Quizology.Online

Category: Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Binary II — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Logo of the Wimbledon Championships.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all either true or false.

    One

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by …
    — Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that this quote from Wikipedia refers to a character from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels who is unknowingly killed by Mort across several incarnations?

    Answer: False.

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by Arthur Dent.
    — Wikipedia

    Agrajag is repeatedly killed by Arthur Dent, the hapless protagonist of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. First appearing in Life, the Universe and Everything, Agrajag’s past incarnations include a bowl of petunias, a rabbit, and an old man, all meeting their ends due to Arthur. Agrajag seeks revenge, redirecting Arthur to a Cathedral of Hate, but fails repeatedly. In Mostly Harmless, Arthur inadvertently kills Agrajag again, allowing Arthur to die. Douglas Adams voiced Agrajag in the radio series. In And Another Thing…, cosmic balance shifts, benefiting Arthur. Agrajag also appears in the 2017 TV series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency as a dog which suffers the expected consequences.

    Two

    Is it true or false that the 1936 Olympic Summer Games were opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II?

    Answer: False.

    Adolf Hitler, the de facto legal dictator of Germany, opened these games. Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor, reigned from 1888 to 1918, ending the Hohenzollern dynasty’s rule. His erratic foreign policy and naval build-up alienated the rest of Europe, leading to World War I. After Germany’s defeat, he abdicated in 1918, fled to the Netherlands, and died in 1941 during that country’s Nazi occupation.

    Three

    Is it true or false that a filoplume is a type of small crusty specimens of lava?

    Answer: False.

    A filoplume is a feather.

    Filoplumes are hairlike feathers with a few soft barbs near the tip. They are associated with contour feathers and may be sensory or decorative in function. Bristlelike, vaneless feathers occur around the mouth, eyes, and nostrils of birds. They are especially conspicuous around the gape (corners of the mouth) of birds that catch insects in the air.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica 

    Four

    Is it true or false that in 2000 Venus Williams was the first African American woman to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon?

    Answer: False.

    Williams was the first Black and African American woman to win the title since Althea Gibson in 1958. In 1957, Althea Gibson’s year, she became the first Black champion at Wimbledon, defeating Darlene Hard in the singles final. She received the trophy from Queen Elizabeth II, marking a significant milestone. Gibson also won the doubles championship for the second consecutive year, highlighting her exceptional season. Upon returning home, Gibson became the second Black American, after Jesse Owens, to receive a ticker tape parade in NYC. Mayor Wagner awarded her the Bronze Medallion. She won her first US National Championship, reached eight Grand Slam finals in 1957, and won multiple titles, including Wimbledon and US National singles.

    Five

    Is it true or false that mainland China, which is approximately 5,000 km from east to west, has five time zones?

    Answer: False.

    China uses a single official time zone, UTC+08:00, despite spanning five geographical zones, making it the largest country to do so. This standard is known domestically as Beijing Time and internationally as China Standard Time, and it has not observed daylight saving time since 1991. The system applies uniformly across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Standardised timekeeping developed from 19th-century Shanghai, where observatory-based time signals evolved into a GMT+8 standard used by coastal ports. Although multiple time zones were proposed in 1918, including five regional standards, the country ultimately adopted a single unified time based on Beijing.

  • Binary II

    Logo of the Wimbledon Championships.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all either true or false.

    One

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by …
    — Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that this quote from Wikipedia refers to a character from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels who is unknowingly killed by Mort across several incarnations?

    Two

    Is it true or false that the 1936 Olympic Summer Games were opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II?

    Three

    Is it true or false that a filoplume is a type of small crusty specimens of lava?

    Four

    Is it true or false that in 2000 Venus Williams was the first African American woman to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon?

    Five

    Is it true or false that mainland China, which is approximately 5,000 km from east to west, has five time zones?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Binary Choice — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Walrus pup.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all answered as either true or false. 

    One

    Is it true or false that adult male walruses are heavier than adult male polar bears.

    Answer: True.

    Male Pacific walruses weigh about 800 to 1,700 kg (1,764-3,748 lb.) while polar bear boars weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (772-1,433 lb.). 

    Two

    Is it true or false that Olga Korbut was the first gymnast to achieve a ‘perfect ten’ at the Olympics?

    Answer: False.

