Question 1: How many official languages are recognized in South Africa?
Question 2: What is the study of the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level called?
Quantum mechanics is the branch of physics that studies the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic level. It is a fundamental theory in physics that provides a description of the physical properties of nature at the scale of atoms and subatomic particles.
Question 3: How many stones make up the British Crown Jewels?
The British Crown Jewels, kept in the Tower of London, contain a total of 23,578 precious stones. The collection includes crowns, scepters, orbs, swords, rings, and other ceremonial objects used in the coronation of British monarchs.
Question 4: How many heads did the mythical Hydra have?
In Greek mythology, the Hydra was a serpentine water monster with nine heads. If one head was cut off, two would grow back in its place, making it difficult to defeat. Hercules managed to slay the Hydra as the second of his Twelve Labors.
Question 5: Which Brazilian artist is known as "The Queen of Bossa Nova"?
Astrud Gilberto gained international fame in the 1960s with her recording of "The Girl from Ipanema", which became a global hit and made her the face of bossa nova music worldwide.
Question 6: Why is the city of Mecca significant in Islam?
Mecca is the holiest city in Islam because it is the birthplace of the Prophet Muhammad. It is also the location of the Kaaba, the holiest site in Islam, which all Muslims are required to face when praying. Every able Muslim is obliged to make a pilgrimage (Hajj) to Mecca at least once in their lifetime if they can afford it.
Question 7: Which country has the longest coastline in the world?
Canada has the world's longest coastline, stretching over 243,000 kilometers (151,000 miles). This is due to its numerous islands, inlets, and bays along both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans as well as the Arctic. Canada's coastline is longer than Indonesia's, even though Indonesia is made up of over 17,000 islands.
Question 8: Who is credited with the discovery of penicillin?
Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1928 when he noticed that a mold that had accidentally contaminated a culture plate was preventing the growth of bacteria. This serendipitous discovery revolutionized medicine and has saved countless lives.
Question 9: When did the first episode of the TV show "Friends" air?
The pilot episode of the popular sitcom "Friends" aired on September 22, 1994 on NBC. The show went on to run for 10 seasons, ending in 2004, and became one of the most successful and beloved TV series of all time.
Question 10: When startled, which of these animals is known to sometimes shed its tail as a defense mechanism?
The green iguana has a long, whip-like tail that can break off if grabbed by a predator. This is known as autotomy and allows the iguana to escape while the tail keeps wiggling, distracting the predator. The iguana can then regrow its tail over time.
South Africa recognizes 11 official languages, which is the most for any country in the world. The languages are Afrikaans, English, Ndebele, Northern Sotho, Sotho, Swazi, Tswana, Tsonga, Venda, Xhosa, and Zulu. This linguistic diversity reflects South Africa's multicultural population.