Commonwealth of trivia | Answers

The answers to today’s questions are shown in bold below.

1. The country represented by the flag pictured obtained its independence from Great Britain on 27 April 1961, when Milton Margai became the first Prime Minister and the country became a member of the British Commonwealth. What country?
   • Sierra Leone—Sierra Leone, a presidential republic in West Africa, gained independence from the UK in 1961. After a decade-long civil war ending in 2002, the country has experienced relative stability. Sierra Leone is culturally diverse, with English as the official language and Krio as the lingua franca.

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2. Where was Portuguese navigator Ferdinand Magellan when he was killed in battle on April 27, 1521?
   • Mactan Island (Philippines)—Magellan secured an alliance with the King of Cebu, Rajah Humabon, who converted to Christianity. However, Magellan was killed in a battle on Mactan Island when his men attempted to Christianise the local population. Although he was killed in the Philippines, one of his ships continued westward to Spain, completing the first circumnavigation of the Earth. The Basque navigator Juan Sebastián del Cano successfully finished the voyage. The Philippines did not exist as a nation at the time of Magellan’s death.

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3. Mstislav Rostropovich, Russian conductor and musician, died today in 2007. He was an acclaimed player of what instrument?
   • Cello—Mstislav Rostropovich, a Russian cellist and conductor, inspired and premiered over 100 pieces, expanding the cello repertoire. He was a human rights advocate and received numerous accolades, including a Polar Music Prize.

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4. On this day in 1865, the steamboat Sultana exploded, becoming the worst maritime disaster in US history and claiming 1,864 lives. Where did this catastrophic event occur?
   • Mississippi River—The Sultana, a commercial steamboat, met a tragic end in 1865 when it exploded and sank on the Mississippi River. The disaster, the worst in US maritime history, claimed the lives of 1,864 people. Tragically, the Sultana was carrying 2,127 passengers, far exceeding its capacity of 376. Among them were 1,950 repatriated Union soldiers, who had been prisoners of war, that the captain had accepted in a deal.

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5. In British politics, Betty Boothroyd became the first woman to be elected speaker of the House of Commons on 27 April 1992. What was her occupation before entering politics?
   • Dancer—Betty Boothroyd was a dancer with The Tiller Girls from 1946 to 1952. A Member of Parliament (Labour), she served as the first and only female Speaker of the House of Commons from 1992 to 2000. She later sat in the House of Lords.