Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived. | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    One

    18the Duke of Norfolk wearing parliamentary robes as Earl Marshal in 2022.
    Image Wikipedia

    Which English Duke, the hereditary Earl Marshal, was responsible for arranging Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral and the accession and coronation of King Charles III?

    Answer: (Duke of) Norfolk

    Edward William Fitzalan-Howard’s family connection to the Royal Family is long, with the 3rd Duke of Norfolk being the uncle of both Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard, the second and fifth wives respectively of Henry VII.

    Two

    Jennyanydots, Cats.
    Image alchetron.com

    Jennyanydots features in what musical?

    Answer: Cats

    Jennyanydots, originally a character from T.S Eliot’s poetry collection Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats, later became a character in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical Cats. While she appears lazy during the day, she becomes active at night, ruling mice and cockroaches. In the musical, she leads a tap dancing routine.

    Three

    Mr Incredible and Elastigirl.
    Image Screenrant

    Bob and Helen Parr are a superhero couple known as…

    Answer: Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl

    Parr was the surname of Catherine, the sixth wife of Henry VIII.
    The Incredibles is a 2004 Pixar film about a superhero couple, Mr. Incredible and Elastigirl, who hide their powers to live a quiet suburban life. However, Mr. Incredible’s desire to help people draws the entire family into a confrontation with a vengeful fan. The film received widespread acclaim for its animation, screenplay, and voice acting.

    Four

    Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, 1977 Open Championship, Turnberry.
    Image tomwatson.com

    The 1977 Open Championship, famously remembered for the ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, was held at which Open Championship venue?

    Answer: Turnberry

    The 1977 Open Championship, held at Turnberry, Scotland, was won by Tom Watson by one stroke over Jack Nicklaus. The two golfers, who played together in the final two rounds, separated themselves from the field, leading to the championship being remembered as the ‘Duel in the Sun’.

    Five

    Solitaire (Jane Seymour), Live and Let Die, 1973.
    Image Screenrant

    Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg’s stage name is the same as one of Henry VIII’s wives. In 1973, she played a Bond girl in Live and Let Die. What is her stage name, and what character did she portray in this film?

    Answer: Jane Seymour and Solitaire

    Jane Seymour was also the name of the third wife of Henry VIII,
    Jane Seymour, born Joyce Frankenberg, is a British actress known for roles in film and television, including The Onedin Line and Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman. She has received numerous awards and nominations, including Golden Globes and Emmys, for her performances. Seymour is also a philanthropist, author and designer.

  • Divorced, beheaded, died; divorced, beheaded, survived.

    Portrait of a Lady, perhaps Katherine Howard (1520-1542) c. 1540 Hans Holbein the Younger (1497/8-1543) Image Royal collection Trust

    On 28 July 1540 King Henry VIII of England privately married his fifth wife, Catherine Howard. A few of today’s questions are tenuously linked to this and two are not.

    One

    Which English Duke, the hereditary Earl Marshal, was responsible for arranging Queen Elizabeth II’s state funeral and the accession and coronation of King Charles III?

    Two

    Jennyanydots features in what musical?

    Three

    Bob and Helen Parr are a superhero couple known as…

    Four

    The 1977 Open Championship, famously remembered for the ‘Duel in the Sun’ between Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus, was held at which Open Championship venue?

    Five

    Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg’s stage name is the same as one of Henry VIII’s wives. In 1973, she played a Bond girl in Live and Let Die. What is her stage name, and what character did she portray in this film?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • I Hope Someday You’ll Join Us | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    Born in London Bob Hope’s family emigrated to the United States two months before his fifth birthday. Hope was an American comedian, actor and entertainer with a nearly 80-year career spanning vaudeville, radio, television and USO Tours. He starred in over 50 films, including the Road to … series with Bing Crosby, and hosted the Academy Awards a record 19 times. Hope retired in 1999 and died in 2003 at the age of 100.

    One

    Entertainers Bob Hope and Ann Jillian perform for military personnel at the USO Christmas Tour during Operation Desert Shield.
    Image Wikipedia

    In the 1995 Bob Hope Classic pro-am golf tournament, three United States presidents participated in a team with Bob Hope and professional golfer Scott Hoch. Who were the three presidents who were involved in this event?

    Answer: Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford

    This event marked the first time a sitting president – Clinton – had played during a PGA Tour event and perhaps the first time three presidents had ever played together.
    The Bob Hope Classic, with its long history and association with golf in the Coachella Valley, has featured celebrities like Frank Sinatra and US presidents Eisenhower, Ford, Bush and Clinton. The tournament’s legacy, including Hope’s name, ensures continued charitable donations.

    Two

    Mars taken by Hope. Image Wikipedia

    Which nation launched the Hope probe, an unmanned space exploration probe, on a mission to Mars in 2020?

