See question two. Ursus arctos middendorffi. Image Wildlife Trip.
The first date-related question sets a theme for the subsequent questions and/or answers.
One
Napoleon Bonaparte was strongly linked to three islands: (i) where he was born on 15 August 1769; (ii) where he was exiled in 1814 and subsequently escaped; and (iii) where he was exiled in 1815 and subsequently died. What are these islands and in what seas or oceans are they found?
Two
Ursus arctos middendorffi, the largest brown bear species, has a common name derived from an archipelago; which archipelago is it, and in what sea or ocean is it located?
Three
Puerto Ayora, also called Santa Cruz, is the largest town in which island group, and these islands are part of which country?
Four
Leaving in about 982 from Snæfellsjökull, one of the westernmost points of …, Erik and a small group of men reached land on the opposite shore of …, a land that had been skirted by the Norwegian Gunnbjörn Ulfsson earlier in the 10th century. — Encyclopædia Britannica
The above quote from Encyclopædia Britannica has had two island countries removed from it. What are these two countries?
Five
What is the second-largest Canadian island, and in what ocean is it found?
As with yesterday’s questions these are not date-related but follow a theme mentioned in the title.
One
Who, in 1965, became the second cricket player to hit six sixes in an over, and whose record did he equal?
Answers: Ravi Shastri; Gary Sobers.
On 31 August 1968, Sobers became the first man to hit six sixes off a single six-ball over in first-class cricket, off the bowling of Malcolm Nash in Nottinghamshire’s first innings against Glamorgan at St Helen’s in Swansea. Nash, a seam bowler, decided to try his arm at spin bowling, and this achievement was caught on film. On 10 January 1985, Shastri equalled Sobers’ record by hitting six sixes in an over, off the bowling of Baroda’s Tilak Raj.
Two
Which planet in our solar system is an ice giant and the second farthest from the Sun?
Answer: Uranus.
Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is one of the two ice giants in our solar system, the other being Neptune. Its interior is thought to consist largely of high-pressure water, ammonia and methane. Uranus has the coldest planetary atmosphere in the Solar System, with minimum temperatures of about −224 °C (−371 °F), and an axial tilt of about 97.8°, causing retrograde rotation. It has a dark ring system, 29 known moons and unusually low internal heat. Discovered by William Herschel in 1781, it was visited by Voyager 2 in 1986, and a dedicated Uranus mission remains a major priority for future planetary exploration.
Three
The active volcano Popocatépetl is which country’s second-highest peak?
Answer: Mexico.
Popocatépetl is an active stratovolcano on the borders of the Mexican states of Puebla, Morelos and the State of Mexico, reaching 5,393 m (17,694 ft) and linked to Iztaccíhuatl by the Paso de Cortés. It is Mexico’s second-highest mountain after Citlaltépetl (Pico de Orizaba) at 5,636 m (18,491 ft). Its summit glaciers largely disappeared by 2001 owing to a combination of volcanic activity and climatic warming, and its eruptions primarily produce magnesium-rich andesite and dacite.
Four
No Need to Argue (1994) was what band’s second album?
Answer: The Cranberries.
No Need to Argue, released on 3 October 1994 via Island Records, is the Cranberries’ best-selling album with over 17 million copies sold by 2014. It includes “Zombie” and is darker than their debut.
Five
Jacqueline Roque was the muse and second wife, from 1961, of which artist?
Answer: Pablo Picasso.
Jacqueline Picasso, also known as Jacqueline Roque, Pablo Picasso’s muse and second wife. Their marriage spanned 12 years until his death, during which he produced more than 400 portraits of her—a greater number than for any other partner.
See question three. Brünnhilde pleads with her sisters to rescue Sieglinde: (Arthur Rackham, 1910). Image Wikimedia Commons
These questions are not date-related but do follow a theme mentioned in the title.
One
What is the title of the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novel?
Answer: The Two Towers.
Published in 1954, The Two Towers is the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings. Its title remains ambiguous, as five towers appear in the text. The narrative creates suspense through interwoven storylines. Critics have praised its epic and romantic qualities, and it became the basis for Peter Jackson’s 2002 film The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers.
Two
When it is visible, it is the most brilliant planet in the sky.
The above sentence is from an Encyclopædia Britannica article about a planet. What planet?
Answer: Venus.
Venus, second from the Sun and closest large body to Earth, appears near sunrise or sunset as the brightest planet. Although today named after the Roman goddess of love and beauty, ancient records, which include Babylonian, Chinese, Central American, Egyptian, and Greek, show it was studied by multiple civilisations.
Three
The third drama conceived and written, yet the second opera in Wagner’s tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen. Which mythic creatures does this drama take its name from?
Answer: Valkyries.
Die Walküre, the second opera in Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen (The Ring of the Nibelung), premiered in Munich in June 1870 and as part of the cycle in 1876. Based on Norse mythology, it follows Volsung twins Sieglinde and Siegmund, whose love angers the gods. Brünnhilde defies them, saving Sieglinde and her unborn child.
Four
The … Revolution created the second independent country in the Americas after the United States became independent in 1783.
