Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • We Three Kings—Answers

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

    These questions all relate to today’s date, January 6th.

    Adoration of the Magi by El Greco (1568),
    Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In Western Christianity, the Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi. Which Gospel or Gospels tell this story?

    Answer: Gospel of Matthew

    The biblical account in Matthew 2 describes the visit of unnamed ‘wise men’ to the infant Jesus, not on the night of his birth but at an unspecified later time. While artistic conventions often depict this event alongside the nativity, the text specifies that the wise men visited Jesus in a house, not a stable, and the exact timing of their visit is not provided.

    Two

    In 1994, ‘The Whack Heard Around the World’ involved an attack on an US figure skater by an assailant hired by, or on behalf of, a rival skater. Who was the attacked skater, and who was the rival?

    Answer: Nancy Kerrigan; Tonya Harding

    On January 6, 1994, figure skater Nancy Kerrigan was attacked by Shane Stant, who was hired by Jeff Gillooly and Shawn Eckardt to prevent her from competing. The incident was later linked to her rival, Tonya Harding, Gillooly’s ex-wife, who was accused of involvement. Despite the attack, Kerrigan recovered and competed in the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games, winning a silver medal. Harding, who also competed at the Olympics, faced legal consequences, pleaded guilty to hindering the prosecution, and was banned for life from USFSA events.

    Three

    In 1540, England’s King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, who was she and what was her fate?

    Answer: Anne of Cleves; marriage was annulled

    Anne of Cleves, Henry VIII’s fourth wife, ruled England for six months in 1540. Their marriage was annulled, but she remained in England, receiving a generous settlement. She lived to see the reigns of Henry’s children. Ten years after Henry’s death and during Mary I’s reign, Anne died and was interred as a queen in Westminster Abbey.

    Four

    Born in 1955, this British actor voiced Zazu, an uptight hornbill, in The Lion King (1994). Who was this actor?

    Answer: Rowan Atkinson

    Rowan Atkinson is an English actor, comedian and writer, best known for his roles in Blackadder, Mr. Bean, and Johnny English. He has received numerous awards for his work, including a BAFTA and an Olivier Award, and was appointed CBE in 2013.

    Five

    In 1900, the besieged fortress at Ladysmith, Natal, successfully repelled an attack and drove the attackers back. During what war did this occur, and in what modern country is this location?

    Answer: Second Boer War; South Africa

    The Siege of Ladysmith, a crucial engagement during the Second Boer War, lasted from 2 November 1899 to 28 February 1900. The Boer republics invaded Natal, leading to battles and a British retreat to Ladysmith. Despite several relief attempts, the Boers encircled the town until the British forces, led by General Buller, broke through and relieved it. The Battle of Wagon Hill, on 6 January 1900, saw Boer forces attack British positions on Platrand. Initially successful, the Boers were repelled by British counterattacks, resulting in heavy casualties. The siege of Ladysmith continued until 28 February 1900, when the British forces finally broke through the Boer lines and relieved the town.

  • We Three Kings

    These questions all relate to today’s date, January 6th.

    Adoration of the Magi by El Greco (1568),
    Museo Soumaya, Mexico City.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In Western Christianity, the Epiphany celebrates the coming of the Magi. Which Gospel or Gospels tell this story?

    Two

    In 1994, ‘The Whack Heard Around the World’ involved an attack on an US figure skater by an assailant hired by, or on behalf of, a rival skater. Who was the attacked skater, and who was the rival?

    Three

    In 1540, England’s King Henry VIII married his fourth wife, who was she and what was her fate?

    Four

    Born in 1955, this British actor voiced Zazu, an uptight hornbill, in The Lion King (1994). Who was this actor?

    Five

    In 1900, the besieged fortress at Ladysmith, Natal, successfully repelled an attack and drove the attackers back. During what war did this occur, and in what modern country is this location?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • The Misfits—Answers

    Today’s question are all related to January 5th.

    The Misfits.
    Image AllAboutMovies.net.au

    One

    Born in 1969, Brian Hugh Warner is better known as whom?

