meithnav/squad huggingface dataset:
The Alps (/ælps/; Italian: Alpi [ˈalpi]; French: Alpes [alp]; German: Alpen [ˈʔalpm̩]; Slovene: Alpe [ˈáːlpɛ]) are the highest and most extensive mountain range system that lies entirely in Europe, stretching approximately 1,200 kilometres (750 mi) across eight Alpine countries: Austria, France, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Slovenia, and Switzerland. The Caucasus Mountains are higher, and the Urals longer, but both lie partly in Asia. The mountains were formed over tens of millions of years as the African and Eurasian tectonic plates collided. Extreme shortening caused by the event resulted in marine sedimentary rocks rising by thrusting and folding into high mountain peaks such as Mont Blanc and the Matterhorn. Mont Blanc spans the French–Italian border, and at 4,810 m (15,781 ft) is the highest mountain in the Alps. The Alpine region area contains about a hundred peaks higher than 4,000 m (13,123 ft), known as the "four-thousanders".

Question: What Country are the Alps located in?
Answer: Europe

Question: How many kilometres do the Alps stretch?
Answer: 1,200 kilometres

Question: How long has it taken for the Alps to form? 
Answer: over tens of millions of years

Question: What is the highest mountain in the Alps?
Answer: Mont Blanc

Question: The Alpine region is also known as what? 
Answer: the "four-thousanders"
The altitude and size of the range affects the climate in Europe; in the mountains precipitation levels vary greatly and climatic conditions consist of distinct zones. Wildlife such as ibex live in the higher peaks to elevations of 3,400 m (11,155 ft), and plants such as Edelweiss grow in rocky areas in lower elevations as well as in higher elevations. Evidence of human habitation in the Alps goes back to the Paleolithic era.

Question: What affects the climate in Europe? 
Answer: The altitude and size of the range

Question: What type of animal lives inn the higher peaks?
Answer: ibex

Question: What plant grows in the rocky areas of the range?
Answer: Edelweiss

Question: Evidence of human habitation in the Alps goes as far back to what era? 
Answer: Paleolithic era
A mummified man, determined to be 5,000 years old, was discovered on a glacier at the Austrian–Italian border in 1991. By the 6th century BC, the Celtic La Tène culture was well established. Hannibal famously crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants, and the Romans had settlements in the region. In 1800 Napoleon crossed one of the mountain passes with an army of 40,000. The 18th and 19th centuries saw an influx of naturalists, writers, and artists, in particular the Romantics, followed by the golden age of alpinism as mountaineers began to ascend the peaks. In World War II, Adolf Hitler kept a base of operation in the Bavarian Alps throughout the war.

Question: How old was the mummified man discovered at the Austrian-Italian bored?
Answer: 5,000 years old

Question: What culture was well established by the 6th Century BC? 
Answer: the Celtic La Tène culture

Question: Who famously crossed the Alps with a herd of elephants? 
Answer: Hannibal

Question: What person took an army of 40,000 across the mountain passes? 
Answer: Napoleon

Question: Where was Adolf Hitlers base of operation during World War 2?
Answer: Bavarian Alps
The Alpine region has a strong cultural identity. The traditional culture of farming, cheesemaking, and woodworking still exists in Alpine villages, although the tourist industry began to grow early in the 20th century and expanded greatly after World War II to become the dominant industry by the end of the century. The Winter Olympic Games have been hosted in the Swiss, French, Italian, Austrian and German Alps. At present the region is home to 14 million people and has 120 million annual visitors.

Question: The alps is home to how many people?
Answer: 14 million people

Question: How many visitors go to the Alps annually?
Answer: 120 million

Question: What is the dominant industry in the Alpine region? 
Answer: tourist industry
The English word Alps derives from the Latin Alpes (through French). Maurus Servius Honoratus, an ancient commentator of Virgil, says in his commentary (A. X 13) that all high mountains are called Alpes by Celts. The term may be common to Italo-Celtic, because the Celtic languages have terms for high mountains derived from alp.

Question: The English word Alps derives from what Latin Word? 
Answer: Alpes

Question: Who says that all high mountains are called Alpes by Celts?
Answer: Maurus Servius Honoratus

Question: What languages have terms for high mountains derived from alp? 
Answer: Celtic languages
This may be consistent with the theory that in Greek Alpes is a name of non-Indo-European origin (which is common for prominent mountains and mountain ranges in the Mediterranean region). According to the Old English Dictionary, the Latin Alpes might possibly derive from a pre-Indo-European word *alb "hill"; "Albania" is a related derivation. Albania, a name not native to the region known as the country of Albania, has been used as a name for a number of mountainous areas across Europe. In Roman times, "Albania" was a name for the eastern Caucasus, while in the English language "Albania" (or "Albany") was occasionally used as a name for Scotland.

Question: There is a theory that in Greek Alpes is a name of what origin? 
Answer: Indo-European origin

Question: What name has been used as a name for a number of mountainous areas across Europe? 
Answer: Albania

Question: Albania was a name for what during Roman Times? 
Answer: the eastern Caucasus

Question: Albania was occasionally used as a name for what in the English language? 
Answer: Scotland
It's likely[weasel words] that alb ("white") and albus have common origins deriving from the association of the tops of tall mountains or steep hills with snow.

Question: What words are likely to have common origins?
Answer: alb ("white") and albus

Question: Where do Alb and Albus share their origin from?
Answer: the association of the tops of tall mountains or steep hills with snow.

