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Quiz about Topsail Island North Carolina
Quiz about Topsail Island North Carolina

Topsail Island, North Carolina Quiz


Topsail Island is a small barrier island off the coast of North Carolina, located about half way between Wilmington and Jacksonville. Here is a quiz about the island and its history. I hope you enjoy.

A multiple-choice quiz by mtscott. Estimated time: 4 mins.
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Author
mtscott
Time
4 mins
Type
Multiple Choice
Quiz #
240,201
Updated
Dec 03 21
# Qns
10
Difficulty
Average
Avg Score
7 / 10
Plays
403
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Question 1 of 10
1. Topsail Island is one of many barrier islands off the east coast of the United States. Which of the following is a benefit/function of barrier islands? Hint


Question 2 of 10
2. There is an organization on the island dedicated to preserving the sea turtles. What is it called? Hint


Question 3 of 10
3. In 1996, the island was devastated by two hurricanes that hit within two months of each other. Which were they? Hint


Question 4 of 10
4. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, this item was in short supply and many people came to the island to produce it. What did they produce? Hint


Question 5 of 10
5. Topsail Island became important to the military in World War II. A nearby base in Holly Ridge housed most of the soldiers who worked on the island. What was the name of this base? Hint


Question 6 of 10
6. What were the soldiers trained to use on Topsail Island? Hint


Question 7 of 10
7. Many female pilots were stationed at Camp Davis. These WASPs were good pilots and respected by their coworkers. What does WASP stand for in this context? Hint


Question 8 of 10
8. After World War II, the Navy took an interest in Topsail Island. What top-secret project were they working on? Hint


Question 9 of 10
9. The Navy's operation on Topsail Island concerned which of the following? Hint


Question 10 of 10
10. You can still see evidence of the work the military did over 60 years ago today on Topsail Island.



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Quiz Answer Key and Fun Facts
1. Topsail Island is one of many barrier islands off the east coast of the United States. Which of the following is a benefit/function of barrier islands?

Answer: All of these.

Without the barrier islands, the East Coast would face the full brunt of hurricanes and would suffer much more damage from erosion and storm surge.

The estuaries provide a calm and nutrient rich environment that sea life thrives in. The waters off the coast on North Carolina are teeming with life. Marlin, flounder, grouper, and trout are among the many fish that are plentiful in these waters. Shrimp, crab, clams, oysters, and scallops can also be found here. Sharks enjoy this area also.

The loggerhead turtle comes ashore every spring to lay its eggs, sometimes over a 100, and cover them with sand. They hatch in fall and the hatchlings must make their way to the ocean. A loggerhead can be over three feet long and way over 300 pounds.
2. There is an organization on the island dedicated to preserving the sea turtles. What is it called?

Answer: The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center

The Karen Beasley Sea Turtle Rescue and Rehabilitation Center was founded by Karen Beasley in mid 1980s. Since her untimely death in 1991, her mother Jean Beasley has been running the center.
The center has drawn a lot of attention to the sea turtles and each year draws volunteers from across the country.
3. In 1996, the island was devastated by two hurricanes that hit within two months of each other. Which were they?

Answer: Bertha and Fran

On July 12, 1996, Hurricane Bertha his the island, followed less than two months later by Fran on September 5. The combination of two powerful storms so close together devastated the inland. The estimated losses from both hurricanes was well over $6 billion.
Hazel hit the island in October 1959, Bonnie hit in 1998, and Hurricane Floyd hit 1999.
4. During the Revolutionary and Civil Wars, this item was in short supply and many people came to the island to produce it. What did they produce?

Answer: Salt

Salt was a valuable commodity in the days before refrigeration. It was used to preserve meat and fish, for personal health and for trading. Up until this time, most of the salt came from Europe. Someone realized that the ocean had salt in it and an industry was born.

The salt would be extracted from the sea water by boiling or evaporation. It is hard for us to imagine today something like salt being hard to find or expensive.
5. Topsail Island became important to the military in World War II. A nearby base in Holly Ridge housed most of the soldiers who worked on the island. What was the name of this base?

Answer: Camp Davis

Camp Davis was established in 1941. At its height, it housed some 110,000 men and women.
6. What were the soldiers trained to use on Topsail Island?

Answer: Anti-aircraft guns

The "90" (90 mm) was the largest anti-aircraft gun used by the Coast Artillery. It was capable of firing 18 rounds per minute and had a crew of 15. The gun was 16 feet long and fired a shell weighing 23 pounds.
7. Many female pilots were stationed at Camp Davis. These WASPs were good pilots and respected by their coworkers. What does WASP stand for in this context?

Answer: Woman Airforce Service Pilots

To my knowledge, no WASPs were allowed in combat during WWII, but they were capable pilots. They would pull a target behind their plane for the anti-aircraft crews to practice hitting a moving target. This sounds like a dangerous way to make a living.
8. After World War II, the Navy took an interest in Topsail Island. What top-secret project were they working on?

Answer: Operation Bumblebee

This project conducted research between 1946 and 1948.
9. The Navy's operation on Topsail Island concerned which of the following?

Answer: All of these

This project helped prove the viability of the ramjet. The jet engine was a revolution. In twenty years, we went from propellers to rockets.
10. You can still see evidence of the work the military did over 60 years ago today on Topsail Island.

Answer: True

The most visible remains of the military's presence on Topsail Island are the observation towers. There were eight in all and seven of them still remain. These are three-story concrete structures that have survived the years and the hurricanes. Many of them have been incorporated into homes, but you can still see the structure.

They were used originally to track missiles fired from the south end of the island in the 1940s.

Thank you for playing, I hope you enjoyed learning about this place as much as I enjoyed writing about it.
Source: Author mtscott

This quiz was reviewed by FunTrivia editor bloomsby before going online.
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