on average $1,092 a year on coffee.
• Millennials spend more on coffee than baby boomers
• Hawaii is the only American state that grows coffee
• Beethoven loved coffee
• Mecca banned coffee, believed to stimulate radical thinking and idleness.
• In ancient Arab culture, a woman could only divorce her husband if he didn’t like her coffee.
• Caffeine is often sold to Coca-Cola.
• Not verified: Yemen claims to be the historical and mythical origin of coffee.

Answer: F. Barbra Streisand

Barbra Streisand  has never played more than one character in a film, but her résumé is immensely impressive: a vocalist, stage and screen performer, film director and producer, and winner of five Emmy awards. After her splashy debut on Broadway in 1962’s I Can Get It For You Wholesale, Barbra Streisand played entertainer Fanny Brice in the 1964 Broadway musical Funny Girl. Her 1965 television special, My Name is Barbra, won five Emmy awards and made her a small-screen star. In 1968 she went herself one better, winning the best actress Oscar for William Wyler‘s film version of Funny Girl. A legendary case of stage fright kept Streisand from performing publicly for the next two decades, but in those years she remained a top star in recording and movie studios. She wrote, directed and starred in 1983’s Yentl and 1991’s The Prince of Tides (with Nick Nolte). In 1986 she began singing in public again, and in 1998 she married actor James Brolin. As of 2009, she had won more gold records than any other performer in history and the top-selling female artist in American music recording history.  While not making movies or singing, Streisand kicks up dust in the political arena as an outspoken Democrat.

The following played more than one character in the below films.

Nicolas Cage: Adaptation (2002); Cage plays identical twin screenwriters, Charlie Kaufman / Donald Kaufman

Tom Hardy: Legend (2015); Hardy plays identical twin gangsters, Reggie Kray / Ron Kray

Jeremy Irons: Dead Ringers (1998); Irons plays identical twin gynecologists , Beverly Mantle / Elliot Mantle.

Scarlett Johansson: The Island (2005);  Johansson plays two different characters, Jordan Two Delta and Sarah Jordan.

Jack Nicholson: Mars Attacks! (1996); Nicholson plays two different characters, US President James Dale and nutcase Art Land.

Interesting note: John Travolta and Nicholas Cage both played two characters in John Woo’s Face Off.

Answer: C. Nile River

1. Nile River – 6,693 km.
2. Amazon River – 6,436 km.
3. Yangtze River – 6,378 km.
4. Mississippi/Missouri – 5,970 km.
5. Yenisei/Angara – 5,539 km.

1.  Nile River – 6,693 km 

Although most of us recognize the Nile as the lifeline of Egypt, the Nile is, in fact, an international river shared by 11 countries in Africa. However, it is the main source of water in two countries: Egypt and Sudan. The Blue and the White Nile are the two tributaries of the river with the latter having a greater length than the former. The source of the White Nile is not yet fully determined but is believed to be somewhere in Burundi or Rwanda. According to some reports, Lake Victoria is considered to be the source of the White Nile which is, in turn, fed by the Kagera River whose two major tributaries are the Ruvyironza and the Nyabarongo rivers of Burundi and Rwanda, respectively. The Kagera is formed at the confluence of these two rivers near the Tanzania-Rwanda border. The Blue Nile has a more defined origin in Lake Tana in Ethiopia. The two tributaries meet near the Sudanese capital of Khartoum. The Nile River’s final course is through Egypt before it forms a delta and drains into the Mediterranean Sea. According to the USGS, the length of the Nile River is 4,258 miles. It is the longest river in the world as well as the longest river in Africa.

2. Amazon River – 6,436 km 

The Amazon River is undoubtedly the largest river in the world by discharge volume of water. However, its position as the second-longest river in the world is highly disputed as the title has for long been granted to the Nile River in Egypt. The dispute arises from the determination of the origin of the Amazon. Until now, the headwaters of the Apurímac River were considered to be the origin of the Amazon River. However, a recent 2014 study claims that the origin of the Amazon can be traced to the Cordillera Rumi Cruz from where Peru’s Mantaro River originates. This river then confluences with the Apurímac River (whose headwaters were earlier regarded as the source of the Amazon) and then other tributaries join the river downstream to form the Ucayali River which finally confluences with the Marañón River to form the main stem of the Amazon River. However, critics of this measurement point out that the study has not been published.

3. Yangtze River – 6,378 km 

The Yangtze River is the world’s third longest river and the longest to flow entirely within one country. It is also Asia’s longest river. The river basin of the Yangtze houses one-third of the population of China, the most populated country in the world. Two origins of the Yangtze River has been suggested. Traditionally, the government of China recognizes the Tuotuo tributary located in the Tanggula Mountains as the source of the river. At 17,526 ft above sea-level, it is definitely the highest source of the Yangtze. According to new data, however, the source of the Yangtze River is located in the Jari Hill from where the headwaters of the Dam Qu tributary originate. These tributaries, and more join to form the mighty Yangtze River which finally drains into the East China Sea at Shanghai.

