Common Bond: How Are We Connected? Quiz

Answer: Vincent Van Gogh

Van Gogh's paintings hang in the major museums of the world. But during his lifetime he was an unrecognized artist. Despite both physical and mental illness, and a short lifespan, Van Gogh was very prolific. While there are over 2,000 known paintings by Van Gogh, he died penniless.

Answer: Ida Saxton McKinley

Ida McKinley was a lovely but delicate flower of a woman. She never got over the loss of two children in infancy. Her husband was very devoted to her and when he was assassinated she became so ill she could not attend his funeral. She withdrew from public life and became reclusive. She passed away within six years of his death.

Answer: Bud Abbott

Bud Abbott was the consummate straight man. A severe alcoholic, he was often found passed out backstage, or on the floor at home. His "Who's on First?" routine with partner Lou Costello was so successful that a film of them doing this routine was put on permanent display in the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum.

Answer: Florence Griffith-Joyner

In 1988, at the Summer Olympic Games in Seoul she won three gold medals and a silver. Florence has often been called the fastest woman in the world.

Answer: Theodore Roosevelt

When President William McKinley was assassinated in 1901, Vice-President Theodore Roosevelt stepped into office at the tender age of 42. John F. Kennedy was the youngest 20th century president ELECTED into office. John F. Kennedy was just 43 years old when he became U.S. President and he would later be assassinated.

Answer: Gaius Julius Caesar

March 15th, 44 BC was a bad day for Gaius Julius Caesar. While at the height of his power many feared he was gaining too much influence and he was subsequently assassinated. His fellow citizens were lucky in one respect as his adopted son Octavius succeeded him and became the first and possibly greatest Emperor of the Roman Empire.

Answer: Fyodor Dostoyevsky

Fyodor Dostoyevsky spent four years in Siberia after being found guilty of being part of the Petrashevsky Circle, a secret group that Tsar Nicholas I thought was trying to overthrow the government. His experience in Siberia led him to write "The House of the Dead". Most of his work was dark and brooding with very complex story lines.

Much of his work mirrored his life experience. In spite of his time in Siberia and poor health most of his life he lived until he was 59 years old.

Answer: Hugo Weaving

Weaving has had a long career in movies including "Bangkok Hilton" (1989) and "Everything Goes" (2004). He has played opposite leading ladies such as Cate Blanchett and Nicole Kidman. He is a strong advocate for the Australian animal rights group, Voiceless.

Answer: Neil Young

Despite fighting multiple chronic illnesses throughout his life, Young is a very successful entertainer. He was inducted into the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame twice, once as a solo artist and once as a member of the group Buffalo Springfield. His career has spanned over 50 years.

Answer: Epilepsy

In the book "Seized", by Eve LaPlante, it is stated that there is a possible relationship between giftedness and epilepsy. The temporal lobe, which plays a part in creative thinking and artistic ability, is the site for abnormal brain activity in some epileptics. It is believed that this abnormal brain activity improves the aforementioned abilities to a gifted level.