Doin' What Comes Naturally Trivia Quiz

Answer: Stevia

Stevia is a natural sweetener that is derived from the leaves of the Stevia rebaudiana plant, which is native to South America. Steviol glycosides, found in the plant's leaves, are what give stevia its sweet flavour. Because stevia is much sweeter than sugar but has no calories, it has become more popular as a sugar alternative. Also, because stevia is so much sweeter than sugar, up to 300 times sweeter in fact, only a small amount is required to reach the desired sweetness. Since stevia has no impact on blood sugar levels, it is also regarded as safe for diabetics.

On the other hand, saccharin is an artificial sweetener that was discovered in a lab in 1879 by a Russian chemist working in the United States named Constantin Fahlberg. Saccharin is hundreds of times sweeter than sugar, which means that only a small amount is needed to achieve the desired level of sweetness. It has been a popular sugar substitute for over a century and it is often found in diet soft drinks, tabletop sweeteners, and other sugar-free products. While it was once thought to cause stomach cancer, this was proven to be wrong.

Answer: Granny Smith

Discovered naturally in Australia in the 1860s, Granny Smith apples are a popular choice nowadays and can be found all over the world. They are known for their green skin, crisp flesh, and their tart flavour. They were named after Maria Ann "Granny' Smith in whose orchard the variety was found.

On the other hand, Honeycrisp apples were developed in the 1960s at the University of Minnesota. They are an artificially-induced hybrid of the Honeygold and the Macoun varieties and have become a very popular apple. They have crisp flesh and a very sweet and juicy taste. Despite the difficulty growing them and their above average price, they are a popular choice for farmers as they gain popularity with consumers.

Answer: Azores, Portugal

The Azores are islands belonging to Portugal that are a popular tourist destination. It is a volcanic archipelago made up of nine islands and it is an autonomous region of Portugal with a total population of around 250 thousand people. The islands of the Azores are known for their natural beauty, featuring lush green landscapes, rugged coastlines, volcanic craters, and hot springs. They are a popular destination for eco-tourism, hiking, whale watching, and other outdoor activities.

On the other hand, the Palm Islands are a series of three man-made islands located off the coast of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The islands are named Palm Jumeirah, Palm Jebel Ali, and Palm Deira, and together they form one of the largest artificial island projects in the world. Palm Jumeirah was the first to be raised and construction was completed in 2006 and it is actually shaped like a palm tree. The other two islands were impacted by the financial crisis of 2007-08 and their production has been taking longer to complete.

Answer: Fargo

"Fargo" is a 1996 neo-noir film known for its darkly comedic tone, its unforgettable characters, and its distinctive Minnesota accents. The film was shot on location in Minnesota in a mostly muted color palette, with the whites of the snow and the grays of the sky dominating the frame. The interiors of the buildings are often shot in dim light, adding to the sense of bleakness. The film was both a critical and commercial success and received seven Academy Award nominations, winning one.

"Sin City" is a 2005 American neo-noir film directed by Robert Rodriguez and Frank Miller. It is based on Miller's graphic novel series of the same name. The movie tells several interconnected stories that take place in Basin City, a corrupt and violent metropolis that serves as the backdrop for the film's gritty, stylized visuals. The film's visuals are achieved through the use of computer-generated backgrounds combined with green-screen acting. This creates a highly stylized black-and-white aesthetic with splashes of colour.

Answer: Cochineal

Cochineal is a red dye that is derived from the dried bodies of female cochineal insects, which are native to Mexico and South America. The red color comes from a pigment called carminic acid that is produced by the insects as a protective measure against predators and the quality and richness of the colour is often dependent on the cacti that the insects feed on, primarily the prickly pear.

On the other hand, Allura Red, also known as Red 40, is an artificial red dye. It is a by-product of coal tar and was first synthesized in Switzerland in 1963. As an additive to food and a dye, it was first approved by the US FDA in 1969, and after that, other countries and regions followed suit. Although some studies have linked Allura Red to increased instances of ADHD, it still remains widely used all over the world.

Answer: Herculaneum, Italy

Herculaneum (or Ercolano) was a Roman town at the foot of the famous volcano, Mount Vesuvius. It was a wealthy town that is located close to modern-day Napoli and was thriving in the first century, CE. However, in 79 CE, Mount Vesuvius erupted and buried the town under a thick layer of noxious gasses and burning volcanic ash. Between 4 to 5 thousand people perished in the sudden eruption.

Because of the nature of the eruption, when people died, their bodies decomposed over time and this left cavities on the ash. When archaeologists began excavating the ruins, they filled these voids with plaster thus recreating the bodies of the victims. Many people were seen in their final moments trying to find shelter from the natural disaster.

