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.
An ichthyologist is a scientist who studies fish, while ichthyology is the branch of zoology devoted to the study of fish. The word ichthyology comes from the Greek ichthys, meaning ‘fish’, and –logia, meaning ‘study of’. An ichthyologist may study the anatomy, behaviour, evolution, classification, ecology, distribution, or conservation of all major groups of fish, including bony fish (Osteichthyes), cartilaginous fish (such as sharks and rays), and jawless fish (such as lampreys and hagfish). Because fish make up more than half of all known vertebrate species, ichthyology is one of the largest and most diverse fields within zoology.
Three
Nosology is the scientific study of which of these?
Diseases
Nasal biology
Negativity
Answer: Diseases.
nosology /nɒˈsɒlədʒi / ▸ noun [mass noun] the branch of medical science dealing with the classification of diseases.
– ORIGIN early 18th century: from Greek nosos ‘disease’ + –logy. – DERIVATIVES nosological /ˌnɒsəˈlɒdʒɪkl / ▸ adjective nosologist /nɒˈsɒlədʒɪst / ▸ noun — Oxford English Dictionary
Four
What is defined by the Oxford English Dictionary as the ‘science or technique of dating events, environmental change, and archaeological artefacts by using the characteristic patterns of annual growth rings in timber and tree trunks’?
Answer: Dendrochronology.
Dendrochronology, or tree-ring dating, is the scientific method of dating tree rings to the exact year they formed. Because trees produce one growth ring per year, the technique can precisely determine the age of wood and the timing of environmental changes, particularly past climate conditions. It is widely used in archaeology, art history, architecture, and to calibrate radiocarbon dating. Continuous tree-ring records in some regions extend back nearly 14,000 years, while newer isotope-based methods can date samples unsuitable for traditional ring analysis.
Five
Selenology is the scientific study of what?
Answer: The moon.
Selenology is derived from the Greek words Selēnē, meaning “Moon”, and –logia, meaning ‘the study of’ or ‘discourse concerning’. Literally, selenology means ‘the study of the Moon’. Selene was the ancient Greek goddess of the Moon, and her name became the root for several lunar-related scientific terms, including selenography (mapping or describing the Moon’s surface) and selenophysics (the physical study of the Moon). The term selenology came into scientific use in the 19th century, when lunar observation and mapping were becoming increasingly systematic. Today it refers to the branch of planetary science that studies the Moon’s geology, surface features, internal structure, origin, and evolution.
