Quizology.Online

Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Names, Names, Names—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post,

    Theodore Roosevelt, 1904.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Could you please identify the missing names in the following quote from Encyclopædia Britannica? It mentions a president’s name and a building’s name but both have been removed.

    1901 President … officially changed the name of the president’s residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. from … to the White House — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Answer: Theodore Roosevelt and Executive Mansion

    Originally called the “President’s Palace” on early maps, the building was officially named the Executive Mansion in 1810 to avoid connotations of royalty. Although the name White House was commonly used from about the same time (because the mansion’s white-gray sandstone contrasted strikingly with the red brick of nearby buildings), it did not become the official name of the building until 1901, when it was adopted by Pres. Theodore Roosevelt (1901–09). The White House is the oldest federally built building in the country’s capital. — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Two

    In 1748, the British Royal Navy secured a tactical victory over the Spanish near Havana in the Caribbean during the War of ….
    Which of the following completes the above statement: Barnard’s Nose; Jenkins’ Ear or Nelson’s Eye?

    Answer: Jenkins’ Ear

    The War of Jenkins’ Ear (1739-1748)—the name derives from Robert Jenkins, a British sea captain whose ear was allegedly severed by Spanish coast guards in 1731—between Great Britain and Spain, centred in New Granada and the Caribbean, was a precursor to the War of the Austrian Succession. The war ended with the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle, leaving Britain’s territorial ambitions largely unmet.

    Three

    In 2001, the centennial Nobel Prize was awarded to the United Nations and the organisations secretary-general. Who was this secretary-general?

    Answer: Kofi Annan

    In 2001, the Nobel Committee awarded the Peace Prize to the UN and Kofi Annan for their work towards a more peaceful world. Annan was also honoured with a chieftaincy title by the Asantehene for his contributions to humanity and peace.

    Four

    An island once named Fernando Pó is part of a country which achieved its independence from Spain in 1968. What country is this, and on what continent is it located?

    Answer: Equatorial Guinea and Africa

    Bioko, historically Fernando Pó after a Portuguese explorer, is an island in Equatorial Guinea. Located 32 kilometres south of Cameroon’s coast and 160 kilometres northwest of mainland Equatorial Guinea, its capital city Malabo sits on the island’s north coast. With an area of 2,017 km² it is the fourth largest island in Africa and is part of the Cameroon line of volcanoes, with its highest peak being Pico Basile at 3,012 m. In the Bube language, Bioko is called Ëtulá a Ëri.

    Edith Cavell.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    In 1916, a British nurse was executed by a German firing squad for aiding Allied soldiers in their escape. Who was the nurse, and what was the name of the country?

    Answer: Edith Cavell

    Edith Cavell, a British nurse, was executed on 12 October 1915 by the Germans during WWI for helping Allied soldiers escape. Her selfless actions and words, ‘Patriotism is not enough’, inspired many and are commemorated on her memorial.

  • Names, Names, Names

    Today’s questions revolve around October 12th and touch on various names.

    An aerial view of the White House complex, including Pennsylvania Avenue in the foreground, the Executive Residence and North Portico (center), the East Wing (left), and the West Wing and the Oval Office at its southeast corner, April 2007.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Could you please identify the missing names in the following quote from Encyclopædia Britannica? It mentions a president’s name and a building’s name but both have been removed.

    1901 President … officially changed the name of the president’s residence at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C. from … to the White House — Encyclopædia Britannica

    Two

    In 1748, the British Royal Navy secured a tactical victory over the Spanish near Havana in the Caribbean during the War of ….
    Which of the following completes the above statement: Barnard’s Nose, Jenkins’ Ear, or Nelson’s Eye?

    Three

    In 2001, the centennial Nobel Prize was awarded to the United Nations and the organisations secretary-general. Who was this secretary-general?

    Four

    An island once named Fernando Pó is part of a country which achieved its independence from Spain in 1968. What country is this, and on what continent is it located?

    Five

    In 1916, a British nurse was executed by a German firing squad for aiding Allied soldiers in their escape. Who was the nurse, and what was the name of the country?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Numbers—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    One

    Eight nations lie within the Arctic Circle. Can you name them?