An adjective has been omitted from the preceding quote; which nation does the term describe?
Answer: Haiti.
Haitian was removed from the quote. The Haitian Revolution established the second independent American nation after the U.S. in 1783. Haiti, formerly St. Domingue, was a profitable French colony reliant on slave labour. The French Revolution sparked a slave revolt in 1791, led by Toussaint L’Ouverture. U.S. leaders, many of whom were slaveowners, were ambivalent about the revolt. Initially, they aided its suppression but later supported L’Ouverture. Due to policy shifts and domestic issues, the U.S. didn’t recognise Haiti’s independence until 1862. Jefferson initially aided L’Ouverture but later isolated Haiti.
Five
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s second Sherlock Holmes novel involves the theft of the Agra treasure. What is the title of the novel?
Answer: The Sign of the Four (aka The Sign of Four).
The Sign of the Four is Arthur Conan Doyle’s second novel featuring Sherlock Holmes. In it, he investigates Mary Morstan’s case involving her missing father. Dr Watson, Holmes’ companion, marries Mary Morstan. Published in February 1890 it followed the first novel, A Study in Scarlet.
See question three. Brünnhilde pleads with her sisters to rescue Sieglinde: (Arthur Rackham, 1910). Image Wikimedia Commons
These questions are not date-related but do follow a theme mentioned in the title.
One
What is the title of the second volume of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings novel?
Two
When it is visible, it is the most brilliant planet in the sky.
The above sentence is from an Encyclopædia Britannica article about a planet. What planet?
Three
The third drama conceived and written, yet the second opera in Wagner’s tetralogy Der Ring des Nibelungen. Which mythic creatures does this drama take its name from?
Four
The … Revolution created the second independent country in the Americas after the United States became independent in 1783.
An adjective has been omitted from the preceding quote; which nation does the term describe?
Five
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s second Sherlock Holmes novel involves the theft of the Agra treasure. What is the title of the novel?
Statue of Yuri Gagarin, outside the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, London, UK. Image Wikimedia Commons
The opening question concerns today’s date, 12 August. The following questions do not relate to the date but continue a theme introduced in the first.
One
British surgeon and scientist Joseph Lister performed the first antiseptic surgery on this date. In what decade and in what city did this take place?
Answer: 1860s; Glasgow, Scotland.
On 12 August 1865, Joseph Lister, who was the Regius Chair of Surgery, at the University of Glasgow, used carbolic acid to treat James Greenlees’s compound fracture.
In 1867, Joseph Lister published a series of articles in The Lancet that were to be the first examples of antisepsis in action. Each of the cases occurred during his time working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. His first case was a young boy by the name of James Greenlees, who had an open fracture of his leg. Lister set the fracture and dressed the wound in carbolic acid to prevent infection. James made a full recovery. This was the birth of antisepsis. — The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
Two
In 1960, which US submarine became the first vessel to execute a submerged circumnavigation of the world?
Answer: USS Triton.
USS Triton (SSRN/SSN-586), a unique nuclear-powered radar picket submarine, was the largest, most powerful, and expensive submarine at commissioning in 1959. She completed the first submerged circumnavigation of the Earth in 1960. Obsolete by 1962, she became an attack submarine, flagship, and was decommissioned in 1969.
Three
In sport, who won his first men’s grand slam doubles title with Peter Fleming at Wimbledon in 1979?
Answer: John McEnroe.
John McEnroe is an American tennis player, ranked world No. 1 in singles for 170 weeks and doubles for 269 weeks. He won 155 titles, including seven singles majors. Known for his skill and rivalries, McEnroe also contributed to five Davis Cup titles and remains active as a television commentator during the majors.
Four
Who was the first astronaut to orbit the Earth, and what was the name and number assigned to his spacecraft for the flight?
Answer: Yuri Gagarin; Vostok 1.
Launched on 12 April 1961 from Baikonur Cosmodrome, Vostok 1 marked the first human orbital flight when Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin became the first person to orbit Earth, completing one circuit in 108 minutes before parachuting to the ground apart from his capsule. As a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut, Gagarin, the first person in space died in 1968 in a MiG-15 crash.
Five
Clint Eastwood won his first Best Director Oscar for which film?
Answer: Unforgiven.
Unforgiven (1992), directed by Clint Eastwood, stars him as an aging outlaw. Co-starring Gene Hackman, Morgan Freeman, and Richard Harris, it grossed over $159 million. Praised for acting, directing, and cinematography, it won four Oscars, including Best Picture. Eastwood dedicated it to Sergio Leone and Don Siegel. In 2004, Unforgiven was chosen for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress. It was recognised for its cultural, historical, or aesthetic significance, highlighting its enduring impact and importance in American cinema.
Michael’s Gate and tower, Bratislava, Slovakia. Image Wikimedia Commons
Continuing from yesterday with some more ‘Oddities’ which are described as such as they are only connected by being ‘Odds and Ends’. Similar to yesterday, these are all true or false questions.
One
Is it true or false that although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, only 20 to 25% of all mammal species do?
Answer: False.
