Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Join the Club — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question two. Napoleon III at the decisive moment of the Battle of Solferino, 1859.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question centres around the date 6th June, and the subsequent questions build on a theme established by the first.

    One

    The YMCA was founded on this day. Which decade and major city was it established in?

    Answers: 1840s; London, UK.

    The YMCA, founded in London in 1844 by George Williams, is a nonsectarian Christian movement promoting Christian character through activities. It spread globally, reaching North America in 1851. Programs include sports, education, and public affairs. In 2010, the U.S. branch rebranded as ‘the Y’, while some branches retained YMCA.

    Two

    The aftermath of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, during the Second War of Italian Independence, resulted in the 1863 formation of what organisation?

    Answer: International Committee of the Red Cross (aka Red Cross).

    Until the mid-19th century, army nursing systems were unorganised. In June 1859, Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, where 40,000 soldiers were casualties, and was shocked by the lack of medical care. He organised relief efforts and wrote A Memory of Solferino in 1862, advocating for national and international relief organisations. In 1863, Geneva lawyer Gustave Moynier initiated discussions on Dunant’s ideas, leading to an investigatory commission and plans for an international conference which resulted in the formation of the International Red Cross.

    Three

    By what name were the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon commonly known by; in what century were they founded and where were their headquarters?

    Answers: Knights Templar; 12th century; Temple Mount, Jerusalem, Kingdom of Jerusalem.

    The Knights Templar, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, evolved into a wealthy and powerful religious military order. Endorsed by the Church, they grew rapidly, becoming skilled Crusaders and prominent in finance. With innovative banking techniques, they managed a vast economic network of nearly 1,000 commanderies across Europe and the Holy Land. Their influence bred envy, and as they lost support due to their failure to hold the Holy Land, King Philip IV of France arrested and tortured them in 1307. This led Pope Clement V to disband the order in 1312. Some assets merged into the Portuguese Order of Christ and Spanish Order of Montesa. Accused of heresy, they were brutally suppressed by Philip IV.

    Four

    What organisation founded in 1945 has major offices in New York City, Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague; and, to the nearest ten, how many of the world’s states are members of it?

    Answers: United Nations; 190.

    The United Nations (UN), established on 26 June 1945, aims to maintain peace, develop friendly relations, and promote cooperation. Headquartered in New York City, it includes six principal organisations, 193 member states, and two observer states. The UN operates 11 peacekeeping missions and has received both praise and criticism for its efforts.

    Five

    The British branch of an international organisation founded in 1961 began running charity fundraising shows in 1976 to support the organisation’s wider mission. These shows gained popularity and became known as The Secret Policeman’s Balls. What is the name of the international organisation founded in 1961?

    Answer: Amnesty International.

    Amnesty International, founded in London in 1961 by Peter Benenson, is a global NGO advocating for human rights, especially freedom of speech and against torture. It campaigns for political prisoners’ release and collaborates internationally. Awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize, it operates in over 150 countries, led by an international executive committee. With over ten million members, it focuses on justice, torture issues, and awareness campaigns.

  • Join the Club

    See question two. Napoleon III at the decisive moment of the Battle of Solferino, 1859.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question centres around the date 6th June, and the subsequent questions build on a theme established by the first.

    One

    The YMCA was founded on this day. Which decade and major city was it established in?

    Two

    The aftermath of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, during the Second War of Italian Independence, resulted in the 1863 formation of what organisation?

    Three

    By what name were the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon commonly known by; in what century were they founded and where were their headquarters?

    Four

    What organisation founded in 1945 has major offices in New York City, Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague; and, to the nearest ten, how many of the world’s states are members of it?

    Five

    The British branch of an international organisation founded in 1961 began running charity fundraising shows in 1976 to support the organisation’s wider mission. These shows gained popularity and became known as The Secret Policeman’s Balls. What is the name of the international organisation founded in 1961?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Today’s the Day — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Robert F. Kennedy, 1968.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today, 5 June.

    One

    On 5 June 1968, U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot? Who shot him, and in what building and in what city was he shot?

    Answer: Sirhan Sirhan; Ambassador Hotel, Los Angeles.

    In March 1968, Robert F Kennedy announced his presidential candidacy. By June 4th he had secured five out of six primaries including a victory in California that day. Shortly after midnight on June 5th he addressed his supporters at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. As he exited through a kitchen corridor he was fatally shot by Sirhan Sirhan, a Palestinian immigrant. Kennedy was interred near his brother John at Arlington National Cemetery.

    Two

    AIDS was reported for the first time after a rare form of pneumonia was found in five homosexual men. In what year was this, and in what city was the pneumonia detected?

    Answer: 1981; Los Angeles, U.S.A.

