The narrator of The Great Gatsby is a. Jay Gatsby b. Nick Carraway c. F. Scott Fitzgerald
East Egg and West Egg are a. rural neighbourhoods b. working-class neighbourhoods c. wealthy neighbourhoods
The Great Gatsby became popular a. soon after it was published b. during World War I c. during World War II
Discussion/essay questions
The Great Gatsby is less common in schools outside of America. Which books did you read in school? Did you enjoy them? Are there any books that you wish were taught in schools?
Why is it important for people to understand symbolism?
Transcript
The Great Gatsby is a 1925 novel by American author F. Scott Fitzgerald. The narrator is a man named Nick Carraway who moves to New York to become a bond trader. The novel takes place in two fictional wealthy neighbourhoods called East Egg and West Egg. Throughout the story, Nick becomes fascinated with the life of Jay Gatsby, a mysterious millionaire who throws parties every week. Fitzgerald was already a famous author when he published The Great Gatsby, but the book was not successful when it first came out. Book critics had mixed opinions about it, and it sold very slowly. The Great Gatsby gained its popularity during World War II. Soldiers often received free copies for entertainment. Critics later became interested in its ideas about wealth and the “American Dream.” Today, The Great Gatsby is often taught in schools because of its many examples of symbolism.
Fortune cookies were likely invented by a. American immigrants to Japan b. Chinese immigrants to the US c. Japanese immigrants to the US
Makoto Hagiwara was a. a candy maker b. a tea garden caretaker c. a religious leader
During World War II, many American Japanese restaurants went out of business because a. it was becoming too expensive to keep the restaurants open b. Chinese restaurants were more popular with American diners c. the US government forced thousands of Japanese Americans into internment camps
Discussion/essay questions
A belief in fortunes and lucky numbers is an example of a superstition. Superstitions are beliefs that certain actions or events will bring good or bad luck. Most cultures have their own superstitions. Do you believe in any superstitions? Do you know anyone who is very superstitious?
Transcript
Fortune cookies are a popular dessert served in Chinese restaurants across North America. But they actually don’t come from China at all. Fortune cookies were likely invented by early Japanese immigrants to the US. The fortune cookie recipe is similar to a type of Japanese cracker called senbei. In the early 1900s, a man named Makoto Hagiwara worked as the caretaker of the Japanese Tea Garden in California. He had the idea to put “thank you” notes inside senbei crackers. During World War II, the US government forced over 100,000 Japanese Americans into internment camps. This put many Japanese restaurants out of business. However, Chinese cuisine was still popular in American cities. American diners liked to have dessert with meals, so Chinese restaurants served fortune cookies to make customers happy. Today’s fortune cookies usually contain a small note with a piece of advice and a set of lucky numbers.
Nuclear fission was discovered in a. 1938 b. 1942 c. 1945
The lead scientist on the Manhattan Project was a. Albert Einstein b. J. Robert Oppenheimer c. Leo Szilard
70 Manhattan Project scientists signed a petition to convince the US government a. that dropping the bombs on Japan was the only way to end the war b. to end all research on the bombs and never use them c. not to drop the bombs without warning Japan first
Discussion/essay questions
How do you think the world would be different if the US hadn’t started the Manhattan Project? Do you think another country would have built and used an atomic bomb? Why or why not?
Is scientific progress always a good thing? Why or why not? How can scientists be responsible when inventing new technology?
Transcript
The Manhattan Project was a secret American project during World War II. The goal was to build an atomic bomb. Refugee scientists from Nazi Germany, including Albert Einstein, convinced the US government to begin the project after the discovery of nuclear fission in 1938. Einstein and his peers feared that the Nazis would use this discovery to build their own atomic bombs. The Manhattan Project began in 1942. The lead scientist was J. Robert Oppenheimer, who is now known as the “father of the atomic bomb.” The first successful atomic bomb test was in July of 1945. Soon after, 70 scientists who worked on the project signed a petition to convince the government not to use the bomb without warning. However, the petition never reached the president. The US dropped atomic bombs on the Japanese towns of Hiroshima and Nagasaki in August of 1945, killing close to 200,000 people. It is still one of the most controversial military acts in history.
