What natural feature flows through Yosemite National Park’s landscape?
A Merced River
B Angels River
C Nevada River
Fact: The Merced River is the main waterway that flows through Yosemite National Park, creating beautiful reflections of the landscape and providing vital water to the ecosystem.
Correct Answer: Merced River
Which season transforms the Merced River into a torrent in Yosemite?
A Winter
B Spring
C Autumn
Fact: In spring, snowmelt from the Sierra Nevada leads to a significant increase in the flow of the Merced River, making it a powerful natural feature during that season.
Correct Answer: Spring
What phenomenon occurs when Merced River levels drop in fall and winter?
A Ghost town appearance
B Flooding of nearby towns
C Creation of new waterfalls
Fact: As the Merced River’s water levels lower in fall and winter, a ghost town can be seen in Lake McClure, a unique occurrence due to the change in water levels.
Correct Answer: Ghost town appearance
Who invented the British custom of afternoon tea?
Queen Victoria
Mary, Queen of Scots
Queen Elizabeth I
Anna, Duchess of Bedford
Fact: The tradition of afternoon tea is generally attributed to Anna, the 7th Duchess of Bedford, in the early 19th century. During this period, it was customary for fashionable Britons to eat only two main meals a day—breakfast and a late dinner—leaving a long gap in the afternoon. To stave off hunger, the Duchess began requesting a light meal of tea, bread, butter, and cakes in her private chambers. She soon began inviting friends to join her, and the practice quickly became a popular social ritual among the British upper classes before spreading throughout the country and becoming a cultural tradition.
Correct Answer: Anna, Duchess of Bedford
The closing line of which famous novel begins with the words, “Don’t tell anybody anything…”?
The Catcher in the Rye
To Kill a Mockingbird
The Great Gatsby
Of Mice and Men
Fact: J.D. Salinger concludes The Catcher in the Rye with Holden Caulfield’s memorable caution: “Don’t ever tell anybody anything. If you do, you start missing everybody.” This final line encapsulates the novel’s central tension between Holden’s longing for genuine human connection and his equally powerful fear of being hurt, disappointed, or forced to grow up. It stands as one of the most memorable closing sentences in modern American literature and reinforces the novel’s enduring themes of alienation, innocence, and emotional self-protection.
Correct Answer: The Catcher in the Rye
What country contains the point on Earth that lies farthest from the planet’s core?
Peru
Nepal
Ecuador
China
Fact: Although Mount Everest is the tallest mountain above sea level, the point on Earth farthest from the planet’s core is actually the summit of Chimborazo, a stratovolcano in Ecuador. Because Earth bulges at the equator due to its rotation, elevations near the equator begin farther from the core than those at higher latitudes. As a result, Chimborazo’s summit—despite being about 9,000 feet shorter than Everest—extends roughly two miles farther into space than Everest does. This makes Ecuador, not Nepal, Peru, or China, the country whose territory reaches the greatest distance from Earth’s center.
Correct Answer: Ecuador
Where did the poinsettia originally grow before its popularity?
Brazil
Mexico
Spain
Fact: The poinsettia originally grew wild in Mexico, where it was utilized by the Aztecs for dyes and medicine long before becoming a popular Christmas decoration.
Correct Answer: Mexico
What term describes the red parts of the poinsettia plant?
Bracts
Petals
Leaves
Fact: The red parts of the poinsettia are called bracts, which are modified leaves. The actual flowers are tiny yellow buds located in the center of the bracts.
Correct Answer: Bracts
Who is credited with introducing the poinsettia to the U.S.?
George Washington
Joel Roberts Poinsett
Thomas Jefferson
Fact: US diplomat Joel Roberts Poinsett is credited with introducing the poinsettia to the United States in the 1820s after he discovered the plant in Mexico, which has since become a holiday favorite.
Correct Answer: Joel Roberts Poinsett
Whose presidential bid ended after rumors of an affair with Donna Rice?
John Edwards
Ted Kennedy
Gary Hart
Michael Dukakis
Fact: Senator Gary Hart was considered the early Democratic frontrunner for the 1988 presidential nomination until his campaign unraveled in May 1987. After rumors surfaced about his relationship with Donna Rice, the Miami Herald published a story detailing Hart’s alleged affair, followed by the now-famous photograph of Rice sitting on Hart’s lap aboard a yacht named Monkey Business. The media scrutiny and rapid public fallout led Hart to withdraw from the race, marking one of the most dramatic collapses in modern American political history.
Correct Answer: Gary Hart