Question: Alb can also mean what? 
Answer: white
In modern languages the term alp, alm, albe or alpe refers to a grazing pastures in the alpine regions below the glaciers, not the peaks. An alp refers to a high mountain pasture where cows are taken to be grazed during the summer months and where hay barns can be found, and the term "the Alps", referring to the mountains, is a misnomer. The term for the mountain peaks varies by nation and language: words such as horn, kogel, gipfel, spitz, and berg are used in German speaking regions: mont, pic, dent and aiguille in French speaking regions; and monte, picco or cima in Italian speaking regions.

Question: The term alp, alm, albe or alpe refers to what in modern languages? 
Answer: a grazing pastures in the alpine regions below the glaciers, not the peaks

Question: What refers to a high mountain pasture where cows are taken to be grazed during the summer months?
Answer: An alp

Question: Words such as horn, kogel, gipfel, spitz, and berd are used in what regions?
Answer: German speaking regions

Question: Mont, pic, dent and aiguille are words used in what regions?
Answer: French speaking regions
The Alps are a crescent shaped geographic feature of central Europe that ranges in a 800 km (500 mi) arc from east to west and is 200 km (120 mi) in width. The mean height of the mountain peaks is 2.5 km (1.6 mi). The range stretches from the Mediterranean Sea north above the Po basin, extending through France from Grenoble, eastward through mid and southern Switzerland. The range continues toward Vienna in Austria, and east to the Adriatic Sea and into Slovenia. To the south it dips into northern Italy and to the north extends to the south border of Bavaria in Germany. In areas like Chiasso, Switzerland, and Neuschwanstein, Bavaria, the demarcation between the mountain range and the flatlands are clear; in other places such as Geneva, the demarcation is less clear. The countries with the greatest alpine territory are Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy.

Question: What are the crescent shaped geographic feature of central Europe?
Answer: The Alps

Question: What is the mean height of the Alp's peak?
Answer: 2.5 km (1.6 mi)

Question: How far does the Alps range stretch?
Answer: the Mediterranean Sea north above the Po basin, extending through France from Grenoble, eastward through mid and southern Switzerland

Question: Switzerland, France, Austria and Italy have the greatest what? 
Answer: alpine territory
The highest portion of the range is divided by the glacial trough of the Rhone valley, with the Pennine Alps from Mont Blanc to the Matterhorn and Monte Rosa on the southern side, and the Bernese Alps on the northern. The peaks in the easterly portion of the range, in Austria and Slovenia, are smaller than those in the central and western portions.

Question: The highest portion of the Alp's range is divided by what? 
Answer: the glacial trough of the Rhone valley

Question: Where are the peaks smaller in the range? 
Answer: the easterly portion

Question: The Bernese Alps are located in what part of the range? 
Answer: northern
The highest peaks of the Western Alps and Eastern Alps, respectively, are Mont Blanc, at 4,810 m (15,780 ft) and Piz Bernina at 4,049 metres (13,284 ft). The second-highest major peaks are Monte Rosa at 4,634 m (15,200 ft) and Ortler at 3,905 m (12,810 ft), respectively

Question: The highest peak of the Western Alps is where? 
Answer: Mont Blanc

Question: How tall is the peak at Mont Blanc? 
Answer: 4,810 m

Question: The highest peak of the Eastern Alps is where?
Answer: Piz Bernina

Question: How tall is the peak of Piz Bernina
Answer: 4,049 metres
Series of lower mountain ranges run parallel to the main chain of the Alps, including the French Prealps in France and the Jura Mountains in Switzerland and France. The secondary chain of the Alps follows the watershed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Wienerwald, passing over many of the highest and most well-known peaks in the Alps. From the Colle di Cadibona to Col de Tende it runs westwards, before turning to the northwest and then, near the Colle della Maddalena, to the north. Upon reaching the Swiss border, the line of the main chain heads approximately east-northeast, a heading it follows until its end near Vienna.

Question: Where are the French Prealps located? 
Answer: France

Question: What mountains are located in Switzerland and France?
Answer: the Jura Mountains

Question: What follows the watershed from the Mediterranean Sea to the Wienerwald?
Answer: The secondary chain of the Alps

Question: What heads approximately east-northeast once at the Swiss bored?
Answer: the line of the main chain
The Alps have been crossed for war and commerce, and by pilgrims, students and tourists. Crossing routes by road, train or foot are known as passes, and usually consist of depressions in the mountains in which a valley leads from the plains and hilly pre-mountainous zones. In the medieval period hospices were established by religious orders at the summits of many of the main passes. The most important passes are the Col de l'Iseran (the highest), the Brenner Pass, the Mont-Cenis, the Great St. Bernard Pass, the Col de Tende, the Gotthard Pass, the Semmering Pass, and the Stelvio Pass.

