🌼May Week 2🌼 - Copy

👻Positively Paranormal👻

100

What does a ghost say to scare people? 

Boo! 

The word seems to have arrived at its startling power by the 1820s when “boo” became the word used to startle people during the witchiest parts of the year, preferably while wearing a sheet over one’s head. It also worked on animals: By 1870, “crying boo to a goose” was the thing kids were told to do when dealing with aggressive waterfowl: If a goose steps to you, one author advised, cry “boo!” loudly and the bird will “will retire defeated.”

 

200

True or False: One of the most famous ghosts which appears in Hamlet is Claudius.

False, it was the late King Hamlet, Hamlet's father. 

The Ghost in Hamlet is that of his father, the late King Hamlet. The Ghost informs Hamlet that he was murdered by his brother, Claudius, and that Hamlet must avenge his death. 

300

Which ghostly vessel is said to appear around the Cape of Good Hope in storms?

a. Queen Anne's Revenge

b. The Flying Dutchman

c. The Edmund Fitzgerald

d. The Ghost Ship

b. The Flying Dutchman

The subject of Wagner's opera "Die Fliegende Hollander", the Flying Dutchman is supposedly condemned to sail forever. There are many versions of the story, some of which say that the vessel's captain can walk on land every seven years.

 

400

What are some types of paranormal beings (think of ones in scary movies)? Do you like scary movies?

Ghosts and spirits, demons, aliens (extraterrestrials) and cryptids!

Ghosts are in a category all their own it would seem, with variations of ghosts ranging from apparitions (the most well known ghost, translucent figures manifested in the physical world), poltergeists (mischievous specters which cause physical disturbances like moving objects), shadow people (mysterious figures resembling human silhouettes) and residual hauntings (like hearing phantom gunshots at a battle site). Have you ever seen a ghost or witnessed something supernatural?

500

Describe the following supernatural abilities: 

1. Telekenesis

2. Telepathy

3. Mediumship

4. Clairvoyance

1. The ability to influence a physical system without physical interaction, typically manifesting as being able to exert force, control objects and move matter with one's mind. 

2. The ability to transmit or receive thoughts supernaturally. 

3. The ability to communicate with spirits. 

4. The ability to see things and events that are happening far away, and locate objects, places, people, using a sixth sense. 

🔥Fierce Firefighters🔥

100

What is the dog of choice for firefighters?

Dalmatians

This was due to Dalmatians getting along well with horses (back in the day, firefighters used horse-drawn carriages), being adept at protecting the carriage and equipment while the firefighters were performing their duties, and being able to run alongside their carriages for lengthy periods of time. Nowadays, the dalmatian has shifted its role to more of a companion (obviously due to technological upgrades over the years).

 

200

True or False: About 100 firefighters are arrested for starting fires each year. 

True!

That’s right, there are serial arsonists who decide to become firefighters! Guess they would be the last people you would expect to start a fire. These people tend to do it more for the money or the thrill, rather than it being a psychological disorder.

 

300

Benjamin Franklin was responsible for the first fire company in __________, sometimes known as Benjamin Franklin's Bucket Brigade.

a. Manhattan

b. Boston 

c. Chicago

d. Philadelphia

d. Philadelphia

Union Fire Company, sometimes called Franklin's Bucket Brigade, was a volunteer fire department formed in Philadelphia in 1736 with the assistance of Benjamin Franklin. It was the first firefighting organization in Philadelphia, although it was followed within the year by establishment of the Fellowship Fire Company. The fire company was formed on 7 December 1736 after a series of publications in the Pennsylvania Gazette by Franklin and others pointing out the need for more effective handling of fires in Philadelphia and remained active until approximately 1820. Although modeled after the Mutual Fire Societies of Franklin's native Boston, the Union Fire Company protected all members of the community rather than only the members of the company.

400

What are some tools firefighters use when called to put out a fire? 

Fire engines with long hoses, fire hydrants, protective gear (gloves, boots, pants, coat, helmet, head stocking and self-contained breathing apparatus), hand tools (rubbish hook, axes, halligan, sledghammer, bolt cutters and closet hook), radios, ladders, ropes, medical boxes, oxygen masks and saws. 

Of all the tools that help firefighters do their jobs, the most valuable are the firefighters themselves. They know the tools to use to solve the problem and help save lives. 

500

How much heat can a firefighter's uniform withstand? 

Ambient protection up to ≈2,000 °F for a short duration and prolonged radiant heat protection up to ≈1,500 °F. 

