Famous Women and U.S. Holidays

In what field did Katherine Johnson make significant contributions?

• Medicine

• Mathematics

• Engineering

• Astrophysics

Answer explanation

Creola Katherine Johnson (née Coleman; August 26, 1918 – February 24, 2020) was an American mathematician whose calculations of orbital mechanics as a NASA employee were critical to the success of the first and subsequent U.S. crewed spaceflights. During her 33-year career at NASA and its predecessor, she earned a reputation for mastering complex manual calculations and helped pioneer the use of computers to perform the tasks. The space agency noted her "historical role as one of the first African-American women to work as a NASA scientist".

What is Amelia Earhart best known for besides her aviation feats?

• Space exploration

• Women's suffrage activism

• Writing children's books

• Disappearing during a flight

Answer explanation

Exploring Amelia Earhart's Disappearance

Amelia Earhart and her navigator, Fred Noonan, disappeared over the Pacific in 1937. What happened to them? There are three main hypotheses -- that is, educated guesses that can be tested through research and exploration.

1. They crashed at sea;

2. They were captured by the Japanese military and died; or

3. They landed on Nikumaroro, an uninhabited coral atoll in what is now the Republic of Kiribati, survived for awhile but finally died.

What is the traditional dish often associated with Thanksgiving dinner?

• Hot dogs and hamburgers

• Turkey and stuffing

• Pizza and pasta

• Sushi and sashimi

Independence Day in the United States is celebrated on:

• July 4th

• June 14th

• September 1st

• October 31st

Which president proclaimed Thanksgiving as a national holiday in 1863?

• Abraham Lincoln

• Andrew Jackson

• Thomas Jefferson

• John F. Kennedy

Answer explanation

On Oct. 3, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln issued a proclamation declaring the last Thursday of November as a day of Thanksgiving.

Who was the first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic Ocean?

• Amelia Earhart

• Katherine Johnson

• Bessie Coleman

• Harriet Quimby

What significant event does Independence Day commemorate?

• The end of the Civil War

• The signing of the Constitution

• The Declaration of Independence

• The Emancipation Proclamation

Answer explanation

Independence Day, in the United States, the annual celebration of nationhood. It commemorates the passage of the Declaration of Independence by the Continental Congress on July 4, 1776.

Which U.S. president is often referred to as the "Father of His Country" and is celebrated on Presidents' Day?

• Thomas Jefferson

• John F. Kennedy

• George Washington

• Theodore Roosevelt

Answer explanation

George Washington, born February 22, 1732 in Virginia, was a natural leader, instrumental in creating a united nation out of a conglomeration of struggling colonies and territories. The first president of the United States of America is affectionately honored as “the father of his country.”

Which holiday is traditionally celebrated on the fourth Thursday of November in the United States?

• Christmas

• Thanksgiving

• Independence Day

• Labor Day

What historical event is Thanksgiving commonly associated with?

• The signing of the Declaration of Independence

• The First Continental Congress

• The Mayflower Compact and the Pilgrims' feast with Native Americans

• The Battle of Gettysburg