    Answer: Marilyn Manson

    Marilyn Manson, born Brian Warner on 5 January 1969, is an American musician, actor and artist, best known as the lead vocalist of the rock band he co-founded in 1989 with guitarist Scott Putesky. The band, named after Marilyn Monroe and Charles Manson, is renowned for its controversial image and lyrics, blending industrial rock, glam rock, and alternative metal. It gained a cult following in South Florida for its theatrical and visually shocking performances, often challenging societal norms and promoting themes of drugs, sex, violence and Satanism. Despite achieving commercial success with several platinum and gold albums, Manson has faced criticism and legal battles, including allegations of abuse and human trafficking in the 2020s, which he has denied.

    Two

    In 1968, Alexander Dubček rose to power and implemented reforms that led to an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact members, forcing his resignation. He came to power in which country and what two-word name – both six letters long – has been given to this period of liberalisation and reform?

    Answer: Czechoslovakia; Prague Spring

    Alexander Dubček, a Slovak statesman, led Czechoslovakia from 1968 to 1969, implementing reforms known as the Prague Spring. His liberalisation efforts, which included increased freedoms and a move towards federalism, were reversed following the Warsaw Pact invasion on August 20, 1968, forcing him to resign. Dubček later became a symbol of the Velvet Revolution and was awarded the Sakharov Prize in 1989. After the fall of communism, he returned to prominence, becoming chairman of the Federal Assembly and later the leader of Slovakia’s Social Democrats before his death in 1992.

    Three

    In Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, besides Vladimir and Estragon, what are the names of the other two characters, the travellers? Furthermore, what has happened to each of these travellers by the time they return in Act II?

    Answer: Pozzo and Lucky; Pozzo is blind and Lucky is mute

    Waiting for Godot is a tragicomedy play by Samuel Beckett, first published in 1952. The play revolves around two characters, Vladimir and Estragon, who engage in various activities while waiting for the titular Godot, who never arrives. The play is known for its enigmatic nature and has been widely acclaimed and adapted for various mediums.

    Four

    The future King Juan Carlos of Spain was born on this date. In what decade did he become king, and who did he replace as head of state?

    Answer: 1970s; Francisco Franco

    Juan Carlos, born in 1938, became King of Spain in 1975 after the death of Francisco Franco. He played a pivotal role in Spain’s transition to democracy, appointing reformist leaders and supporting political parties. Despite his initial support for Franco, Juan Carlos’s reign was marked by liberal reforms, including divorce and abortion laws. However, his later years were overshadowed by corruption scandals and financial controversies, leading to his abdication in 2014 and subsequent self-exile in 2020.

    Five

    Italian author Umberto Eco, born in 1932, wrote a novel set in 1970s Milan. It centres on a fictional conspiracy involving the Knights Templar, created by the characters Casaubon, Belbo and Diotallevi. What was the novel?

    Answer: Foucault’s Pendulum

    Umberto Eco (1932-2016) was an Italian literary critic, novelist, and semiotician, best known for his novels The Name of the Rose and Foucault’s Pendulum. He also wrote extensively on various topics, including semiotics, medieval studies and political commentary, with notable works such as A Theory of Semiotics and Semiotics and the Philosophy of Language. Eco explored other areas of communication and published numerous works on criticism, history and language.

    The Misfits

    The post title originates from a 1961 film of the same name starring Marilyn Monroe. As mentioned in the answer to question one, Brian Warner adopted the first part of Monroe’s name as his pseudonym, which, to me, feels somewhat incongruous, something of a misfit.

    The Misfits.
    Image AllAboutMovies.net.au

  • The Misfits

    Today’s question are all related to January 5th.

    The Misfits.
    Image AllAboutMovies.net.au

    One

    Born in 1969, Brian Hugh Warner is better known as whom?

    Two

    In 1968, Alexander Dubček rose to power and implemented reforms that led to an invasion by fellow Warsaw Pact members, forcing his resignation. He came to power in which country and what two-word name – both six letters long – has been given to this period of liberalisation and reform?

    Three

    In Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot, besides Vladimir and Estragon, what are the names of the other two characters, the travellers? Furthermore, what has happened to each of these travellers by the time they return in Act II?

    Four

    The future King Juan Carlos of Spain was born on this date. In what decade did he become king, and who did he replace as head of state?

    Five

    Italian author Umberto Eco, born in 1932, wrote a novel set in 1970s Milan. It centres on a fictional conspiracy involving the Knights Templar, created by the characters Casaubon, Belbo and Diotallevi. What was the novel?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Reach for the Sky—Answers

    Burg Khalifa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 4 January 2010, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. So, today’s questions are all about structures which have been amongst the world’s tallest.

