Answers to AMA Member Challenge
June 2005

1. This new movie earned an out-of-this-world $50 million on its first day of release on May 19, a Forceful, record-breaking debut. Name the film.

1. “Monster-in-Law”
2. “Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith”
3. “House of Wax"
4. "Sin City"

Correct answer: B. “Star Wars: Episode III—Revenge of the Sith.” “Episode III,” with its $50-million first-day box office, easily beat out the previous record holder, “Spider-Man 2,” which netted a mere $40.4 million on its first day of release.

2. Breaker, breaker! The 411 from the Bureau of Labor Statistics is that this is the most dangerous job in America--so keep your hammer down and steer clear of this profession.

1. Farmer
2. Librarian
3. Fortune teller
4. Truck driver

Correct answer: D. Truck driver. According to the most recent statistics available (2002) 112,200 truck drivers were injured that year, out of a total of 1.4 million injuries that required recuperation away from work. Second place went to nursing aides (79,000 injuries, mainly due to sprains and strains caused by lifting or moving patients).

3. One of the eight elite chess players to compete in the World Chess Federation’s championship in September will make history, because the participant is:

1. An American
2. A woman
3. An alien
4. A non-chess player

Correct answer: B. A woman. Judit Polgar of Hungary, ranked number 7 in the world, will be the first woman to take part in the World Chess Federation’s invitation-only world championship tournament.

4. The double-decker European Airbus A380, which had its first test flight in April, will end the 40-year reign of Boeing’s 747 as what?

1. The fastest airplane
2. The airplane with the best food
3. The largest airplane
4. The first supersonic airplane

Correct answer: C. The largest airplane. The A380 looks like a 747, but the upper deck extends throughout the entire aircraft. According to Reuter’s, the A380 is as long as eight London buses and has enough room on its wings to park 70 cars. Boeing, in contrast, is focusing on smaller, more economical aircraft.

5. Republicans have discussed abolishing the Senate filibuster for judicial nominees, in an effort to expedite the voting process. What is a “filibuster?”

1. A ploy to delay or prevent a vote by time-consuming talk
2. A mutual agreement or contract between two parties
3. A financial penalty imposed by a judge for violation of a court rule
4. Confirmation of an action which was not pre-approved

Correct answer: A. A ploy to delay or prevent a vote by time-consuming talk. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist has suggested making filibusters illegal for Supreme Court and federal appellate court nominees. It currently takes 60 votes to overcome a filibuster; the Republicans may try to change the requirement to a simple majority of the 100 senators. The term “filibuster” evolved from “freebooter,” defined as “anyone who lives by plundering others, especially a pirate.”