Biles discovered her talent for gymnastics while a. on a field trip b. playing with neighbours c. watching the Olympics on TV
Biles made her Olympic debut in a. London in 2012 b. Rio in 2016 c. Tokyo in 2021
In 2021, Biles dropped out of the Olympic Games a. to rest a leg injury b. to try new sports c. to take care of her mental health
Discussion/essay questions
Do you like to watch the Olympics? What sport does your country perform best in?
What are some things you do to take care of your mental health?
Transcript
Simone Biles is an American gymnast. She has won the most Olympic and world championship medals of any gymnast in history. Biles was born in Columbus, Ohio in 1997. She first discovered her talent for gymnastics on a field trip when she was six years old. In 2011, when Biles was 14, she began competing nationally. Biles was too young to qualify for the 2012 Olympics, but she quickly became famous for her all-around win at the 2013 world championships. Her Olympic debut was in Rio in 2016, where she won four gold medals. Biles has several gymnastics moves named after her. During the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, Biles dropped out of the competition to take care of her mental health. Her decision brought worldwide attention to the importance of mental well-being in sports.
May Day is celebrated a. only in the United States b. in Canada and the United States c. around the world
Workers on strike during the Industrial Revolution were mostly advocating for a. more national holidays b. an eight-hour workday c. more job opportunities
The general strike that inspired May Day took place in a. Chicago b. Toronto c. London
Discussion/essay questions
Many of the unions that inspired May Day and Labour Day were organizing illegally. Today, unions are protected by law in many places. What do people think about unions where you live? Why might a country make unions illegal?
Transcript
In many countries around the world, a celebration of workers’ rights takes place on May 1st. This is called May Day, and it recognizes the efforts of unions to improve the working conditions of the Industrial Revolution. During that time, many people worked ten or more hours every day, and their work environments involved high risks of disease and injury. Workers organized strikes to negotiate an eight-hour workday. The general strike that led to May Day actually took place in Chicago in 1886. However, the United States and Canada celebrate a different holiday, called Labour Day, on the first Monday of September. This day originates from a union of Toronto print workers, who held parades and protests to advocate for labour rights. It became a national holiday in both countries in 1894.
The “cheese caves” are really a. large warehouses b. limestone mines c. natural caves
In the 1970s, the government bought dairy products in bulk to a. plan for food shortages b. stabilize dairy prices c. export them to other countries
Today, the government uses the cheese reserve to a. support food assistance programs b. collect money from tourism c. save for an emergency
Discussion/essay questions
The cheese caves are controversial. Some people argue that the government’s support of dairy farms is actively harming the environment. Do you think people will need to change their eating habits to protect the Earth? How might diets be different in the future?
Transcript
In Springfield, Missouri, limestone mines deep in the ground store over one billion pounds of cheese. These are called the “cheese caves”, and they are owned by the US government. The government began accumulating cheese in the 1970s, when the Department of Agriculture bought dairy products in bulk to help stabilize the prices of milk. They had the milk made into cheese so they could store it for longer. When they found that they had too much cheese and nowhere to put it, they built cold storage facilities underground. Today, there is still a national cheese reserve, which the government now uses to provide cheese to food assistance programs.
The goal of the Freedom Riders was to protest a. American war efforts b. racial segregation c. gender discrimination
One way they protested was by a. giving speeches b. crowding government buildings c. entering segregated bathrooms
In November 1961, a. the original Freedom Riders were arrested for the first time b. racial segregation became illegal on interstate buses c. white supremacists in Alabama set one of the buses on fire
Discussion/essay questions
Have you ever protested something that you thought was wrong? What are some changes you’d like to see in the world today?