    One

    What building did Burj Khalifa replace as the tallest?

    Answer: Taipei 101 (aka Taipei Financial Center)

    Inaugurated in January 2010, the Burj Khalifa, standing at 163 floors and a height of 2,717 feet (828 metres), surpassed Taipei 101 — 1,667 feet (508 metres), — in Taipei, Taiwan. The Burj Khalifa also broke several other records including the world’s tallest freestanding structure, the highest occupied floor and the highest outdoor observation deck.

    Two

    Which medieval cathedral, whose governing body holds one of the original 1215 Magna Carta manuscripts, surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world’s tallest man-made structure?

    Answer: Lincoln Cathedral

    Completed around 2560 BCE, the Great Pyramid of Giza originally stood at approximately 481 feet (146 metres), making it the tallest man-made structure ever built at the time. Remarkably, it retained this distinction for nearly 3,800 years, until the completion of medieval cathedrals including Lincoln Cathedral in England in the 14th century.

    ⸻

    Three

    Which monument did the Eiffel Tower surpass to become the tallest man-made structure in the world?

    Answer: The Washington Monument

    Completed in 1889, the Eiffel Tower stands 1,083 feet (330 metres) tall, exceeding the Washington Monument’s height of 555 feet (169 metres). The Eiffel Tower held the record as the world’s tallest man-made structure for 41 years, until the Chrysler Building surpassed it in 1930.

    ⸻

    Four

    True or false: the Lighthouse of Alexandria, aka the Pharos of Alexandria, was once the tallest building in the world.

    Answer: False

    The Pharos of Alexandria, the tallest lighthouse of the ancient world, was never taller than the Great Pyramid of Giza, which remained the tallest man-made structure.

    Five

    What nearby structure did the Empire State Building replace as the world’s tallest building?

    Answer: The Chrysler Building

    When it opened in 1931, the Empire State Building reached 1,250 feet (381 metres), surpassing the Chrysler Building, which had briefly held the title at 1,046 feet (319 metres). The Empire State Building retained the world’s tallest-building title for nearly 40 years, until the completion of the original World Trade Center in 1970.

  • Reach for the Sky

    Burg Khalifa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    On 4 January 2010, Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, officially opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. So, today’s questions are all about structures which have been amongst the world’s tallest.

    One

    What building did Burj Khalifa replace as the tallest?

    Two

    Which medieval cathedral, whose governing body holds one of the original 1215 Magna Carta manuscripts, surpassed the Great Pyramid of Giza to become the world’s tallest man-made structure?

    ⸻

    Three

    Which monument did the Eiffel Tower surpass to become the tallest man-made structure in the world?

    ⸻

    Four

    True or false: the Lighthouse of Alexandria, aka the Pharos of Alexandria, was once the tallest building in the world.

    Five

    What nearby structure did the Empire State Building replace as the world’s tallest building?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • First Things First—Answers

    Today’s questions focus on ‘firsts’ that occurred on January 3rd.

    Flag of Liberia.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?

    Answer: Liberia

    Liberia, Africa’s oldest republic, was established for formerly enslaved people from the United States. It gained independence in 1847 and experienced relative stability until a civil war in the 1990s.

    Two

    Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

    Answer: Aretha Franklin

    Aretha Franklin, the Queen of Soul, was a highly acclaimed American singer known for her powerful voice and hits like Respect and (You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman.

    Three

    A spacecraft named for a goddess who, according to legend, flew from Earth to the Moon was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. What name do the goddess and spacecraft share, and in what decade did this first landing take place?

    Answer: Chang’e; 2010s

    Chang’e, the Chinese moon goddess, is celebrated annually on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month during the Mid-Autumn Festival. She is often depicted floating towards the moon, holding a moon disk, or with the Hare preparing the elixir of immortality. The spacecraft Chang’e 4, carrying the Yutu-2 rover, landed on the Moon’s far side on 3 January 2019, becoming the first spacecraft to do so. It communicated with Earth via the Queqiao relay satellite.

    Four

    In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?

