The Mental Floss History of the World: Pop Quiz #1

It’s the greatest deal in the history of history books! Our first hardback, The Mental Floss History of the World: An Irreverent Romp Through History’s Best Bits, hits stores later this month, and we’ve teamed up with the fine folks at Amazon.com to give you a special deal. Pre-order the book before October 27th and we’ll throw in 6 FREE MONTHS of mental_floss magazine! Just click here to get the deal now. Here are five questions on topics covered by the book.

1 of 5

Who is the only man to be awarded both the Nobel Prize (for brokering peace) and the Congressional Medal of Honor (for waging war)?

Theodore Roosevelt

Frankin Roosevelt

Lyndon Johnson

George H.W. Bush

ANSWER: When the U.S. war with Spain began in 1898, Roosevelt organized a cavalry unit known as the Rough Riders. His daring exploits in Cuba brought him national fame, helped him get elected governor of New York, and earned him the Medal of Honor (posthumously, in 2001). TR won the Nobel Prize in 1906. When the U.S. war with Spain began in 1898, Roosevelt organized a cavalry unit known as the Rough Riders. His daring exploits in Cuba brought him national fame, helped him get elected governor of New York, and earned him the Medal of Honor (posthumously, in 2001). TR won the Nobel Prize in 1906.

2 of 5

Most people know Australia was settled by Britain in 1788 as a penal colony. But for the worst of the worst, Australia had its own penal colony. Where was it located?

New Zealand

Papua New Guinea

Tasmania

East Timor

ANSWER: Convicts who committed new crimes were sent to the Macquarie Harbor penal colony, established in 1820 on the west coast of Tasmania (aka the middle of friggin' nowhere). Convicts who committed new crimes were sent to the Macquarie Harbor penal colony, established in 1820 on the west coast of Tasmania (aka the middle of friggin' nowhere).

3 of 5

The quote "The end of law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedom" is attributed to which great mind of The Enlightenment?

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

John Locke

Thomas Hobbes

Immanuel Kant

ANSWER: Like Hobbes, Locke was also concerned with the “social contract,” but he differed with Hobbes on several points. According to Locke, two related principles ruled humanity both in its natural state and in contemporary society: the right not to be harmed, and the obligation not to harm others. Unlike Hobbes, Locke believed that humans are essentially rational and benevolent beings, although of course they could be selﬁ sh, too. The primary purpose of government is to protect private property, which is accumulated through individual labor. When it functions properly, it allows men to engage in commerce, which increases the total wealth of society. Like Hobbes, Locke was also concerned with the “social contract,” but he differed with Hobbes on several points. According to Locke, two related principles ruled humanity both in its natural state and in contemporary society: the right not to be harmed, and the obligation not to harm others. Unlike Hobbes, Locke believed that humans are essentially rational and benevolent beings, although of course they could be selﬁ sh, too. The primary purpose of government is to protect private property, which is accumulated through individual labor. When it functions properly, it allows men to engage in commerce, which increases the total wealth of society.

4 of 5

What is the estimated worth of the pirate treasure still buried on Cocos Island (a pirate hideout located 300 miles south of Costa Rica)?

$1,000,000-$2,000,000

$10,000,000-$20,000,000

$100,000,000-$200,000,000

$1,000,000,000-$2,000,000,000

ANSWER: Get a shovel. Get a shovel.

5 of 5

At what university did Jonas Salk develop the polio vaccine?

Columbia University

New York University

University of Pittsburgh

Rutgers University

ANSWER: In 1952, there were sixty thousand cases in the United States alone, with three thousand deaths. Millions of dollars in research funds were invested, and by 1955, an injectable vaccine developed by University of Pittsburgh scientist Jonas Salk was licensed for use. Salk’s vaccine, grown in kidney tissue from rhesus monkeys, was used in mass immunization campaigns. By 1957, the annual number of polio cases in the United States had dropped to 5,600.

In 1952, there were sixty thousand cases in the United States alone, with three thousand deaths. Millions of dollars in research funds were invested, and by 1955, an injectable vaccine developed by University of Pittsburgh scientist Jonas Salk was licensed for use. Salk’s vaccine, grown in kidney tissue from rhesus monkeys, was used in mass immunization campaigns. By 1957, the annual number of polio cases in the United States had dropped to 5,600.

YOUR SCORE

25%

The Mental Floss History of the World: Pop Quiz #1

TEST YOUR KNOWLEDGE!

Are You Ready to Own a Pet?

What's Your Budget I.Q.?

What Kind of Saver Are You?

The Restaurant Apostrophe Quiz