    Nadia Comăneci, born November 12, 1961, is a retired Romanian gymnast and five-time Olympic gold medallist. At 14, she became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0 at the Olympics — Montreal, 1976, where she achieved seven perfect 10s: four on the uneven bars and three on the beam. Comăneci won nine Olympic medals and four World Championships. She defected to the U.S. in 1989 and married Bart Conner.

    Three

    Is it true or false that a genipap is a small fish related to the trout?

    Answer: False.

    It is a fruit. Genipa americana (genip tree) is a species of trees in the family Rubiaceae which is cultivated for its edible fruits. In English, the tree is known as the genip and the fruit as genipap. It is native to the tropical forests of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The fruits are eaten in preserves or made into drinks, jelly or ice cream. The unripe fruit yields a liquid used as a deep purple dye for tattoos, skin painting, insect repellent and food.

    Four

    Is it true or false that the 1975 novel Shōgun was written by James Clavell?

    Answer: True.

    Shōgun, a 1975 novel by James Clavell, depicts the transition from Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama to Edo period. It explores European influences and internal Japanese conflicts leading to the Shogunate restoration, drawing loosely on historical events and figures. By 1980, Shōgun sold six million copies globally. It inspired two TV series (1980, 2024), a musical, a board game, and three video games. Despite its historical setting, it is the third book in Clavell’s Asian Saga series, with six books in total.

    Five

    Is it true or false that Agent Orange, widely used by the US military in the Vietnam War, had an early form of digitalised artificial intelligence?

    Answer: False.

    Agent Orange, a herbicide used in the Vietnam War, caused severe health and environmental damage. It exposed millions, leading to illnesses and birth defects. It is estimated that The U.S. military used 19 million US gallons (72,000 m3) of defoliants and herbicides in Operation Ranch Hand from 1962-1971. Legal actions followed, but its classification as a chemical weapon remains debated.

  • Binary Choice

    Walrus pup.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all answered as either true or false. 

    One

    Is it true or false that adult male walruses are heavier than adult male polar bears.

    Two

    Is it true or false that Olga Korbut was the first gymnast to achieve a ‘perfect ten’ at the Olympics?

    Three

    Is it true or false that a genipap is a small fish related to the trout?

    Four

    Is it true or false that the 1975 novel Shōgun was written by James Clavell?

    Five

    Is it true or false that Agent Orange, widely used by the US military in the Vietnam War, had an early form of digitalised artificial intelligence?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    2026 Chinese GP – Mercedes – Kimi Antonelli – Qualifying.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date May 5th. Each subsequent question builds on the previous one.

    One

    In Shangdu on 5 May 1260 Kublai was unanimously elected khan. An English poet later wrote a poem featuring Kublai Khan in which he changed Shangdu’s name to what?

    Answer: Xanadu.

    Kublai Khan, a Mongolian general and statesman, was the grandson and greatest successor of Genghis Khan. As the fifth emperor of the Yuan (Mongol) dynasty, he reigned from 1260 to 1294. He succeeded his brother Möngke after the Toluid Civil War and expanded the empire, claiming orthodox succession from Chinese dynasties. In 1279, he completed the conquest of China initiated by his grandfather and became the first Yuan ruler to govern the entire country.

    Two

    Water, water, every where,
    And all the boards did shrink; 
    Water, water, every where,
    Nor any drop to drink.

    The poet who wrote the poem mentioned in question one wrote another which includes the lines quoted above. Who was the poet, and what poem does the quote come from? 

    Answer: Samuel Taylor Coleridge; The Rime of the Ancient Mariner.

    The Rime of the Ancient Mariner, written by Samuel Taylor Coleridge in 1797–98 and published in 1798 in Lyrical Ballads, is a seven-part poem recounting a sailor’s tale. The mariner stops a wedding guest to share his story of killing an albatross, his crew’s death, and his redemption. The narrative uses techniques like personification and repetition, marking a shift to modern poetry and British Romantic literature. The mariner’s penance is to share his story.

    Three

    A song released by a British American rock band in November 1968 has a creature from the poem mentioned in question two as its title. In January 1969, this instrumental track provided the band with its only UK number one hit in their more than fifty years of performing. Name the song and the band? 

    Answers: Albatross; Fleetwood Mac.

    According to Peter Green, inspiration for Albatross was drawn from Santo & Johnny’s Sleep Walk and Eric Clapton’s The Last Meal. Green was reading The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and took the title from it. Fleetwood Mac recorded it over two days in October 1968, initially without plans for a single release. Albatross, which was by Fleetwood Mac’s original line-up, is featured on their “greatest hits” compilations. George Harrison noted in 1987 that Albatross served as a starting point for the Beatles on two of their tracks; it inspired the songs: Sun King and Don’t Let Me Down.

