Ludwig van Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis, 1820. Image Wikimedia Commons
On 2 April 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 in Vienna, so today’s questions are all about music.
One
When Hans von Bulow referred to three composers as ‘The three Bs’, one was Ludwig van Beethoven, but who were the other two?
Two
What is the name of the priest in Eleanor Rigby ?
Three
Who composed the opera Aida, and where was it set?
Four
‘But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’, are lyrics from what song, and who wrote it?
Five
First performed in 1934, A Boy was Born is a choral composition by which English composer?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
These questions are all related to today, April 1st.
See question three. Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Established in 1999, Nunavut, at 135,000 square miles of land (350,000 square km), is the World’s fifth-largest country subdivision.
Of what country is Nunavut a subdivision?
What, to the nearest ten thousand, is the population of Nunavut?
Answers
1. Canada
2. 40,000
Nunavut, established in 1999, is the largest and northernmost Canadian territory, created for Inuit self-government. It covers a significant portion of Northern Canada and the Arctic Archipelago, making it the fifth-largest country subdivision globally. With a population of 36,858, it is the least densely populated major subdivision in the world.
Two
Gmail was launched on this day, in what year did this happen?
Answer: 2004.
Gmail, created by Paul Buchheit, was launched in 2004 and opened to the public in 2007, is the world’s largest email service with 1.8 billion users. It offers 15GB of free storage, supports large attachments, and integrates with Google Drive. The service is accessible from any internet-enabled device and features conversation view, integrated chat, and was briefly integrated with the social networking application Buzz.
Three
Josef von Sternberg’s Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) was released in Germany, and the classic film made Marlene Dietrich a star. What was Dietrich’s character name, as billed, in this film?
Answer: Lola Lola.
The Blue Angel (1930) is a German musical comedy-drama directed by Josef von Sternberg, featuring Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, and Kurt Gerron. Based on Heinrich Mann’s novel Professor Unrat, it tells the tragic story of a professor’s downfall into madness due to his obsession with nightclub singer Lola Lola, played by Dietrich in her breakthrough role. This film introduced her iconic song, Falling in Love Again. Filmed in both German and English, the English version was initially lost but rediscovered and screened in 2009. The German version is preferred for its length and superior pronunciation.
Four
The Apple Computer Company, now Apple Inc., was founded in 1976, who were the three people who co-founded it?
Answer: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
Apple Inc., founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, is a leading American multinational technology company renowned for its innovative consumer electronics, software, and online services. Known for its user-centric design and marketplace ecosystem, Apple revolutionised the technology sector with products like personal computers, smartphones and tablets. After nearly going bankrupt in the 1990s, the company returned to profitability under Steve Jobs’ leadership, introducing iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Today, Apple is the world’s largest company by market capitalisation and a major player in the PC, tablet, and mobile phone markets.
Five
In 1977, who had a U.S. number 1 and U.K. top ten hit with Got to Give It Up from the album Live at the London Palladium?
Answer: Marvin Gaye.
Marvin Gaye, an American soul singer-songwriter-producer, was a cultural icon and one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time. He began his career with Motown Records, achieving success with hits like I Heard It Through the Grapevine and duets with Tammi Terrell. Gaye’s groundbreaking album What’s Going On showcased his musical individuality and social commentary, paving the way for other artists to take control of their music. He later produced his own albums, significantly influencing 1970s soul music and R&B sub-genres. Tragically, Gaye was shot and killed by his father on 1 April 1984.
1 GB of storage for free
The post title refers to Google offering users 1 GB of space, compared to the 2 to 4 MB that was the standard at the time.
These questions are all related to today, April 1st.
See question three. Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Established in 1999, Nunavut, at 135,000 square miles of land (350,000 square km), is the World’s fifth-largest country subdivision.
Of what country is Nunavut a subdivision?
What, to the nearest ten thousand, is the population of Nunavut?
Two
Gmail was launched on this day, in what year did this happen?
Three
Josef von Sternberg’s Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) was released in Germany, and the classic film made Marlene Dietrich a star. What was Dietrich’s character name, as billed, in this film?
Four
The Apple Computer Company, now Apple Inc., was founded in 1976, who were the three people who co-founded it?
