🌺May Bonus Week🌺

🐘Endangered Species🦍

100

Native to Africa, these critically endangered creatures have adapted to living in more humid areas instead of the savannah, helping to spread seeds which grow into plants and trees when foraging. 

African Forest Elephant

The survival of the African rainforest ecosystem is intricately linked to the presence of forest elephants. As "ecosystem engineers," they help shape their habitat and maintain biodiversity through seed dispersal and contributing to forest regeneration. They open up pathways through the underbrush providing access to food for other species. Over several years some of these pathways expand into highways, contributing to the formation of large natural forest clearings commonly referred to as ‘bais’ in the local languages, that provide minerals, water and protein-rich vegetation that cannot be found in the forest. 

200

This species lives in the mountainous forests of the eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the males sometimes referred to as silverbacks. 

Eastern Lowland Gorilla

The eastern lowland gorilla’s range has declined by at least a quarter over the last 50 years. The last census, in the mid-1990s, estimated that there were only 16,900 of the animals left in the wild, but following more than a decade of habitat destruction and fragmentation and years of civil unrest, the eastern lowland gorilla’s population may have declined by half or more. 

300

This species is endemic to China, found in the mountains with a diet consisting almost entirely of bamboo. 

Giant Panda

The biological diversity of the panda’s habitat is unparalleled in the temperate world and rivals that of tropical ecosystems, making the giant panda an excellent example of an umbrella species conferring protection on many other species where pandas live. In other words, when we protect pandas, we invariably protect other animals that live around them, such as multicolored pheasants, the golden monkey, takin, and crested ibis. Pandas also bring sustainable economic benefits to many local communities through ecotourism. 

400

This critically endangered animal is native to eastern and southern Africa, with two horns which are unfortunately a target for poachers to kill solely for their horns.

Black Rhinoceros

Rhinos are one of the oldest groups of mammals, virtually living fossils. They play an important role in their habitats, and in countries like Namibia, rhinos are an important source of income from ecotourism. This is especially true for local communities in the arid northwestern parts of the country, which are home to Africa’s largest free-roaming black rhino population. Since black rhinos need large territories to survive, their protection benefits many other species, including elephants.

 

500

These great apes are native to the rainforests Indonesia and Malaysia, spending most of their lives in trees and among the most intelligent primates. 

Orangutan

Orangutans are "gardeners" of the forest, playing a vital role in seed dispersal in their habitats. They live in tropical forests and prefer forest in river valleys and floodplains of their respective islands. Orangutans' extremely low reproductive rate makes their populations highly vulnerable. Females give birth to one infant at a time about every 3-5 years, so these species can take a long time to recover from population declines. With human pressure only increasing, orangutans face an increasing risk of extinction. 

🍔Bar-B-Que🔥

100

What are some common foods to have at a barbecue?

Hot dogs, hamburgers, potato salad, chicken wings, ribs, steaks, corn on the cob, sausages, coleslaw and fruits!

The history of grilling begins shortly after the domestication of fire, some 500,000 years ago. The backyard ritual of grilling as we know it, though, is much more recent. Until well into the 1940s, grilling mostly happened at campsites and picnics. After World War II, as the middle class began to move to the suburbs, backyard grilling caught on, becoming all the rage by the 1950s. 

200

True or False: The term barbecue originated in the Caribbean with cooks using wooden platforms to slow-cook meat. 

True!

The origin of the word "barbecue" is not definitively known, but the best guess is that Spaniards, upon arriving in the Caribbean in the 15th century, used the word "barbacoa" to describe the cooking method they observed. After the Spaniards & Columbus landed in the Americas in 1492, they found the people of Taino roasting meat on a wooden framework resting on sticks above a fire. The conquerors from Spain then embraced this style of cooking and spread it to more areas of America & beyond. 

300

According to standard etiquette, what should a guest NOT do at a barbecue?

a. Bring a side dish without asking.

b. Tend the grill if the host seems busy.

c. Offer to help clean up at the end.

d. Set up the plates and utensils.

b. Tend to the grill if the host seems busy.

Barbecue etiquette says that you don't touch the host's grill, unless a fire is about to go down. That also goes for offering advice to the host on his barbecue technique. 

400

What are America's most popular grilling holidays?

Independence Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day and Father's Day!

