Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom. See question three. Image Lucasfilm
Today’s answers are all fictional places
One
In the 2000 film, in what fictional town did Billy Elliot live?
Two
Where is home to all of these fictional characters Magrat Garlick, Corporal Buggy Swires and Professor A.A. Dinwiddie?
Three
At the start of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, Indiana meets singer Willie Scott in a nightclub which is named after a character from another Harrison Ford franchise, although not his character. What is its name?
Four
In Tolkien’s Middle-Earth Ered Luin, also known as Ered Lindon or Mountains of Lune, became the new home for Durin’s Folk who were exiled by Smaug the Dragon. What two-word term, which includes a primary colour, is Ered Luin known as in English?
Five
What is the fictional prison in the Harry Potter films and where is it located?
The first question relates to today’s date, 16 July. The subsequent questions follow a theme established by the first.
One
The world’s first atomic bomb exploded in a test on 16 July.
What code name was given to the test?
In what year was the test?, and
In what U.S. state was the test site located?
Answers
Trinity
1945
New Mexico
The Trinity test, the first nuclear detonation, occurred on July 16, 1945, in New Mexico as part of the Manhattan Project. Directed by Kenneth Bainbridge, it tested an implosion-design plutonium bomb, releasing 25 kilotons of energy and creating trinitite. Observed by 425 people, the site became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. The Manhattan Project established Los Alamos for nuclear weapon development, leading to the first atomic bomb, Gadget, tested at the Trinity Site. The Trinity Site is now a national historic landmark with limited public access.
Two
When asked why he chose the nuclear test code name referred to in question one above, Robert Oppenheimer alluded to the work of which English poet?
Answer: John Donne.
In 1962 Oppenheimer said:
Why I chose the name is not clear, but I know what thoughts were in my mind. There is a poem of John Donne, written just before his death, which I know and love.” Oppenheimer then quoted the sonnet “Hymn to God, My God, in My Sickness” about a man unafraid to die because he believed in resurrection.
Oppenheimer continued:
That still does not make a Trinity, but in another, better-known devotional poem Donne opens, ‘Batter my heart, three person’d God.’ Beyond this, I have no clues whatever. — Los Alamos National Laboratory
Three
Who is traditionally said to have used a clover-like plant, which is now a national symbol, as a metaphor for a Christian doctrine, and what was the plant?
Answer: St. Patrick; shamrock.
In 5th-century Ireland, Saint Patrick reportedly used the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity to pagans. Today, the shamrock is Ireland’s national symbol and a key emblem of Saint Patrick’s Day, celebrated worldwide with parades and festivities.
Four
Which charity is the official authority for lighthouses in England and Wales?
Answer: Trinity House.
Trinity House, established in 1514, is the UK’s largest maritime charity and General Lighthouse Authority for England, Wales, the Channel Islands, and Gibraltar. It ensures maritime safety through navigation aids, pilot licensing, and audits. Annually, it donates £4m to support cadet training, retired mariners’ welfare, and sea safety education.
Five
Of the seven surviving British and Irish medieval and early modern universities founded before 1600 AD, one with a name appropriate for this theme was founded in 1592. Under what name was this 1592 establishment founded?
Answer: Trinity College Dublin (Coláiste na Tríonóide, Baile Átha Cliath).
(or in full The Provost, Fellows and Scholars of the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin (Coláiste Thríonóid Naofa Neamhroinnte na Banríona Eilís gar do Bhaile Átha Cliath)).
Trinity College Dublin, founded in 1592 by Queen Elizabeth I, is Ireland’s oldest university and a member of LERU and the Coimbra Group. It houses the Book of Kells and has notable alumni like Oscar Wilde and Jonathan Swift. The college, a major tourist destination, has an academic partnership with Oxford and Cambridge.
Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds
Robert Oppenheimer later recalled a moment, after the Trinity Test, when the line ‘Now I am Become Death, the Destroyer of Worlds’ from the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita came to mind.
The first question relates to today’s date, 16 July. The subsequent questions follow a theme established by the first.
One
The world’s first atomic bomb exploded in a test on 16 July.
