World Scholars Cup 2025 Questions And Answers
With Verified Solutions
What is odd about Rip Van Winkle? ANS Slept for 100 years and yet woke up with no impact
whatsoever to his health.
Who is Rip Van Winkle? ANS A Dutch American villager living in the Catskill Mountains with his
wife and children. He is a fictional character.
Where did Rip Van Winkle first appear? ANS In 1819 in a collection called "The Sketch Book of
Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" by author Washington Irving.
What happened to Rip Van Winkle? ANS He wanders into the mountains with his dog, Wolf. He
encounters a group of oddly dressed men playing ninepins. He drinks some of their alcohol and falls into
a deep sleep.
What is the message of Rip Van Winkle? ANS It's often seen as a commentary on the passage of time
and the changes brought about by the American Revolution.
How has life changed between 1825 to 1925? ANS Technological advances like railways and
telephones, increased urbanization, and movements for labor and women's rights. Democratic reforms
expanded, colonial empires grew, and medical science improved health. Global trade expanded despite
challenges like the Great Depression.
How has life changed between 1925 to now? ANS Technology like the internet and smartphones
revolutionized life. Civil rights movements promoted equality. Space exploration, medical advances, and
environmental awareness grew.
Reignite ANS To give to life or energy to someone or something; to ignite or cause to ignite again.
Burning up ANS It can mean you're very hot, either due to physical exertion or fever. It can also be
used metaphorically to describe someone who is very excited or passionate about something.
Burning down ANS This generally refers to the destruction of something by fire, usually a building.
,Burning with ANS This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a strong feeling or emotion.
Ezra Klein ANS American journalist, political commentator, and podcast host. He was born on May
9, 1984, in Irvine, California. He is currently a columnist for The New York Times and the host of The
Ezra Klein Show podcast. He co-founded Vox.
Sam Altman ANS An American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the
artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman co-
founded OpenAI in 2015 and has been a leading figure in the AI industry.
Moore's Law ANS States that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years,
making computers faster and cheaper.
Sam Altman's interview with Ezra Klein ANS Sam Altman discusses how AI could make everything
better and cheaper, but also warns of job losses and wealth concentration. He suggests responsible
management and political measures like wealth taxes to ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Purpose of Altman's essay ANS To design a system that embraces our technological future and taxes
the assets that will make up most of the value in that world-companies and land-in order to fairly
distribute some of the coming wealth.
The AI Revolution (Altman's essay) ANS We are entering the fourth technological revolution
(information age) after agricultural, industrial and computational. More progress will be made in the next
100 years than any progress up to this point.
Moore's Law for Everything (Altman's essay) ANS Altman predicts that thanks to AI, we will reach a
point when everything is getting 50% cheaper every 2 years.
Capitalism for Everyone (Altman's essay) ANS Sam Altman predicts that taxing income will become
ineffective as AI transforms the economy. He proposes a national equity fund, funded by taxing large
companies' capital and privately held land, and distributing it to all citizens over 18.
,Implementation and Troubleshooting (Altman's essay) ANS Ten years after the equity fund's
implementation, each American citizen would receive $13,500 annually. He believes this amount will
provide greater purchasing power due to decreased prices.
Shifting to the New System (Altman's essay) ANS A gradual implementation of the proposed taxes on
capital and land, tied to GDP growth. He believes this approach will make policymakers popular and
concludes, "The future can be almost unimaginably great."
Author's opinion on Altman's essay ANS They wish he provided more concrete examples of AI
benefits. They feel his proposal is vague and have concerns about income comparisons and AI-driven cost
reductions. They think he should make a stronger case for AI's potential benefits over risks.
Michael Crawford ANS English actor and singer, best known for his roles in Some Mothers Do 'Ave
'Em and The Phantom of the Opera.
Counting Up To Twenty (Michael Crawford) ANS A song by Michael Crawford from his album EFX,
which was the original cast album for his hit Vegas show of the same name. The song is a whimsical and
reflective tune that talks about overcoming challenges and looking forward to a brighter future.
Trump's verbal tic ANS In an interview with podcaster Ezra Klein, Trump repeated the phrase "many
people are saying...". Klein does not believe this to be an effect of old age.
