USGC
According to NOAA, which of these is true about extreme rainfall events?
A. extreme rainfall events by definition require two average months of rainfall occurring in one day
B. extreme rainfall events are increasing in frequency worldwide
C. there is no single definition of extreme rainfall
D. extreme rainfall events involve areas of high moisture contained within stable, cool systems
What is "there is no single definition of extreme rainfall"
This man attacked white moderates who are more devoted to "order" than justice in a response to an open letter titled "A Call for Unity." In that letter, this man wrote that "injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." While supporting a sanitation workers strike, this author of "Letter From Birmingham Jail" gave the "I've Been to the Mountaintop" speech a night before his death at the Lorraine Motel. For the point, name this civil rights leader who helped organize the March on Washington in 1963.
Who is Martin Luther King, Jr?
This man's illegitimate son, William, served as the final colonial governor of New Jersey. This man organized the militia which halted the marauding Paxton Boys's march on Philadelphia. This diplomat, who secured French intervention in the American Revolution, also invented conventional bifocals. For the point, name this American Renaissance man and Founding Father who served as the United States's first Postmaster General.
Who is Benjamin Franklin?
Which of the following is required to be elected president of the United States?
A. being a military veteran B. having been in Congress C. being male D. being a natural-born citizen of the US
What is being a natural-born citizen of the US?
This country's southeast contains its historical "lesser" region, whose largest city is Lublin. This country's central province is home to the city of Lodz [[WUHDZ]]. This country contains the former German city of Danzig, which is now known as Gdansk. Other cities in this country include Katowice [[kat-uh-VEETZ-uh]] and Krakow. For the point, name this eastern European country whose capital city is Warsaw.
What is Poland?
40. Sedimentary rock produced from weathering covers roughly what percentage of the Earth’s continents? A. 10% B. 30% C. 50% D. over 65%
What is over 65%?
This bill was forced to allow corporate religious exemptions in Burwell v. Hobby Lobby. This bill was inspired by another bill that overcame six of Mitt Romney's line-item vetoes. A part of this bill was removed due to public outcry over "death panels." The Supreme Court ruled in favor of this bill's individual mandate but struck down a section forcing states to expand Medicaid. For the point, name this healthcare reform bill passed by the administration of the 44th U.S. president.
What is Obamacare/the Affordable Care Act
During this period, the heretical sect of self-whipping acolytes known as the "Flagellants" peaked in popularity. One theory states this period began after Hanseatic contacts in the fur trade travelled to the Republic of Novgorod. Under Casimir the Great, the effects of this period were lessened in Poland, because the Jewish community spread hygienic practices like handwashing. Up to half of Europe's population was killed by, for the point, what 14th century blight?
What is the Black Death?
How many voting members are in the House of Representatives if all seats are filled?
A. 9 B. 100 C. 435 D. 538
What is 435?
One species which is endemic to this desert is Przewalski's [[pur-shuh-VAHL-skeez]] horse. This desert is legendarily home to a "death worm," and the first-ever discovered fossilized dinosaur eggs were found within the Nemegt Basin of this desert. This desert is linked by the Hexi Corridor to the Tibetan Plateau in the south. For the point, name this Asian desert formed by the rain shadow of the Himalayas which covers much of Mongolia.
What is the Gobi Desert?
Which of the following is most likely to affect buildings, statues, and monuments that are exposed to the elements? A. mineral hydration B. acid rain C. unloading D. thermal stress
What is acid rain?
Secret information concerning this project was central to an accusation made of Haakon Chevalier. Leo Szilard penned a letter with Albert Einstein that encouraged this project. A man who led this project declared "I have become death, the destroyer of worlds" during the Trinity Test south of its Los Alamos Laboratory. Leslie Groves and J. Robert Oppenheimer led, for the point, what World War Two project that produced the world's first nuclear weapons?
What was the Manhattan Project?