Five
In 1977, who had a U.S. number 1 and U.K. top ten hit with Got to Give It Up from the album Live at the London Palladium?
Having finished our A to Z quizzes from the last few days, we now return to the date with questions about today, March 31st.
One
On this date Daylight Saving Time was introduced for the first time in the United States.
In what year did this occur?
True or false: Ancient Rome also adjusted their clocks to achieve similar results as daylight savings.
Answers
1. 1918
2. True
In the U.S., it was seen as a wartime implementation and was abandoned after 1918. It was again used during World War II. It came into general annual use in the 1960s. Ancient Romans used water clocks with varying scales for different months, adjusting the length of hours based on the season. A specific hour which lasted 44 minutes at the winter solstice would be 75 minutes long at the summer solstice.
Two
Born in 1809, Edward FitzGerald, an English poet and writer who is best known for his 1859 translation of the work of ‘the Astronomer-Poet of Persia’. He published this in 1859 as the Rubáiyát of ——. What two word name is that of the Persian astronomer-poet which completes the title of FitzGerald’s 1859 translation?
Answer: Omar Khayyám.
Edward FitzGerald’s 1859 translation of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám gained popularity in the 1860s and 1870s, becoming a cultural phenomenon in the English-speaking world. The work inspired numerous translations and became something of a cult in the later part of the 19th century. Omar Khayyam (1048–1131) was a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and literature.
Three
Born in 1984, Martins Dukurs, a Latvian sportsman, is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist. He holds the record for the most World Cup titles with 11. In which sport has Dukurs achieved this success?
Answer: Skeleton.
Martins Dukurs, born on 31 March 1984, is a former Latvian skeleton racer and current coach. Competing since 1998, he is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist (2010, 2014). Dukurs holds the record for the most World Cup titles, with 11, including eight consecutive from 2010 to 2017 and three from 2020 to 2022.
Four
Born in Scotland on this day in 1971, an actor links these two roles. The first is a character from a 1996 film also born in Scotland, in Leith, Edinburgh. The second is not Scottish but a character in a 2009 film who said ‘Have you come to make me a martyr?’. Who is the actor?
Answer: Ewan McGregor.
Ewan McGregor is a Scottish actor and filmmaker known for his roles in Trainspotting, Star Wars, and Moulin Rouge!. He has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award, and has also directed films and appeared in theatre productions.
Five
On this date, the U.S. Virgin Islands became American possessions.
By what name had they been known immediately prior to this?
In what decade did this occur?
Answers
1. Danish West Indies
2. 1910s
The United States purchased the three islands from Denmark for $25 million in 1917, recognising their strategic importance in controlling the main passage through the Caribbean to the Panama Canal. Previously controlled by Denmark–Norway from 1754 to 1814 and then by the Kingdom of Denmark from 1814 to 1917, the islands were sold under the 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies. Adjusted for inflation, this amount would be $628 million in 2025. Since the purchase, the islands have been an organised, unincorporated U.S. territory.
Having finished our A to Z quizzes from the last few days, we now return to the date with questions about today, March 31st.
One
On this date Daylight Saving Time was introduced for the first time in the United States.
In what year did this occur?
True or false: Ancient Rome also adjusted their clocks to achieve similar results as daylight savings.
Two
Born in 1809, Edward FitzGerald, an English poet and writer who is best known for his 1859 translation of the work of ‘the Astronomer-Poet of Persia’. He published this in 1859 as the Rubáiyát of ——. What two word name is that of the Persian astronomer-poet which completes the title of FitzGerald’s 1859 translation?
Three
Born in 1984, Martins Dukurs, a Latvian sportsman, is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist. He holds the record for the most World Cup titles with 11. In which sport has Dukurs achieved this success?
Four
Born in Scotland on this day in 1971, an actor links these two roles. The first is a character from a 1996 film also born in Scotland, in Leith, Edinburgh. The second is not Scottish but a character in a 2009 film who said ‘Have you come to make me a martyr?’. Who is the actor?
Five
On this date, the U.S. Virgin Islands became American possessions.
