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Origin Story
Weird Science
(Re)Writing History
Sacred Texts
Grab Bag
100
This word, which has become ubiquitous in modern times, was taken from a book by Karl Capek Rossum in 1920. In the book, he uses the term "Robotnik" to describe slaves or workers. THIS is the modern English term that developed from "robotnik"
What is "robot"
100
The creation of THIS device, which is used to fly people from one place to another (and is not an airplane) was inspired by Jules Vernes book, The Clipper of the Clouds
What is a helicoptor
100
The Rights of Man, by founding father Thomas Paine, was a defense of the French Revolution and played a key part in spurring the American revolution. It is considered one of the founding texts of THIS type of government (HINT: it's what we have in the US)
What is democracy?
100
This book is the foundational text of Christianity, although less than 30% of all Christians have, or ever will, read it in its entirety
What is the Bible
100
In discussing Harper Lee's beautiful book, one reviewer summed up its importance thusly: ""A hundred pounds of sermons on tolerance, or an equal measure of invective deploring the lack of it, will weigh far less in the scale of enlightenment than a mere 18 ounces of new fiction bearing the title" of THIS book
What is To Kill a Mockingbird
200
Finish this quote, which means to stop talking and was coined by Stephen King in his novel Caroline (Hint, one of the words is a type of food): "Shut your BLANK BLANK"
What is "pie hole"?
200
The creation of THIS device, which can be launched into space, was inspired by H.G. Wells War of the Worlds. Hint, the answer is only one word
What is a rocket?
200
The book, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, permanently altered the American perspective of the settling of the Old West by calling attention to the way we treated THESE people
Who are Native Americans?
200
This is considered the seminal Islamic text
What is the Quran
200
This book, written by Charles Dickens, is credited with saving Christmas as we know it. As Christmas traditions were rapidly falling out of favor, this famous novel brought them back in style
What is A Christmas Carol
300
The term "butterfingers" was first used by THIS famed Victorian writer, who authored such classics as Great Expectations and Oliver Twist
Who is Charles Dickens
300
The computer scientist who developed THIS incredible program that allows people to share information over computers, credits Arthur C Clarke's Dial F For Frankenstien as his inspiration (Hint: you probably have it on your phone)
What is the internet?
300
In his book The Jungle, Upton Sinclair detailed the horrible treatment of workers and conditions in Chicago's meat factories. The outcry this work created led to many changes in the US, including the development of THIS government agency which is, among other things, designed to make sure that the things American's eat are safe for human consumption
What is the FDA
300
This is considered the most sacred text if you're Jewish. It is also the first 5 books of the Old Testament.
What is the Torah
300
Langston Hughes is often considered the father of THIS movement, which began in New York in the 1920s and promoted the idea that black is beautiful.
What is the Harlem Renaissance?
400
THIS word, which is used to describe someone who is socially awkward and incredibly smart, was first coined by Dr. Seuss. (Hint: it is also the name of a candy)
What is "nerd"?
400
The creator of THIS invention, which revolutionized underwater spy craft and changed the way the world approached underwater espionage and study, got the idea from Jules Vernes famous novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
What is the submarine?
400
In How the Other Half Lives, the author used photos to highlight the deplorable living conditions of those living in the slums. This book resulted in sewers, plumbing, and trash collection being brought to the Lower East Side. It was an early example of THIS type of journalism.
What is photojournalism?
400
The Analects is the seminal work written by this famed Chinese philosopher
Who is Confucius?
400
Rachel Carson's book, Silent Spring, is credited as beginning the environmental movement in the US. Her work led to increased pesticide regulation, saving the lives of hundreds of thousands of animals. It also led to the development of THIS major government agency.
What is the EPA?
500
The term "Big Brother" was coined by George Orwell in THIS famous novel
What is 1984?
500
The NASA scientist who developed THIS portable weapon, which allows people to quickly and easily incapacitate a nearby attacker, was inspired by a popular series of books about an inventor named Tom Swift. He even named the device after him, calling it: Tom A Swift's Electric Rifle
What is the TASER?
500
This book, by Harriet Beecher Stowe, is often considered the most important work of abolitionist literature. In fact, when Abraham Lincoln met the author, he reportedly said, "Oh, so you're the little woman who started this great war."
What is Uncle Tom's Cabin
500
This is the sacred Hindi text
What is the Bhagavad Gita?
500
THIS book, by Aristotle, outlines, amongst other things, his theory of tragedy (which you may have studied in ENC 1102). It has influenced virtually every major writer in the Western World for the last 2 millennia.
What is Aristotle's Poetics