Quizologist

Truth is always strange, Stranger than Fiction—Answers

Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction.
Image Quoteslyfe

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Today’s questions not only relate to January 22nd, they are also all about quotes. The first two questions are multiple choice, while the remainder are not.

One

Today’s post title is ‘Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction’. The person, born today in 1788, who originated this saying, was whom?

Lord Byron
Mark Twain
Rudyard Kipling

Answer: Lord Byron (George Gordon Byron)

‘T is strange,—but true; for Truth is always strange—

Stranger than fiction: if it could be told,

How much would novels gain by the exchange!

— Lord Byron: Don Juan (1819)

Mark Twain is also associated with this phrase, but it was originated by Byron.

Two

Which science fiction author wrote ‘How does one hate a country, or love one?’?

Isaac Asimov
Philip K. Dick
Ursula K. Le Guin

Answer: Ursula K. Le Guin

How does one hate a country, or love one? Tibe talks about it; I lack the trick of it. I know people, I know towns, farms, hills and rivers and rocks, I know how the sun at sunset in autumn falls on the side of a certain plowland in the hills; but what is the sense of giving a boundary to all that, of giving it a name and ceasing to love where the name ceases to apply? What is love of one’s country; is it hate of one’s uncountry? Then it’s not a good thing. Is it simply self-love? That’s a good thing, but one mustn’t make a virtue of it, or a profession… Insofar as I love life, I love the hills of the Domain of Estre, but that sort of love does not have a boundary-line of hate. And beyond that, I am ignorant, I hope.

— Ursula K. Le Guin, The Left Hand of Darkness

Three

On this day in 2004, Wikiquote had this as its Quote of the Day: ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’ Whose words are being quoted?

Answer: Douglas Adams

Douglas Adams, English author and humourist, created The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a radio comedy that became a successful book series and was adapted into various media. He also wrote Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency, The Long Dark Tea-Time of the Soul, and contributed to Doctor Who and Monty Python’s Flying Circus.

Four

What king, who had previously said, ‘I don’t mind praying to the Eternal Father, but I must be the only man in the country afflicted with an eternal mother,’ ascended the British throne on this day in 1901, and who was his mother?

Answer: King Edward VII; Queen Victoria

The quote was a joke referring to his mother’s famously long reign of almost 64 years. Queen Victoria died in 1901, and Edward succeeded to the throne at the age of sixty.

Five

A 1960 song which was written by a singer-songwriter born today in 1931 includes these lines: ‘All day long they work so hard / Till the sun is goin’ down.’ Who is the singer-songwriter and what is the song?

Answer: Sam Cooke; Chain Gang

All day long they work so hard
Till the sun is goin’ down.
Working on the highways and byways
And wearing, wearing a frown.
You hear them moanin’ their lives away.
Then you hear somebody say:
“That’s the sound of the men working on the chain gang.
That’s the sound of the men working on the chain gang.”

— Chain Gang

Truth is always strange, Stranger than Fiction

Today’s questions not only relate to January 22nd, they are also all about quotes. The first two questions are multiple choice, while the remainder are not.

One

Today’s post title is ‘Truth is always strange, stranger than fiction’. The person, born today in 1788, who originated this saying, was whom?

Lord Byron
Mark Twain
Rudyard Kipling

Two

Which science fiction author wrote ‘How does one hate a country, or love one?’?

Isaac Asimov
Philip K. Dick
Ursula K. Le Guin

Three

On this day in 2004, Wikiquote had this as its Quote of the Day: ‘I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.’ Whose words are being quoted?

Four

Five

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

A Masterly Performance—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

Pontifical Swiss Guard.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

Answer: 16th century

The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established in 1506, protects the Pope and the Vatican. Their duties include accompanying the Pope on journeys, guarding Vatican access points, and protecting the College of Cardinals during the Vacant See.

Two

The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

Answer: Six

American professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, born in 1940, dominated world golf from the 1960s to the 1980s. He won 18 major championships, including a record six Masters Tournaments between 1963 and 1986, and was named PGA Player of the Year five times. Nicklaus also designed golf courses and authored several books.

Three

A French fashion designer born in 1905 became known for annually introducing new lines, for example the Muguet/Lily of the Valley line and H-Line in 1954; and the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955. Who was this designer?