Question: What have been crossed for war and commerce? 
Answer: The Alps

Question: What was established during medieval periods by religious orders?
Answer: hospices

Question: Where were hospices established? 
Answer: the summits of many of the main passes

Question: What is the highest of the most important passes of the Alps?
Answer: Col de l'Iseran
Crossing the Italian-Austrian border, the Brenner Pass separates the Ötztal Alps and Zillertal Alps and has been in use as a trading route since the 14th century. The lowest of the Alpine passes at 985 m (3,232 ft), the Semmering crosses from Lower Austria to Styria; since the 12th century when a hospice was built there it has seen continuous use. A railroad with a tunnel 1 mile (1.6 km) long was built along the route of the pass in the mid-19th century. With a summit of 2,469 m (8,100 ft), the Great St. Bernard Pass is one of the highest in the Alps, crossing the Italian-Swiss border east of the Pennine Alps along the flanks of Mont Blanc. The pass was used by Napoleon Bonaparte to cross 40,000 troops in 1800. The Saint Gotthard Pass crosses from Central Switzerland to Ticino; in the late 19th century the 14 km (9 mi) long Saint Gotthard Tunnel was built connecting Lucerne in Switzerland, with Milan in Italy. The Mont Cenis pass has been a major commercial road between Western Europe and Italy. Now the pass has been supplanted by the Fréjus Road and Rail tunnel. At 2,756 m (9,042 ft), the Stelvio Pass in northern Italy is one of the highest of the Alpine passes; the road was built in the 1820s. The highest pass in the alps is the col de l'Iseran in Savoy (France) at 2,770 m (9,088 ft).

Question: What seperates the Otztal Alps and Zillertal Alps?
Answer: the Brenner Pass

Question: How long has the Brenner Pass been used as a trading route? 
Answer: since the 14th century

Question: The lowest of the Alpine passes at what elevation? 
Answer: 985 m (3,232 ft)

Question: Who crossed the Great St. Bernard Pass with 40,000 troops? 
Answer: Napoleon Bonaparte

Question: Where is the highest point in the alps located? 
Answer: col de l'Iseran in Savoy (France)
Important geological concepts were established as naturalists began studying the rock formations of the Alps in the 18th century. In the mid-19th century the now defunct theory of geosynclines was used to explain the presence of "folded" mountain chains but by the mid-20th century the theory of plate tectonics became widely accepted.

Question: Who began studying the rock formations of the Alps
Answer: naturalists

Question: When did the studying of rock formations begin in the Alps?
Answer: the 18th century

Question: What was used in the mid-19th century to explain the presence of "folded" mountain chains? 
Answer: theory of geosynclines

Question: What theory was more widely accepted by the mid-20th century? 
Answer: the theory of plate tectonics
The formation of the Alps (the Alpine orogeny) was an episodic process that began about 300 million years ago. In the Paleozoic Era the Pangaean supercontinent consisted of a single tectonic plate; it broke into separate plates during the Mesozoic Era and the Tethys sea developed between Laurasia and Gondwana during the Jurassic Period. The Tethys was later squeezed between colliding plates causing the formation of mountain ranges called the Alpide belt, from Gibraltar through the Himalayas to Indonesia—a process that began at the end of the Mesozoic and continues into the present. The formation of the Alps was a segment of this orogenic process, caused by the collision between the African and the Eurasian plates that began in the late Cretaceous Period.

Question: When did the formation of the alps began?
Answer: about 300 million years ago

Question: What did the Pangaean supercontinent consisted of what during the Paleozoic Era?
Answer: a single tectonic plate

Question: When did the single tectonic plate break into separate plates?
Answer: the Mesozoic Era

Question: The Tethys sea developed during what period of time? 
Answer: Jurassic Period

Question: The collision between the African and the Eurasian plates began during what time? 
Answer: the late Cretaceous Period
Under extreme compressive stresses and pressure, marine sedimentary rocks were uplifted, creating characteristic recumbent folds, or nappes, and thrust faults. As the rising peaks underwent erosion, a layer of marine flysch sediments was deposited in the foreland basin, and the sediments became involved in younger nappes (folds) as the orogeny progressed. Coarse sediments from the continual uplift and erosion were later deposited in foreland areas as molasse. The molasse regions in Switzerland and Bavaria were well-developed and saw further upthrusting of flysch.

Question: What was uplifted from extreme compressive stresses and pressure? 
Answer: marine sedimentary rocks

Question: When did the layer of marine flysch sediments get deposited in the foreland basin?
Answer: As the rising peaks underwent erosion

Question: What were later deposited in foreland areas as molasse?
Answer: Coarse sediments

Question: Switzerland and Bavaria saw a further upthrusting of what?
Answer: flysch
The Alpine orogeny occurred in ongoing cycles through to the Paleogene causing differences in nappe structures, with a late-stage orogeny causing the development of the Jura Mountains. A series of tectonic events in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods caused different paleogeographic regions. The Alps are subdivided by different lithology (rock composition) and nappe structure according to the orogenic events that affected them. The geological subdivision differentiates the Western, Eastern Alps and Southern Alps: the Helveticum in the north, the Penninicum and Austroalpine system in the center and, south of the Periadriatic Seam, the Southern Alpine system.

Question: What caused the development of the Jura Mountains? 
Answer: a late-stage orogeny

Question: What cause different paleogeographic regions in the Triassic, Jurassic and Cretaceous periods?
Answer: A series of tectonic events

Question: What is another word for rock composition? 
Answer: lithology

Question: What geological subdivision is located in the north?
Answer: Helveticum
Peaks in France, Italy and Switzerland lie in the "Houillière zone", which consists of basement with sediments from the Mesozoic Era. High "massifs" with external sedimentary cover are more common in the Western Alps and were affected by Neogene Period thin-skinned thrusting whereas the Eastern Alps have comparatively few high peaked massifs. Similarly the peaks in Switzerland extending to western Austria (Helvetic nappes) consist of thin-skinned sedimentary folding that detached from former basement rock.

