Outdoors
What is the term for a trail marker painted on a rock or tree, often a stripe of paint indicating direction?
Blazes
What does “RPM” stand for in reference to an engine?
Revolutions Per Minute
In the “Halloween” series, what is the name of the masked killer?
Michael Myers
What is the basic unit of life, the smallest structure capable of performing all life processes?
The cell
What type of snake is known for its characteristic hood flare when threatened?
The cobra (genus Naja)
What is the name of the phenomenon when moist air rises up a mountain, cools, and drops precipitation on the windward side?
Orographic lift (or orographic precipitation)
What component provides spark to ignite the fuel-air mixture in a gasoline engine?
Spark plug
Which 1973 film about exorcising a demon from a girl is widely considered a classic of the horror genre?
The Exorcist
What molecule carries genetic instructions in nearly all living things?
DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)
The world’s heaviest snake species can exceed 200 kilograms — what is its name and native region?
The green anaconda (Eunectes murinus), native to the swamps and rivers of South America (especially the Amazon and Orinoco basins).
In wilderness first aid, what does the acronym “RICE” stand for when treating a sprain?
Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
What kind of drivetrain configuration is “AWD”?
All-Wheel Drive
In Psycho (1960), what is the name of Norman Bates’s mother character (or identity)?
Mrs. Bates / Mother Bates
What is the process by which green plants (and some other organisms) convert light energy into chemical energy?
Photosynthesis
What unique adaptation allows pit vipers, pythons, and some boas to detect warm-blooded prey even in complete darkness?
Specialized heat-sensing pit organs located between the eyes and nostrils (infrared receptors).
What is the name of the navigational method using only natural features (sun, stars, terrain) without a compass or map?
Natural navigation (or "dead reckoning" in wilderness)
In a four-stroke internal combustion engine, what are the four strokes in order?
Intake, Compression, Power (Combustion), Exhaust
In The Shining (1980), what is the name of the haunted hotel where the Torrance family moves?
Overlook Hotel
In Mendelian genetics, what is the name of the observable trait that masks another trait?
Dominant trait (or dominance)
The King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) is the world’s longest venomous snake. Unlike most cobras, what is unique about its diet and nesting behavior?
It primarily preys on other snakes (including venomous species) and is the only snake known to build a nest to guard its eggs.
In ecology, what is the “edge effect” as it pertains to habitat zones?
It refers to increased biodiversity or species density at the boundary between two habitat types (the “edge” between ecosystems) due to overlap of species from both sides and unique microenvironments.
What is “camber” in wheel alignment, and why is excessive camber problematic?
Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the wheel relative to vertical (viewed from front). Excessive camber causes uneven tire wear, handling issues, and reduces tire contact patch.
Which horror film is famous for having its cast delivered real dismembered rat parts on set to elicit genuine reactions?
Cannibal Holocaust (or sometimes The Exorcist depending on version)
What is the endosymbiotic theory in cell biology?
The theory that mitochondria and chloroplasts originated as separate prokaryotic organisms that were engulfed by early eukaryotic cells and formed a symbiotic relationship over time.
Inland Taipan venom is considered the most toxic of any snake. Identify the main neurotoxic peptide responsible for its lethality and describe its biochemical action.
The peptide is taipoxin, a potent presynaptic neurotoxin that blocks acetylcholine release at neuromuscular junctions, leading to paralysis and respiratory failure.