4. Mississippi/Missouri – 5,970 km

The river system comprising of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Jefferson rivers, is regarded as the world’s fourth longest river system. The river system drains 31 US states and 2 Canadian provinces. The Mississippi River begins in northern Minnesota where Lake Itasca is believed to be the origin of the river and drains into the Gulf of Mexico. However, when we regarded the Jefferson River as the furthest source of the Mississippi River, then we get the Mississippi–Missouri–Jefferson river system.

5. Yenisei/Angara – 5,539 km

This is the world’s fifth-longest river system and the largest draining into the Arctic Ocean. The Selenge River is regarded as the headwaters of this river system. The Selenge River is 992 km long and drains into Lake Baikal. The Angara river rises from Lake Baikal near Listvyanka and flows through the Irkutsk Oblast of Russia and finally joins the Yenisei River near Strelka. The Yenisei finally drains into the Arctic Ocean. The total length covered is 5,539 miles.

Answer: B. No

Only the central part of the Netherlands is geographically named Holland. This part of the Netherlands consists of two provinces Noord Holland (North Holland) and Zuid Holland (South Holland). This is the region where important cities such as Amsterdam, Rotterdam, The Hague (Den Haag), Delft, Leiden and Haarlem are located, making it confusing for some visitors.

Answer: D. Tweeter and the Monkey Man

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Answer: D. Mamma Mia! (2008): Streep plays a free-spirited American expiate living on a Greek island.

The Bridges of Madison County (1995): Italian accent

A Cry in the Dark (1988): Australian accent

The House of the Spirits (1993); Chilean accent

Out of Africa (1985): Danish accent

Sophie's Choice (1982): Polish accent

Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep (born June 22, 1949) is an American actress, often described as the "best actress of her generation." Particularly known for her versatility and accents, Streep has been nominated for a record 21 Academy Awards, where she has won three. Among other accolades, she has received 32 Golden Globe nominations, more than any other person, and won eight.

Answer: E. The Romani people were called "Gypsies" because Europeans mistakenly believed they came from Egypt

Romani (also spelled Romany) colloquially known as Roma, are an Indo-Aryan ethnic group, traditionally itinerant, living mostly in Europe and the Americas. The Romani originate from the northern Indian subcontinent, from the Rajasthan, Haryana, and Punjab regions of modern-day India. They entered Europe between the eighth and tenth centuries. "Traveller" is also a common term used to describe Gypsy groups.

The Roma’s own supposed disposition to wander has been forcibly furthered by exile or deportation. Only 80 years after their first appearance in western Europe, they fell under the penalty of banishment in almost all the nations of western Europe. Despite their systematic exile, or transportation abroad, however, they continued to reappear in one guise or another back in the countries they had left.

Few people are aware that ‘gypped’ is a vulgar ethnic slur – meaning to defraud, swindle, cheat – derived from the name Gypsy. Another term used is “gypsy cab,” which is an unlicensed cab.

During World War II, the Nazis embarked on a systematic genocide of the Romani, a process known in Romani as the Porajmos. Romanies were marked for extermination and sentenced to forced labor and imprisonment in concentration camps. They were often killed on sight, especially by the Einsatzgruppen (paramilitary death squads) on the Eastern Front. The total number of victims has been variously estimated at between 220,000 and 1,500,000; even the lower figure would make the Porajmos one of the largest mass killings in history. Per ratio, no ethnic group suffered a greater number of deaths by the hands of the Nazis.

FAMOUS CELEBRITIES OF ROMANI ORIGIN

Michael Caine (1933)
Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977)
Yul Brynner (1920-1985)
Elvis Presley (1935-1977)
Bob Hoskins (1942-2014)
Pablo Picasso (1881-1973)
Rita Hayworth (1918-1987)

Answer: D. Haiti

On January 1, 1804, Haiti proclaimed its independence from France, and became the second independent state in the Western Hemisphere and the first free black republic in the world. It started with a slave revolt in the French Haitian colony, then named Saint-Domingue. Toussaint-Louverture, a former slave, took control of the rebels. Gifted with natural military genius, Toussaint organized an effective guerrilla war against the island’s French colonial population. He found able generals in two other former slaves, Jean-Jacques Dessalines and Henri Christophe, and in 1795 orchestrated  the abolishment of slavery. Toussaint became governor-general of the colony, and in 1801 conquered the Spanish portion of the island, freeing the slaves there as well. In 1802, a French invasion force ordered by Napoleon landed on Saint-Domingue. After several months of furious fighting, Toussaint agreed to a cease-fire. He retired to his plantation, but in 1803 was arrested and taken to a dungeon in the French Alps, where he was tortured and died. Soon after Toussaint’s arrest, Napoleon announced his intention to reintroduce slavery on Haiti/Saint-Domingue. Dessalines led a new revolt against French rule. With the aid of the British, the rebels scored a major victory against the French force, which led to their surrender. In 1804, General Dessalines assumed dictatorial power, and renamed the former colony, Haiti, after its original Arawak name. Haiti became the official second independent nation in the Americas.

