Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Go With a Bang—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions in my earlier post.

    Today’s questions are all connected to the date, November 27th.

    The obverse side of the Nobel Prize medals for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On this day, the Nobel Prizes were established by a provision in Alfred Nobel’s will. In which capital city was Nobel born in October 1833? What eight-letter word is the name of a Nobel invention from 1867?

    Answer: Stockholm, Sweden; Dynamite

    Alfred Nobel, inventor of powerful explosives, established the Nobel Prizes, possibly to avoid a negative posthumous reputation. His interests in physics, chemistry, physiology and literature, along with his friendship with pacifist Bertha von Suttner, influenced the prize categories.

    Two

    An author known for writing 14 novels featuring the fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard died today in 2014. Who was this author?

    Answer: PD James

    PD James, a British mystery novelist, is best known for her fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh. She wrote 14 Dalgliesh novels, as well as other works including An Unsuitable Job for a Woman and The Children of Men. James was made OBE in 1983 and was named a life peer in 1991.

    Three

    The king of the Franks from 481 until his death in 511 was the ruler of much of Gaul. Was this Clovis I, Louis I, or Pippin I?

    Answer: Clovis I

    Clovis I, king of the Franks from 481 to 511, consolidated power in Gaul and expanded his influence through military conquests. His conversion to Catholicism, a pivotal moment in Frankish history, is shrouded in legend and debate, with some suggesting he leaned towards Arianism before his baptism. Clovis’s legacy endures as the founder of France and a significant figure in the spread of Christianity in Europe.

    Rock guitarist and singer Jimi Hendrix in his last concert performance, the Open Air Love & Peace Festival on Fehmarn island, Germany, September 6, 1970. Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Four

    Jimi Hendrix was born on this date. Which two cities were his birthplace and his place of death? How old was he when he died?

    Answer: Seattle, Washington, US; London, UK; 27 years old

    Jimi Hendrix, an American rock guitarist, singer and composer, redefined the electric guitar by fusing American blues, jazz, rock and soul with British avant-garde rock. Despite a brief career, Hendrix’s innovative techniques, charismatic performances and genre-defying music made him a highly influential figure in popular music. His impact continues to inspire musicians, and he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1992.

    Five

    The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was held in New York City. In what decade did this occur?

    Answer: 1920s

    The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade began in 1924 as a Christmas parade to promote holiday shopping. It features giant balloons, floats, marching bands and performers, with Santa Claus marking the parade’s end. The parade has been televised since 1947, becoming a beloved Thanksgiving morning ritual for millions.

  • Go With a Bang

    Today’s questions are all connected to the date, November 27th.

    The obverse side of the Nobel Prize medals for physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, and literature.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On this day, the Nobel Prizes were established by a provision in Alfred Nobel’s will. In which capital city was Nobel born in October 1833? What eight-letter word is the name of a Nobel invention from 1867?

    Two

    An author known for writing 14 novels featuring the fictional detective Adam Dalgliesh of Scotland Yard died today in 2014. Who was this author?

    Three

    The king of the Franks from 481 until his death in 511 was the ruler of much of Gaul. Was this Clovis I, Louis I, or Pippin I?

    Four

    Jimi Hendrix was born on this date. Which two cities were his birthplace and his place of death? How old was he when he died?

    Five

    The first Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade was held in New York City. In what decade did this occur?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Good Grief!—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Today’s first question relates to a cartoonist born on this date, November 26th. The remaining questions are on a comic strip theme.

    Charles Schulz drawing Charlie Brown in 1956.
    Image Roger Higgins, World Telegram staff photographer/Wikipedia

    One

    Which cartoonist, pictured above, created the comic panel published weekly from 1947 to 1950 under the title Li’l Folks, and what name was given to his new syndicated strip that launched in 1950 and ran until 2000?

    Answer: Charles M. Schulz; Peanuts

    Li’l Folks was a weekly single-panel feature Schulz produced for the St. Paul Pioneer Press. When he began national syndication in 1950, he launched a new strip drawing on similar themes—but United Feature Syndicate renamed it Peanuts, a title Schulz himself never liked. It went on to become one of the most influential comic strips of all time.

    The catchphrase of Charlie Brown, the principal character of the comic strip Peanuts is ‘Good grief!’, hence the post title.

    Charlie Brown ‘Good Grief!’
    Image Credit: Peanuts Worldwide/BBC

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    Two

    What was created by a Belgian cartoonist in 1929 featured a young reporter embarking on globe-spanning adventures? This character became a cornerstone of European comics. Who was the cartoonist?

