Sports & Games
What piece of equipment is used in badmiton to hit the shuttlecock?
Racket.
The shuttlecock's shape makes it slow quickly, leadning to quick back-and-forth rallies.
What small creature builds a shell and walks sideways?
Crab.
Not all crabs walk sideways - some can move forward and backward as well.
What year did the U.S.A. celebrate its first Independence Day?
1777.
The first celebration had fireworks, music, and parades in Philadelphia.
What famous American landmark is located in South Dakota and features the carved faces of four presidents?
Mount Rushmore.
The monument took 14 years to carve and was completed in 1941.
What weather phenomenon happens when air moves quickly due to differences in temperature and pressure?
Wind.
Sea breezes are a type of wind common in summer, caused when cooler ocean air moves inland to replace rising warm air.
What outdoor game uses mallets to hit balls through metal hoops?
Croquet.
Croquet became popular in England in the mid-1800s as a fashionable garden sport.
What is the term for the rise and fall of ocean water caused by the moon's pull?
Tides.
Most places have 2 high tides and 2 low tides each day.
The summer Olympics are held every how many years?
4 years.
The tradition started in ancient Greece and was revived in the late 1800s.
Florida.
Flordia has the longest coastlien in the continental U.S.
What is the name of the heat measuring scale used mostly in the U.S.?
Fahrenheit.
The Fahrenheit scale was created in 1724 by Daniel Fahrenheit, and water freezes at 32 degrees and boils and 212 degrees on this scale.
What sport uses a puck and is often played on ice, but can also be played on roller skates?
Hockey.
Ice hockey is very popular in northern states and Canada.
What large mammal, often spotted in summer near coastlines, is famous for breaching (jumping) out of the water?
Humpback whales can leap completely out of the water despite weighing up to 40 tons.
In August 1963, Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. gave his "I Have A Dream" speech in which U.S. city?
Washington D.C.
The speech was delivered during the March on Washington at the Lincoln Memorial.
What road in the U.S., nicknamed "The Mother Road," was a popular summer travel route from Chicago to California?
Route 66 was one o fthe first highways in the U.S. Highway System, opened in 1926.
What weather condition happens when no rain falls for a long itme, often in summer?
A drought.
Even short droughts can make lawns turn brown, while long droughts can impact entire farms and water supplies.
What game is played by tossing a small bean-filled bag at a slanted board with a hole?
Cornhole.
Cornhole likely originated in the Midwest and is a staple at summer picnics.
What is the term for a strong current that flows away from the shore, often dangerous to swimmers?
Rip current.
To escape a rip current, swimmers should move parallel to shore, not directly toward it.
Which famous ship sank in the North Atlantic in April 1912 but was first found in August 1985?
Titanic.
The wreck lies over 12,000 feet deep on the ocean floor.
Which American city is known as the "Gateway to the West" because many pioneers started their journey there?
St. Louis, Missouri.
The city's famous Gateway Arch is the tallest man-made monument in the U.S.
What do we call the measure of how much water vapor is in the air?
Humidity.
High humidity makes it feel hotter than it really is because sweat evaporates more slowly.
In horseshoes, what is the target you try to throw the horseshoe around?
A stake.
Stakes are usually placed about 40 feet apart in a horseshoe pit.
What do you call the salty water where a river meets the ocean?
An estuary.
Estuaries are rich in widllife because they mix fresh and saltwater, creating a unique environment.
Which U.S. national park, established in August 1916, was the first to be managed by the newly created National Park Service?
Yellowstone National Park.
Yellowstone covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho.
What famous waterway connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through Central America?
The Panama Canal.
The canal greatly shortened shipping routes, saving thousands of miles of travel around South America.
What is the name for the temperature at which air becomes fully saturated and water droplets start to form?
The dew point.
When the dew point is high, it feels much stickier outside - dew points over 70 degrees Fahrenheit are considered very humid.