    Answer: Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States

    The Arctic Circle, an imaginary line at about 66.5° North latitude, marks the southern edge of the Arctic region. Several countries have land or territories within them. Alphabetically, they are:

    Canada
    Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and northern areas of several provinces, plus the islands in Canada’s Arctic Archipelago which is described by Wikipedia as:

    Situated in the northern extremity of North America and covering about 1,424,500 km2 (550,000 sq mi), this group of 36,563 islands, surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, comprises much of Northern Canada, predominately Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. — Wikipedia

    Finland
    The Lapland region.

    Greenland
    Greenland, a vast autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

    Iceland
    Despite its name only a small part of Grímsey Island (off the north coast of mainland Iceland) lies within the Arctic Circle.

    Norway
    Northern mainland, for example, Finnmark; and the Svalbard Archipelago. Longyearbyen (Longyear Town) is the world’s northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000, and the capital and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard.

    Russia
    Russia has a massive Arctic region, including parts of Siberia, Murmansk Oblast and several Arctic islands. Murmansk is the largest city located above the Arctic Circle

    Sweden
    The northern part of the country, for example, Norrbotten County.

    United States
    The only US territory within the Arctic Circle is the northern part of the state of Alaska.

    Two

    In what 1996 film is Sherman Klump and various others played by the same actor and, who is that actor and how many roles do they play?

    Answer: (film) The Nutty Professor; (actor) Eddie Murphy; (number of roles) Seven

    The Nutty Professor (1996) Eddie Murphy seven roles
    – Professor Sherman Klump ‘The Nutty Professor’
    – Buddy Love
    – Lance Perkins
    – Cletus Klump, Sherman’s father
    – Anna Pearl Jensen-Klump, Sherman’s mother
    – Ida Mae Jensen, Anna’s mother and Sherman’s maternal grandmother
    – Ernie Klump Sr., Sherman’s older brother

    Three

    … days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.

    What number begins the opening line from Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin?

    Answer: Ten

    The Blind Assassin, a historical fiction novel by Margaret Atwood, won the Booker Prize in 2000.

    Four

    In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring was formed at the Council of Elrond with the singular purpose of destroying the One Ring. How many members in total were in the Fellowship, and how was this number distributed among the various races?

    Answer: (total) Nine. (comprising) One Wizard, two Men, one Elf, one Dwarf and four Hobbits

    The Tolkien Gateway describe the members of the Fellowship of the Ring as follows:

    Gandalf — One of the Wizards sent to Middle-earth by the Valar. He was the leader of the Fellowship.
    Aragorn, son of Arathorn — The Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the last heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. He led the Fellowship after the loss of Gandalf.
    Boromir, son of Denethor — Captain-general of Gondor and next-in-line to be the Ruling Steward of Gondor.
    Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood — Emissary of the Elves of Mirkwood.
    Gimli, son of Glóin — A Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain.
    Frodo Baggins — A Hobbit from the Shire, chosen to carry the One Ring.
    Samwise Gamgee — A Hobbit, Frodo’s gardener, servant and close friend.
    Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck — A Hobbit and cousin of Frodo, best friends with
    Peregrin “Pippin” Took — A Hobbit and also a cousin of Frodo, youngest of the Fellowship.
    — The Fellowship by Pauline Baynes at The Tolkien Gateway

    Five

    The Hunting of the Snark, a poem by an English writer, is subtitled An Agony, in … Fits. What number is missing from the subtitle and who was the English author?

    Answer: (number) Eight and (author) Lewis Carroll

    The Hunting of the Snark is a nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll, published in 1876. The poem follows a crew’s hunt for the Snark, a creature that may be a dangerous Boojum, and explores themes of existential angst and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Numbers

    Today numbers are either in the questions or answers.

    One

    Eight nations lie within the Arctic Circle. Can you name them?

    Two

    In what 1996 film is Sherman Klump and various others played by the same actor and, who is that actor and how many roles do they play?

    Three

    … days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.

    What number begins the opening line from Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin?

    Four

    In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring was formed at the Council of Elrond with the singular purpose of destroying the One Ring. How many members in total were in the Fellowship, and how was this number distributed among the various races?

    Five

    The Hunting of the Snark, a poem by an English writer, is subtitled An Agony, in … Fits. What number is missing from the subtitle and who was the English author?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later.