What code name was given to the test?
In what year was the test?, and
In what U.S. state was the test site located?
Two
When asked why he chose the nuclear test code name referred to in question one above, Robert Oppenheimer alluded to the work of which English poet?
Three
Who is traditionally said to have used a clover-like plant, which is now a national symbol, as a metaphor for a Christian doctrine, and what was the plant?
Four
Which charity is the official authority for lighthouses in England and Wales?
Five
Of the seven surviving British and Irish medieval and early modern universities founded before 1600 AD, one with a name appropriate for this theme was founded in 1592. Under what name was this 1592 establishment founded?
The first question concerns today’s date, 15 July. The others are unrelated to the date but share a nautical theme.
One
On 15 July 1815, almost a month after his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon surrendered to the captain of a British warship. Named after a son of Poseidon and Eurynome from Greek mythology, what was the warship’s name?
Answer: HMS Bellerophon.
Following his defeat at Waterloo in July 1815, Napoleon sought refuge aboard the British warship HMS Bellerophon, surrendering to Captain Maitland. This marked the end of the Napoleonic Wars. Transported to England on Bellerophon, he was kept isolated from the public though word of his presence eventually leaked out attracting sightseers. After two weeks in Plymouth harbour, Napoleon learned of his exile to Saint Helena and was transferred to HMS Northumberlandfor the journey.
Two
Which warship was scuttled in Montevideo harbour on the 17th December 1939 after the Battle of the River Plate?
Answer: Admiral Graf Spee.
Admiral Graf Spee, a Deutschland-class Panzerschiff of Nazi Germany’s Kriegsmarine during World War II, was named after Admiral Maximilian von Spee. Exceeding the Treaty of Versailles’ size limit, she sank nine vessels in 1939 before the Battle of the River Plate. Convinced by false British reports suggesting superiority in gathering British numbers, she was ultimately scuttled in Montevideo.
Three
Cher’s use of a ship for the 1989 music video caused offence. Which song was it for and which ship was it filmed on?
Answer: If I Could Turn Back Time; USS Missouri.
The If I Could Turn Back Time video, directed by Marty Callner, features Cher performing on the USS Missouri with her band and son. Filmed in 1989, it faced controversy over Cher’s revealing outfit, leading to network bans. The Navy supported the shoot for recruitment, despite criticism from WWII veterans. No Navy officials faced discipline for supporting the video, despite the Secretary of the Navy considering firing the USS Missouri captain. However, other Navy sections praised the event.
Four
The third published novel in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia features a ship’s name in its title. What is that ship’s name?
Answer: Dawn Treader.
The Voyage of the Dawn Treader, a 1952 novel by C. S. Lewis, is the third published in The Chronicles of Narnia. Illustrated by Pauline Baynes, it follows Edmund, Lucy, and Eustace as they join King Caspian X on a quest to find the seven lost Lords of Narnia.
Five
After being appointed in 1768 to lead a joint Royal Society and Admiralty expedition, Captain James Cook circumnavigated the world aboard HMS Endeavour. What size was the ship Endeavour approximately:
98 feet (30 m) and 368 tons
175 feet (53 m) and 1,954 tons
248 feet (75 m) and 2,998 tons
Answer: 98 feet (30 m) and 368 tons.
In 1768, the Royal Society and Admiralty appointed James Cook, aged 40, to lead a Pacific expedition. He commanded HMS Endeavour, a sturdy Whitby bark, to Tahiti for observing Venus’s transit and to find Terra Australis. Scientists included Joseph Banks and Daniel Solander, with Cook as an astronomer. James Cook’s Endeavour charted New Zealand and discovered Australia’s east coast, navigating the Great Barrier Reef. Despite grounding and repairs, Cook returned to England, avoiding scurvy by ensuring cleanliness, ventilation, and a nutritious diet. Tragically, 30 crew members died of fever and dysentery in Batavia.
The first question concerns today’s date, 15 July. The others are unrelated to the date but share a nautical theme.