80% of all homeowners and 70% of all households in the U.S. own at least a grill or smoker. The most popular grilling day of the year continues to be Fourth of July, when 54% of owners grilled out; other popular summer grilling occasions: Memorial Day (44%), Father’s Day (34%) and Labor Day (47%).

500

What is the difference between barbecuing and grilling?

Barbecue is on a low slow fire, while grilling is hot and quick.

Barbecuing and grilling are often mistakenly thought to be the same thing but they're not. Barbecue takes place on a low fire for a long period of time (a technique called "low and slow") while grilling refers to a quick cook on a hot fire.

🧠Mental Health🧠

100

What are the most common mental health disorders?

Anxiety Disorders (like Generalized Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder and Social Anxiety Disorder) and Mood Disorders (like Depressive Disorder, Bipolar Disorder and Substance-Induced Mood Disorder). 

Some famous figures in history who have struggled with mental illnesses include Abraham Lincoln, Ernest Hemingway and Tennessee Williams who suffered from depression as well as Vincent Van Gogh, Winston Churchill and Ludwig van Beethoven who all struggled with bipolar disorder. 

200

True or False: Stigma is when someone views you in a negative way because you have a distinguishing characteristic or personal trait that's thought to be a disadvantage. 

True

There are many reasons why people develop mental illness. Some are genetic or biological. Some are a result of childhood trauma or overwhelming stress at school, work or home. Some stem from environmental injustice or violence. Sometimes, we simply don't know. Regardless of the reasons, these are health problems just like cancer, arthritis or diabetes. So why does society look at people with mental illness, including substance use disorders, differently? The answer is Stigma. 

 

300

What is mindfulness?

a. Meeting with a licensed professional to receive psychotherapy.

b. Intentionally living in the present moment.

c. Setting boundaries with a friend who is taking advantage of you.

d. Ignoring what is making you feel bad.

b. Intentionally living in the present moment.

Mindfulness is a type of meditation in which you focus on being intensely aware of what you're sensing and feeling in the moment, without interpretation or judgment. Practicing mindfulness involves breathing methods, guided imagery, and other practices to relax the body and mind and help reduce stress. It's hard to slow down and notice things in a busy world. Try to take the time to experience your environment with all of your senses — touch, sound, sight, smell and taste. For example, when you eat a favorite food, take the time to smell, taste and truly enjoy it. 

400

What are the three types of responses to stress? 

Hint: They all start with F.

Fight, Flight and Freeze

A big part of anxiety has to do with our physiological responses to stressors. Essentially, the most primitive part of our brain (our amygdala) has an evolutionary basis in protecting us from danger. This is a good thing! Our amygdala is our body’s anxiety switch. When we as early humans were living in the wilderness and needed protection from danger such as animals and/or other predators, this part of our brain adapted and switched on to help us to either fight the predator or flee from the situation. Researchers later acknowledged that in addition to fighting or fleeing, we may also respond by freezing when we perceive danger. It’s not as commonly discussed, but it’s also an adaptive response. The freeze response is more of an automatic shut down in functioning, like a deer caught in headlights.

500

Self-care is the practice of taking action to preserve or improve one's own health. What are some examples of Mental Self-Care activities? What are some examples of Physical Self-Care activities? 

Mental Health Self-Care: Meditating, spending time in nature, reading, sleeping enough, practicing gratitude and focusing on positivity instead of negativity.

Physical Health Self-Care: Exercising, getting a massage, doing yoga, taking a relaxing bath, going for a walk in nature, drinking water and eating healthy.

🎓Graduation📜

100

What do graduates do with their hats at the end of the ceremony?

Toss them up in the air!

Tossing the graduation cap in the air was started by the U.S. Naval Academy in 1912. The graduates would spend two years as midshipmen and had to always wear a designated hat. Once the graduation ended, the midshipman would become officers and would no longer need their old hats. 

200

True or False: The commencement cap is also called a pestleboard. 

False, it's a mortarboard! 

The name mortarboard actually comes from the flat board used by bricklayers to lay mortar. Thus, the name of the widely accepted graduation hat also represents the mortar board of a master workman.