By what name had they been known immediately prior to this?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Kublai Khan, a posthumous painting executed shortly after his death in February of 1294. Image Wikimedia Commons
Finishing the alphabetical theme with the remaining letters, so six questions today with answers beginning with the letters from U to Z, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
One
What word links Shangdu, which was ruled by Kublai Khan and is mentioned in the first line of a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, with the title track of a 1980 musical of the same name?
Answer: Xanadu.
Shangdu, the summer capital of Yuan dynasty ruled by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. A metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s description of Shangdu in his 1816 poem Kubla Khan. Xanadu is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British-Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton John.
Two
What professional golfer won the U.S. Masters tournament in 2007, and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews?
Answer: Zach Johnson.
Zachary Harris Johnson, an American professional golfer, has won 12 PGA Tour events, including two majors. He captained the unsuccessful U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2023.
Three
The Macallan, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig are three examples of what product from the United Kingdom?
The last two mentioned, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig, both come from what region which is well known for this product?
Answers
Whisky.
Island of Islay.
Scotch whisky, first mentioned in 1494, was originally made from malted barley. Single malt Scotch whisky, which the three examples mentioned are, must be distilled in one distillery using only water and malted barley. By 2024, Scotland boasted 151 distilleries, solidifying its reputation for this renowned spirit.
Four
Which name connects a character from a Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel to the 1972 studio album The Magician’s Birthday?
Answer: Uriah Heap.
Uriah Heep, a sycophantic character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, manipulates his employer, Mr. Wickfield, into making him a partner. He later faces exposure for his frauds and is imprisoned for bank fraud. Named after the Dickens’ character Uriah Heep, an English rock band formed in 1969, pioneered hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, they are known for hits like Lady in Black and maintain a strong following in Europe and Asia.
Five
In what film does Tom Hanks play Joe Fox?
Answer: You’ve Got Mail.
You’ve Got Mail is a 1998 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, directed by Nora Ephron. The film, inspired by a Hungarian play, tells the story of two online romantics who are business rivals.
Six
This small fully independent nation-state’s independence was recognised by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Which nation is it?
Answer: Vatican City.
Vatican City, the smallest independent nation-state, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. It has its own infrastructure and diplomatic relations, with a population of around 882 people.
Kublai Khan, a posthumous painting executed shortly after his death in February of 1294. Image Wikimedia Commons
Finishing the alphabetical theme with the remaining letters, so six questions today with answers beginning with the letters from U to Z, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
One
What word links Shangdu, which was ruled by Kublai Khan and is mentioned in the first line of a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, with the title track of a 1980 musical of the same name?
Two
What professional golfer won the U.S. Masters tournament in 2007, and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews?
Three
The Macallan, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig are three examples of what product from the United Kingdom?
The last two mentioned, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig, both come from what region, an island which is well known for this product?
Four
Which name connects a character from a Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel to the 1972 studio album The Magician’s Birthday?
Five
In what film does Tom Hanks play Joe Fox?
Six
This small fully independent nation-state’s independence was recognised by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Which nation is it?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
Continuing the alphabetical theme with today’s questions having answers beginning with the letters from P to T, with each letter being used only once. Please note they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
See question four. Muggle quidditch or quadball. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, by what twelve-letter word does Éowyn, a noblewoman of Rohan, describe herself?
Answer: Shieldmaiden
Éowyn, a noblewoman of Rohan and shieldmaiden, kills the Witch-King of Angmar in the Battle of the Pelennor Fields, fulfilling a prophecy. Her brief courtship by Faramir is seen as influenced by Tolkien’s experience with war brides. In Nordic folklore and Norse mythology Shield-maidens are female warriors.
Two
What three words completes this sentence from Encyclopædia Britannica: ’At the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, around June 21, the Sun attains its greatest declination north and is directly over the …’
At what latitude does the above answer lie?
Answers
Tropic of Cancer.
23°26’
The Tropic of Cancer, the northernmost circle of latitude where the Sun can be seen directly overhead, is currently 23°26′09.2″ north of the Equator. Its position changes due to the tilt of Earth’s axis. The Tropic of Capricorn is its southern equivalent.
Three
Which fairy tale features a miller, his daughter, a king and the transformation of straw into gold?
Answer: Rumpelstiltskin.
