National Landmark Quiz

Mr. Dunnington tells us that this quiz was taken from the Readers Digest for July 1988. In the form that he sent it, the questions and answers were quoted verbatim; with true editorial timidity, I changed the wording rather drastically, in order to minimize the danger of copyright violations. The principle remains intact.

The quiz itself goes in a pretty straightforward manner: you get the question, and choose an answer. The computer then tells you whether you have the right answer, to the accompaniment of some rather clever SOUND (Line 2010) for a wrong answer, or a happy series of BEEPs (Line 2030) for the correct one.

The program also keeps track of correct responses, and gives a percentage grade at the end of the run.

The first thing that catches the eye is the rather haphazard routing of program (see the “road map” for a directory of line numbers). I had to look at the DIGEST article before I realized what had happened: Earl had followed faithfully the progress of the printed quiz, which had scrambled the order of questions and answers in order to discourage peeking, whether voluntary or otherwise. Which is a pretty efficient programming technique, even though it does confuse the poor guy/gal who tries to analyze the program.

Earl also wanted it pointed out for the sake of Roger Phelps of Ithaca, MI that lines 2000/2005 and 2020 give us another look at two ways to print in the lower portion of the 2068 screen.

There’s one curious inconsistency in the program, though. On the one hand, the writer is unnecessarily frugal in some aspects of memory use, such as using VAL “1020” for 1020 (unnecessarily because the program doesn’t begin to exhaust the 2068–but then, why not be frugal for the sake of frugality itself, as my Vermont-farmer ancestors would have said). At the same time, the lines with numbers ending in 1, 2, or 3 are repeated time and again, with slight changes. These could logically have been tucked away into subroutines.

                      wrng  wrng
           ques  ans   ans   ans

Golden Gate
           1010  1060  1100
Yellowstone
           1080  1110  1030
Rushmore
           1130  1160  1040  1090
Hawaii
           1020  1070  1120
Trees
           1050  1200  1140
Martin Luther King
           1150  1210  1190  1240
Statue of Liberty
           1180  1170  1220  1260
Tallest building
           1270  1290  1230  1250

"Road map" for LANDMARKS program

And this all suggests an idea for those of you that have classroom applications. Why not a “generic” quiz framework, with the questions (and answers) stored in an array, so that you can use any one of several pre-set quizzes, either by LOADing the appropriate array or by calling up the appropriate one of several arrays that are stored in the computer? You could even make a sort of LOADER program (similar to those used in generating machine code sequences) to help you to generate the arrays with a minimum of repetitious routine work.