  • Today’s the Day—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions about October 10th which were posted earlier.

    Giant, film poster, 1956. Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?

    Answer: Giant

    James Dean, a 1950s Hollywood actor, became an influential figure despite a brief career. His three major films, Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant, are preserved in the National Film Registry.

    Two

    In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?

    Answer: (In the Court of the) Crimson King and King Crimson

    King Crimson, an English progressive rock band formed in 1968, is known for its diverse musical influences and significant impact on the progressive rock movement. In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson’s debut album, is a pioneering work of progressive rock, blending rock with jazz, classical and symphonic music.

    Three

    In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?

    Answer: Neptune

    William Lassell (18 June 1799 – 5 October 1880) was an English merchant and astronomer.  He’s best known for his improvements to the reflecting telescope which led to his discovery of four planetary satellites.

    Matt Monro, publicity picture for the single, Born Free, 1966.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?

    Answer: Matt Monro

    If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them.
    — Frank Sinatra

    Born on December 1, 1930, Terence Edward Parsons, known as Matt Monro on stage, was an English singer renowned as ’The Man with the Golden Voice’. The former London bus driver, performed internationally for 30 years and sold 23 million records. AllMusic called him ‘one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the ‘60s’, praising his ‘easiest, most perfect baritone’. Monro, a heavy smoker and drinker, died of liver cancer in 1985 after which ‘Frank Sinatra said of him, ‘If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them.’
    Monro’s recordings include UK top 10 hits Portrait of My Love, My Kind of Girl, Softly As I Leave You, Walk Away and a cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday. He also recorded film themes such as From Russia with Love, Born Free, and On Days Like These.

    Five

    In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?

    Answer: George Gershwin

    Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by George Gershwin, based on a novel and play by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. It premiered in 1935 and is now one of the most frequently performed operas, known for its story of Porgy’s attempts to rescue Bess from her violent lover and drug dealer.

  • Today’s the Day

    These five questions are about events that all happened on October 10th.

    James Dean, c. 1953.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?

    Two

    In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?

    Three

    In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?

    Four

    In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?

    Five

    In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?

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

  • Music to my Ears—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier posts.

    Jailhouse Rock film poster.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Spider Murphy played the tenor saxophone,
    Little Joe was blowin’ on the slide trombone.
    The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang,
    The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang.
    — AZ Lyrics

    Which two musical instruments are missing from this excerpt of Jailhouse Rock?

    Answer Tenor saxophone and slide trombone

    Written by Mike Stoller and Jerry Leiber it was released as a single, accompanying Elvis Presley’s motion picture, Jailhouse Rock, on the 24 September 1957.

    Two

    What musical instrument features in the title of a musical film starring Roy Orbison: The Fastest … Alive?

    Answer: Guitar

    The Fastest Guitar Alive is a 1967 American musical film comedy Western film directed by Michael D. Moore and starring singer Roy Orbison in his only acting role. The film features Orbison performing seven original songs, which appeared on his 1967 MGM album of the same name. Near the end of the American Civil War, a Southern spy (Orbison) with a bullet-shooting guitar is given the task of robbing gold bullion from the United States Mint in San Francisco to help finance the ill-fated Confederacy’s last-ditch war effort.

    Three

    Charlie, a young English actress, is the title character of which John le Carré novel?

    Answer: The Little Drummer Girl

    The Little Drummer Girl, a 1983 spy novel by John le Carré, follows Israeli spymaster Martin Kurtz’s plan to kill Palestinian terrorist Khalil.

    Four

    What was the title of Elton John’s first number one album on the UK Albums Chart?

    Answer: Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player

    Don’t Shoot Me I’m Only the Piano Player is the sixth studio album by British musician Elton John. Released on 26 January 1973 by DJM Records, it was the first of two studio albums he released in 1973 (the second was Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, released nine months later), and was his second straight No. 1 album on the US Billboard 200 and first No. 1 album on the UK Albums Chart.

    Combo Waterhole Queensland. Probably the archetype of a billabong, under the shade of a coolibah tree from the song Waltzing Matilda by Banjo Paterson.
    Image Alun Hoggett/Wikipedia

    Five

    Who composed Waltzing Matilda, the song widely regarded as Australia’s unofficial national anthem?