    Four

    A track by the above-mentioned band, which is from their Rumours album, is the only one written by all five band members at that time. It has been used on the BBC since 1978 as a theme tune for a sports programme. That sport is now covered in the UK by Channel 4, but they have kept the same theme. What is both the relevant track and sport?

    Answer: The Chain; Formula One.

    The Chain by Fleetwood Mac, from their 1977 album Rumours, is the only song credited to all five members. It was crafted from rejected materials by Buckingham, Nicks, and McVie, manually spliced at the Record Plant in Sausalito, California, with engineers Ken Caillat and Richard Dashut. A staple of the band’s live shows, The Chain opens The Dance(1997) and appears on greatest hits compilations. It’s their second most streamed Spotify track with over 1.5 billion streams. In the UK, its instrumental is used for BBC and Channel 4’s Formula One coverage.

    Five

    Following on from above a question about Formula One. In the 2026 F1 World Championship two races were cancelled during April because of the international situation. What circuits, and where are these circuits, were effected by these cancellations?

    Answers: The Bahrain International Circuit, Sakhir, Bahrain; and the Jeddah Corniche Circuit, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

    The 2026 Bahrain and Saudi Arabian Grand Prixes, part of the Formula One World Championship, were set for 12 and 19 April at the Bahrain International Circuit and Jeddah Corniche Circuit, respectively. Scheduled as the fourth and fifth rounds, both races were cancelled on 14 March due to the outbreak of the 2026 Iran war.

    Water, water, every where,  / Nor any drop to drink.

    The post title is from The Rime of the Ancient Mariner as referenced in question two. The full text can be found at the Poetry Foundation website The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

  • Water, water, every where, / Nor any drop to drink

    2026 Chinese GP – Mercedes – Kimi Antonelli – Qualifying.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date May 5th. Each subsequent question builds on the previous one.

    One

    In Shangdu on 5 May 1260 Kublai was unanimously elected khan. An English poet later wrote a poem featuring Kublai Khan in which he changed Shangdu’s name to what?

    Two

    Water, water, every where,
    And all the boards did shrink; 
    Water, water, every where,
    Nor any drop to drink.

    The poet who wrote the poem mentioned in question one wrote another which includes the lines quoted above. Who was the poet, and what poem does the quote come from? 

    Three

    A song released by a British American rock band in November 1968 has a creature from the poem mentioned in question two as its title. In January 1969, this instrumental track provided the band with its only UK number one hit in their more than fifty years of performing. Name the song and the band? 

    Four

    A track by the above-mentioned band, which is from their Rumours album, is the only one written by all five band members at that time. It has been used on the BBC since 1978 as a theme tune for a sports programme. That sport is now covered in the UK by Channel 4, but they have kept the same theme. What is both the relevant track and sport?

    Five

    Following on from above a question about Formula One. In the 2026 F1 World Championship two races were cancelled during April because of the international situation. What circuits, and where are these circuits, were effected by these cancellations?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • May the Fourth Be With You — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    See Question Three. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, 1974.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question concerns today, May 4th. The rest follow a theme related to the first. 

    One

    On 4 May, Napoleon landed on an island to begin his first exile. What island and in what year?

    Answers: Elba; 1814.

    Napoleon escaped Elba in February 1815 and embarked on his ‘Hundred Days’ before ultimately being defeated at Waterloo and exiled to Saint Helena.

    The first question related to ‘exile’ so we will continue with that theme for the remainder.

    Two

    Which band released the double album Exile on Main St on this day in 1972?

    The Rolling Stones.

    This double album was the band’s tenth studio album and was recorded at various locations including Mick Jagger’s country house in England and a villa in the south of France, which was rented by Keith Richards.

    Three

    After eight years in a labour camp and a year of internal exile, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was finally permitted to receive cancer treatment in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1954. Which 1966 Solzhenitsyn novel specifically depicts this period?

    Answer: Cancer Ward.

