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xiphiasI found this test, actually on the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences at the National Institute of Health. It might be fun for your kids:
WORLD'S EASIEST TEST:
1. How long did the Thirty Years War last?
2. How long did the Hundred Years War last?
3. Which country makes Panama hats?
4. From which animal do we get catgut?
5. In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
6. What is a Camel hair brush made of?
7. The Canary Islands are named after what animals?
8. What was King George VI's first name?
9. What color is a purple finch?
10. Where do we get Chinese gooseberries from?
1. Thirty years, 1618-1648.
2. Depending what you count as part of it, it could be as little as116 years (1337-1453) or as much as 229 years. 1336-1565, if you claim that the war really wasn't over until the English lost Calais just before Elizabeth took the throne. But that latter is a minority view: 116 years is the typical answer.
3. Mostly, and historically, Ecuador. Nowadays, some other countries also make a few, but it's still an Ecuadoran industry.
4. Sheep, primarily. The term "catgut", legend has it, was created as a way to maintain the monopoly on its manufature. The town of Salle, in Italy, was well known for its saddles. The saddles were sewn together with thread made from the guts of mountain sheep. Those strings started being used for musical instruments, as well, and they started to be in demand. When outsiders asked the residents of the town how they made those wonderful strings, they were told that the strings were made from the guts of cats, figuring that, since the killing of cats was believed to be unlucky, few people would try it, and if they did try it, they wouldn't be able to reproduce the sound. Nowadays, catgut is used for musical instruments, sports equipment, and sutures, although synthetics are taking over in all three fields.
5. November. Although the October Revolution did take place on October 24-25 1917, October Revolution Day is Nov 7. I believe this is because of a calendar reformation somewhere.
6. Often, squirrel hair. It's actually a general term which can refer to any superfine brush suitable for lens care, but some of the higher end manufacturers still use natural fibers. "Camel hair brushes" were named after their inventor, and natural hair ones can be made from squirrel, ox, pony, goat, or a blend.
7. If it is an animal, it would be the dog. (Latin, "canus", giving the name "Canaria" to the islands.) It could also be from the Latin word "to sing", refering to the native birds, or possibly from the Canarii tribe of Morrocco. "Canaries", the birds, come from the Canary Islands, and are named after them, not the other way around.
8. Albert. Prince Albert Fredrick Arthur George, Duke of York, assumed the title "King George VI", upon the abdication of his brother, Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, aka "King Edward VIII", in order to marry Mrs. Simpson. King George VI, although originally an awkward figure as a king, because he'd never expected to get the crown, grew into his role, and led his country admirably through WWII.
9. Mosty red. In some birds it is a vaguely purpleish red, though.
10. While the Chinese gooseberry, more commonly called a kiwi fruit, is native to China, they're mostly grown in New Zealand. And other places.
WORLD'S EASIEST TEST:
1. How long did the Thirty Years War last?
2. How long did the Hundred Years War last?
3. Which country makes Panama hats?
4. From which animal do we get catgut?
5. In which month do Russians celebrate the October Revolution?
6. What is a Camel hair brush made of?
7. The Canary Islands are named after what animals?
8. What was King George VI's first name?
9. What color is a purple finch?
10. Where do we get Chinese gooseberries from?
1. Thirty years, 1618-1648.
2. Depending what you count as part of it, it could be as little as116 years (1337-1453) or as much as 229 years. 1336-1565, if you claim that the war really wasn't over until the English lost Calais just before Elizabeth took the throne. But that latter is a minority view: 116 years is the typical answer.
3. Mostly, and historically, Ecuador. Nowadays, some other countries also make a few, but it's still an Ecuadoran industry.
4. Sheep, primarily. The term "catgut", legend has it, was created as a way to maintain the monopoly on its manufature. The town of Salle, in Italy, was well known for its saddles. The saddles were sewn together with thread made from the guts of mountain sheep. Those strings started being used for musical instruments, as well, and they started to be in demand. When outsiders asked the residents of the town how they made those wonderful strings, they were told that the strings were made from the guts of cats, figuring that, since the killing of cats was believed to be unlucky, few people would try it, and if they did try it, they wouldn't be able to reproduce the sound. Nowadays, catgut is used for musical instruments, sports equipment, and sutures, although synthetics are taking over in all three fields.
5. November. Although the October Revolution did take place on October 24-25 1917, October Revolution Day is Nov 7. I believe this is because of a calendar reformation somewhere.
6. Often, squirrel hair. It's actually a general term which can refer to any superfine brush suitable for lens care, but some of the higher end manufacturers still use natural fibers. "Camel hair brushes" were named after their inventor, and natural hair ones can be made from squirrel, ox, pony, goat, or a blend.
7. If it is an animal, it would be the dog. (Latin, "canus", giving the name "Canaria" to the islands.) It could also be from the Latin word "to sing", refering to the native birds, or possibly from the Canarii tribe of Morrocco. "Canaries", the birds, come from the Canary Islands, and are named after them, not the other way around.
8. Albert. Prince Albert Fredrick Arthur George, Duke of York, assumed the title "King George VI", upon the abdication of his brother, Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David, aka "King Edward VIII", in order to marry Mrs. Simpson. King George VI, although originally an awkward figure as a king, because he'd never expected to get the crown, grew into his role, and led his country admirably through WWII.
9. Mosty red. In some birds it is a vaguely purpleish red, though.
10. While the Chinese gooseberry, more commonly called a kiwi fruit, is native to China, they're mostly grown in New Zealand. And other places.