Bananas!

15 Points Per Correct Answer - No time limit  

1. Early bananas contained many seeds and very little edible pulp. As a result of cultivation, they have become one of the most widely consumed foods in the world. Where did bananas originate? East Africa The Caribbean South and Central America Southeast Asia

2. The banana plant thrives in tropical climates. As the plant requires temperatures around 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius), plenty of rain, and healthy soil, it is generally cultivated within 30 degrees of the equator. How exactly is the banana plant classified botanically? tree shrub vine herb

3. In the typical grocery store, bananas are sold in clusters of four to six. On the stem, bananas typically grow in larger clusters. What do agriculturists call ten or more bananas growing together on a single stem? clumps hands banans crowds

4. Bananas first came to America by way of sailors traveling in the Caribbean. Where and when were bananas officially introduced to the American public? (Hint: American President Ulysses Grant and Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro attended the opening ceremony.) 1893 World's Columbian Exposition 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Exhibition 1915 San Francisco World's Fair 1904 St. Louis Olympic Games

5. Bananas are classified as simple, fleshy fruits. Into which of the following sub-categories does the banana best fit? hesperidium pome berry drupe

6. Bananas are a culinary treat, and can be used to prepare a number of excellent dishes. Which of the following banana-based preparations requires ice-cream, dark rum, and a little flame (often table-side flambes)? Banania Bananas Foster Banh chuoi Lepat pisang

7. Bananas are a good source of dietary fiber and potassium. They also help replenish necessary nutrients burned during physical exercise, such as glycogen, body fluids, and carbohydrates. Bananas are NOT a good dietary source of which of the following? vitamin B6 sodium vitamin C all of these

8. Bananas are one of the few fruits that ripen best after they have been removed from the plant. If left on the plant, the fruit will split open leaving the edible pulp with a "cottony" texture and flavor. Of the following, which is the best method to preserve unripe (green) bananas? Keep in an unsealed plastic bag in a home refrigerator. Store in a forced-air room with a differential pressure gradient. Peel, add a touch of lemon juice, and seal in a freezer bag. Seal in a polyethylene bag with an ethylene absorbent.

9. Developed countries typically import bananas from the tropics, and account for over 80 percent of world banana imports. Growing bananas commercially is generally limited to areas closer to the equator. What is the only (physiogeographically) European country to grow bananas commercially? Italy Iceland Spain Sweden

10. Bananas are thought to be the world's first fruit. Given their history and usefulness, they have even entered the domain of religion and mythologies. Which of the following statements concerning bananas is FALSE? According to an Indonesian myth, humans are mortal because the first parents chose a banana over a stone. The Khoisan people of South Africa believed their ancestors inhabited banana trees. Scholars of the Koran claim that the forbidden fruit was likely a banana. Early Hawaiians believed the banana tree was the embodiment of the God Kanaloa.