Find the Word - Again! Trivia Quiz

Answer: Madam

Because the French teacher is a married lady, we use the term "Madam" (or "Madame" in French) to address her; if she was single, we would call her "Mademoiselle". It is important to know the difference between the two terms because apparently calling a younger women "Madam" is insulting - it implies that she looks older than she really is. On the other hand, calling an older woman "Mademoiselle" may imply that she is an old maid. Yikes! There are so many rules to follow!

Answer: Anaconda

An anaconda's natural habitat is in tropical regions of South America. What were the neighbors thinking? Anacondas grow to be the second longest snake in the world; by maturity they can reach a length of 30 feet or 9 meters. In addition, they are the world's heaviest snakes, growing up to weigh 550 pounds or 227 kilograms. I certainly don't want to meet that beast face to face! Yikes!

Answer: Eye

Depending on where a person is hit in the face, either one or both eyes can blacken. For example, a blow to the nose usually causes swelling around both eyes. The swelling then causes fluid to collect in the loose tissues surround the eyes. This swelling then causes the skin to turn black and blue.

Answer: Yummy

It is believed that spaghetti and meatballs were first made by Italian immigrants in New York City; in the 1920s a recipe for the yummy dish was published by the National Pasta Association. Some might argue that the dish is really not Italian at all, as meatballs, especially large ones, are not a common part of the meal in Italy.

There are, however, many types of pasta dishes, such as lasagne or ravioli, that can include meat.

Answer: Text

Did you know that text messaging is a relatively new phenomena? While the first text message is said to have been sent in 1992, it was not until 1997 that Nokia became the first mobile phone manufacturer to introduce a mobile phone with a full keyboard. Today it is estimated that 18.7 billion texts are sent worldwide every day!

Answer: Africa

There are many good places in Africa to plan for a safari, which is "an expedition to observe or hunt animals in their natural habitat", to see elephants. My brother is going to Kruger National Park in South Africa. There are about 15,000 elephants that live in the park, and it is said that they are used to visitors. It is important, however, for people to be very careful around them. He may also be able to view other members of the "Big Five", which are the African lion, African elephant, Cape buffalo, African leopard, and rhinoceros. What a lucky guy!

Answer: Willow

Weeping willow trees are great for shade and are very popular among homeowners because they grow very quickly, as much as 6-8 feet in a year. The best place to plant a weeping willow tree is in a location where water stands after a rain, as it has the ability to soak it up fast! I especially like our willow tree because it does not drop leaves in the fall that I have to rake!

Answer: Xerox

Photocopy machines can be made by a variety of companies; the first xerographic photocopy machine, however, was developed by the Haloid Corporation, which eventually became the Xerox Corporation, in the 1940s. After introducing "Model A", the first xerographic copier, making copies in this manner became so popular that the process was called "xeroxing". Apparently the company does not like the fact that its name has become a generic trademark.

Other examples of this happening with products in the U.S. are "Kleenex" and "Thermos".

Answer: Museum

The word "museum" comes from the ancient Greek temples that were built to honor the Muses. There were nine goddesses altogether, who were believed to be the daughters of Zeus. They governed the arts, sciences, and literature. Each temple was not only a sacred area of worship, but also a place for study. Plato is considered to have established the first museum/library in Athens; however, the most famous "Musaeum" was located at Alexandria in ancient Egypt.

Answer: Noon

Noon is considered to be the midday time, or twelve o'clock in the daytime. It is derived from the Latin "nona hora", or the ninth hour of the day. While 12 p.m. indicates noonday, 12 a.m. indicates midnight. At my school, it is the time of the day (and one of my favorites!) when we finally are able to eat.