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It Is Rocket Science
Spring 2012
Greek astronomer Archytas built the first device that used rocket propulsion – an artificial bird propelled by compressed air. Today’s space rockets are the result of more than 2,000 years of invention, experimentation and discovery. See if you can identify these seminal moments, machines and makers in the history of rocketry.
The contest is now closed.
Polyglot Playtime
Winter 2011
Ziad Fazah is reckoned by some to be the world’s greatest living polyglot. The Liberian-born, Lebanese-educated Brazilian linguist claims he is fluent in 59 languages at last count. He learns a new one every few months. Impressive, but a drop in the bucket considering the nearly 7,000 tongues spoken in the world today. See how many of them you can identify from these clues.
Money Makes the World Go Round
Autumn 2011
With USC kicking off a $6 billion campaign, green eyeshades are suddenly all the rage. Numismatists and armchair economists, we invite you to test your knowledge of monetary minutiae.
A New Passage to India
Summer 2011
India isn’t the inscrutable mystery it was in E. M. Forster’s day. Today, it’s a global player – the world’s largest democracy, its second most populous nation, an economic powerhouse and a vibrant educational force. No wonder President C. L. Max Nikias led a delegation of USC deans, trustees and administrators through Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore in February. In honor of that passage, we invite you to test your knowledge of all things Indian.
The Power of Print
Spring 2011
USC Trojan Family Magazine will soon undergo a face-lift (after all, USC is located in the city of reinvention). After researching hundreds of different magazines for inspiration, one thing rang true: Print remains a powerful medium. Test your knowledge on the most famous, or infamous, moments in American magazine publishing.
Clownin’ Around
Winter 2010
USC alumnus Larry Harmon ’50 turned Bozo the Clown into an international entertainment icon. He also got us thinking about the art of clowning. Whether you love them or fear them, one thing’s for sure: You don’t have to be a graduate of Clown College to pass this quiz.
Car Talk, Circa 1950
Autumn 2010
You’ve seen them hundreds of times – the elongated tailfins and cock-pit-like windshields inspired by the postwar aesthetics of jet aircraft and a nascent American space program. Most recently, they were on display at a photo exhibition in Doheny Memorial Library. Can you name those vintage cars?
Hurray for Number Two!
Summer 2010
Batman has Robin, Sherlock Holmes had Dr. Watson, the Lone Ranger had Tonto. Literature and pop culture are replete with storied sidekicks. How well-versed are you in the lore of heroic supporting players?
Coffee Talk
Spring 2010
Some sip it from a demitasse, others toss it back by the mugful. However it’s quaffed, there are few places in the world where people don’t enjoy a cup o’ Joe – which helps explain why producers grow more than 16 billion pounds of coffee beans a year. You may prefer it macchiato, affogato or black. You may carry about you a deck of Starbucks, Seattle’s Best, Tully’s and Peet’s cards. But how much do you really know about the blessed berry?
