Nigeria’s ‘Nollywood’ keeps very busy

You know Hollywood, but do you know “Nollywood”? That’s the nickname for the film industry in Nigeria. It’s the second most productive movie industry on Earth, after India’s massive “Bollywood” film industry, churning out more than 1,500 films a year.

Which is the longest river in Africa?

A) Congo

B) Niger

C) Nile

D) Zambezi

Answer: The Nile is the longest river in Africa.

Rugby an Olympic sport

Rugby made its first appearance as an Olympic sport at the 1900 games in Paris, where only three nations fielded teams and France won the first-ever Olympic rugby gold medal. It was part of Olympic competition three more times, most recently in 1924. After a 92-year hiatus, rugby returned to the Olympics at the 2016 Rio games — this time with both men’s and women’s events.

How many athletes represented the United States at the first modern Olympics in 1896?

A) 14

B) 25

C) 36

D) None. The U.S. didn’t participate.

Answer: There were 14 athletes representing the United States at the first modern Olympic games in 1896.

Contemplating her navel

When someone is deep in meditation, or deep into thinking about herself, we might say she’s “contemplating her navel.” Or we could say she’s engaged in omphaloskepsis. That mouthful of a word was coined in the 1920s to describe the meditation practices of Indian mystics. It comes from the Greek for navel (”omphalos”) and thoughtful examination (”skepsis”). Ancient Greeks believed that the Earth had its own omphalos — the navel out of which humanity was born — and it was located in the sacred city of Delphi.

Seedless navel oranges are a mutation first discovered in what location?

A) A monastery in Brazil B) A university in Japan C) A farm in Mexico

D) A royal garden in the Netherlands

Answer: Seedless navel oranges are a mutation first discovered at a monastery in Brazil.

S.F. and sourdough flavor

The lactic acid bacteria that gives sourdough bread its distinctive taste is Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis. Microbiologists Frank Sugihara and Leo Kline isolated the bacteria in the 1970s and named it for the place they found it: San Francisco.

Sometimes called St. John’s bread, what tree’s seedpods are ground as a substitute for cocoa powder?

A) Carob

B) Honey locust

C) Mimosa

D) Sweetgum

Answer: Ground carob seedpods may be used as a substitute for cocoa powder.