Quizology.Online

Author: Quizologist

  • Space Oddity—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post

    LRV-1, Apollo 15.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the first astronaut to drive a Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface?

    Answer: David Scott

    Between July 30 and August 2, 1971, David Scott, commander of Apollo 15, drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV-1) for 3 hours and 2 minutes. These journeys covered A total of 17.25 miles (27.76 km) across the lunar surface. Apollo 15(LRV-1) 17.25 miles (27.76 km) 3 h 02 min 7.75 miles (12.47 km) 3.1 miles (5.0 km)

    Two

    What, in Roman numerals, is the sum of LXXXIV and DCCLIX?

    Answer: DCCCXLIII

    LXXXIV =

    • L = 50
    • XXX = 30
    • IV = 4
      → 50 + 30 + 4 = 84

    DCCLIX =

    • D = 500
    • CC = 200
    • L = 50
    • IX = 9
      → 500 + 200 + 50 + 9 = 759

    84 + 759 = 843

    Convert 843 to Roman numerals:

    • 800 = DCCC
    • 40 = XL
    • 3 = III

    → 843 = DCCCXLIII

    Three

    John F. Kennedy had a dog called Dunker. What breed was it?

    Answer: Dachshund

    The Dachshund is a small, long-bodied dog breed originally developed in Germany to hunt badgers. The name literally means ‘badger dog’—Dachs = badger, Hund = dog. They’re often called ‘sausage dogs’ because of their shape.

    Four

    Which character in a work by Alexandre Dumas was possibly inspired by the vengeful shoemaker Pierre Picaud of Nîmes?

    Answer: Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo

    Pierre Picaud, a shoemaker from Nîmes, is believed to have inspired Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
    Picaud’s story is strikingly similar to that of Dantès. In the early 19th century, Picaud was wrongfully imprisoned due to the betrayal of his friends and his fiancée. During his imprisonment in the Château d’If, he met an old man who shared with him knowledge of treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. Upon his release, Picaud used this treasure to exact revenge on those who had wronged him, much like Edmond Dantès does in Dumas’ novel.
    This story of Picaud’s life—his unjust imprisonment, subsequent escape, and thirst for vengeance—closely mirrors the narrative of The Count of Monte Cristo.

    Five

    Please list the US states whose names start with the letter ‘M’?

    Answer: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana

  • Space Oddity

    Today’s questions are random and unrelated.

    LRV-1.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the first astronaut to drive a Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface?

    Two

    What, in Roman numerals, is the sum of LXXXIV and DCCLIX?

    Three

    John F. Kennedy had a dog called Dunker. What breed was it?

    Four

    Which character in a work by Alexandre Dumas was possibly inspired by the vengeful shoemaker Pierre Picaud of Nîmes?

    Five

    Please list the US states whose names start with the letter ‘M’?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Cat and Mouse—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Bart Mancuso (Scott Glenn), commander USS Dallas, The Hunt for Red October.
    Image Jack Ryan Fandom

    One

    American novelist Tom Clancy died today in 2013. The film adaptation (1990) of his novel The Hunt for Red October (1984) featured who in the role of Jack Ryan and what was the name of the American Los Angeles-class attack submarine skippered by Commander Bart Mancuso?

    Answer: Alec Baldwin and USS Dallas

    The Hunt for Red October chronicles the efforts of CIA analyst Jack Ryan to prove that Soviet submarine Captain Marko Ramius is not attempting to attack the US but is instead defecting to the United States with the Soviet Union’s cutting-edge ballistic missile submarine, the Red October. The story, adapted from Tom Clancy’s novel of the same name, portrays a dangerous geopolitical game of cat and mouse as both the Soviet and American navies attempt to locate the advanced, stealthy submarine, fearing a nuclear confrontation if Ramius’ intentions are misunderstood.

    Two

    On this date, who became the first queen to rule England in her own right?

    Answer: Mary I

    Mary I, England’s first queen ruling in her own right, earned the nickname Bloody Mary for her persecution of Protestants to restore Roman Catholicism. Daughter of Henry VIII and Catherine of Aragon, became Queen of England and Ireland in 1553. Her attempts to restore Catholicism, including the Marian persecutions, were largely unsuccessful and her reign ended with her death in 1558.