    HIV is a retrovirus attacking the immune system, potentially leading to AIDS without treatment. It is preventable and manageable with antiretroviral therapy, extending life expectancy to nearly normal levels. Early testing and treatment prevent progression and transmission. HIV spreads through unprotected sex, contaminated needles, and mother-to-child transmission. Recognised in the 1980s, HIV/AIDS has significant societal, economic, and political impacts. Originating from primates in west-central Africa, AIDS was first identified in 1981. By 2024, AIDS caused at least 42.3 million deaths globally, with 630,000 deaths in 2023 and 39.9 million living with HIV, 65% in the WHO African Region. 

    Three

    Born this day in 1939, this man would become Canada’s 16th and youngest prime minister 40 years later. Who is he?

    Answer: Joe Clark.

    Joe Clark, Canada’s youngest Prime Minister, led the Progressive Conservative Party from 1976 to 1983 and again from 1998 to 2003. His brief tenure as Prime Minister saw the introduction of freedom of information legislation and the ‘Canadian Caper’ rescue. After losing the 1980 election, he served in Brian Mulroney’s cabinet and later as a UN Special Representative for Cyprus.

    Four

    This author was born in Wales in 1949, and had a breakthrough with his 1978 novel Eye of the Needle. His successful Kingsbridge series began with The Pillars of the Earth (1989). Who is this author?

    Answer: Ken Follett.

    Welsh author Ken Follett, born in 1949, is known for his thrillers and historical novels, selling nearly 200 million copies. His breakthrough came with Eye of the Needle (1978), and he later achieved success with The Pillars of the Earth (1989).

    Five

    This actor turned politician had his first screen credit in a starring role in 1937 as Andy McCaine in Love Is on the Air and 20 years later he was Cdr. Casey Abbott in Hellcats of the Navy. Who is he?

    Answer: Ronald Reagan.

    Ronald Reagan, the 40th president of the United States, was a former movie actor known for his conservative Republicanism and anticommunism. He served as president from 1981 to 1989 and was nicknamed ‘the Great Communicator’ for his oratory skills. Reagan’s policies are credited with contributing to the downfall of Soviet communism. Ronald Reagan died on 5 June 2004.

  • Today’s the Day

    Robert F. Kennedy, 1968.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today, 5 June.

    One

    On 5 June 1968, U.S. presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy was fatally shot? Who shot him, and in what building and in what city was he shot?

    Two

    AIDS was reported for the first time after a rare form of pneumonia was found in five homosexual men. In what year was this, and in what city was the pneumonia detected?

    Three

    Born this day in 1939, this man would become Canada’s 16th and youngest prime minister 40 years later. Who is he?

    Four

    This author was born in Wales in 1949, and had a breakthrough with his 1978 novel Eye of the Needle. His successful Kingsbridge series began with The Pillars of the Earth (1989). Who is this author?

    Five

    This actor turned politician had his first screen credit in a starring role in 1937 as Andy McCaine in Love Is on the Air and 20 years later he was Cdr. Casey Abbott in Hellcats of the Navy. Who is he?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • A Word to the Wise — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question four. Water crowfoot.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all about words and their meanings.

    One

    What is the meaning of the adjective glabrescent?

    • Hairless
    • Raucous
    • Shrinking

    Answer: Hairless.

    glabrescent in British English

    (ɡleɪˈbrɛsənt)
    adjective botany
    1. becoming hairless at maturity
    > glabrescent stems
    2. nearly hairless 
    Collins English Dictionary. Copyright © HarperCollins Publishers 
    Word origin
    C19: from Latin glabrescere to become smooth
    — Collins Dictionary

    Two

    What does the name of the dinosaur Falcarius mean?

    • Ground scraper
    • Sickle cutter
    • Wood driller

    Answer: Sickle cutter.

    Falcarius, meaning ‘sickle cutter’, is a primitive therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous in North America. Discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation, it was a 4 m long bipedal herbivore with a small head, elongated neck, and tail. It is considered a transitional form between theropods and Therizinosauridae.

    Three

    Spectrophobia, catoptrophobia and eisoptrophobia can all relate to what household item?

    • Kettle
    • Linoleum
    • Mirror

    Answer: Mirror.

    Catoptrophobia, eisoptrophobia and spectrophobia are terms related to fear of mirrors, but they have distinct meanings. Catoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors themselves, eisoptrophobia is the fear of seeing one’s reflection, and spectrophobia can mean fear of mirrors or ghosts. Etymologically, catoptro– and eisoptron– mean ‘mirror’, whereas spectrum means ‘apparition’, explaining spectrophobia’s dual association.

    Four

    What word can be added to crow to complete this plants name: crow …?

    • Foot
    • Quill
    • Steps

    Answer:

    Crowfoot is a herbaceous plant of the genus Ranunculus, related to the buttercups, typically having lobed or divided leaves and white or yellow flowers.

