ISAAC ASIMOV’S SUPER QUIZ

1960: Edna Manley (centre) buys the first flag of the Jamaica Netball Association flag sale in October, which is in aid of sending the Jamaica netball team to England in March 1961. Pinning on the tag at ‘Drumblair’, Manley’s home, is Beryl Williams. Eily Gocking looks on. Take this Super Quiz to a PhD. Score one point for each correct answer on the Freshman Level, two points on the Graduate Level and three points on the PhD Level.

SUBJECT: CULTURAL LITERACY

(e.g., Edgar Allan Poe title: “The Fall of the House of ___.” Answer: Usher.)

FRESHMAN LEVEL

1. Ernest Hemingway title: “For Whom the Bell ___.” 2. Ordinary writing is not verse, it is ____. 3. In what specific field did Auguste Rodin excel?

GRADUATE LEVEL

4. What was Dachau? 5. Who was US president during the Cuban Missile Crisis? 6. What was the last battle of the Revolutionary War?

PHD LEVEL

7. For what is SALT an acronym? 8. Former name for the nations on the east shore of the Mediterranean Sea. 9. To whom did Zeus give a box with instructions not to open it?

ANSWERS FOR TUES, OCT 18

1. One mile. 2. One gallon. 3. One metre. 4. One fathom. 5. One square mile. 6. One furlong. 7. One barrel (oil). 8. One hand. 9. One stone.

SCORING:

18 points — congratulations, doctor; 15 to 17 points — honours graduate; 10 to 14 points — you’re plenty smart, but no grind; 4 to 9 points — you really should hit the books harder; 1 point to 3 points — enrol in remedial courses immediately; 0 points — who reads the questions to you?