   1 REM National Landmarks
programed by Earl Dunnington
   2 REM FOR EDUCATIONAL USE
ONLY
   3 REM This test is based on
the article How Well Do You Know
Your National Landmarks by Ken
Levine that appeared in the July
1988 Readers Digest
  10 BORDER VAL "4": PAPER VAL "
6": CLS : PRINT AT SGN PI,VAL "4
";"FOR EDUCATIONAL USE ONLY";AT
VAL "7",VAL "6";"NATIONAL LANDMA
RKS";AT VAL "9",SGN PI;"programm
ed by Earl Dunnington"
  20 PRINT AT VAL "16",SIN PI;"T
his  test is based on the arti-c
le  ""How Well Do You Know  Your
National Landmarks""by Ken Levin
ethat  appeared  in the July 198
8Reader's   Digest ( 1988  The R
eader's Digest Association,Inc)"
: GO SUB VAL "2020"
  30 LET SCORE=VAL "12"
1010 CLS : PRINT "FIRST, THE GOL
DEN GATE BRIDGE   CONNECTS SAN F
RANCISCO WITH"''"(A) OAKLAND"''"
(B) SAUSALITO": GO SUB VAL "2000
"
1011 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1100"
1012 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1060"
1013 CLS : GO TO VAL "1010"
1020 CLS : PRINT "REMEMBER PEARL
 HARBOR, SITE OF  THE ATTACK THA
T BROUGHT AMERICA INTO WORLD WAR
 II? PEARL HARBOR IS LOCATED AT
WHICH OF THE      HAWAIIAN ISLAN
DS?"''"(A) OAHU"''"(B) HONOLULU"
: GO SUB VAL "2000"
1021 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1070"
1022 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1120"
1023 CLS : GO TO VAL "1020"
1030 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "S
ORRY. OLD FAITHFUL IS KNOWN FORI
TS PUNCTUALITY, RATHER THAN ITSH
EIGHT. ALTHOUGH THE CORRECT    A
NSWER IS NOW OBVIOUS, LET'S GO T
HROUGH THE QUESTION AGAIN, TO  F
IX IT IN YOUR MIND.": GO SUB VAL
 "2020": GO TO VAL "1080"
1040 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "N
O. THOMAS  JEFFERSON, OUR THIRDP
RESIDENT AND AUTHOR OF THE     D
ECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE, IS T
HERE."''"HINT: WHICH ONE OF THE
HISTORIC-AL FIGURES NAMED WAS NO
T A      PRESIDENT?": GO SUB VAL
 "2020": GO TO VAL "1130"
1050 PRINT "WE ALL KNOW ABOUT CA
LIFORNIA'S  GIANT SEQUOIA TREES
THAT GROW   TO MORE THAN 30 FEET
 IN DIAMETERAND TO OVER 300 FEET
 IN HEIGHT. BUT THERE IS ANOTHER
 TREE THAT  GROWS EVEN TALLER. I
T IS"''"(A) THE BRISTLECONE PINE
"''"(B) THE REDWOOD": GO SUB VAL
 "2000"
1051 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1140"
1052 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1200"
1053 CLS : GO TO VAL "1050"
1060 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "R
IGHT. OAKLAND IS CONNECTED WITHS
AN FRANCISCO BY THE BAY BRIDGE."
: GO SUB VAL "2020": GO TO VAL "
1080"
1070 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "R
IGHT. PEARL HARBOR IS LOCATED  O
N THE island OF OAHU, NEAR THE c
ity OF HONOLULU.": GO SUB VAL "2
020": GO TO VAL "1050"
1080 CLS : PRINT "THE GEYSER IN
YELLOWSTONE        NATIONAL PARK
THAT HOLDS THE      RECORD FOR HEI
GHT OF ERUPTION IS"''"(A) OLD FA
ITHFUL"''"(B) STEAMBOAT GEYSER":
 GO SUB VAL "2000"
1081 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1030"
1082 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1110"
1083 CLS : GO TO VAL "1080"
1090 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "N
O. TEDDY'S THERE, EVEN BIGGER  T
HAN LIFE. TRY AGAIN.": GO SUB VA
L "2020": GO TO VAL "1130"
1100 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "S
ORRY, YOU'RE OFF ON THE WRONG  F
OOT. TRY AGAIN.": GO SUB VAL "20
20": GO TO VAL "1010"
1110 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "Y
ES. ALTHOUGH OLD FAITHFUL IS   M
ORE PUNCTUAL, STEAMBOAT GEYSER H
AS BEEN KNOW TO SPOUT ALMOST   4
00 FEET, AS COMPARED WITH 180  F
EET FOR OLD FAITHFUL.": GO SUB V
AL "2020": GO TO VAL "1130"
1120 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "S
ORRY. HONOLULU IS NOT AN ISLANDB
UT A city, CAPITAL OF HAWAII.  T
RY AGAIN.": GO SUB VAL "2020": G
O TO VAL "1020"
1130 CLS : PRINT "THE CARVINGS O
F THE FOUR PRESI- DENTS AT MOUNT
 RUSHMORE IN SOUTHDAKOTA INCLUDE
 ALL except THE   FOLLOWING"''"(
A) THOMAS JEFFERSON"''"(B) THEOD
ORE ROOSEVELT"''"(C) BENJAMIN FR
ANKLIN": GO SUB VAL "2005"
1131 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1040"
1132 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1090"
1133 IF A$="C" OR A$="c" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1160"
1134 CLS : GO TO VAL "1130"
1140 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "N
O, SORRY. BRISTLECONE PINES AREA
MONG THE WORLD'S  OLDEST  TREESB
UT THEY'RE NOT THE TALLEST. TRYA
GAIN.": GO SUB VAL "2020": GO TO
 VAL "1050"
1150 CLS : PRINT "WHERE DID  MAR
TIN  LUTHER KING  JR'S AUGUST 19
63  MARCH   FOR   RACIAL EQUALIT
Y FINISH?"''"(A) THE WASHINGTON
MONUMENT"''"(B) THE LINCOLN MEMO
