These questions are all related to today’s date, March 23rd.
Suez Canal 2021. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
The Suez Canal was blocked for six days in 2021, when a container ship ran aground, see picture above. What was the name of the container ship?
Two
What animals were retired from the U.S. Army in 1957 when it was decided that they were obsolete?
Three
In 1998, James Cameron’s Titanic won eleven Academy Awards. Which of these did it not win:
Best Actress
Best Director
Best Picture
Four
In 1956, the world’s first Islamic republic came into being. Currently the term is used in the names of three states: name those three countries?
Five
In 1806, Lewis and Clark began their return journey to St. Louis, Missouri. Their return journey began from a position near to the mouth of what river?
These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.
One
Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…
Who is the composer?
What is the title of the musical?
What is the name of the poetry collection?
Answers
Andrew Lloyd Webber;
Cats
Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats
Cats, a sung-through musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber based on T.S. Eliot’s poetry, tells the story of the Jellicle cats and their annual ‘Jellicle choice’. Premiering in 1981, it became a commercial success, running for decades in both the West End and Broadway, and sparking the mega-musical phenomenon.
Two
Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?
Answer: The Man Trap.
William Shatner, born in 1931, is a Canadian actor renowned for his iconic role as Captain Kirk in the Star Trek franchise. He also starred in T.J. Hooker, Rescue 911, and Boston Legal, earning two Emmy Awards for the latter. Beyond acting, Shatner has released several albums and made history in 2021 as the oldest person to fly in space.
Three
Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?
Answer: Hidden in a wooden chest.
On this day in 1621, Hugo Grotius was smuggled out of prison in a chest. Religious tensions were high in Holland and Grotius, who favoured tolerance, made many enemies. Arrested and sentenced to life in prison in 1618, his guards grew careless, neglecting to inspect the large book chest he often received. His wife then devised a plan to smuggle him out using the same chest. The plan was successful and the couple later reunited in Paris. Grotius is also remembered for his extensive legal writings which earned him the title ‘father of international law’.
Four
Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?
Answer: Reese Witherspoon.
Reese Witherspoon, born on March 22, 1976, in New Orleans, Louisiana, is an acclaimed American actress and producer renowned for her roles in romantic comedies and films like Legally Blonde and Walk the Line — for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her portrayal of June Carter. Witherspoon founded Hello Sunshine, a production company dedicated to female-led literary adaptations, and is actively involved in advocacy for children and women.
Five
Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he?
Answer: Anthony van Dyck.
Sir Anthony van Dyck, a Flemish Baroque artist, revolutionised court portraiture in England, notably painting Charles I. He was a prolific painter of portraits, religious and mythological subjects, and a fine draftsman and etcher. The Van Dyke beard is named after him.
Mungojerrie and Rumpelteazer
Today’s post title is the names of two feline characters from T.S. Eliot’s Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats and the musical Cats.
These questions are all about today’s date, March 22nd.
One
Born in 1948, this composer wrote the music for a musical based on a 1939 T.S. Eliot poetry collection. Three questions…
Who is the composer?
What is the title of the musical?
What is the name of the poetry collection?
Two
Canadian actor William Shatner, who was born on 22 March 1931, first appeared in the role of James T. Kirk in series 1 episode 1 of the original television series Star Trek in September 1966. What was the episode title?
Three
Hugo Grotius, a Dutch jurist, scholar and diplomat, is often called the ‘father of modern international law’. Today, he is best known for escaping imprisonment in Loevestein Castle, Netherlands, on this date in 1621. His wife devised the escape plan; what was it?
Four
Born in 1976 in New Orleans, Louisiana, this actress won an Academy Award in 2006 for her role in Walk the Line. Who is she?
Five
Born in 1641 in Antwerp, Spanish Netherlands (now Belgium), this Flemish Baroque artist became a leading court painter in England. He is also known for having a beard named after him. Who is he?
Today’s questions revolve around March 21st and follow the 5W1H format: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. This results in six questions instead of the usual five.
Who
In a 1980 television series finale, who shot J.R.?
Answer: Kristin Shepard.
