Northern Kentucky Academic League
Freshman Packet #3
-First Half1. This culture of ancient Mexico rose to prominence approximately 2500 years ago and lasted for
around a millennium. They were the first to play the Mesoamerican ballgame and also made
advancements in astronomy and early mathematics with the invention of the number, zero. Known for
sculpting large sculptures of heads, who were these Mesoamerican people of the Yucatan Peninsula and
the southern coast the Gulf of Mexico?
Olmec
2. There exists some dispute among biblical scholars as to whether the author of this book, John, is the
apostle by that name or another man with the same name. What is this final book of the New
Testament which reveals what is to come with the approaching apocalypse according to Christian
theology?
(Book of) Revelation
3. In Raphael’s The School of Athens, the square images on the floor have parallel sides that point
toward this location in front of the archway in the rear. What is this use parallel lines, drawn into a twodimensional image so that they meet at a point in the distance, resulting in the appearance of depth?
Vanishing Point
4. This human body system plays a role in maintaining homeostasis throughout the body, the transfer of
disease fighting agents, and the transportation of oxygen. What is this system of the human body that
includes veins, capillaries, and arteries?
Cardiovascular (System)
5. Find the area of an equilateral triangle with sides measuring 5 centimeters each.
25 radical 3 over 4 square centimeters (or centimeters squared)
6. During the Trojan War, this friend of Patroclus is killed by Paris, who shoots him in his most vulnerable
body part with an arrow. Who was this Greek hero of the Trojan War that was invincible throughout his
body except for his heel because that was where his mother held him from while dipping him into the
River Styx as a baby?
Achilles
7. The first time this exploratory accomplishment was achieved was in 1522 and it took three years to
complete. What was this feat that was first successfully completed in full by Sir Francis Drake aboard the
Golden Hind and Ferdinand Magellan’s fleet aboard the Trinidad, Victoria, and three other ships?
Circumnavigation (accept: Sail around the world)
8. This group of plants have fronds as opposed to leave. Often referred to as pteriodophytes because
they are seedless vascular plants, what is this type of plant that reproduces via spores?
Ferns
9. Paul Gauguin famously created a painting of his friend forming one work in this series. At least a few
works in this series were meant to adorn the artist’s Yellow House. Named for them, what plants are the
subject of two different series by Vincent Van Gogh?
Sunflowers
10. What is the surface area of a rectangular prism with sides measure 2 centimeters, 3 centimeters, and
5 centimeters?
62 square centimeters (or centimeters squared)
11. The characters of this 14th century work are attempting to win a free meal at the Tabard Inn through
story-telling. What is this collection of short stories by Geoffrey Chaucer that is presented in a frame
narrative being told by various people such as the Miller, the Knight, and Wife of Bath?
The Canterbury Tales
12. This time period took place with the emergence of Europe out of the Black Death. What was
flourishing of art and science from the 14th through the 17th centuries that was centered in Italy, during
which Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael created some of the greatest artworks of all time?
Renaissance
13. Despite losing this battle and being forced to retreat to Cambridge, the colonials were able to
regroup with few losses compared to heavy British losses. While the British won the battle it is viewed
as a pyrrhic victory that set the tone for the following years. What is this American Revolutionary battle
of 1775, much of which actually took place on nearby Breed’s Hill?
(Battle of) Bunker Hill
14. Animals in this phylum have a tail for at least a short period of time during their lives, but are named
for a portion of their nervous system. What is this animal phylum that includes mammals as they
possess a notochord?
Chordata
15. A central angle intercepts an arc measuring 6 pi feet in length. If the diameter of the circle is 9 feet,
what is the measuring of the central angle?
240 degrees (accept: 4pi over 3 radians)
16. One of this man’s students was none other than King Henry the Eighth. His The Shepheardes
Calendar, published in 1579, was this man’s first important poetry collection. Who was this author, the
creator of the character Colin Clout?
