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Question 1: When is the Celtic holiday Samhain traditionally celebrated?
Question 2: What legendary creature is said to inhabit the lakes of Scotland?
The Loch Ness Monster, also known as "Nessie," is a cryptid that is reputed to inhabit Loch Ness in the Scottish Highlands. It is often described as large, with a long neck and one or more humps protruding from the water. Nessie is popularly associated with the idea of a prehistoric marine reptile, like a plesiosaur.
Question 3: What was the primary purpose of ARPANET, the precursor to the modern Internet?
ARPANET was developed by the U.S. Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency (ARPA). It was created for sharing data and resources among scientists and academics at different universities and research institutions. While it did have military applications, its main use was for research and it laid the groundwork for today's Internet.
Question 4: Where can the oldest living trees on Earth be found?
The oldest living trees on Earth are ancient bristlecone pines found in the White Mountains of California. The oldest, named Methuselah, is estimated to be over 4,800 years old.
Question 5: What is the name of the newspaper where Peter Parker works as a photographer?
Peter Parker, also known as Spider-Man, works as a freelance photographer for The Daily Bugle. This fictional New York City newspaper is run by the notoriously brash editor-in-chief, J. Jonah Jameson, who has a strong dislike for Spider-Man, often demanding pictures that portray the superhero in a negative light.
Question 6: If you were looking at "The Starry Night," who would be the artist you'd be thanking for this masterpiece?
"The Starry Night" is one of Vincent van Gogh's most famous works, painted in 1889. The swirling, expressive sky depicted over the small town of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence where he was institutionalized is instantly recognizable worldwide.
Question 7: When was Leonardo da Vinci's "Mona Lisa" believed to have been completed?
"Mona Lisa" is one of the most famous paintings by Leonardo da Vinci and is thought to have been completed between 1503 and 1506, although Leonardo may have continued working on it as late as 1517. The painting is renowned for its detailed portrayal of Lisa Gherardini, its use of sfumato—a technique for softening the transition between colors—and its enigmatic expression.
Question 8: What was the first mass-produced car model?
The Ford Model T is widely considered the first affordable automobile, which made car travel accessible to middle-class Americans. The production using assembly line techniques began in 1913, which drastically reduced costs. More than 15 million units were built from 1908 to 1927.
Question 9: The tallest building in the world is located in which city?
Burj Khalifa in Dubai stands at 828 meters (2,717 feet) tall and was completed in January 2010, officially earning the title of the tallest building in the world.
Question 10: What architectural style is the Empire State Building a classic example of?
The Empire State Building in New York City is one of the most famous examples of Art Deco architecture in the world. It was completed in 1931 and stood as the world's tallest building for nearly 40 years. Art Deco is known for its use of geometric forms, rich materials, and elaborate ornamentation.
Samhain is traditionally celebrated from the evening of October 31 to the evening of November 1. It marks the end of the harvest season and the beginning of winter or the "darker half" of the year. It is often associated with the Gaelic festival that celebrates the end of the harvest period and is considered a precursor to the modern Halloween.