Question 1: Who is the Australian author best known for writing the novel "The Thorn Birds"?
Question 2: What is the popular architectural style in Australian suburbia?
Federation architecture is a style of Australian homes built around the time of Australia's Federation in 1901. These homes are characterized by roomy verandas, decorative timberwork, and stained glass windows.
Question 3: Why do people sometimes yawn when they see others yawn?
The contagious yawning phenomenon is caused by mirror neurons, which are specialized cells in the brain that are responsible for empathy and imitation. When we see someone else yawn, these neurons become activated and cause us to yawn as well.
Question 4: Where in the human body is the Tibia bone located?
The Tibia bone, also known as the shinbone, is a large bone in the lower leg, running parallel to the fibula. It is one of the two major bones that make up the lower leg and supports most of a person's body weight.
Question 5: How many official James Bond films have been released so far?
The James Bond film franchise began in 1962 with Dr. No, starring Sean Connery. The most recent film, No Time to Die, was released in 2021 and stars Daniel Craig in his final appearance as Bond.
Question 6: What is the term for a large group of stars, gas, and dust held together by gravity?
There are more than 100 billion galaxies in the observable universe. The Milky Way, which contains our solar system, is classified as a barred spiral galaxy.
Question 7: How many Academy Awards did Australian actress Cate Blanchett win?
Cate Blanchett won her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in "The Aviator" (2004) and her second for Best Actress in "Blue Jasmine" (2013). She has received a total of 7 nominations in her career.
Question 8: If a creature in Australian Aboriginal mythology is known to steal children, what is this creature called?
The Bunyip is a mythical creature from Australian Aboriginal folklore. It is said to lurk in swamps, billabongs, and other waterways, preying on unsuspecting children who venture too close. The Bunyip's appearance varies between stories but is often portrayed as having a mixture of animal features, such as a crocodile's head, an emu's body, and a kangaroo's tail.
Question 9: Which country was invaded by Australia during the first military action of World War I?
The first military action of World War I involving Australia was the invasion of German New Guinea, which was part of Germany's Pacific colonies. The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force occupied the territory in September 1914.
Question 10: When is Australia Day celebrated?
Australia Day is celebrated every year on January 26 to commemorate the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson in 1788, marking the beginning of European settlement in Australia.
Colleen McCullough published "The Thorn Birds" in 1977, and it became an international bestseller. The book was later adapted into a successful TV miniseries in 1983.