Question: What area do peaks in France, Italy, and Switzerland lie in? 
Answer: Houillière zone

Question: What are more common in the Western Alps?
Answer: High "massifs"

Question: When compared to the Western Alps, what area has few high peaked massifs?
Answer: Eastern Alps
In simple terms the structure of the Alps consists of layers of rock of European, African and oceanic (Tethyan) origin. The bottom nappe structure is of continental European origin, above which are stacked marine sediment nappes, topped off by nappes derived from the African plate. The Matterhorn is an example of the ongoing orogeny and shows evidence of great folding. The tip of the mountain consists of gneisses from the African plate; the base of the peak, below the glaciated area, consists of European basement rock. The sequence of Tethyan marine sediments and their oceanic basement is sandwiched between rock derived from the African and European plates.

Question: Layers of rock from Europe, Africa and the ocean make up what?
Answer: the structure of the Alps

Question: What is the origin of the bottom nappe structure? 
Answer: continental Europe

Question: Where are the top of the nappes derived from? 
Answer: the African plate

Question: What is an example of the ongoing orogeny?
Answer: The Matterhorn
The first British Mont Blanc ascent was in 1788; the first female ascent in 1819. By the mid-1850s Swiss mountaineers had ascended most of the peaks and were eagerly sought as mountain guides. Edward Whymper reached the top of the Matterhorn in 1865 (after seven attempts), and in 1938 the last of the six great north faces of the Alps was climbed with the first ascent of the Eiger Nordwand (north face of the Eiger).

Question: When was the first British Mont Blanc ascent? 
Answer: 1788

Question: When was the first female ascent on Mont Blanc?
Answer: 1819

Question: When had Swiss mountaineers ascended most of the peaks? 
Answer: the mid-1850s

Question: What year did Edward Whymper reach the top of the Matterhorn?
Answer: 1865

Question: When were the last of the six great north faces of the Alps climbed? 
Answer: 1938
The Alps are a source of minerals that have been mined for thousands of years. In the 8th to 6th centuries BC during the Hallstatt culture, Celtic tribes mined copper; later the Romans mined gold for coins in the Bad Gastein area. Erzberg in Styria furnishes high-quality iron ore for the steel industry. Crystals are found throughout much of the Alpine region such as cinnabar, amethyst, and quartz. The cinnabar deposits in Slovenia are a notable source of cinnabar pigments.

Question: What have been mined in the Alps for thousands of years? 
Answer: minerals

Question: What did Celtic tribes mine from the Alps?
Answer: copper

Question: What did the Romans mine in the Bad Gastein area?
Answer: gold

Question: What does Erzberd in Styria furnish?
Answer: high-quality iron ore

Question: The cinnabar deposits are found in what area?
Answer: Slovenia
Alpine crystals have been studied and collected for hundreds of years, and began to be classified in the 18th century. Leonhard Euler studied the shapes of crystals, and by the 19th century crystal hunting was common in Alpine regions. David Friedrich Wiser amassed a collection of 8000 crystals that he studied and documented. In the 20th century Robert Parker wrote a well-known work about the rock crystals of the Swiss Alps; at the same period a commission was established to control and standardize the naming of Alpine minerals.

Question: How long have Alpine crystals been studied and collected? 
Answer: hundreds of years

Question: When did the alpine crystals begin to be classified? 
Answer: the 18th century

Question: Who studied the shapes of crystals? 
Answer: Leonhard Euler

Question: By the 19th century what was common in the Alpine regions?
Answer: crystal hunting

Question: Who amassed a collection 8000 crystals?
Answer: David Friedrich Wiser
In the Miocene Epoch the mountains underwent severe erosion because of glaciation, which was noted in the mid-19th century by naturalist Louis Agassiz who presented a paper proclaiming the Alps were covered in ice at various intervals—a theory he formed when studying rocks near his Neuchâtel home which he believed originated to the west in the Bernese Oberland. Because of his work he came to be known as the "father of the ice-age concept" although other naturalists before him put forth similar ideas.

Question: Where did the mountains undergo serve erosion?
Answer: Miocene Epoch

Question: What was the cause of the severe erosion?
Answer: glaciation

Question: Who noted the severe erosion of the mountains?
Answer: Louis Agassiz

Question: What was Louis Agassiz also known as? 
Answer: the "father of the ice-age concept"
Agassiz studied glacier movement in the 1840s at the Unteraar Glacier where he found the glacier moved 100 m (328 ft) per year, more rapidly in the middle than at the edges. His work was continued by other scientists and now a permanent laboratory exists inside a glacier under the Jungfraujoch, devoted exclusively to the study of Alpine glaciers.

Question: Where did Agassiz study during the 1840s?
Answer: the Unteraar Glacier

Question: Agassiz found that the Unteraar Glacier moved how much per year? 
Answer: 100 m (328 ft)

Question: The movement of the Unteraar Glacier moved more rapidly in what part?
Answer: the middle
Glaciers pick up rocks and sediment with them as they flow. This causes erosion and the formation of valleys over time. The Inn valley is an example of a valley carved by glaciers during the ice ages with a typical terraced structure caused by erosion. Eroded rocks from the most recent ice age lie at the bottom of the valley while the top of the valley consists of erosion from earlier ice ages. Glacial valleys have characteristically steep walls (reliefs); valleys with lower reliefs and talus slopes are remnants of glacial troughs or previously infilled valleys. Moraines, piles of rock picked up during the movement of the glacier, accumulate at edges, center and the terminus of glaciers.