Why has Trump been under scrutiny lately? ANS Trump's speech has been under scrutiny by his rival,
Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have
questioned his cognitive state and suggested he is too old to be president.
Donald Trump ANS Born June 14, 1946, is an American politician, businessman, and media
personality. He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected in
2024, making him the 47th President.
What is different about Trump's 'style', according to Klein? ANS "Trump moves through the world
without the behavioral inhibition most of us labor under," Klein said, after stating the Republican showed
signs of being low on conscientiousness but high in disinhibition.
, The 2016 Presidential Race ANS Jeb Bush looked likely to become the nominee, but Trump came
along and said what many of them had been afraid to say. "George Bush made a mistake. We can make
mistakes, but that one was a beauty. We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle
East," Trump said in a debate in February 2016.
Jeb Bush ANS Jeb Bush, born February 11, 1953, is an American politician and businessman. He
served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential
nomination in 2016.
George W. Bush ANS George W. Bush, born July 6, 1946, is an American politician who served as
the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995
to 2000.
What are Donald Trump's flaws? ANS it meant the Republican did not necessarily have the ability to
think strategically and carefully about what comes out of his mouth.
2020 Election results ANS Trump refused to admit he lost
Trump's term(s) in the White House ANS He has openly mused about using nuclear weapons, pulling
out of NATO, and speculated about treatments for COVID-19.
Survey ANS A lot of young people stated they felt depressed about the future.
Hannah Ritchie ANS Hannah Ritchie is a Scottish data scientist and senior researcher at the
University of Oxford, focusing on environmental sustainability, climate change, energy, food systems, and
public health. She is also the deputy editor at Our World in Data.
Camille Parmesan ANS Camille Parmesan is a renowned ecologist and climate change expert,
holding positions at the University of Plymouth, CNRS in France, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Her research focuses on climate change impacts on biodiversity.
Exclusive Guardian Survey ANS Found that almost a fifth of the female climate experts who
responded have chosen to have no children, or fewer children, due to the environmental crises afflicting
the world.
With Verified Solutions
What is odd about Rip Van Winkle? ANS Slept for 100 years and yet woke up with no impact
whatsoever to his health.
Who is Rip Van Winkle? ANS A Dutch American villager living in the Catskill Mountains with his
wife and children. He is a fictional character.
Where did Rip Van Winkle first appear? ANS In 1819 in a collection called "The Sketch Book of
Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" by author Washington Irving.
What happened to Rip Van Winkle? ANS He wanders into the mountains with his dog, Wolf. He
encounters a group of oddly dressed men playing ninepins. He drinks some of their alcohol and falls into
a deep sleep.
What is the message of Rip Van Winkle? ANS It's often seen as a commentary on the passage of time
and the changes brought about by the American Revolution.
How has life changed between 1825 to 1925? ANS Technological advances like railways and
telephones, increased urbanization, and movements for labor and women's rights. Democratic reforms
expanded, colonial empires grew, and medical science improved health. Global trade expanded despite
challenges like the Great Depression.
How has life changed between 1925 to now? ANS Technology like the internet and smartphones
revolutionized life. Civil rights movements promoted equality. Space exploration, medical advances, and
environmental awareness grew.
Reignite ANS To give to life or energy to someone or something; to ignite or cause to ignite again.
Burning up ANS It can mean you're very hot, either due to physical exertion or fever. It can also be
used metaphorically to describe someone who is very excited or passionate about something.
Burning down ANS This generally refers to the destruction of something by fire, usually a building.
,Burning with ANS This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a strong feeling or emotion.
Ezra Klein ANS American journalist, political commentator, and podcast host. He was born on May
9, 1984, in Irvine, California. He is currently a columnist for The New York Times and the host of The
Ezra Klein Show podcast. He co-founded Vox.
Sam Altman ANS An American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the
artificial intelligence company behind ChatGPT. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman co-
founded OpenAI in 2015 and has been a leading figure in the AI industry.
Moore's Law ANS States that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years,
making computers faster and cheaper.
