A Little Bit of Salt and Cracked Pepper Quiz

Answer: The Dead Sea Scrolls

The Dead Sea Scrolls are ancient fragmented manuscripts, discovered between 1947 and 1957 in caves on the northwest shores of the Dead Sea in Israel. They were mostly written in Hebrew. Archeologists estimate the scrolls to be 2000 years old.

40% of the manuscripts are copied from Hebrew scriptures. The Dead Sea Scrolls did not include the book of Esther.

30% of the other texts are from the Second Temple period and include books that were not included in the canon of the Bible. Some of the Dead Sea Scroll books that were not canonized include Enoch, The Book of Jubilees, the Book of Tobit, and the Wisdom of Sirach.

The rest of the Dead Sea Scrolls were beliefs from a private Jewish sect, depicting the rules and lifestyle of their community.

Answer: India

India's use of pepper for medicinal purposes dates back almost 3000 years. India's two native crops were long peppers and black peppers. Long peppers were more potent and spicy. Black peppers were smaller and easier to trade.

Traders introduced the medicinal uses of pepper to Indonesia, China, Egypt, Rome, and Medieval Europe.

Egypt used pepper for medicinal purposes and embalming. They stuffed pepper in the nostrils of the deceased as part of the mummification process.

As a spice, pepper was extremely expensive for countries outside of India to obtain. Wealthy people hoarded pepper and valued it among their riches. Romans demanded pepper as part of tribute from conquered territories that were known to harvest spices.

Answer: Don Juan Pond

Don Juan Pond is wedged between the Asgard Range to the south and the Dais Range to the north. On the west end of the pond are a small tributary and a rock glacier. Frozen Lake Vanda is visible to the northeast of Don Juan Pond.

Don Juan Pond has a salinity level of over 40 percent, which is greater than the Dead Sea's salinity level at 40 percent, and Earth's oceans which have an average salinity of 3.5 percent.

It is the only hypersaline lake in Antarctica that almost never freezes, due to its salt content.

Answer: Cleopatra's Wedge

Beverly Pepper was born in Brooklyn, New York City. Her parents were Jewish immigrants. Her father was a furrier and sold flooring. Her mother volunteered for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

At 16, Pepper started studying advertising design, photography, and industrial design at Pratt Institute. In her twenties, she studied art in Paris at Académie de la Grande Chaumière.

Pepper took up sculpting after visiting ancient ruins in Cambodia. She was awed by the lasting ruins underneath the jungle growth. The experience led to her first, in 1962, displaying carved tree trunks at a gallery in Rome.

Since then Pepper's works have been collected and displayed by over 18 museums around the world. She specializes in abstract land sculptures and monuments.

"Cleopatra's Wedge" is an 18 ft tall carbon steel land art installation that Beverly Pepper carved out of an abandoned freeway corridor and shaped into the contour of a tool. It was featured in Manhattan and then moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin to be a piece in Burns Commons art park.

Answer: New York City

Salt-N-Pepa formed in New York City in 1985. The group members included Cheryl James, Sandra Denton, and Deidra Roper.

Cheryl James ("Salt") and Sandra Denton ("Pepa") met each other as students at Queensborough Community College. They started writing songs based on their conversations in school. "Push It," "Let's Talk About Sex," "Whatta Man" and "Shoop" became some of their earliest hits.

Salt-N-Pepa has been nominated for several Grammys for their works and has had their music published in over 20 countries. They became one of the first African American female rap groups to win a Grammy when they won the 1995 Grammy Award for "Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group" for their song "None of Your Business". Their album "Hot, Cool & Vicious", was the first female rap album to achieve gold and platinum status, selling over one million copies when it was first published.

Answer: to ward off evil spirits

In Japan, Shino beliefs used salt to ward off impurities or evil. It was used in cleansing rituals at temples, funerals, and in houses.

In old Japanese theaters, salt was sprinkled on the stage before each performance to prevent evil spirits from casting a spell on the actors. Actors portrayed love, death, and war.

Salt was also sprinkled on the arenas of wrestlers before they performed. Although it started as a religious practice, the salt helped kill germs and reduce infections in wounds from the fights.

Answer: casein

The capsaicin in peppers provides a spicy flavor for food. It is commonly found in spices such as chili powder or paprika. However, capsaicin also is a chemical irritant. It causes a burning sensation in any tissue it comes in contact with for humans and mammals. It is especially irritant to the mouth, skin, and eyes.

The casein in milk, a fat-loving protein, easily binds with capsaicin and washes it away for cooling relief of the burning sensation. Because all dairy contains casein, any liquid form will work; this includes yogurt, ice cream, and cheese.

Answer: Ironman

Miss Virginia "Pepper" Potts began her career at Stark Industries as Tony Stark's assistant. When he returned from being captured in the Middle East, she helped him balance his business and his heart project. She supported him when he became a superhero and they both developed romantic feelings for each other. He eventually made her the CEO of his company, while he pursued his superhero mission.

When Potts is kidnapped, Tony Stark realizes his love her for. He gives up being Iron Man temporarily for her. Stark struggles to balance his life as Iron Man and his relationship with her. He eventually proposes and marries her. They have one daughter.

When the Avengers fight Thanos, Stark is hesitant to leave his family. He is encouraged by his wife to be the hero. Potts and his daughter share their love for him at his funeral.

Answer: St. Louis Cardinals

Johnny Leonard Roosevelt Martin was known as the "Wild Horse of the Osage" because of his running abilities. His main playing roles for the Cardinals were third baseman and outfielder during the 1930s and 1940s. He was a crucial player in their victory over the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1931 World Series.

After his playing career, Martin continued to influence baseball as a minor league baseball manager. Two of his teams were the Sacramento Solons and the Miami Sun Sox.

Answer: Blue's Clues

"Blues Clues" is a preschool show based on a spotted puppy named Blue, who finds clues with her master. "Blues Clues" first aired on Nickelodeon on September 8, 1996. It was shown in over 60 countries and has had one spinoff, "Blue's Clues & You".

The Spice family are some of Blue's friends. The Spice Family consists of Mr. Salt, Mrs. Pepper, Ginger, Sage, Cinnamon, Paprika, and Grandma Cayenne.

Mr. Salt is the father figure and loves to cook. He is a little clumsy and often needs the help of Mrs. Pepper. Mrs. Pepper, the mother figure of the family, loves to sing and dance. Both of them talk in a French accent. They help Blue and his master with clues in the kitchen.