Question: What is an example of a valley carved by glaciers during the ice ages? 
Answer: The Inn valley

Question: What lays at the bottom of the Inn Valley
Answer: Eroded rocks from the most recent ice age

Question: The top of the Inn Valley consists of what?
Answer: erosion from earlier ice ages

Question: What are Moraines?
Answer: piles of rock picked up during the movement of the glacier

Question: Where have moraines accumulated?
Answer: at edges, center and the terminus of glaciers.
Glaciers end in ice caves (the Rhone Glacier), by trailing into a lake or river, or by shedding snowmelt on a meadow. Sometimes a piece of glacier will detach or break resulting in flooding, property damage and loss of life. In the 17th century about 2500 people were killed by an avalanche in a village on the French-Italian border; in the 19th century 120 homes in a village near Zermatt were destroyed by an avalanche.

Question: What causes flooding, property damage, and loss of life?
Answer: a piece of glacier will detach or break

Question: What killed about 2500 people in the 17th century?
Answer: an avalanche

Question: How many homes in a village near Zermatt were destroyed by an avalanche in the 19th century? 
Answer: 120 homes
High levels of precipitation cause the glaciers to descend to permafrost levels in some areas whereas in other, more arid regions, glaciers remain above about the 3,500 m (11,483 ft) level. The 1,817 square kilometres (702 sq mi) of the Alps covered by glaciers in 1876 had shrunk to 1,342 km2 (518 sq mi) by 1973, resulting in decreased river run-off levels. Forty percent of the glaciation in Austria has disappeared since 1850, and 30% of that in Switzerland.

Question: What cause the glaciers to descend to permafrost levels in some areas? 
Answer: High levels of precipitation

Question: From 1876 to 1973, how much did the glaciers that covered the Alps shrink?
Answer: to 1,342 km2 (518 sq mi)

Question: What resulted from the loss of the area the glaciers over the Alps?
Answer: decreased river run-off levels.

Question: How much of the glaciation in Austria disappeared?
Answer: Forty percent

Question: How much of the glaciation disappeared in Switzerland?
Answer: 30%
The severe weather in the Alps has been studied since the 18th century; particularly the weather patterns such as the seasonal foehn wind. Numerous weather stations were placed in the mountains early in the early 20th century, providing continuous data for climatologists. Some of the valleys are quite arid such as the Aosta valley in Italy, the Maurienne in France, the Valais in Switzerland, and northern Tyrol.

Question: Since when has the severe weather in the Alps been studied? 
Answer: the 18th century

Question: Particularly what part of the weather has been studied?
Answer: the weather patterns

Question: What was placed in the mountains early in the 20th century?
Answer: Numerous weather stations

Question: Where is the Aosta valley located?
Answer: Italy

Question: Where is the Valais located?
Answer: Switzerland
The areas that are not arid and receive high precipitation experience periodic flooding from rapid snowmelt and runoff. The mean precipitation in the Alps ranges from a low of 2,600 mm (100 in) per year to 3,600 mm (140 in) per year, with the higher levels occurring at high altitudes. At altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m (3,281 and 9,843 ft), snowfall begins in November and accumulates through to April or May when the melt begins. Snow lines vary from 2,400 to 3,000 m (7,874 to 9,843 ft), above which the snow is permanent and the temperatures hover around the freezing point even July and August. High-water levels in streams and rivers peak in June and July when the snow is still melting at the higher altitudes.

Question: What areas experience periodic flooding from rapid snowmelt and runoff?
Answer: The areas that are not arid and receive high precipitation

Question: What are the ranges of mean precipitation in the Alps?
Answer: 2,600 mm (100 in) per year to 3,600 mm (140 in) per year

Question: Where do the higher levels of precipitation occur? 
Answer: high altitudes

Question: At what altitude does snowfall begin in November?
Answer: At altitudes between 1,000 and 3,000 m
The Alps are split into five climatic zones, each with different vegetation. The climate, plant life and animal life vary among the different sections or zones of the mountains. The lowest zone is the colline zone, which exists between 500 and 1,000 m (1,640 and 3,281 ft), depending on the location. The montane zone extends from 800 to 1,700 m (2,625 to 5,577 ft), followed by the sub-Alpine zone from 1,600 to 2,400 m (5,249 to 7,874 ft). The Alpine zone, extending from tree line to snow line, is followed by the glacial zone, which covers the glaciated areas of the mountain. Climatic conditions show variances within the same zones; for example, weather conditions at the head of a mountain valley, extending directly from the peaks, are colder and more severe than those at the mouth of a valley which tend to be less severe and receive less snowfall.

Question: How many zones are the Alps split into?
Answer: five climatic zones

Question: What is the lowest zone of the Alps called?
Answer: colline zone

Question: Where does the lowest zone of the Alps exist? 
Answer: between 500 and 1,000 m

Question: Where does the montane zone extend from?
Answer: from 800 to 1,700 m

Question: Where does the sub-Alpine zone extend from?
Answer: from 1,600 to 2,400 m
At these higher altitudes, the plants tend to form isolated cushions. In the Alps, several species of flowering plants have been recorded above 4,000 m (13,120 ft), including Ranunculus glacialis, Androsace alpina and Saxifraga biflora. The Eritrichium nanum, commonly known as the King of the Alps, is the most elusive of the alpine flowers, growing on rocky ridges at 2,600 to 3,750 m (8,530 to 12,303 ft). Perhaps the best known of the alpine plants is the Edelweiss which grows in rocky areas and can be found at altitudes as low as 1,400 m (4,593 ft) and as high as 3,400 m (11,155 ft). The plants that grow at the highest altitudes have adapted to conditions by specialization such as growing in rock screes that give protection from winds.

