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.
The flashbacks in The Remains of the Day show Stevens a. working as a butler for Lord Darlington b. driving across the country on vacation c. confessing his feelings to Miss Kenton
The best word to describe Stevens’s attitude about his job is a. negligent b. dedicated c. unmotivated
The award that The Remains of the Day won is a. the Booker Prize b. the Pulitzer Prize c. the Nobel Prize
Discussion/essay questions
Regret is one of the most important themes of The Remains of the Day. Stevens misses a lot of important moments in his life because of his dedication to his job. Have you ever missed a good opportunity? Why? What would you do differently if you had another chance?
Transcript
The Remains of the Day is a 1988 novel by Japanese-British author Kazuo Ishiguro. Its main character is an English butler named Stevens. Stevens narrates the story as he drives through the countryside to visit his former colleague, Miss Kenton. The novel is told in flashbacks of Stevens’s career as a butler in the 1920s and 1930s. Stevens reflects on his dedication to his job and his late employer, Lord Darlington, despite Darlington’s early Nazi sympathies. Stevens’s narration is very restrained and emotionless, but it is clear that he has many regrets. One of them is that he never told Miss Kenton about his feelings for her. The Remains of the Day won the 1989 Booker Prize, and it was made into a film in 1993.
The first Geneva Convention took place in a. 1864 b. 1918 c. 1949
The purpose of the first Geneva Convention was to create protections for a. prisoners of war b. civilians c. injured soldiers
The original agreement was signed by a. four countries b. six countries c. twelve countries
Discussion/essay questions
Switzerland’s neutrality has caused a lot of debate. What is your opinion about countries staying neutral in wars? What are some good reasons to be neutral? Do you think it is ever unacceptable not to choose a side?
The red cross, crescent, and crystal are all recognized symbols for medics in war. Which symbol does your country use?
Transcript
The Geneva Conventions are the agreements that created an international code of laws and ethics for war. They took place in Geneva, Switzerland, because of the country’s historic neutrality. The first Geneva Convention was in 1864. It established laws to protect soldiers who had been injured in combat. It also formally recognized the red cross as a neutral symbol for medics. Twelve countries signed this original agreement, and four more joined by 1867. After World War II, many countries agreed to revisit the treaties. In 1949, the Geneva Convention was expanded to four sections. The second, third, and fourth Geneva Conventions included protections for civilians and prisoners of war. Since then, 196 countries have signed the Geneva Conventions, including all members of the United Nations.
The UN’s main purpose is to a. prevent climate change b. deal with public health emergencies c. promote peace and good relations between countries
The League of Nations failed to prevent a. World War I b. World War II c. the Cold War
When the UN was officially established, a. 26 countries were members b. 51 countries were members c. 193 countries were members
Discussion/essay questions
Although the United Nations has been successful in many ways, it has also received a lot of criticism. What opinions have you heard about the United Nations? What do you agree with? What do you disagree with?
Transcript
The United Nations, or UN, is a global organization that is meant to promote peace and good relations between countries. Before the UN, many countries were members of an organization called the League of Nations, which was created after the end of World War I for the purpose of preventing future global conflicts. However, World War II began less than 20 years after the creation of the League of Nations. The term “United Nations” was first used to refer to 26 countries that pledged to unite against the Axis powers in 1942. The UN was officially established on October 24, 1945, after the war had ended. By then, 51 countries were members. Today, 193 countries are members of the United Nations.
Turing was a a. mathematician b. physicist c. military leader
The purpose of the Turing test is a. to determine how fast a machine can work b. to determine how well a machine can follow instructions c. to determine if a machine can think like a human
During World War II, Turing helped the Allies by a. inventing new technology for weapons b. creating a machine that could break Nazi codes c. analyzing Nazi military plans
Discussion/essay questions
Alan Turing’s accomplishments were disregarded for many years. Do you know any other important historical figures who were dismissed in their time?
Do you think it is possible for a machine to think like a human?
Transcript
Alan Turing was a British mathematician. He was born in 1912 in London, England. His ideas are considered to be the early foundations for modern computers. In 1936, he described a hypothetical device that could read and follow written instructions. He also developed the Turing test, which was meant to determine if a machine could think like a human. During World War II, Turing built a machine that helped the Allied forces decode Nazi messages. His work helped Britain and the Allies win the war. However, the government later arrested and shunned him for being gay, which was illegal at the time. Turing died in 1954, two years after his conviction. The Queen officially pardoned him in 2013.
