cultural literacy 1 Flashcards
Roy Campanella
mixed race, catcher, Brooklyn Dodgers, no. 39
Jackie Robinson
2nd base, KC Monarchs and Brooklyn Dodgers, no. 42
Edward Elgar
British composer of “Pomp and Circumstance”
trapdoor spider
a common name for any spider that creates burrows with a silk-hinged trapdoor to hide in and ambush prey
Open Door Policy
U.S. diplomatic policy initiated in 1899 stipulating equal trade and investment access to China among Western powers
Scarlett
1991 sequel to Gone with the Wind by Alexandra Ripley in which Ashley finally proposes but Scarlett says no
The Martian
2011 science fiction novel by Andy Weir about an astronaut stranded on Mars
“the crane (kick)”
fictionalized version of a jump kick from martial arts, used in the movie The Karate Kid
the 101
U.S. coastal highway stretching from Los Angeles to Washington State
Snake Alley
winding uphill road in Burlington, Iowa and site of an annual bike race, the Snake Alley Criterium
cola
a genus of trees native to the tropical forests of Africa
kola nut
seed of the cola tree, containing caffeine and used as a flavoring ingredient in drinks
Astraea
asteroid in the asteroid belt
buckminsterfullerene
an allotrope of carbon with a cage-like fused-ring structure resembling a soccer ball
buckyball
a molecule of buckminsterfullerene
prion
a misfolded protein that can induce misfolding of normal variants of the same protein and cause cellular death
TSEs
transmissible spongiform encephalopathies; transmissible neurodegenerative diseases caused by prions
Senate of Canada
upper house of the Parliament of Canada, other house of which is the House of Commons
Newfoundland and Labrador
easternmost province of Canada, comprising the island of Newfoundland and the continental region of Labrador
Nunavut
self-governing Inuit province of Canada which separated from the Northwest Territories in 1999
Hudson’s Bay Company
originally a trading company in North America, now owns the retail chains Saks Fifth Avenue and Hudon’s Bay
Frontenac
commander of French forces in the Battle of Quebec (1690) who responded to English demand for surrender by saying, “I have no reply but from the mouth of my cannons”
Battle of Quebec (1690)
battle fought at Quebec City between the colonies of New France (governed by France) and Massachusetts Bay (governed by England)
Vinland sagas
two Icelandic sagas of the 13th century describing exploration of North America three centuries earlier: The Saga of the Greenlanders and The Saga of Erik the Red
L’Anse aux Meadows
archaeological site in Newfoundland containing only definitive evidence of pre-Colombian European presence in the New World
Magneto
character in X-Men film series portrayed by Ian McKellen and Michael Fassbender
Ian McKellen Cats movie role
Gus the Theater Cat
Professor X
X-Men film series role portrayed by Patrick Stewart
Michael Caine The Cider House Rules role
Dr. Wilbur Larch
Alfie
1966 movie about a womanizer, starring Michael Caine in title role
Murder by Death
1976 murder mystery comedy film directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon, ensemble cast of American and British actors
The Cheap Detective
1978 mystery comedy film directed by Robert Moore and written by Neil Simon, starring Peter Falk
Pimlico
area of Central London in the City of Westminster
“Abou Ben Adhem”
poem about the ascetic Sufi bin Adham, written by English poet and critic Leigh Hunt
mumblecore
subgenre of independent film produced in the 2000s characterized by naturalistic acting and dialogue, low budgets, privileging of dialogue over plot, and a focus on the personal relationships of young adults
Profumo affair
political scandal in early 1960’s in Britain in the Conservative government of Harold Macmillan involving Secretary of War John Profumo who had an extramarital affair with a 19-year old alleged prostitute who was simultaneously involved with a Russian naval attache thus posing a national security risk
James Whale
British director of Frankenstein (1931) and Bride of Frankenstein (1935)
Upper Peninsula
northernmost of the two major peninsulas making up the state of Michigan
Lower Peninsula
largest, southernmost of the two major peninsulas making up the state of Michigan
Leelanau
sub-peninsula of the Lower Peninsula in NW Michigan