Disney only officially recognizes 11 princesses, icily excluding this popular queen from the list. Hope the cold shoulder never bothered her, anyway.
Who is Elsa?
100
This word for redistricting originates from the 1812 decision of Massachusetts governor Elbridge Gerry to group voters into districts that were allegedly salamander-shaped by coincidence in an effort to ensure victory in the coming election.
What is "gerrymandering?"
100
August 9th marked the one-year anniversary of the tragic police shooting of Michael Brown in this Missouri town.
What is Ferguson?
100
This is the name of the flag generally associated with pirates in the 17th and 18th centuries.
What is the Jolly Roger?
100
This was the largest empire in history by land mass, and it encompassed 20% of the world's population at its height in the 20th century.
What is the British Empire?
200
To become a prince, to be rescued from drowning, and to save the genie were the three wishes of this character trying to find a whole new world in Disney's classic rags to riches tale.
Who is Aladdin?
200
This word for an idiot originates from the nickname given to students of renowned 14th-century philosopher and theologian John Duns Scotus when they demonstrated an inability to modernize their thinking and keep up with the changing intellectual trends.
What is "dunce?"
200
This state struggles with nearly continuous, widespread wildfires basically every summer.
What is California?
200
This successful Disney movie franchise was actually based on an attraction of the same name in the Disneyland theme park.
What is "Pirates of the Caribbean?"
200
This empire began in 1868 with the Meiji Restoration and became the preeminent naval power in the Pacific until World War II.
What is the Japanese Empire?
300
In this Disney movie, a young girl is tricked into signing a bad contract when her curiosity gets the best of her and ends up marrying a guy she has barely spoken to throughout the film.
What is "The Little Mermaid?"
300
This word describing the often unnecessary technical language employed by experts within a field originates from a French term meaning to twitter like birds, since the language is often meaningless to outsiders.
What is "jargon?"
300
August 2015 marked the 70th anniversary of the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and this other Japanese city at the end of World War II.
What is Nagasaki?
300
This nickname for the bottom of the sea--or the resting place for drowned sailors and sunken ships--is named for the "sailors' devil."
What is "Davy Jones' Locker?"
300
At its height, this 13th century nomadic empire famed for its horses stretched across almost all of the Eurasian continent.
What is the Mongol Empire?
400
Chip Potts is the adorable son of an encouraging kitchen worker in this tale as old as time.
What is "Beauty and the Beast?"
400
This word for spying originates from the term used to describe the area under a gutter-less roof where rain would drop and run off--and where people in medieval times would commonly hide if they wanted to listen in on a private conversation.
What is "eavesdropping?"
400
This nation's stock market has taken a few severe turns for the worse recently that have scared many investors.
What is China?
400
This Welsh captain terrorized the Spanish colonies and successfully plundered thousands of ships with the unofficial sanction of the English crown. He was knighted for his triumphs and lived out his life in comfort. Today, his name can be found on a bottle of rum.
Who is Henry Morgan?
400
With the 1453 conquest of Constantinople Mehmed the Conquerer overthrew the Byzantine Empire to start this one.
What is the Ottoman Empire?
500
Banzai, Ed, and Shenzi are the names of the three main henchmen of this species working to depose the brother of their boss from their home in the Elephant Graveyard.
What are hyenas?
500
This word for a hint originates from the medieval word for a ball of thread because Theseus was given one as an aid to help him navigate a path out of the labyrinth of Minos.
What is "clue?"
500
This Caribbean island nation is facing challenges including protests and violence as they gear up for elections that have already been delayed a year.
What is Haiti?
500
Edward Teach was the real name of this famous pirate.
Who is Blackbeard?
500
The remnants of this empire can be found in an autonomous--though highly contested--region bearing its name in southern China. This region is considered the traditional home of the Dalai Lama.