JH WEEKLIES ISSUE #15
2012-2013
Christmas Edition
TOSS-UP QUESTIONS
1. SOCIAL STUDIES (History)
This Greek saint was prevalent in the 4th century, primarily in the area of modern-day Turkey.
He is commonly associated with the act of gift-giving, as he frequently was seen giving gifts at
random, such as placing coins in shoes that were unattended. What is the name of this popular saint
whose generosity made him a model for the modern day Santa Claus?
ANSWER: Saint Nicholas
2. MISCELLANEOUS (Television)
This song is featured in the Peanuts special A Charlie Brown Christmas. While Charlie Brown
tries to direct the other children in the school Christmas play, they often burst into dance while
Schroeder plays this song on the piano. Written by Vince Guaraldi, what is this jazz piano tune named
for the Van Pelt siblings?
ANSWER: “Linus and Lucy”
3. SCIENCE (Life Science)
This green plant is often seen growing in the notch of tree where it connects to larger branches.
It is used as an adhesive to trap small animals due to its sticky sap-like juice and has recently been seen
to have anti-cancer effects, primarily in the treatment against colon cancer. What is the name of this
plant in the Santalales order under which you might find kissing couples?
ANSWER: mistletoe
4. MATHEMATICS (Algebra) COMPUTATION
The ratio of girls to boys on Santa’s “nice” list is 6 to 5. If there are 330 children on his list in
the town of Springfield, how many of those are boys?
ANSWER: 150
© Questions Galore 2012
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5. MISCELLANEOUS (Agriculture)
Often known as a trough, this carved piece of construction is a common fixture in barns and
other pieces of farm housing. In stables, the often stone or metal models are used to feed livestock and
other community-served animals. What is the name of this feeding box that was used to hold the
recently born baby Jesus?
ANSWER: manger
6. LANGUAGE ARTS (Vocabulary)
By definition, this word simply means birth. It is commonly seen around Christmastime to
specifically refer to the birth of Jesus. What is the word that is also applied to a depiction of Christ’s
birth, often seen on the lawn outside of a church?
ANSWER: nativity
7. FINE ARTS (Music)
A group of singers may give their rendition of “Jingle Bells” or “Deck the Halls” during this
wintertime activity. They can be seen huddled with candles on street corners, office lobbies, or even
on your front porch. What type of musical performance is given by singers who often travel house to
house singing popular Christmas songs?
ANSWER: caroling
8. SOCIAL STUDIES (Civics)
This American served during the Revolutionary War before becoming a politician, serving as a
senator from New York from 1791-1797. After his senate career, he was chosen to serve as Thomas
Jefferson’s vice president. He is famously remembered for his duel with Alexander Hamilton in 1804.
What is the name of this politician whose name is often uttered by those who are cold?
ANSWER: Aaron Burr
9. LANGUAGE ARTS (Literature)
The longest of the first four books of the New Testament, this particular book features the
narrative of the traditional biblical Christmas story. In this book, Mary and Joseph travel to take the
census and are forced to stay in a stable as there is no room in any of the town’s inns. What is the
name of this Gospel that is the third in succession?
ANSWER: Luke
10. MATHEMATICS (Geometry) COMPUTATION
The elves are trying to figure out how much wrapping paper they need to wrap a box. If the
dimensions of the package are 20 by 15 by 10 inches, what is the total surface area of the box?
ANSWER: 1,300 square inches
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11. MISCELLANEOUS (Popular Culture)
Consisting of 19 buildings and stretching for nearly 90,000 square miles, this New York
landmark was built by a famous American oil family. It is located between Fifth and Sixth Avenues in
Midtown Manhattan and is home to the GE Building and Radio City Music Hall. What is the name of
this commercial complex that also features a legendary ice rink and a world famous Christmas tree?
ANSWER: Rockefeller Center
12. FINE ARTS (Art)
This 20th-century painter was very popular in the United States for his warm and friendly
depictions of American life. His Four Freedoms series featured the four essential rights presented by
Franklin Roosevelt during a speech given to Congress. What is the name of this artist who frequently
drew inspiration from Christmastime in his works for the cover of The Saturday Evening Post?
ANSWER: Norman Rockwell
13. SOCIAL STUDIES (Geography)
Currently part of the West Bank, this Palestinian city shares its name with a steel town in
Pennsylvania. It was known to Hebrews as the city of David, as it was in this city that David was
crowned king of Israel. What is the name of this small city that was the birthplace of Jesus?
