What international agreement was signed in 1967, promoting peaceful exploration of outer space?
A The Outer Space Treaty
B The Peaceful Space Act
C The Cosmic Concord
Fact: The Outer Space Treaty, signed in 1967, established principles for the peaceful use of outer space and has been a foundational document for international space law. It reflects a global commitment to exploration without hostility, making it the correct option.
Correct Answer: The Outer Space Treaty
The International Space Station (ISS) orbits at approximately how many miles above Earth?
A 400 miles
B 260 miles
C 100 miles
Fact: The ISS orbits Earth at about 260 miles (or 420 kilometres) above the surface, making it an accessible platform for scientific research and international collaboration in space, thus confirming this as the correct answer.
Correct Answer: 260 miles
Which spacecraft is mentioned as having completed multiple missions since 2020?
A Orion
B Dragon Endeavour
C Falcon Heavy
Fact: The SpaceX Crew Dragon Endeavour is noted for its six successful missions since 2020, transporting astronauts and cargo to the ISS, epitomising human innovation and cooperation in space exploration.
Correct Answer: Dragon Endeavour
Who was the very first artist inducted into the Country Music Hall of Fame?
Gene Autry
Patsy Cline
Conway Twitty
Jimmie Rodgers
Fact: The very first inductee to the Country Music Hall of Fame was Jimmie Rodgers, often called the “Father of Country Music.” Rodgers earned fame in the late 1920s with his distinctive yodeling style and heartfelt songs that blended folk, blues, and country influences. His recordings, such as “Blue Yodel No. 1 (T for Texas),” set the stage for the genre’s popularity and influenced generations of artists. Alongside Rodgers, that inaugural class also included songwriter and publisher Fred Rose and the “Singing Brakeman’s” contemporary, Hank Williams, but Rodgers was the first to receive the honor.
Correct Answer: Jimmie Rodgers
Which American poet won a Grammy Award for writing a Johnny Cash song?
Allen Ginsberg
Robert Frost
Maya Angelou
Shel Silverstein
Fact: While Shel Silverstein is best remembered for his whimsical children’s books like The Giving Tree and Where the Sidewalk Ends, he was also a prolific songwriter. His compositions were recorded by artists such as Loretta Lynn, Dr. Hook, and most famously Johnny Cash. Silverstein penned the song, “A Boy Named Sue,” for Johnny Cash, which went on to win the Grammy Award in 1970. Silverstein followed that success with another Grammy Award win in 1984 for the spoken-word recording of his poetry collection “Where the Sidewalk Ends.”
Correct Answer: Shel Silverstein
Which Major League Baseball pitcher lent his name to a pioneering type of reconstructive elbow surgery?
Fact: In 1974, pitcher Tommy John underwent a groundbreaking procedure after tearing a ligament in his pitching elbow. Performed by Dr. Frank Jobe, the surgery involved replacing the damaged ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) with a tendon from another part of the body. Though initially experimental, the operation was a success—John went on to pitch 14 more seasons in the majors, winning 164 additional games. Today, “Tommy John surgery” has become a common and often career-saving procedure for pitchers and other athletes with similar injuries.
Answer: Tommy John
Prior to the word “cheese,” what word was traditionally used to prompt a smile in photographs?
Jazz
Prunes
Whiskey
PIckles
Fact: In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, wide grins were often considered silly or undignified in formal portraits. To encourage a more restrained, composed look, photographers frequently told subjects to say “prunes.” The word pursed the lips into a tight, modest expression that neatly matched the era’s preference for seriousness. By contrast, “cheese” — which spread in the 1940s — pulled the mouth into a natural, friendly smile, eliciting a genuine, warm smile, with the “e” sound helping to create a more distinct, bared-teeth expression.
Correct Answer: Prunes
According to the American Heart Association, which disco hit provides the best pace for chest compressions during CPR?
YMCA
Stayin’ Alive
Disco Inferno
I Will Survive
Fact: U.S. doctors have found that the Bee Gees disco song “Stayin’ Alive” provides an ideal beat to follow while performing chest compressions as part of CPR on a heart attack victim. The 1977 hit song has a rhythm of 103 beats per minute (bpm), which is close to the recommended rate of at least 100 chest compressions per 60 seconds that should be delivered during CPR. In fact, the American Heart Association (AHA) officially recommends that if you see someone collapse, you should “call 9-1-1 and push hard and fast in the center of the chest to the beat of the classic disco song “Stayin’ Alive.”
Correct Answer: Stayin’ Alive
What famous dish is named after an Italian Island?
Calzone
Gnocchi
Stromboli
Tortelloni
Fact: The dish Stromboli takes its name from the volcanic island of Stromboli, one of the Aeolian Islands off the northern coast of Sicily. The island is famous for its continuous eruptions, earning it the nickname “the Lighthouse of the Mediterranean.” Mount Stromboli has been in almost continuous eruption for the past 2,000–5,000 years, with its last serious one occurring on September 11, 1930, when six people were killed. Despite the Italian name, the dish itself originated in Philadelphia in the 1950s as a rolled, baked turnover filled with meats, cheeses, and vegetables.
Correct Answer: Stromboli
During World War II, which entire country was awarded the George Cross medal for bravery?
Belgium
Greece
Malta
Norway
Fact: In 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross—the highest civilian decoration for heroism in the British honors system—to the entire population of Malta. The island nation endured relentless bombing campaigns from Axis forces due to its strategic location in the Mediterranean, serving as a vital base for Allied supply routes. Despite severe food shortages and widespread destruction, the Maltese people demonstrated extraordinary resilience and courage. To this day, the George Cross is incorporated into Malta’s national flag as a symbol of collective bravery.
Correct Answer: Malta