Question: What do the plants tend to form at higher altitudes? 
Answer: isolated cushions

Question: Ranunculus glacialis have been recorded to have been found how far in the alps?
Answer: above 4,000 m

Question: What is Eritrichium nanum commonly known as?
Answer: the King of the Alps

Question: What is the best known of the alpine plants?
Answer: Edelweiss
Celtic tribes settled in Switzerland between 1000 to 1500 BC. The Raetians lived in the eastern regions, while the west was occupied by the Helvetii and the Allobrogi settled in the Rhone valley and in Savoy. Among the many substances Celtic tribes mined was salt in areas such as Salzburg in Austria where evidence of the Hallstatt culture was found by a mine manager in the 19th century. By the 6th century BC the La Tène culture was well established in the region, and became known for high quality decorated weapons and jewelry. The Celts were the most widespread of the mountain tribes—they had warriors that were strong, tall and fair skinned skilled with iron weapons, which gave them an advantage in warfare.

Question: When did Celtic tribes settle in Switzerland? 
Answer: between 1000 to 1500 BC

Question: The Raetians lived in what region?
Answer: the eastern regions

Question: The Helvetii occupied which region?
Answer: the west

Question: What did the Celtic tribes mine?
Answer: salt

Question: Which were the most widespread of the mountain tribes?
Answer: The Celts
Austrian-born Adolf Hitler had a lifelong romantic fascination with the Alps and by the 1930s established a home in the Obersalzberg region outside of Berchtesgaden. His first visit to the area was in 1923 and he maintained a strong tie there until the end of his life. At the end of World War II the US Army occupied Obersalzberg, to prevent Hitler from retreating with the Wehrmacht into the mountains.

Question: Where was Adolf Hitler born?
Answer: Austrian

Question: What did Adolf Hitler have a lifelong romantic fascination with? 
Answer: the Alps

Question: Where did Adolf Hitler establish a home in the 1930s?
Answer: the Obersalzberg region

Question: When was Adolf Hitlers first visit to the Alps?
Answer: 1923
Farming had been a traditional occupation for centuries, although it became less dominant in the 20th century with the advent of tourism. Grazing and pasture land are limited because of the steep and rocky topography of the Alps. In mid-June cows are moved to the highest pastures close to the snowline, where they are watched by herdsmen who stay in the high altitudes often living in stone huts or wooden barns during the summers. Villagers celebrate the day the cows are herded up to the pastures and again when they return in mid-September. The Alpanschluss or Désalpes ("coming down from the alps") is celebrated by decorating the cows with garlands and enormous cowbells while the farmers dress in traditional costumes.

Question: What has been a traditional occupation for centuries?
Answer: Farming

Question: What made farming less dominant in the 20th century? 
Answer: tourism

Question: Why is pasture land limited? 
Answer: because of the steep and rocky topography of the Alps

Question: When are cows moved to the highest pastures close to the snowline?
Answer: mid-June
Cheesemaking is an ancient tradition in most Alpine countries. A wheel of cheese from the Emmental in Switzerland can weigh up to 45 kg (100 lb), and the Beaufort in Savoy can weight up to 70 kilograms (150 lb). Owners of the cows traditionally receive from the cheesemakers a portion in relation to the proportion of the cows' milk from the summer months in the high alps. Haymaking is an important farming activity in mountain villages which has become somewhat mechanized in recent years, although the slopes are so steep that usually scythes are necessary to cut the grass. Hay is normally brought in twice a year, often also on festival days. Alpine festivals vary from country to country and often include the display of local costumes such as dirndl and trachten, the playing of Alpenhorns, wrestling matches, some pagan traditions such as Walpurgis Night and, in many areas, Carnival is celebrated before Lent.

Question: What is an ancient tradition in most Alpine countries?
Answer: Cheesemaking

Question: How much can a wheel of cheese from the Emmental weigh?
Answer: up to 45 kg (100 lb)

Question: What is an important farming activity in mountain villages?
Answer: Haymaking

Question: How many times is Hay normally brought each year?
Answer: twice

Question: When is Carnival celebrated? 
Answer: before Lent
In the high villages people live in homes built according to medieval designs that withstand cold winters. The kitchen is separated from the living area (called the stube, the area of the home heated by a stove), and second-floor bedrooms benefit from rising heat. The typical Swiss chalet originated in the Bernese Oberland. Chalets often face south or downhill, and are built of solid wood, with a steeply gabled roof to allow accumulated snow to slide off easily. Stairs leading to upper levels are sometimes built on the outside, and balconies are sometimes enclosed.

Question: What do people in high villages build their homes according to?
Answer: medieval designs that withstand cold winters

Question: What is the area of the home heated by a stove called? 
Answer: the stube

Question: The typic Swiss chalet originated from where?
Answer: the Bernese Oberland

Question: Which direction do Chalets often face? 
Answer: south or downhill

Question: What are Chalets built of? 
Answer: solid wood
Food is passed from the kitchen to the stube, where the dining room table is placed. Some meals are communal, such as fondue, where a pot is set in the middle of the table for each person to dip into. Other meals are still served in a traditional manner on carved wooden plates. Furniture has been traditionally elaborately carved and in many Alpine countries carpentry skills are passed from generation to generation.