RIAL"''"(C) ARLINGTON NATIONAL C
EMETERY": GO SUB VAL "2005"
1151 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1190"
1152 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1210"
1153 IF A$="C" OR A$="c" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1240"
1154 CLS : GO TO VAL "1150"
1160 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "C
ORRECT. THE FOUR PRESIDENTS    H
ONORED ON MOUNT RUSHMORE ARE   G
EORGE WASHINGTON, THOMAS       J
EFFERSON, ABRAHAM LINCOLN, AND T
EDDY ROOSEVELT."''"BENJAMIN FRAN
KLIN, THOUGH A TRE-MENDOUSLY INF
LUENTIAL FIGURE IN OUR COUNTRY'S
 HISTORY, WAS NEVERELECTED PRESI
DENT.": GO SUB VAL "2020": GO TO
 VAL "1020"
1170 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "R
IGHT--NOT ON ELLIS ISLAND,     W
HICH HAS HISTORICALLY BEEN     A
SSOCIATED WITH IMMIGRANTS TO   O
UR SHORES.": GO SUB VAL "2020":
GO TO VAL "1270"
1180 CLS : PRINT "IN 1886, THE F
RENCH GOVERNMENT  GAVE US THE  S
TATUE OF LIBERTY, WHICH HAS SINC
E BEEN A WELCOME  SIGHT TO ALL T
RAVELERS ARRIVING AT NEW YORK. T
HE STATUE IS SITU-ATED ON"''"(A)
 LIBERTY ISLAND"''"(B) ELLIS ISL
AND"''"(C) CONEY ISLAND": GO SUB
 VAL "2005"
1181 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1170"
1182 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1220"
1183 IF A$="C" OR A$="c" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1260"
1184 CLS : GO TO VAL "1180"
1190 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "S
ORRY. TRY AGAIN": GO SUB VAL "20
20": GO TO VAL "1150"
1200 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "R
IGHT. GIANT REDWOODS GROW TO   O
VER 350 FEET. ALTHOUGH AMONG   T
HE WORLD'S OLDEST (OVER 4000   Y
EARS OLD), BRISTLECONE PINES   A
RE NOT AS TALL.": GO SUB VAL "20
20": GO TO VAL "1150"
1210 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "C
ORRECT. LINCOLN WAS ONE OF OUR G
REAT  HUMAN-RIGHTS ACTIVISTS,  A
ND HIS MEMORIAL HAS BEEN THE   S
ITE OF MANY DEMONSTRATIONS FOR R
ACIAL EQUALITY.": GO SUB VAL "20
20": GO TO VAL "1180"
1220 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "N
OT QUITE. ELLIS ISLAND HAS BEENT
HE POINT OF ENTRY FOR MILLIONS O
F AMERICA'S IMMIGRANTS, BUT    T
HE STATUE OFLIBERTY IS LOCATED S
OMEWHERE ELSE. TRY AGAIN.": GO S
UB VAL "2020": GO TO VAL "1180"
1230 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "N
OT QUITE. THE WORLD TRADE CEN- T
ER IS 1350 FEET TALL, THE NEXT-T
O-THE HIGHEST BUILDING IN THE  W
ORLD.  HAVE  ANOTHER TRY.": GO S
UB VAL "2020": GO TO VAL "1270"
1240 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "S
ORRY. TRY AGAIN": GO SUB VAL "20
20": GO TO VAL "1150"
1250 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "I
T USED TO BE THE TALLEST, BUT  N
OW THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING IST
HIRD ON THE LIST. TRY AGAIN.": G
O SUB VAL "2020": GO TO VAL "127
0"
1260 GO SUB VAL "2010": PRINT "O
H, COME ON! TRY AGAIN.": GO SUB
VAL "2020": GO TO VAL "1180"
1270 CLS : PRINT "WHICH OF  AMER
ICA'S SKYSCRAPERS IS THE WORLD'S
 TALLEST INHABITEDMAN-MADE STRUC
TURE, NOT COUNTINGANTENNAS OR OT
HER ROOF OBJECTS?"''"(A) THE WOR
LD TRADE CENTER"''"(B) THE EMPIR
E STATE BUILDING"''"(C) THE SEAR
S TOWER IN CHICAGO": GO SUB VAL
"2005"
1271 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1230"
1272 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1250"
1273 IF A$="C" OR A$="c" THEN  G
O TO VAL "1290"
1274 CLS : GO TO VAL "1270"
1280 PRINT ''"A-PLAY AGAIN"''"B-
RETURN TO BASIC"''"C-QUIT": GO S
UB VAL "2005"
1281 IF A$="A" OR A$="a" THEN  C
LS : GO TO VAL "20"
1282 IF A$="B" OR A$="b" THEN  S
TOP
1283 IF A$="C" OR A$="c" THEN  S
TOP
1284 CLS : GO TO VAL "1280"
1290 GO SUB VAL "2030": PRINT "T
HAT'S IT.  THE  SEARS  TOWER IS1
454 FEET HIGH, THE WORLD TRADE C
ENTER 1350, AND THE EMPIRE     S
TATE BUILDING ONLY 1250."''" TO
CONTINUE PRESS ANY KEY": PAUSE S
IN PI
1300 CLS : LET PERCENT=VAL "INT
(SCORE/12*100)": PRINT "CONGRATU
LATIONS.   YOU'RE DONE"''"YOUR
SCORE WAS: ";PERCENT;"%": GO TO
VAL "1280"
2000 INPUT "PRESS<A>OR<B>THEN<EN
TER>";A$: RETURN
2005 INPUT "PRESS<A>,<B>,OR<C>TH
EN<ENTER>";A$: RETURN
2010 BORDER VAL "2": CLS :}8,16:
}12,200;13,0:}7,62: FOR P=SGN PI
 TO VAL "100":}0,P: PAUSE VAL "2
": NEXT P:}8,16;9,16;10,16:}6,25
:}13,0:}12,70:}7,7: PAUSE VAL "1
00": LET SCORE=SCORE-VAL "1": RE
TURN
2020 PRINT #SGN PI;"PRESS <ENTER
> TO CONTINUE": PAUSE NOT PI: BO
RDER VAL "4": CLS : RETURN
2030 CLS : BEEP .25,24: BEEP .25
,26: BEEP .25,28: BEEP .5,31: BE
EP .25,28: BEEP 1,31: RETURN
9900 REM  SAVE
9950 SAVE "NL" LINE 1
9960 BEEP .3,12: BEEP 1,12
9970 CLS : PRINT '''"TO VERIFY,
RE-PLAY TAPE"
9980 VERIFY ""
9990 BEEP .3,20: BEEP 1,20

LISTing for LANDMARKS program