Literature
Epic poetry is also characterized by the frequent use of the “Homeric” variety of these literary devices. These literary devices differ from metaphors in that they use the words “like” or “as” to compare two things.
ANSWER: simile [or Homeric simile]
Rulers of the Ottoman Empire held this title, and adopted awesome names like “Bayezid the Thunderbolt” and “Selim the Grim.”
ANSWER: sultan
A woman who aided in the defeat of this creature is abandoned on Naxos, where she weds Dionysus. Pasiphaë gave birth to this creature, also known as Asterion, after mating with a white animal her husband refused to sacrifice. A ball of yarn belonging to (*) Ariadne assisted the hero that slew this creature, which was located inside of an elaborate location commissioned by King Minos. Theseus slew, for 10 points, what half-bull creature, who inhabited a labyrinth?
ANSWER: Minotaur [accept Asterion before it is read; accept Asterius before “Asterion” is read]
Sleep is stimulated by the secretion of this hormone from the pineal gland, which is also used to treat insomnia. Some people take supplements of this hormone to help them fall asleep.
ANSWER: melatonin
An island separated from this country’s mainland by the Bass Strait is the only native home of a carnivore that has been endangered by DFTD. This country’s eucalyptus trees are commonly used to make a native instrument called the didgeridoo. The (*) Tasmanian devil is endemic to this country, which is also home to most of the world’s marsupial species. For 10 points, name this home country of koalas and kangaroos, whose largest city is Sydney.
ANSWER: Australia
In this work, a character that passes out is eaten alive by rats. After attacking a bartender, the protagonist of this work reunites with Jack Duane in prison, whom he had earlier met while in prison for attacking Phil Connor. A crowd chants (*) “Chicago will be ours!” at the end of this novel. Ona and the Lithuanian Jurgis Rudkis move to Packingtown in this novel. For 10 points, name this novel exposing the meatpacking industry by Upton Sinclair.
ANSWER: The Jungle
. A nurse born on this island ran the “British Hotel” during the Crimean War. This island, the birthplace of Mary Seacole, faced the Morant Bay Rebellion and wars involving escaped slaves called “Maroons.” From his base on this island, Henry Morgan raided Spanish settlements in Panama. On this island, the nickname (*) “Sodom of the New World” was given to the notorious pirate haven of Port Royal. For 10 points, what Caribbean island has its capital at Kingston?
ANSWER: Jamaica
In 1994, thieves stealing this painting left a note reading “Thanks for the poor security.” This painting, the most famous of its painter’s series The Frieze of Life, sees two men walking on a bridge behind the central figure. The eruption of Krakatoa may have inspired the (*) red sky in this painting, set on a fjord overlooking Oslo. For 10 points, name this painting by Edvard Munch, in which a figure holds his face while doing the title action.
ANSWER: The Scream [or The Shriek; or Skrik; or The Scream of Nature; or Der Schrei der Natur]
Jean-Baptiste Lamarck stated that this phenomenon was driven by the “use,” or “disuse,” of vital organs. Charles Lyell’s Principles of Geology heavily influenced a seminal work on this phenomenon. Analogous structures develop through the “convergent” form of this phenomenon. After studying the beaks of finches, this phenomenon was termed (*) “descent with modification” in the book On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin. For 10 points, natural selection drives what process, by which characteristics of organisms change over time?
ANSWER: evolution [accept natural selection before it is read; accept convergent evolution; accept adaptive radiation; accept speciation]
This location lies south of the Kaibab Plateau, and is home to a group of basement rocks named for Vishnu. This landmark is home to a “house” named for the Hopi people, whose myths described its creation. The Hualapai tribe operates a glass (*) “skywalk” above this location, which formed due to erosion from the Colorado River. Many tourists drive to this location from cities like Flagstaff and Phoenix. For 10 points, name this large gorge in Arizona.
ANSWER: Grand Canyon
In a novel written in this language, the dentist Dr. Booshy steals false teeth from dead bodies. In addition to Midaq Alley, another work in this language sees the slave-girl Morgiana pouring boiling oil on (*) thieves hiding in jars. A group of novels in this language follows three generations of the al-Jawad family in the Cairo Trilogy. For 10 points, name this language used by Naguib Mahfouz, which was also used to write One Thousand and One Nights.
ANSWER: Arabic (the unnamed poet is Mahmoud Darwish)
The trade of this commodity was opposed by King James I, who wrote a “Counterblaste” against it. Many of the hogsheads used to transport this commodity were destroyed by Cornwallis in its namesake “war” during the American Revolution. As part of the Third Supply, (*) John Rolfe brought this crop to Jamestown. Walter Raleigh popularized this crop in England. For 10 points, name this crop, whose leaves are used in cigarettes.