Firefighter suits are so good at protecting their wearers because of the multiple layers they are made up of, each with a specific purpose. The outer layer is the most durable part of the suit, providing protection from heat and flames, external chemicals and water, as well as protection against abrasion, cuts and lacerations. Next is the moisture barrier, the middle layer which provides better insulation and thermal protection as well as breathability and comfort. Last is the innermost layer, the thermal barrier which minimizes heat stress and moisture, as well as making the garment easier to put on and take off. 

🐶Playful Pets🐱

100

What do you think are the most common pets in America? 

The most common pets are Dogs (65.1 million households), Cats (46.5 million households), Freshwater fish (11.1 million households), Small animals such as hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, guinea pigs, chinchillas, mice and ferrets (6.7 million households), and Birds (6.1 million households).

Embarking on the delightful journey of pet ownership is a decision filled with joy, companionship, and a touch of mischief. Choosing the right pet that aligns with your lifestyle and preferences is crucial. What pet would you choose if you could have any? 

200

True or False: Keeping a raccoon as a pet is illegal in New York. 

True! 

Animals like lions, tigers, leopards, jaguars, pumas, panthers, mountain lions, cheetahs, cougars, bobcats, lynxes, and other undomesticated cats as well as ferrets, weasels, minks, badgers, wolverines, skunks, mongooses, squirrels, raccoons, and bats are all illegal in New York State. 

300

What percentage of American households have pets?

a. 32%

b. 50%

c. 66%

d. 91%

c. 62%

Surprisingly, despite being the most common pet, dogs are the most difficult to care for. They need their own food and water bowls, a leash, a collar, tags, a microchip (for additional security) toys and exercise! They also need to be housebroken, leash trained, crate trained and taught not to chew or bark incessantly. The least difficult to care for? Fish! Specifically goldfish or non-tropical species.

400

What was the first domesticated animal which was kept as a pet? 

Dogs

Genetic studies suggest that all ancient and modern dogs share a common ancestry and descended from an ancient, now-extinct wolf population – or closely related wolf populations – which was distinct from the modern wolf lineage. The dog's similarity to the grey wolf is the result of substantial dog-into-wolf gene flow, with the modern grey wolf being the dog's nearest living relative.

 

500

What are some unusual types of animals which people have as pets? What was your favorite pet that you had?

Some unusual animals that are kept as pets are capybaras, fennec foxes, squirrel monkeys, stick insects, hedgehogs, skunks, pygmy goats, spotted genets, sugar gliders and wallabies. 

📺Crazy Cartoons📺

100

This American animated franchise was produced by Warner Brothers and included familiar characters like Bugs Bunny, Daffy Duck, Porky Pig, Yosemite Sam and Marvin the Martian. 

Looney Tunes

The Warner Bros. cartoon studio was founded in 1929 by Hugh Harman and Rudolph Ising, friends of Walt Disney. The first Looney Tunes character created was Bosko, sort of a human version of Mickey Mouse who wore a bowler hat and had a falsetto voice. Bosko made his debut May 6, 1930, in “Sinkin' in the Bathtub.” Looney Tunes and Merrie Melodies were so named as a reference to Disney's Silly Symphonies and were initially developed to showcase tracks from Warner Bros.' extensive music library; the title of the first Looney Tunes short, Sinkin' in the Bathtub (1930), is a pun on Singin' in the Bathtub. 

200

This comedy series centers around two characters, a cat and a mouse with a serious rivalry.

Tom and Jerry

So why "Tom and Jerry" you might ask? Well, it was a popular boozy Yuletime drink, essentially eggnog with brandy added in alongside the rum. The drink recipe and name dates back to the 1820s, so it certainly predates the cat and mouse. In the early 19th century, "Tom and Jerry" was a British term for rambunctious youth, as coined in the 1823 book Life in London, or Days and Nights of Jerry Hawthorne and his elegant friend Corinthian Tom by Pierce Egan. 

300

This animated sitcom depicts a family which lives in a comical version of a century into the future with elaborate robotic contraptions, aliens, holograms and whimsical inventions. 

The Jetsons

Though "The Jetsons" never specified exactly what year in the future the show took place, original press materials said it was set in 2062—a century in the future. It was the network's first show to air in color, though only viewers in a few cities could actually see it in color. According to THR, "The Jetsons' future included such things as flying cars that folded into briefcases, floating cities, video chat, an all-knowing computer called RUDI (short for Referential Universal Digital Indexer) and colonies on other planets. More influential than any particular prediction was the show's iconic Space Age look and feel, which both reflected trends and influenced them going forward."