ANSWER: Bethlehem
14. SCIENCE (Life Science)
Both males and females of this species grow antlers, with the males being slightly larger in
size. They are distributed across the Arctic and Subarctic regions and are known as caribou in North
America. Give the name of these four-legged animals that can be identified as Comet, Cupid, Donner,
and Blitzen in a famous Christmas song.
ANSWER: reindeer
15. LANGUAGE ARTS (Grammar)
Charles Dickens frequently expresses a type of grammatical exclamation in his work A
Christmas Carol. What type of emotional expression is displayed by Ebeneezer Scrooge when he
expresses the sentiment, Bah, humbug!
ANSWER: interjection
16. MISCELLANEOUS (Movies)
Fred Astaire described this alto as “the greatest entertainer who ever lived.” She was awarded
the Cecil B. DeMille Award at age 39, the youngest-ever recipient, for her lifetime work in the film
industry. Famous for her role as Dorothy Gale, who was this Wizard of Oz actress who shares a name
with a decorative wreath that is often hung around the front door during Christmastime?
ANSWER: Judy Garland
© Questions Galore 2012
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17. MATHEMATICS (General Mathematics) COMPUTATION
Buddy the Elf can build a dollhouse in 4 hours, while Jingle the Elf can make one in 6 hours. If
they work together, how long will it take them to build a dollhouse?
ANSWER: 2 hour and 24 minutes (or 12/5 hours or 22/5 hours)
18. LANGUAGE ARTS (Spelling)
Spell the word in the following sentence that represents a particular type of plant. The
Johnson’s house looks so festive during Christmas with their lights, tinsel, and poinsettia plants.
Spell p-o-i-n-s-e-t-t-i-a.
ANSWER: p-o-i-n-s-e-t-t-i-a
19. SOCIAL STUDIES (Economics)
While not an official holiday, this day is often categorized as a part of the holiday season. In
fact, retailers have begun to declare this day the beginning of the Christmas season, as it unofficially
opens the shopping season. What is grim-sounding nickname given to the Friday after Thanksgiving?
ANSWER: Black Friday
20. MISCELLANEOUS (Popular Music)
This American singer-songwriter is said to have influenced The Beatles, The Rolling Stones,
and Bob Dylan with his creative rock and roll sound. He was amongst the first group of inductees into
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and made his name by forming the popular band The Crickets. He
died in a plane crash in 1959 at the age of 22. Known for such songs as “Oh, Boy!” and “That’ll Be
the Day,” what is the name of this revolutionary talent who shares a name with a flowering plant that is
said to “bear the crown” at Christmastime?
ANSWER: Buddy Holly
© Questions Galore 2012
www.questionsgalore.net
BONUS QUESTIONS
1. SCIENCE (4 Parts in Earth Science)
The magi told King Herod that a star appeared to them in the East. Identify these stars that are
among the brightest in the night sky.
1. The star often called the North Star.
2. The brightest star in the night sky.
3. The brightest star in the constellation Orion.
4. The base and brightest star in the constellation Boötes.
ANSWER: 1. Polaris
2. Sirius
3. Rigel
4. Arcturus
2. MATHEMATICS (4 Parts in Geometry)
Santa is trying to figure out if he has enough capacity in his sleigh for all his toys. Calculate
the volume of the following objects.
1. A set of Lincoln Logs that comes in a cylindrical package with a base diameter of 8 inches
and a height of 12 inches.
2. A Nerf ball that has a diameter of 3 inches.
3. An Easy Bake oven that comes in a rectangular box measuring 15 by 8 by 10 inches.
4. A five-pound Hershey’s Kiss that comes in a cone-shaped package with a base diameter of
10 inches and a height of 9 inches.
ANSWERS: 1. 192 pi cubic inches
2. 36 pi cubic inches
3. 1,200 cubic inches
4. 75 pi cubic inches
3. LANGUAGE ARTS (4 Parts in Literature)
Identify the author of the following winter-related poems.
1. “Auld Lang Syne”
2. “Twas the Night Before Christmas”
3. “Stopping by Woods on a Snowy Evening”
4. “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day
ANSWER: 1. Robert Burns
2. Clement Clark Moore
3. Robert Frost
4. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
4. SOCIAL STUDIES (4 Parts in Geography)
Identify these festive geographical locations.
