World Scholars Cup 2025. 198 Questions
and Correct Answers, 100% Correct.
(Verified)
What is odd about Rip Van Winkle?
Slept for 100 years and yet woke up with no impact whatsoever to his health.
Who is Rip Van Winkle?
A Dutch American villager living in the Catskill Mountains with his wife and children. He is a fictional
character.
Where did Rip Van Winkle first appear?
In 1819 in a collection called "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" by author Washington Irving.
What happened to Rip Van Winkle?
He wanders into the mountains with his dog, Wolf. He encounters a group of oddly dressed men playing
ninepins. He drinks some of their alcohol and falls into a deep sleep.
What is the message of Rip Van Winkle?
It's often seen as a commentary on the passage of time and the changes brought about by the American
Revolution.
How has life changed between 1825 to 1925?
Technological advances like railways and telephones, increased urbanization, and movements for labor
and women's rights. Democratic reforms expanded, colonial empires grew, and medical science
improved health. Global trade expanded despite challenges like the Great Depression.
How has life changed between 1925 to now?
Technology like the internet and smartphones revolutionized life. Civil rights movements promoted
equality. Space exploration, medical advances, and environmental awareness grew.
Reignite
To give to life or energy to someone or something; to ignite or cause to ignite again.
Burning up
It can mean you're very hot, either due to physical exertion or fever. It can also be used metaphorically
to describe someone who is very excited or passionate about something.
Burning down
This generally refers to the destruction of something by fire, usually a building.
,Burning with
This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a strong feeling or emotion.
Ezra Klein
American journalist, political commentator, and podcast host. He was born on May 9, 1984, in Irvine,
California. He is currently a columnist for The New York Times and the host of The Ezra Klein Show
podcast. He co-founded Vox.
Sam Altman
An American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence
company behind ChatGPT. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman co-founded OpenAI in
2015 and has been a leading figure in the AI industry.
Moore's Law
States that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, making computers faster
and cheaper.
Sam Altman's interview with Ezra Klein
Sam Altman discusses how AI could make everything better and cheaper, but also warns of job losses
and wealth concentration. He suggests responsible management and political measures like wealth
taxes to ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Purpose of Altman's essay
To design a system that embraces our technological future and taxes the assets that will make up most
of the value in that world-companies and land-in order to fairly distribute some of the coming wealth.
The AI Revolution (Altman's essay)
We are entering the fourth technological revolution (information age) after agricultural, industrial and
computational. More progress will be made in the next 100 years than any progress up to this point.
Moore's Law for Everything (Altman's essay)
Altman predicts that thanks to AI, we will reach a point when everything is getting 50% cheaper every 2
years.
Capitalism for Everyone (Altman's essay)
Sam Altman predicts that taxing income will become ineffective as AI transforms the economy. He
proposes a national equity fund, funded by taxing large companies' capital and privately held land, and
distributing it to all citizens over 18.
Implementation and Troubleshooting (Altman's essay)
Ten years after the equity fund's implementation, each American citizen would receive $13,500
annually. He believes this amount will provide greater purchasing power due to decreased prices.
, Shifting to the New System (Altman's essay)
A gradual implementation of the proposed taxes on capital and land, tied to GDP growth. He believes
this approach will make policymakers popular and concludes, "The future can be almost unimaginably
great."
Author's opinion on Altman's essay
They wish he provided more concrete examples of AI benefits. They feel his proposal is vague and have
concerns about income comparisons and AI-driven cost reductions. They think he should make a
stronger case for AI's potential benefits over risks.
Michael Crawford
English actor and singer, best known for his roles in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and The Phantom of the
Opera.
Counting Up To Twenty (Michael Crawford)
A song by Michael Crawford from his album EFX, which was the original cast album for his hit Vegas
show of the same name. The song is a whimsical and reflective tune that talks about overcoming
challenges and looking forward to a brighter future.
Trump's verbal tic
In an interview with podcaster Ezra Klein, Trump repeated the phrase "many people are saying...". Klein
does not believe this to be an effect of old age.
Why has Trump been under scrutiny lately?
Trump's speech has been under scrutiny by his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running
mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have questioned his cognitive state and suggested he is too
old to be president.
Donald Trump
Born June 14, 1946, is an American politician, businessman, and media personality. He served as the
45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected in 2024, making him the 47th
President.
What is different about Trump's 'style', according to Klein?
"Trump moves through the world without the behavioral inhibition most of us labor under," Klein said,
after stating the Republican showed signs of being low on conscientiousness but high in disinhibition.
The 2016 Presidential Race
Jeb Bush looked likely to become the nominee, but Trump came along and said what many of them had
been afraid to say. "George Bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty.
We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle East," Trump said in a debate in
February 2016.
and Correct Answers, 100% Correct.
(Verified)
What is odd about Rip Van Winkle?
Slept for 100 years and yet woke up with no impact whatsoever to his health.
Who is Rip Van Winkle?