    Three

    Yosemite National Park was established in 1890 by the US Congress. Two questions: in what US state is Yosemite National Park located, and what other US National Park in that state straddles the Nevada border?

    Answer: California and Death Valley National Park

    Yosemite National Park is located in California. Nevada boasts two national parks: Great Basin National Park and Death Valley National Park. Death Valley extends across both California and Nevada.

    Thrilla in Manila, 1975.
    Image Amazon

    Four

    The ‘Thrilla in Manila‘ was a 1975 prizefight between which two prizefighters?

    Answer: Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier

    Muhammad Ali defeated Joe Frazier in the 14th round of their third boxing match, the ‘Thrilla in Manila’, on 1 October 1975. The fight, considered one of the greatest in boxing history, was watched by an estimated 1 billion viewers.

    Paddy O’Neil (Richard Harris), Patriot Games.
    Image Jack Ryan Fandom

    Five

    Which Irish actor, born in 1930, played Paddy O’Neil in Patriot Games (1992) and Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000)?

    Answer: Richard Harris

    Irish actor and singer Richard Harris, known for his roles in films like This Sporting Life, The Field, and Gladiator, received numerous accolades including a Cannes Film Festival Award and a Grammy Award. He also gained acclaim for his role as Albus Dumbledore in the first two Harry Potter films. He also topped the music charts with MacArthur Park reaching number one in Australia, Canda and Jamaica; and top-ten entries in the UK, US and Ireland.

  • Cat and Mouse

    Here are five questions all related to today’s date, October 1st.

    The Hunt for Red October.
    Image Jack Ryan Fandom

    One

    American novelist Tom Clancy died today in 2013. The film adaptation (1990) of his novel The Hunt for Red October (1984) featured who in the role of Jack Ryan and what was the name of the American Los Angeles-class attack submarine skippered by Commander Bart Mancuso?

    Two

    On this date, who became the first queen to rule England in her own right?

    Three

    Yosemite National Park was established in 1890 by the US Congress. Two questions: in what US state is Yosemite National Park located, and what other US National Park in that state straddles the Nevada border?

    Four

    The ‘Thrilla in Manila‘ was a 1975 prizefight between which two prizefighters?

    Five

    Which Irish actor, born in 1930, played Paddy O’Neil in Patriot Games (1992) and Marcus Aurelius in Gladiator (2000)?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • My Huckleberry Friend

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In the 1961 comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly. Born on this date in 1924, who wrote the novella that inspired the film?

    Answer: Truman Capote

    Truman Capote’s 1958 novella Breakfast at Tiffany’s is set in 1940s New York City’s Upper East Side. It follows a writer’s recollections of his neighbour Holly Golightly and her life in Manhattan. While based on the novella, the film’s screenplay deviates from the book’s original storyline.

    Two

    In an attempt to appease Adolf Hitler, Great Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demand for the annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in what former country?

    Answer: Czechoslovakia

    The Munich Agreement, signed on September 30, 1938, was a settlement reached by Germany, Great Britain, France, and Italy that allowed for the German annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in western Czechoslovakia. This agreement was part of the policy of appeasement, where European powers aimed to prevent war by conceding to some of Adolf Hitler’s territorial demands. The Czechoslovak government was not consulted during the negotiations and was forced to accept the terms. The agreement is often criticized for emboldening Hitler, as it failed to prevent further aggression, leading to the occupation of the rest of Czechoslovakia and eventually World War II.

    Matina Hingis, 2011.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    …professional tennis player who became the youngest person in the “open” era to win a Grand Slam singles title and the youngest to be ranked world number one. In her relatively short, injury-plagued career, she won five Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open (1997, 1998, 1999), Wimbledon (1997), and the United States Open (1997).

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    This quote refers to a tennis player born in 1980 in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Who is she?

