Rip Van Winkle - correct answer It follows a Dutch-American villager in colonial America named
Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their strong liquor and falls deeply
asleep in the Catskill Mountains. He awakes 20 years later to a very changed world, having
missed the American Revolution
Slice of life - correct answer a depiction of mundane experiences. In theater, slice of life refers
to naturalism, while in literary parlance it is a narrative technique in which a seemingly arbitrary
sequence of events in a character's life is presented, often lacking plot development, conflict,
and exposition, as well as often having an open ending.
Moore's law - correct answer is the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated
circuit (IC) doubles approximately every two years. It is not a law of physics but an empirical
relationship based on historical trends. It is a type of experience-curve law, which quantifies
efficiency improvements in production over time.
A megaproject - correct answer Is an extremely large-scale construction and investment
project. They are characterized by: large investment commitment, vast complexity, and long-
lasting impact on the economy, the environment, and society.
They are projects that can reach multi-billion budgets, have a high level of innovation and
complexity, and are affected by several techno-socioeconomic and organizational challenges.
Big Dig - correct answer was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the then-elevated Central
Artery of Interstate 93 that cut across Boston into the O'Neill Tunnel and built the Ted Williams
Tunnel to extend Interstate 90 to Logan International Airport.
Planning for the project began in 1982; the construction work was carried out between 1991
and 2006; and concluded on December 31, 2007.
The Big Dig was the most expensive highway project in the United States. Cost overruns, delays,
leaks, design flaws, accusations of poor execution and use of substandard materials, criminal
charges, and arrests plagued it. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in 1998 at
an estimated cost of $2.8 billion ($7.4 billion in 2020). However, the project was completed in
December 2007 at a cost of over $8.08 billion in 1982 ($21.5 billion in 2020).
Channel Tunnel - correct answer a 50.46 km undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that
connects Folkestone (England) with Coquelles (France). It is the only fixed link between the
island of Great Britain and the European mainland. It has the longest underwater section of any
tunnel in the world. The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains and LeShuttle
services for road vehicles and freight trains. It connects end-to-end with high-speed railway
lines.
Plans for a cross-Channel tunnel date back to 1802 but were repeatedly delayed due to security
concerns. Construction finally began in 1988, led by Eurotunnel, and the tunnel opened in 1994.
Initially estimated at £5.5 billion in 1985, the final cost reached £9 billion (£22.6 billion in 2023).
,California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) - correct answer a publicly funded high-speed rail system
being developed in California by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
The project was authorized by a 2008 statewide ballot to connect the state's major urban areas
and reduce intercity travel times.
California legislative overseers do not expect the 2 hr 40 min target will be achieved. (like the
Canada fiasco)The project has experienced significant delays and cost overruns caused by
management issues, legal challenges, and a lack of a complete funding commitment.
Sejong City - correct answer a special self-governing city and the de facto (describes practices
that exist in reality, regardless of the norm) administrative capital of South Korea.
Sejong was founded in 2007 as the new planned capital of South Korea from many parts of the
South Chungcheong Province to ease congestion in South Korea's current capital and largest
city, Seoul, and encourage investment in the country's central region. Sejong has a population
of 351,007 as of 2020 making it the least-populous and smallest first-level administrative
division in South Korea. The construction of the city is expected to be completed in 2030, at
which time 500,000 people are expected to live there.
Hambantota - correct answer the main city in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka (an island). It's
undergoing some major development projects including the construction of a new sea port and
international airport that finished in 2013. These projects and others such as Hambantota
Cricket Stadium are said to form part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into
the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo (the biggest city in Sri Lanka).
NEOM - correct answer is an arcology and planned city being built by Saudi Arabia. Launched in
2017 by the crown prince, the site is at the northern tip of the Red Sea, due east of Egypt across
the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Jordan. The total planned area of Neom is 26,500 km2. Multiple
regions are planned, including a floating industrial complex, a global trade hub, tourist resorts,
and a linear city powered by renewable energy sources.
Much of the city is hoped to be completed by 2039, though some experts have expressed
skepticism about the ambitions of the megaproject. The project's estimated costs exceed $1.5
trillion.
Neom's construction has also been criticized for environmental and human rights violations,
with expatriate employees describing abusive working conditions and members of the local
Howeitat tribe protesting against their forced expulsion. Around 20,000 people are expected to
be forcibly relocated.
Khazar Islands - correct answer is a stalled development of artificial islands 25 km south of
Baku, Azerbaijan consisting of 41 islands extending 30 km2 into the Caspian Sea
,Three Gorges Dam - correct answer is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River
near Sandouping in central China, downstream of the Three Gorges. The world's largest power
station by installed capacity (22,500 MW).
