Driving Lingo
Name that STEM Branch!
Parlez-vous français? (French loan words & phrases)
Potent Potables
Holiday Traditions and Celebrations
100
This driving maneuver involves a mixture of reversing and straightening out to park in line between two other vehicles.
What is a parallel park?
100
Unlike astrology, this natural science field actually uses math, physics, and chemistry to understand objects in outer space.
What is astronomy?
100
When a person is engaged for marriage, they and their partner can refer to each other by this term, which is borrowed from the French verb for "to get engaged".
What is a fiancé? ("fiancer" is the verb)
100
Translated from the Spanish word for "daisy", this tequila-based drink is mixed with Cointreau and lime juice, and served with ice.
What is a margarita?
100
This four-sided spinning top toy is played during Hanukkah, and is often associated with a song.
What is a dreidel?
200
The name of this white-striped road feature may imply that it's for mammals native to Africa, but it's actually a type of pedestrian crosswalk.
What is a zebra crossing?
200
This specific human physiology field specializes in diagnosing and treating disorders of the heart and its related circulatory system.
What is cardiology?
200
If you feel like you are doing something you've done before, you are experiencing this phenomenon, which is derived from the French word for "already seen".
What is déjà vu?
200
This honey wine is considered to be the drink of the gods in Norse mythology.
What is mead?
200
Ever since 1997, this 1983 Christmas comedy film is shown for 24 straight hours on repeat annually on TNT and TBS, and popularized the warning, "You'll shoot your eye out."
What is "A Christmas Story"?
300
Slowing down while driving on extremely wet roads helps to avoid this dangerous driving condition, when water causes a car's tires to lose contact with the road.
What is hydroplaning?
300
Though the name makes it sound like the study of space rocks, this natural science field is actually the scientific study of the atmosphere, which includes weather forecasting.
What is meteorology?
300
This 4-letter abbreviation of a French phrase is often used incorrectly at the end of event invitations by adding the English word "Please" after it.
What is RSVP? (répondez s'il vous plaît)
300
This Puerto Rican cocktail of rum, coconut, and pineapple juice was made even more popular after a 1979 song's lyrics about liking it and getting caught in the rain.
What is a piña colada?
300
Celebrated the day after Christmas in the United Kingdom and its previous colonies, this holiday was originally about giving gift boxes to those in need, but has evolved to mostly become a popular shopping holiday.
What is Boxing Day?
400
Often presented as a type of right turn in the US, this specific lane type is able to pass around an intersection without actually entering the intersection.
What is a slip lane?
400
This specific engineering field involves the design, construction, and maintenance of physically and naturally built structures. Despite its name, being courteous and polite is optional.
What is civil engineering?
400
Despite how this loan word from French roughly translates into "undertaker", it is the title of a person who organizes and operates a business.
What is "entrepreneur"?
400
This vodka-and-tomato-juice cocktail is often consumed at breakfast during a hangover, though there is no evidence that it actually cures a hangover.
What is a Bloody Mary?
400
Taking place between December 26th and January 1st this year, this holiday celebration involves lighting a new candle daily that represents a different principle of African-American culture.
What is Kwanzaa?
500
Typically seen in residential areas and commercial campuses, this is the name for a street or passage with a rounded dead-end. It's French name literally means "bottom of a sack".
What is a cul-de-sac?
500
Unlike Applied Mathematics, this "pristine" or "genuine" branch of Mathematics doesn't have any practical applications. It instead focuses on the beauty and challenge of solving extremely difficult or complex logic problems.
What is "Pure Mathematics"?
500
Often used to describe an embarrassing and tactless social act or remark, this two-word French phrase roughly translates into "false step".
What is "faux pas"?
500
This warm and sugary alcoholic beverage is made by mixing whiskey and brewed coffee with sugar or a simple syrup.
What is Irish Coffee?
500
Taking place on December 23rd, this secular celebration was made popular by the TV sitcom "Seinfeld", which made up traditions such as "Feats of Strength" and an "Airing of Grievances".
What is "Festivus"?