Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz snagged

[slb2]

Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz
KID'S LIT

(e.g., Mowgli is the main character in this series of books. Answer: "The Jungle Books.")


FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. This bull liked to sit and smell the flowers.

2. This folk-tale character was baked and later eaten by a sly fox.

3. In this tale a child observes: "He has got nothing on at all."


GRADUATE LEVEL

4. What is the name of Mr. Toad's residence in "The Wind in the Willows"?

5. In this novel by Jonathan Swift, a man visits lands of giants and miniature people.

6. How far did Jules Verne's explorers travel under the sea?


PH.D. LEVEL

7. Beatrix Potter book title "The Tailor of ____."

8. What land of magic was created by C.S. Lewis?

9. The occupation of this "Alice in Wonderland" character was prone to mercury poisoning.


I'll try to post a new one each (late) night and then post the answers the next day. But if this sparks conversation, please, converse!

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ANSWERS: 1. Ferdinand. 2. "The Gingerbread Man." 3. "The Emperor's New Clothes." 4. Toad Hall. 5. "Gulliver's Travels." 6. 20,000 leagues (43,200 miles). 7. Gloucester. 8. Narnia. 9. The Mad Hatter.

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Take Isaac Asimov's Super Quiz. Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.
Subject: POP SINGERS

(e.g., His twin brother Jesse Garon died at birth. Answer: Elvis Presley.)

Freshman Level

1. He was known for wearing bizarre glasses.

2. He became the mayor of Palm Springs.

3. His hair caught fire during the shooting of a commercial.

Graduate Level

4. Her death was anorexia related.

5. He married his 13-year-old cousin, causing a scandal.

6. His father shot and killed him in 1984.

Ph.D. Level

7. He converted to Islam in 1977.

8. He attended the London School of Economics on a scholarship.

9. It was falsely reported that he bit the head off a live chicken onstage.

[Trusty]

slb2 said:

Freshman Level

1. He was known for wearing bizarre glasses.

2. He became the mayor of Palm Springs.

3. His hair caught fire during the shooting of a commercial.

OK. I think can do the Freshman level real quickly:

1. Elton John
2. Sonny Bono
3. Michael Jackson (right before he founded the Ignited Negro College Fund)

[SeattleDan]

Grad Level: 1. Karen Carpenter 2.Jerry Lee Lewis 3.Marvin Gaye

Phd. Level: 1. Cat Stevens 2. Mick Jagger 3. The one and only Ozzie Osborne.

[slb2]

No kidding? Marvin Gaye's father killed him!? Yikes! That's awful.

[Trusty]

NOTE: the following may be gross:

slb2 said:

No kidding? Marvin Gaye's father killed him!? Yikes! That's awful.

Yeah. Ain’t That Peculiar that I Heard about It Through The Grapevine. Marvin was his Pride and Joy, but I’ll be Doggone if he wasn’t Chained to a Distant Lover. He always thought How Sweet It Is to have Dad’s approval, but found out Good Lovin’ Ain’t Easy To Come By when his Dad said, “Son, this is the End Of Our Road and you’re not gonna give me One More Heartache. So, since there Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing, you’re gonna have to go even if you cry ‘Mercy Mercy Me’.”

And Marvin wondered, “how Can I Get A Witness to this,” and yelled, “Baby, Don’t You Do It!”


Rats – ran out of time… (and songs)

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1. Elton John. 2. Sonny Bono. 3. Michael Jackson. 4. Karen Carpenter. 5. Jerry Lee Lewis. 6. Marvin Gaye. 7. Cat Stevens. 8. Mick Jagger. 9. Alice Cooper.

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Subject: PASTIMES AND PURSUITS

What line of work is indicated? (e.g., A podiatrist. Answer: Care of the feet.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. A philatelist

Answer________

2. A haberdasher

Answer________

3. A croupier

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. A gofer

Answer________

5. A diva

Answer________

6. An ombudsman

Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

7. A pedagogue

Answer________

8. Hod carrier

Answer________

9. Granger

[Jane]

stamps
men's clothes
dealer at a casino

errand boy (girl)
female singer with an attitude
person who cuts through red tape; defender of the "little guy"

educator
bricks
I'm not sure; grain?

[Brit]

Large houses around here are called "The Manor House" or "The Grange" or "The Dower House" - indicating someone of importance or the "lord of the manor".

A granger is someone appointed to look after the house and outbuildings etc.,

I think this is correct, but I would be surprised if it applied in the U.S.

[slb2]

I know the answer....and I'll tell you tomorrow.

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ANSWERS: 1. Stamp collector. 2. Sells men's clothing. 3. In charge of a gambling table or game. 4. Runs errands and does other menial tasks. 5. A celebrated female (opera) singer. 6. Public official who protects the rights of citizens. 7. A teacher. 8. Carries mortar or bricks. 9. Farmer.

SCORING:

18 points — congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points — honors graduate; 10 to 14 points — you're plenty smart, but no grind; 4 to 9 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 3 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

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'MAN' FILMS
Provide the two-word film title. The second word is "Man." One of the stars and the year of the film are provided. (e.g., 1984: Emilio Estevez. Answer: "Repo Man.") Score 1 point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, 2 points on the Graduate Level and 3 points on the Ph.D. Level.
FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. 1988: Dustin Hoffman
Answer_____________________________________________
2. 2005: Russell Crowe
Answer_____________________________________________
3. 2002: Tobey Maguire
Answer_____________________________________________
GRADUATE LEVEL
4. 1976: Dustin Hoffman
Answer_____________________________________________
5. 1995: Johnny Depp
Answer_____________________________________________
6. 1993: Sylvester Stallone
Answer_____________________________________________
PH.D. LEVEL
7. 2000: Kevin Bacon
Answer_____________________________________________
8. 1981: Sissy Spacek
Answer_____________________________________________
9. 1992: Sean Astin
Answer_____________________________________________
SCORING: 18 points - congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points - honors graduate

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SCORING: 18 points - congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points - honors graduate; 10 to 14 points - you're plenty smart, but no grind; 4 to 9 points - you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 3 points - enroll in remedial courses immediately; zero points - who reads the questions to you?
1. "Rain Man." 2. "Cinderella Man." 3. "Spider-Man." 4. "Marathon Man." 5. "Dead Man." 6. "Demolition Man." 7. "Hollow Man." 8. "Raggedy Man." 9. "Encino Man."