The dam's body was completed in 2006; the power plant became fully operational in 2012.
The dam increases the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduces the likelihood of flooding
downstream. As a result, the Chinese government regards the project as a monumental social
and economic success.
The dam's construction displaced more than 31 million people and inundated ancient and
culturally significant sites. In operation, the dam has caused some ecological changes, including
an increased risk of landslides.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) - correct answer is a 55-kilometer bridge-tunnel
system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four
artificial islands. It is the longest sea crossing in the world. The HZMB spans the Lingding and
Jiuzhou channels, connecting Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai—a major city on the Pearl
River Delta in China.
The bridge was designed to last for 120 years and cost $18.8 billion to build.
New Eurasian Land Bridge - correct answer is the southern counterpart to the Eurasian Land
Bridge and runs through China and Central Asia with possible plans for expansion into South
and West Asia. The Eurasian Land-Bridge system is important as an overland rail link between
China and Europe.
PARO (robot) - correct answer is a therapeutic baby seal robot, intended to be very cute and to
have a calming effect on and elicit emotional responses in patients of hospitals and nursing
homes, similar to animal-assisted therapy except using robots.
Pepper(robot) - correct answer is a semi-humanoid robot, designed with the ability to read
emotions.
Robear - correct answer Japan is a pioneer in care automation. It's a prototype lifting robot.
Hug (robot) - correct answer designed to assist care workers in lifting people, a demanding
physical job.
A stimulus - correct answer is a change in a living thing's internal or external environment. This
change can be detected by an organism or organ using sensitivity and leads to a physiological
reaction.
The Goldilocks principle - correct answer just as Goldilocks in the fairytale Goldilocks and the
Three Bears finds that moderation (in porridge (not too hot, not too cold), and beds (not too
hard, not too soft)) is "just right", in this context: so too would it seem to be for screen time.
, Doomscrolling - correct answer the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large
quantities of news, particularly negative news, on the web and social media. Doomscrolling can
also be defined as the excessive consumption of short-form videos or social media content for
an excessive period of time without stopping.
Section 230 - correct answer protects online platforms from being held legally responsible for
user-generated content. This means that websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube cannot
be sued for harmful or false posts made by their users. Instead, only the person who created
the content is responsible. Additionally, it allows platforms to moderate content—removing
harmful or inappropriate posts—without being sued for censorship, as long as they act in "good
faith."
fear speech - correct answer pressures neutral parties to align with extremist ideologies.
Headline anxiety disorder - correct answer a term used to describe the stress and anxiety that
can result from constant exposure to news headlines, especially those that are negative or
alarming. While it's not a formally recognized medical condition, many people experience
symptoms of worry or dread when they read the news.
Clickbait - correct answer a text or a thumbnail link that is designed to attract attention and to
entice users to follow ("click") that link and view, read, stream or listen to the linked piece of
online content, being typically deceptive, sensationalized, or otherwise misleading. A "teaser"
aims to exploit the "curiosity gap", providing just enough information to make readers of news
websites curious, but not enough to satisfy their curiosity without clicking through to the linked
content.
Clickbait headlines - correct answer like normal clickbait but it often adds an element of
dishonesty, using enticements that do not accurately reflect the content being delivered.
The Boston Marathon bombing - correct answer was an Islamist domestic terrorist attack that
took place during the 117th annual Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Brothers Tamerlan and
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev planted two homemade pressure cooker bombs that detonated near the
finish line of the race 14 seconds and 190 m apart. Three people were killed and hundreds
injured, including a dozen who lost limbs.
The negativity bias - correct answer is a cognitive bias that, even when positive or neutral
things of equal intensity occur, things of a more negative nature (e.g. unpleasant thoughts,
emotions, or social interactions; harmful/traumatic events) have a greater effect on one's
psychological state and processes than neutral or positive things.
traumatic media - correct answer a really upsetting video. It could be from a war, a crime
scene, or a disaster.
Michel de Nostredame - correct answer (December 1503 - July 1566), was a French astrologer,
apothecary, and physician, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties (published in 1555), a
Rip Van Winkle who meets mysterious Dutchmen, imbibes their strong liquor and falls deeply
asleep in the Catskill Mountains. He awakes 20 years later to a very changed world, having
missed the American Revolution
Slice of life - correct answer a depiction of mundane experiences. In theater, slice of life refers
to naturalism, while in literary parlance it is a narrative technique in which a seemingly arbitrary
sequence of events in a character's life is presented, often lacking plot development, conflict,
and exposition, as well as often having an open ending.