Question: The food is passed from the kitchen to where? 
Answer: the stube

Question: Where is the dining room table placed? 
Answer: the stube

Question: Traditionally, what are meals served on? 
Answer: carved wooden plates

Question: How is furniture traditionally carved? 
Answer: elaborately
Roofs are traditionally constructed from Alpine rocks such as pieces of schist, gneiss or slate. Such chalets are typically found in the higher parts of the valleys, as in the Maurienne valley in Savoy, where the amount of snow during the cold months is important. The inclination of the roof cannot exceed 40%, allowing the snow to stay on top, thereby functioning as insulation from the cold. In the lower areas where the forests are widespread, wooden tiles are traditionally used. Commonly made of Norway spruce, they are called "tavaillon". The Alpine regions are multicultural and linguistically diverse. Dialects are common, and vary from valley to valley and region to region. In the Slavic Alps alone 19 dialects have been identified. Some of the French dialects spoken in the French, Swiss and Italian alps of Aosta Valley derive from Arpitan, while the southern part of the western range is related to Old Provençal; the German dialects derive from Germanic tribal languages. Romansh, spoken by two percent of the population in southeast Switzerland, is an ancient Rhaeto-Romanic language derived from Latin, remnants of ancient Celtic languages and perhaps Etruscan.

Question: What are roofs traditionally constructed from? 
Answer: Alpine rocks

Question: Where are chalets typically used for roof construction found?? 
Answer: the higher parts of the valleys

Question: The inclination of the roof cannot exceed how much? 
Answer: 40%

Question: How many dialects have been identified in the Slavic Alps?
Answer: 19

Question: What language is spoken by two percent of the population in southeast Switzerland? 
Answer: Romansh
At present the Alps are one of the more popular tourist destinations in the world with many resorts such Oberstdorf, in Bavaria, Saalbach in Austria, Davos in Switzerland, Chamonix in France, and Cortina d'Ampezzo in Italy recording more than a million annual visitors. With over 120 million visitors a year tourism is integral to the Alpine economy with much it coming from winter sports although summer visitors are an important component of the tourism industry.

Question: What's one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world? 
Answer: the Alps

Question: Where is Saalbach located? 
Answer: Austria

Question: How many people visit the Alps every year? 
Answer: over 120 million

Question: What is an integral part of the Alpine economy?
Answer: tourism
The tourism industry began in the early 19th century when foreigners visited the Alps, traveled to the bases of the mountains to enjoy the scenery, and stayed at the spa-resorts. Large hotels were built during the Belle Époque; cog-railways, built early in the 20th century, brought tourists to ever higher elevations, with the Jungfraubahn terminating at the Jungfraujoch, well above the eternal snow-line, after going through a tunnel in Eiger. During this period winter sports were slowly introduced: in 1882 the first figure skating championship was held in St. Moritz, and downhill skiing became a popular sport with English visitors early in the 20th century, as the first ski-lift was installed in 1908 above Grindelwald.

Question: When did the tourism industry begin? 
Answer: the early 19th century

Question: When were large hotels built in the Alps? 
Answer: during the Belle Époque

Question: When were cog-railways built in the Alps?
Answer: early in the 20th century

Question: When was the first figure skating championship held? 
Answer: 1882

Question: Where was the first figure skating championship held? 
Answer: St. Moritz
In the first half of the 20th century the Olympic Winter Games were held three times in Alpine venues: the 1924 Winter Olympics in Chamonix, France; the 1928 Winter Olympics in St. Moritz, Switzerland; and the 1936 Winter Olympics in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. During World War II the winter games were canceled but after that time the Winter Games have been held in St. Moritz (1948), Cortina d'Ampezzo (1956), Innsbruck, Austria (1964 and 1976), Grenoble, France, (1968), Albertville, France, (1992), and Torino (2006). In 1930 the Lauberhorn Rennen (Lauberhorn Race), was run for the first time on the Lauberhorn above Wengen; the equally demanding Hahnenkamm was first run in the same year in Kitzbühl, Austria. Both races continue to be held each January on successive weekends. The Lauberhorn is the more strenuous downhill race at 4.5 km (2.8 mi) and poses danger to racers who reach 130 km/h (81 mph) within seconds of leaving the start gate.

Question: Where were the Winter Olympics held in 1924?
Answer: Chamonix, France

Question: Where were the Winter Olympics held in 1928?
Answer: St. Moritz, Switzerland

Question: Where were the Winter Olympics held in 1936?
Answer: Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany

Question: When was the Lauberhorn Rennen ran for the first time on the Lauberhorn above Wengen?
Answer: 1930

Question: When were the Winter Olympics held in Albertville, France? 
Answer: (1992)
During the post-World War I period ski-lifts were built in Swiss and Austrian towns to accommodate winter visitors, but summer tourism continued to be important; by the mid-20th century the popularity of downhill skiing increased greatly as it became more accessible and in the 1970s several new villages were built in France devoted almost exclusively to skiing, such as Les Menuires. Until this point Austria and Switzerland had been the traditional and more popular destinations for winter sports, but by the end of the 20th century and into the early 21st century, France, Italy and the Tyrol began to see increases in winter visitors. From 1980 to the present, ski-lifts have been modernized and snow-making machines installed at many resorts, leading to concerns regarding the loss of traditional Alpine culture and questions regarding sustainable development as the winter ski industry continues to develop quickly and the number of summer tourists decline.

