Signs of Autumn
Pizza & Pasta
The 20th Century
Common Ground
October Fun Facts
100

The days can be hot during the fall, but you’ll feel the chill during these two times of day.

What are morning and night? Fall and spring are transitional seasons that feature incremental but major changes in temperature during their three-month spans.

100

This fungus tops both pizza and pasta.

What are mushrooms? Favorite Italian mushrooms include portobellos, porcini, and chanterelles.

100

He was the defendant in “The Trial of the Century.

Who is O. J. Simpson?

 After football, he served as spokesman for Hertz. He also appeared in several screen productions.

100

Of buffalo, horse, donkey, and zebra, it’s the animal that doesn’t belong

What is buffalo?

 The horse, donkey, and zebra all share the same body type and are closely related. They belong to the genus Equus. People have tried for hundreds of years to domesticate zebras without the desired results, so they cannot be ridden.

100

This American fast-food giant opened its doors in the United Kingdom on October 1, 1974

What is McDonald’s?

 It opened in the south of London, and the location is still open today.

200

This full moon happens during the fall, either in September or October

What is the harvest moon?

 It’s the brightest of all the full moons, giving off an orange glow like a big pumpkin in the sky

200

This green sauce can top both pizza and pasta

What is pesto? 

Pesto is a versatile sauce and can also be used on vegetables, eggs, beans, and meats.

200

These shantytowns popped up during the Great Depression, when people were evicted from their homes.

What are Hoovervilles? Many blamed President Herbert Hoover for not providing assistance and named the shantytowns for him.

200

Of shoulder, arm, finger, and toe, it’s the body part that doesn’t belong

What is toe? The other body parts are located above the waist; the toes are located below the waist.

200

Every year, the U.S. Supreme Court convenes its new session on this Monday in October

What is the first Monday? 

The start date is set by statute. Did you know that the term sitting refers to hearing cases? Alternatively, the court is in recess when it considers cases, writes briefs, and issues decisions and orders.

300

This fruit grown in Washington state is in season and a sign of fall

What are apples?

 Experts recommend isolating apples so their ethylene won’t ripen other fruit prematurely. Did you know the world produces more than 7,500 varieties of apples?

300

This U.S. city is famous for its deep-dish pizza.

What is Chicago?

 Comedian Jon Stewart calls the infamous thick Chicago pizza a “casserole.” It’s made with pizza toppings on a yeasty, bread-like crust made in cast-iron pans.

300

The year 1983 saw the first generation of this communication device.

What is a mobile or cell phone? 

Motorola was the first to launch the cell phone in the consumer market

300

Of the $1, $20, $100, and $500 bills, this one doesn’t belong

What is the $500 bill? The $500 bill is the only one not currently printed. The government stopped printing it in 1945 and stopped issuing it in 1969, but it is still legal tender—if you can get anyone to believe it’s real

300

Octo-, the first part of the word October, gives a hint that October was originally in this numerical position on the calendar

What is the eighth month?

 Octo- means “eight” in Latin and Greek. Under the ancient Roman lunar calendar, there were 12 months, but only 10 had names. The named months began in March. With the switch to the solar Julian calendar, all 12 months were named. The original 10 months retained their names but not their numerical positions when January and February were added to the calendar.

400

This natural phenomenon in the sky, most visible in Arctic areas, burns brighter in the fall.

What are the northern lights?

 They’re brighter due to the seasonal tilt of Earth around the time of the autumnal equinox.

400

Pizza first gained popularity in this country

What is the United States? 

Flatbread topped with sauces and other ingredients dates to ancient Roman, Greek, and Egyptian civilizations.

400

During the Iran hostage crisis, he kept us glued to our TVs during his weeknight ABC News Nightline show.

Who is Ted Koppel? He typically focused on one topic each night, but he always gave important updates on the hostage crisis

400

Of green, purple, red, and orange, this is the color that doesn’t belong.

What is red? 

Red is a primary color. The other three colors are secondary colors, or combinations of two primary colors

400

This  Magician and illusionist died on Halloween in 1926

Who is Harry Houdini 

500

The waning sunlight in the fall leads to a reduced production of this in plants.

What is chlorophyll?

 Chlorophyll is required for photosynthesis. This process feeds the plants and gives them their color during the spring and summer. The lack of sunlight causes the leaves to have brilliant fall colors.

500

Italians originally used this method of cooking pasta.

What is baking? 

They used dried pasta to make the predecessor of today’s lasagna.

500

The rule of the Russian tsars ended when this imperial family was summarily executed in 1918.

What is Romanov? 

In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Tsar Nicholas II and named him Saint Nicholas the passion-bearer.

500

Of Greece, Norway, Austria, and Romania, this is the country that doesn’t belong, as it is not a member of the European Union (EU).

What is Norway?

 The EU has 27 member nations, but not every country on the European continent belongs to it

500

The “Happiest Place on Earth” First Opened 

What is Disney World