There is a theme related to money today. Four of the answers will contain a coin, a currency etc but there is one red herring which has nothing to do with the theme and is not related to money.
Which pedestrian bridge crossing Dublin’s River Liffey, as shown in the image above, bears a name derived from an old Irish coin?
Two
Can you name a 1965 Western film by Sergio Leone, starring Clint Eastwood and Lee Van Cleef as bounty hunters?
Three
There is continent with a name which might derive from words meaning ‘wide-gazing’ or ‘sunset’. Another theory suggests the name is from a Goddess, who was a Phoenician princess. What is this continent?
Four
A 1996 novel by the British writer Ben Elton shares its name with a variety of corn kernel?
Five
The remarkable achievement of a swimmer, the most successful athlete at the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, established a record that stood for 36 years. Can you identify the athlete in question?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Space shuttle Atlantis (STS-135) touches down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, completing the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program. July 21, 2011, Cape Canaveral, Florida. Image (NASA/Bill Ingalls)/Wikipedia
One
On July 21, 2011, the Space Shuttle program concluded with the landing of a shuttle at NASA’s Cape Canaveral. Which shuttle made this landing, marking the end of the Space Shuttle program?
Answer: Atlantis
From the first launch on April 12, 1981 to the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations. NASA’s space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on April 12, 1981 and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station. The final space shuttle mission, STS-135, ended July 21, 2011 when Atlantis rolled to a stop at its home port, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. – NASA
Lyndon B. Johnson at the LBJ ranch, 1972. Image LBJ Library
Two
On this date in 2024, President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential election. Prior to this announcement, who was the most recent sitting United States president to decline to seek reelection?
Answer: Lyndon B. Johnson
On March 31, 1968, President Johnson delivered a national address that made three significant announcements: he had recently ordered substantial reductions in the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, he was requesting peace negotiations, and he would neither seek nor accept his party’s nomination for re-election.
What was the title of the final book in the Harry Potter series, released on July 21, 2007?
Answer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
Harry Potter, a fictional boy wizard created by British author J.K. Rowling, is the subject of seven immensely popular novels (1997–2007) and eight films (2001–11). His coming-of-age exploits were further adapted into a play and a book of its script in 2016.
Four
Today in 1954, the Geneva Accords divided what country along the 17th parallel?
Answer: Vietnam
The Geneva Accords, signed in 1954, divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel, establishing a cease-fire and calling for troop withdrawals. The Accords also stipulated all-Vietnamese elections by 1956 to reunify the country, though the U.S. and South Vietnam withheld approval.
On 21 July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history as the world’s first female prime minister in which country?
Answer: Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)
Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s first female prime minister, served three terms in Sri Lanka. She carried on her assassinated husband’s socialist policies, promoting Buddhism and Sinhalese culture. However, she encountered economic crisis and defeat in 1965. She subsequently returned to serve two more terms as prime minister (1970–77, 1994–2000).
Five questions today, each requiring a single answer without multiple choices or additional hints.
A space shuttle lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning the final mission of the Space Shuttle program. Image NASA.
One
On July 21, 2011, the Space Shuttle program concluded with the landing of a shuttle at NASA’s Cape Canaveral. Which shuttle made this landing, marking the end of the Space Shuttle program?
Two
On this date in 2024, President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential election. Prior to this announcement, who was the most recent sitting United States president to decline to seek reelection?
Three
What was the title of the final book in the Harry Potter series, released on July 21, 2007?
Four
Today in 1954 the Geneva Accords divided what country along the 17th parallel?
Five
On 21 July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history as the world’s first female prime minister in which country?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Diana Rigg and George Lazenby. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, 1969. Image Wikipedia
One
The actress who played Countess Teresa ‘Tracy’ di Vicenzo in the Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) was born 20 July 1938. Who was she?
Diana Rigg
Jill St. John
Shirley Eaton
Answer: Diana Rigg
Dame Enid Rigg was an English actress known for roles in The Avengers, On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, and Game of Thrones. She won a Tony Award for her role in Medea and received numerous accolades for her contributions to drama.
All three were Bond Girls with Jill St John appearing as Tiffany Case in Diamonds Are Forever and Shirley Eaton as Jill Masterson in Goldfinger.
Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay. Image Wikipedia
Two
Edmund Hillary, one of the first two men to reach the summit of Mount Everest, was born 20 July 1919. In what city was he born?
Auckland, New Zealand
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Canberra, Australia
Answer: Auckland, New Zealand
In 1953, Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay of the 1953 British Mount Everest expedition became the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest using the South Col route. The news of their success reached London on the morning of Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.
Claus von Stauffenberg, a German army officer, is most renowned for his unsuccessful attempt on 20 July 1944, to assassinate Adolf Hitler. At which of Hitler’s headquarters was this attempt executed?