Moore's law - correct answer is the observation that the number of transistors in an integrated
circuit (IC) doubles approximately every two years. It is not a law of physics but an empirical
relationship based on historical trends. It is a type of experience-curve law, which quantifies
efficiency improvements in production over time.
A megaproject - correct answer Is an extremely large-scale construction and investment
project. They are characterized by: large investment commitment, vast complexity, and long-
lasting impact on the economy, the environment, and society.
They are projects that can reach multi-billion budgets, have a high level of innovation and
complexity, and are affected by several techno-socioeconomic and organizational challenges.
Big Dig - correct answer was a megaproject in Boston that rerouted the then-elevated Central
Artery of Interstate 93 that cut across Boston into the O'Neill Tunnel and built the Ted Williams
Tunnel to extend Interstate 90 to Logan International Airport.
Planning for the project began in 1982; the construction work was carried out between 1991
and 2006; and concluded on December 31, 2007.
The Big Dig was the most expensive highway project in the United States. Cost overruns, delays,
leaks, design flaws, accusations of poor execution and use of substandard materials, criminal
charges, and arrests plagued it. The project was originally scheduled to be completed in 1998 at
an estimated cost of $2.8 billion ($7.4 billion in 2020). However, the project was completed in
December 2007 at a cost of over $8.08 billion in 1982 ($21.5 billion in 2020).
Channel Tunnel - correct answer a 50.46 km undersea railway tunnel, opened in 1994, that
connects Folkestone (England) with Coquelles (France). It is the only fixed link between the
island of Great Britain and the European mainland. It has the longest underwater section of any
tunnel in the world. The tunnel carries high-speed Eurostar passenger trains and LeShuttle
services for road vehicles and freight trains. It connects end-to-end with high-speed railway
lines.
Plans for a cross-Channel tunnel date back to 1802 but were repeatedly delayed due to security
concerns. Construction finally began in 1988, led by Eurotunnel, and the tunnel opened in 1994.
Initially estimated at £5.5 billion in 1985, the final cost reached £9 billion (£22.6 billion in 2023).
,California High-Speed Rail (CAHSR) - correct answer a publicly funded high-speed rail system
being developed in California by the California High-Speed Rail Authority.
The project was authorized by a 2008 statewide ballot to connect the state's major urban areas
and reduce intercity travel times.
California legislative overseers do not expect the 2 hr 40 min target will be achieved. (like the
Canada fiasco)The project has experienced significant delays and cost overruns caused by
management issues, legal challenges, and a lack of a complete funding commitment.
Sejong City - correct answer a special self-governing city and the de facto (describes practices
that exist in reality, regardless of the norm) administrative capital of South Korea.
Sejong was founded in 2007 as the new planned capital of South Korea from many parts of the
South Chungcheong Province to ease congestion in South Korea's current capital and largest
city, Seoul, and encourage investment in the country's central region. Sejong has a population
of 351,007 as of 2020 making it the least-populous and smallest first-level administrative
division in South Korea. The construction of the city is expected to be completed in 2030, at
which time 500,000 people are expected to live there.
Hambantota - correct answer the main city in Hambantota District, Sri Lanka (an island). It's
undergoing some major development projects including the construction of a new sea port and
international airport that finished in 2013. These projects and others such as Hambantota
Cricket Stadium are said to form part of the government's plan to transform Hambantota into
the second major urban hub of Sri Lanka, away from Colombo (the biggest city in Sri Lanka).
NEOM - correct answer is an arcology and planned city being built by Saudi Arabia. Launched in
2017 by the crown prince, the site is at the northern tip of the Red Sea, due east of Egypt across
the Gulf of Aqaba and south of Jordan. The total planned area of Neom is 26,500 km2. Multiple
regions are planned, including a floating industrial complex, a global trade hub, tourist resorts,
and a linear city powered by renewable energy sources.
Much of the city is hoped to be completed by 2039, though some experts have expressed
skepticism about the ambitions of the megaproject. The project's estimated costs exceed $1.5
trillion.
Neom's construction has also been criticized for environmental and human rights violations,
with expatriate employees describing abusive working conditions and members of the local
Howeitat tribe protesting against their forced expulsion. Around 20,000 people are expected to
be forcibly relocated.