Answer: Christian Dior

Christian Dior, a French fashion designer, revolutionised post-war fashion with his New Look style, characterised by feminine, sculpted clothing with rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full skirt. Backed by Marcel Boussac, he founded his fashion house in 1946 and introduced the New Look in 1947. Dior’s influence extended beyond clothing, as he also launched perfumes, shoes, makeup, and accessories, solidifying his status as a leading figure in the fashion industry.

Four

A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

Answer: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras

Plácido Domingo, a Spanish-born singer, conductor, and opera administrator, is renowned for his powerful tenor voice and versatility. He performed over 150 operatic roles, ventured into popular music, and founded the Operalia competition to support young singers. Allegations of sexual misconduct in 2019 led to the cancellation of performances, although Domingo denied any wrongdoing.

Concorde G-BOAA at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.
Image National Museum of Flight

Five

On 21 January 1976, two Concorde aircraft, one from British Airways and the other from Air France, made their first commercial flights. What were the two routes flown by these Concorde aircraft on that day?

Answer: (British Airways) London to Bahrain and (Air France) Paris to Rio

The Concorde, a supersonic passenger jet built by British and French manufacturers, made its first transatlantic flight (non-commercial) in 1973 and inaugurated scheduled commercial supersonic service in 1976. Despite its technological prowess and ability to halve transatlantic flight times, the Concorde was never financially viable due to high operating costs and noise pollution. The programme ended in 2003 after a fatal crash in 2000 and financial losses. British Airways Concorde B-GOAA, which flew the first London-Bahrain flight mentioned in this question, is on display at the National Museum of Scotland’s National Museum of Flight.

Hopefully, there will be some more trivia for your amusement here tomorrow.

A Masterly Performance

These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

One

In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

Two

The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

Three

Four

A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

Five

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

Doubly Tuned—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Five random questions today.

Billy the Kid.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

Billy the Kid was shot and killed at Fort Sumner by whom?

Answer: Sheriff Pat Garrett

Henry McCarty, aka William H. Bonney and Billy the Kid, an American outlaw and gunfighter, was linked to nine murders, solely responsible for four, and possibly involved in five others. Sheriff Pat Garrett, responding to rumours, questioned Pete Maxwell, a friend of Bonney’s, and encountered Bonney unexpectedly, leading to a confrontation where Garrett fatally shot Bonney.

Two

Whose first novel was When the Lion Feeds?

Answer: Wilbur Smith

Wilbur Addison Smith (1933–2021) was a British-South African novelist known for his historical fiction set in Southern Africa. He wrote 49 books, selling over 140 million copies, and focused on themes like hunting, mining, romance and conflict.

Three

Tennis: The Woodies won six Wimbledon men’s doubles titles. What were their surnames?

Answer: Woodbridge and Woodforde

The Woodies, Australian tennis doubles pairing Todd Woodbridge and Mark Woodforde, were one of the most successful in history, winning 61 ATP titles and 11 major titles. They represented Australia in the Olympics and Davis Cup, winning gold and silver medals and contributing to a Davis Cup victory. The Woodies were inducted into the Australian and International Tennis Halls of Fame in 2010.

Four

DOUBLY TUNED is an anagram of an English word, an adverb meaning certainly. What is the word?

Answer: Undoubtedly

undoubtedly /ʌnˈdaʊtɪdli /

▸ adverb without doubt; certainly: they are undoubtedly guilty.

— Oxford English Dictionary

Five

Simon and Garfunkel’s first U.S. number one single hit was what?

Answer: The Sound of Silence

The Sound of Silence by Simon & Garfunkel, written by Paul Simon, was initially released in 1964 as an acoustic version. A remixed version with electric instruments, released in 1965, became a number-one hit and led to the duo’s reunion and the release of their second album. The song appeared under both the opening and closing credits of the 1967 film The Graduate and was included on its soundtrack album.

Doubly Tuned

Five random questions today.

One

Billy the Kid was shot and killed at Fort Sumner by whom?

Two

Whose first novel was When the Lion Feeds?

Three

Tennis: The Woodies won six Wimbledon men’s doubles titles. What were their surnames?