A revolt of this force burned the Scutari Barracks due to reforms known as Nizam-I Cedid, or the "New Order." In a modernization effort, this force was disbanded following the Auspicious Incident by Mahmud II. The devshirme system originally recruited young, Christian boys into this military corps, which was tasked with protecting the sultan in battle. For the point, name this elite, musket-wielding corps of Ottoman infantry
What are the Janissaries?
Muhammadu Buhari has served as president of what most populous African country since 2015?
A. Egypt B. Algeria C. Nigeria D. South Africa
What is Nigeria?
An island named for this person was formerly home to the village of Maroko, whose residents were displaced following a 1990 demolition project. A natural landmark named for this person is known to the locals as "The Smoke That Thunders." This person lends their name to the capital of the Seychelles. For the point, name this British monarch who names the largest lake and highest waterfall in Africa.
Who is Queen Victoria?
Exfoliation is caused by which of the following mechanisms? A. pressure release B. capillary action C. chelation D. decay
What is pressure release?
This man’s autobiography Where’s the Rest of Me? took its title from a line this man uttered while playing a double amputee in the movie King’s Row. This man yelled, “I’m paying for this microphone” when a debate moderator tried to mute him. A hot mic caught this man joking that he had signed legislation outlawing Russia, stating, “We begin bombing in five minutes.” That occurred three months before this man won a record 525 electoral votes in a landslide presidential victory. For the point, what Republican won the presidential elections of 1980 and 1984?
Who is Ronald Reagan?
During an Olympic marathon in this city, Thomas Hicks won while suffering hallucinations after his trainers fed him strychnine and raw eggs. This city was the first to pair the Olympics with human zoos in what were dubbed “Anthropology Days.” (+) This city became the host of those Olympics after threatening to undermine Chicago's bid by hosting their own athletic competition during a World's Fair. (*) For the points, name this Midwestern city that simultaneously hosted the 1904 Summer Olympics and the Louisiana Purchase Exposition.
What is St. Louis?
Committee chairs in Congress are usually chosen by which of the following methods?
A. merit B. seniority C. election by members of the committee D. the president
What is seniority?
This country's village of Matmata is famous for its mostly underground buildings and infrastructure. This country is where street vendor Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in 2011 sparking a widespread series of protest. This country's Mediterranean coast is contained in the Gulf of Gabès [[gah-BESS]], and this country contains the site of the ancient city of Carthage. For the point, name this north African country which lies between Algeria and Libya.
What is Tunisia?
According to the Clausius-Clapeyron equation, how much more moisture can the air hold for each degree Celsius of temperature rise? A. 3% B. 5% C. 7% D. 11%
What is 7%?
Future Secretary of Commerce Ron Brown appeared in one of this company's first advertisements targeting the African-American community. This company controlled the sixth-largest navy in the world after the USSR traded seventeen warships in exchange for this company's product. This company attracted controversy for a 2017 ad depicting Kendall Jenner quelling riots by giving a police officer this company's namesake product. For the point, name this multinational food and beverage company which competes with Coca-Cola.
What is PepsiCo / Pepsi-Cola company
This man likely gave the sharpshooter Annie Oakley her nickname "Little Sure Shot." Alfred Sully's deployment of artillery led to his victory over this general during the Battle of the Badlands, a part of the larger Dakota Wars. With Crazy Horse, this man eradicated the 7th Cavalry of George Custer at the Battle of Little Bighorn. The Ghost Dance movement was supported by, for the point, which Hunkpapa Lakota chief?
Who is Sitting Bull?
Which of the following is true of the War Powers Act?
A. it has not been used since it was passed in 1973 B. it grants the president unchecked power to deploy American troops C. it may violate separation of powers D. it has been declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court
What is "it may violate separation of powers"
Major mountain ranges on this island include the Hido and Kiso Ranges. Scenic Lake Biwa on this island lies in its Kansai region. Part of this island's southern coast is formed by the Kanmon Straits, which separate this island from Kyushu, while the Tsugaru Strait separates this island from Hokkaido to its north. For the point, name this largest and most populous Japanese island, the location of the city of Tokyo.
What is Honshu?