How It's Made Quiz
So you think you know how it's made? Take this quiz to find out if you're right!
Which of the following ingredients is NOT used to make the traditional Scottish dish haggis?
Sheep's stomach
Sheep's heart
Sheep's kidney
Oatmeal
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To make haggis, a mixture of sheep offal (organs including the heart, liver and lungs), oatmeal and spices are cooked in a sheep's stomach. In addition to eating it, the Scots also use this dish for a sport known as haggis hurling.
Lawn bowls (or lawn bowling balls) were originally made from a type of wood known as:
Lignum vitae
Mahogany
Poplar
Birch
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The trees that produce lignum vitae, also called guaiacan, have become increasingly rare and, consequently, these species are considered potentially endangered. So lawn bowl manufacturers today forgo this diminishing resource and usually use melamine instead.
A London taxi will not necessarily have:
A 28-foot (8.5-meter) curb-to-curb turning radius
A completely flat floor
A higher-than-normal ceiling
A black paint job
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Although the classic London taxi is usually thought of as being black, not all London cabs sport the trademark color. But taxi specifications mandate things like the flat floor, the high roof and the tight turning radius (for making U-turns).
Once the bell and tail of a French horn have been formed and joined, they are filled with:
Wax
Pitch
Oil
Sand
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Pitch, a hot, tarlike liquid, is left to cool in the bell and tail. The hardened pitch then provides support for the tail when it is formed into the curved shape seen on a French horn. The pitch obviously gets removed before the instrument gets played!
The lashings, or ties wrapped around various parts of a dogsled (sometimes more than 20 on one sled), were traditionally made from moose hide, but today they are made from:
Polyester rope
Nylon rope
Industrial strength Velcro
Synthetic leather
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Nylon is a strong rope with the ability to absorb shock loads, making it an excellent choice for constructing dogsleds. Another added benefit of using nylon instead of moose hide is that the dogs are much less interested in chewing rope than hide!
A retractable cord only holds its spiral because:
It has a small, coiled spring inside the plastic casing.
It is treated in a vat of boiling water.
It is baked in an industrial oven.
It is made from a type of plastic that naturally holds any shape.
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The plastic cord initially has no "memory." In other words, it can't hold the spiral shape that comes from being wrapped around a metal rod. But after baking in an industrial oven at 200 degrees Fahrenheit (93 degrees Celsius), the cord acquires the memory to keep the spiral. This spiral is then reversed using special equipment, giving the cord the ability to retract or snap back into place.
This ingredient is responsible for making sushi rice sticky:
Vinegar
Seaweed extract
Sake
Wasabi
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Adding rice vinegar to the sushi rice gives it the sticky texture that's so vital for making good sushi. However, sushi chefs sometimes soak a piece of seaweed in the rice vinegar to give it extra flavor.
Leather wallets were invented in 17th century Europe because:
They were harder for pickpockets to steal than money pouches.
They held "calling cards" that were fashionable among the elite.
They fit perfectly in newly introduced trouser pockets.
They were a better way to store the newly introduced paper money.
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The introduction of paper money in Europe made it necessary to find a better way to store the thin, fragile currency. Leather wallets were the answer.
Worcestershire sauce starts with a malt-vinegar-soaked combination of:
Onions and pickles
Garlic and peppers
Onions and garlic
Tri-tip steak and onions
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The malt vinegar pickles the onions and garlic to the point that the bulbs liquefy and infuse the vinegar with their flavor. This onion and garlic "soup" gets mixed with a host of other ingredients, including anchovies, sugar and a top-secret combination of spices, to make this savory sauce.
The most important step in making carabiners for rock climbing is:
The abrasion process
The multiphase heat treatment
The laser etching
The shaping process
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The heat treatment strengthens the metal carabiners, allowing them to safely support the weight of rock climbers. Since this piece of equipment's job is to prevent injuries and sometimes even save lives, it's vital that it's as strong as possible.
Correct
Sorry, looks like figuring out how it's made is not your forte.
Correct
Not too shabby, but don't quit your day job just yet.
Correct
Great job! Are you an engineer? If not, you have a knack for knowing how it's made.
