Challenge problems

We present some interdisciplinary questions from our tutoring consultant.

Our tutor sometimes decorates his whiteboard with challenge questions, hard enough to challenge other teachers but still accessible (in principle) to students.  The last set was multiple-choice; for your amusement we present them here.  Answers will be posted next week.

1.  Ozone (O3) is: A. Poisonous to humans B. Necessary for land-based life C. Both A and B D. Neither A nor B E. Ozone does not actually exist

2. Which of the following pairs of distinct regions has the least distance between the parts? A. Galicia-Galicia B. Calabria-Cantabria C. Malacca-Molucca D. Bucovina-Vucovar E. Slovenia-Slovakia

3.  The technical astronomical terms “zenith,” “altitude,” “horizon,” etc. come originally from which language?  A. Greek  B. Latin C. Arabic  D. Persian  E. Aramaic

4.  Which of the following is the same substance as pyroxilic spirit?  A.  wood naptha  B. aqua regia  C. oil of vitriol  D. muriatic acid  E. sweet oil of vitriol

5.  The Wallace Line goes through A. The Great Rift Valley  B. The Lombok Strait  C. the Greenwich Observatory D.  the town of Wallace, ID  E.  the senior male descendants of Sir William Wallace