1) The word "bank" comes from the Italian word "banco," which means bench. In medieval Italy, bankers conducted their business on benches in the marketplace.

2) The ancient city of Athens, Greece, is often considered the birthplace of democracy, where citizens had a say in the decision-making process.

3) A single bolt of lightning can heat the surrounding air to temperatures five times hotter than the surface of the sun.

4) The legislative branch in many democracies is responsible for making laws, representing the interests of the people, and providing checks and balances on the executive branch.