GH West Virginia Famous People 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Booker T. Washington, who was born into slavery in Franklin County, Virginia (now West Virginia), became famous as a leader in which field?
- African American education and civil rights (Correct answer)
- Abolitionist military campaigns
- Federal government policy
- Religious ministry
Correct answer: African American education and civil rights
Booker T. Washington was born near Malden, WV, and rose to found the Tuskegee Institute and become the most prominent African American leader of his era.
Question 2: Chuck Yeager, a West Virginia native from Myra, became the first person to do what in 1947?
- Break the sound barrier in level flight (Correct answer)
- Walk in space
- Orbit the Earth
- Land on the moon
Correct answer: Break the sound barrier in level flight
Chuck Yeager, born in Myra, WV, piloted the Bell X-1 to break the sound barrier on October 14, 1947, becoming an aviation legend.
Question 3: Pearl S. Buck, who won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1938, was born in which West Virginia town?
- Hillsboro (Correct answer)
- Lewisburg
- Marlinton
- Elkins
Correct answer: Hillsboro
Pearl S. Buck was born in Hillsboro, Pocahontas County, WV, and won the Nobel Prize for Literature, famous for her novel 'The Good Earth.'
Question 4: Mary Lou Retton, from Fairmont, WV, won the first American gold medal in which Olympic event in 1984?
- Gymnastics all-around (Correct answer)
- Figure skating
- Swimming relay
- Track hurdles
Correct answer: Gymnastics all-around
Mary Lou Retton won the individual all-around gold medal in gymnastics at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympics, the first American woman to do so.
Question 5: Senator Robert C. Byrd, a West Virginia political icon, held what distinction in the US Senate?
- Longest-serving US Senator in history (Correct answer)
- First senator from WV
- Only senator to serve as President Pro Tempore
- First senator to oppose Vietnam War
Correct answer: Longest-serving US Senator in history
Robert C. Byrd served in the US Senate for 51 years, making him the longest-serving senator in American history at his death in 2010.
Question 6: Kathy Mattea, a Grammy Award-winning country music star, was born in which West Virginia community?
- Cross Lanes (Correct answer)
- Buckhannon
- Spencer
- Point Pleasant
Correct answer: Cross Lanes
Kathy Mattea was born in Cross Lanes, WV, and became one of country music's most acclaimed vocalists, winning multiple Grammy Awards.
GH West Virginia Famous People 1
Booker T.
Washington, who was born into slavery in Franklin County, Virginia (now West Virginia), became famous as a leader in which field?