Sam Altman's interview with Ezra Klein ANS Sam Altman discusses how AI could make everything
better and cheaper, but also warns of job losses and wealth concentration. He suggests responsible
management and political measures like wealth taxes to ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Purpose of Altman's essay ANS To design a system that embraces our technological future and taxes
the assets that will make up most of the value in that world-companies and land-in order to fairly
distribute some of the coming wealth.
The AI Revolution (Altman's essay) ANS We are entering the fourth technological revolution
(information age) after agricultural, industrial and computational. More progress will be made in the next
100 years than any progress up to this point.
Moore's Law for Everything (Altman's essay) ANS Altman predicts that thanks to AI, we will reach a
point when everything is getting 50% cheaper every 2 years.
Capitalism for Everyone (Altman's essay) ANS Sam Altman predicts that taxing income will become
ineffective as AI transforms the economy. He proposes a national equity fund, funded by taxing large
companies' capital and privately held land, and distributing it to all citizens over 18.
,Implementation and Troubleshooting (Altman's essay) ANS Ten years after the equity fund's
implementation, each American citizen would receive $13,500 annually. He believes this amount will
provide greater purchasing power due to decreased prices.
Shifting to the New System (Altman's essay) ANS A gradual implementation of the proposed taxes on
capital and land, tied to GDP growth. He believes this approach will make policymakers popular and
concludes, "The future can be almost unimaginably great."
Author's opinion on Altman's essay ANS They wish he provided more concrete examples of AI
benefits. They feel his proposal is vague and have concerns about income comparisons and AI-driven cost
reductions. They think he should make a stronger case for AI's potential benefits over risks.
Michael Crawford ANS English actor and singer, best known for his roles in Some Mothers Do 'Ave
'Em and The Phantom of the Opera.
Counting Up To Twenty (Michael Crawford) ANS A song by Michael Crawford from his album EFX,
which was the original cast album for his hit Vegas show of the same name. The song is a whimsical and
reflective tune that talks about overcoming challenges and looking forward to a brighter future.
Trump's verbal tic ANS In an interview with podcaster Ezra Klein, Trump repeated the phrase "many
people are saying...". Klein does not believe this to be an effect of old age.
Why has Trump been under scrutiny lately? ANS Trump's speech has been under scrutiny by his rival,
Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have
questioned his cognitive state and suggested he is too old to be president.
Donald Trump ANS Born June 14, 1946, is an American politician, businessman, and media
personality. He served as the 45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected in
2024, making him the 47th President.
What is different about Trump's 'style', according to Klein? ANS "Trump moves through the world
without the behavioral inhibition most of us labor under," Klein said, after stating the Republican showed
signs of being low on conscientiousness but high in disinhibition.
, The 2016 Presidential Race ANS Jeb Bush looked likely to become the nominee, but Trump came
along and said what many of them had been afraid to say. "George Bush made a mistake. We can make
mistakes, but that one was a beauty. We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle
East," Trump said in a debate in February 2016.
Jeb Bush ANS Jeb Bush, born February 11, 1953, is an American politician and businessman. He
served as the 43rd Governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007 and ran for the Republican presidential
nomination in 2016.
George W. Bush ANS George W. Bush, born July 6, 1946, is an American politician who served as
the 43rd President of the United States from 2001 to 2009 and was the 46th Governor of Texas from 1995
to 2000.
What are Donald Trump's flaws? ANS it meant the Republican did not necessarily have the ability to
think strategically and carefully about what comes out of his mouth.
2020 Election results ANS Trump refused to admit he lost
Trump's term(s) in the White House ANS He has openly mused about using nuclear weapons, pulling
out of NATO, and speculated about treatments for COVID-19.
Survey ANS A lot of young people stated they felt depressed about the future.
Hannah Ritchie ANS Hannah Ritchie is a Scottish data scientist and senior researcher at the
University of Oxford, focusing on environmental sustainability, climate change, energy, food systems, and
public health. She is also the deputy editor at Our World in Data.
Camille Parmesan ANS Camille Parmesan is a renowned ecologist and climate change expert,
holding positions at the University of Plymouth, CNRS in France, and the University of Texas at Austin.
Her research focuses on climate change impacts on biodiversity.
Exclusive Guardian Survey ANS Found that almost a fifth of the female climate experts who
responded have chosen to have no children, or fewer children, due to the environmental crises afflicting
the world.