    Many kinds are aquatic with flowers held above the water.
    Crow quill is a quill pen made from a large feather of a crow’s wing and used in fine writing.
    Crow steps are projections resembling steps on the sloping part of a gable, common in Flemish architecture and in 16th- and 17th-century Scottish buildings. Also called corbie steps.
    — all three definitions from Oxford English Dictionary. 

    Five

    Which of these words means the 1938 annexation of Austria by Hitler’s Nazi Germany?

    • Anschluss
    • Rindereintopf
    • Schlafwandeln

    Answer: Anschluss.

    Anschluss /ˈanʃlʊs /
    ▸ the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler had forced the resignation of the Austrian Chancellor by demanding that he admit Nazis into his cabinet. The new Chancellor, a pro-Nazi, invited German troops to enter the country on the pretext of restoring law and order.
    – ORIGIN German, from anschliessen ‘to join’.
    — Oxford English Dictionary 

    Rindereintopf is a beef stew, and Schlafwandeln is sleepwalking.

  • A Word to the Wise

    See question four. Water crow …
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all about words and their meanings.

    One

    What is the meaning of the adjective glabrescent?

    • Hairless
    • Raucous
    • Shrinking

    Two

    What does the name of the dinosaur Falcarius mean?

    • Ground scraper
    • Sickle cutter
    • Wood driller

    Three

    Spectrophobia, catoptrophobia and eisoptrophobia can all relate to what household item?

    • Kettle
    • Linoleum
    • Mirror

    Four

    What word can be added to crow to complete this plants name: crow …?

    • Foot
    • Quill
    • Steps

    Five

    Which of these words means the 1938 annexation of Austria by Hitler’s Nazi Germany?

    • Anschluss
    • Rindereintopf
    • Schlafwandeln

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Walk Amongst the Stars — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Montenegro.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, 3rd June.

    One

    Which country’s national flag is shown? From which state union did it gain independence in 2006? 

    Answer: Montenegro; Serbia and Montenegro** (or the State Union of Serbia and Montenegro).

    Montenegro, located in Southeast Europe on the Balkan Peninsula, has a population of 633,158 across 25 municipalities. It borders Serbia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Albania, Croatia, and the Adriatic Sea, with Podgorica as its capital and Cetinje as its cultural centre. Historically inhabited by Illyrians, it became a semi-independent principality under the rule of the Prince-Bishops beginning in 1696 and gained independence in 2006. Montenegro has an upper-middle-income, service-based economy and is a member of several international organisations, pursuing EU membership since 2012.

    Two

    In 1965, Ed White became the first American astronaut to walk in space. Who was the first man and the first woman to walk in space? (Individually, not together.)

    Answer: Alexei Leonov; Svetlana Savitskaya.

    Extravehicular activity (EVA) involves astronauts performing tasks outside spacecraft, including spacewalks and moonwalks. Conducted by nations like Russia, the U.S., and China, EVAs require space suits for life support. Notable milestones include Alexei Leonov’s first spacewalk in March 1965, Neil Armstrong’s moonwalk in July 1969, and Svetlana Savitskaya’s first female spacewalk in July 1984. EVAs can be tethered or untethered, with untethered walks using the Manned Manoeuvring Unit in 1984 and SAFER in 1994.

    Three

    The United Kingdom had three kings in 1936, one of whom had been born on this day in 1865. Who was he?

    Answer: George V.

    George V reigned as King of the United Kingdom from 1910 to 1936. The second son of Prince Albert Edward, later King Edward VII, he unexpectedly became heir to the throne after the death of his elder brother, Prince Albert Victor.
    Upon George V’s death in January 1936, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Edward VIII, who abdicated later that year to marry Wallis Simpson. Edward was then succeeded by his younger brother Albert, who became King George VI.

    Four

    In 1844, the last pair of Great auks were killed by fishermen on Eldey Island. In what nation is Eldey Island?

    Answer: Iceland.

    Great Auk.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The great auk (Pinguinus impennis), also known as the garefowl or penguin, is an extinct species of flightless alcid that first appeared around 400,000 years ago and was driven to extinction by human exploitation in the mid-19th century. It was the only modern species in the genus Pinguinus. It was not closely related to the penguins of the Southern Hemisphere, which were named for their resemblance to this species.
    — Wikipedia 

    Five

    In 1973. the first crash of a supersonic passenger aircraft happened in France with the loss of fourteen lives. What aircraft crashed?

    Answer: Tupolev Tu-144.