    Cancer Ward, a semi-autobiographical novel by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, explores the moral responsibility of those implicated in Stalin’s Great Purge. The story, set in a Tashkent hospital in 1955, follows a group of patients, including the protagonist Oleg Kostoglotov, who reflect on their roles and the lasting impact of Stalinism. Kostoglotov ultimately realises that healing after Stalin is impossible, likening the situation to cancer. Aleksandr Isayevich Solzhenitsyn (1918–2008) was a Soviet and Russian author and dissident renowned for exposing Soviet political repression, particularly the Gulag system. Awarded the 1970 Nobel Prize in Literature, his work The Gulag Archipelago challenged the Soviet state and sold millions. Born into a devout Orthodox family, he initially embraced atheism and Marxism–Leninism. Arrested during WWII for criticising Stalin, he served eight years in the Gulag, leading to his conversion to Orthodox Christianity. Released during the Khrushchev Thaw, he published One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich in 1962. Exiled in 1974, he settled in the U.S. before returning to Russia in 1994.

    Four

    Dante Alighieri, known as Dante, poet, writer and philosopher who was the author of Divine Comedy was, in the early 14th century, exiled from his native city for life. What was that city?

    Answer: Florence.

    Dante Alighieri, while serving as Florence’s city prior in 1300, was accused of corruption by the Black Guelphs. Still in Rome in 1302, he was considered an absconder by Florence. Dante refused to pay the fine, believing in his innocence and having his assets seized. Condemned to perpetual exile, he risked execution if he returned. In 2008, Florence rescinded his sentence.

    Five

    Five music questions spread over the past fifty years?

    1. King Crimson’s song Exiles was featured on their 1973 album …’ Tongues in Aspic. What word completes the album title?
    2. Irish singer Enya’s song Exile was from her 1988 album Water…. What four letters complete the album’s one-word title?
    3. Exile, a track from the 1997 album also titled Exile, was performed by a man considered a pioneer of electronic music. Who was this singer?
    4. Exile featured on Slayer’s 2001 album … Hates Us All. What word is missing from the start of the album name? 
    5. In 2020, Bon Iver featured on whose song Exile?

    Answers

    1. Larks. Larks’ Tongues in Aspic was the full title of King Crimson’s 1973 album.
    2. Mark. Watermark was the 1988 album by Enya.
    3. Gary Numan. Numan was the 1997 exile who was a pioneer of electronic music.
    4. God. Slayer’s Exile came from God Hates Us All (2001).
    5. Taylor Swift. The Exile featuring Bon Iver was by none other than Ms Swift, who Wikipedia describes as ‘the highest-grossing live music artist, the wealthiest female musician, and one of the best-selling music artists of all time’.

    May the Fourth Be With You

    Star Wars Day is celebrated annually on May 4, originating from the pun ‘May the Fourth be with you’. Though not officially declared by Lucasfilm, it began in 1977 and has since been embraced by fans, Lucasfilm and Disney as a celebration of the Star Wars franchise.

  • May the Fourth Be With You

    See Question Three. Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, 1974.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question concerns today, May 4th. The rest follow a theme related to the first. 

    One

    On 4 May, Napoleon landed on an island to begin his first exile. What island and in what year?

    The first question related to ‘exile’ so we will continue with that theme for the remainder.

    Two

    Which band released the double album Exile on Main St on this day in 1972?

    Three

    After eight years in a labour camp and a year of internal exile, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn was finally permitted to receive cancer treatment in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, in 1954. Which 1966 Solzhenitsyn novel specifically depicts this period?

    Four

    Dante Alighieri, known as Dante, poet, writer and philosopher who was the author of Divine Comedy was, in the early 14th century, exiled from his native city for life. What was that city?

    Five

    Five music questions spread over the past fifty years?

    1. King Crimson’s song Exiles was featured on their 1973 album …’ Tongues in Aspic. What word completes the album title?
    2. Irish singer Enya’s song Exile was from her 1988 album Water…. What four letters complete the album’s one-word title?
    3. Exile, a track from the 1997 album also titled Exile, was performed by a man considered a pioneer of electronic music. Who was this singer?
    4. Exile featured on Slayer’s 2001 album … Hates Us All. What word is missing from the start of the album name? 
    5. In 2020, Bon Iver featured on whose song Exile?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Great American Songbook — Answers

    Here are the answer’s to my earlier questions.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s five questions centre on American singers who were all born on May 3rd. The title’s relevance to the content is unharmonious.

