Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Initially FIVES—Answers

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

    Enable and Frankie Dettori at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In 2018, which jockey won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year in a row riding Enable?

    Frankie Dettori

    Italian jockey Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, based in England for over 35 years, achieved significant success, including riding all seven winners at Ascot on 28 September 1996. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times and rode 287 Group 1 race winners. After a long career with Godolphin Racing and Al Shaqab Racing, he announced his retirement from professional riding in 2023.

    Two

    What ‘I’ are animals that have no backbones?

    Answer: Invertebrates

    Invertebrates are animals that lack a backbone, or spine. They include arthropods (such as insects and spiders), molluscs (like snails and clams), annelids (e.g. earthworms), echinoderms (like starfish and sea urchins), flatworms, cnidarians (such as jellyfish and corals), and sponges.

    Virginia Woolf.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Which Hogarth Press co-founder published their third novel, Jacob’s Room, in 1922?

    Answer: Virginia Woolf

    Virginia Woolf’s third novel, Jacob’s Room, centres on the life of Jacob Flanders, presented through the impressions of other characters. The novel explores themes of emptiness and absence, portraying Jacob as a series of perceptions rather than a concrete reality.

    Four

    The writer of the song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is described by Wikipedia as a ‘actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright’. Who is he?

    Answer: Eric Idle

    Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is a comedy song by Eric Idle, featured in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. It became a popular singalong and reached No. 3 on the UK singles chart in 1991. In 2014, it was shown to be the most popular song choice for Britons to have played at their funerals.

    Scapa Flow during World War II, 1942.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet was based at which anchorage in the Orkney Islands during the First World War?

    Answer: Scapa Flow

    Scapa Flow, a sheltered body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, has been significant for travel, trade and conflict throughout history. It served as the UK’s chief naval base during both World Wars before closing in 1956. On 21 June 1919, the interned Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet was scuttled by its sailors in Scapa Flow with 52 of the 74 vessels sank.

    FIVES

    The post-title FIVES provided the initial letters F-I-V-E-S for each answer in order, with a prompt at number 2—What ‘I’—to hopefully help you on the road.

  • Initially FIVES

    Here are five random questions today, unrelated to the date, but with a clue in the title.

    Enable.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    In 2018, which jockey won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year in a row riding Enable?

    Two

    What ‘I’ are animals that have no backbones?

    Three

    Which Hogarth Press co-founder published a third novel, Jacob’s Room, in 1922?

    Four

    The writer of the song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is described by Wikipedia as an ‘actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright’. Who is he?

    Five

    The Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet was based at which anchorage in the Orkney Islands during the First World War?

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

  • All in a Day—Answers

    One

    On 18 September 1905, the actress Greta Garbo was born. In which capital city was she born?

    Answer: Stockholm

    Greta Garbo, was born Greta Lovisa Gustafsson, in Stockholm, Sweden. The Swedish-American actress was a prominent figure in Hollywood’s silent and early golden eras. Known for her melancholic screen persona and subtle performances, she achieved international stardom with films like Flesh and the Devil and A Woman of Affairs. Despite her success, Garbo retired from acting in 1941, shunning publicity and leading a private life until her death in 1990.

    Two

    A Dictionary of the English Language, published 1755, was considered the most famous work of which English writer, poet, playwright and lexicographer who was born 18 September 1709?

    Answer: Samuel Johnson

    Samuel Johnson, an English writer, made significant contributions to literature as a poet, playwright, essayist, and lexicographer. His most famous work, A Dictionary of the English Language, was published in 1755 and remained influential for 150 years. Johnson’s friendship with James Boswell resulted in the renowned biography, Life of Samuel Johnson.

    Three

    Dylan Kwabena Mills, born today in 1984, is known professionally as whom?

    Answer: Dizzee Rascal

    Dizzee Rascal, a British rapper, is credited with pioneering British hip hop and grime music. His work, incorporating elements of UK garage, bassline, and R&B, brought UK rap into the mainstream and achieved international recognition.

    Four

    John G. Diefenbaker, who was born on this day in 1895, was the prime minister of which country from 1957 to 1963?

    Answer: Canada

    John G. Diefenbaker, leader of the Progressive Conservative Party, served as Canada’s prime minister from 1957 to 1963, ending 22 years of Liberal rule. His government faced challenges, including a crisis over nuclear weapons, leading to his defeat in the 1963 election.

    Five

    American police officer J.D. Tippit was born on 18 September 1924. When he was 39 years of age he was shot and killed while on duty by a suspect he was questioning regarding an earlier shooting. Who was he shot by?

    Answer: Lee Harvey Oswald

    After the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in Dallas, Texas at 1230 on 22 November 1963, bullet casings were found on the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository, where a rifle owned by Lee Harvey Oswald was discovered. Two employees were missing: one outside watching the motorcade and Oswald, who had been working there for a month. Oswald was seen on the sixth floor before the shooting and encountered by the building superintendent and a policeman afterward. Law enforcement circulated his description. Oswald returned to his boardinghouse, and then left again. At 1:15 pm he was confronted by Dallas policeman J.D. Tippit, whom he shot and killed. Witnesses saw Oswald enter the Texas Theatre, where he was apprehended by police at 1:50 PM.

