Community Building Round II

Who was the lesser known 3rd member of the Apollo 11 crew, in charge of piloting the command module in lunar orbit?

• Michael Collins
• Alan Shepard
• Jim Lovell
• Yuri Gagarin
• Chris Hadfield

Answer explanation

You're likely familiar with Neil Armstron and Buzz Aldrin, the first to humans to walk on the moon. Collins's role is often unsung, but without him, the astronauts would not have been able to return to earth.

The Russian Yuri Gagarin was the first human in space, while Alan Shepard was the first American. He eventually reached the moon's surface with 1971's Apollo 14 mission, where he hit two golf balls off of the lunar surface.

Which geologic period featured the reign of the Quetzalcoatus, currently known to be the largest flying animals of all time?

• Cretaceous
• Jurassic
• Triassic
• Permian
• Paleogene

Answer explanation

While the Jurassic Period has the name recognition and did represent the age where dinosaurs went from dominated the earth, most of the dinosaurs you know were likely extant during the Cretaceous period - including the Tyrannosaurus, the Velociraptor, and the Triceratops.

Dinosaurs continue to exist in the modern day in the form of birds, making the bee hummingbird the smallest known dinosaur in history.

Which of these ancient Egyptian deities was NOT commonly depicted with an animal's head?

• Osiris
• Horus
• Anubis
• Bastet
• Khonsu

Answer explanation

Horus and Khonsu were two of many falcon-headed gods, while Anubis had the head of a jackal and Bastet the head of a cat. Osiris had a human head, but it was usually green.

This version of Link first appeared in which Legend of Zelda game?

• Wind Waker
• Twilight Princess
• Breath of the Wild
• Ocarina of Time
• Skyward Sword

Answer explanation

The 2003 game's cartoonish, cel-shaded art style was originally controversial with longtime fans, but overtime Wind Waker has become one of the series's most endeared entries and was remastered for the Wii U in 2013. The "Toon Link" iteration of the character went on to appear again in later series entries like Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, as well as in other games like Super Smash Brothers Brawl and Ultimate.

What was the first country to recognize the United States as an independent nation?

• Morocco
• France
• Brazil
• Japan
• New Zealand

Answer explanation

Morocco implicitly recognized the United States in 1777, after Sultan Mohammed III signed a decree granting American ships protection and free access to Moroccan ports. The Sultan previously expressed his desire to be a "friend of the Americans". Morocco formally recognized the United States on June 23, 1786, when a treaty of peace and friendship was signed.

Which of these gemstones can be rarely found with a pink and green "watermelon" color scheme?

• Tourmaline
• Garnet
• Agate
• Amethyst
• Malachite

Answer explanation

As watermelon tourmaline crystal grows and thickens, it is exposed to different minerals such as manganese and lithium, which cause the gem to change color from a pink center through a pale zone to the green rind.

All colored tourmaline gems display pleochroism, meaning their color changes when viewed at different angles. In some tourmaline gems, this effect is hardly noticeable, while in others it is strongly apparent. Gemstone cutters must take this into account when cutting a tourmaline, so that the finished gem brings out its best color.

Google's Pixel brand celebrated its 10th birthday this year. What was Google's previous original electronics line?

• Nexus
• Galaxy
• Droid
• Moto
• Optimus

Answer explanation

Nexus was Google's flagship brand from 2010 to 2016. While the first Pixel phone didn't debut until October of 2016, the Pixel line technically overlapped with the Nexus due 2013's Chromebook Pixel.

Both the Nexus and Pixel lines have been popular with Android users who prefer an unedited version of the mobile OS.

Which of these words is the most popular answer of all time for the New York Times crossword puzzle?

• AREA
• STAR
• ONE
• ERIE
• SERIAL

Answer explanation

The New York Times originally considered crosswords "frivolous" and "a primitive form of mental exercise", and did not introduce the puzzle to their paper until 1942. The change is believed to be in response to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the United States' entry into World War II, when Times editors conceded that readers might need things to take their mind off of world events and occupy themselves during potential blackouts.

The motorcycle was invented in what year?

• 1885
• 1870
• 1901
• 1932
• 1909

Answer explanation

The Damier Reitwagen (pictured in the first slide), was the world's first petroleum fueled, internal combustion engine, two-wheeled vehicle, and did in fact debut in 1885 - one year before the world's first true ICE automobile.

1894's Hildebrand & Wolfmüller, pictured here, was the first motorcycle produced for mass consumption.

What was the first toy advertised on television?

• Mr. Potato Head
• Play-Doh
• Lincoln Logs
• Hot Wheels
• Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots

Answer explanation

Despite what some reactionary media companies may have you believe, Mr. Potato Head is alive and well and you are free to make your Potato Head any gender that you like.