Social Science Questions & Answers

The first explorer to venture deep into the barren heart of Australia was an Englishman, Charles Sturt. He was an army captain when, in 1826, he was sent to new South Wales with a shipload of convicts. He became military secretary to the governor, but his real interest lay in leading expeditions into the interior, during which he discovered and …

Zoologists believe that the polar bear evolved from a species of brown bears in Siberia, making polar bears the eighth species of bears. With the shifting of polar ice caps and glaciers, the brown bear species native to that area was forced to adapt to the new environment, undergoing physical body changes to keep warm in the brutally cold weather. …

In 1929, the first awards for best performances is films were made. These awards were shaped like a man, and a secretary at the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences, on seeing one for the first time, remarked that it looked just like her uncle Oscar. The name stuck, and the awards have been called Oscars ever since.

Southwest America is famous for its remarkable columns of rock. These tall extraordinary shapes of sandstone have been formed by wind-borne sand they look like monuments. And since they look like monument they get their name, Monument Valley.

In primitive life the hand was probably a symbol of power and strength.So when the hand was extended to someone, it could have represented good will, since it showed that the person was not armed or ready to fight. The hand was an important symbol in early religions, probably as a mark of power. The Greeks prayed to their gods …

The teddy bear is named after U.S. president Theodore Roosevelt, whose nickname was Teddy. In 1902, on a hunting trip, Roosevelt refused to kill a bear cub. Later, a shopkeeper began selling toy bears, calling them Teddy Bear.

The term Indians as applied to Native Americans, or the indigenous peoples of the Americas, is thought to have originated in a misconception on the part of the Europeans who arrived in Central America in 1492. Since Christopher Columbus began his journey to America with the intent of finding an alternate route to Southeast Asia, he is said to have …

Many whales can remain submerged for long periods of time, hunting for food or simply cruising along. However, when it comes to deep diving, one species of whales stands – or should it be sinks? -head and shoulders above all the others. The sperm whale can dive to depths of 3,193 m (10,476 ft).

There are over one hundred kinds of stingray, widely distributed throughout the seas of the world. They all have longer and thinner tails than other rays and skates. Projecting from the top of the tail near the body end they have at least one but sometimes two sharp spines. These would be dangerous enough but the spines have poison glands, …

Unless you are a young child, you need have no real fears about the effects of an adder bite. Adders are vipers and so have efficient venom, but it is only really effective on small prey – lizards, mice and shrews. Adders rarely bite humans unless they are frightened by being trodden on or deliberately provoked. Many people try to …