    Answer: United Arab Emirates

    The Emirates Mars Mission, led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, successfully sent the Hope probe to Mars in 2021. The mission, involving 200 Emirati scientists and engineers, studies Mars’ weather cycles and atmospheric loss, contributing to the UAE’s knowledge-based economy. The UAE became the first Arab country and fifth country to reach Mars.

    Three

    Len Deighton.
    Image spyscape.com

    Hope (1995), a novel in the Faith, Hope and Charity trilogy, is written by whom?

    Answer: Len Deighton

    Bernard Samson, a middle-aged SIS officer, is the central character in Len Deighton’s three trilogies. The plot revolves around his wife Fiona’s defection to East Germany, leaving Bernard to question her loyalty and his own. The first trilogy comprises the books Berlin Game, Mexico Set and London Match. The second trilogy comprises Spy Hook, Spy Line and Spy Sinker. The third and final trilogy comprises Faith, Hope and Charity.

    Four

    1960 Hopestar SM.
    Image Wikipedia

    In which country was the company that began manufacturing the pictured vehicle in 1952 based?

    Answer: Japan

    In 1952 the Hope Jidosha Company in Tokyo (Japan) built a 3-wheeler that had a 7cwt carrying capacity. The vehicle was powered by a 350cc twin-piston 2 stroke engine that provided power to the rear wheels. The Hope Star came with a number of body variations and the company also produced 4-wheeler trucks up until 1962.

    Five

    John Lennon, 1974.
    Image Wikipedia

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will live as one

    The word ‘hope’ appears in this final verse of a 1971 song. Can you identify the song and the singer-songwriter?

    Answer: Imagine – John Lennon

    Imagine, a song by John Lennon, encourages listeners to imagine a world of peace without materialism, borders or religion. The song, co-produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, has been widely praised and covered by over 200 artists. It remains controversial due to its lyrics, particularly the lyric ‘no religion too’.

    Imagine

    (from Imagine: John Lennon soundtrack)

    Imagine there’s no heaven
    It’s easy if you try
    No hell below us
    Above us only sky
    Imagine all the people
    Living for today… Aha-ah…

    Imagine there’s no countries
    It isn’t hard to do
    Nothing to kill or die for
    And no religion, too
    Imagine all the people
    Living life in peace… You…

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will be as one

    Imagine no possessions
    I wonder if you can
    No need for greed or hunger
    A brotherhood of man
    Imagine all the people
    Sharing all the world… You…

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will live as one

    – AZ Lyrics

  • I Hope Someday You’ll Join Us

    British-born comic, actor, and entertainer Bob Hope passed away on July 27, 2003, at the age of 100. All today’s questions relate to the word or name ‘Hope’

    Bob Hope putting in Oval Office watched by US President Richard Nixon.
    Image Die Welt

    One

    In the 1995 Bob Hope Classic pro-am golf tournament, three United States presidents participated in a team with Bob Hope and professional golfer Scott Hoch. Who were the three presidents who were involved in this event?

    Two

    Which nation launched the Hope probe, an unmanned space exploration probe, on a mission to Mars in 2020?

    Three

    Hope (1995), a novel in the Faith, Hope and Charity trilogy, is written by whom?

    Four

    1960 Hopestar SM.
    Image Wikipedia

    In which country was the company that began manufacturing the pictured vehicle in 1952 based?

    Five

    You may say I’m a dreamer
    But I’m not the only one
    I hope someday you’ll join us
    And the world will live as one

    The word ‘hope’ appears in this final verse of a 1971 song. Can you identify the song and the singer-songwriter?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • What’s in a Name | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    One

    George Wendt as Norm Peterson. Image Cheers Fandom

    One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

    Answer: Norm (Hilary Norman Peterson)

    Norm Peterson, a regular at Cheers, is known for his witty remarks and love of beer. His enormous tab at the bar is a running gag, with jokes about its size and his occasional attempts to pay it off. Despite his unemployment, Norm remains the bar’s best customer, receiving a complimentary beer on his birthday.

    Two

    George Clinton, Fourth Vice-President of the United States,
    Portrait by Ezra Ames, 1814.
    Image Wikipedia

    Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

    Answer: George Clinton

    George Clinton was an American soldier, statesman and Democratic-Republican. He served as the fourth vice president, first governor of New York, and holds the record for the second-longest gubernatorial tenure in U.S. history. He was also the first vice-president to die in office, and the first of two to hold office under two consecutive presidents, Thomas Jefferson (1805–1809) and James Madison (1809–1812).

    Three

    Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
    Image Wikipedia

    Best known for an achievement with Norgay in 1953, he later became New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Nepal. What is his first and last name, and where did the 1953 achievement take place?

    Answer: Edmund Hillary, Mount Everest

    Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. He later served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and Ambassador to Nepal, and founded the Himalayan Trust to assist the Sherpa people.

    Four

    Clint Eastwood, 2010.
    Image Wikipedia

    Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

    Answer: Clint Eastwood (Clinton Eastwood)

    Clint Eastwood is an American actor and film director known for his roles in Westerns and action films. He served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1986 to 1988 and has received numerous awards, including four Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.

