These questions all concern today’s date, April 4th.
Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Established in 1949, the organisation represented by this flag originally had twelve members including the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Canada. Name the organisation and four of the remaining eight founding members?
Two
The following quote is from the Encyclopædia Britannica article on the film Ben-Hur, which in 1960 became the first film to win eleven Oscars. A number has been removed from the quote. What, to the nearest thousand, is that number?
The famed chariot race is considered among cinema’s most-impressive action sequences, not least because it featured up to — extras.
Three
In 1925, the Schutzstaffel was founded by Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party in Germany. What is it better known as?
Four
Born in Perth, Australia, in 1979, this actor was posthumously awarded the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role at the 81st Academy Awards?
Five
When William Henry Harrison died who succeeded him as the President of the United States?
Here are five questions that are related to today’s date, April 3rd. There is also a bonus question at the end.
One
The United States Pony Express, inaugurated in 1860, commenced its first run from one city to another. Can you name both cities in the order of travel of this first run?
Answer: St. Joseph, Missouri to Sacramento, California.
The Pony Express was a mail delivery system that operated between St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California, from April 1860 to October 1861. Utilising horse-and-rider relays, the service significantly reduced mail delivery time from 24 days to about 10 days. Despite its efficiency, the Pony Express was a costly venture and ceased operations with the completion of the transcontinental telegraph system.
Two
On this day the first flight over Mount Everest took place. In what decade did this occur?
Answer: 1930s.
In April 1933, two Westland aircraft piloted by Lord Clydesdale and David McIntyre, with observers Stewart Blacker and Sidney Bonnett, became the first to fly over Mount Everest. The expedition, funded by Lucy, Lady Houston, aimed to promote British aviation and gather information for a planned summit attempt. Despite challenges with oxygen supply and weather conditions, the team successfully completed the flight, capturing valuable photographs of the terrain.
Three
The first public handheld mobile (cellular) phone call was made on this day. In what year did this occur and what telecommunications company made the call?
Answer: 1973; Motorola.
Motorola’s Martin Cooper made the first handheld mobile phone call in 1973. The prototype, nicknamed ‘the Brick’, weighed 2 kilograms and offered 30 minutes of talk time.
Four
In 2007, a conventional-train world record was set by a TGV train. In what country was this record set, and to the nearest 5 mph (5 km/h) what was the record-setting speed achieved?
Answer: France; 355 mph (575 km/h).
In 2007, a French TGV train on the LGV Est high-speed line set a new world speed record, achieving 357.2 mph (574.8 km/h) or 159.6 m/s. This was part of Operation V150, a series of high-speed trials that culminated in the record-breaking speed on 3 April 2007. The top speed was reached near the village of Le Chemin, between the Meuse and Champagne-Ardenne TGV stations, where the most favourable profile exists, 12 minutes and 40 seconds after leaving Prény from a standstill, covering 71 km.
Five
Sir Robert Walpole is regarded as the first prime minister of Great Britain. In what decade did he assume this office?
Answer: 1720s.
The office of prime minister in Britain emerged in the 18th century, with Sir Robert Walpole recognised as the first de facto prime minister, serving from 1721 to 1742. Walpole’s financial expertise, peaceful foreign policy, and adept management of Parliament established his authority and set the foundation for the modern Cabinet system. However, he faced criticism for bribery and corruption and resigned following a failed war with Spain.
Ride ‘Em Cowboy
Today’s title alludes to the riders employed by the Pony Express but it was also the title of a 1942 comedy. What duo starred in it?
Answer: Abbott and Costello.
Bud Abbott and Lou Costello star as peanut vendors at a rodeo show who are forced to flee their boss, they hide on a train, and become cowboys on a dude ranch despite lacking experience whatever.
Here are five questions that are related to today’s date, April 3rd. There is also a bonus question at the end.
One
The United States Pony Express, inaugurated in 1860, commenced its first run from one city to another. Can you name both cities in the order of travel of this first run?
Two
On this day the first flight over Mount Everest took place. In what decade did this occur?
Three
The first public handheld mobile (cellular) phone call was made on this day. In what year did this occur and what telecommunications company made the call?
Four
In 2007, a conventional-train world record was set by a TGV train. In what country was this record set, and to the nearest 5 mph (5 km/h) what was the record-setting speed achieved?
Five
Sir Robert Walpole is regarded as the first prime minister of Great Britain. In what decade did he assume this office?
Ride ‘Em Cowboy
Today’s title alludes to the riders employed by the Pony Express but it was also the title of a 1942 comedy. What duo starred in it?
Ludwig van Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis, 1820. Image Wikimedia Commons
On 2 April 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 in Vienna, so today’s questions are all about music.