’Who shot J.R.?’ is a catchphrase from the 1980 season finale of Dallas, referring to the fictional murder attempt on J.R. Ewing. The mystery, resolved eight months later, became a pop culture phenomenon and increased the popularity of cliffhanger endings. Kristin Shepard, played by Mary Crosby, was J.R.’s sister-in-law and mistress.
What
What did Jack Dorsey use to end the first public tweet in 2006: ‘just setting up my ——’?
Answer: twttr.
Twitter (originally Twttr), launched in 2006, quickly grew to over 100 million users by 2012. Initially limited to 140 characters per post, the limit was increased to 280 in 2017 and removed for subscribed accounts in 2023.
Represented by this flag, where, in 1990, gained independence after a combined period of 106 years German and then South African rule?
Answer: Namibia.
Namibia, a sparsely populated country in Southern Africa, gained independence from South Africa in 1990. Despite significant GDP growth, poverty and inequality remain high, with a Gini coefficient of 59 in 2015. The economy is based on agriculture, tourism, and mining, with a small manufacturing sector.
When
When was Gary Oldman’s year of birth?
Answer: 1958.
Gary Oldman, an English actor and filmmaker, is known for his versatility and intense acting style. He has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award, and his films have grossed over $11 billion worldwide. Oldman began his career in theatre and rose to prominence in British film, later achieving greater recognition in American films and franchise roles.
Why
Why, in 1980, did U.S. President Jimmy Carter announce that the United States was boycotting that year’s Summer Olympics in Moscow?
Answer: Soviet invasion of Afghanistan.
The 1980 Moscow Olympics, boycotted by the U.S. and 60 other countries due to the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, saw 5,000 athletes from 81 countries compete amidst ongoing protests and security concerns.
How
How many visitors, according to the U.S. National Park Service, visit Alcatraz annually (to the nearest 100,000)?
Answer: 1.2 million.
Golden Gate National Recreation Area, established in 1972, includes Alcatraz Island, attracting 1.2 million visitors annually. The island offers a unique opportunity to explore its layered history and contemplate crime and punishment.
Today’s questions revolve around March 21st and follow the 5W1H format: Who, What, Where, When, Why and How. This results in six questions instead of the usual five.
Who
In a 1980 television series finale, who shot J.R.?
What
What did Jack Dorsey use to end the first public tweet in 2006: ‘just setting up my ——’?
Image Wikimedia Commons
Where
Represented by this flag, where, in 1990, gained independence after a combined period of 106 years German and then South African rule?
When
When was Gary Oldman’s year of birth?
Why
Why, in 1980, did U.S. President Jimmy Carter announce that the United States was boycotting that year’s Summer Olympics in Moscow?
How
How many visitors, according to the U.S. National Park Service, visit Alcatraz annually (to the nearest 100,000)?
The first Romani language operetta, Children of the Forests, premiered on 20 March 1888. Where was it staged?
Bucharest, Romania
Kyiv, Ukraine
Moscow, Russia
Answer: 3. Moscow, Russia.
The premiere of the very first Romani language operetta Children of the Forests was staged in the Maly Theatre, Moscow, Russia on 20 March 1888. It was performed solely by the Romani troupe. The production ran for 18 years and was a great success. The first Romani theatre troupe, founded by Nikolai Shishkin, performed in Moscow and Saint Petersburg in the late 19th century. The troupe’s success led to the establishment of the Romen Theatre in Moscow in 1931.
Two
In 1923, the Arts Club of Chicago hosted the United States’ first showing of Original Drawings by… This event signalled the club’s early embrace of modern art in America. There is an artist’s name missing from the show’s title: who is the artist?
Salvador Dali
Pablo Picasso
Jackson Pollock
Answer: 2. Pablo Picasso
The Arts Club of Chicago, founded in 1916, is a private club and public exhibition space dedicated to showcasing international contemporary art. The club, known for its pro-Modernist stance, has presented groundbreaking exhibitions by artists like Pablo Picasso and Jean Dubuffet. It curates its own exhibits, emphasising cutting-edge and avant-garde art.
Three
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published on this date in 1852. Between 1832 and 1850 she lived in a city where her personal observations and research informed the basis of her story. Where was this city?
