| MIT Werebeavers Tossups (by Ajit Chaudhari, Tony Julian, Kyle Pope, and Eric Tentarelli) T1. When it was first awarded in 1962, the sole recipient was Theodore vonKarman, an aeronautics researcher at Cal Tech. Since them, it has been awarded to an average of ten to fifteen people each year, and winners have included such luminaries as B. F. Skinner, Milton Friedman, Linus Pauling, and Wehrner von Braun. For ten points, name this award, the highest the US government gives in its field. Answer: NATIONAL MEDAL OF SCIENCE T2. This medieval family gave us two popes, Calixtus III and Alexander VI as well as the man who was the model for Machiavelli's "The Prince," but perhaps their most well-known member was Pope Alexander's daughter, Lucretia, who has often been represented as the feminine epitome of moral corruption in Renaissance Italy. FTP, name this family. Answer: the BORGIA family T3. Many men, including Lon Chaney and Robert Englund, have portrayed him. Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote an award-winning musical about him. Despite the Phantom of the Opera's popularity, however, few know the author who created him. FTP, who was the author of the original French potboiler? Answer: Gaston LEROUX T4. When King Gustav V of Sweden proclaimed him the world's greatest athlete, he responded, "Thanks, King." He earned this appellation for winning the gold medal in both the pentathlon and decathlon in the 1912 Olympics. The medals were stripped from him when it was learned that he had played semi- professional baseball before becoming an Olympian. The medals were posthumously restored in 1982. FTP, name this Native American voted the greatest athlete of the first half of the twentieth century by an Associated Press poll. Answer: Jim THORPE T5. He said that "all Western philosophy is only footnotes on Plato." Nevertheless, he accomplished a feat Plato had never dreamed of by co-writing the monumental work 'Principia Mathematica' with Bertrand Russell. For ten points, name this English philosopher born in 1861 who sought to derive mathematics from logic. Answer: Alfred North WHITEHEAD T6. When water droplets hit a hot surface over 200 degrees Celsius, instead of immediately fizzling, they roll around for a few seconds because an insulating vapor barrier is created. FTP, name this effect. Answer: The LEIDENFROST EFFECT T7. Norman Bates. Leatherface. Jame Gum, and Buffalo Bill. All of these cinematic killers were based on an actual person. The book "Deviant" told the story of this man, who, among other things, was a transvestite cannibal with a habit of digging up graves and wearing the skin of corpses. FTP, who was this real life monster? Answer: Ed GEIN T8. In one of his older and less famous books, "Black Sunday," this author wrote about a psychopath who wanted to use the Goodyear blimp and plastic explosives to kill everyone at the Super Bowl. FTP, name this American author, more widely known for "Red Dragon" and "Silence of the Lambs." Answer: Thomas HARRIS T9. "In ancient times, hundreds of years before the dawn of history, lived a strange and ancient race... the druids. No one knows who they were, or what they were doing. But their legacy remains, hewn into the living rock of Stonehenge." This is from the song "Stonehenge" by a band who also sang "Big Bottoms" and "Hell Hole" and will soon release another album entitled "Break Like the Wind." FTP, name this band. Answer: SPINAL TAP T10. His coronation came in the middle of the Crimean War, which his country promptly lost. This defeat helped start a series of liberalizations, most notable of which was the emancipation of the serfs in 1861. He survived several assassination attempts, but he was finally killed in 1881; the assassination terrified his successor and, ironically, caused a complete turnabout to conservativism. For ten points, name this Russian tsar. Answer: ALEXANDER THE SECOND T11. When DNA replicates, it can only go in the 5' to 3' direction. In the opposite direction, small fragments are made which are later joined together. FTP, name these fragments. Answer: OKAZAKI fragments T12. Native of India, this animal was brought to the Caribbean over 100 years ago to protect chickens and other livestock, although now they go after the chickens themselves, since their natural prey have been practically