Signs of Autumn
Pizza & Pasta
The 20th Century
Common Ground
October Fun Facts
100

The days can be hot during the fall, but you'll feel the chill during these two days.

What are morning and night? 

Fall and spring are transitional seasons that feature incremental but major changes in temperature during their three-month spans.

100

This fungus tops both pizza and pasta.

What are mushrooms? 

Favorite Italian mushrooms include portobellos, porcini, and chanterelles

100

He was the defendant in “The Trial of the Century."

Who is O. J. Simpson? After football, he served as spokesman for Hertz. He also appeared in several screen productions.

100

Of trapezoid, circle, square, and triangle, it’s 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 McDonald’s? 

It opened in the south of London, and the location is still open today.

200

This full moon happens during the fall, either in September or October.

What is the harvest moon? 

It’s the brightest of all the 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

The year 1983 saw the first generation of this communication device.

What is a mobile or cell phone? 

Motorola was the first to launch the cell phone in the consumer market.

200

Of buffalo, horse, donkey, and zebra, it’s the animal that doesn’t belong.

What is buffalo? 

The horse, donkey, and zebra all share the same body type and are closely related. They belong to the genus Equus. People have tried for hundreds of years to domesticate zebras without the desired results, so they cannot be ridden.

200

Born September 1, 1939, this comedian was a regular on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, and she starred in the 1980 film 9 to 5 with Dolly Parton and Jane Fonda.

Who is Lily Tomlin? 

Her most popular role on Laugh-In was telephone operator Ernestine.

300

This fruit grown in Washington state is in season and a sign of fall.

What are apples? 

Experts recommend isolating apples so their ethylene won’t ripen other fruit prematurely. Did you know the world produces more than 7,500 varieties of apples?

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

The rule of the Russian tsars ended when this imperial family was summarily executed in 1918.

What is Romanov? 

In 2000, the Russian Orthodox Church canonized Tsar Nicholas II and named him Saint Nicholas the passion-bearer.

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 start date is set by statute. Did you know that the term sitting refers to hearing cases? Alternatively, the court is in recess when it considers cases, writes briefs, and issues decisions and orders.

400

Trees, shrubs, and vines that lose their leaves fall into this category.

What is deciduous? 

Those that keep their leaves and pine needles are known as evergreen.

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-iron pans.

400

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 gave important updates on the hostage crisis.

400

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.

400

Born October 20, 1882, this Hungarian actor is renowned for his portrayal of Dracula on stage and screen.

Who is Bela Lugosi? 

When Lugosi first appeared on Broadway in 1922, he knew little English. When he passed in 1956, he was buried in his Dracula cape.

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

Italians originally used this method of cooking pasta.

What is baking? 

They used dried pasta to make the predecessor of today’s lasagna.

500

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.

500

Of Greece, Norway, Austria, and Romania, this is the country that doesn’t belong, as it is not a member of the European Union (EU).

What is Norway? 

The EU has 27 member nations, but not every country on the European continent belongs to it.

500

Octo-, the first part of the word October, gives a hint that October was originally in this numerical position on the calendar.

What is the eighth month? 

Octo- means “eight” in Latin and Greek. Under the ancient Roman lunar calendar, there were 12 months, but only 10 had names. The named months began in March. With the switch to the solar Julian calendar, all 12 months were named. The original 10 months retained their names but not their numerical positions when January and February were added to the calendar