Question 1: In what year did Beethoven complete his famous Ninth Symphony?
Question 2: Who played the character of Jack Sparrow in the Pirates of the Caribbean film series?
Johnny Depp's portrayal of the eccentric pirate Captain Jack Sparrow was praised by critics and audiences, and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for the first film in the series, "Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl" (2003).
Question 3: Which actor played the character Neo in the Matrix film series?
Keanu Reeves' portrayal of Neo in the groundbreaking Matrix trilogy propelled him to superstardom. The first Matrix film was released in 1999 and pioneered many innovative special effects.
Question 4: Which country is the world's largest producer of bananas?
India produces around 29 million tonnes of bananas annually, accounting for over 26% of the world's total banana production. Bananas are grown in around 150 countries worldwide.
Question 5: Who was the first person to step foot on the Moon?
Neil Armstrong became the first person to set foot on the Moon on July 20, 1969, as part of the Apollo 11 mission. His famous words upon stepping on the lunar surface were: "That's one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind."
Question 6: Which band released the album "Nevermind" in 1991?
Nevermind was Nirvana's second studio album. Released in September 1991, it featured their hit single "Smells Like Teen Spirit" and has sold over 30 million copies worldwide, making it one of the best-selling albums of all time.
Question 7: If the pH of a solution is 7, what does that indicate about its acidity/alkalinity?
A pH of 7 is considered neutral on the pH scale. A pH below 7 indicates acidity, while a pH above 7 indicates alkalinity. Pure water has a pH very close to 7.
Question 8: Which famous physicist won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921?
Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in Physics in 1921 for his contributions to theoretical physics, particularly his explanation of the photoelectric effect. Interestingly, he did not win for his more famous theory of relativity.
Question 9: In what year did construction of the Great Wall of China begin?
While the most well-known sections of the Great Wall were built during the Ming dynasty (1368-1644), construction first began during the Spring and Autumn period in the 7th century BC by the state of Chu. The Great Wall was built, rebuilt and maintained over many centuries and dynasties to protect China's northern borders.
Question 10: Why are there no active volcanoes on Mars today?
Mars was once volcanically active, with towering volcanoes like Olympus Mons. However, as the planet's interior cooled over billions of years, volcanic and tectonic activity gradually came to a halt. The lack of active plate tectonics means there are no longer forces to drive magma to the surface on Mars today.
Despite being almost completely deaf, Beethoven composed his groundbreaking Ninth Symphony between 1822-1824. It was first performed in Vienna on May 7, 1824 and is one of the best-known works of classical music.