ANSWER: tobacco [or A Counterblaste to Tobacco; or the Tobacco War]
The development of a D major piece in sonata form is typically in this note’s major key, since it is the dominant of the D major scale. The “Verdi pitch” sets this note to a 432 Hertz frequency, instead of the 440 Hertz concert pitch. This note’s minor key does not contain any sharps or flats, as it is the relative minor of C major, while its (*) major key has 3 sharps. An oboe plays this note to help the orchestra tune. For 10 points, name this second note in a G major scale.
ANSWER: A natural [do NOT accept or prompt on “A flat” or “A sharp”]
The most common application of Huygens principle is used to model this phenomenon. The equation “2d sine theta equals n times lambda” describes this phenomenon. Electrons underwent this phenomenon on a silver lattice in the Davidson-Germer experiment. This phenomenon is described by (*) Bragg’s law. A series of thin slits make up this phenomenon’s namesake grating. For 10 points, name this phenomenon, where light bends around an obstacle.
ANSWER: diffraction [prompt on interference]
Some of these creatures tried to abduct Hippodamia during her wedding to Pirithous, leading to a war with the Lapiths. Heracles dies after wearing a shirt stained with the blood of Nessus, one of these creatures. The wisest of these creatures was the son of (*) Cronus and tutored many heroes, such as Achilles and Heracles. For 10 points, Chiron belonged to what race of half-man, half-horse creatures?
ANSWER: Centaurs [accept Centauromachy]
In one poem, this author cautions “tread softly because you tread on my dreams.” The speaker asks “how can we know the dancer from the dance?” in this author’s “Among School Children.” The speaker of one poem by this author sees “a vast image out of (*) Spiritus Mundi.” The speaker of that poem by this author claims “things fall apart; the centre cannot hold” and describes a creature that “slouches towards Bethlehem.” For 10 points, name this Irish poet of “The Second Coming.”
ANSWER: William Butler Yeats
One ruler of this modern-day country had his dead body concealed in a fish cart so his chancellor could forge his will. This country adopted Legalism and book-burning under a ruler who was buried with the (*) Terracotta Army. This country was first unified by Shi Huangdi, whose dynasty was overthrown by the Han. For 10 points, name this country, whose Qin dynasty began construction of the Great Wall.
ANSWER: China [or Zhongguo; prompt on Qin dynasty before mention]
Black Iris III and Oriental Poppies were some of the many paintings of flowers by this American artist. This painter was married to the photographer Alfred Steiglitz.
ANSWER: Georgia O’Keeffe
The Paschen series for hydrogen lies entirely in this part of the electromagnetic spectrum, unlike the shorterwavelength emissions in the Balmer series. One form of spectroscopy uses light in this part of the spectrum to induce bond vibrations. William Herschel discovered this part of the spectrum by putting a thermometer next to a (*) prism. Night vision goggles and temperature guns both operate by detecting this type of light. For 10 points, name this type of light, with wavelengths just longer than visible light.
ANSWER: infrared [or IR]
This organization attempted to purge CIA records in Operation Snow White. This religion’s founder formulated the concept of “clear” in his Dianetics. One story in this religion tells of an alien named (*) Xenu, who killed his own people with hydrogen bombs. For 10 points, name this L. Ron Hubbard-founded religion, which is followed by actors like John Travolta and Tom Cruise.
ANSWER: Church of Scientology
The title character of this other Tolstoy novel has an affair with Count Vronsky. That title character commits suicide by jumping in front of a train.
ANSWER: Anna Karenina
A remnant of this empire survived until Tupac Amaru’s execution following the Battle of Vilcabamba. This empire employed chasqui messengers to run its road system, carrying knotted quipu. Huascar lost a civil war to a ruler of this empire, who was forced to fill a room with (*) silver by Francisco Pizarro. Atahualpa was a ruler of this empire. For 10 points, name these builders of Machu Picchu, an empire centered on Cuzco in modernday Peru.
ANSWER: Incan Empire [or Tawantinsuyu]
. Jean-Jacques Rousseau arranged this work for solo flute, and its last movement utilizes pizzicato strings to depict rain. This work is performed alongside sonnet texts such as “the drunkards have fallen asleep,” and includes a viola playing “always forte” to depict a barking dog. This work was included in the composer’s (*) Contest Between Invention and Harmony. For 10 points, name this set of four violin concertos composed by Antonio Vivaldi.
ANSWER: The Four Seasons [
This substance is produced industrially in a process that uses a platinum-rhodium catalyst. A mixture of this compound and hydrochloric acid can dissolve gold, and is called aqua regia. This compound is produced by the oxidation of (*) ammonia in the Ostwald process. For 10 points, name this compound, a strong acid with formula HNO3.
ANSWER: nitric acid [or HNO3 before it is read]
This thinker blamed social issues on not calling things by their proper names, a problem he resolved with his “rectification of names.” This mentor of Mencius advocated for archery and calligraphy in his “Six Arts," which are essential to becoming a perfect gentleman. This thinker developed five kinds of (*) relationships, which are subject to filial piety. For 10 points, name this Ancient Chinese philosopher, whose thoughts are collected in the Analects.
ANSWER: Confucius