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Subject: ASIA

(e.g., What is the largest country completely within Asia? Answer: China.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. What is the modern name for Persia?

Answer________

2. In what country did Bhopal's poisonous-gas disaster take place?

Answer________

3. "The King and I" takes place in Siam. Today Siam is known as ___.

Answer________

4. In what city is Tiananmen Square?

Answer________

5. What country is called "The Roof of the World"?

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

6. In what country is Mecca?

Answer________

7. In what city is the Wailing Wall?

Answer________

8. What city replaced Kyoto as the country's capital city?

Answer________

9. What modern country is the site of ancient Troy?

Answer________

10. By what name was Ho Chi Minh City formerly known?

Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

11. In what country is Tagalog a major language?

Answer________

12. What is the main tributary of the Dead Sea?

Answer________

13. What is the name for the part of Egypt that is in Asia?

Answer________

14. What Asian capital is on the island of Luzon?

Answer________

15. In what modern country was ancient Babylon located?

Answer________



© 2007 Ken Fisher

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ANSWERS: 1. Iran. 2. India. 3. Thailand. 4. Beijing. 5. Tibet. 6. Saudi Arabia. 7. Jerusalem. 8. Tokyo. 9. Turkey. 10. Saigon. 11. The Philippines. 12. Jordan River. 13. Sinai Peninsula. 14. Manila. 15. Iraq.

SCORING:

24 to 30 points — congratulations, doctor; 18 to 23 points — honors graduate; 13 to 17 points — you're plenty smart, but no grind; 5 to 12 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 4 points — enroll in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?

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Subject: WHO DID IT?

(e.g., Who caused Samson's hair to be cut off? Answer: Delilah.)


FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Who cut off Goliath's head?

2. Who betrayed Jesus?

3. Who killed Alexander Hamilton in a duel?


GRADUATE LEVEL

4. Who stole fire from the gods?

5. Who flew too close to the sun?

6. Who gave Frodo a magic ring as a gift?


PH.D. LEVEL

7. Who cut off Medusa's head?

8. Who led the Spartans at the Battle of Thermopylae?

9. Who killed the Minotaur?


(c) 2007 Ken Fisher

[Trusty]

slb2 said:

5. Who flew too close to the sun?

I don't remember, but I heard the reason it happened was because he flew around the other side of the sun, and he couldn't see where he was going in the dark.

Right?

[slb2]

ANSWERS: 1. David. 2. Judas Iscariot. 3. Aaron Burr. 4. Prometheus. 5. Icarus. 6. Bilbo Baggins. 7. Perseus. 8. King Leonidas. 9. Theseus.

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Subject: AMERICAN TRADITIONS

(e.g., What gift traditionally accompanies a wedding proposal? Answer: An engagement ring.)


FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. On what date does trick-or-treating take place?

2. What flower is worn as a symbol of wartime remembrance?

3. What is "grace," and when does it occur?


GRADUATE LEVEL

4. At what event would a eulogy be delivered?

5. Picnics have become an American ritual on what date?

6. A ribbon of what color welcomes loved ones back home?


PH.D. LEVEL

7. What is the traditional birthstone for the month of September?

8. What is the traditional gift on a 50th wedding anniversary?

9. What is a "golden birthday"?

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ANSWERS: 1. Oct. 31. 2. Poppy. 3. A short prayer of thanks before a meal. 4. Funeral. 5. July 4. 6. Yellow. 7. Sapphire. 8. Gold. 9. The day's date is the same as the age of the person.

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Subject: FRENCH EXPRESSIONS

Provide a translation. (e.g., Bonne chance. Answer: Good luck.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Coup de grace.

Answer________

2. Carte blanche.

Answer________

3. Au contraire.

Answer________

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. Au naturel.

Answer________

5. Beau geste.

Answer________

6. Au courant.

Answer________

PH.D. LEVEL

7. Fin de siecle.

Answer________

8. Billet-doux.

Answer________

9. Bon marche.

Answer________

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ANSWERS: 1. Final blow. 2. Free hand, no restrictions. 3. On the contrary. 4. Nude, plain. 5. Noble gesture. 6. Up-to-date, contemporary. 7. End of the century (decadent). 8. Love letter. 9. Inexpensive.

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Subject: PRESIDENTIAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Under who's presidency did the event take place? (e.g., Established National Association for the Advancement of Colored People. Answer: William Howard Taft.)


FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Pardoned Vietnam draft dodgers.

2. Alaska and Hawaii admitted as states.

3. Established the Tennessee Valley Authority.


GRADUATE LEVEL

4. Established the Environmental Protection Agency.

5. The Taft-Hartley Act.

6. Ratified North American Free Trade Agreement.


PH.D. LEVEL

7. Appointed the first woman to the Supreme Court (Sandra Day O'Connor).

8. Appointed the first African-American to the Supreme Court (Thurgood Marshall).

9. The 16th Amendment was ratified (established income tax in its present form).