A Dutch American villager living in the Catskill Mountains with his wife and children. He is a fictional
character.
Where did Rip Van Winkle first appear?
In 1819 in a collection called "The Sketch Book of Geoffrey Crayon, Gent" by author Washington Irving.
What happened to Rip Van Winkle?
He wanders into the mountains with his dog, Wolf. He encounters a group of oddly dressed men playing
ninepins. He drinks some of their alcohol and falls into a deep sleep.
What is the message of Rip Van Winkle?
It's often seen as a commentary on the passage of time and the changes brought about by the American
Revolution.
How has life changed between 1825 to 1925?
Technological advances like railways and telephones, increased urbanization, and movements for labor
and women's rights. Democratic reforms expanded, colonial empires grew, and medical science
improved health. Global trade expanded despite challenges like the Great Depression.
How has life changed between 1925 to now?
Technology like the internet and smartphones revolutionized life. Civil rights movements promoted
equality. Space exploration, medical advances, and environmental awareness grew.
Reignite
To give to life or energy to someone or something; to ignite or cause to ignite again.
Burning up
It can mean you're very hot, either due to physical exertion or fever. It can also be used metaphorically
to describe someone who is very excited or passionate about something.
Burning down
This generally refers to the destruction of something by fire, usually a building.
,Burning with
This phrase is often used metaphorically to describe a strong feeling or emotion.
Ezra Klein
American journalist, political commentator, and podcast host. He was born on May 9, 1984, in Irvine,
California. He is currently a columnist for The New York Times and the host of The Ezra Klein Show
podcast. He co-founded Vox.
Sam Altman
An American entrepreneur and investor, best known as the CEO of OpenAI, the artificial intelligence
company behind ChatGPT. Born on April 22, 1985, in Chicago, Illinois, Altman co-founded OpenAI in
2015 and has been a leading figure in the AI industry.
Moore's Law
States that the number of transistors on a microchip doubles every two years, making computers faster
and cheaper.
Sam Altman's interview with Ezra Klein
Sam Altman discusses how AI could make everything better and cheaper, but also warns of job losses
and wealth concentration. He suggests responsible management and political measures like wealth
taxes to ensure fair distribution of benefits.
Purpose of Altman's essay
To design a system that embraces our technological future and taxes the assets that will make up most
of the value in that world-companies and land-in order to fairly distribute some of the coming wealth.
The AI Revolution (Altman's essay)
We are entering the fourth technological revolution (information age) after agricultural, industrial and
computational. More progress will be made in the next 100 years than any progress up to this point.
Moore's Law for Everything (Altman's essay)
Altman predicts that thanks to AI, we will reach a point when everything is getting 50% cheaper every 2
years.
Capitalism for Everyone (Altman's essay)
Sam Altman predicts that taxing income will become ineffective as AI transforms the economy. He
proposes a national equity fund, funded by taxing large companies' capital and privately held land, and
distributing it to all citizens over 18.
Implementation and Troubleshooting (Altman's essay)
Ten years after the equity fund's implementation, each American citizen would receive $13,500
annually. He believes this amount will provide greater purchasing power due to decreased prices.
, Shifting to the New System (Altman's essay)
A gradual implementation of the proposed taxes on capital and land, tied to GDP growth. He believes
this approach will make policymakers popular and concludes, "The future can be almost unimaginably
great."
Author's opinion on Altman's essay
They wish he provided more concrete examples of AI benefits. They feel his proposal is vague and have
concerns about income comparisons and AI-driven cost reductions. They think he should make a
stronger case for AI's potential benefits over risks.
Michael Crawford
English actor and singer, best known for his roles in Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em and The Phantom of the
Opera.
Counting Up To Twenty (Michael Crawford)
A song by Michael Crawford from his album EFX, which was the original cast album for his hit Vegas
show of the same name. The song is a whimsical and reflective tune that talks about overcoming
challenges and looking forward to a brighter future.
Trump's verbal tic
In an interview with podcaster Ezra Klein, Trump repeated the phrase "many people are saying...". Klein
does not believe this to be an effect of old age.
Why has Trump been under scrutiny lately?
Trump's speech has been under scrutiny by his rival, Vice President Kamala Harris, and her running
mate, Minnesota Governor Tim Walz, who have questioned his cognitive state and suggested he is too
old to be president.
Donald Trump
Born June 14, 1946, is an American politician, businessman, and media personality. He served as the
45th President of the United States from 2017 to 2021 and was re-elected in 2024, making him the 47th
President.
What is different about Trump's 'style', according to Klein?
"Trump moves through the world without the behavioral inhibition most of us labor under," Klein said,
after stating the Republican showed signs of being low on conscientiousness but high in disinhibition.
The 2016 Presidential Race
Jeb Bush looked likely to become the nominee, but Trump came along and said what many of them had
been afraid to say. "George Bush made a mistake. We can make mistakes, but that one was a beauty.
We should have never been in Iraq. We have destabilized the Middle East," Trump said in a debate in
February 2016.