    Answer: The Adventures of Tintin; Hergé

    Hergé’s clear-line (ligne claire) drawing style shaped generations of European artists. Tintin books have been translated into over 70 languages, making the character one of the world’s best-travelled cartoon heroes.

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    Three

    First published in 1959, what is the name of the diminutive Gaulish warrior whose strength comes from a magic potion brewed by a druid, and what is the druid’s name?

    Answer: Asterix; Getafix

    Created by René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo, Asterix became a European cultural landmark. The first animated film, Asterix the Gaul (1967), was produced without the creators’ knowledge—leading them to take direct control over later adaptations.

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    Four

    Which British stop-motion animated series, debuting in 1989, follows a farmer, his dog, and a mischievous flock of sheep in largely dialogue-free comedic stories? What other comedy series was this a spin-off of?

    Answer: Shaun the Sheep; Wallace & Gromit

    Aardman Animations in Bristol, UK, produced the show. Its universal physical humour, despite almost no spoken dialogue, made it popular worldwide.

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    Five

    In the Popeye comic strip, which character was originally intended to be the star before Popeye’s popularity took over?

    Answer: Olive Oyl

    When E.C. Segar created the comic strip Thimble Theatre in 1919, Olive Oyl and her boyfriend—and later her family—were the main characters. Popeye didn’t appear until 1929, a full decade later, but he became so popular that he soon took over the strip entirely, eventually transforming it into the Popeye series we know today.

  • Good Grief!

    Today’s first question relates to a cartoonist born on this date, November 26th. The remaining questions are on a comic strip theme.

    Which cartoonist created Charlie Brown in 1956.
    Image Roger Higgins, World Telegram staff photographer/Wikipedia

    One

    Which cartoonist, pictured above, created the comic panel published weekly from 1947 to 1950 under the title Li’l Folks, and what name was given to his new syndicated strip that launched in 1950 and ran until 2000?

    ⸻

    Two

    What was created by a Belgian cartoonist in 1929 featured a young reporter embarking on globe-spanning adventures? This character became a cornerstone of European comics. Who was the cartoonist?

    ⸻

    Three

    First published in 1959, what is the name of the diminutive Gaulish warrior whose strength comes from a magic potion brewed by a druid, and what is the druid’s name?

    ⸻

    Four

    Which British stop-motion animated series, debuting in 1989, follows a farmer, his dog, and a mischievous flock of sheep in largely dialogue-free comedic stories? What other comedy series was this a spin-off of?

    ⸻

    Five

    In the Popeye comic strip, which character was originally intended to be the star before Popeye’s popularity took over?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Hand of God—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posed earlier.

    All of the people in these questions are connected to today, November 25th.

    See question 2.
    Diego Maradona after winning the 1986 FIFA World Cup with Argentina.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who, born on this day in 1952, captained his team to their first World Cup victory, defeating England in the final. The final was played to the east of the prime meridian?

    Answer: Imran Khan

    Imran Khan led Pakistan to its first Cricket World Cup win in 1992, retiring from the sport immediately after the triumph. The final was played at the MCG, Melbourne, Australia.

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    Two

    Which FIFA World Cup saw Diego Maradona score his iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal? Furthermore, what other Maradona goal from that match later received recognition?

    Answer: 1986, Mexico; Goal of the Century

    In the 1986 World Cup quarter-final, Maradona scored a controversial goal against England. He used his hand to punch the ball into the net, a move later dubbed the ‘Hand of God’. In the same match, he also scored what FIFA later named the ‘Goal of the Century’. Maradona weaved past multiple England players to score this iconic goal.

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    Three

    Steven de Jongh was a professional rider best known for competing in which type of road cycling events: stage races, one-day Classics, or time trials?

    Answer: One-day Classics

    De Jongh was a consistent Classics performer, with major results in Kuurne–Brussels–Kuurne and Gent–Wevelgem, and later became a successful directeur sportif.

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    Joe DiMaggio
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Joe DiMaggio set an MLB record in 1941 by hitting safely in how many consecutive games?

    Answer: 56 games

    DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak is often considered one of baseball’s most untouchable records.

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    Five

    Lillian Copeland won Olympic gold in which event at the 1932 Los Angeles Games?

    Answer: Discus throw

    Copeland became the first American woman to win Olympic gold in the discus, and she also set multiple world records in both discus and shot put.