Carthage was an ancient city that is now in modern-day Tunisia. It dates back to the 9th century BCE and quickly reached the status of an empire due to the inhabitant's excellent command of trade and commerce and its superior location in the Mediterranean Sea. It became a thorn in the side of the Roman Empire and wars were fought between the two, the first from 264 to 241 BCE. It ended in a Roman victory which ceded the island of Sicily to Rome.

The Second Punic War occurred not thirty years later from 218 to 201 BCE, when the notorious Carthaginian General Hannibal took the fight to Rome, famously bringing elephants across the Alps. Despite initial successes, Carthage lost this one as well which further weakened its power.

The third and final Punic War occurred from 149 to 146 BCE. After dealing with skirmish after skirmish, Rome decided that they had been pushed enough and brought down their might upon Carthage. Under the command of Scipio Africanus, Rome razed Carthage to the ground killing every last man, woman, and child.

Answer: Mohair

Mohair is a natural fabric made from the hair of the Angora goat, the shaggy variety of the species. It is a lustrous and durable fabric that is known for its softness, warmth, and elasticity. Mohair is often used to make clothing items such as sweaters, coats, and scarves, as well as home decor items like throws and rugs. Mohair is a popular choice for those who prefer natural fabrics that are both stylish and functional.

Conversely, rayon is an artificial fabric that is created from fibers made from wood pulp or other plant-based sources. It is made by dissolving natural materials such as bamboo, cotton, or wood pulp in a chemical solution. This is then forced through tiny holes to create thin fibers which can be spun into yarns and woven into a variety of fabrics. Rayon is known for its soft, smooth texture, high absorbency, and good draping qualities. It can be manufactured to mimic the look and feel of natural fibers such as silk, cotton, or linen.

Answer: Hausa

Hausa is a naturally evolved language that is spoken in Africa. It has the most adherents in Nigeria and the neighbouring countries, like Ghana, Niger and Cameroon. It belongs in the Chadic family of languages and was spoken by approximately 80 million people in 2020. It is a tonal language, meaning that the tone in which a word is said carries meaning. It uses a modified version of the Arabic script as its writing system, known as Ajami, but in formal and media usage can also use the Latin script.

On the other hand, Esperanto was a constructed language. It was developed by Ludwik Lejzer Zamenhof, a Polish ophthalmologist, in the late 19th century when he hoped that an international language was the solution to widespread wars. Ironically, the century after the creation of the language suffered the worst wars, including two World Wars, however, the language of Esperanto survived and was spoken by over 2 million people in 2019. Esperanto was created as an auxiliary language, not meant to be anybody's primary language. Instead, it was meant to bridge gaps between communities while still allowing for individual culture and language to remain.

Answer: Uranium

Uranium is a naturally occurring element with the atomic number of 92, which means it has 92 protons in its nucleus. It is a silvery-grey metal that is slightly radioactive and can be found in small amounts in the earth's crust. Most of the uranium found in the earth's crust is in the form of uranium 238, which is not highly radioactive. However, there are also smaller amounts of uranium 235, which is highly radioactive and can be used as a fuel in nuclear reactors. It is also the heaviest naturally-occurring element, thought to have reached the Earth from supernovas of other stars.

On the other hand, plutonium is a highly radioactive, silvery-white metal that is a byproduct of nuclear reactions. It has the atomic number of 94, meaning it has 94 protons in the nucleus. It is a synthetic element, meaning it does not occur naturally on Earth and is instead created through human-made nuclear reactions.

Plutonium was first synthesized in 1940 by scientists at the UC Berkeley, as part of the Manhattan Project. They were trying to create nuclear weapons in the war effort during WWII. The newly-synthesized element was named after the dwarf planet Pluto, which had also recently been discovered.

Answer: Zinc oxide

Zinc oxide is a mineral compound that is often used in sunscreens due to its effective sun-protective properties. It is white in colour, often used as a paste, and provides broad-spectrum protection against both UVA and UVB rays. It is also gentle on skin, soothing and calming the epidermis while not clogging pores, and has been deemed safe for babies as well (widely used in diaper creams).

On the other hand, oxybenzone is an artificial chemical compound that is commonly used as the primary active ingredient in many sunscreens to absorb ultraviolet rays from the sun. It is able to absorb both UVA and UVB rays quite effectively, it soothes irritated or burnt skin, and it relatively inexpensive to mass-produce. Originally known as benzophenone-3, it was first developed in the United States in the 1960s. It has, however, raised some concerns as to its safety seeing as how it has been linked to some cancers. Nevertheless, no causation has been proven.