(John) Skelton
17. Often used in the creation of cathedrals from the 12th through the 16th centuries, this style of
architecture feature the ribbed vault lining the ceiling. A highly ornate style it often included a rose
window that sometimes featured stained glass. What is this style of architecture that was used in the
Notre Dame de Paris?
Gothic (Architecture)
18. What is the midpoint of a line segment connecting the points -8, 1 and 4, -11?
2, -5
19. It was following this city’s destruction that General Sherman’s March to the Sea began. Featured in
Margaret Mitchell’s Gone with the Wind, what was this southern city that was burned, spurring a morale
boost for the north and paving the way for Abraham Lincoln’s reelection?
Atlanta
20. It is this historical figure which, in Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar, delivers a speech that begins
“Friends, Romans, countrymen, lend me your ears.” Who was this member of the Second Triumvirate
that joined forces with Cleopatra against Augustus Caesar in the Battle of Actium?
(Marc) Antony
21. This architect is known for using curves to give the outside of his buildings a warped appearance as
was the case with Dancing House in Prague and 8 Spruce Street in Manhattan. Who is this American
architect of the Walt Disney Concert Hall and the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain?
(Frank) Gehry
22. Often using his work to comment on politics of his time, he authored The Battle of the Books, A
Modest Proposal, and An Argument against Abolishing Christianity. Who was this Anglo-Irish satirist, the
author of A Tale of a Tub and Gulliver’s Travels?
(Jonathan) Swift
23. This man became a controversial figure as his stature grew because he was able to intimidate
presidents and other dignitaries via information gained through the detective agency’s investigative
methods. Who was this first Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a post he held for over
thirty-seven years?
(J. Edgar) Hoover
24. This class used to be referred to as univalves due to its members having a single shell. It includes
snails and slugs, and is named for what appears to be their mode of locomotion. What is this class of
mollusks whose name means “stomach foot”?
Gastropoda
25. A student is attempting to average 95% on his four history exams. He scored a 98%, 97%, and 97%
on his first 3 exams. What score does he need to achieve on his fourth test to earn a 95% average?
88%
26. This musical term comes from a Greek word meaning to joint or come together. This is the most
recognizable attribute of a barbershop quartet. By what seven-letter term do we describe the use of
multiple pitches, often produced by multiple voices or instruments, at the same time?
Harmony
27. He came to power in 1961 with the assistance of Che Guevara and his brother Raul amongst others
by overthrowing, then President Fugencio Batista. Who wis this Cuban revolutionary that eventually
became Prime Minister of that country before stepping down in 2011, passing the reigns onto his
brother?
(Fidel) Castro
28. This author created but one play, Politian, but and is best remembered for his poetry such as thos
found in his collection Tamerlane and Other Poems. Who was this romantic poet from Baltimore, the
creator of such short stories as “The Tell-Tale Heart” and “The Cask of Amontillado”?
(Edgar Allan) Poe
29. Rationalize and simplify the following expression: quantity six plus two i close quantity over 2i.
One Minus Three i
30. This family of molecules is used in the creation of proteins by the delivery of amino acids to the
ribosomes. What is this family of molecules that also plays an important role in the duplication of DNA?
RNA
-End of First Half-Second Half1. This man’s play After the Fall did little to disguise the fact that it was about his recently ended
marriage to film star, Marilyn Monroe. Other plays by this man include A View from the Bridge and All
My Sons. Who was this American playwright, the author of Death of a Salesman and The Crucible?
(Arthur) Miller
2. This 19th century Russian author authored Poor Folk early in his career. Its success provided him
temporary relief from growing financial issues resultant from his gambling addiction. Who is this author
that later graced the literary world with such novels as The Brothers Karamazov and Crime and
Punishment?
(Fyodor) Dostoyevsky
3. The result of this battle set the table for the restoration of the French monarchy in 1814, as Louis the
Eighteenth took the throne. What was this battle, the final in the Napoleonic Wars, which finally put an
end to Bonaparte’s Hundred Days?