eliminated. FTP, name this eternal nemesis of snakes. Answer: MONGOOSE T13. In Shakespeare's play The Tempest, a wizard lives on a secret island with his daughter and monstrous servant. While we all know of the story of Prospero, what was the name, for 10 points, of the Robert Browning poem based on The Tempest? Answer: CALIBAN UPON SETEBOS T14. In Homer's Odyssey, Odysseus encounters many strange and often dangerous beings on his ten year journey home. Possibly the most famous encounter involved a member of a one-eyed race of giants. FTP, what was the name of the cyclops that Odysseus blinded in order to escape? Answer: POLYPHEMO T15. Cannonade, Cavalcade, Assault, War Admiral, Jet Pilot, Dust Commander, Iron Liege, Majestic Prince, and Exterminator all won, for ten points, what annual competition? Answer: the KENTUCKY DERBY T16. Let F be a force vector applied at point P and let O be a fixed point in space. FTP, what value is defined as the cross product of r, where r is the displacement vector from O to P, and F? Answer: MOMENT or TORQUE T17. His life is a tale of a person caught between two cultures, feeling a stranger to both of them; his plight is made even more severe by the conflicting expectations of his mother, Amanda, and his father, Sarek. His classmates often taunted him for his open displays of emotion, but when he left home as an adult he was always the least emotional one around. Although you cannot pronounce his first name, you should, for ten points, be able to give the last name of this green-blooded science officer in Starfleet. Answer: SPOCK T18. He is second only to Shakespeare in the number of common sayings the English language has adopted from his poetry. "Fools rush in where angels fear to tread." "The proper study of mankind is man." "A little learning is a dangerous thing." All these are quotations from, for ten points, what hunchbacked poet who penned 'The Rape of the Lock?' Answer: Alexander POPE T19. These two brothers, Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus, were leaders of the Roman plebeians during the second century B.C. FTP, name the position both of them held at different times. Answer: Tribunes T20. This car company made many excellent cars, although the P.R. team wasn't very imaginative. The elaborate and descriptive names of their models ranged from the T.D. to the A, B and C. FTP, give the full name of this British car company. Answer: MORRIS GARAGES T21. The name's the same: the monetary unit of Panama, the first European explorer to cross Panama to reach the Pacific Ocean, and the last name of the boxer played by Sylvester Stallone in the Rocky movies. For ten points, what is this six-letter, three-syllable word? Answer: BALBOA T22. If you've seen the movie "Eddie and the Cruisers," you'll recognize this French poet whose writing career began at the age of15. His works include "The Drunken Boat," "Illuminations," and the confessional autobiography "A Season in Hell." FTP, name him. Answer: Arthur RIMBAUD T23. In Norse mythology, his duty was to guard the rainbow bridge Bifrost and to sound his horn at the beginning of Ragnarok? FTP, what was this guardian god's name? Answer: HYMDALL T24. This man was born on the island of Peuce, now part of Romania, around 370 A.D. He was commander of the Gothic auxiliaries under the Roman Emperor Theodosius I. After Theodosius' death in 395 A.D., this person left the Roman Army and was elected king of his people. FTP, name this Visigothic leader best known for leading the sack of Rome in 410 A.D. Answer: ALARIC the first T25. In the US, it was named for a German physicist, while the Soviets named it after a Danish physicist. For ten points, give the atomic number of this element, first synthesized in the midst of the Cold War. Answer: 105 (called hahnium in the US, nielsbohrium in the USSR) T26. For this tossup, we need three names. In your scorebook it would go 6-4-3. That is, shortstop to second base to first base, the positions of "this trio of bear Cubs and fleeter than birds" who anchored the infield for the Chicago Cubs in the early years of this century. FTP, name these three baseball heroes. Answer: TINKER (ss) to EVERS (2b) to CHANCE (1b) (any order) T27. Although Virgil is usually known for his monumental epic the Aeneid, he also wrote two other epic poems. For an