Alexandria, Virginia
Baltimore, Maryland
Cincinnati, Ohio
Answers: 3. Cincinatti, Ohio.
On this day in 1852, Harriet Beecher Stowe published Uncle Tom’s Cabin as a novel. The book, which had previously been serialised, played a crucial role in shifting public opinion towards abolitionism and contributed to the outbreak of the Civil War.
Four
Who became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and when did she achieve this?
Kelly Quinault in 1973
Libby Riddles in 1985
Molly Semyonova in 1997
Answers: 2. Libby Riddles in 1985
The Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race is an annual long-distance sled dog race in Alaska, covering the distance from Anchorage to Nome in eight to fifteen days. The race, which began in 1973, is a symbolic link to Alaska’s history and a popular sporting event, attracting competitors from around the world. The race is known for its challenging conditions, including blizzards, gale-force winds, and sub-zero temperatures, which with wind chill can reach −100 °F (−73 °C).
Five
Albert Einstein submitted his paper The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. Where was he working at that time?
Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich
Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin
Charles University, Prague
Answer: Prussian Academy of Sciences, Berlin.
Albert Einstein was working at the Prussian Academy of Sciences in Berlin when he published The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. He had accepted a position at the Prussian Academy in 1914, specifically to work on his new theory of gravity. The paper was submitted on March 20, 1916, and published later that year in the journal Annalen der Physik. This period marked a significant time in Einstein’s career, as he was developing groundbreaking theories that would change our understanding of gravity and the universe.
All of today’s questions are connected to the date, March 20th. There are three places, two people and a year to find in these multiple-choice questions.
The first Romani language operetta, Children of the Forests, premiered on 20 March 1888. Where was it staged?
Bucharest, Romania
Kyiv, Ukraine
Moscow, Russia
Two
In 1923, the Arts Club of Chicago hosted the United States’ first showing of Original Drawings by… This event signalled the club’s early embrace of modern art in America. There is an artist’s name missing from the show’s title: who is the artist?
Salvador Dali
Pablo Picasso
Jackson Pollock
Three
Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin was first published on this date in 1852. Between 1832 and 1850 she lived in a city where her personal observations and research informed the basis of her story. Where was this city?
Alexandria, Virginia
Baltimore, Maryland
Cincinnati, Ohio
Four
Who became the first woman to win the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, and when did she achieve this?
Kelly Quinault in 1973
Libby Riddles in 1985
Molly Semyonova in 1997
Five
Albert Einstein submitted his paper The Foundation of the General Theory of Relativity in 1916. Where was he working at that time?
People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.
One
On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?
Answer: 1930s
Opened in 1932, the Sydney Harbour Bridge, a steel through arch bridge, connects Sydney’s CBD to the North Shore. An iconic image of Sydney, nicknamed the ‘Coathanger’, it carries rail, vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.
Two
A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?
Answer: Arthur C. Clarke.
Arthur C. Clarke was an English writer known for his science fiction and non-fiction works. He co-wrote the script for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey and its novelisation. Clarke’s notable works include Childhood’s End, Rendezvous with Rama, and The Fountains of Paradise. He was knighted in 2000.
Three
This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?
Answer: Bruce Willis
In Country (1989) follows Samantha Hughes, a recent high school graduate, as she becomes fixated on learning about her deceased father a Vietnam veteran. Staying with her Uncle Emmett (Bruce Willis) another veteran she embarks on a journey to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C. seeking closure. Bruce Willis, a retired American actor, is renowned for his action roles, particularly his portrayal of John McClane in the Die Hard franchise. He starred in over 100 films including Pulp Fiction and The Sixth Sense, earning numerous accolades throughout his career. Willis retired in 2022 due to aphasia and was diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia in 2023.
Four
This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?
Answers: Adolf Hitler; Germany.
The Nero Decree, issued by Hitler in March 1945, ordered the destruction of German infrastructure to prevent its use by the Allies. It was disobeyed by Albert Speer, Minister of Armaments and War Production, before the Nazi regime’s fall.
Five
American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?
Answer: The World According to Garp.