Only a small percentage of mammals, approximately 3% to 5%, form lifelong monogamous relationships, often driven by practical needs rather than romantic notions. Notable examples of mammals that mate for life include those with various relationship types. Monogamous: Wolves —Alpha pairs mate for life, leading the pack and raising pups together. Socially monogamous: Beavers — Pairs collaborate to build and maintain their lodges, sharing parenting duties. Long-term monogamous: Gibbons — Known for their duet singing, which strengthens their bond and territory claims.
Two
Is it true or false that Gregory Peck portrayed infamous Nazi and Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil?
Answer: True.
Josef Mengele, known as the ‘Angel of Death’, was a German physician and Nazi officer at Auschwitz during the Holocaust. He conducted inhumane experiments on prisoners. After the war, he fled to South America, evading capture until his death in 1979. His remains were identified in 1985 and 1992.
Three
Is it true or false that a bat mitzvah is a coming-of-age ritual in Judaism?
Answer: True
In Judaism Bat Mitzvah is the feminine equivalent of Bar mitzvah. These occur at 13 for boys and bat mitzvah at 12 for girls in Orthodox communities, or 13 for both in most others, it marks Jewish coming of age and accountability. The ceremony usually occurs on the first Shabbat after the birthday.
Four
Is it true or false that Michael’s Gate, pictured above, is in Bratislava, Slovakia?
Answer: True.
Michael’s Gate in Bratislava, Slovakia, is the only preserved medieval city gate, dating back to around 1300. Baroque reconstructions in 1758 added the statue of St. Michael and the Dragon. It houses the Exhibition of Weapons of Bratislava City Museum. The town once had four fortified gates.
Five
Is it true or false that the largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae) is an apex predator?
Answer: True.
The orca (Orcinus orca), or killer whale, is the largest oceanic dolphin, known for its black and white pigmentation. Apex predators with diverse diets, they form matrilineal pods and exhibit unique cultures. Conservation status is data deficient; some populations are endangered. Revered by indigenous peoples in Australia, Peru and the Pacific Northwest of North America.
Continuing from yesterday with some more ‘Oddities’ which are described as such as they are only ‘Odds and Ends’. Similar to yesterday, these are all true or false questions.
One
Is it true or false that although an estimated 90% of bird species partner up for life, only 20 to 25% of all mammal species do?
Two
Is it true or false that Gregory Peck portrayed infamous Nazi and Auschwitz doctor Josef Mengele in the 1978 film The Boys from Brazil?
Three
Is it true or false that a bat mitzvah is a coming-of-age ritual in Judaism?
Four
Is it true or false that Michael’s Gate, pictured above, is in Bratislava, Slovakia?
Five
Is it true or false that the largest member of the dolphin family (Delphinidae) is an apex predator?
Is it true or false that Shorty Blackwell, a track on The Monkees 1969 album Instant Replay was inspired by and named after a school teacher?
Answer: False.
Micky Dolenz wrote Shorty Blackwell about his life and cat, recording piano in January 1968 and expanding it beyond five minutes with added instrumentation. Shorty Rogers arranged brass, strings, percussion, cello and flute; Rubini and Tommy Tedesco contributed. Micky and Coco recorded vocals in May; Micky finished it in June, later dismissing it as a Sgt. Pepper attempt.
Two
Is it true or false that the sea lion is the only marine member of the family Felidae?
Answer: False.
Sea lions are pinnipeds in family Otariidae with external ear flaps, long fore-flippers, four-legged movement, short hair and large chests; six extant and one extinct species span subarctic to tropical waters except the northern Atlantic.
Three
Is it true or false that in tennis Stirling Moss won the men’s singles at Wimbledon in 1969?
Answer: False.
Stirling Moss, a British driver and broadcaster, won 212 races including 16 Formula One Grands Prix. Runner-up to Juan Manuel Fangio and Mike Hawthorn, he retired after a 1962 accident. He was BBC Sports Personality of the Year and entered the International Motorsports Hall of Fame.
Four
Is it true or false that in the classic World War II love story Casablanca (1942), Rick Blaine (Humphrey Bogart) says ‘Play it again, Sam’?
Answer: False.
A line closely associated with Casablanca—”Play it again, Sam”—is not spoken in the film. When Ilsa first enters the Café Américain, she spots Sam and asks him, “Play it once, Sam, for old times’ sake.” After he feigns ignorance, she responds, “Play it, Sam. Play ‘As Time Goes By’.” Later that night, alone with Sam, Rick says, “You played it for her, you can play it for me”, and “If she can stand it, I can! Play it!” — Wikipedia
Five
Is it true or false that Australia has three locations where New Year’s Eve occurs three times annually?
Answer: True.
New Year’s Eve is celebrated three times each year in Cameron Corner, Poeppel Corner and Surveyor Generals Corner, because three states, which are in three time zones, meet at each of these corners. Cameron Corner, Queensland is adjacent to the borders with New South Wales and South Australia. Poeppel Corner in Queensland is where it meets South Australia and the Northern Territory. Surveyor Generals Corner is the meeting of South Australia, Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
Quizology.Online 