    Answer: Martina Hingis

    Martina Hingis, who was named after Martina Navratilova, was introduced to sports by her tennis-playing parents and excelled in skiing and tennis from a young age. After moving to Switzerland, she became the youngest Grand Slam junior titleholder at 12. Hingis turned professional at 14, becoming the youngest player to win a Grand Slam match and the youngest Wimbledon doubles champion. The WTA later restricted participation for young players.

    Following World War II, Germany was divided into four zones controlled by the British, French, Americans and Russians.  Berlin, completely encircled by the Russian zone, was also partitioned.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Today in 1949, an airlift delivering 2,323,738 tons of food, fuel, machinery, and other supplies was officially ended. To what city was this relief supplied?

    Answer: West Berlin

    The Berlin Blockade (1948-49) was a Soviet attempt to force the Western Allies out of West Berlin by severing all land and water routes. In retaliation, the US and Britain launched the Berlin Airlift to deliver supplies to the city by air. This airlift symbolised the Allies’ unwavering commitment to resisting Soviet expansion. successfully supplying the city for 15 months. The operation, involving over 250,000 flights, underscored the ideological divide between East and West and solidified West Berlin’s alignment with the US and Britain.

    Five

    An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered in Austria on this day in 1791. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, ‘It is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment presented through Freemasonry symbols’. What is the opera?

    The Magic Flute

    Mozart’s opera, The Magic Flute, is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment, rich with Masonic symbolism. The libretto, believed to draw from various sources including medieval romance and Freemasonry, was written by Emanuel Schikaneder, a close friend of Mozart.

    See question 4 above. ‘A U.S. Air Force Douglas C-54 Skymaster making a “Little Vittles” candy drop (note the parachutes below the tail of the C-54) on approach to a Berlin airfield. Aircrews dropped candy to children during the Berlin Airlift.’
    Image Wikipedia

  • My Huckleberry Friend

    Today’s questions all relate to September 30th.

    Audrey Hepburn in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, 1961.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In the 1961 comedy Breakfast at Tiffany’s, Audrey Hepburn stars as Holly Golightly. Born on this date in 1924, who wrote the novella that inspired the film?

    Two

    In an attempt to appease Adolf Hitler, Great Britain and France agreed to Hitler’s demand for the annexation of the Sudetenland, a region in what former country?

    Three

    …professional tennis player who became the youngest person in the “open” era to win a Grand Slam singles title and the youngest to be ranked world number one. In her relatively short, injury-plagued career, she won five Grand Slam singles titles—the Australian Open (1997, 1998, 1999), Wimbledon (1997), and the United States Open (1997).

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    This quote refers to a tennis player born in 1980 in Czechoslovakia (now Slovakia). Who is she?

    Four

    Today in 1949, an airlift delivering 2,323,738 tons of food, fuel, machinery, and other supplies was officially ended. To what city was this relief supplied?

    Five

    An opera by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart premiered in Austria on this day in 1791. According to Encyclopædia Britannica, ‘It is an allegory of the quest for wisdom and enlightenment presented through Freemasonry symbols’. What is the opera?

    Good luck!. I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Raising the Dead—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Answer: Caravaggio

    Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, (known mononymously as Caravaggio) an Italian painter from the late 16th and early 17th centuries, gained fame for his realistic religious works.

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Answer: Scotland Yard

    Through the efforts of Robert Peel, England’s first professional police force, London’s Metropolitan Police (often called Scotland Yard), was founded; it became a model for future police departments in various other countries, including the United States.

    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Answer: Enrico Fermi

    Enrico Fermi, an Italian-born American scientist, was a pivotal figure in the nuclear age. He developed mathematical statistics for subatomic phenomena, explored neutron-induced nuclear transformations, and directed the first controlled nuclear fission chain reaction, earning the 1938 Nobel Prize for Physics. Fermi is best known for creating the first artificial nuclear reactor, Chicago Pile-1, and for his contributions to the Manhattan Project. His work spanned statistical mechanics, quantum theory, and nuclear and particle physics.

    Julia Gillard, Prime Minister of Australia.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Answer: Julia Gillard

    Julia Gillard, born in Wales, served as Australia’s 27th prime minister. She was the first and, as of September 2025, the only woman to hold the position.