Felsennest, (Rocky Eyrie), Bad Münstereifel
Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), above Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria
Wolfsschanze (Wolf’s Lair), East Prussia
Answer: Wolfsschanze (Wolf’s Lair), East Prussia
On 20 July 1944, German resistance members, led by Claus von Stauffenberg, attempted to assassinate Adolf Hitler and overthrow the Nazi regime. The assassination attempt failed, and the subsequent coup d’état, codenamed ‘Operation Valkyrie’, was quickly suppressed by the Nazi regime, resulting in the execution of many conspirators including von Stauffenberg.
On 20 July 1992, Václav Havel resigned as president of…
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Answer: Czechoslovakia
In 1990, Czechoslovakia held its first free elections in 44 years, resulting in a victory for Civic Forum and Public Against Violence. Despite increasing tensions and the Slovak Declaration of Independence, Václav Havel supported the retention of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic and resigned as president in 1992. When the Czech Republic was created as one of two successor states, Havel successfully stood for election as its first president on 26 January 1993.
Aldrin next to the Passive Seismic Experiment Package with the Lunar Module Eagle in the background. Image Wikipedia
Five
On July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin (Buzz Aldrin) landed on the Moon in the Lunar Module Eagle. How long did they remain on the Moon between the Eagle’s landing and the ascent stage’s departure for their return journey?
21 hours and 36 minutes
24 hours and 3 minutes
32 hours and 28 minutes
Answer: 21 hours and 36 minutes
On 20 July 1969, Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin descended to the Moon’s surface in the Eagle lunar module. During the descent, they encountered programme alarms and navigated through a boulder-strewn area. Armstrong successfully landed Eagle with only 216 pounds of fuel remaining, signalling to Mission Control, ‘Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed’.
After a longer-than-expected preparation period, Armstrong became the first human to step onto the Moon’s surface, famously declaring, ‘That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind’.
Armstrong and Aldrin deployed scientific instruments, collected rock samples, and planted a flag on the Moon and left behind memorial items, including a message disk with goodwill statements from world leaders. After a 21 hours and 36 minutes, they safely lifted off in the LM ascent stage to rejoin Michael Collins in lunar orbit.
The actress who played Countess Teresa ‘Tracy’ di Vicenzo in the Bond film On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969) was born 20 July 1938. Who was she?
Diana Rigg
Jill St. John
Shirley Eaton
Two
Edmund Hillary, one of the first two men to reach the summit of Mount Everest, was born 20 July 1919. In what city was he born?
Auckland, New Zealand
Belfast, Northern Ireland, UK
Canberra, Australia
Three
Claus von Stauffenberg, a German army officer, is most renowned for his unsuccessful attempt on 20 July 1944, to assassinate Adolf Hitler. At which of Hitler’s headquarters was this attempt executed?
Felsennest, (Rocky Eyrie), Bad Münstereifel
Kehlsteinhaus (Eagle’s Nest), above Obersalzberg near Berchtesgaden, Bavaria
Wolfsschanze (Wolf’s Lair), East Prussia
Four
On 20 July 1992, Václav Havel resigned as president of…
Albania
Bulgaria
Czechoslovakia
Five
On July 20, 1969, during the Apollo 11 mission, Neil Armstrong and Edwin Aldrin (Buzz) landed on the Moon in the Lunar Module Eagle. How long did they remain on the Moon between the Eagle’s landing and the ascent stage’s departure for their return journey?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Aardvark (Orycteropus afer) in the Bushveld, Limpopo, South Africa. Image Wikipedia
One
What animal is pictured above?
Aardvark
Bonito
Coypu
Answer: Aardvark
Aardvarks are medium-sized, nocturnal mammals native to Africa, using their long proboscis to sniff out ants and termites. They are the only living species of the family Orycteropodidae and the order Tubulidentata, and are not closely related to pigs or anteaters despite superficial similarities.
Aerial view of Pelham Bay Park (pictured centre left). Image Wikipedia
Two
According to NYC Parks, the largest public park in New York City is…
Central Park, Manhattan
Marine Park, Brooklyn
Pelham Bay Park, Bronx
Answer: Pelham Bay Park
Pelham Bay Park, the largest public park in New York City, spans 2,765 acres in the Bronx. It features peninsulas, a lagoon, and recreational areas such as Orchard Beach and golf courses. The park has a rich history, having been part of Anne Hutchinson’s colony and later playing a role in the Revolutionary War.
In contrast, Brooklyn’s Marine Park covers 798 acres, while Central Park is an impressive 843 acres.
Billy the Kid, ballet by Aaron Copland (Premiere 1938). Image aaroncopland.com
Three
Aaron Copland composed which 1938 ballet?
Billy the Kid
The Gunfight at the OK Corral
Wild Bill
Answer: Billy the Kid
Aaron Copland’s 1938 ballet Billy the Kid, commissioned by Lincoln Kirstein and choreographed by Eugene Loring, is a popular and widely performed piece. It incorporates cowboy tunes and American folk songs, portraying the ‘Wild West’ through the figure of Billy the Kid.
Four
In what year, and where, was Rift Valley fever first identified?
