You Be the Mechanic
Night Fright
Hey Baby!
Its a Small World
FINAL JEOPARDY!
100
A driver turns the key and hears a slow cranking sound, but the car does not start. The headlights are very dim.
Dead battery
Cold weather can reduce a battery’s capacity by up to 50 percent, making winter the top season for battery failures.
100
This black feline is thought to bring bad luck in superstition.
Black cat
Black cats were once believed to be witches’ companions, called “familiars.” But in many cultures — like in Scotland and Japan — black cats actually bring good fortune. Sailors also used to bring them aboard ships for luck and safe travels.
100
A baby goose is called this.
Gosling
“Gosling” has been used since the 14th century “ling” means “little,” so it literally means “little goose.”
100
This small, glowing insect lights up summer nights with its bioluminescent tail.
Firefly (or lightning bug)
Fireflies produce light through a chemical reaction called bioluminescence, and scientists study them to develop more efficient lighting technology.
100
The Great Barrier Reef is located off the coast of which country?
Australia
200
After 10 minutes of driving, steam comes from under the hood, and the temperature gauge rises to maximum.
Coolant leak or low coolant level
Modern engines can reach temperatures above 220 degrees Fahrenheit; coolant prevents the metal parts from warping.
200
This monster is created by stitching body parts together and bringing them to life.
Frankenstein’s
Mary Shelley wrote Frankenstein in 1818 when she was just 18 years old. It’s considered the first science fiction novel ever written, exploring humanity’s fear of technology and our desire to play God.
200
A baby turkey is called this.
Poult
“Poult” can actually refer to any young domestic bird, not just turkeys.
200
This small object in your pocket changed the world by allowing instant global communication.
Smartphone
The average smartphone today has more computing power than the entire NASA system that sent astronauts to the moon in 1969!
300
The check engine light comes on. The car seems to drive normally but idles slightly rough.
Loose gas cap
A loose gas cap can allow fuel vapors to escape, triggering the emissions system to issue a warning.
300
This vegetable was the original jack-o’-lantern in Ireland.
Turnip
Irish folklore tells the story of Stingy Jack, a man who tricked the Devil and was doomed to wander Earth with only a glowing turnip to light his way. When Irish immigrants came to America, they found pumpkins—bigger, brighter, and perfect for carving.
300
A baby frog is called this before it grows legs.
Tadpole
Tadpoles breathe through gills like fish before they develop lungs.
300
This small mammal is known for its big appetite — eating up to twice its body weight each day.
Shrew
Some shrews must eat every two to three hours or they’ll starve! Their heart beats up to 1,200 times per minute.
400
The steering wheel feels heavy and stiff, especially at low speeds.
Low power steering fluid or a failing power steering pump.
Hydraulic power steering, introduced in 1951, made manual steering largely obsolete in passenger vehicles.
400
This large bird is often seen as a bad omen and featured in scary stories.
Raven
Ravens are incredibly intelligent birds — they can mimic speech, solve puzzles, and remember faces. Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven helped turn them into symbols of mystery and sorrow.
400
A baby goat is called this.
Kid
The term “kid” for children actually came from baby goats first!
400
This world-famous Danish toy proves that small pieces can build big imaginations.
LEGO bricks
The word “LEGO” comes from the Danish phrase leg godt, meaning “play well.” Six classic LEGO bricks can be combined in over 915 million ways!
500
The vehicle drifts to the left while driving straight.
Wheel misalignment or uneven tire pressure.
Even a small mismatch in tire pressure can change the car’s directional stability.
500
In Mexico, this colorful holiday honors deceased loved ones around Halloween time.
Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead)
Families celebrate by decorating altars with candles, marigolds, photos, and favorite foods of their loved ones. Rather than being spooky, it’s a joyful reminder that love continues even after death.
500
A baby alligator is called this.
Hatchling
Alligator mothers gently carry hatchlings to the water in their mouths — without harming them.
500
This tiny piece of technology is found in nearly every smartphone and helps it think fast.
Microchip
Microchips can contain billions of circuits smaller than the width of a human hair — all packed into something no bigger than a fingernail!
600
The car suddenly sounds much louder and has a deep rumble.
Exhaust pipe or muffler leak
Exhaust leaks create noise and may allow harmful fumes to enter the cabin.
600
The phrase “something wicked this way comes” comes from this famous playwright.
William Shakespeare
The line appears in Macbeth, a dark tragedy filled with witches, ghosts, and prophecies. Shakespeare’s witches were said to represent the unknown fears of his time.
600
A baby oyster is called this.
Spat
“Spat” comes from the way baby oysters “spatter” or attach themselves to rocks when they settle.
600
This atomic particle is so small it helped unlock the secrets of the universe when discovered by scientists in 1897.
Electron
Electrons are so tiny that if an atom were the size of a football stadium, the nucleus would be a marble — and the electrons would be invisible specks swirling around the stands!