    One

    Who is this person described by Encyclopædia Britannica as…

    • Born in 1919 in New York.
    • An iconic American singer-songwriter who honed skills on the five-string banjo.
    • Wrote or co-wrote standards like Where Have All the Flowers Gone, If I Had a Hammer, and Turn, Turn, Turn.

    Answer: Pete Seeger.

    Pete Seeger (1919–2014) was an iconic American singer-songwriter and activist who championed folk music and inspired the 1960s revival. He co-founded the Almanac Singers, wrote folk standards, popularised hootenannies, and remained active in environmental causes despite being blacklisted. He received numerous honours, including the National Medal of Arts.

    Two

    These three clues originate from points in the relevant Wikipedia article. Who is this describing?

    • Born 3 May 1934 in New Jersey.
    • Solo artist and lead singer known for his powerful falsetto voice.
    • First number one was Sherry in 1962.

    Answer: Frankie Valli.

    Frankie Valli, born Francesco Stephen Castelluccio, is an American singer known for his powerful falsetto and lead role in the Four Seasons. He achieved 29 top-40 hits with the group, nine solo, and was inducted into multiple halls of fame. Valli received a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025.

    Three

    Encyclopædia Britannica reveals the following about this artiste, who is it?

    • Born on 3 May 1903 in Washington.
    • One of the best-selling singers in history with sales numbers varying between: 300 million, 500 million, or even 1 billion, depending on source.
    • Oscar winning actor who famously went to Morocco.

    Answer: Bing Crosby.

    Bing Crosby (1903–1977) was a pioneering American singer and actor, influential in the 20th century. He made over 70 films — including the ‘Road to’ series — recorded 1,600 songs, and won an Oscar for Going My Way. Crosby innovated radio recording, co-owned the Pittsburgh Pirates, and was a global cultural icon, notably associated with Christmas.

    Four

    Some points taken from a Wikipedia article, but who being described…

    • Born in Texas on 3 May 1951
    • Uses a stage name but birth surname is Geppert
    • Debut album won five Grammy Awards including Song of the Year for Sailing

    Answer: Christopher Cross.

    Christopher Cross, an American singer-songwriter, gained fame with his debut album, winning five Grammys, including Record and Album of the Year for Sailing. Though his popularity declined in the 1980s, he continued releasing albums and touring. In 2018, he formed Freedonia, releasing two albums and an EP.

    Five

    Identify this person from these points taken from their Encyclopædia Britannica article…

    • Born in South Carolina on 3 May 1933.
    • Singer who is known for powerful vocals.
    • Their innovative album Live at the Apollo (1963) was in the charts for 66 weeks.

    Answer: James Brown.

    James Brown, known for his ability to “scream” on key and to blend multiple vocal styles together, was one of the most influential vocalists of the 20th century. Brown also broke new ground with his landmark ‘live and in concert‘ album Live at the Apollo (1963), which stayed on the charts for 66 weeks. 

    The Great American Songbook

    The Great American Songbook is a loosely defined canon encompassing significant 20th-century American jazz standards popular songs and show tunes.

  • Great American Songbook

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s five questions centre on American singers who were all born on May 3rd. The title’s relevance to the content is unharmonious.

    One

    Who is this person described by Encyclopædia Britannica as…

    • Born in 1919 in New York.
    • An iconic American singer-songwriter who honed skills on the five-string banjo.
    • Wrote or co-wrote standards like Where Have All the Flowers Gone, If I Had a Hammer, and Turn, Turn, Turn.

    Two

    These three clues originate from points in the relevant Wikipedia article. Who is this describing?

    • Born 3 May 1934 in New Jersey.
    • Solo artist and lead singer known for his powerful falsetto voice.
    • First number one was Sherry in 1962.

    Three

    Encyclopædia Britannica reveals the following about this artiste, who is it?

    • Born on 3 May 1903 in Washington.
    • One of the best-selling singers in history with sales numbers varying between: 300 million, 500 million, or even 1 billion, depending on source.
    • Oscar winning actor who famously went to Morocco.

    Four

    Some points taken from a Wikipedia article, but who being described…

    • Born in Texas on 3 May 1951
    • Uses a stage name but birth surname is Geppert
    • Debut album won five Grammy Awards including Song of the Year for Sailing

    Five

    Identify this person from these points taken from their Encyclopædia Britannica article…

    • Born in South Carolina on 3 May 1933.
    • Singer who is known for powerful vocals.
    • Their innovative album Live at the Apollo (1963) was in the charts for 66 weeks.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.