Required Reading
Asian Capitals
Canals and Straits
Cars, Planets and Gods
Altos
A Trip to D.C.
Potpourri
100
George Orwell’s “other” book, not 1984, was once mandatory reading in high school. This 1944 novella is a communist allegory showing what happens when animals rebel against their human.
What is Animal Farm?
100
Tokyo
What is Japan?
100
This Strait is a channel connecting the Mediterranean Sea with the Atlantic Ocean, lying between southernmost Spain and northwesternmost Africa.
What is the Strait of Gibraltar?
100
Ford car with models like the Lynx, Zephyr and Cougar, closest planet to the sun and the Roman god of commerce, communication, and travel.
What is Mercury?
100
Known as the Empress of Soul, this alto and her back up Pips began singing together in 1952 (when she was only 8). Their most well-known hit was Midnight Train to Georgia in 1973.
Who is Gladys Knight?
100
Self-guided multimedia tours are available for this storied, controversial institution associated with J. Edgar Hoover and many crime dramas.
What is the FBI?
100
For the Moon this process is the opposite of waning.
What is Waxing?
200
This Tennessee Williams classic is set in New Orleans. Premiering on Broadway in 1947, it dramatizes the life of Blanche DuBois, who has "always depended on the kindness of strangers."
What is Streetcar Named Desire?
200
Riyadh
What is Saudi Arabia?
200
This canal of the lake-and-lock type connecting the Atlantic and Pacific oceans through the a narrow isthmus in Central America.
What is the Panama Canal?
200
No, they didn't name a mainstream car after this Roman god of the underworld. And it was downgraded to a Dwarf planet in 2006. But, they did name a Disney dog after it. Almost as good as a car.
What is Pluto?
200
She is not called the Goddess of Pop for nothing, and her commanding contralto vocals add a dimensional body to dreamy, lighthearted fare. She began her career in 1965 with her then-husband Sonny Bono and has released at least one album every decade since.
Who is Cher?
200
You’re bound to find a museum to explore in this collection of 17 museums based in Washington, D.C, including Natural History, American History and National Air and Space Museums
What is the Smithsonian?
200
The most common of all college sports mascots, 76 teams use this animal.
What is the Eagle?
Tigers, Bulldogs and Wildcats are in close contention.
300
A staple on Required High School reading lists, some of his titles include East of Eden (1952), The Pearl (1947) and Of Mice and Men (1937).
Who is John Steinbeck?
300
Abu Dhabi
What is United Arab Emirates?
300
This canal is sea-level waterway running north to south across an isthmus in Egypt, connecting the Mediterranean Sea and the Red Sea. Its also the name of the King of the Gods on Mount Olympus, backwards.
What is the Suez?
300
A former car brand whose sales were negatively impacted by the 2008 economic collapse. The sixth planet from the sun and Roman god of time and wealth.
What is Saturn?
300
Born Eleanora Fagan in 1915, she began singing in Harlem nightclubs as a young teen. She made her first recordings in 1933 and is well known for songs like Strange Fruit and God Bless the Child. Her life and career were cut tragically short from complications of addiction.
Who is Billie Holiday?
300
When in D.C., be sure to attend a performance at this Center for Performing Arts named for the 36th president.
What is the Kennedy Center?
300
in 1950 this future symbol of fire prevention was rescued from a fire in a New Mexico forest.
Who is Smokey the Bear?
400
“I am always saying ‘Glad to’ve met you’ to somebody I’m not at all glad I met. If you want to stay alive, you have to say that stuff, though.” So says Holden Caulfield in this 1951 novel by JD Salinger.
What is Catcher in the Rye?
400
Kuala Lumpur
What is Malaysia?
400
The Grand Canal is the main waterway of of this European city. Slightly more than 2 miles long and between 100 and 225 feet wide, it connects at various points with a maze of smaller canals.
What is Venice, Italy?
400
In the grand sceme of prefixes and planetary names, the GEO Metro and the Nissan XTerra are named for this planet. And Terra Mater, known as Gaia in greek, is the goddess of this planet.
What is Earth?
400
Known as the Queen of Rock and Roll and for her amazing gams, Anna Mae Bullock took this stage name in 1960 when she met her husband Ike. She divorced him in 1976 and staged a comeback in the early 80s, fighting to use her stage named that her ex thought belonged to him. Hits include Proud Mary, What's Love Got to Do With It and The Best.
Who is Tina Turner?
400
Witness the changing of the guard and visit the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at this national landmark.
What is Arlington National Cemetery?
400
This author of “Freckle Juice” , "Are You There God, Its Me Margaret" and "Forever" works with the National Coalition Against Censorship
Who is Judy Blume?
500
In this 1954 debut novel by William Golding, a plane crashes on a remote island, leaving a small group of schoolboys as the sole survivors. It tells the tale of Ralph, Jack and Piggy as they disastrously try to govern themselves.
What is Lord of the Flies?
500
Kathmandu
What is Nepal?
500
The Straits of Mackinac form an important waterway between the Upper and Lower peninsulas of Michigan, connecting Lake Michigan with this other great lake.
What is Huron?
500
This is a British sports car made by the Jowett company made from 1950-1954, named for the 5th planet and the Roman king of the gods.
What is Jupiter?
500
This Fleetwood Mac singer actually started her career as a low mezzo-soprano, but like many 70s rock musicians, she lost some high notes after a period of heavy drug use. Along with her deep voice, she's well known for writing many of Fleetwood Mac's hits, like Landslide, Silver Spring and Edge of Seventeen.
Who is Stevie Nicks?
500
The most popular place to visit these trees is at the Tidal Basin, which provides great photo ops near the Jefferson Memorial, Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial and the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. Peak bloom for this annual festival is usually middle to late March.
What are the Cherry Blossom Trees?
500
Players stack and remove wooden blocks in this game whose name is from Swahili for “to build”
What is Jenga?