Q 01/05

Which gas makes a voice squeaky because sound travels nearly three times faster through it than through air?

A) Nitrogen

B) Helium

C) Argon

D) Xenon

Answer · why

B) Helium

Helium speeds up sound inside the vocal tract, which raises its resonances. The vocal folds vibrate at the same rate as before, so the pitch stays put...

Q 02/05

Which ape, raised by Francine Patterson, learned signs adapted from ASL and kept a pet kitten called All Ball?

A) Washoe

B) Kanzi

C) Koko

D) Chantek

Answer · why

C) Koko

Koko was a western lowland gorilla born at San Francisco Zoo. She made the cover of National Geographic twice, and a 1985 picture book about her kitte...

Q 03/05

Which teacher spelled 'water' into Helen Keller's palm in 1887 while cool water ran over her other hand?

A) Anne Sullivan

B) Maria Montessori

C) Laura Bridgman

D) Clara Barton

Answer · why

A) Anne Sullivan

Anne Sullivan was only 20 and visually impaired herself when she arrived at the Keller home. Keller later called the day they met her soul's birthday.

Q 04/05

Ventriloquism takes its name from Latin words meaning 'to speak from' which part of the body?

A) The throat

B) The chest

C) The nose

D) The belly

Answer · why

D) The belly

The belly is where ancient ventriloquists were thought to house the spirits of the dead. The act began as a religious practice, with stomach noises re...

Q 05/05

Which pseudonym was given to the Los Angeles girl found in 1970, aged 13, after a childhood locked in isolation?

A) Dora

B) Sybil

C) Genie

D) Anna O.

Answer · why

C) Genie

Genie had been shut in a room from about 20 months old and was barely spoken to. Linguists studied her for years, but she never fully acquired a first...