The United States, the first independent nation in the western hemisphere, initially supported the rebellion, but then changed sides and supported France. This was due to a fear of a slave revolt in their own nation, which was the largest (and considered the most callous) slave-holding nation in the world.

Answer: E. Watermelon

Watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) is a plant species in the family Cucurbitaceae, a vine-like flowering plant originating in West Africa. It is a highly cultivated fruit worldwide, having more than 1000 varieties. There is evidence from seeds in Pharaoh tombs of watermelon cultivation in Ancient Egypt.

The discovery of the New World by Columbus began what became known as the Columbian Exchange. This was an exchange of people, plants, animals and disease across the Atlantic Ocean. The Europeans were the main beneficiaries of this exchange. Europe received new crops of corn and potatoes which greatly improved European diets. Native  Americans, however, suffered from the exchange of germs, to which they had never been exposed. As a result, it is estimated that as many as 90% of Native Americans died from small pox and other diseased brought by the Europeans. The changes in agriculture significantly altered global populations. The most significant immediate impact of the Columbian exchange was the cultural exchanges and the transfer of people (both free and enslaved) between continents.

Answer: C. Rory Storm and the Hurricanes



Born in Liverpool in 1942, Alan Caldwell took the name Rory Storm when he formed his own rock band, Rory Storm & the Hurricanes. In 1962, they were the most popular band in Liverpool with more fans than their friends, the Beatles.  It is widely believed that an upstart singer Rod Stewart, who saw Rory perform many times in the early days, "stole" the singer's trademark persona and found success of his own with well-choreographed moves on stage and flaunting his blonde hair. Rory would indirectly make history when he advised his drummer, Ritchie Starkey, to change his name to "Ringo" because of the drummer's penchant for wearing rings. Ringo Starr had to fill in many times for original Beatle drummer, Pete Best. When Best was forced to leave the Beatles – believed to be due to an inferior drumming style – Ringo was the unanimous choice to replace him.

With the explosion of Beatlemania, other groups out of Liverpool, such as Gerry & the Pacemakers, The Searchers and Billy J. Kramer & The Dakotas achieved success. However, Rory and his band fell on hard times and were constantly passed over for a recording contract.

Rory had to deal almost on a daily basis with the Beatles' success because his sister Iris was Paul McCartney's girlfriend, before and after the Beatles’ success. Even after the couples’ break-up, Paul kept in touch regularly with Rory's mother, Violet Caldwell. In fact, when Paul wrote Yesterday, the first person he called was Violet to sing it to her over the phone.

Some followers of the Liverpool club scene prior to 1962 believe that Rory Storm was just as talented as any of the acts that found fame in the "British Invasion." Success was all around Rory Storm for many years, but life dealt him an unfortunate hand.

Answer: E. Mary I



Mary I (1516 –1558), also known as Mary Tudor and Bloody Mary, was the only child of Henry VIII by his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, to survive to adulthood. She was the queen of England and Ireland July 1553 until her death. She is best known for her vigorous attempt to reverse the English Reformation, which had begun during the reign of her father Henry VIII. Her attempt to restore to the Church the property confiscated in the previous two reigns was largely thwarted by parliament, but during her five-year reign, Mary had over 280 religious dissenters burned at the stake, which led to her denunciation as "Bloody Mary" by her Protestant opponents. After Mary's death, her re-establishment of Roman Catholicism was reversed by her younger half-sister and successor, Elizabeth I.

Henry’s Six Wives Club



1. Catherine of Aragon (1485-1536): Demoted for Bearing No Son

Henry took the throne in 1509, at age 17. Six weeks later, he married Catherine of Aragon, daughter of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain, and the widow of his elder brother, Arthur Tudor (1486 –1502). As the eldest son and heir apparent of Henry VII of England, Arthur Tudor died young. It was a custom in the Tudor Court for the younger brother to marry the wife of an older brother. From the moment young Henry took his nuptials, he obsessed over continuing the Tudor line. Of multiple pregnancies and several births, the only child to survive was Henry and Catherine’s daughter, Mary.