    Answer: Banjo Paterson

    Banjo Paterson, an Australian bush poet and journalist, is celebrated for his works capturing the Australian bush life. His poems, including Clancy of the Overflow and The Man from Snowy River, were published in The Bulletin, and Waltzing Matilda is considered Australia’s unofficial national anthem.

  • Music to my Ears

    Today’s questions have a musical connection and each answer features at least one musical instrument or musician.


    Landscape with Swagman (also known as The swagman’s camp by a billabong), Gordon Coutts, 1889.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Spider Murphy played the …,
    Little Joe was blowin’ on the ….
    The drummer boy from Illinois went crash, boom, bang,
    The whole rhythm section was the Purple Gang.

    Which two musical instruments are missing from this excerpt of Jailhouse Rock?

    Two

    What musical instrument features in the title of a musical film starring Roy Orbison: The Fastest … Alive?

    Three

    Charlie, a young English actress, is the title character of which John le Carré novel?

    Four

    What was the title of Elton John’s first number one album on the UK Albums Chart?

    Five

    Who composed Waltzing Matilda, the song widely regarded as Australia’s unofficial national anthem?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • In a Hole in the Ground—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Hobbit village.
    Image ArtStation.com

    One

    In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a Hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

    What one word has been omitted from the above opening lines which were first published in 1937?

    Answer: Hobbit

    The openings words from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit (1937).

    Two

    The story so far: in the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

    The second book of an unusual trilogy begins with the above lines. What is the title of this book? How many books did the creator of this work write in the ‘trilogy’?

    Answer: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Five (books)

    The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the second book in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a ‘trilogy of five books’ by Douglas Adams with a sixth book written by Eoin Colfer.

    Three

    It was a pleasure to …

    In Ray Bradbury’ Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, the protagonist, was responsible for the opening sentence. What four-letter word completes it?

    Answer: Burn

    Montag is a fireman. In the world depicted in Fahrenheit 451 firemen are employed to burn books which are illegal to own. Disillusioned with his role as a censor and destroyer of knowledge, Montag eventually quits his job and dedicates himself to preserving literary and cultural writings.

    Four

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.

    Who was the subject of this opening sentence (the name has been removed from the above quote) from Ulysses by James Joyce?

    Answer: Buck Mulligan

    Ulysses by James Joyce, follows the lives of three Dubliners over a single day, 16 June 1904, now celebrated annually as Bloomsday by its fans.

    The Martian.
    Image Disney

    Five

    LOG ENTRY: SOL 6
    I’m pretty much fucked.
    That’s my considered opinion.
    Fucked.
    — The Martian by Andy Weir

    The opening lines of The Martian are displayed above. Who was the American astronaut writing this log entry?

    Answer: Mark Watney

    Andy Weir’s 2011 science fiction debut, ‘The Martian’, began as a serialised blog post before Crown Publishing Group acquired and re-released it in 2014. The novel follows Mark Watney, an American astronaut stranded alone on Mars in 2035, who must use his ingenuity to survive. Ridley Scott’s 2015 film adaptation, starring Matt Damon, is based on the novel. Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay, and 20th Century Fox distributed it. Both the novel and film depict the astronaut’s struggle for survival and NASA’s rescue mission.

  • In a Hole in the Ground

    Here are five questions about the opening lines of books.

    One

    In a hole in the ground there lived a …. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a …-hole, and that means comfort.

    What one word has been omitted from the above opening lines which were first published in 1937?

    Two

    The story so far: in the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

    The second book of an unusual trilogy begins with the above lines. What is the title of this book? How many books did the creator of this work write in the ‘trilogy’?

    Three

    It was a pleasure to …

    In Ray Bradbury’ Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, the protagonist, was responsible for the opening sentence. What four-letter word completes it?

    Four

    Stately, plump … came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.

    Who was the subject of this opening sentence (the name has been removed from the above quote) from Ulysses by James Joyce?

    Five

    LOG ENTRY: SOL 6
    I’m pretty much fucked.
    That’s my considered opinion.
    Fucked.
    — The Martian by Andy Weir

    The opening lines of The Martian are displayed above. Who was the American astronaut writing this log entry?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.