Exceller's Xyresic X Words Trivia Quiz

Answer: plants

Xylem is a word that was first used in 1858 by the Swiss botanist, Carl Nageli, to describe the vascular tissue in plants. He formed the word from the Greek word, xylem, which means "wood". He named xylem after wood because wood displays the best xylem tissue.

The main function of the xylem tissue is to transport water throughout the plant, but it transports nutrients as well. The structure of the xylem tissue also helps the plant with its support and strength.

Xylem forms at the base of the plant, starting with the roots. It is interconnected with vessels that branch to stems and leaves. The channels of xylem tissue form a continuous system of water-conducting channels reaching all parts of the plants.

(Information found from Science Direct, Collins English Dictionary, Biology Online Dictionary, Oxford Languages)

Answer: xennial

The xennial generation was born at the end of the Vietnam War, which ended in 1975.

Historically they were affected by the Clintons, 9/11, the OJ Simpson trial, Y2K, and many financial crises.

They were the first generation to grow up with household computers and the internet. Although xennials did not grow up with Facebook, they were the generation that was introduced to AOL and "You've Got Mail". Many were in their 20s before they got their first cell phone.

They are known as the "Oregon Trail" generation because of the popularity of the digital game.

They transitioned from many media forms, including vinyl records, cassette tapes, CDs, and digital music.

The generation is known for adapting to change on many levels.

(Information was found from www.buisnessinsider.com's article: "Facts About Xennials", Oxford English Dictionary, and the Merriam-Webster Dictionary.)

Answer: an insect that eats wood

A xylophage is an insect that eats wood.

The termite is one of the world's most well-known xylophages, with over 2,000 termite species. They feed on dead material usually in the form of wood, leaf litter, or soil. They are known as the "silent destroyers" because of their ability to chew through wood, wallpaper, plastic, and drywall, undetected.

The subterranean termite is the most common in homes in the United States. They have colonies that range from 60,000 to 1 million termites. The subterranean termite eats 24 hours a day and the average colony eats one lb of wood a day. In 2021, they were responsible for over 5 billion in property damage.

Although termites are known for being destructive they are instrumental in recycling soil and helping rainforests. They have also been used for medicinal purposes in helping diseases such as influenza, asthma, bronchitis, whooping cough, sinusitis, tonsillitis, and hoarseness.

(Information was found on National Geographic, Pest World for Kids, Collins English Dictionary)

Answer: True

A xenium is a gift or present that was first used among the Greeks. Giving multiple gifts, xenia, was a Greek concept of hospitality and gift-giving towards foreigners and guests.

Greeks believed in honoring Zeus, which was the chief of all their gods. Zeus also was the protector of strangers and a god of hospitality. According to Greek mythology, he would show up in disguise to the Greeks' homes. They would honor him by giving any stranger gifts and a place of rest.

The concept of xenia consisted of two parts. The first part consisted of honoring a stranger with a meal, bath, and an escort (if needed) to their destination. The second part consisted of respect; the Greeks considered it a dishonor to ask a guest any questions about their whereabouts or history because it may be a god in disguise. They did expect the stranger to bring news of the outside world.

Although "xenial" is still used to describe a hospitable person, "xenia" has evolved to be a biological term to describe the effect of genes introduced by pollen.

(Information came from Collins English Dictionary, Etymology Online, "The Laws of Xenia: Greece's Famous Hospitality by Maria Paravantes", Princeton College,)

Answer: xylography

Xylography is a form of woodcutting that engraves woodblocks to use as ink stamps for art. A woodcutter will engrave their design onto the woodblock leaving gouges, so the ink will form on the level surface. The blocks will then be dipped into ink and pressed onto another surface, usually white paper. The result is a reprint of the design engraved on the wood.

This method was originally used as a printing method in Japan and in China in the 8th and 9th centuries, before being adapted as an art. It was later carried over to Europe in the 14th century. The stamp making process eventually evolved into other materials such as metal and plastic.

(Information gathered from Collins English Dictionary, Merriam Webster Dictionary, Arthistory.net)

Answer: xeroderma

Xeroderma is a word used to name several diseases and is used to describe symptoms.

Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is the most publicized. It is a condition that is caused by extreme sensitivity to the sun. It causes severe sunburn, skin blistering, and leads to skin cancer. People with this condition also have extreme sensitivity to the sun with their eyes and are at high risk for eye cancer. People with XP have also developed tongue, mouth, nose, and throat cancer.

(Information was found from Cancer.net, Collins English Dictionary)

Answer: hair

Xerasia is the condition of extremely dry, brittle hair. It can lead to hair loss and eventually baldness.

Based on a study by Harvey Water Softeners, 75% of men and women have had their confidence affected by their hair. 40% of those affected, were affected because of dry, frizzy, or brittle hair. The most common color to be affected by dryness was brunettes (37%), the second was blondes (22%), and the third was black hair (18%).

According to the National Library of Medicine and Healthline.com, dry hair develops more as people get older. Healthy hair contains layers of oil that protect the inner layers. Dry hair can be a sign of poor health, poor environment, poor diet, or age. Dry hair can be intensified by hair dye, coloring, perming, burning, and chemicals.

Dry hair can be treated with hair oils such as bonding oil, tea tree oil, or medicated shampoo.

(Information found from Collins English Dictionary, Harvey Water Softeners, National Library of Medicine, Medline.com, Healthline.com)

Answer: dry

Xerophilous means to "flourish in a very dry environment" or "capable of thriving in a hot, dry climate, as plants and animals".

They are also referred to as plants that handle a limited supply of water, such as cactuses and desert shrubs. However, not all xerophilous plants are cactuses.

Some xerophilous plants have a unique beauty and have been preserved by national parks, due to their ecosystems being threatened. The prairie anemone has beautiful purple flowers in Manitoba, Yukon, and Alberta, Canada. It is the first to bloom on the prairie and thrives in dry, grassy areas. It prefers sandy and sunny areas. It has 4 cm flowers that open mid-day and close at night. When folded the flower has white or grey fuzzy hairs.

There are an estimated 196 xerophilous species that are recorded in the world.

(Information found from Collins English Dictionary, naturewatch.ca)

Answer: xyster

An xyster, also known as a surgical rasp or file, is a bone scraper. Its long shape is helpful for use in cleaning tissue off of hard-to-reach places.

Bone scrapers are commonly used in graft and implant surgeries.

Bone grafting is a surgical procedure where surgeons take healthy vibe tissue from one part of the body and use it to repair diseased or damage bone tissue in other places of the body. Surgeons can also use donated bone tissue to make grafts or repairs. This procedure has been used to help heal fractures, give a smooth transition to bone implants, and treat cancer.

(Information found from Collins English Dictionary and Johns Hopkins Medicine)

Answer: xenomania

Someone who has xenomania is known for having an obsession with embracing strangers, foreign customs, foreign languages, and foreign cultures.

Many xenomaniacs will travel the globe to seek out cultures, countries, and people. They will often study languages and people to become fluent in customs. This is why many of them make excellent researchers, scientists, professors, and ambassadors.

Benjamin Franklin could be considered an early xenomaniac. He won the hearts of the French as one of the United States first ambassadors. He assimilated into their culture and studied their language. He also studied their history and customs. As a scientist he shared his knowledge with them by sharing his inventions and ideas. When early rise of the French Revolution began, Benjamin Franklin, a veteran of the American Revolution, shared his thoughts and ideas with the French aristocracy.

(Information found from Collins English Dictionary, United States Department of State "Benjamin Franklin: America's First Diplomat", Macmillan Dictionary)