Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. 1643 - This English man was one of the most influential scientists in history. He perfected the theory of gravity, introduced his three laws of motion, built the first practical reflecting telescope, and is credited for the development of calculus. Who was this scientist, who beat Albert Einstein in a 2005 Royal Society survey for the more influential figure in scientific history?
2. 1785 - This German philologist is the older of two famous brothers. He helped write the German Dictionary ("Deutsches Wörterbuch"), "Deutsche Mythologie," and a collection of fairy tales. For linguists, he is well known for discovering the First Germanic Sound Shift. Who is this man, who was portrayed by Heath Ledger in a 2005 Terry Gilliam movie?
3. 1809 - This Frenchman became blind at a very young age, and used that disadvantage to create a written language for the blind. He adapted a strategy of raised bumps from the French Army and simplified it in order for the blind to read in any language. Who was this man, who was disinterred in 1952 only to be re-interred in the Panthéon in Paris?
4. 1900 - This man has arguably the coolest name in the world, but not because of anything that he did himself. Born in Philadelphia, this Caribbean ornithologist wrote the book "Birds of the West Indies" in 1936. Luckily, writer Ian Fleming was an avid birdwatcher and lived in Jamaica, so when he wrote his book "Casino Royale" in 1953, Fleming decided to use his name for the main character. Who is this man?
5. 1920 - As the 10th Director of the Central Intelligence Agency, this man saw the Yom Kippur War and the fall of South Vietnam all while dealing with the Church Committee. While he modernized some aspects of the agency (such as creating the National Intelligence Council), his openness to Congress led President Gerald Ford to relieve him of his post. Who is this man, who was replaced during the "Halloween Massacre"?
6. 1930 - When this American football coach retired, he had won the most games of any coach in the history of the National Football League, with 347 wins. Over 33 years of coaching, mostly with the Miami Dolphins, he won 5 AFC Championship games and 2 Super Bowls. Who was this coach, who led the 1972 Miami Dolphins to the first ever undefeated season in the history of the NFL?
7. 1935 - This American boxer became the youngest man ever to win the world heavyweight championship at age 21. At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, he won the gold medal in the middleweight division by defeating Vassile Tita by knockout in the 1st round. Who was this "Gentleman of Boxing," who finished his career with a record of 55-8-1 with 40 knockouts?
8. 1957 - This American country singer's first single, "Lonely Days, Lonely Nights," reached #46 on the Billboard Hot Country Songs, and stayed on the charts for 8 weeks. In 1995, she won the Country Music Association's Album of the Year Award for "When Fallen Angels Fly," which included 4 top-10 songs. Who is this singer, who was inducted into the Grand Old Opry in 1988?
9. 1971 - This American football running back won the Doak Walker Award in 1992, and finished 3rd in the Heismann Trophy voting that year. In the 1993 NFL Draft, the Phoenix Cardinals took him at #3 overall, where he played for three years, but he played the longest with San Francisco. Who is this athlete, who had his best year in 1998 for the 49ers, rushing for 1570 yards and 7 touchdowns?
10. 1976 - This American baseball pitcher won his 100th game on July 11, 2009, with the Chicago Cubs. He began his career in Montreal, but after going 0-1 with the Expos, was traded to the New York Yankees. Who is this pitcher, who, despite having a record barely over .500, received a 4-year $40 million contract with the Cubs before the 2007 season?
Source: Author
illiniman14
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Snowman before going online.
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