1851, Japan
1931, Kenya
2011, Laos
Answer: 1931, Kenya
The virus was first identified in 1931 during an investigation into an epidemic among sheep in the Rift Valley of Kenya. It is a viral disease transmitted through contact with infected animal blood, raw milk, or mosquito bites. Symptoms range from mild fever and muscle pain to severe complications like blindness, brain infections, and bleeding, with a 50% fatality rate for those with bleeding. Outbreaks occur in Africa and Arabia, typically during rainy periods.
City of London within London (in centre of image). Image Maproom
Five
What is the approximate area of the City of London?
1 square mile
11 square miles
111 square miles
Answer: 1 square mile
The City of London, or “the City,” is the historic centre of London, containing historic sites like St Paul’s Cathedral and the London Stock Exchange. It is the smallest ceremonial county and local government district in England, with an area of 1.12 sq mi, earning it the nickname the Square Mile.
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Film poster for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001). Image MovieDB
One
Which Louis de Bernières novel begins with the line, “Dr. Iannis had enjoyed a satisfactory day in which none of his patients had died or deteriorated”?
Answer: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, released simultaneously in the United States as Corelli’s Mandolin, is a 1994 novel by the British writer Louis de Bernières, set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the Italian and German occupation of the Second World War. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 19 on the BBC’s survey The Big Read. It has been adapted for radio, t#heatre and film, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
The Camels are Coming was the first in the series of Biggles stories by Captain W.E. Johns. Image Wikipedia
Two
Who wrote the Biggles series of novels?
Answer: Captain W.E. Johns
Biggles, a fictional pilot and adventurer, is the hero of the Biggles series of adventure books written by W.E. Johns. The series, which includes nearly a hundred volumes, began in 1932 and continued until Johns’ death in 1968.
Created by US author Dav Pilkey, which superhero is the alter ego of elementary school principal Mr Krupp?
Answer: Captain Underpants
Captain Underpants is a children’s novel series about two fourth graders, George and Harold, who accidentally bring their comic book superhero to life.
Last expedition of Robert Falcon Scott. The image shows Wilson, Scott and Oates (standing); and Bowers and Evans (sitting). Image Wikipedia
Four
Who led the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica in June 1910?
Answer: Captain Robert F. Scott
The Terra Nova Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, aimed to continue scientific research and reach the South Pole. Scott and four companions reached the pole in 1912, only to find they had been beaten by a Norwegian team. All five of the party died on their return journey from the Pole.
Puppets by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson for Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet at the National Media Museum, Bradford, England. Image Wikipedia
Five
Which 1960s sci-fi TV series featured the international security organisation, Spectrum?
Answer: Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. It was the sixth Anderson series to use Supermarionation puppetry and scale model special effects.
Which Spanish Nobel laureate wrote the novels The Family of Pascual Duarte, The Hive and Christ Versus Arizona?
Camilo José Cela
Mario Vargas Llosa
Patrick Modiano
Answer: Camilo José Cela
Camilo José Cela y Trulock, a Spanish novelist and poet, was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature for his prose. He was associated with the Generation of ’36 movement.
National Museum of Cameroon, Yaoundé. Image Wikipedia
Two
Yaoundé is the capital of which French-speaking West African country?
Answer: Cameroon
Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, is the second-largest city with a population of over 2.8 million. Founded as a German trading post in 1887, it became the French colonial capital in 1922 and the seat of government for independent Cameroon in 1960.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth acknowledge the crowds at Toronto City Hall during the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada. Image Wikipedia
Three
Camilla is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III. Who was the last person to be Queen consort of these realms?
Answer: Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon wife of George VI and later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. When King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, Prince Albert became King George VI, and Elizabeth, as his wife, became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. She was also the last Empress of India. After her husband’s death in 1952, her daughter Elizabeth became queen regnant, or queen in her own right. She reigned as Elizabeth II, and to avoid confusion, her mother was styled as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Captain Archibald Haddock, introduced in The Crab with the Golden Claws, is Tintin’s best friend and a seafaring captain. Initially depicted as alcoholic, he becomes more respectable and heroicand quickly evolved into a loyal companion to Tintin. Hergé developed Haddock’s character, giving him a rich ancestry and a home, Marlinspike Hall, to provide a base for future adventures. Haddock’s name was suggested by Hergé’s wife, and his character was based on aspects of Hergé’s friends, adding humour to the Tintin stories.
The Women’s Lacrosse World Cup has been held eleven times, with the United States winning nine of these championships. The remaining two championships were won by which country?
Australia
Belgium
Canada
Answer: Australia
The World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, held every four years, is the international championship of women’s lacrosse. Sponsored by the Federation of International Lacrosse since 2009, it was previously sponsored by the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations. Australia’s victory over the United States in two finals means the US has been represented in all eleven championship finals.
Quizology.Online 
 in the Bushveld, Limpopo, South Africa. Image Wikipedia https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Orycteropus_afer_175359469.jpg){kind=link}