Battle of Waterloo
4. The name of this step in mitosis comes from Greek words meaning “end stage.” It is during this stage
that the daughter nuclei are formed. What is this phase of mitosis that only comprises two percent of
the entire mitosis process?
Telophase
5. Convert the hexadecimal number nine-A to binary.
One-zero-zero-one-one-zero-one-zero
6. Max Ernst and Andre Breton were among this style of art’s leading proponents. Examples of art in this
style include The Elephant Celebes and The Persistence of Memory. What is this unification of dream and
reality, whose greatest practitioner may be the Spanish painter, Salvador Dali?
Surrealism
7. The title character of this short story is a newborn baby that seems to symbolize hope to the miners
of the location mentioned in the title as well. Unfortunately, the child is killed in a flood. What is this
1868 short story, written by Bret Harte?
The Luck of Roaring Camp
8. This greenhouse gas has a covalent double bond and while present in Earth’s atmosphere, currently
represents only 400 parts per million. The solid form of this compound is dry ice. What is this molecule,
the product of human respiration?
Carbon Dioxide
9. A Basque knight, he was wounded during the Battle of Pamplona, after which he become a much
more devoted Roman Catholic. Following a vision of the Virgin Mary, he went on to develop the Spiritual
Exercises, a collection of meditations and prayers. Who was this Christian monk, the founder of the
Society of Jesuits?
Ignatius of Loyola
10. Solve the following system of equations for x: three x minus two y equals nineteen and x plus y
equals three.
X equals five
11. Instincts the title animal learns in the wild are eventually used in defense of his owner’s father while
on the estate in California. What is this Jack London novel about a wolf-dog hybrid who is raised by his
mother, then is domesticated by a rich man who had previous saved him from a fight with a bulldog?
White Fang
12. This structure served as the entrance to the 1889 World’s Fair and at the time was the tallest manmade creation in the world, surpassing the Washington Monument. What is this tower composed of
iron lattices that was designed by the same man who created the internal iron lattice structure of the
Statue of Liberty?
The Eiffel Tower
13. This diatomic gas is often used in the production of ammonia and was first discovered by the British
scientist Henry Cavendish. It can be found in the chemical composition of all acids. What is this most
abundant element in the universe, the first to form after the big bang?
Hydrogen
14. Z varies directly with X and Y. Z equals one-hundred eight when X equals eighteen and Y equals six.
Find the value of Z when X equals eight and Y equals eight.
(Z equals) One-hundred twenty-eight
15. There is some question as to this artwork’s origin, with some attributing it to Queen Mathilde, while
others attribute it to her brother-in-law, Bishop Odo. Halley’s Comet makes an appearance in its
embroidery. What is this embroidered cloth that famously depicts the Norman conquest of William
during the Battle of Hastings?
Bayeux Tapestry
16. Characters in this opera include The Queen of the Night, Pamina, and Tamino. Another character,
Papageno wears a dress of feathers during the second act. Created in two acts across 12 scenes, what is
this only opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart?
The Magic Flute
17. This winner of the 1969 Nobel Prize in Literature is an absurdist who often infused his work with
dark humor. He lived the majority of his adult life in France and was the recipient of the Croix de guerre
for his work with the resistance during the Second World War. Who was this Irish dramatist, the author
of Endgame and Waiting for Godot?
(Samuel) Beckett
18. This man was the Roman Emperor from 306 to 337 and ruled not from Rome, but from the east. His
victory at the Battle of Milivan Bridge is most notable for bringing the empire to Christianity. Who was
this leader that became the first Emperor of the Byzantine Empire?