One
When Hans von Bulow referred to three composers as ‘The three Bs’, one was Ludwig van Beethoven, but who were the other two?
Answer: Johann Sebastian Bach and Johannes Brahms.
’The Three Bs’ refers to the primacy of Bach, Beethoven and Brahms in classical music. The term originated from an expression by Peter Cornelius in 1854, who included Berlioz as the third B before Hans von Bülow substituted Brahms for Berlioz.
Two
What is the name of the priest in Eleanor Rigby ?
Answer: Father McKenzie
Eleanor Rigby by the Beatles, from their 1966 album Revolver, is a song about loneliness featuring a double string quartet arrangement. Paul McCartney, who came up with the melody and most of the lyrics has variously stated the name came from an old lady he knew; the actress Eleanor Bron; and a Bristol store, Rigby & Evens Ltd. The song topped singles charts in several countries.
Three
Who composed the opera Aida, and where was it set?
Answer: Giuseppe Verdi; Ancient Egypt.
Aida is a tragic opera in four acts by Giuseppe Verdi, set in ancient Egypt. Commissioned by Cairo’s Khedivial Opera House, it premiered there on 24 December 1871. The opera was met with great acclaim and quickly became a staple in the operatic canon, receiving performances worldwide.
Four
‘But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’, are lyrics from what song, and who wrote it?
Answer: Folsom Prison Blues; Johnny Cash
Folsom Prison Blues is a song by Johnny Cash, written in 1953 and released as a single in 1955. The song, inspired by the movie Inside the Walls of Folsom Prison, combines elements of train and prison songs, and became one of Cash’s signature songs. A live version recorded at Folsom State Prison in 1968 became a number-one hit and won a Grammy Award.
Five
First performed in 1934, A Boy was Born is a choral composition by which English composer?
Answer: Benjamin Britten.
A Boy Was Born, Op. 3, is a choral composition by Benjamin Britten, subtitled Choral variations for men’s, women’s and boys’ voices, unaccompanied. Composed between 1932 and 1933, it was first performed in 1934 and revised in 1955. The work, a musical theme and six variations, sets ten different texts related to Christmas.
Ludwig van Beethoven with the manuscript of the Missa solemnis, 1820. Image Wikimedia Commons
On 2 April 1800, Ludwig van Beethoven led the premiere of his First Symphony, Symphony No. 1 in C major, Op. 21 in Vienna, so today’s questions are all about music.
One
When Hans von Bulow referred to three composers as ‘The three Bs’, one was Ludwig van Beethoven, but who were the other two?
Two
What is the name of the priest in Eleanor Rigby ?
Three
Who composed the opera Aida, and where was it set?
Four
‘But I shot a man in Reno, just to watch him die’, are lyrics from what song, and who wrote it?
Five
First performed in 1934, A Boy was Born is a choral composition by which English composer?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
These questions are all related to today, April 1st.
See question three. Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Established in 1999, Nunavut, at 135,000 square miles of land (350,000 square km), is the World’s fifth-largest country subdivision.
Of what country is Nunavut a subdivision?
What, to the nearest ten thousand, is the population of Nunavut?
Answers
1. Canada
2. 40,000
Nunavut, established in 1999, is the largest and northernmost Canadian territory, created for Inuit self-government. It covers a significant portion of Northern Canada and the Arctic Archipelago, making it the fifth-largest country subdivision globally. With a population of 36,858, it is the least densely populated major subdivision in the world.
Two
Gmail was launched on this day, in what year did this happen?
Answer: 2004.
Gmail, created by Paul Buchheit, was launched in 2004 and opened to the public in 2007, is the world’s largest email service with 1.8 billion users. It offers 15GB of free storage, supports large attachments, and integrates with Google Drive. The service is accessible from any internet-enabled device and features conversation view, integrated chat, and was briefly integrated with the social networking application Buzz.
Three
Josef von Sternberg’s Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) was released in Germany, and the classic film made Marlene Dietrich a star. What was Dietrich’s character name, as billed, in this film?
Answer: Lola Lola.
The Blue Angel (1930) is a German musical comedy-drama directed by Josef von Sternberg, featuring Marlene Dietrich, Emil Jannings, and Kurt Gerron. Based on Heinrich Mann’s novel Professor Unrat, it tells the tragic story of a professor’s downfall into madness due to his obsession with nightclub singer Lola Lola, played by Dietrich in her breakthrough role. This film introduced her iconic song, Falling in Love Again. Filmed in both German and English, the English version was initially lost but rediscovered and screened in 2009. The German version is preferred for its length and superior pronunciation.
Four
The Apple Computer Company, now Apple Inc., was founded in 1976, who were the three people who co-founded it?