1. At a latitude of 90 degrees north, this is where Old Saint Nick’s workshop is located.
2. The world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall located in Venezuela has this heavenly name.
3. This jolly-sounding town in Indiana was the birthplace of Chicago Bears quarterback
Jay Cutler.
4. A territory of Australia in the Indian Ocean so named because it was first visited by
Europeans on December 25th, 1643.
ANSWER: 1. North Pole
2. Angel Falls
3. Santa Claus, IN
4. Christmas Island
© Questions Galore 2012
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5. FINE ARTS (4 Parts in Music)
Identify the Christmas song that features the following notable lyrics.
1. “Jack Frost nipping at your nose…”
2. “Everyone dancing in the new old-fashioned way…”
3. “A beautiful sight, we’re happy tonight…”
4. “There’s a birthday party at the home of farmer Gray…”
ANSWER: 1. “The Christmas Song”
2. “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree”
3. “Winter Wonderland
4. “Sleigh Ride”
6. LANGUAGE ARTS (4 Parts in Vocabulary)
Give the common name associated with each of these Christmas traditions.
1. This is hung by the chimney with care and is filled with presents and treats by Santa.
2. This idiom describes a useless possession that is also a type of gift exchange.
3. This is a large piece from a tree trunk or branch burned in the hearth during Christmas
celebrations.
4. Featured prominently in a famous ballet, this device is used to break open almonds
and pecans.
ANSWER: 1. stocking
2. white elephant
3. yule log
4. nutcracker
7. SOCIAL STUDIES (4 Parts in History)
Answer these historical Christmas questions.
1. During what war did German and British soldiers ceasefire and meet in the trenches on
Christmas Day?
2. What river did George Washington lead his troops across on Christmas Eve, 1942?
3. What march composer penned his famous “Stars and Stripes Forever” on Christmas Day
in 1896?
4. Who assumed the throne as Emperor of Japan on Christmas Day 1926 and ruled for
63 years?
ANSWER: 1. World War I
2. Delaware River
3. John Philip Sousa
4. Hirohito
8. SCIENCE (4 Parts in General Science)
Identify these scientific concepts from the following clues.
1. This is the temperature on a Celsius scale that will freeze pond water in order to create a
skating rink.
2. Although it usually doesn’t glow, this is the type of flexible connective tissue that is softer
than bone and harder than muscle that makes up Rudolph’s nose.
3. Don’t stay outside looking at Christmas lights too long or you might develop this dangerous
condition in which the core temperature of the body drops below 95 degrees Fahrenheit.
4. A scientist might calculate this physical concept by finding how fast and in what direction
Santa’s sleigh is traveling.
ANSWER: 1. zero degrees
2. cartilage
3. hypothermia
4. velocity
© Questions Galore 2012
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9. MISCELLANEOUS (4 Parts in Movies)
After hearing the plot of a popular Christmas film, identify each movie.
1. The town of Whoville is terrorized by a sullen resident of Mount Crumpit.
2. When a man inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically
recruited to take his place.
3. When a nice old man who claims to be Santa Claus is institutionalized as insane, a young
lawyer decides to defend him by arguing in court that he is the real thing.
4. George Bailey’s guardian angel Clarence shows the depressed man what life would have
been like without him.
ANSWER: 1. How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
2. The Santa Clause
3. Miracle on 34th Street
4. It’s A Wonderful Life
10. MATHEMATICS (4 Parts in General Mathematics)
Rudolph is shopping for Christmas presents for his girlfriend Clarice. Help him figure out how
much each of these items cost.
1. He wants to treat Clarice to a spa day, including a pedicure for her hooves. How much will
it cost if he buys a Groupon for 25 percent off a pedicure that is regularly priced at $30?
2. He finds some gourmet oat bon-bons on sale at Harry & David. If he gets a 20 percent
discount off of a box regularly priced at $60 and has to pay $8 in shipping and handling, what is the
total cost?
3. He finds some scented candles on sale at Bath and Body Works. Each candle is regularly
priced at $20. To his delight, he notices that in addition to a 20 percent off sale, the candle he chose is
marked down an additional 10 percent. What is the cost of this candle?
4. A travel agent is trying to talk Rudolph into buying tickets for a five-night cruise to
Christmas Island. Taxes and fees account for an additional 15 percent surcharge. If the cost for one
night on the cruise is $120, what is the total cost for purchasing a single ticket for this cruise?
ANSWERS: 1. $22.50
2. $56
3. $14.40
4. $690
© Questions Galore 2012
www.questionsgalore.net