History and current events
This man served simultaneously as Secretary of War and Secretary of State during the War of 1812. What President succeeded James Madison and led during the Era of Good Feelings?
James Monroe
Two dimers of this molecule are named P680 and P700 for the wavelengths of light they absorb. What molecule located in thylakoid membranes absorbs sunlight to perform photosynthesis and gives plants a green color?
chlorophyll
This poet described a “blue uncertain, stumbling buzz” in one poem and told of a carriage that “held but just ourselves and immortality” in another poem. What poet wrote “I Heard a Fly Buzz When I Died” and “Because I Could Not Stop for Death”?
Emily Dickinson
Economists informally use this fast food item to estimate purchasing power parity. “Special sauce” accompanies two beef patties and a three-part sesame seed bun in what large McDonalds burger?
Big Mac
This man collaborated with Alec Benjamin on “Change My Clothes”. This man was accused of increasing blaze rod and ender pearl drops. #putthemaskbackon (“hashtag-put-the-mask-back-on”) trended after the face reveal of what Minecraft Youtuber?
Dream
This document provided no power to raise an army, which delayed the response to Shays’s Rebellion, and it provided for no executive or judicial branch. What document acted as the U.S. Constitution during the Revolution?
Articles of Confederation
If Fred reads 5 pages an hour if he is feeling productive and 1 page an hour if he is feeling unproductive and there is a 50% chance he feels productive and 50% chance he feels unproductive. What is the expected number of pages he reads in 6 hours?
18 pages
What adjective modifies “boy” in the name of a Thomas Gainsborough painting, “Jackets” in the nickname of an NHL team in Ohio, and “Devils” in the nickname of Duke University’s athletics team?
blue
This team won the 2002 Champions League with a superstar team, including the world’s then-most expensive player, Zinedine Zidane. What soccer team’s Galacticos, including David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo, played in white jerseys in Spain’s capital?
Real Madrid [or Real Madrid Club de Fútbol; reject “Atlético de Madrid” or “Madrid” alone]
This man led the victorious forces at the Battle of Carabobo, which led to the creation of Gran Colombia. What man known as “the liberator” led South American independence efforts and is the namesake of the country with capital at La Paz?
Simon Bolívar [or Simón José Antonio de la Santísima Trinidad Bolívar Palacios Ponte y Blanco]
Difficult hand computations resulted in a convention where this function shouldn’t be written on the bottom of a fraction. “Rationalizing the denominator” is used to simplify fractions containing what function?
square root
In one movie, this actress has the line “When [the storm] hits, you’re all gonna wonder how you ever thought you could live so large and leave so little for the rest of us.” This actress starred as the fashion startup CEO Jules Ostin in The Intern, alongside Robert De Niro. What actress played Mia Thermopolis in The Princess Diaries?
Anne Hathaway
This politician, who called any potential charges against him “entirely false and based on lies,” was indicted for accepting bribes from Turkish officials. What former Brooklyn Borough President is the current mayor of New York City?
Eric (Leroy) Adams
Japan’s Fukushima nuclear disaster was caused by one of these natural disasters created by sudden seafloor movement. Earthquakes can cause what disasters that are characterized by giant ocean waves?
tsunamis
What queen gained power after the death of Edward VI despite his Devise for the Succession by defeating the Duke of Northumberland and overthrowing Lady Jane Grey?
Queen Mary I
These astronomical objects are separated by gaps named for Encke and Cassini. Made up of orbiting ice and dust particles, what circular objects surround the sixth planet from the Sun?
rings of Saturn