Science
Rotating, uncharged examples of these objects can be modeled using the Kerr metric. A core-collapse
supernova can produce a neutron star or one of these objects. For 10 points—name these objects that are so
massive that even light cannot escape their gravitational pull.
Black Holes
The second man to hold this position, Oliver Wolcott, designed the flag of the Customs Service. Albert Gallatin,
who held this position for almost 13 years, was an opponent of the first man to hold this position. For 10
points—what Cabinet position was first held by Alexander Hamilton?
Secretary of Treasury
In a novel, a woman flees this city to go to a plantation named Tara [TAR-uh]. In a scene inspired by a 1864
Confederate defeat, Scarlett O'Hara sees this city burning in the novel Gone with the Wind. William Tecumseh
Sherman's ”March to the Sea” began in—for 10 points—what Georgia city?
Atlanta, Georgia
This woman directed and starred in a 2019 film featuring the Bzzzz [“buzz”] Drumline whose title is stylized with capital thetas and a capital sigma. She also played the adult Nala in 2019's The Lion King. For 10 points—name this singer who starred in the Coachella [koh-CHE-luh] concert film Homecoming.
Beyonce (or Beyoncé (Giselle) Knowles or Beyoncé (Giselle) Knowles-Carter; prompt on “Carter”)
[30-second calculation question] Pencil and paper ready. Two answers required. What are the two values of x between zero and 180 degrees at which the sine [“sign”] of 2x equals one-half?
x = 15 degrees and x = 75 degrees (or x = pi/12 radians and x = 5 pi/12 radians; do not accept or prompt on
“1/12” or “5/12”; do not accept or prompt on partial answers) [sin(30) = 1/2 and, since supplementary angles have the same sine, sin(180 - 30) = sin(150) must equal 1/2 as well; thus, 2x = 30 or 2x = 150, and x = 15 degrees or x = 75 degrees.]
When this particle is “free,” it has a half-life of about 15 minutes. It is formed from three quarks, two of which
are down quarks. The heaviest known stable atom has 126 of these particles, compared to 82 protons. For 10
points—name this uncharged particle found in nuclei.
neutron(s); free neutrons acceptable answer
Richard Nixon stated,” I'm not a crook” during what scandal which eventually forced him to resign?
Watergate Scandal
A servant in this novel hides on a rajah's funeral pyre during a sati [SUH-tee] ceremony in order to rescue Aouda [ow-OO-duh], an Indian woman who later weds a member of the Reform Club. The French valet [val-AY] Passepartout [“pass-par-TOO”] helps Phileas [FIL-ee-uss] Fogg to circumnavigate the Earth in—for 10 points—what novel by Jules Verne [zhool VAIRN]?
Around the World in Eighty Days (or Le tour du monde en quatre-vingts jours)
This symphony's first movement recapitulation features a solo oboe cadenza [kuh-DEN-zuh]. Its last movement ends
with 29 bars of fortissimo [for-TEE-see-moh] C major chords. This C minor symphony is said to evoke fate with its
opening “short-short-short-long” motif. For 10 points—name this Ludwig van Beethoven symphony.
Ludwig van Beethoven's Symphony No. 5 in C minor (accept Beethoven's Fifth (Symphony) or any other answer including both Ludwig van Beethoven and 5 or Fifth; accept Symphony No. 5 or Fifth Symphony by itself after “Beethoven”)
[20-second calculation question] Pencil and paper ready. What is the slope of the line defined by the standard-form equation 15x minus 35y equals 20?
3/7 [15x - 35y = 20, so -35y = -15x + 20, and y = (-15/-35)x + (20/-35) = (3/7)x - (4/7)]
What three large groupings of species proposed by Carl Woese [“woes”] include eukaryotes [“you-carry-oats”], bacteria, and archaea
domains
What body of elected officials must consent to appointments made to the major departments of U.S. federal government?
Senate
Name this novel in which Ikemefuna is killed by Okonkwo, a work by Chinua Achebe.
Things Fall Apart
This woman is considered by many to be one of the greatest voices of all time, moving from power ballads to movies, including the 1992 box office powerhouse, "The Bodyguard"
Whitney Houston
[20-second calculation question] Pencil and paper ready. Ignoring units, what is the length of each edge of a cube whose surface area is equal to its volume?
6 [SA = V, so 6s^2 = s^3, and s = 6]
A constant denoted Ksp [“K-S-P”] quantifies the extent of what phenomenon in which a solid dissociates [diss-SOH-see-“ates”] into ions in water?
solubility (accept answers indicating a solid is soluble or dissolves)
In 1919 this office was assumed by a man known as the “Fighting Quaker,” who targeted suspected Communists during the so-called ”Palmer raids.” As head of the FBI, J. Edgar Hoover reported to 17 holders of this cabinet position. For 10 points—Merrick Garland now holds what position in the DOJ
Attorney General
The central character of this work is a woman that rejects the proposal of the nephew of Lady Catherine but later marries him. Name this Jane Austen novel where Elizabeth Bennett marries Fitzwilliam Darcy
Pride and Prejudice
In December 2019 her All I Want For Christmas Is You completed the longest trip from release to Billboard No. 1: 25 years
Mariah Carey
[20-second calculation question] Pencil and paper ready. If each day a student walks 20 minutes to school and then 20 minutes back home, how many hours will she walk in a 5-day week?
3 1/3 hours or 10/3 hours or 3 hours, 20 minutes [(20 minutes/leg) × (2 legs/day) × (5 days/week) / (60 minutes/hour) = (20/60) × (2 × 5) = (1/3) × 10 = 10/3 = 3 1/3 hours/week]
By definition, if this quantity is non-zero for a reference frame then the frame is non-inertial. At Earth's surface, gravity gives a value of 9.8 meters per second squared for this quantity. Force equals mass times—for 10 points—what quantity, which is the rate of change of velocity?
Acceleration
This British politician led his party to adopt the “Third Way,” moving beyond traditional socialism. This prime minister signed the Good Friday Agreement to establish peace in Northern Ireland. For 10 points—name this Labour Party prime minister who served from 1997 to 2007.
Tony Blair
Identify this villanelle written for the author's father after his eyesight was failing by Dylan Thomas. It features the refrain, "Rage, Rage, Against the Dying Light."
Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night
This star was recently freed from a conservatorship w/ her family
Brittney Spears
[30-second calculation question] Pencil and paper ready. Given that x and y are integers, what is the product of x times y if the sum of the two numbers equals their difference?
zero (do not accept or prompt on “none” or similar answers) [Since the sum equals the difference, x + y = x -y, and y = -y, which can be true if and only if y = 0; given that info, xy = 0 regardless of the value of x.]