inspired ten points, name either of these poems. Answer: BUCOLICS or GEORGICS T28. All or nothing, both actors are needed. His character Jack is a drunk who describes himself as one of the "bungled and botched." A former radio personality, he is saved from suicide by the other actor's character Parry, a mentally ill man searching for salvation in the form of the Holy Grail. FTP, name these actors who played Jack and Parry in last year's movie "The Fisher King." Answer: Jeff BRIDGES (Jack) AND Robin WILLIAMS (Parry) T29. This perennial plant of the family Compositae is found at high altitudes in the mountains of South America, Asia and Europe. It has woolly white floral leaves and small yellow disk flowers. It is esteemed in Europe as the symbol of purity, and is protected by law in Switzerland. FTP, name this plant which is also the name of a song from "The Sound of Music." Answer: EDELWEISS T30. In chloroplasts, the main parts are the stroma and the grana. FTP, the grana are stacks of what? Answer: THYLAKOIDS T31. Paper and pencil may be necessary. Multiply the number of Willy Loman's sons in Death of a Salesman by the number of March girls in Little Women. FTP, what is the answer. Answer: EIGHT (8 = 2 x 4) MIT Werebeavers Boni (by Ajit Chaudhari, Tony Julian, Kyle Pope, and Eric Tentarelli) B1. (25) With the past Gulf War, many Americans had to experience the fear of losing friends and family in numbers not seen since the Vietnam conflict ended in 1975. In the spirit of war, see how many anti-war poets you can name from their poems for 5 points each. 1. "Dulce et decorum est" Answer: Wilfrid OWEN 2. "War is Kind" Answer: Stephen CRANE 3. "The Battle" Answer: Louis SIMPSON 4. "An Irish Airman Foresees His Death" Answer: William Butler YEATS 5. "i sing of Olaf glad and big" Answer: e.e. CUMMINGS B2. (30) One of the premier writers of the last decade,Michael Crichton has written a number of thought-provoking best-sellers. From the clue, give the book. 5 Pts each. 1. A small group of scientists investigates a virus which destroys a small town. Answer: The ANDROMEDA STRAIN 2. Doctors try to electronically stop a man's violent seizures, with disastrous results. Answer: The TERMINAL MAN 3. An eccentric millionaire tries to recreate dinosaurs forentertainment on a small Caribbean island. Answer: JURASSIC PARK 4. A group of researchers goes to the bottom of the ocean to investigate a sunken ship. Answer: SPHERE 5. Entrepreneurs investigate ancient ruins in the jungles of Africa. Answer: CONGO 6. In this most recent book, police investigate a murder and coverup by Japanese businessmen. Answer: RISING SUN B3. (30) Although the sentence "I've been to hell and back" is usually metaphorical, many mythological and literary characters can quite honestly make this boast. For ten points each, identify these lucky people from their descriptions. 1. He tried to retrieve his lover, who died when she stepped on a nest of sleeping snakes. Answer: ORPHEUS 2. He had no reason to fear, for he was guided by Virgil, a personification of reason itself. Answer: DANTE 3. Having fled from the sack of Troy, he entered Hades at the dark Lake Avernus. Answer: AENEAS B4. (25) This baseball player led his league in home runs 15 times, runs batted in 13 times, and batting average 5 times. He was Most Valuable Player nine times. 1. For ten points, name this man who played 22 years for the Yomiuri Giants and holds the professional baseball record for career home runs. Answer: Sadaharu OH 2. How many home runs did Sadaharu Oh have. You'll get 15 points for the exact number, 10 points if you are within 10 home runs, and 5 points if you are within 25 home runs. Answer: 868 B5. (25) A Swedish knight and his squire return to the shores of their homeland after fourteen years in the Crusades. Death comes for the knight, who challenges him to a game of chess. The two play at intervals as the knight and squire journey home, picking up several companions on the way. At the end of the film, Joseph and Mary, two married minstrels, watch as Death leads the group toward his dark realm. Name this Ingmar Bergman film. A5: THE SEVENTH SEAL B6. (20) We all know that hormones regulate body functions, but do know which gland makes each hormone? For 5 pts each, I'll give you the hormone, you identify the gland. 