One
On 15 July 1815, almost a month after his defeat at Waterloo, Napoleon surrendered to the captain of a British warship. Named after a son of Poseidon and Eurynome from Greek mythology, what was the warship’s name?
Two
Which warship was scuttled in Montevideo harbour on the 17th December 1939 after the Battle of the River Plate?
Three
Cher’s use of a ship for the 1989 music video caused offence. Which song was it for and which ship was it filmed on?
Four
The third published novel in C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia features a ship’s name in its title. What is that ship’s name?
Five
After being appointed in 1768 to lead a joint Royal Society and Admiralty expedition, Captain James Cook circumnavigated the world aboard HMS Endeavour. What size was the ship Endeavour approximately:
Here’s the answers to the questions posted earlier.
Despite a heart condition and arthritis that forced him to use a cane, Brigadier General Roosevelt led the assault on Utah Beach. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s questions are a mixed bag and are not date-related. There is a bit of an alphabetical theme going on, though..
One
New York International Airport, which opened in 1948, was also commonly known by what other name?
Answer: Idlewild.
Now known as John F. Kennedy International Airport (JFK), it is a major international airport serving the New York metropolitan area. Located in Queens, New York City, it is the busiest airport in the New York airport system and the busiest international commercial airport in North America. JFK features five passenger terminals and four runways, and serves as a hub for American Airlines and Delta Air Lines.
Two
Supported by a walking stick, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr led the assault on which D-Day beach?
Answer: Utah Beach.
At 56, Roosevelt was the oldest general to land by sea with the first wave on D-Day, alongside his son, Captain Quentin Roosevelt II, who also landed with the first wave at Omaha Beach, making them the only father-son pair to participate in the invasion that day. Brigadier General Roosevelt, with Captain Leonard T. Schroeder Jr., led the 8th Infantry Regiment and 70th Tank Battalion at Utah Beach. Despite drifting off course, Roosevelt personally reconnoitred the area, coordinated with battalion commanders, and decided to attack from their landing point, famously declaring, ‘We’ll start the war from right here!’.
Three
What two word term is commonly used in the west to refer to the mythical humanoid creature which is said to inhabit parts of the Himalayas?
Answer: Abominable Snowman.
The Yeti, or Abominable Snowman, is a mythical humanoid creature believed to inhabit the Himalayas. Its existence is debated, with evidence such as sightings, videos, photos, and footprints, many of which are hoaxes or disputed. Despite numerous claims, the Yeti remains a subject of folklore and speculation. Folklorists trace the Yeti’s origin to Sherpa folklore and misidentified animals like bears or yaks, and it is often compared to North America’s Bigfoot due to similar physical descriptions.
Four
What flower with an eight-letter common name is the official flower of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, being the first to bloom there after the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945?
Answer: Oleander.
As the very first flower to bloom on the scorched earth of Hiroshima, where it was said that nothing would grow for 75 years, the oleander flower was a source of strength and hope for the residents of the city as they worked hard on recovery efforts. Blooming in the summertime, the oleander flowers reach their peak around the August 6 Peace Memorial Day, their beautiful blossoms reminding our citizens of a great many and profound feelings. — The City of Hiroshima
Five
In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox steals the spaceship Heart of Gold. What’s the name of the ship’s computer?
Answer: Eddie.
Eddie, the Heart of Gold’s shipboard computer, is annoyingly cheerful with a Genuine People Personality, irritating the crew, especially Zaphod. He has a backup motherly personality but remains disliked. Eddie controls all ship systems and records conversations. In And Another Thing…, Zaphod’s Left Brain replaces him, being more competent
Theme
The answers started with one of English’s five vowels, although not in the correct order.
Despite a heart condition and arthritis that forced him to use a cane, Brigadier General Roosevelt led the assault on Utah Beach. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s questions are a mixed bag and are not date-related. There is a bit of an alphabetical theme going on, though..
One
New York International Airport, which opened in 1948, was also commonly known by what other name?
Two
Supported by a walking stick, Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt Jr led the assault on which D-Day beach?
Three
What two word term is commonly used in the west to refer to the mythical humanoid creature which is said to inhabit parts of the Himalayas?