Transcript
The Freedom Riders were a group of civil rights activists who took bus trips through the American South to protest racial segregation. The rides began on May 4th, 1961. There were 13 original Freedom Riders, and most of them were students. They protested by sitting in integrated groups and entering segregated bathrooms in transit stations. On May 14th, when the Freedom Riders reached Alabama, a group of white supremacists set one of the buses on fire. The activists were often beaten, and some were arrested by local police. This led to widespread media attention. Hundreds of people began to join the Freedom Riders’ cause. The protest was eventually effective. In November 1961, racial segregation became illegal on interstate buses.
Michael Jackson began his career at age a. six b. eight c. ten
Jackson’s best-selling album was a. Off the Wall b. The Jackson 5 c. Thriller
“The King of Pop” was a. the nickname that Jackson gained for his musical achievements b. the first solo album that Jackson released c. the name of the first pop group that Jackson was a part of
Discussion/essay questions
What genres of music do you listen to? Who are some of the most famous artists in those genres?
What do you think makes someone an “icon”?
Transcript
Michael Jackson was an American singer and dancer. He was one of the top performing artists in the world, and he is remembered as a cultural icon of the 1980s. Jackson was born in 1958 in Gary, Indiana. He began his career at six years old, when he started performing with his family members in a pop group called the Jackson 5. The Jackson 5 was very popular throughout the 1970s. In 1979, Jackson released his first solo album, Off the Wall. His solo music made him even more famous—especially his 1982 album Thriller, which became the best-selling album in the world. He later gained the nickname “The King of Pop”. Throughout his life, Jackson released ten albums. He died in 2009, at age 50.
The Battle of Puebla was a battle between Mexico and a. America b. England c. France
The war was caused by a dispute about a. debt repayments b. borders c. political systems
Mexico’s victory in Puebla a. ended the war with France b. became a representation of strength and patriotism c. gained the interest of the American military
See answers below
Discussion/essay questions
Cinco de Mayo has become a very popular holiday in the U.S., but many people who celebrate it do not know the history. Why do you think this is?
Transcript
Cinco de Mayo is a holiday that celebrates Mexico’s victory over France in the Battle of Puebla. The war began in 1861, after Mexican president Benito Juarez paused debt repayments to European countries so he could support the struggling economy in his own country. France invaded Mexico in response. On May 5th, 1862, Mexican troops defeated French troops in Puebla. Their victory did not end the war, but the day came to represent strength and patriotism for the Mexican people. Although Cinco de Mayo originated in Mexico, celebrations in Mexican-American communities introduced the holiday to the U.S. as well. Today, it is more widely celebrated in the U.S. than it is in Mexico.
There are many stories about military dogs who have saved soldiers’ lives. However, dogs are not the only animals that have been trained for . Many naval forces around the world use sea animals to help them detect danger. The first military with sea animals began in 1960, when the U.S. navy started to train to find submarines and underwater mines. They chose dolphins because of their ability to use echolocation, which allows them to find objects in the dark. In 1965, the Soviet Union opened a research centre to train dolphin of their own. Both the U.S. and Russia still train military dolphins today. However, in 2012, the U.S. navy announced that they would eventually their dolphins with underwater drones.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
Some animal rights activists are concerned about the use of dolphins in the military. They believe it is wrong to keep animals in captivity and put them in danger for human wars. Do you agree? Why or why not?
Transcript
There are many stories about military dogs who have saved soldiers’ lives. However, dogs are not the only animals that have been trained for war. Many naval forces around the world use sea animals to help them detect danger. The first military experiments with sea animals began in 1960, when the U.S. navy started to train dolphins to find submarines and underwater mines. They chose dolphins because of their ability to use echolocation, which allows them to find objects in the dark. In 1965, the Soviet Union opened a research centre to train dolphin soldiers of their own. Both the U.S. and Russia still train military dolphins today. However, in 2012, the U.S. navy announced that they would eventually replace their dolphins with underwater drones.
Prohibition was a period of time when alcohol was banned in the United States. It came about because of the protests of temperance unions, which believed that banning alcohol would reduce poverty and crime. The American government outlawed the sale of alcohol in 1920, but this ban was not very effective. Secret bars called speakeasies began to appear throughout the country, where people could order alcohol by speaking in code. Prohibition also gave gangs an opportunity to profit from the illegal sale of alcohol. People known as rum-runners would smuggle alcohol across the Canadian border in order to sell it in the U.S. By 1933, it became clear that the ban had failed, and the government passed a new law allowing the sale of alcohol once again.