1. oxytocin Answer: PITUITARY 2. androgens Answer: TESTES 3. glucagon Answer: PANCREAS 4. calcitonin Answer: THYROID B7. (25) The 1992 Winter Olympics have begun in Albertville, France, but for five points each can you name the sites of the past four Winter Olympics. You will earn an additional five points if you can name them in the correct chronological order beginning with the oldest. Answer: MONTREAL - 1976 LAKE PLACID - 1980 SARAJEVO - 1984 CALGARY - 1988 B8. (30) In the play by Moliere, Tartuffe is a hypocritical fraud who practically takes over the household of a foolish man. If you know the play well, you should be able to easily name some other characters for 10 pts. each. 1. The foolish man who takes in Tartuffe and tends to him so much that he neglects his own wife's illness. Answer: ORGON 2. The meek daughter who is almost forced to marry Tartuffe against her will. Answer: MARIANE 3. The clever and outspoken maid who sees through Tartuffe's facade from the very beginning. Answer: DORINE B9. (20) This Italian politician was born in 1916. He was a Christian Democrat who served as his country's Minister of Justice, Foreign Minister, and twice as its Prime Minister. In 1978, he was kidnapped and killed by a terrorist organization. 1. FTP, name this politician. Answer: Aldo MORO 2. For an additional ten points, name the left-wing terrorist group. Answer: RED BRIGADE B10. (30) Name this scientist, 30-20-10. 30) He was color-blind from birth, and in 1794 he published the first scientific study of color blindness. 20) A devout Quaker, he never married. He was one of the pioneers of meteorology, keeping daily weather records for over forty years. 10) He is best remembered for putting the atomist ideas of Democritus onto a scientific foundation in 1803. Answer: John DALTON B11. (30) How much do you know about Archibald Leach? That was Cary Grant's real name. Answer these questions about Archie. 1. Name this 1938 comedy directed by Howard Hawks and starring Grant as a zoologist. His costars were Katherine Hepburn as an airhead debutante and a leopard. Answer: BRINGING UP BABY 2. This 1954 movie was shot in Monaco and the French Riviera. Grant played John Roby, a retired cat burglar, and his costar Grace Kelly later returned to Monaco and became Princess Grace. It was directed by Alfred Hitchcock. Answer: TO CATCH A THIEF 3. This 1988 movie had an essential character named Archie Leach. This Archie was a barrister who was played by a former member of the Monty Python troupe. Answer: A FISH CALLED WANDA B12. (20) On Tuesday, he pushed aside 46 shots in the Team USA's 2-0 shutout of Germany in Olympic men's ice hockey. This was the first shutout recorded in 28 years by an American team in Olympic history. For 20 points, name the goalie who engineered the shutout. Answer: RAY LeBLANC B13. (20) Just as a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, so even the longest epic must begin with a single line. For ten points each, give the titles of the following long poetic works from their first lines. 1. Of Man's first disobedience, and the fruit Answer: PARADISE LOST 2. April is the cruelest month, breeding Answer: The WASTE LAND B14. (30) In a great Roman legend, two pairs of triplets fight each other to end a war. For 10 points each, name: 1. The city Rome was fighting. Answer: ALBA LONGA 2. The Roman triplets. Answer: HORATII, accept HORATIUS also 3. The Alban triplets. Answer: FABII, accept FABIUS also B15. (25) Happy Days soon will be airing a reunion episode. For 5 pts apiece, name the actor who played each of these roles. 1. Mr. Cunningham Answer: Thom BOSLEY 2. Potsy Answer: Anson WILLIAMS 3. Ralph Malph Answer: Donny MOST 4. Joanie Cunningham Answer: Erin MORAN 5. Chachi Answer: Scott BAIO B16. (30) On the opening day of the English Parliament session in 1605, a band of conspirators planned to blow up the legislators and King James I. They hoped an uprising of English Catholics would follow. The plot was exposed when one of the parliamentarians was warned not to attend the session. 