Are You an Earthling?

Take the Earth Day Trivia Quiz and find out if you are an earthling.

Questions:

1. What city issued the first Earth Day proclamation?

A. Los Angeles.
B. San Francisco.
C. New York.
D. Chicago.

2. Who is credited with organizing the first Earth Day nationally in the U.S.?

A. Gaylord Hauser.
B. Gaylord Nelson.
C. Nelson Rockefeller.
D. Nelson Algren.

3. Many politically active celebrities participated in the first Earth Day celebration in New York in 1970. Who was prominent among the famous faces?

A. Paul Newman.
B. Robert Redford.
C. Marlon Brando.
D. Martin Sheen.

4. What event is commonly credited as being the catalyst for organizing Earth Day?

A. Atmospheric testing of nuclear weapons.
B. A hike in oil export prices by OPEC.
C. A large oil spill off the coast of Santa Barbara, California.
D. Evidence of ozone layer depletion.

5. The Earth Day flag is a NASA photograph of planet Earth taken from space set against a dark blue field. On what space mission was the photograph taken?

A. Apollo 8.
B. Apollo 10.
C. Apollo 11.
D. Apollo 14.

6. What federal legislation was passed in Congress with the help of the environmental awareness raised by Earth Day?

A. Clean Air Act.
B. Clean Water Act.
C. Endangered Species Act.
D. All of the above.

7. What recording artists had a hit single about Earth Day titled "What Are We Gonna Do?"

A. Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers.
B. Journey.
C. Bananarama.
D. Dramarama.

8. What other holiday often shares the same date as Earth Day?

A. Arbor Day.
B. Easter.
C. Passover.
D. Anzac Day.

9. When is Earth Day?

A. First day of Daylight Savings Time.
B. First day of Spring.
C. April 22.
D. March 20.

10. How can Earth Day be celebrated?

A. By changing to energy efficient light bulbs.
B. By walking, riding a bike or taking public transportation to a local Earth Day event.
C. By recycling cans, bottles and paper.
D. By doing all of the above.

Answers:

1. B - Mayor Joseph Alioto of San Francisco issued the first Earth Day proclamation on March 21, 1970.

2. B - Senator Gaylord Nelson, a Democrat from Wisconsin, is credited with calling for a national "teach-in" about the environment which became Earth Day on April 22, 1970.

3. A - Paul Newman was prominent among the celebrities celebrating the first Earth Day in New York.

4. C - A large oil spill just offshore from Santa Barbara, California in 1969 sent images of dead marine animals and soiled coastline around the world, prompting federal, state and local lawmakers to establish the groundwork for Earth Day observations.

5. B - The famous photograph of planet Earth as a blue marble floating in space was taken during the mission of Apollo 10 on May 18, 1969 with astronauts Jim Stafford, John Young and Gene Cernan aboard. The Earth Day flag was designed by John McConnell.

6. D - All the legislation mentioned passed Congressional approval with the aid of the heightened awareness of environmental issues brought about by Earth Day.

7. D - Dramarama released the Earth Day song "What Are We Gonna Do?" in 1991 on their album titled "Vinyl."

8. A - Arbor Day, which was federally established as a day to promote tree planting, often shares the same calendar date as Earth Day.

9. This is a tricky one because the answer depends upon who is being consulted. Founders of Earth Day such as John McConnell insist that it must correspond with the vernal equinox. Legislative originators of Earth Day such as Gaylord Nelson declare it to be April 22. (Perhaps both sources can be followed and Earth Day can be celebrated twice.)

10. D - If you only get one correct answer in the quiz, it should be this one. Happy Earth Day.