Also a Greek Letter
If you have multiple dogs, this one is the “top dog.”
What is alpha? Dogs, of course, descend from wolves, who live in family groups where the “alphas” are generally the parents. Listen to your elders, pups!
She was the first person to fly solo across both the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Who is Amelia Earhart? She and her airplane disappeared while flying across the Pacific Ocean in her attempt to circumnavigate the globe. She was never found and was legally declared dead two years after her disappearance.
You know him as Rocky Balboa in the Rocky movie franchise.
Who is Sylvester Stallone? Stallone is said to be surprised the Rocky series has lasted as long as it has. It now comprises the original six Rocky films as well as the Creed movies, where Rocky’s legacy lives on.
Traditional Italian cooks boil their pasta to this state, meaning “to the tooth.”
What is al dente? Pasta boiled until soft and mushy is easier to digest, but al dente pasta has a lower glycemic index and retains more nutrients.
In many countries, we honor these people on the second Sunday in May.
What are mothers? The United States, Canada, and Australia are among the countries that celebrate on the second Sunday. However, in Mexico and parts of Latin America, Mother’s Day is celebrated annually on May 10.
This is a U.S. airline.
What is Delta? When the airline was established, it was a crop-dusting company. In 1928, it was bought and rebranded Delta Air Service, a commercial air carrier serving the Mississippi Delta region. Today, it’s a major international airline with its own oil refinery to produce jet fuel.
She founded the American Red Cross.
Who is Clara Barton? During the Civil War, Barton was a nurse and an educator. In 1881, she founded the American Red Cross. Barton and Susan B. Anthony were contemporaries and friends.
This actor plays the Scarecrow in the 1939 film The Wizard of Oz.
Who is Ray Bolger? Several of the actors play two roles in the film—characters in Kansas as well as in Oz. Bolger plays Hunk in Kansas.
This is not a named street, but it often accommodates foot and sometimes vehicle traffic.
What is alley? It permits access to the back of buildings and can keep the street clear of delivery vehicles.
People dance around this long pole wrapped with flowers, fabric, and garland on a day named for it.
What is the maypole? May Day is celebrated on May 1, and the maypole has been in use since the 14th century in Britain.
This is used to represent the ratio of the circumference of a circle to its diameter—a mathematical constant.
What is pi? It is an irrational number with digits that go on forever, but written out to the fifth decimal it is 3.14159. Pi is also the 16th letter of the Greek alphabet.
This Polish-born French scientist discovered polonium and radium.
Who is Marie Curie? She won two Nobel Prizes: one solo award in chemistry and one in physics with her husband, Pierre Curie, and Henri Becquerel.
He plays Captain von Trapp in the 1965 movie The Sound of Music.
Who is Christopher Plummer? In his 2008 memoir, Plummer jokingly claims to have been raised by an Airedale terrier and recalls no interaction with his parents during his early years.
He is one of the stars of the TV series M*A*S*H.
Who is Alan Alda? He plays “Hawkeye” Pierce. The show had the most-viewed series finale of all time.
Hawaii celebrates this welcome gift for visitors on the first day of May.
What is the lei? Lei Day is a statewide celebration. Each island has its own lei, and removing it in front of the person who gave it to you is considered rude.
This is the final round of testing before releasing the product to the public; it is also a “blocker” pharmaceutical.
What is beta? A beta blocker lowers blood pressure by reducing the heart rate.
This Golden Age Austrian American actress starred with luminaries such as Clark Gable and Spencer Tracy and played a crucial role in World War II due to her technological expertise.
Who is Hedy Lamarr? During World War II, she and George Antheil received a patent for a secret communications system that allowed messages to change radio frequencies so the enemy could not capture and decode them.
He plays Don Lockwood and sings the title song in Singin’ in the Rain.
Who is Gene Kelly? Kelly was known to be a perfectionist and to yell at his costars during filming. Debbie Reynolds was found crying under a piano once due to the mistreatment
This is someone who is unselfish and puts others first.
What is an altruist? This person’s characteristics are the opposite of an egotist’s.
This May birthstone captures the splendor of mid-spring nature.
What is emerald? Some claim that those who wear emeralds are able to predict the future. The gem symbolizes rebirth and fertility.
These rays have the smallest wavelengths and the most energy on the electromagnetic spectrum.
What is gamma? Neutron stars, pulsars, and supernova explosions can produce gamma rays.
This 18th-century British novelist ushered in the modern romantic comedy genre.
Who is Jane Austen? Her famous novels include Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.
This actor plays Professor Henry Higgins in the 1964 film My Fair Lady.
Who is Rex Harrison? After losing most of the sight in his left eye from a bout with measles, Harrison’s mother took him to the theater to cheer him up. That is when he became determined to become an actor.
This is the literary term for a fable or parable.
What is allegory? This method of portraying a deeper, complex meaning beyond the surface of the story dates to biblical times. A more recent example of an allegory is J. R. R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings series, which portrays good versus evil.
This is the official Mother’s Day flower.
What is the carnation? White carnations are the most popular. They symbolize the purity of a mother’s love.