  • Hand of God

    All of the people in these questions are connected to today, November 25th.

    See question 2.
    Diego Maradona after winning the FIFA World Cup with Argentina.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who, born on this day in 1952, captained his team to their first World Cup victory, defeating England in the final. The final was played to the east of the prime meridian?

    ⸻

    Two

    Which FIFA World Cup saw Diego Maradona score his iconic ‘Hand of God’ goal? Furthermore, what other Maradona goal from that match later received recognition?

    ⸻

    Three

    Steven de Jongh was a professional rider best known for competing in which type of road cycling events: stage races, one-day Classics, or time trials?

    ⸻

    Joe DiMaggio
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Joe DiMaggio set an MLB record in 1941 by hitting safely in how many consecutive games?

    ⸻

    Five

    Lillian Copeland won Olympic gold in which event at the 1932 Los Angeles Games?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • 321 Years—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    These questions cover 321 years from the earliest to the most recent, but all are connected to today’s date, November 24th.

    One

    On this day in 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sailed along the southern coast of the island now known as Tasmania. His voyage, an expedition from the Dutch East Indies capital eastwards towards southern South America, marked the first recorded European contact with the island. Four questions: (i) What did Tasman name the island that is now called Tasmania? (ii) What was the Dutch East Indies capital at that time; (iii) what is it called today? And (iv) which country is it now the capital of?

    Answer: (i) Anthony van Diemen’s Land; (ii) Batavia; (iii) Jakarta and (iv) Indonesia

    Tasman named the island Anthony van Diemen’s Land after his sponsor Anthony van Diemen, the Governor of the Dutch East Indies. This became shortened to Van Diemen’s Land.

    Batavia was the capital city of the Dutch East Indies; this city is now Jakarta, which is the capital of Indonesia. Batavia, founded by the Dutch in 1619 on the site of Jayakarta, became the capital of the Dutch East Indies and the centre of the Dutch East India Company’s trading network. The city, located on the north coast of Java, remained a European colonial city until World War II.

    Two

    On this day in 1700, which European monarch accepted the will of the late Charles II of Spain and proclaimed his grandson Philip as King of Spain — a decision that helped trigger the War of the Spanish Succession?

    Answer: Louis XIV of France

    The War of the Spanish Succession (1701-1714) was a European conflict over the succession of the Spanish throne. The war ended with the Peace of Utrecht, confirming Philip as King of Spain but preventing a union with France.

    Cartoon depicting Charles Darwin as an ape, 1871.
    Image Slideshare.net

    Three

    Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was published today in which decade?

    Answer: 1850s

    Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, published in 1859, introduced the theory of evolution by natural selection. The book, supported by evidence from Darwin’s Beagle expedition and subsequent research, sparked scientific, philosophical, and religious debate. While initially controversial, Darwin’s ideas gained widespread acceptance within the scientific community by the 1940s.

    Four

    On this day in 1877, the book Black Beauty was published. Who was the author?

    Answer: Anna Sewell

    British author Anna Sewell wrote the beloved children’s classic Black Beauty to champion kindness and understanding towards horses. Confinement to her home due to illness saw Sewell spend her final years penning the book. It’s believed this work played a significant role in abolishing the cruel practice of using the checkrein.

    Pulitzer Prize winning photo of Jack Ruby shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, 24 November 1963.
    Originally published in the Dallas Times Herald, November 25, 1963.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Who, in the above picture, is the man facing away from the camera shooting Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas today, 1963?

    Answer: Jack Ruby

    Jack Ruby, a nightclub owner, murdered Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas Police Headquarters. Ruby was convicted of Oswald’s murder and sentenced to death, but this conviction was overturned on appeal, leading to a new trial. However, Ruby fell ill, was diagnosed with cancer, and died on January 3, 1967, before the new trial could take place. While the Warren Commission concluded Ruby acted alone, his death fuelled conspiracy theories.

  • 321 Years

    These questions cover 321 years from the earliest to the most recent, but all are connected to today’s date, November 24th.

    One

    On this day in 1642, Dutch navigator Abel Tasman sailed along the southern coast of the island now known as Tasmania. His voyage, an expedition from the Dutch East Indies capital eastwards towards southern South America, marked the first recorded European contact with the island. Four questions: (i) What did Tasman name the island that is now called Tasmania? (ii) What was the Dutch East Indies capital at that time; (iii) what is it called today? And (iv) which country is it now the capital of?