Question: When were ski-lifts built in Swiss and Austrian towns?
Answer: post-World War I

Question: When were several new villages built in France almost exclusively for skiing?
Answer: the 1970s

Question: Where is Les Menuires located? 
Answer: France
The region is serviced by 4,200 km (2,600 mi) of roads used by 6 million vehicles. Train travel is well established in the Alps, with, for instance 120 km (75 mi) of track for every 1,000 km2 (390 sq mi) in a country such as Switzerland. Most of Europe's highest railways are located there. Moreover, plans are underway to build a 57 km (35 mi)-long sub-alpine tunnel connecting the older Lötschberg and Gotthard tunnels built in the 19th century.

Question: How much area is devoted to roads in the Alpine region?
Answer: 4,200 km (2,600 mi)

Question: How many vehicles use the roads? 
Answer: 6 million

Question: Where are most of Europe's highest railways located? 
Answer: Switzerland

Question: How long is the tunnel connecting Lotschberg and Gotthard planned to be? 
Answer: 57 km
Some high mountain villages, such as Avoriaz (in France), Wengen, and Zermatt (in Switzerland) are accessible only by cable car or cog-rail trains, and are car free. Other villages in the Alps are considering becoming car free zones or limiting the number of cars for reasons of sustainability of the fragile Alpine terrain.

Question: Where is the village of Avoriaz located? 
Answer: France

Question: Where are the villages of Wengen and Zermatt located? 
Answer: Switzerland

Question: Why are villages considering becoming car free zones?
Answer: reasons of sustainability
The lower regions and larger towns of the Alps are well-served by motorways and main roads, but higher mountain passes and byroads, which are amongst the highest in Europe, can be treacherous even in summer due to steep slopes. Many passes are closed in winter. A multitude of airports around the Alps (and some within), as well as long-distance rail links from all neighbouring countries, afford large numbers of travellers easy access from abroad.

Question: When are many passes in the Alps closed? 
Answer: winter

Question: The lower regions and larger towns of the Alps are well-served by what?
Answer: motorways

Question: What can be treacherous even in summer due to steep slopes?
Answer: mountain passes
The existence of discrete inheritable units was first suggested by Gregor Mendel (1822–1884). From 1857 to 1864, he studied inheritance patterns in 8000 common edible pea plants, tracking distinct traits from parent to offspring. He described these mathematically as 2n combinations where n is the number of differing characteristics in the original peas. Although he did not use the term gene, he explained his results in terms of discrete inherited units that give rise to observable physical characteristics. This description prefigured the distinction between genotype (the genetic material of an organism) and phenotype (the visible traits of that organism). Mendel was also the first to demonstrate independent assortment, the distinction between dominant and recessive traits, the distinction between a heterozygote and homozygote, and the phenomenon of discontinuous inheritance.

Question: Who first suggested the existence of discrete inheritable units?
Answer: Gregor Mendel (1822–1884)

Question: If a distinct trait in edible pea plants is mathematically described as a 2n combination, what does n represent? 
Answer: n is the number of differing characteristics in the original peas

Question: What is one thing that Gregor Mendel was the first to demonstrate?
Answer: independent assortment

Question: What is another thing that Gregor Mendel was the first to demonstrate?
Answer: the distinction between dominant and recessive traits

Question: What did Gregor Mendel explain his results in terms of?
Answer: discrete inherited units that give rise to observable physical characteristics
The theories developed in the 1930s and 1940s to integrate molecular genetics with Darwinian evolution are called the modern evolutionary synthesis, a term introduced by Julian Huxley. Evolutionary biologists subsequently refined this concept, such as George C. Williams' gene-centric view of evolution. He proposed an evolutionary concept of the gene as a unit of natural selection with the definition: "that which segregates and recombines with appreciable frequency.":24 In this view, the molecular gene transcribes as a unit, and the evolutionary gene inherits as a unit. Related ideas emphasizing the centrality of genes in evolution were popularized by Richard Dawkins.

Question: In what time span were the theories to integrate molecular genetic with Darwinian evolution developed?
Answer: the 1930s and 1940s

Question: What are the theories that integrate molecular genetics with Darwinian evolution called?
Answer: the modern evolutionary synthesis

Question: Who proposed an evolutionary concept of the gene as a unit of natural selection?
Answer: George C. Williams

Question: What is the definition of the concept of the gene as a unit of natural selection?
Answer: "that which segregates and recombines with appreciable frequency."

Question: Who popularized ideas emphasizing the centrality of genes in evolution?
Answer: Richard Dawkins
The vast majority of living organisms encode their genes in long strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid). DNA consists of a chain made from four types of nucleotide subunits, each composed of: a five-carbon sugar (2'-deoxyribose), a phosphate group, and one of the four bases adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine.:2.1

Question: What do the vast majority of living organisms encode their genes in?
Answer: long strands of DNA (deoxyribonucleic acid)

Question: What does DNA consist of?
Answer: a chain made from four types of nucleotide subunits

Question: What type of sugar composes part of the DNA molecule?
Answer: a five-carbon sugar (2'-deoxyribose)

Question: What are the four bases used in nucleotide subunits?
Answer: adenine, cytosine, guanine, and thymine

Question: Besides the sugar and the four bases, what else does DNA consist of?
Answer: a phosphate group