1. This assassination attempt is known by the name of the weapon the conspirators planned to use. FTP, what is this name. Answer: the GUNPOWDER PLOT 2. For another ten points, which of the conspirators now has an annual holiday named for him. Answer: Guy FAWKES 3. Finally, for ten more points, what date is Guy Fawkes Day. Answer: NOVEMBER 5 B17. (30) Portugal is the only country in the world whose English name beginswith the letters P-O-R-T. Because port cities are so important to any nation, however, fully four countries have capital cities beginning PORT. For five points each, and a well-deserved extra ten points for getting all four, name these four countries. You have ten seconds to make your list. Answer: HAITI (Port-au-Prince) MAURITIUS (Port Louis) PAPUA NEW GUINEA (Port Moresby) TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO (Port of Spain) B18. (20).Name the authors of the following science fiction books for ten points each. 1. Imajica Answer: Clive BARKER 2. Behold the Man Answer: Michael MOORCOCK B19. (25) David Lynch's Twin Peaks had a faithful following despite it's short-lived nature. Given the name of the character from Twin Peaks, name the actor or actress. 1. Hawk Answer: Michael HORSE 2. The Giant Answer: Carel STRUYKEN 3. Laura Palmer Answer: Sheryl LEE 4. Josie Packard Answer: Joan CHEN 5. Bob Answer: Henry SILVA B20. (25) For a quick twenty-five points, name the eccentric turn-of-the-century American economist whose book "The Theory of the Leisure Class" is probably the most lively and readable economics book ever written. Answer: Thorstein VEBLEN B21. (30) You can get a possible 30 pts. if you can identify this author on the first clue, 15 if on the second. 1. (for 30) The writer of the poem "All Watched Over By Machines of Loving Grace," this American author committed suicide in 1984 at the age of 49. 2. (for 15) His most famous book,"Trout Fishing in America," sold over 2 million copies and was a classic of the 1960's and '70's. Answer: Richard BRAUTIGAN B22. (25) This fruit tree of the citrus family may be a mutation of the Asian pomelo caused by its introduction into the West Indies. The fruit itself is a modified berry known botanically as a hesperidium. For 25 points, name this tree and its fruit that can weigh from one to five pounds and has a thick, smooth, pale yellow peel and a juicy, pale yellow, greenish white, or pink flesh that is divided into segments. Answer: GRAPEFRUIT B23. (20) This question pays homage to that classic board game, Scrabble. Answer these four questions about the standard American edition, for five points each, and your hours spent playing Scrabble will be well rewarded. 1. How many squares are on the Scrabble board? Answer: 225 2. How many tiles are there in a set? Answer: 100 3. Name the two letters worth eight points each. Answer: J and X 4. How many bonus points are awarded to players who use up all seven of their tiles on a single turn? Answer: 50 B24. (20) In Greek mythology, these entities represented the spirit of blind justice. For five points each, or 20 for all three, name the Furies. Answer: ALECTO, TISIPHONE, and MAGAERA B25. (20) The three weapons used in fencing are the epee, the foil, and the saber. Of these, two have the same standard weight, while the remaining one is heavier. This remaining weapon is also the only one of the three whose rules of use do not include right-of-way, in which one fencer's attack has precedence over the other's. For twenty points, which weapon is the odd one out? Answer: EPEE B26. (25) This King of England ruled, for the most part, for 38 years beginning in 978. He ascended the throne following the murder of his brother Edward the Martyr. In 991, he began paying the Danish invaders not to attack rather than fielding an army. He fled to Normandy in 1013 when Sweyn the Bane declared himself king. Upon Sweyn's death in 1014, this man returned, promising his subjects he would rule more justly. For 25 points, name this king whose nickname suggests he was unprepared for the challenge of rule. Answer: ETHELRED the UNREADY or ETHELRED II B27. (30) For 30 points, all or nothing, name every school that will be a member of the Big Ten conference beginning with the 1992 football season. You'll get 10 seconds to formulate your list. Answer: OHIO STATE University University of MICHIGAN NORTHWESTERN University PURDUE University INDIANA University University of ILLINOIS MICHIGAN STATE University University of MINNESOTA University of WISCONSIN University of IOWA PENN STATE University (MUST have all 11 schools for 30 pts.) | |
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