  • All in a Day

    These questions all relate to people born on September 18th.

    Greta Garbo, 1925.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 18 September 1905, the actress Greta Garbo was born. In which capital city was she born?

    Two

    A Dictionary of the English Language, published 1755, was considered the most famous work of which English writer, poet, playwright and lexicographer who was born 18 September 1709?

    Three

    Dylan Kwabena Mills, born today in 1984, is known professionally as whom?

    Four

    John G. Diefenbaker, who was born on this day in 1895, was the prime minister of which country from 1957 to 1963?

    Five

    American police officer J.D. Tippit was born on 18 September 1924. When he was 39 years of age he was shot and killed while on duty by a suspect he was questioning regarding an earlier shooting. Who was he shot by?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Today—Answers

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

    Robert Altman.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Answer: Robert Altman

    M*A*S*H*, an American war comedy-drama TV series, aired from 1972 to 1983. It follows a team of doctors and support staff at a Mobile Army Surgical Hospital (MASH) during the Korean War. Renowned for its blend of comedy and drama, the show is considered one of the greatest TV series of all time. It was based on Robert Altman’s film, which in turn was adapted from a 1968 novel by Richard Hooker.

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of Bohemia from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his Bohemian kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Answer: Bohemia

    Wenceslas II, King of Bohemia from 1278 and Poland from 1300, ruled successfully after overcoming early challenges. He expanded his influence into Hungary and increased his kingdom’s wealth. He is not the Good King Wenceslas of Christmas carol fame who was St Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia (907–935).

    Anwar Sadat, Jimmy Carter and Menachem Begin (left to right), at Camp David, 1978.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Answers: Menachem Begin and Anwar Sadat

    The Camp David Accords, signed in 1978, were agreements between Israel and Egypt brokered by U.S. President Jimmy Carter. The accords, officially titled the ‘Framework for Peace in the Middle East’, led to a peace treaty between the two countries.

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Answer: The invasion of Great Britain (or United Kingdom)

    Operation Sea Lion was Nazi Germany’s planned invasion of the United Kingdom during World War II. Despite preparations, the invasion was indefinitely postponed due to the German Luftwaffe’s losses in the Battle of Britain.

    Brian Mulroney, Prime Minister of Canada, 1993.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

    Answer: Canada

    Brian Mulroney, a Canadian lawyer and businessman, served as the 18th Prime Minister of Canada from 1984 to 1993. He led the Progressive Conservative Party to a landslide victory in the 1984 federal election and later secured a second majority government in 1988.

  • Today

    Five questions which are all related to today’s date, September 17.

    M*A*S*H (From left) Actors McLean Stevenson, Wayne Rogers, Gary Burghoff, and Alan Alda in a scene from the television series M*A*S*H. 
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    M*A*S*H debuted on television on 17 September 1972. It was based on the 1970 film of the same name, which was directed by whom?

    Two

    The opening paragraph of Encyclopædia Britannica‘s article on Wenceslas II, who was born on this date, is quoted below. What word is missing after ‘king of’?

    Wenceslas II (born Sept. 17, 1271—died June 21, 1305) was the king of … from 1278 and of Poland from 1300 who ably ruled his …n kingdom and spread his influence not only into Poland but also into Hungary.

    Three

    In 1978, the Nobel Prize for Peace was awarded to two leaders who signed the Camp David Accords on 17 September of that year. Name these two leaders?

    Four

    On 17 September 1940, Adolf Hitler postponed Operation Sea Lion. What was the purpose of this operation?

    Five

    Martin Brian Mulroney became prime minister of what nation on this date in 1984?

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

  • The Tide Is High—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    The Admiral Benbow in Penzance, reportedly an inspiration for Stevenson’s Inn.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which 1883 novel begins at an inn called the Admiral Benbow, and who wrote it?

    Answer: Treasure Island, Robert Louis Stevenson

    The Admiral Benbow in Penzance is reportedly an inspiration for Stevenson’s Inn from Treasure Island, although the inn in the story was set in a rural location.

    Two

    Lady Jane Grey’s reign of only nine days came between what two other monarchs?

    Answer: Edward VI and Mary I

    Lady Jane Grey, known as the ‘Nine Days Queen’, was proclaimed Queen of England and Ireland in 1553 after Edward VI’s death. However, her reign was short-lived as Mary I was proclaimed queen just nine days later. Jane was later executed for treason in 1554.

    Three

    Of what ocean is the Bay of Fundy an arm?

    Answer: Atlantic Ocean

    The Bay of Fundy (French: Baie de Fundy) is a bay located between the Canadian provinces of New Brunswick and Nova Scotia, and the US state of Maine. It is an arm of the Gulf of Maine and is renowned for its exceptionally high tidal range, making it the highest in the world.

    Cnidus Aphrodite.
    Marble, Roman copy after a Greek original of the 4th century.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Which ancient goddess of love is a 2010 album by Kylie Minogue named after?

    Answer: Aphrodite

    Aphrodite, the ancient Greek goddess of love, beauty and passion, was associated with various symbols and worshipped in several cult centres. Her origins can be traced back to the Phoenician goddess Astarte and the Sumerian goddess Inanna.