Rumpelstiltskin, a gnomelike man, spins straw into gold for a miller’s daughter in exchange for her firstborn child. When the miller’s daughter, now the queen, begs for her child’s release from the bargain, he gives her three days to guess his name.
Four
In 2022, the sport formerly known as muggle quidditch changed its name to what?
Answer: Quadball.
Quadball, formerly known as muggle quidditch, is a team sport inspired by the Harry Potter series. Two teams of seven players compete to score points by passing a ball through hoops while defending their own.
Five
Cobblepot: does he live in a rookery?
Answer: Penguin.
Oswald Chesterfield Cobblepot, aka The Penguin, a Gotham City criminal and Batman adversary, is known for his distinctive appearance and criminal activities centred around his nightclub, the Iceberg Lounge. Created by Bob Kane and Bill Finger, he is one of Batman’s most enduring enemies and has been featured in various media adaptations. Penguin colonies are known as rookeries.
Posing Questions Referencing Selected Trivia
The post title is simply representing the five letters for today’s answers as I’m sure you all noticed.
Continuing the alphabetical theme with today’s questions having answers beginning with the letters from P to T, with each letter being used only once. Please note they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, by what twelve-letter word does Éowyn, a noblewoman of Rohan, describe herself?
Two
What three words completes this sentence from Encyclopædia Britannica: ’At the summer solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, around June 21, the Sun attains its greatest declination north and is directly over the …’
At what latitude does the above answer lie?
Three
Which fairy tale features a miller, his daughter, a king and the transformation of straw into gold?
Four
In 2022, the sport formerly known as muggle quidditch changed its name to what?
Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.
See if you can KO these five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from K to O, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.
Para-dummies, pictured above, were a deception device used in World War II. British troops nicknamed them Rupert; what name did the Americans give them?
Answer: Oscar.
These para-dummies, first used in World War II, served as military deception devices to imitate paratroop drops, causing the enemy to shift forces or fires unnecessarily or to lure them into ambushes. The dolls were nicknamed Rupert by British troops and Oscar by American troops. Made of burlap and filled with straw or green waste, these immobile dummies were about 85 cm tall, smaller than a person. However, during twilight, they were difficult to distinguish from real parachutists. To further confuse defenders, the dummies contained explosives that detonated on impact, and real parachutists would hang motionless from their parachutes, mimicking the appearance of real jumpers or fallen.
Two
In 2023, what is the official currency of Denmark, Greenland and the Faroe Islands?
Answer: Krone.
Denmark has kept the krone (DKK) instead of adopting the euro, despite meeting the economic convergence criteria and following EU policies. A referendum in September 2000 rejected the euro, and public opinion has consistently been against its adoption. Greenland and the Faroe Islands are autonomous territories of Denmark.
Three
What interplanetary space probe launched in 2006 became, in 2015, the first to perform a flyby study of Pluto?
Answer: New Horizons.
New Horizons, a NASA space probe launched in 2006, conducted a flyby study of the Pluto system in 2015, becoming the first spacecraft to do so. It then flew into and is currently travelling through the Kuiper Belt, which it is expected to exit between 2028 and 2029.
Four
The Galaxy referred to in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy is which one?
Answer: Milky Way
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a comedy science fiction franchise created by Douglas Adams, follows Arthur Dent’s adventures across the galaxy after Earth’s destruction. The franchise includes radio, novels, comics, TV, games, stage shows, and film.
Five
Known as the Pineapple Island, what is the sixth-largest island in the U.S. state of Hawaii?
Answer: Lānaʻi
Lānaʻi, the sixth-largest Hawaiian island, is known as the Pineapple Island due to its past pineapple plantations. Lānaʻi has a population of 3,367 and is accessible only by dirt roads requiring four-wheel drive. There is one school, Lānaʻi High and Elementary School, one hospital, Lanai Community Hospital, and a community health centre providing primary care. Two per cent of the island is owned by the state or private entities, with the remaining 98% owned by Larry Ellison, co-founder and chairman of software company Oracle Corporation.
Post Title
It’s a Knockout
Today’s questions have answers in the range K to O and KO is an accepted abbreviation for Knockout.
Quizology.Online 