Read More about Henry VIII's 6 wives

Answer: B. An excellent platform to speak

A bully pulpit is a conspicuous position that provides an opportunity to speak out and be listened to. This term was coined by United States President Theodore Roosevelt, who referred to his office as a "bully pulpit," by which he meant a terrific platform from which to advocate an agenda.

For Roosevelt, bully was an adjective meaning "excellent" or "first-rate" — not the noun bully ("a blustering, browbeating person") that's so common today.

Answer: B. George Harrison

“Badge” was written by Eric Clapton and George Harrison. Harrison, who is listed on the album as "L'Angelo Misterioso," also played rhythm guitar on this, since Cream had only one guitarist: Clapton.

The title has nothing to do with the song. Clapton saw Harrison's notes for this, and misread "Bridge" as "Badge." He thought this is what Harrison named the song, so they used it for the title.

The lyrics are not intended to make sense. Many of them were taken from drunken conversations Harrison had with Ringo Starr.

Cream recorded this shortly before their final shows: two sold-out performances at Royal Albert Hall in England. It was one of three studio recordings on their last album; the rest of it was filled with live cuts.

Cream had broken up by the time this was released. Clapton was already working with his new group, Blind Faith.

This is one of the few Cream songs that Eric Clapton sang lead on, as Jack Bruce usually handled vocals. Also, this is the only Cream song to include 5 people: in addition to Clapton, Bruce, Baker and Harrison, Felix Pappalardi played the piano and Mellotron. Pappalardi was the producer of 3 of Cream's 4 albums (Disreali Gears, Wheels Of Fire, and Goodbye) and contributed by playing a wide variety of instruments on those albums.

Clapton ran his guitar through a Leslie speaker cabinet to create a swirling sound. The Leslie Cabinet contained a rotating paddle and was designed for organs, but many musicians tried it with guitars. Jimmy Page used the technique on "Good Times, Bad Times."

The song titles were written on tombstones inside the album, leaving little doubt that it was their last.

Clapton had played on Harrison's album Wonderwall the previous year, and on The Beatles' "While My Guitar Gently Weeps," which was released the same month as this.

Harrison was later asked if “Badge” was about heroin. He replied, “No, it’s about a badge.”

Listen to it now

Answer: D. Thin Mints

Most Popular Girl Scout Cookies

Thin mint
Samoas/Caramel deLites
Tagalongs/Peanut Butter Patties
Do-si-dos/Peanut Butter Sandwich
Trefoils/Shortbread

Girl Scout Cookie History

An icon of American culture

For more than 100 years, Girl Scouts have helped ensure the success of the iconic annual cookie sale — and they’ve had fun, developed valuable life skills, and made their communities a better place every step of the way. Founded by Juliette Gordon Low in 1912, it was organized after Low met Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of Scouting, in 1911. Upon returning to Savannah, Georgia, she telephoned a distant cousin, saying, "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"

More on Girl Scout Cookie History

Answer: D. Roman Empire: Senate

The expression dates back to Roman times. The Senate declared emperor Nero a hostis publicus in AD 68. Its direct translation is "public enemy." Whereas "public" is currently used in English in order to describe something related to collectivity at large, with an implication towards government or the State, the Latin word "publicus" could, in addition to that meaning, also refer directly to people, making it the equivalent of the genitive of populus ("people"), populi ("popular" or "of the people"). Thus, "public enemy" and "enemy of the people" are, etymologically, near synonyms.

The term has been used for centuries in literature: Coriolanus, the play by William Shakespeare in 1605, and An Enemy of the People, the play by Henrik Ibsen in 1882.

The words "ennemi du peuple" were used extensively during the French Revolution. On  December 25, 1793, French revolutionary Robespierre stated: "The revolutionary government owes to the good citizen all the protection of the nation; it owes nothing to the Enemies of the People but death.” Ironically  Robespierre was later beheaded by the same revolutionary government.

The Soviet Union made extensive use of the term until 1956, notably Stalin, who used it to describe anybody critical of himself personally.

It is routinely used by authoritarian rulers, and since early 2017 it has been used on multiple occasions by US President Donald Trump to refer to news organizations and journalists who he perceives as critical of and biased against him.

Draco (Dreɪkoʊ; Greek: Δράκων, Drakōn; 7th century BC), also called Drako or Drakon, was the first recorded legislator of Athens in Ancient Greece. He replaced the prevailing system of oral law and blood feud by a written code to be enforced only by a court of law. Draco was the first democratic legislator, requested by the Athenian citizens to be a lawgiver for the city-state, but the citizens were fully unaware that Draco would establish laws characterized by their harshness. Since the 19th century, the adjective draconian (Greek: δρακόντειος drakónteios) refers to unforgiving punishment to those who have broken minor rules or laws.