Summer Traditions
This outdoor cooking method gets its name from a Spanish word believed to have come from the Caribbean.
Answer: What is barbecue?
Explanation: The word “barbecue” comes from the Spanish barbacoa, which was used to describe a method of cooking meat over a wooden framework.
This stone fruit is related to the peach but has smooth skin instead of fuzzy skin.
Answer: What is a nectarine?
Explanation: Nectarines and peaches are very closely related; the main visible difference is the nectarine’s smooth skin.
On July 20, 1969, this astronaut became the first person to walk on the Moon.
Answer: Who is Neil Armstrong?
Explanation: Armstrong stepped onto the lunar surface during the Apollo 11 mission.
This 1975 Steven Spielberg movie about a dangerous great white shark became one of the first major summer blockbusters.
Answer: What is Jaws?
Explanation: Jaws became a huge box-office success and helped establish the tradition of releasing major movies during the summer.
The longest day of the year in the Northern Hemisphere occurs around June 20 or 21 and is known by this name.
Answer: What is the summer solstice?
Explanation: The summer solstice occurs when the Northern Hemisphere is tilted most directly toward the Sun.
This lawn game uses wooden mallets to hit balls through a series of hoops called wickets
Answer: What is croquet?
Explanation: Croquet became especially popular as an outdoor social activity during the 1800s.
This Italian frozen dessert is similar to ice cream but usually contains less air and is served slightly warmer.
Answer: What is gelato?
Explanation: Gelato is churned more slowly than traditional American ice cream, giving it a dense, creamy texture.
The Declaration of Independence was adopted in this Pennsylvania city on July 4, 1776.
Answer: What is Philadelphia?
Explanation: Delegates to the Second Continental Congress met in Philadelphia and approved the Declaration of Independence
This 1963 Beach Boys song shares its melody with Chuck Berry’s “Sweet Little Sixteen.”
Answer: What is “Surfin’ U.S.A.”?
Explanation: The Beach Boys adapted the musical structure of Chuck Berry’s song, and Berry later received a songwriting credit.
This weather phenomenon is heard when rapidly heated air expands around a bolt of lightning.
Answer: What is thunder?
Explanation: Lightning heats the surrounding air extremely quickly, causing it to expand and produce a sound wave.
This summertime activity often involves sitting in a small boat and using bait, a hook, and a reel.
Answer: What is fishing?
Explanation: Recreational fishing has long been a popular warm-weather pastime at lakes, rivers, and ponds.
This dessert traditionally combines vanilla ice cream, chocolate syrup, whipped cream, nuts, and a cherry.
Answer: What is an ice cream sundae?
Explanation: Sundaes became popular in the United States around the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
This famous three-day music festival took place in New York state in August 1969.
Answer: What is Woodstock?
Explanation: Woodstock became a defining event of the 1960s counterculture and featured performers such as Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin.
In the movie Grease, Danny and Sandy first meet during this season before unexpectedly reuniting at school.
Answer: What is summer?
Explanation: Their summer romance is retold in the song “Summer Nights.”
These clouds are tall, dense storm clouds often associated with thunderstorms, heavy rain, and lightning.
Answer: What are cumulonimbus clouds?
Explanation: Cumulonimbus clouds can grow very high into the atmosphere and produce severe summertime storms.
These temporary outdoor theaters became especially popular in America during the 1950s, allowing people to watch movies from their cars.
What are drive-in theaters?
Explanation: Drive-in theaters reached peak popularity in the 1950s and 1960s and became closely associated with summer evenings.
This tropical fruit has a rough exterior, a leafy crown, and contains an enzyme called bromelain.
Answer: What is pineapple?
Explanation: Bromelain helps break down proteins and is found primarily in pineapples.
This American aviation pioneer disappeared over the Pacific Ocean in July 1937 while attempting to fly around the world.
Answer: Who is Amelia Earhart?
Explanation: Earhart disappeared near Howland Island while attempting a round-the-world flight with navigator Fred Noonan.
This 1959 Marilyn Monroe comedy features two musicians disguising themselves as women and traveling to Florida.
Answer: What is Some Like It Hot?
Explanation: The classic comedy also stars Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon.
This pigment gives most plant leaves their green color and helps absorb sunlight for photosynthesis.
Answer: What is chlorophyll?
Explanation: Chlorophyll absorbs light energy that plants use to produce food through photosynthesis.
This backyard game, sometimes called “bag toss,” involves throwing small bags toward a raised wooden board with a hole in it.
Answer: What is cornhole?
Explanation: Players earn points by landing bags on the board or tossing them through the hole.
This chilled Spanish soup is traditionally made with raw vegetables such as tomatoes, peppers, and onions.
Answer: What is gazpacho?
Explanation: Gazpacho originated in southern Spain and is commonly served cold, making it especially popular during hot weather.
The famous Battle of Gettysburg took place during this month in 1863.
Answer: What is July?
Explanation: The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863, and became a major turning point in the Civil War.
This singer recorded the 1966 hit “Summer Wind,” which later became one of his signature songs.
Answer: Who is Frank Sinatra?
Explanation: Sinatra’s version of “Summer Wind” was released on his album Strangers in the Night.
These insects create their characteristic nighttime flashing using a chemical reaction called bioluminescence.
Answer: What are fireflies?
Explanation: Fireflies combine chemicals inside specialized organs to produce light with very little heat.