Glenn Close is an American actress with a career spanning five decades. She has won numerous awards, including three Emmys, three Tonys, and three Golden Globes, as well as having been nominated for eight Academy Awards. Her debut film role earned her a Best Actress in a Supporting Role nomination for The World According to Garp. Close, who is known for her work in film, television, and theatre, is a vocal advocate for women’s rights, same-sex marriage, and mental health.
People, places, and events from today’s date, March 19th, feature in these questions.
One
On this date, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was opened. In what decade did this occur?
Two
A writer who had been born in 1917 died in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on 19 March 2008. His best-known works include the script he wrote with director Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey and his novel of that film. Who is this writer?
Three
This American actor, who was born in West Germany in 1955, earned a Best Supporting Actor Golden Globe nomination in 1990 for his role as Emmett Smith in the film In Country. Who is he?
Four
This 20th-century national leader issued his ‘Nero Decree’, ordering that all of the nation’s ‘industries, military installations, shops, transportation facilities, and communications facilities be destroyed’? Who was he, and what was the country?
Five
American actress Glenn Close, born on 19 March 1947 in Greenwich, Connecticut, received her first Academy Award nomination for her debut film. This was for her role as Jenny Fields in a 1982 film with a five-word title: The World ——. What film?
Born 1980. Actress who links the following roles: Penelope (in 2004), Isolde (2006), Erika (2003 and 2006), Darcy (2014) and Freya (2008). Who is she?
Rose Keegan
Sophia Myles
Lucy Russell
Answer: 2. Sophia Myles.
Sophia Myles, an English actress, who portrayed the following characters in the associated film. Lady Penelope Creighton-Ward in Thunderbirds(2004), Isolde in Tristan & Isolde(2006), Darcy in Transformers: Age of Extinction (2014), Erika in Underworld(2003) and Underworld: Evolution (2006), and Freya in Outlander (2008)”
Two
Born 1837, Grover Cleveland, served as the 22nd and 24th president of the United States. Where was he born?
Amherst, New Hampshire
Brighton, New York
Caldwell, New Jersey
Answer: 3. Caldwell, New Jersey.
Stephen Grover Cleveland, the 22nd and 24th President of the United States, was the first Democrat elected after the Civil War and the first president to serve non-consecutive terms. A Bourbon Democrat, he championed political reform, fiscal conservatism and classical liberalism. His presidency was marked by significant legislation like the Interstate Commerce Act and the Dawes Act, as well as challenges like the Panic of 1893 and the Pullman Strike.
Three
Anthem for Doomed Youth was written by a war poet born this day in 1893. Who was he?
Rupert Brook
Wilfred Owen
Siegfried Sassoon
Answer: 2. Wilfred Owen.
Wilfred Owen, an English poet and soldier, expressed anger at war’s cruelty and waste through his poetry. Based on his World War I experiences, his war poetry was about the horrors of trenches and gas warfare. At only 25 years of age, he was killed in action at the Battle of the Sambre on 4 November 1918, exactly a week before the war’s end. His best-known works— most of which were published posthumously— are Anthem for Doomed Youth, Dulce et Decorum est, Futility, and Spring Offensive.
Four
Who is Dana Elaine Owens, born 18 March 1970, a musician and actress, better known as?
Lauryn Hill
Missy Elliott
Queen Latifah
Answer: 3. Queen Latifah.
An American musician and actress, Queen Latifah rose to fame in the late 1980s with her debut album, All Hail the Queen, which blended diverse styles and feminist themes. The name Latifah is Arabic for ‘delicate’ or ‘sensitive’.
Five
Born today in 1869, this British prime minister returned from Germany with a ‘piece of paper’ promising to ‘have brought you back peace — but a peace I hope with honour’. Who was he?
Stanley Baldwin
Neville Chamberlain
Winston Churchill
Answer: 2. Neville Chamberlain.
Prime Minister of the UK from 1937 to 1940 Neville Chamberlain is known for his policy of appeasement towards Hitler’s Germany. He served in various government positions, including Chancellor of the Exchequer, before becoming Prime Minister. Despite signing the Munich Agreement with Hitler in 1938, Chamberlain declared war on Germany less than a year later following the Nazi invasion of Poland.
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