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Question 1: Where does the term "kangaroo court" originate from?
Question 2: When is Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights, typically celebrated?
Diwali falls between mid-October and mid-November, depending on the lunar calendar. It celebrates the victory of good over evil and is a time for family gatherings, feasting, and exchanging gifts.
Question 3: Why is Cleopatra VII famous in history?
Cleopatra VII was the last Pharaoh of Ancient Egypt and is known for her love affairs with Julius Caesar and Mark Antony. After her death, Egypt became a province of the Roman Empire.
Question 4: The popular Australian dessert, Pavlova, is named after which famous person?
Anna Pavlova was a Russian prima ballerina who visited Australia and New Zealand in the 1920s. The dessert's light, airy texture, and delicate appearance are said to reflect her graceful dancing style.
Question 5: Who is credited with inventing the telephone?
Alexander Graham Bell was granted the first patent for the telephone in 1876. Although Elisha Gray filed a patent around the same time, Bell was awarded the patent based on the chronological order of its submission.
Question 6: Why is Canberra the capital city of Australia, instead of Sydney or Melbourne?
Canberra was purpose-built as the capital city of Australia in an effort to resolve the rivalry between Sydney and Melbourne, both vying for the title during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Canberra, designed by American architect Walter Burley Griffin, was officially declared as the capital of Australia on 12 March 1913.
Question 7: Which Australian band was formed in 1958 by a group of brothers?
The Bee Gees were a pop music group formed by brothers Barry, Robin, and Maurice Gibb. They were born in the Isle of Man, but moved to Redcliffe, Australia in their childhood. The Bee Gees gained global fame with their disco hits in the 1970s.
Question 8: What is the name of the earliest known civilization in human history?
The Sumerian civilization emerged around 4500 BCE in Mesopotamia, present-day Iraq. Their contributions include the invention of the cuneiform writing system and the development of the earliest known cities, like Uruk and Ur.
Question 9: How long does it take for the Moon to orbit the Earth?
The Moon's complete orbit around the Earth takes approximately 27.3 days. This is called the sidereal month. The lunar phase cycle, or the time between two full moons, is about 29.5 days, which is called a synodic month.
Question 10: Which company was the first to release a mobile phone?
Motorola released the first mobile phone, the Motorola DynaTAC 8000X, in 1983. The phone weighed 2.4 pounds (1.1 kg) and had a price tag of $3,995.
Despite popular belief that the term "kangaroo court" originates from Australia, it actually comes from the United States. The term dates back to the early 1800s and is often used to describe a mock court proceeding or a court that lacks proper legal procedure. The origin of the term is unclear, but some suggest it could be due to the notion of a kangaroo leaping over normal legal processes.