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Answer: 1988 and Discovery

    On January 28, 1986, the Challenger shuttle exploded shortly after liftoff, killing all seven astronauts including schoolteacher Christa McAuliffe. A presidential commission discovered a joint seal in a solid rocket booster had failed due to mechanical design flaws exacerbated by cold weather. Hot gases leaking from the joint ignited the shuttle’s external tank fuel leading to the devastating explosion. As a result, the shuttle fleet was grounded for necessary design corrections and administrative changes. On 29 September 1988, Discovery was the first shuttle to resume flights. Endeavour, a replacement orbiter, finally flew its first mission in 1992.

  • Raising the Dead

    Here are five questions related to today, September 29th.

    The Raising of Lazarus and the Adoration of the Shepherds
    Regional Museum of Messina, Sicily, Italy.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which Italian artist born this day in 1571, painted the works above which are displayed in Sicily?

    Two

    In 1829 the Metropolitan Police was founded, by what name (two words the first contains eight letters) is the force, especially the Criminal Investigation Department, colloquially known?

    Three

    Born in Rome in 1901, who became an associate director of Manhattan Project in 1944?

    Four

    Who was the first woman to hold the office of Prime Minister of Australia?

    Five

    Following the Challenger disaster in January 1986 and the suspension of NASA’s space shuttle programme, it resumed on this day. In which year and with which shuttle did this happen?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • A Sporting First—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Althea Gibson, victorious at Wimbledon Ladies Singles in 1957, at parade in her honour, New York. 
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Althea Gibson, aged 76, died on this day in 2003. In the mid-1950s she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American woman to win titles in what sport?

    Answer: Tennis

    Althea Gibson was a dominant American tennis player who ruled women’s competition in the late 1950s. She achieved historic milestones as the first Black player to win the French Open (1956), Wimbledon (1957–58) and the US Open (1957–58) singles championships.

    Two

    Brigitte Bardot was born on 28 September 1934.  She gained international recognition in which 1956 film directed by Roger Vadim?

    Answer: And God Created Woman

    Born in Paris, Bardot aspired to be a ballerina before starting her acting career in 1952. She gained international fame in 1957 for her role in And God Created Woman.

    Three

    In 1928, a physician and microbiologist observed a mould growth in a laboratory that would later be identified as penicillin.  Who was this individual?

    Answer: Alexander Fleming

    Scottish physician and microbiologist Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin, the first broadly effective antibiotic, in 1928. He shared the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1945 for this discovery.

    Four

    On 28 September, a European ‘discovered’ California. In which century did this happen?

    Answer: 16th century

    Juan Rodríguez Cabrillo, the “discoverer” of California, landed near present-day San Diego in 1542, becoming the first European to set foot on the west coast of the future United States.

    Five

    On 28 September 2008 Singapore hosted its inaugural Formula One race, making it the first night race in the sport’s history. Almost a year later allegations emerged of a driver being instructed by his team to crash his car. Who was the driver and which team was he representing?

    Answer: Nelson Piquet Jr. and Renault F1 (or Renault)

    The 2008 Singapore Grand Prix, the first Formula One race held at night, was won by Fernando Alonso after a controversial incident involving his teammate, Nelson Piquet Jr. Piquet deliberately crashed, bringing out the safety car and benefiting Alonso’s strategy. This incident led to Renault’s disqualification from Formula One, later overturned in court.

  • A Sporting First

    Here are five questions about today, September 28th.

    Althea Gibson, 1957.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Althea Gibson, aged 76, died on this day in 2003. In the mid-1950s she achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first African-American woman to win titles in what sport?

    Two

    Brigitte Bardot was born on 28 September 1934.  She gained international recognition in which 1956 film directed by Roger Vadim?

    Three

    In 1928, a physician and microbiologist observed a mould growth in a laboratory that would later be identified as penicillin.  Who was this individual?

    Four

    On 28 September, a European ‘discovered’ California. In which century did this happen?

    Five

    On 28 September 2008 Singapore hosted its inaugural Formula One race, making it the first night race in the sport’s history. Almost a year later allegations emerged of a driver being instructed by his team to crash his car. Who was the driver and which team was he representing?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later.