High School: Famous Names

Question 1

Which American electronics engineer, computer programmer, and inventor is the co-founder of Apple Computer, and is the designer of the first commercially successful personal computer?

Answer 1

Steve Wozniak
(WOZ-knee-ack)

Note: the other co-founder is Steve Jobs

Question 2

Which female figure in Mesopotamian and Judaic mythology is the first wife of Adam who was banished from the Garden of Eden for not obeying Adam?

Answer 2

Lilith

Question 3

Which automobile manufacturer was the first to mass-produce purpose-built modern electric cars with the release of the EV1 in 1996?

Answer 3

General Motors (accept GM)

Question 4

What is the name of the massive statue made of bronze and reinforced with iron that once stood beside the Mandraki Harbor in Greece and was one of the seven wonders of the ancient world?

Answer 4

Colossus of Rhodes

Question 5

Which African king ruled Mali from 1312 to 1337 CE where he built cities, increased trade and became arguably the richest individual in the world?

Answer 5

Mansu Musa
(man-SUE MOOSE-uh)

Question 6

In which 1803 case was the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review over acts of Congress established?

Answer 6

Marbury v Madison

Question 7

Launched by NASA on Christmas Day 2021, and ringing in at $10 billion price tag, this largest and most powerful space science telescope sent its first images back in July 2022 and gave us a look at the fist light in the universe. Name it

Answer 7

James Webb Telescope

Question 8

What organization uses monetarism, the theory or practice of controlling the supply of money as the chief method of stabilizing the economy.

Answer 8

The Federal Reserve

Question 9

Born into an acting family, this star has been working for forty-five years, taking her first role at 11 months-old. Name this actor who achieved fame by age 7 by playing Gertie in ET: The Extra Terrestrial and most recently starred in the Netflix series, the Santa Clarita Diet

Answer 9

Drew Barrymore (prompt on Barrymore)

Question 10

This horse was tamed and ridden by Alexander the Great

Answer 10

Bucephalus
(byu-SEFF-us-luss)

Question 11

This horse was a famous co-star of cowboy actor Roy Rogers

Answer 11

Trigger

Question 12

This horse was ridden by Captain Miles Keogh and was the lone survivor of the Battle of the Little Big Horn

Answer 12

Comanche

Question 13

First woman to serve as Secretary of Treasury in U.S., appointed by President Joe Biden

Answer 13

Janet Yellen

Question 14

Robert E. Lee’s horse

Answer 14

Traveler

Question 15

Who invented Coca-Cola

Answer 15

John Pemberton

Question 16

Who invented the phonograph?

Answer 16

Thomas Edison

Question 17

Who invented carbon filaments for lightbulbs?

Answer 17

Lewis Latimer

Question 18

Who invented the refrigerated railcar?

Answer 18

Gustavus Swift

Question 19

Who invented air brakes for railcars?

Answer 19

George Westinghouse

Question 20

This Hollywood star of the1930s and 40s was the inspiration for Snow White but she was also a scientist and inventor. Name the woman who invented “frequency hopping” the basis for wi-fi, GPS, and bluwtooth technologies

Answer 20

Hedy Lamar

Question 21

Finishing his naval career as a Russian admiral, this American Revolutionary war hero commanded the USS Bonhomme Richard. Who is this man who said, “I have not yet begun to fight!”?

Answer 21

John Paul Jones

Question 22

Which prince served alongside his wife, Queen Elizabeth II until his death in April 2021?

Answer 22

Prince Philip

Question 23

This British nurse, social reformer and statistician is best known as the founder of modern nursing. Name this woman known as the “Lady with a Lamp” whose experience in the Crimean War founded her views about sanitation

Answer 23

Florence Nightingale

Question 24

Who risked her life to bring supplies and support to soldiers in the field during the American Civil War and later founded the American Red Cross in 1881?

Answer 24

Clara Barton

Question 25

This American diplomat and political scientist is the current director of the hoover Institute at Stanford University. Name this woman who served as Secretary of State under George W. Bush and the first woman to serve as National Security Advisor

Answer 25

Condoleezza Rice

Question 26

He was a leader in anesthesia and medical hygiene; however he is best known as one of the founding fathers of epidemiology (ep-i-deem-E-ology). Name this physician whose famous map of water pumps in the Soho district of London helped locate where cholera cases were rampant

Answer 26

Dr. John Snow

Question 27

The television show Leave It to Beaver debuted in October 4, 1957. On the same day, this event would shock the government and people of the United States and harden the Cold War. Name this event that began the space and technology race with the Soviet Union

Answer 27

launch of Sputnik

Question 28

He was known for anti-British writings by pen names including Vindex and Candidus (Can-dee-dus) as well as political nicknames Patriarch of Liberty and Firebrand of the Revolution. He was in the Continental Congress and the 4th Governor of Massachusetts. Name this American founding father that today is more likely known as a brand of beer

Answer 28

Samuel Adams

Question 29

She was born Sophie Friederike (freed-ur-reek) Auguste in 1729 in what is now Poland and grew up as a minor German princess. She married into the rulership of Russia and was integral in expanding the Russian Empire, most notably annexing the Crimea. Who is this wife of Peter III whose long rule expanded the arts, which created the foundation of the works in the Hermitage Museum

Answer 29

Catherine the Great OR Catherine II

Question 30

He is an American politician and attorney who served as representative for New York’s 8th congressional district. He also made history as the first Black lawmaker to lead a party in Congress. Name the House Minority Leader and Leader of the House Democratic caucus since 2023.

Answer 30

Hakeem Jeffries

Question 31

A member or the Republican party, in January 2023, he was elected by his peers to serve as the Speaker of the House of Representatives

Answer 31

Kevin McCarthy

Question 32

These creatures were born from Gaia (GUY-ah) and the blood of Uranus. They had human-like form and fought many battles against the gods. Also known from many different cultures as being large in size, name this creature whose name is also used to describe something big.

Answer 32

Giant(s)

Question 33

This structure was built as a result of a contest for the 1889 International Exposition. A bridge engineer and architect won the contest and his structure was built on the “Left Bank” of the Seine River. Name this wrought-iron tower of Paris whose name is derived from the last name of the engineer.

Answer 33

Eiffel

Question 34

She was 21 and her lover was 52 when they met. Her lover aided her quest to become co-ruler of Egypt. She came to power in 47BCE after a civil war with her brother, Ptolemy XIII. Name this woman who died at age 39 and had a child with Julius Caesar.

Answer 34

Cleopatra

Question 35

He studied circular inertia, the laws of falling bodies, and parabolic trajectories, which all shifted thinking on the studies of motion. But his work in lens grinding and other techniques quickly made him the foremost maker of telescopes. Name this Italian scientist who discovered three moons of Jupiter

Answer 35

Galileo