Question 1: Where do most tornadoes occur in the United States?
Question 2: If a plant is described as a perennial, what does that mean?
Perennials are plants that live for more than two years, as opposed to annuals which complete their life cycle in one year, and biennials which take two years. Many perennials die back to the ground each winter and regrow in the spring from the same root system.
Question 3: Why does Mercury have the most extreme temperature variations of any planet in our solar system?
Mercury has virtually no atmosphere to retain heat, resulting in the most extreme temperature variations of any planet. During the day, temperatures can reach 800°F (430°C), while at night they can plummet to -290°F (-180°C).
Question 4: In which country did the Pavlova dessert originate?
The Pavlova dessert, named after the Russian ballerina Anna Pavlova, was created in New Zealand during her tour in the 1920s. However, Australia also claims ownership of the dessert, resulting in a friendly dispute between the two countries.
Question 5: If visiting the ancient Incan city of Machu Picchu, which country would you be in?
Machu Picchu is an iconic 15th-century Inca citadel located in the Eastern Cordillera of southern Peru on a 2,430-meter (7,970 ft) mountain ridge. It is the most familiar icon of Inca civilization and is often referred to as the "Lost City of the Incas".
Question 6: Why does thunder usually accompany lightning during a thunderstorm?
A lightning bolt can heat the air around it to 50,000 degrees Fahrenheit (27,760 degrees Celsius), causing the air to rapidly expand and create a shock wave heard as a crack of thunder. Light travels much faster than sound, which is why we see lightning before hearing the thunder.
Question 7: What term refers to an individual's characteristic patterns of thought, emotion, and behavior?
In psychology, personality refers to the unique combination of traits, characteristics, and qualities that define an individual and make them distinctive from others. It encompasses the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves, and is influenced by both genetic and environmental factors.
Question 8: If a company is 'public', what does that mean?
A public company or a publicly traded company is a corporation whose ownership is dispersed amongst the general public in many shares of stock which are freely traded on a stock exchange or in over the counter markets.
Question 9: Why did Australia switch from the British pound to the Australian dollar?
Australia switched from the British pound to the Australian dollar on the 14th of February 1966 following the introduction of the decimal system. This change was made to simplify currency calculations and make transactions and conversions more efficient. This new system laid the foundation for Australia's modern currency system.
Question 10: What name is given to the chronic sleep disorder characterized by overwhelming daytime drowsiness?
Narcolepsy is a chronic neurological disorder that affects the brain's ability to control sleep-wake cycles. People with narcolepsy often experience sudden sleep attacks during the day, even during activities such as working, eating or driving.
Tornado Alley is a nickname given to an area in the southern plains of the central United States that consistently experiences a high frequency of tornadoes each year. This area includes parts of Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, Nebraska, and South Dakota.