Signs of Autumn
Pizza & Pasta
Common Ground
October Fun Facts
The 20th century
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 3 month spans.
100
This fungus tops both pizza and pasta.
What are mushrooms? Favorite Italian mushrooms include Portobello's, porcini, and chanterelles.
100
Of trapezoid, circle, square , and triangle, its the shape that doesn't belong.
What is circle? The circle is the only shape in the group that doesn't have angles or straight lines. It has only one curved line.
100
This American fast-food giant opened its doors in the United Kingdom on October 1, 1974.
What is McDonalds ? It opened in the south of London, and location is still open today
100
He was the defendant in "The Trial of the Century."
Who is O.J. Simpson? After football, he served as for Hertz. He also appeared in several screen productions.
200
This full moon happens during the fall, either September or October.
What us harvest moon? It's the brightest of all 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
Of buffalo, horse, donkey, and zebra, its the animal that doesn't belong .
What is buffalo? The horse, donkey, and zebra all share the same body type and are closely related.
200
Born September 1, 1939, this comedian was a regular on Rowan & Martin Laugh- In, and she starred in the 1980 film 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda.
Who is Lily Tomin? Her most popular role on Laugh- In was a telephone operator Ernestine.
200
We closed out the 20th century with hysteria surrounding this change scheduled to take place at the stroke of midnight 2000.
What is the Y2K bug? Early computer programs represented years in 2 digits instead of 4. The world worried that when started over in a new century, computer programs would go haywire.
300
This fruit grown in Washington state is in season and a sign of fall.
What are apples? Expert recommend isolating apple so their ethylene won't ripen other fruit prematurely.
300
Flour is the primary ingredient in most pasta, but this pasta uses potato and flour to form its shape.
What is gnocchi? Of the different varieties of pasta, gnocchi has the fewest calories.
300
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.
300
Every year, the U.S Supreme Court convenes its new session on this Monday in October.
What is the first Monday? The state date is set by statute .
300
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.
400
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.
400
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- irons pans.
400
Of the $1, $20, $100, and $500 bills, this one doesn't belong.
What is the $500 bill? The $500 bill is the only 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.
400
Octo-, the first part of the word of October, gives a hint that October was originally this numerical position on the calendar.
What is the eighth month? Octo- means eight in Latin and Greek. Under the Roman lunar calendar, there were 12 months, but only 10 had names. The names months began in March. With the switch to the solar Julian calendar, all 12 months were named.
400
The year 1983 saw the first generation of this communication device.
What is a mobile or cellphone? Motorola was the first to launch the cell phone in the consumer market.
500
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.
500
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.
500
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.
500
Born October 16, 1854, he authored The Picture of Dorian Gray and The Importance of Being Earnest.
Who is Oscar Wilde? He also wrote poetry. Wild is regarded as one of the greatest wits of all time.
500
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 important updates on the hostage crisis.