    Two

    On this day in 1700, which European monarch accepted the will of the late Charles II of Spain and proclaimed his grandson Philip as King of Spain — a decision that helped trigger the War of the Spanish Succession?

    Charles Darwin as an ape.
    Image details and attribution will be in answer post

    Three

    Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection was published today in which decade?

    Four

    On this day in 1877, the book Black Beauty was published. Who was the author?

    Pulitzer Prize winning photo of ______ shooting Lee Harvey Oswald, 24 November 1963.
    Originally published in the Dallas Times Herald, November 25, 1963.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Who, in the above picture, is the man facing away from the camera shooting Lee Harvey Oswald in Dallas today, 1963?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • 76 Totters Lane—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

    All of the questions relate to today’s date, November 23rd.

    One

    At Coal Hill School, teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have concerns about pupil Susan Foreman, who has an alien outlook on England.

    The above quote from the Wikipedia article’s ‘Plot’ section describes the opening episode of which contemporary television series first aired on 23 November 1963?

    Answer: Doctor Who

    The very first episode was An Unearthly Child—Susan Foreman, played by Carole Ann Ford, being the title character. Doctor Who, a British science fiction television series, follows the adventures of the Doctor, a time-travelling Time Lord from Gallifrey who regenerates into different forms. The Doctor travels through time and space in the TARDIS, battling various evils including the Daleks. Originally airing from 1963 to 1989, the show was revived in 2005 and has featured multiple actors in the title role, with the most recent being Ncuti Gatwa. Doctor Who is a significant part of British popular culture and has influenced generations of television professionals.

    The post title 76 Totters Lane is spoken by Barbara Wright in this episode, and is the address of the junkyard where they find Susan and her grandfather in the TARDIS.

    Two

    What 2009 hit single by Miley Cyrus includes the lyric ‘And a Jay-Z song was on’?

    Answer: Party in the U.S.A.

    Despite the famous lyric, Miley later revealed she wasn’t actually listening to Jay-Z at the time—the line was written by the songwriters Jessie J, Dr. Luke, and Claude Kelly before she recorded it.

    Three

    In 1935, an American explorer landed at about 79° S, 102° W. He raised the U.S. flag and ‘claimed’ the land between roughly 80° W and 120° W for the United States. On what continent did this occur, and what is this area of land known as today?

    Answer: Antarctica and Ellsworth Land

    In 1935, explorer Lincoln Ellsworth landed in Antarctica during his transcontinental flight, raised the U.S. flag, and claimed the territory between about 80°W and 120°W, naming it Ellsworth Land. The U.S. government never formalised this claim, and later overlapping national claims were suspended under the Antarctic Treaty.

    Four

    Which 1982 novel features characters called The Maidmasher, The Manhugger and The Meatdripper? Secondly, who wrote it?

    Answer: The BFG; Roald Dahl

    The BFG, a 1982 children’s novel by Roald Dahl, has sold 37 million copies and inspired adaptations including a 1989 animated film and a 2016 Disney live-action film.

    Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the largest religious building in its country, was consecrated in 2004. It is the main cathedral of which autonomous church?

    Answer: Georgian Orthodox Church

    Georgia’s dominant religious institution is the Georgian Orthodox Church, an autocephalous Eastern Orthodox church. Its roots stretch back to the 1st and 4th centuries AD, and it is currently led by Patriarch Ilia II. The main cathedral of the Georgian Orthodox Church is the Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, also known as Sameba, which was built between 1995 and 2004.

  • 76 Totters Lane

    All of the questions relate to today’s date, November 23rd.

    One

    At Coal Hill School, teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have concerns about pupil Susan Foreman, who has an alien outlook on England.

    The above quote from the Wikipedia article’s ‘Plot’ section describes the opening episode of which contemporary television series first aired on 23 November 1963?

    Two

    What 2009 hit single by Miley Cyrus includes the lyric ‘And a Jay-Z song was on’?

    Three

    In 1935, an American explorer landed at about 79° S, 102° W. He raised the U.S. flag and ‘claimed’ the land between roughly 80° W and 120° W for the United States. On what continent did this occur, and what is this area of land known as today?

    Four

    Which 1982 novel features characters called The Maidmasher, The Manhugger and The Meatdripper? Secondly, who wrote it?

    Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the largest religious building in its country, was consecrated in 2004. It is the main cathedral of which autonomous church?

    Good luck! As usual the answers will be posted later.