400

This show is named after it's main character, an anthropomorphic animal who lives in Jellystone Park with his sidekick Boo Boo and Park Ranger Smith, trying to steal pic-a-nic baskets. 

Yogi Bear

Yogi was one of the several Hanna-Barbera characters to have a collar. This allowed animators to keep his body relatively static, redrawing only his head in each frame when he spoke – one of the ways Hanna-Barbera cut costs, reducing the number of drawings needed for a seven-minute cartoon from around 14,000 to around 2,000. Yogi's name was similar to that of contemporary baseball star Yogi Berra, who was known for his amusing quotes, such as "half the lies they tell about me aren't true." Berra sued Hanna-Barbera for defamation, but their management claimed the similarity was just coincidence. 

500

This animated television series was about a flying squirrel, moose and their friends getting into all sorts of hijinks!

The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle and Friends

Rocky and Bullwinkle share a house in the town of Frostbite Falls, Minnesota. The population of Frostbite Falls is variously given as 23, 48, 29, 31.5 and 4001 over the course of the series. Bullwinkle is originally from the state is Moosylvania, a small island in the Lake of the Woods, and is actually its governor.

🐴Kentucky Derby🐴

100

What is the Kentucky Derby?

The Kentucky Derby is the longest continually held sporting event in America, and it is one of the most prestigious horse races in the world.

The Kentucky Derby is an American Grade I stakes race run at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Kentucky. The race is run by three-year-old Thoroughbreds at a distance of 1+1⁄4 miles (10 furlongs). Colts and geldings carry 126 pounds and fillies 121 pounds. The Derby is the most-watched and most-attended horse race in the United States. The 2024 Kentucky Derby marked the 150th running of the race. 

200

True or False: The Kentucky Derby has more attendees than the Super Bowl and the World Series. 

True! 

In addition to the race itself, several traditions play a significant role in the Derby atmosphere. The mint julep—an iced drink consisting of bourbon, mint, and sugar syrup—is the traditional beverage of the race. The historic beverage comes served in an ice-frosted silver julep cup. However, most Churchill Downs patrons sip theirs from souvenir glasses (first offered in 1939 and available in revised form each year since) printed with all previous Derby winners. Also, burgoo, a thick stew of beef, chicken, pork, and vegetables, is a popular Kentucky dish served at the Derby.

300

What was the name of the Thoroughbred horse which gave the greatest performance at the Kentucky Derby?

a. Smarty Jones

b. Winning Colors

c. Secretariat

d. Man o' War

c. Secretariat

Secretariat, (foaled 1970), American racehorse (Thoroughbred) who is widely considered the greatest horse of the second half of the 20th century. A record-breaking money winner, in 1973 he became the ninth winner of the U.S. Triple Crown. In his short, brilliant 16-month career, he came in first 16 times, second three times, and third once, winning a total of $1,316,808. At Belmont he won by an unprecedented 31 lengths and established the dirt-track record for a 11/2-mile race of 2:24.

400

The Kentucky Derby is called "the most exciting ____ minutes in sports."

Bonus: How much is the entry fee for the Derby? 

Two Minutes!

Horses in the Kentucky Derby run the length of the 1.25 mile-long race track at speeds exceeding 35 mph. Comparatively, a human marathon runner has an average speed of 12 miles per hour, while a greyhound runs at 45 mph and a cheetah reaches speeds of 70 mph. Keep in mind though that a Thoroughbred race horse weighs at least 1,000 pounds and they carry jockeys who weigh around 112 lbs. 

Bonus: $25,000

500

There are three races which make up the United States Triple Crown of Thoroughbred Horse Racing, what are the other two after the Kentucky Derby? 

The Preakness Stakes and the Belmont Stakes

Many people bet on the Kentucky Derby. The most money wagered on the Kentucky Derby was in 2023 when $188.7 million in bets were placed, according to USA TODAY. That topped the previous high of $179 million set the year prior. Meriwether Lewis Clark Jr. started the Kentucky Derby in 1875. His grandfather was William Clark of the famed exploring duo Lewis and Clark. Horses with a name starting with the letter S have won the Kentucky Derby 19 times, more than any other letter. The only first letters that haven't won the Derby, you ask? Q and X.