Four
What flower with an eight-letter common name is the official flower of the Japanese city of Hiroshima, being the first to bloom there after the city was destroyed by an atomic bomb in 1945?
Five
In Douglas Adams’ The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Zaphod Beeblebrox steals the spaceship Heart of Gold. What’s the name of the ship’s computer?
All of these questions are related to today’s date, 13 July.
One
American actor Harrison Ford was born on this day in 1942. In a 1989 film, he played an archaeologist whose father was also an archaeologist. Both were held captive in a castle.
Who played his father?
Which castle and country was it located in?
Answers
Sean Connery
Castle Brunwald (or Brunwald Castle), Austria.
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), directed by Steven Spielberg, stars Harrison Ford and Sean Connery. Set in 1938, Indiana searches for his kidnapped father, a Holy Grail scholar. The film, praised for its lighthearted tone, grossed $474.2 million, won an Academy Award, and led to sequels in 2008 and 2023.
Two
In 1985, what song featured with an emotional film of starving Ethiopian children during the Live Aid concert, and what group sang it?
Answer: Drive, Cars.
“One afternoon before the concert, Bowie was up in the office and we started looking through some videos of news footage, and we watched the CBC piece [footage from the Ethiopian famine, cut to the Cars’ song “Drive”]. Everyone just stopped. Bowie said: ‘You’ve got to put that in the show; it’s the most dramatic thing I’ve ever seen.’ That was probably one of the most evocative things in the whole show and really got the money rolling in.” —Live Aid promoter Harvey Goldsmith on Bowie picking out the CBC news piece for the concert, a video Bowie introduced on the big screen at Wembley after his set. davidbowie.com
Three
One artist performed live at the 1985 Live Aid concert in London and then appeared on stage at the same day’s concert in Philadelphia, USA. He performed solo at both venues but also supported other artists by playing live piano and drums.
Who is this artist?
Who did he play piano for in London?
What band did he play drums for in Philadelphia?
Answers
Phil Collins
Sting
Led Zeppelin At the Live Aid concerts on July 13, 1985, Phil Collins performed solo at both venues, played piano for Sting at Wembley Stadium and drums for Led Zeppelin at JFK Stadium. This was made possible by him travelling between the two locations on a Concorde flight.
Four
Who became the second woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 13 July 2016, and how long did she hold the office?
Theresa May; three years (3 years, 11 days to be exact).
Theresa May, born in 1956, served as UK Prime Minister and Conservative Party Leader from 2016 to 2019, and Home Secretary from 2010 to 2016. She was MP for Maidenhead (1997-2024) and joined the House of Lords in 2024. May led Brexit negotiations and survived two no-confidence votes.
Five
In 1939, what singer, backed by trumpeter Harry James, recorded his first single, From the Bottom of My Heart?
Answer: Frank Sinatra.
Francis Albert Sinatra, born in 1915, was a renowned American singer and actor, nicknamed ‘Chairman of the Board’ and ‘Ol’ Blue Eyes’. He sold 150 million records, won 13 Grammys, and starred in films like From Here to Eternity. Sinatra received numerous accolades, including the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Who’s gonna plug their ears / When you scream?
Is a line from Cars’ song Drive which featured with an emotional video during the Live Aid concerts and immediately led to an upsurge in donations. The lyrics are shown below.
Drive Cars
Who’s gonna tell you when It’s too late? Who’s gonna tell you things Aren’t so great?
You can’t go on thinking Nothing’s wrong, oh oh Who’s gonna drive you home Tonight?
Who’s gonna pick you up When you fall? Who’s gonna hang it up When you call? Who’s gonna pay attention To your dreams? Yeah, who’s gonna plug their ears When you scream?
You can’t go on thinking Nothing’s wrong, oh oh Who’s gonna drive you home Tonight?
Who’s gonna hold you down When you shake? Who’s gonna come around When you break?
You can’t go on thinking Nothing’s wrong, oh oh Who’s gonna drive you home Tonight?
You know you can’t go on thinking Nothing’s wrong Who’s gonna drive you home Tonight? — AZ Lyrics
All of these questions are related to today’s date, 13 July.