    Five

    What ‘A’, found in perfumes and food, is defined as follows?

    a waxy substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture. — Oxford English Dictionary

    Answer: Ambergris

    Ambergris, used in perfumes like musk, has also been used as a flavouring agent in food and drink, including a favourite dish of King Charles II and in Turkish coffee and hot chocolate.

    ambergris /ˈambəɡriːs , ˈambəɡrɪs /
    ▸ noun [mass noun] a waxy substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.
    – ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French ambre gris ‘grey amber’, as distinct from ambre jaune ‘yellow amber’ (the resin).
    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Mother and baby sperm whale.
    Image Wikipedia

  • The Tide Is High

    Low and high tide.
    Image from Ocean Info.

    I have five random questions for you today. They’re unrelated to the date or each other.

    One

    Which 1883 novel begins at an inn called the Admiral Benbow, and who wrote it?

    Two

    Lady Jane Grey’s reign of only nine days came between what two other monarchs?

    Three

    Of what ocean is the Bay of Fundy an arm?

    Four

    Which ancient goddess of love is a 2010 album by Kylie Minogue named after?

    Five

    What ‘A’, found in perfumes and food, is defined as follows?

    a waxy substance that originates as a secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale, found floating in tropical seas and used in perfume manufacture.

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Ring of Fire—Answers

    Chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarctica),
    Deception Island, South Shetland Islands.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    How old, in years, was Stevie Wonder when Little Stevie Wonder – The Twelve Year Old Genius topped the US album charts in 1963?

    • 11
    • 12
    • 13

    Answer: 13

    Stevie Wonder was  13 years 3 months old when his album Little Stevie Wonder – The Twelve Year Old Genius (1963) topped the US charts.
    — Guinness World Records

    Two

    What’s is a species of penguin?

    • Backstrap
    • Bootstrap
    • Chinstrap

    Answer: Chinstrap

    The chinstrap penguin (Pygoscelis antarcticus) is a penguin species that inhabits various islands and shores in the Southern Pacific and the Antarctic Oceans. Its name stems from the narrow black band under its head, which makes it appear as if it were wearing a black helmet. Due to its loud, harsh call, other common names include ringed penguin, bearded penguin, and stonecracker penguin. — Wikipedia

    Three

    Johnny Cash’s family once blocked advertisers using Ring of Fire, what did they want to promote?

    • Pacific ring sea cruises
    • Haemorrhoid preparations
    • Propane gas products

    Answer: Haemorrhoid preparations

    …the 1963 classic “Ring of Fire”, was to be used in a commercial for a haemorrhoid ointment. The Cash family blocked the deal immediately. Johnny Cash’s daughter Rosanne, also a singer, explained that the family would never allow the song to be demeaned in this way. When she hears the lines “And it burns, burns, burns, that ring of fire” she is in no doubt that “it is about the transformative power of love. That is what it will always mean to us”.
    — The Independent

    Four

    Which city was the birthplace of former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir?

    • Kyiv, Ukraine
    • Ljubljana, Slovenia
    • Minsk, Belarus

    Answer: Kyiv, Ukraine

    Meir was born Golda Mabovitch on 3 May 1898 into a Jewish family in downtown Kiev, Ukraine, then part of the Russian Empire. Her parents were Blume Neiditch (died 1951) and Moshe Yitzhak Mabovitch (died 1944), a carpenter. Meir wrote in her autobiography that her earliest memories were of Moshe boarding up the front door in response to rumours of an imminent pogrom. She was named after Blume’s paternal grandmother, Golde. She had two sisters, Sheyna (born 1889) and Tzipke (later known as Clara; born 1902), as well as five other siblings who died in infancy. — Wikipedia

    Five

    It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day is a song which was originally featured in what 1939 film?

    • Beauty and the Beast
    • Gulliver’s Travels
    • Sleeping Beauty

    Answer: Gulliver’s Travels

    “It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day” is a popular song with words by Sammy Timberg & Winston Sharples and music by Al J. Neiburg. It was featured in the animated feature film Gulliver’s Travels in 1939. It was a hit in the UK in 1940 during the Battle of Britain, having been played heavily on BBC radio. — Wikipedia

  • Ring of Fire

    One

    How old, in years, was Stevie Wonder when Little Stevie Wonder – The Twelve Year Old Genius topped the US album charts in 1963?

    • 11
    • 12
    • 13

    Two

    What’s is a species of penguin?

    • Backstrap
    • Bootstrap
    • Chinstrap

    Three

    Johnny Cash’s family once blocked advertisers using Ring of Fire, what did they want to promote?

    • Pacific ring sea cruises
    • Haemorrhoid preparations
    • Propane gas products

    Four

    Which city was the birthplace of former Israeli prime minister Golda Meir?

    • Kyiv, Ukraine
    • Ljubljana, Slovenia
    • Minsk, Belarus

    Five

    It’s a Hap-Hap-Happy Day is a song which was originally featured in what 1939 film?

    • Beauty and the Beast
    • Gulliver’s Travels
    • Sleeping Beauty

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.