Constantine I
19. What current would flow through a resistor of 30 ohms that is connected a 180 voltage supply?
6 ampers (or 6 amps)
20. Find the inverse of the function f of x equals seven x minus five.
(f inverse of x equals) x over seven plus five sevenths (accept: x plus five all over seven)
21. During the Renaissance a version of this instrument had four strings. It gained a fifth during the
Baroque Era and by the Classical Era added another. What is this six-stringed instrument that can be
electric or acoustic and is commonly associated with such artists as Jimi Hendrix and Eric Clapton?
Guitar
22. Home of the Atacama Desert, this nation’s northern region is the site of multiple scientific research
facilities in the field of astronomy. In 1973 the government of Salvador Allende was overthrown here
and replaced by coup led by Augusto Pinochet. What is this South American nation that has its capital at
Santiago?
Chile
23. This man was the first to realize that many of the nebulas in the night sky were actually different
galaxies from what was then considered to be the known universe. He also showed that those galaxies
were rushing away from the Milky Way, evidence for the expanding universe. Who was this American
astronomer for whom an orbiting telescope is named?
(Edwin) Hubble
24. Jim O’Connor is a classmate of Tom’s who is asked by Tom to come meet his sister Laura. Amanda,
Tom and Laura’s single-mother, is excited at her daughter’s prospects of having a gentleman caller.
Unfortunately, the women are not aware that Jim is engaged. What is this play about the Wingfield
family by Tennessee Williams?
The Glass Menagerie
25. Solve the following logarithmic equation for x: log base 6 of 1/216 equals 3x.
(x =) -1/9
26. Until the work of Edwin Hubble, it was believed that this astronomical body encompassed the entire
universe. What is this spiral galaxy of the Local Group which was recently discovered to be significantly
smaller than previously thought?
Milky Way
27. The closed position of this dance was the reason it was banned by Spanish missionaries in California
during the early 19th century. What is this ballroom dance in three-quarter time that took hold in Vienna,
Austria before spreading throughout Europe?
Waltz
28. Consider the trigonometric equation two sine of x equals negative one. Over the domain of x from 0
to 2 pi, solve for all possible values of x.
X = 7 pi over 6 and x = 11 pi over 6 (also accept: x = 210 degrees and 330 degrees)
29. This city has been home to a football team named the Cardinals and a baseball team named the
Browns, though neither are located there now. Named for a 13th century King of France, what is this
major U.S. city, located in Eastern Missouri on the shores of the Mississippi River?
St. Louis(, Missouri)
30. It is believed by adherents that this religious text was revealed to that religion’s prophet by the angel
Gabriel over the time frame from 609 to 632 of the Common Era. What is this compilation that was not
actually compiled until after the death of Muhammad, at which time it became the central text of Islam?
Koran
-End of Second Half-Tiebreakers1. Choreographed by Jerome Robbins, this musical is centered on the love story of Tony and Maria, the
latter of whom sings the famous song, “I Feel Pretty.” Based on Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet, what
was this Broadway musical by Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim that featured the two rival
gangs, the Jets and the Sharks?
West Side Story
2. As the reigning dynasty attempts to survive and maintain control of China, this novel follows the lives
of the lords that attempt to overthrow it and those that attempt to maintain it. Cao Cao, Dong Zhuo,
and Liu Biao are among the warlords or generals included. Set during the Han period of Ancient China,
What is this historical novel that was written by Luo Guanzhong?
Romance of the Three Kingdoms
3. After this 1966 Supreme Court case, police officers were required to read a warning to suspects as
soon as they were in custody and prior to interrogation. What was this Supreme Court case in which it
was ruled that a person under arrest must be made aware of their rights, including their right to an
attorney?
Miranda v. Arizona
4. These agents can infiltrate the cells of all organisms across every kingdom of life. The first of these
was discovered to be damaging tobacco. What are these agents that consist of capsids surrounding
genetic information and which can only replicate within living cells?
Virus
5. Find the area under the curve of the function f of x equals the sine of x from x equals 0 to x equals pi.
2
-End of Tiebreakers-