Season 234

Which 1928 silent film was produced to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the uprising in which the Bolsheviks overthrew the Provisional Government in Russia, establishing Soviet power?
Directed by Sergei Eisenstein, it used montage and mass scenes to dramatize the event and was based on a book by American journalist John Reed.

Which Yiddish term, often used in Jewish-American culture, refers to a non-Jewish woman, particularly in contexts of romantic or sexual attraction?
The term is explored in Philip Roth’s Portnoy’s Complaint, where it symbolizes both forbidden desire and cultural alienation.

Which invention is symbolically honored in an 1866 Capitol fresco by Constantino Brumidi, where a nymph offers a gift to the figure of Europa, who looks back gratefully toward a powerful America flanked by signs of abundance and military strength?
The scene pointedly reverses the real direction of technological exchange to express patriotic pride.

Which dish, made by layering cheese curds over hot fries and topping them with brown gravy, originated in rural Quebec in the late 1950s and has since become a defining element of Canadian cuisine, symbolizing the blend of French and North American culinary traditions?

Which territory is associated with a proposed flag featuring green vertical bands on each side and a central white panel containing a red emblem said to represent “four hearts in harmony” among indigenous, Hakka, Hoklo, and mainland communities?
Though never officially adopted, the flag has been used by activists and has drawn criticism for resembling the Japanese imperial chrysanthemum.

Which name is commonly used for two ancient Egyptian obelisks now standing in London and New York, their slender, pointed shape inspiring the nickname despite having been carved over a thousand years before the monarch they reference?
Commissioned by Thutmose III, they were relocated in the 19th century as diplomatic gifts or engineering feats.

Which plastic explosive, widely used by militaries and demolition teams, is prized for its clay-like texture, stability under heat and shock, and powerful detonation when triggered by a blasting cap?
Pale in color, usually white or light tan, it is composed almost entirely of RDX.

Which sport involves equipment and techniques such as a chest guard, draw weight, anchor point, fletching, and nocking point — all of which require precision to ensure consistency, safety, and control?

Which large, dark fruit, nicknamed the “king of the dates,” was originally cultivated in Morocco and is now grown across the Middle East and North America for its rich caramel-like sweetness and soft texture?
Often sold as a gourmet snack or used in luxury desserts during Ramadan and beyond, it belongs to the date family but is technically considered a fresh fruit.

Which piece of furniture, crafted from the timber of a 19th-century British Arctic exploration ship, was gifted by Queen Victoria to U.S. President Rutherford B. Hayes in 1880?
It has since become one of the most iconic symbols of political power and continuity in the modern era.

Which show, starring Ed O’Neill and Christina Applegate, premiered in the late 1980s and shocked audiences with its crude humor and portrayal of a misanthropic family?
It ran for over a decade and became a landmark in prime-time television for upending the wholesome sitcom formula.

Which novel, narrated by the reflective Nick Carraway, follows the tragic obsession of a wealthy man living in 1920s Long Island who throws lavish parties in pursuit of a lost love?
Published in 1925, it critiques illusion, class ambition, and the decay of the American Dream.

Which Parisian structure, originally built in the 14th century as a medieval fortress and later repurposed by the monarchy, came to symbolize authoritarian rule and royal tyranny?
Its dramatic destruction on July 14, 1789, marked the beginning of the French Revolution and is commemorated as a national holiday.

Which artist wrote these lines:
I am the worst thing since Elvis Presley to do Black music so selfishly
He’s grown, he’s no father, he goes home and barely knows his own daughter
School flunky, pill junkie, but look at the accolades these skills brung me
Oh, where's Mama? She's takin' a little nap in the trunk
I just found out my mom does more dope than I do”?