Khazar Islands - correct answer is a stalled development of artificial islands 25 km south of
Baku, Azerbaijan consisting of 41 islands extending 30 km2 into the Caspian Sea
,Three Gorges Dam - correct answer is a hydroelectric gravity dam that spans the Yangtze River
near Sandouping in central China, downstream of the Three Gorges. The world's largest power
station by installed capacity (22,500 MW).
The dam's body was completed in 2006; the power plant became fully operational in 2012.
The dam increases the Yangtze River's shipping capacity and reduces the likelihood of flooding
downstream. As a result, the Chinese government regards the project as a monumental social
and economic success.
The dam's construction displaced more than 31 million people and inundated ancient and
culturally significant sites. In operation, the dam has caused some ecological changes, including
an increased risk of landslides.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) - correct answer is a 55-kilometer bridge-tunnel
system consisting of a series of three cable-stayed bridges, an undersea tunnel, and four
artificial islands. It is the longest sea crossing in the world. The HZMB spans the Lingding and
Jiuzhou channels, connecting Hong Kong and Macau with Zhuhai—a major city on the Pearl
River Delta in China.
The bridge was designed to last for 120 years and cost $18.8 billion to build.
New Eurasian Land Bridge - correct answer is the southern counterpart to the Eurasian Land
Bridge and runs through China and Central Asia with possible plans for expansion into South
and West Asia. The Eurasian Land-Bridge system is important as an overland rail link between
China and Europe.
PARO (robot) - correct answer is a therapeutic baby seal robot, intended to be very cute and to
have a calming effect on and elicit emotional responses in patients of hospitals and nursing
homes, similar to animal-assisted therapy except using robots.
Pepper(robot) - correct answer is a semi-humanoid robot, designed with the ability to read
emotions.
Robear - correct answer Japan is a pioneer in care automation. It's a prototype lifting robot.
Hug (robot) - correct answer designed to assist care workers in lifting people, a demanding
physical job.
A stimulus - correct answer is a change in a living thing's internal or external environment. This
change can be detected by an organism or organ using sensitivity and leads to a physiological
reaction.
The Goldilocks principle - correct answer just as Goldilocks in the fairytale Goldilocks and the
Three Bears finds that moderation (in porridge (not too hot, not too cold), and beds (not too
hard, not too soft)) is "just right", in this context: so too would it seem to be for screen time.
, Doomscrolling - correct answer the act of spending an excessive amount of time reading large
quantities of news, particularly negative news, on the web and social media. Doomscrolling can
also be defined as the excessive consumption of short-form videos or social media content for
an excessive period of time without stopping.
Section 230 - correct answer protects online platforms from being held legally responsible for
user-generated content. This means that websites like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube cannot
be sued for harmful or false posts made by their users. Instead, only the person who created
the content is responsible. Additionally, it allows platforms to moderate content—removing
harmful or inappropriate posts—without being sued for censorship, as long as they act in "good
faith."
fear speech - correct answer pressures neutral parties to align with extremist ideologies.
Headline anxiety disorder - correct answer a term used to describe the stress and anxiety that
can result from constant exposure to news headlines, especially those that are negative or
alarming. While it's not a formally recognized medical condition, many people experience
symptoms of worry or dread when they read the news.
Clickbait - correct answer a text or a thumbnail link that is designed to attract attention and to
entice users to follow ("click") that link and view, read, stream or listen to the linked piece of
online content, being typically deceptive, sensationalized, or otherwise misleading. A "teaser"
aims to exploit the "curiosity gap", providing just enough information to make readers of news
websites curious, but not enough to satisfy their curiosity without clicking through to the linked
content.
Clickbait headlines - correct answer like normal clickbait but it often adds an element of
dishonesty, using enticements that do not accurately reflect the content being delivered.
The Boston Marathon bombing - correct answer was an Islamist domestic terrorist attack that
took place during the 117th annual Boston Marathon on April 15, 2013. Brothers Tamerlan and
Dzhokhar Tsarnaev planted two homemade pressure cooker bombs that detonated near the
finish line of the race 14 seconds and 190 m apart. Three people were killed and hundreds
injured, including a dozen who lost limbs.
The negativity bias - correct answer is a cognitive bias that, even when positive or neutral
things of equal intensity occur, things of a more negative nature (e.g. unpleasant thoughts,
emotions, or social interactions; harmful/traumatic events) have a greater effect on one's
psychological state and processes than neutral or positive things.
traumatic media - correct answer a really upsetting video. It could be from a war, a crime
scene, or a disaster.
Michel de Nostredame - correct answer (December 1503 - July 1566), was a French astrologer,
apothecary, and physician, who is best known for his book Les Prophéties (published in 1555), a