Women’s contributions to math and science have often been overlooked. Do you know about any female inventors from history? What are their stories?
Transcript
Hedy Lamarr was an Austrian-American actress and inventor. She was born in 1914 in Vienna, Austria. She began acting in European films when she was a teenager, but later moved to the United States after divorcing her first husband, a weapons manufacturer who sold to the Nazis. Lamarr became famous in Hollywood for her beauty, but her intelligence was often overlooked. During World War II, she invented a device to help the Allies with radio communications. At first, the U.S. military did not use the device, and Lamarr was told that she could do more to help by advertising war bonds. However, her invention formed a starting point for the technology we use today, including Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Lamarr died in 2000, at age 85.
World War II was a conflict that began in 1939. The war began when German dictator Adolf Hitler an invasion of Poland. Hitler’s goal was to take over Europe entirely. He also believed that the German race was , and began to order the deaths of anyone who he didn’t think was “pure”. The main victims of Hitler’s regime were Jews. Immediately after the invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Later, the United States and the Soviet Union declared war as well. They became known as the Allied Powers. Germany’s allies were Italy and Japan, and they became known as the Axis Powers. For six years, Allied soldiers tried to regain land and concentration camps. The war’s end came in 1945, after Allied overpowered the German army and Hitler died by suicide. Over 60 million people died in World War II, making it the worst conflict in history.
Comprehension questions
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Discussion/essay questions
World War I ended in 1918, only 21 years before World War II began. Why do you think conflict was so common in Europe at the time?
Do you think another world war could happen in the future? Why or why not?
One of the most tragic events of World War II was the Holocaust, or the genocide of European Jews. Why is it so important to remember and learn from this tragedy?
Transcript
World War II was a global conflict that began in 1939. The war began when German dictator Adolf Hitler ordered an invasion of Poland. Hitler’s goal was to take over Europe entirely. He also believed that the German race was superior, and began to order the deaths of anyone who he didn’t think was “pure”. The main victims of Hitler’s regime were Jews. Immediately after the invasion of Poland, Britain and France declared war on Germany. Later, the United States and the Soviet Union declared war as well. They became known as the Allied Powers. Germany’s allies were Italy and Japan, and they became known as the Axis Powers. For six years, Allied soldiers tried to regain land and liberate concentration camps. The war’s end came in 1945, after Allied forces overpowered the German army and Hitler died by suicide. Over 60 million people died in World War II, making it the worst conflict in history.
The Diary of a Young Girl is often read in schools to help students understand what European Jews went through under Nazi rule. Why is it important to teach this history in schools? What could happen if stories like Anne’s were forgotten?
Transcript
The Diary of a Young Girl is a book made up of real diary entries from a girl named Anne Frank. The entries tell the story of Anne’s life as a Jewish teenager during World War II. Anne first started writing in this diary when she was thirteen. Her writings told about her family, her thoughts on the war, and her hopes and dreams. For over two years, Anne and her family hid in an annex attached to a shop, in order to avoid being found by the Nazis. Part of her diary was written while her family was in hiding. An informant reported the location of the Frank family to the German police in 1944, and Anne, her mother, and her sister died in concentration camps in 1945. Anne’s father, Otto Frank, found and published her diary after World War II was over. Today, Anne’s story is one that students often read in schools to learn about the horrors of the Holocaust.
Although it may sound like fun to visit an island full of rabbits, tourism has caused unfortunate consequences. People who feed the rabbits are contributing to an overpopulation problem that is harmful to the island’s natural ecosystem. How could tourism be regulated to protect the ecosystem?
Transcript
Okunoshima, a small island off the coast of Japan, is a place mostly populated by rabbits. The island is a popular tourist destination for people who want to spend the day with cute animals. Tourists can reach this island by taking a ferry over from the mainland. Although Okunoshima is mostly known for the rabbits that live there today, it is also a very historical site. The island was once used to produce chemical weapons during World War II. Back then, these weapon factories were kept so secret that Okunoshima wasn’t even labelled on Japanese maps. Many people believe that the island’s rabbit population is related to this history. A common theory is that the military once brought rabbits to the island to test chemicals on, and a few rabbits were released into the wild. Today, over 1,000 rabbits live there, and the population is only growing.
