Question 1: Why do some cultures use chopsticks as eating utensils?
Question 2: Who invented the first writing system?
The Sumerians developed cuneiform script around 3500-3000 BCE in ancient Mesopotamia (modern-day Iraq). It is considered the earliest known writing system in the world.
Question 3: When did the United States declare its independence from Great Britain?
The Declaration of Independence was ratified by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, marking the birth of the United States as an independent nation. However, the American Revolutionary War continued until 1783.
Question 4: What is the most common type of cancer worldwide?
Lung cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer as well as the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Smoking tobacco is the most important risk factor for developing lung cancer.
Question 5: What country has won the most FIFA World Cup titles?
Brazil has won the FIFA World Cup a record 5 times (1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002). They are the only team to have played in every World Cup tournament.
Question 6: Why was the toy company Mattel started?
Mattel was founded in 1945 by Harold Matson and Elliot Handler. They started out making picture frames, but used the scrap wood to manufacture dollhouse furniture. Their first toy was the "Uke-A-Doodle," a toy ukulele.
Question 7: How tall is the Eiffel Tower?
The Eiffel Tower was the tallest man-made structure in the world for 41 years until the Chrysler Building was built in New York City in 1930. It is made of wrought-iron and weighs approximately 10,100 tons.
Question 8: Where did the Bay of Pigs Invasion take place?
The Bay of Pigs Invasion was a failed CIA-sponsored invasion of Cuba by Cuban exiles in April 1961. The goal was to overthrow Fidel Castro's communist government. The invasion lasted just three days before the invading forces were defeated by the Cuban Revolutionary Armed Forces.
Question 9: What was the name of the ancient Egyptian writing system?
Hieroglyphics were used in ancient Egypt for over 3,500 years. The writing system contains over 1,000 distinct characters representing words or sounds. Hieroglyphics were carved on temple walls, tombs, and monuments to record historical events, religious rituals, and the lives of pharaohs.
Question 10: Who invented the Popsicle?
In 1905, when Frank Epperson was 11 years old, he left a cup filled with powdered soda, water, and a stirring stick outside on his porch. It was a cold night, and Epperson awoke the next morning to find a frozen pop. He called it the "Epsicle." Eighteen years later, Epperson changed the name to "Popsicle."
In ancient China, food was often cooked in large pots and chopsticks allowed people to retrieve food without using extra fuel to heat up individual portions. Chopsticks later spread to other Asian countries like Japan, Korea, and Vietnam.