Answer: Steve Jobs, Steve Wozniak and Ronald Wayne.
Apple Inc., founded in 1976 and headquartered in Cupertino, California, is a leading American multinational technology company renowned for its innovative consumer electronics, software, and online services. Known for its user-centric design and marketplace ecosystem, Apple revolutionised the technology sector with products like personal computers, smartphones and tablets. After nearly going bankrupt in the 1990s, the company returned to profitability under Steve Jobs’ leadership, introducing iconic products such as the iMac, iPod, iPhone and iPad. Today, Apple is the world’s largest company by market capitalisation and a major player in the PC, tablet, and mobile phone markets.
Five
In 1977, who had a U.S. number 1 and U.K. top ten hit with Got to Give It Up from the album Live at the London Palladium?
Answer: Marvin Gaye.
Marvin Gaye, an American soul singer-songwriter-producer, was a cultural icon and one of the greatest singers and songwriters of all time. He began his career with Motown Records, achieving success with hits like I Heard It Through the Grapevine and duets with Tammi Terrell. Gaye’s groundbreaking album What’s Going On showcased his musical individuality and social commentary, paving the way for other artists to take control of their music. He later produced his own albums, significantly influencing 1970s soul music and R&B sub-genres. Tragically, Gaye was shot and killed by his father on 1 April 1984.
1 GB of storage for free
The post title refers to Google offering users 1 GB of space, compared to the 2 to 4 MB that was the standard at the time.
These questions are all related to today, April 1st.
See question three. Marlene Dietrich in The Blue Angel. Image Wikimedia Commons
One
Established in 1999, Nunavut, at 135,000 square miles of land (350,000 square km), is the World’s fifth-largest country subdivision.
Of what country is Nunavut a subdivision?
What, to the nearest ten thousand, is the population of Nunavut?
Two
Gmail was launched on this day, in what year did this happen?
Three
Josef von Sternberg’s Der blaue Engel (The Blue Angel) was released in Germany, and the classic film made Marlene Dietrich a star. What was Dietrich’s character name, as billed, in this film?
Four
The Apple Computer Company, now Apple Inc., was founded in 1976, who were the three people who co-founded it?
Five
In 1977, who had a U.S. number 1 and U.K. top ten hit with Got to Give It Up from the album Live at the London Palladium?
Having finished our A to Z quizzes from the last few days, we now return to the date with questions about today, March 31st.
One
On this date Daylight Saving Time was introduced for the first time in the United States.
In what year did this occur?
True or false: Ancient Rome also adjusted their clocks to achieve similar results as daylight savings.
Answers
1. 1918
2. True
In the U.S., it was seen as a wartime implementation and was abandoned after 1918. It was again used during World War II. It came into general annual use in the 1960s. Ancient Romans used water clocks with varying scales for different months, adjusting the length of hours based on the season. A specific hour which lasted 44 minutes at the winter solstice would be 75 minutes long at the summer solstice.
Two
Born in 1809, Edward FitzGerald, an English poet and writer who is best known for his 1859 translation of the work of ‘the Astronomer-Poet of Persia’. He published this in 1859 as the Rubáiyát of ——. What two word name is that of the Persian astronomer-poet which completes the title of FitzGerald’s 1859 translation?
Answer: Omar Khayyám.
Edward FitzGerald’s 1859 translation of the Rubáiyát of Omar Khayyám gained popularity in the 1860s and 1870s, becoming a cultural phenomenon in the English-speaking world. The work inspired numerous translations and became something of a cult in the later part of the 19th century. Omar Khayyam (1048–1131) was a Persian polymath who made significant contributions to mathematics, astronomy, philosophy and literature.
Three
Born in 1984, Martins Dukurs, a Latvian sportsman, is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist. He holds the record for the most World Cup titles with 11. In which sport has Dukurs achieved this success?
Answer: Skeleton.
Martins Dukurs, born on 31 March 1984, is a former Latvian skeleton racer and current coach. Competing since 1998, he is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist (2010, 2014). Dukurs holds the record for the most World Cup titles, with 11, including eight consecutive from 2010 to 2017 and three from 2020 to 2022.
Four
Born in Scotland on this day in 1971, an actor links these two roles. The first is a character from a 1996 film also born in Scotland, in Leith, Edinburgh. The second is not Scottish but a character in a 2009 film who said ‘Have you come to make me a martyr?’. Who is the actor?
Answer: Ewan McGregor.
Ewan McGregor is a Scottish actor and filmmaker known for his roles in Trainspotting, Star Wars, and Moulin Rouge!. He has received numerous accolades, including a Golden Globe and a Primetime Emmy Award, and has also directed films and appeared in theatre productions.