One
American actor Harrison Ford was born on this day in 1942. In a 1989 film, he played an archaeologist whose father was also an archaeologist. Both were held captive in a castle.
Who played his father?
Which castle and country was it located in?
Two
In 1985, what song featured with an emotional film of starving Ethiopian children during the Live Aid concert, and what group sang it?
Three
One artist performed live at the 1985 Live Aid concert in London and then appeared on stage at the same day’s concert in Philadelphia, USA. He performed solo at both venues but also supported other artists by playing live piano and drums.
Who is this artist?
Who did he play piano for in London?
What band did he play drums for in Philadelphia?
Four
Who became the second woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 13 July 2016, and how long did she hold the office?
Five
In 1939, what singer, backed by trumpeter Harry James, recorded his first single, From the Bottom of My Heart?
Today’s first question centres around the date 12th July and a Wild West legend. The subsequent questions aren’t date-related but continue the legend theme.
One
On 12 July 1861, Wild Bill Hickok supposedly fought his first gunfight in which three men died. Hickok was acquitted in court after claiming self-defence. The court papers referred to Hickok by which of these names: Dollar Bill; Double Bill or Duck Bill?
Answer: Duck Bill.
In 1861, in Rock Creek, Nebraska, a legend began as Wild Bill Hickok reportedly engaged in his first gunfight at a postal station. This event marked the start of his storied reputation in the Wild West. James Butler Hickok, known for his adventurous life, survived a bear attack and worked at a Pony Express station. A confrontation with David McCanles over rent turned violent, resulting in McCanles and two men’s deaths. Hickok, called ’Duck Bill’ in the court records, was acquitted, claiming self-defence.
Two
In which Rossini opera is Gesler, the Austrian governor of Uri and Schwyz, the villain?
Answer: William Tell (or Italian: Guglielmo Tell; French: Guillaume Tell).
William Tell, a legendary Swiss folk hero, is renowned for shooting an apple off his son’s head and assassinating tyrant Albrecht Gessler. His defiance inspired Swiss rebellion, leading to the Confederacy’s formation. Emerging in 1307, Tell symbolises Swiss identity and resistance, influencing the 19th-century Restoration and 1848 Revolutions. There is no definitive evidence of Tell’s existence. Guillaume Tell is a French-language opera by Gioachino Rossini, based on the William Tell legend. It was Rossini’s last opera, featuring a famous overture with a storm and the March of the Swiss Soldiers.
Three
Born Robert MacGregor, this Scottish Jacobite outlaw and folk hero inspired a novel, a play, an operetta and several films. What was he better known as?
Answer: Rob Roy.
Robert Roy MacGregor was a Jacobite Scottish outlaw born on 7 March 1671 and died on 28 December 1734. He later became a folk hero in Scotland and among Jacobites. An 1817 novel by Walter Scott based on MacGregor’s life was the basis for a play and an overture.
Four
Gjergj Kastrioti, known as Skanderbeg, is a national hero from the 15th century. In what modern-day country is he a hero for uniting principalities and influencing national awakening?
Answer: Albania.
Skanderbeg (Gjergj Kastrioti) was an Albanian nobleman and military leader who led the League of Lezhë against the Ottomans. A national hero, he deserted the Ottomans in 1443, unified Albanian principalities, and allied with Naples. Skanderbeg is celebrated for his persistent resistance and influence on the Albanian National Awakening.
Five
Which of these is a film that is the 1993 retelling of the Robin Hood story?
Robin Hood: Men in Sherwood
Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Robin Hood: Men in Uttoxeter
Answer: Robin Hood: Men in Tights
Robin Hood, a legendary 14th-century English outlaw, rebelled against authority by robbing officials and aiding the poor, primarily in South Yorkshire. His main adversary was the Sheriff of Nottingham. Despite numerous attempts, his historical existence remains unproven, with claims likely originating from an 18th-century fabrication. Robin Hood: Men in Tights is a 1993 Mel Brooks comedy film parodying the Robin Hood story, starring Cary Elwes and Richard Lewis.
