What is the primary diet of manatees found in warm coastal waters?
A Meat and fish
B Vegetation and plants
C Algae and plankton
Fact: Manatees are mammalian herbivores that feed primarily on various types of aquatic plants and vegetation. Their strict vegetarian diet is crucial for sustaining their large bodies, which can weigh up to 1,200 pounds.
Correct Answer: Vegetation and plants
Which of the following is a major threat to manatee populations?
A Overfishing
B Human-made pollution
C Predator attacks
Fact: Manatees face significant threats from human activities, with pollution being a major concern. It affects their habitats, food sources, and overall health, showcasing the need for conservation efforts.
Correct Answer: Human-made pollution
Why are ‘no-wake zones’ established in manatee habitats?
A To promote fishing activities
B To protect manatees from speeding boats
C To enhance water sports
Fact: ‘No-wake zones’ help minimize the risk of boat collisions with manatees, which are slow swimmers. These regulations aim to create safer environments for these gentle giants in their natural habitats.
Correct Answer: To protect manatees from speeding boats
In which national park would you find the famous geyser known as Old Faithful?
Yosemite
Yellowstone
Rocky Mountain
Grand Canyon
Fact: Old Faithful is the most iconic geyser in Yellowstone National Park, erupting with remarkable regularity roughly every 60 to 110 minutes. Located in the Upper Geyser Basin, it was the first geyser in the park to be officially named—earning the title “Old Faithful” for its dependable eruption patterns observed since the late 19th century. Its eruptions can shoot boiling water more than 100 feet into the air and last anywhere from one to five minutes, drawing millions of visitors each year who gather around its wide viewing area to witness the spectacle.
Correct Answer: Yellowstone
Baby Ruth candy bars are named after the daughter of which U.S. president?
Woodrow Wilson
Grover Cleveland
Theodore Roosevelt
Herbert Hoover
Fact: While many people assume that Baby Ruth candy bars were named after legendary slugger Babe Ruth, the Curtiss Candy Company insists that its bar of chocolate, nougat, and peanuts was actually named for President Grover Cleveland’s daughter. Many historians, however, believe the name was also a clever way to capitalize on the popularity of baseball legend Babe Ruth without paying him endorsement fees. Regardless of the real motivation, the company maintained that the bar was named for the president’s daughter, not the famous slugger.
Correct Answer: Grover Cleveland
What is the common name of the plant Aloe dichotoma found in Southern Africa?
A Quiver Tree
B Bottle Tree
C Baobab Tree
Fact: The plant Aloe dichotoma is commonly known as the quiver tree, named by the Indigenous San people who used its hollow branches to make quivers for arrows. This striking plant is unique to Southern Africa.
Correct Answer: Quiver Tree
Which animal served as the official mascot of the Prohibition Party in the United States?
Goat
Moose
Camel
Wolf
Fact: The Prohibition Party, founded in 1869 to advocate for the outlawing of alcohol, chose the camel as its mascot. The animal symbolized temperance and endurance — qualities associated with abstaining from alcohol, since camels can go long periods without drinking water. While the Republican and Democratic parties are known for their elephant and donkey symbols, the Prohibition Party’s choice of a camel reflected its moral and religious focus on sobriety and self-discipline during the height of the temperance movement in America.
Correct Answer: Camel
What 1975 Queen album was named after a Marx Brothers comedy film?
Duck Soup
Monkey Business
At the Circus
A Night at the Opera
Fact: The members of Queen were big fans of the Marx Brothers, whose films inspired the titles of two of their most acclaimed albums. Their 1975 masterpiece A Night at the Opera takes its name from the 1935 Marx Brothers film and features hits like “Bohemian Rhapsody,” “You’re My Best Friend,” and “Love of My Life.” It became one of Queen’s defining works. The following year, they continued the tribute with A Day at the Races, also named after a Marx Brothers film. Groucho Marx even sent the band a congratulatory letter on choosing such excellent titles.
Correct Answer: A Night at the Opera
What was the original name of Veterans Day?
Patriot Day
Remembrance Day
Decoration Day
Armistice Day
Fact: Veterans Day got its start as “Armistice Day” on Nov. 11, 1919 as a way to honor the end of World War I. Congress voted to make it an annual observance in 1926, and it was upgraded to a national holiday in 1938. But it wasn’t until 1954 that President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the bill changing the day’s name to Veterans Day. Veterans Day is not to be confused with Memorial Day, a U.S. public holiday in May; Veterans Day celebrates the service of all U.S. military veterans, while Memorial Day honors those who died while in military service.
Correct Answer: Armistice Day
Which animal was designated by President Barack Obama as the national mammal of the United States?
Bison
Bald eagle
Turkey
Grizzly bear
Fact: In 2016, President Barack Obama signed the National Bison Legacy Act, officially naming the American bison as the first national mammal of the United States. The decision recognized the bison’s deep historical, and ecological significance — symbolizing strength, resilience, and the pioneering spirit of America. Once on the brink of extinction due to overhunting, the bison has made a remarkable recovery through conservation efforts and now stands alongside the bald eagle, the national bird, as an enduring emblem of the nation’s heritage.
Correct Answer: Bison