In the United States and Canada, February is Black History Month. Tubman’s story is often taught in schools during this time. Why is it so important to learn stories like hers?
Can you think of some other people in history who fought for human rights?
Transcript
Harriet Tubman was an American activist who helped to free hundreds of people from slavery. She was born into slavery herself around 1820, and she escaped in 1849. A network of people called the Underground Railroad helped Tubman make the journey to the North, where slavery was illegal. However, once Tubman gained her freedom, she decided that she wanted to help other people gain theirs. She began to work with the Underground Railroad. Her job was to rescue enslaved people and bring them to the North, where they could live freely. She went on many missions over eight years. When the American Civil War began in 1861, Tubman joined the army to work as a nurse. She eventually got to lead a raid in South Carolina that freed hundreds of enslaved people. Even after slavery was abolished in the United States, Tubman continued to fight for the rights of Black Americans and women. She died in 1913, at about 90 years old.
Many of Biden’s speeches since his election have mentioned uniting people of different backgrounds and political beliefs. He seems to believe that his country will be stronger if people can work together. Why is this an important message?
Transcript
Joe Biden is the 46th president of the United States. He was born in Scranton, Pennsylvania in November 1942. Biden first became involved in politics in 1970, when he was elected to a county council in Delaware. Two years later, he ran for the U.S. Senate as a candidate for the Democratic Party. However, before he was able to begin working as a senator, Biden experienced a tragedy. He lost his wife and daughter in a terrible car accident that also injured both of his sons, and he had to begin his career in the Senate while he was still grieving this loss. In 2008, Biden became the running mate of presidential candidate Barack Obama, and they were elected for two terms. Biden decided to run for the presidency himself in 2020. He campaigned against incumbent president Donald Trump and won the race in November of 2020. Two months later, Biden was officially inaugurated as the 46th U.S. president.
The economic state of the United States (and many other countries) has changed a lot since the Great Depression. Do you think such a disastrous recession could ever happen again? What factors could cause this?
Transcript
The Great Depression was a worldwide economic recession. It began in 1929 in the United States, when the value of stocks decreased drastically. People who had invested their savings lost a lot of money, and an overall decrease in spending caused many Americans to lose their jobs. This downturn quickly began to affect the rest of the world, because the United States couldn’t afford to trade with other countries frequently. This was a particularly difficult time for American farmers, who were also dealing with harsh climate conditions like droughts and dust storms. Many unemployed farmers from the prairie states began to migrate west in hopes of finding work. Throughout the recession, the American government worked to build welfare programs to help support unemployed people. These programs contributed to the end of the Great Depression in 1939, around the start of World War II.
Some historians have debated about which country was at fault for the Cold War. However, many believe that the Cold War was always going to happen, because the U.S. and the Soviet Union were powerful countries with opposing beliefs. Do you think it is possible for two powerful countries with different ideologies to exist without conflict?
Transcript
The Cold War was a political rivalry between the United States and the Soviet Union that lasted from 1947 to 1991. It was caused by the opposing ideologies of the American and Soviet governments. While the U.S. was a capitalist country, the Soviet Union had a communist system. After World War II, the Soviets controlled communist governments in Eastern Europe, while the Americans were allied with democratic governments in Western Europe. The divide between Eastern and Western Europe became known as the Iron Curtain. Throughout the Cold War, both the Soviet Union and the U.S. tried to prove their superiority by gathering and testing nuclear weapons. While the two countries never fought each other directly, they became involved in conflicts between other countries. In the 1980s, the U.S. and the Soviet Union began to sign agreements restricting nuclear weapons. However, the treaties divided the citizens of the Soviet Union. Some people still strongly supported communism, and didn’t want to make peace with the United States. Others wanted to convert to a capitalist system. This division eventually led to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, which ended the Cold War.