Four

DOUBLY TUNED is an anagram of an English word, an adverb meaning certainly. What is the word?

Five

Simon and Garfunkel’s first U.S. number one single hit was what?

Good luck! I’ll post the answer later.

Around the World—Answers

Five geographic questions.

Confluence of Blue Nile and White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
Image Pinterest

One

On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

Answer: Chile and Ecuador

Brazil borders ten South American countries, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana, which is an overseas region of France.

Two

Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

Answer: Munster

Munster is the largest province in Ireland, situated in the southwest, with a population of 1,373,346 in 2022. It serves as a provincial subdivision of the state without an official local government function. Münster is a major city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, renowned for its bicycle culture and historical importance, notably the Anabaptist rebellion and the Treaties of Westphalia.

Three

In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

Answer: Ulaanbaatar

Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia, is the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state. It has a rich history, having been ruled by various nomadic empires and later becoming a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Today, Mongolia is a democratic country with a nomadic culture and a majority Buddhist population.

Four

This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

— Wikipedia

Answer: Darwin

Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. With a population of 139,902, it serves as a key link to Southeast Asia and has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.

Five

Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

Answer: White Nile

The Nile has two major tributaries: the 3,700-kilometre White Nile and the 1,450-kilometre Blue Nile. Traditionally, the longer White Nile is considered the headwaters, but the Blue Nile, which supplies 80% of the water and silt downstream, is actually the main source. The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria and flows through Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows southeast into Sudan. The two rivers converge in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

Around the World

Five geographic questions.

Confluence of Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
Image Pinterest

One

On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

Two

Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

Three

In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

Four

This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

— Wikipedia

Five

Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Crop Duster—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.

Cary Grant, *North by Northwest.*
Image Wikimedia Commons

One

What actor is pictured above, and what film is the picture taken from?

Answers: Cary Grant; North by Northwest

See after question two for some additional trivia.

Two

Where was the above actor born on this day in 1904, and what was his birth name?

Answers: Bristol, England, United Kingdom; Archibald Leach (or Archibald Alexander Leach)

Cary Grant, born Archibald Alexander Leach in Bristol, England, was a British-born American film actor celebrated for his debonair style and talent in romantic comedies. He gained fame in the 1930s and 1940s, starring in a variety of classic films, including screwball comedies, action-adventures, and suspense thrillers. Grant frequently collaborated with Alfred Hitchcock and received two Academy Award nominations along with an honorary Oscar, though he never won a competitive Oscar for acting. He retired from acting in 1966 and passed away in 1986.

The ‘Where were they born’ theme continues with the following questions.

Three

Where was Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland born?

Answer: Britain (or Roman Britain)

St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland, is credited with bringing Christianity to the country in the 5th century. Born in Roman Britain, he was enslaved in Ireland at 16 but later escaped and returned to spread Christianity. Known for his missionary work and writings, St. Patrick’s legacy is celebrated annually on St. Patrick’s Day, 17 March.

Four

Where was Angus Young, the only continuous member of the hard rock band AC/DC, born?

Answer: Glasgow, Scotland, United Kingdom

Angus Young, born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1955, is best known as the lead guitarist and co-founder of AC/DC. He emigrated to Australia with his family in 1963 and grew up in Sydney, where he developed his musical talents and later became a self-taught guitarist. Young’s early life in Scotland, his family’s musical background, and his move to Australia all played a significant role in shaping his career as a musician.

Five

Where was Christopher Columbus born, between August and October 1451?

Answer: Genoa (Republic of Genoa)

Christopher Columbus, a Genoese explorer from the Republic of Genoa, completed four Spanish-sponsored voyages across the Atlantic Ocean. His expeditions, beginning in 1492, opened the way for European exploration and colonisation of the Americas, though his legacy is now viewed more critically due to the impact on indigenous populations.

Crop Duster

One

What actor is pictured above, and what film is the picture taken from?

Two

Where was the above actor born on this day in 1904, and what was his birth name?

The ‘Where were they born’ theme continues with the following questions.

Three

Where was Saint Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland born?

Four

Where was Angus Young, the only continuous member of the hard rock band AC/DC, born?

Five

Where was Christopher Columbus born, between August and October 1451?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.