American History
This document begins with the words, “We the People.”
Answer: What is the U.S. Constitution?
Explanation: The Constitution was signed in 1787 and established the framework of the United States government.
This is the largest planet in our solar system.
Answer: What is Jupiter?
Explanation: Jupiter is more massive than all the other planets combined.
This European country is shaped somewhat like a boot.
Answer: What is Italy?
Explanation: Italy’s peninsula extends into the Mediterranean Sea and has a famously boot-like outline.
Judy Garland played Dorothy Gale in this 1939 movie.
Answer: What is The Wizard of Oz?
Explanation: The film became one of Hollywood’s most famous musicals and features “Over the Rainbow.”
A word that means the opposite of another word is called this.
Answer: What is an antonym?
Explanation: For example, “hot” and “cold” are antonyms.
This president was in office when the Louisiana Purchase was completed in 1803.
Answer: Who is Thomas Jefferson?
Explanation: Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France, roughly doubling the size of the United States.
This organ produces insulin, which helps regulate blood sugar.
Answer: What is the pancreas?
Explanation: Special cells in the pancreas produce insulin, a hormone that helps the body use glucose.
The ancient city of Machu Picchu is located in this South American country.
Answer: What is Peru?
Explanation: Machu Picchu was built by the Inca civilization high in the Andes Mountains.
Lucille Ball starred alongside Desi Arnaz in this classic sitcom.
Answer: What is I Love Lucy?
Explanation: The sitcom premiered in 1951 and became one of television’s most influential comedies.
This author created Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
Answer: Who is Mark Twain?
Explanation: Mark Twain was the pen name of Samuel Langhorne Clemens.
This 19th-century event began when gold was discovered at Sutter’s Mill.
Answer: What is the California Gold Rush?
Explanation: Gold was discovered in California in 1848, prompting hundreds of thousands of people to travel west.
This gas makes up approximately 78% of Earth’s atmosphere.
Answer: What is nitrogen?
Explanation: Although oxygen is essential for breathing, nitrogen is actually much more abundant in the atmosphere.
This river flows through Egypt before emptying into the Mediterranean Sea.
Answer: What is the Nile River?
Explanation: The Nile was vital to ancient Egyptian civilization because its waters supported farming and transportation.
Gregory Peck played lawyer Atticus Finch in this 1962 film.
Answer: What is To Kill a Mockingbird?
Explanation: Peck won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Atticus Finch.
A comparison using the words “like” or “as” is known as this literary device.
Answer: What is a simile?
Explanation: “He ran like the wind” is an example of a simile.
Before becoming president, this American served as Supreme Commander of Allied forces in Europe during World War II.
Answer: Who is Dwight D. Eisenhower?
Explanation: Eisenhower commanded Allied forces during major operations including the D-Day invasion before becoming the 34th president.
The process by which a solid changes directly into a gas without first becoming a liquid is called this.
Answer: What is sublimation?
Explanation: Dry ice is a familiar example—it changes directly from solid carbon dioxide into gas.
This country contains the cities of Casablanca, Marrakesh, and Rabat.
Answer: What is Morocco?
Explanation: Morocco is in northwestern Africa, and Rabat is its capital.
This actor played George Bailey in the 1946 Christmas classic It’s a Wonderful Life.
Answer: Who is James Stewart?
Explanation: Stewart’s portrayal of George Bailey became one of his best-known performances.
This Shakespeare tragedy features the characters Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Answer: What is Hamlet?
Explanation: The two men are childhood friends of Prince Hamlet and are sent to investigate his unusual behavior.
This Supreme Court case ruled in 1954 that racial segregation in public schools was unconstitutional.
Answer: What is Brown v. Board of Education?
Explanation: The landmark decision overturned the idea that segregated schools could be “separate but equal.”
This part of the brain is primarily responsible for balance and coordination.
Answer: What is the cerebellum?
Explanation: Located near the back of the brain, the cerebellum helps coordinate movement, posture, and balance.
This tiny European country is completely surrounded by Italy.
Answer: What is San Marino?
Explanation: San Marino is one of the world’s smallest countries and claims to be one of the oldest surviving republics.
In this movie, Humphrey Bogart's character owns a nightclub in this Moroccan city.
Answer: What is Casablanca?
Explanation: Rick Blaine owns Rick’s Café Américain, where much of the film takes place.
George Orwell wrote this novel about a society controlled by Big Brother.
Answer: What is 1984?
Explanation: Orwell’s dystopian novel introduced phrases such as “Big Brother,” “Thought Police,” and “Newspeak.”