Question 1: Which ancient civilization invented the first form of writing?
Question 2: What is the most visited national park in the United States?
The Great Smoky Mountains National Park, located in North Carolina and Tennessee, is the most visited national park in the United States, receiving over 11 million visitors each year.
Question 3: Who was the Greek god of the underworld?
In Greek mythology, Hades was the ruler of the underworld and the god of the dead. He was one of the six children of the Titans Cronus and Rhea, along with his brothers Zeus and Poseidon, who ruled the skies and the seas respectively.
Question 4: If a person is hit in their solar plexus, which part of the body are they hit in?
The solar plexus is a complex network of nerves located in the abdomen, behind the stomach and in front of the aorta. It's often referred to as the body's center of energy.
Question 5: How many official languages are recognized by the United Nations?
The six official languages of the United Nations are Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish. These languages are used for meetings and official UN documents. Over half of the world's population speaks at least one of these as their native language.
Question 6: How many Oscars did the 1965 film "The Sound of Music" win?
"The Sound of Music" won 5 Oscars from its 10 nominations, including Best Picture and Best Director (Robert Wise). It was an adaptation of the Rodgers and Hammerstein Broadway musical and starred Julie Andrews as Maria Von Trapp.
Question 7: When the air temperature remains below the freezing point of water (0°C or 32°F), what form of precipitation is most likely to occur?
For snow to form, the entire air column from the cloud base to the ground must be below freezing. If part of that column is above freezing, the snowflakes will partially melt and fall as sleet instead. Hail is associated with strong thunderstorms in warmer months rather than below freezing temperatures.
Question 8: Who is credited with the development of the first successful polio vaccine?
Jonas Salk developed the first successful polio vaccine in 1952. The vaccine was made publicly available in 1955, and by 1961, the incidence of polio had decreased by over 95% in the United States.
Question 9: What was the first artificial satellite to orbit the Earth?
Sputnik 1 was launched by the Soviet Union on October 4, 1957. This event marked the beginning of the space age and started the U.S.-Soviet space race. Sputnik was a 58cm diameter polished metal sphere, and its launch into an elliptical Earth orbit was tracked worldwide.
Question 10: What is the architectural style of the Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris?
Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris is one of the finest examples of French Gothic architecture, recognized by its high, intricate ceilings, large stained glass windows, and use of flying buttresses.
The Sumerians created the first known form of writing called Cuneiform, which dates back to around 3,400 BCE. This was developed in the region known as Mesopotamia, which is located in modern-day Iraq and Syria.