    Nicknamed ‘Concordski’ by the press, the Tupolev Tu-144 is a Soviet supersonic passenger airliner designed by Tupolev that operated commercially from 1975 to 1983, including a passenger service between 1977–1978. It was the first commercial supersonic transport, first flew on 31 December 1968, ahead of Concorde. Produced by Tupolev, 16 units were made, conducting 102 commercial flights, with only 55 carrying passengers. It reached Mach 2 on 26 May 1970. Reliability issues, a 1973 crash, and high costs led to its withdrawal from passenger service in 1978. It served as a cargo aircraft until 1983 and was later used for space and research programs, making its final flight in 1999.

  • Walk Amongst the Stars

    Flag of ? See question one.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, 3rd June.

    One

    Which country’s national flag is shown? From which state union did it gain independence in 2006? 

    Two

    In 1965, Ed White became the first American astronaut to walk in space. Who was the first man and the first woman to walk in space? (Individually, not together.)

    Three

    The United Kingdom had three kings in 1936, one of whom had been born on this day in 1865. Who was he?

    Four

    In 1844, the last pair of Great auks were killed by fishermen on Eldey Island. In what nation is Eldey Island?

    Five

    In 1973. the first crash of a supersonic passenger aircraft happened in France with the loss of fourteen lives. What aircraft crashed?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry XI — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Question two. Just Room Enough Island, Thousand Islands archipelago.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date 2nd June. The other questions are random and unrelated.

    One

    In 1953, ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’ covered the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Westminster Abbey for the Washington Times-Herald. Shortly to become very famous herself, who was ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’?

    Answer: Jackie Bouvier (Kennedy).

    Jackie Bouvier, a reporter for the Washington Times-Herald and writer of the paper’s Inquiring Camera Girl column, was in the crowd outside the Abbey for the coronation. Three months later, she would marry John F. Kennedy, and in under eight years, she would be First Lady. 

    Two

    In what body of water are North America’s Thousand Islands found, and to the nearest fifty, approximately how many islands are in the archipelago?

    Answer: Saint Lawrence River; 1,850.

    The Thousand Islands, an archipelago of 1,864 islands, straddles the Canada-US border in the Saint Lawrence River. The islands range in size and must have at least one square foot of land above water year-round, and have one or two living trees* to be considered part of the Thousand Islands. (*Number of trees varies depending on source.)

    Three

    The Olympic Rings are a symbol consisting of five interlocking coloured rings. What colours are the rings on top?

    Answer: Blue, black and red.

    The rings are interlaced from the left and are blue, yellow, black, green, and red. The founder of the modern Olympics stated the following in 1913:

    … the six colours (including the flag’s white background) combined in this way reproduce the colours of every country without exception. The blue and yellow of Sweden, the blue and white of Greece, the tricolour flags of France, the United Kingdom, the United States, Germany, Belgium, Italy, and Hungary, and the yellow and red of Spain are included, as are the innovative flags of Brazil and Australia, and those of ancient Japan and modern China. This, truly, is an international emblem. —Baron Pierre Coubertin, Olympique, August 1913.

    Four

    The forum currently known as the Group of Seven (G7) has, since its founding, been variously the G6, G7, and the G8. Angela Merkel was the second woman to chair this forum; who was the first?

    Answer: Margaret Thatcher.

    The Group of Seven (G7) is an intergovernmental forum of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the UK, the US, and the EU, focusing on pluralism and liberal democracy. Established in 1973, it addresses global issues like trade and climate change. Despite criticism for limited representation, the G7 has influenced initiatives like the Paris Agreement. Members, with a population of 780 million, contribute over 44% to the world’s nominal GDP and 30% by purchasing power parity.

    Five

    What colour are white rhinoceros?

    Answer: Grey.

    White rhinos, the second-largest land mammals, are named for their wide mouths, not their colour and there is no difference in the skin colour of white and black rhinos. There are two subspecies of white rhino: northern and southern. As of March 2018, only two female northern white rhinos remain, critically endangered due to poaching. Southern white rhinos, once thought extinct, now number around 18,000, classified as Near Threatened. They inhabit South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, and Kenya. White rhinos have complex social structures, with females forming groups and males defending territories.

  • Gallimaufry XI

    Question two. Just Room Enough Island, Thousand Islands archipelago.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question concerns the date 2nd June. The other questions are random and unrelated.

    One

    In 1953, ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’ covered the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II at London’s Westminster Abbey for the Washington Times-Herald. Shortly to become very famous herself, who was ‘Inquiring Camera Girl’?

    Two

    In what body of water are North America’s Thousand Islands found, and to the nearest fifty, approximately how many islands are in the archipelago?

    Three

    The Olympic Rings are a symbol consisting of five interlocking coloured rings. What colours are the rings on top?

    Four

    The forum currently known as the Group of Seven (G7) has, since its founding, been variously the G6, G7, and the G8. Angela Merkel was the second woman to chair this forum; who was the first?

    Five

    What colour are white rhinoceros?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.