Under King Shaka, the Zulu warriors of South Africa used one type of spear as a stabbing weapon. What was this weapon called? A. Assegai B. Shillelagh C. Tomahawk After guns were introduced in Japan in 1542, the Japanese began producing their own guns. True or false: Around 1600, the Japanese returned to swords as […]
The ancient Romans built complex waterworks. Which of the following is sometimes credited with contributing to the decline of the Roman Empire’s ruling class? A. Aqueducts that spread malaria B. Famine from poor crop irrigation C. Plumbing that caused lead poisoning Sir Benjamin Thompson was a physicist whose work led to improvements in cooking equipment […]
TRUE or FALSE: Within a generation or two, Japan may have its first female emperor. A country’s head of state is not always an elected official. True or false: The current head of state of Sweden is its king, Carl XVI Gustaf. These Caribbean islands are classified as dependent states or overseas departments of larger […]
Satirist H.L. Mencken said, “If English was good enough for Jesus Christ, it’s good enough for me.” However, most Swiss businesspeople speak at least a little: A. Swiss, English, and Italian B. German, French, Italian, and English C. Dutch, Italian, French, and Romansch Good first impressions can be made by using correct introductions. The phrase […]
The Roman (or Greek) Pantheon contained twelve gods on Mount Olympus and two on earth. One of these gods was Jupiter, who was: A. God of the underworld B. Patron of travel C. Master of the skies The Aztecs also had a pantheon of gods. True or false: Tonacatecutli was the eternal and supreme Aztec […]
Sculptures of a female figure symbolizing the French nation can be found in most city halls in France. What is this symbol’s name? A. Brigitte B. Catherine C. Marianne True of false: The names Sinead, Shena, and Sheena are all Irish versions of the English name Jane. In Singapore, if you meet a Chinese woman […]
True or false: Mariano Melgarejo, a former Bolivian dictator, attempted to intervene during the 1870 Franco-Prussian War by marching his army all the way to Europe. Ned Kelly was one of the best-known Australians of the 1870s. What occupation brought him this notoriety? A. Con artist and forger B. Horse thief, cattle rustler, and bank […]
The lines “I think that I shall never see / A poem lovely as a tree” were written by US poet Joyce Kilmer. Which of the following is not true about Kilmer? A. Kilmer was a man who died in battle during World War I. B. Kilmer was a woman who frequented the Algonquin Round […]
Which European city is a favorite locale for test marketing? A. Madrid B. Brussels C. Rome High-pressure sales and hype are counterproductive in many countries. True or false: Australians tend to fiercely resist pressure tactics. Radio and television commercials are often more effective than newspaper advertisements in: A. Sweden B. Hawaii C. Bolivia German and […]
The open-air thermometer was invented by Galileo Galilei, c.1607. Match these improvements to their country and year of discovery. A. The clinical thermometer, by Santorio Santorio 1. Germany, 1714 B. Absolute-temperature (or Kelvin) scale, by William Thomson, Lord Kelvin 2. Sweden, 1742 C. The mercury (also called the Fahrenheit) scale, by Gabriel D. Fahrenheit 3. […]