300

What were diplomas originally made of?

a. Wood

b. Stone

c. Sheepskin

d. Cotton Fabric

c. Sheepskin

Over the years you may have heard the diploma being called a sheepskin. Originally diplomas were hand-written on paper-thin sheepskin before being rolled and tied with a ribbon. This practiced ended about 100 years ago when diplomas began to be printed on parchment paper instead, and the sizes were standardized. Diploma covers were developed to protect, store and display the diploma. But the idea of rolling a diploma persists because of this old tradition. Often when a ceremony is held before grades are finalized, a rolled, ribbon-tied paper is handed to the graduate to represent the diploma that will be mailed to them after the ceremony. 

400

What is the phrase usually refers to graduation ceremonies, derived from the marching tune by Edward Elgar which is played while students walk to receive their diploma.

Pomp and Circumstance

This comes from Shakespeare's play Othello and refers to the impressive clothes, decorations, music, etc. that are part of an official ceremony. "For many people, the red carpet is synonymous with prestige, status, celebrity, ceremony, and a whole lot of pomp and circumstance." Sir Edward Elgar was given an honorary doctorate from Yale and the school played his “Pomp and Circumstance” as a recessional at the ceremony. After that, other colleges adopted the song and soon it just became tradition, but as a processional instead of a recessional. 

 

500

What are some of the different types of degrees you can graduate with? 

There are generally four categories of college degrees: associate degree, bachelor's degree, graduate degree, and doctorate or professional degree. 

Different degrees prepare you for different career paths. For example, you can't become a psychologist with just a bachelor's degree — you'd need a master's or doctorate in psychology. And you usually can't become an engineer without at least a bachelor's degree. Typically, as your university degree level rises, your earning potential increases, and the unemployment rate decreases. 

🎥Classic Cinema🎬

100

This movie is regarded as one of the most popular films to come out in the 1930s, with a fantastical journey of a young girl and her pet dog as she meets many interesting friends on her travels.

The Wizard of Oz

The most-watched movie in history is as great and as timeless as it gets. Victor Fleming's fantasy musical adapted L. Frank Baum's bestseller with wondrous Technicolor visuals, and unforgettable characters performed by some of the studio system's most talented actors. For over eight decades, this has remained the gold standard for family entertainment. The Wizard of Oz was one of the Library of Congress's inaugural 25 films selected for preservation in the National Film Registry in 1989.

200

This romantic comedy was one of the most beloved movies to come out in the 1950s, with the lead actress winning an Academy Award for her performance. 

Roman Holiday

Roman Holiday was released in 1953 and starred Audrey Hepburn in her first Hollywood feature. She won an Academy Award for best actress for her performance. Even though films were being made in color, director William Wyler chose to shoot in black and white so the story and the characters would get the focus, not the location. 

300

This American epic gangster film is highly considered as one of the greatest films ever made, coming out in the 1970s with Marlon Brando starring and a serious R rating!

The Godfather

The Godfather is regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made, as well as a landmark of the gangster genre. It was selected for preservation in the U.S. National Film Registry of the Library of Congress in 1990, being deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" and is ranked the second-greatest film in American cinema. The portrayal of the Mafia as an organization with a strict code of honor fascinated audiences, as did the movie's exploration of the immigrant experience in America. These themes continue to resonate with audiences today, as The Godfather remains as relevant as ever.

 

400

This groundbreaking 1960s film directed by Stanley Kubrick is revered for it's exploration of themes like human evolution, technology, artificial intelligence and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. 

2001: A Space Odyssey

For spacecraft interior shots, ostensibly containing a giant centrifuge that produces artificial gravity, Kubrick had a 27 ton rotating "ferris wheel" built by Vickers-Armstrong Engineering Group at a cost of $750,000 (equivalent to $6,600,000 in 2023). The set was 38 feet in diameter and 10 feet wide. Various scenes in the Discovery centrifuge were shot by securing set pieces within the wheel, then rotating it while the actor walked or ran in sync with its motion, keeping him at the bottom of the wheel as it turned.

500

This American drama film was directed, produced by and starred Orson Welles, released in the 1940s and frequently cited as the greatest film ever made. 

Citizen Kane

Film scholars and historians view Citizen Kane as Welles's attempt to create a new style of filmmaking by studying various forms of it and combining them into one. However, Welles stated that his love for cinema began only when he started working on the film. When asked where he got the confidence as a first-time director to direct a film so radically different from contemporary cinema, he responded, "Ignorance, ignorance, sheer ignorance—you know there's no confidence to equal it. It's only when you know something about a profession, I think, that you're timid or careful."