March's Jeopardy!

Amazing Animals

100

Flocks of these animals migrate north when the weather warms.

What are birds? Different species of birds migrate at different times and can fly enormous distances. For example, the yellow warbler travels back and forth between Alaska and Central America each year.

200

You might run across this animal at night in its natural habitat, a dam it builds across a creek.

What is a beaver? The nocturnal animal is North America’s largest rodent and the second largest globally. Fully grown, beavers can grow up to 48 inches (122 cm) long. Their razor-sharp teeth never quit growing, but they keep them in check by felling trees for their dams.

300

When you visit Great Smoky Mountains National Park, you will be warned not to feed these large carnivores.

What are bears? Black bears roam the park. Visitors can be charged a fine if they willfully come within 150 feet of a bear. People are most likely come across a black bear in the evening or night durithe warmer months.

400

These nocturnal birds are known for their sharp vision, silent flight and distinctive calls.

What are owls? Rather than chirping, owls hoot. In addition to sharp 3D vision provided by their large eyes, owls can rotate their heads up to 270 degrees.

500

This is the largest species of feline in the world.

What are tigers? Tigers can weigh up to 660 pounds (300 kg),whereas lions typically reach only 550 pounds (250 kg). Both lions andtigers can grow to be 10 feet (3 m) long from head to tail.

Lines Are Drawn

100

This is a term for two straight lines that will never cross.

What is parallel? Parallel lines are everywhere. Think about a lined notebook or a crosswalk. Lines that cross at 90 degrees are called perpendicular lines.

200

Another term for meridians is lines of this.

What are (lines of) longitude? Meridians are imaginary lines that run north and south around the globe. They measure the distance from the prime meridian in Greenwich, London, England.

300

 These imaginary lines run east and west from top to bottom across the globe.

What are (lines of) latitude? Latitude measures distance from the equator. You can pinpoint any location on Earth by determining its latitude and longitude coordinates.

400

The Mason-Dixon Line is a figurative line that separates this.

What is North and South (in the United States)? It runs along the Ohio River from the Missouri-Iowa border to the East Coast.

500

This is another name for an oblique line.

What is slanting or diagonal? Oblique lines are straight but not horizontal or vertical.

This N That

100

She was Walt Disney’s favorite princess.

Who is Cinderella? Cinderella was first released in 1950; she was the second Disney princess after Snow White.

200

He painted the Mona Lisa.

Who is Leonardo da Vinci? Before it hung in the Louvre, the Mona Lisa hung in Napoleon’s bedroom. Mona Lisa is not her name; it’s Italian for “my lady Lisa.

300

If you visit this U.S. state, you are likely to encounter a pupu platter.

What is Hawaii? It’s an appetizer platter that usually includes bacon-wrapped pineapple, tempura, spareribs, fruits, and vegetables.

400

This country on the Iberian Peninsula allows some workers to take a nap during the workday.

What is Spain? The nap is known as a siesta. You’ll find siesta is still observed mostly in shops, especially during the summer from 2–4 p.m.

500

This bird’s eggs are bigger than its brain.

What is ostrich? You’ve heard the expression bird brain. The ostrich’s brain is no match for its eggs, which are the largest of all bird species. Dinosaurs laid the only eggs larger than those of the ostrich.

1970s Innovations

100

These are installed in homes to alert owners to fire.

What are smoke alarms? All 50 states require smoke alarms in new installations.

200

In 1973, the first communication from this device was completed.

What is cell phone? The cell phone of 1970 bore no resemblance to today’s cell phone. They were called “brick phones” because they were as large as a brick and similar in design.

300

In the 1970s, McDonald’s introduced this jolly menu item that is still going strong today

What is the Happy Meal? The original packaging resembled a cereal box with games, comics, and jokes on it.

400

In 1979, Sony released this device for playing cassette tapes.

What is the Walkman? At last, we had a personal and portable device for playing favorite tunes.

500

This was the first kind of computer disc

What is floppy? The first floppy disc was eight inches in diameter. Today, computers use internal hard drives, external drives, or the cloud for backups.

March Fun Facts

100

March Madness refers to this sport

What is (NCAA) college basketball? The tournament features single-elimination games between 68 college teams, leading up to the championship. By the time the games get down to the final four, the tournament usually has lived up to its name.

200

March 1 begins this meteorological season.

What is spring? Meteorological seasons are based on temperature rather than the position of the sun. The vernal equinox is when we celebrate the beginning of astronomical spring, which occurs on or around March 20.

300

The first day of Lent is also known as this

What is Ash Wednesday? Lent lasts for 40 days leading up to Easter and represents the 40 days Jesus fasted and prayed in the desert before beginning his public ministry.

400

This public holiday is celebrated on March 17 in the United States, particularly so in Boston and New York City.

What is St. Patrick’s Day? St. Patrick is the patron saint of Ireland and is credited with bringing Christianity to Ireland. He was not Irish; he was born in Britain.

500

In the northern hemisphere, March is the best spring month to view these magnificent light displays in the sky.

What are the northern lights (or aurora borealis)? They appear as wide bands of blue, green, red, and purple lights across the sky.