    Answer: Denmark

    Berlingske, Denmark’s oldest continually operating newspaper, was founded in 1749 and is considered a newspaper of record. Originally titled Kjøbenhavnske Danske Post-Tidender, it has a conservative stance and is known for its traditionalism. The newspaper, now published in tabloid format, has won numerous awards, including the World Press Photo Award three times.

    Five

    In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?

    Answer: 1950s

    The Hamilton Watch Company produced the first electric watch to be retailed in 1957, using a balance wheel or tuning fork driven by a battery. Quartz watches later surpassed them in accuracy and durability.

  • First Things First

    Today’s questions focus on ‘firsts’ that occurred on January 3rd.

    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In 1848, Joseph Jenkins Roberts was sworn in as the first president of a country which began as a project of the American Colonization Society. What country?

    Two

    Who, in 1987, was the first woman to be voted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame?

    Three

    A spacecraft named for a goddess who, according to legend, flew from Earth to the Moon was the first to land on the far side of the Moon. What name do the goddess and spacecraft share, and in what decade did this first landing take place?

    Four

    In 1749, the first issue of Berlingske was published. It is now the oldest continually operating newspaper in what country?

    Five

    In what decade was the first electric watch introduced to the retail market?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • Hot Shot—Answers

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

    A few true or false posers for you today.

    Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Gun-toting … … triggers police alert at hotel

    True or false: The above 2003 headline from The Herald in Glasgow, Scotland, referenced opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa’s arrival in the city with several shotguns.

    Answer: True

    Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, the renowned soprano, caused a stir at a Glasgow hotel when she requested a gun store, leading to a police presence. The hotel, lacking a gunroom, followed protocol and contacted the police, who stored the firearms overnight. The incident occurred shortly after Glasgow was labelled the murder capital of Britain and was reported in The Herald newspaper on 5 December 2003.

    Two

    True or false: On 18 June 1983, US astronaut Sally Ride became the first woman to travel in space.

    Answer: False

    On 16 June 1963, Cosmonaut Valentina Vladimirovna Tereshkova became the first woman to travel in space when she flew a solo mission in Vostok 6. Svetlana Savitskaya, aboard Soyuz T-7, became the second woman to travel in space in 1982, and Sally Ride became the third woman, and first American woman, to travel in space.

    Three

    True or false: According to the United States Geological Survey, about 90% of the world’s earthquakes, including most of its largest, occur within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

    Answer: True

    The Ring of Fire is a 25,000-mile (40,000 km) long tectonic belt surrounding the Pacific Ocean, characterised by frequent earthquakes and volcanic activity. It is formed by the subduction of various tectonic plates, creating oceanic trenches, volcanic arcs, and back-arc basins. The Ring of Fire contains the majority of the world’s active volcanoes and earthquakes.

    Four

    Those kids were fast as lightning
    In fact, it was a little bit frightening

    True or false: The above lyric from a 1974 song was a number one hit in multiple nations.

    Answer: True

    Kung Fu Fighting is a disco song by Carl Douglas, released in 1974. It topped charts worldwide, sold eleven million copies, and popularised disco music. The song was covered (using different lyrics) by CeeLo Green and Jack Black in the first film of the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and later by The Vamps for the third film.

    Five

    True or false: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1878.

    Answer: False

    Fleming did discover penicillin, but not in 1878, and, in fact, he was not born until 1881. On 3 September 1928, Fleming noticed a fungus contaminating a staphylococci culture, destroying the bacteria around it. He identified the fungus as Penicillium, later confirmed as P. rubens.

  • Hot Shot

    A few true or false posers for you today.

    Dame Kiri Te Kanawa.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Gun-toting … … triggers police alert at hotel

    True or false: The above 2003 headline from The Herald in Glasgow, Scotland, referenced opera singer Kiri Te Kanawa’s arrival in the city with several shotguns.

    Two

    True or false: On 18 June 1983, US astronaut Sally Ride became the first woman to travel in space.

    Three

    True or false: According to the United States Geological Survey, about 90% of the world’s earthquakes, including most of its largest, occur within the Pacific Ring of Fire.

    Four

    Those kids were fast as lightning
    In fact, it was a little bit frightening

    True or false: The above lyric from a 1974 song was a number one hit in multiple nations.

    Five

    True or false: Alexander Fleming discovered penicillin in 1878.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.