Five
On this date, the U.S. Virgin Islands became American possessions.
By what name had they been known immediately prior to this?
In what decade did this occur?
Answers
1. Danish West Indies
2. 1910s
The United States purchased the three islands from Denmark for $25 million in 1917, recognising their strategic importance in controlling the main passage through the Caribbean to the Panama Canal. Previously controlled by Denmark–Norway from 1754 to 1814 and then by the Kingdom of Denmark from 1814 to 1917, the islands were sold under the 1917 Treaty of the Danish West Indies. Adjusted for inflation, this amount would be $628 million in 2025. Since the purchase, the islands have been an organised, unincorporated U.S. territory.
Having finished our A to Z quizzes from the last few days, we now return to the date with questions about today, March 31st.
One
On this date Daylight Saving Time was introduced for the first time in the United States.
In what year did this occur?
True or false: Ancient Rome also adjusted their clocks to achieve similar results as daylight savings.
Two
Born in 1809, Edward FitzGerald, an English poet and writer who is best known for his 1859 translation of the work of ‘the Astronomer-Poet of Persia’. He published this in 1859 as the Rubáiyát of ——. What two word name is that of the Persian astronomer-poet which completes the title of FitzGerald’s 1859 translation?
Three
Born in 1984, Martins Dukurs, a Latvian sportsman, is a six-time world champion and double Olympic silver medallist. He holds the record for the most World Cup titles with 11. In which sport has Dukurs achieved this success?
Four
Born in Scotland on this day in 1971, an actor links these two roles. The first is a character from a 1996 film also born in Scotland, in Leith, Edinburgh. The second is not Scottish but a character in a 2009 film who said ‘Have you come to make me a martyr?’. Who is the actor?
Five
On this date, the U.S. Virgin Islands became American possessions.
By what name had they been known immediately prior to this?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Kublai Khan, a posthumous painting executed shortly after his death in February of 1294. Image Wikimedia Commons
Finishing the alphabetical theme with the remaining letters, so six questions today with answers beginning with the letters from U to Z, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order. If a question has more than one part it is only the first that conforms to the theme.
One
What word links Shangdu, which was ruled by Kublai Khan and is mentioned in the first line of a Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem, with the title track of a 1980 musical of the same name?
Answer: Xanadu.
Shangdu, the summer capital of Yuan dynasty ruled by Kublai Khan, grandson of Genghis Khan. A metaphor for opulence or an idyllic place, based upon Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s description of Shangdu in his 1816 poem Kubla Khan. Xanadu is the title song from the soundtrack of the 1980 musical film of the same name. Written by Jeff Lynne of the English rock band Electric Light Orchestra (ELO), the song is performed by British-Australian singer, songwriter and actress Olivia Newton John.
Two
What professional golfer won the U.S. Masters tournament in 2007, and 2015 Open Championship at St. Andrews?
Answer: Zach Johnson.
Zachary Harris Johnson, an American professional golfer, has won 12 PGA Tour events, including two majors. He captained the unsuccessful U.S. Ryder Cup team in 2023.
Three
The Macallan, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig are three examples of what product from the United Kingdom?
The last two mentioned, Bunnahabhain and Laphroaig, both come from what region which is well known for this product?
Answers
Whisky.
Island of Islay.
Scotch whisky, first mentioned in 1494, was originally made from malted barley. Single malt Scotch whisky, which the three examples mentioned are, must be distilled in one distillery using only water and malted barley. By 2024, Scotland boasted 151 distilleries, solidifying its reputation for this renowned spirit.
Four
Which name connects a character from a Charles Dickens’ 1850 novel to the 1972 studio album The Magician’s Birthday?
Answer: Uriah Heap.
Uriah Heep, a sycophantic character in Charles Dickens’ David Copperfield, manipulates his employer, Mr. Wickfield, into making him a partner. He later faces exposure for his frauds and is imprisoned for bank fraud. Named after the Dickens’ character Uriah Heep, an English rock band formed in 1969, pioneered hard rock, heavy metal, and progressive rock. With over 40 million albums sold worldwide, they are known for hits like Lady in Black and maintain a strong following in Europe and Asia.
Five
In what film does Tom Hanks play Joe Fox?
Answer: You’ve Got Mail.
You’ve Got Mail is a 1998 romantic comedy starring Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, directed by Nora Ephron. The film, inspired by a Hungarian play, tells the story of two online romantics who are business rivals.
Six
This small fully independent nation-state’s independence was recognised by the Lateran Treaty of 1929. Which nation is it?
Answer: Vatican City.
Vatican City, the smallest independent nation-state, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Church and home to the Pope. It has its own infrastructure and diplomatic relations, with a population of around 882 people.
Quizology.Online 