    Five

    Hilary Mantel, 2020.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

    Answer: Hilary Mantel

    Hilary Mantel was a British writer known for historical fiction, personal memoirs, and short stories. She won the Booker Prize twice for the first and second novels in her Cromwell trilogy, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, and sold over 5 million copies.

  • What’s in a Name

    Hilary Clinton, 2003.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    On July 26, 2016, Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. Today’s questions revolve around people named Hillary, Hilary, or Clinton, whether as a first or last name.

    One

    Cheers logo.
    Image Wikipedia

    One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

    Two

    Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

    Three

    Best known for an achievement with Norgay in 1953, he later became New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Nepal. What is his first and last name, and where did the 1953 achievement take place?

    Four

    Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

    Five

    The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Today’s Firsts | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

    One

    Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya.
    Encyclopædia Britannica

    On July 25, 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya (pictured) made history as the first woman to walk in space. Is this statement true or false?

    Answer: True

    Svetlana Savitskaya, a Russian former aviator and Soviet cosmonaut, made history as the second woman in space in 1982 when she flew aboard Soyuz T-7. She further broke barriers in 1984, becoming the first woman to fly twice and perform a spacewalk on Soyuz T-12.

    Two

    General Grant, 1861.
    Image Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that today, in 1866, in the United States, Brigadier General Bel Riose was the first person to be promoted to General of the Army?

    Answer: False

    On this day, future president Ulysses S. Grant became the first person to be promoted to this rank after the United States Congress passed the necessary legislation authorising it.
    General Bel Riose, a fictional character in Isaac Asimov’s Foundation series, is the last great general of the declining Galactic Empire. In the 1945 novella Dead Hand, Riose targets the Foundation, but is outmanoeuvred by its agents.

    Three

    Cooke and Wheatstone’s five-needle telegraph from 1837.
    Image Wikipedia

    Today in 1837, Abraham Samson and Stewart Cuthbertson successfully demonstrated the first commercial use of an electrical telegraph; this demonstration took place in New York, US. Is this statement true or false?

    Answer: False

    The William Cooke and Charles Wheatstone telegraph, invented in the 1830s, was the first commercial telegraph system. It employed electromagnetic coils to move needles that indicated letters on a board, catering to users who preferred a visual representation over codes. On 25 July 1837, Cooke and Wheatstone demonstrated their telegraph system, with Cooke stationed at Camden Town and Wheatstone at Euston, both London, UK. Wheatstone transmitted the inaugural message, to which Cooke responded.

    Four

    Robert Edwards and Louise Brown celebrating 25 years of in vitro fertilization (IVF).
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Is it true that Louise Joy Brown, the first human born after conception by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), was born in Greater Manchester, UK, on this day in 1978?

    Answer: True

    Louise Joy Brown, born in 1978, was the first human conceived through in vitro fertilisation (IVF) after her parents struggled with infertility. Her sister, Natalie, also conceived through IVF, was the first IVF baby to give birth naturally. In 2010, Robert Edwards, surviving member of the development team, was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine.

    Five

    On this date in 1909, Louis Blériot embarked on a historic flight from Le Touquet, France. This marked the inaugural crossing of the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, with the landing occurring near Hastings, England. Is this true or false?

    Answer: False

    It was correct in a lot of detail, the date, pilot and the English Channel but he did not fly from Le Touquet to Hastings. On 25 July 1909, Louis Blériot became the first person to fly across the English Channel by aeroplane, winning a £1,000 prize from Lord Northcliffe. Despite poor navigation and challenging weather conditions, Blériot successfully completed the 24-mile journey from Les Baraques, near Calais, France, to near Dover Castle, above the cliffs of Dover, England, in just over 30 minutes.

  • Today’s Firsts

    Today’s questions are all about firsts which happened on July 25th. You have simply to decide if each statement is either true or false.

    One

    Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica, 24 July 2025.

    On July 25, 1984, Soviet cosmonaut Svetlana Yevgenyevna Savitskaya (pictured) made history as the first woman to walk in space. Is this statement true or false?

    Two

    Is it true or false that today, in 1866, in the United States, Brigadier General Bel Riose was promoted to General of the Army?

    Three

    Today in 1837, Walter Samson and Stewart Cuthbertson successfully demonstrated the first commercial use of an electrical telegraph; this demonstration took place in New York, US. Is this statement true or false?

    Four

    Is it true that Louise Joy Brown, the first human born after conception by in vitro fertilisation (IVF), was born in Greater Manchester, UK, on this day in 1978?

    Five

    On this date in 1909, Louis Blériot embarked on a historic flight from Le Touquet, France. This marked the inaugural crossing of the English Channel in a heavier-than-air aircraft, with the landing occurring near Hastings, England. Is this true or false?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Ancient Myths continued | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    One

    Avro Vulcan.
    Image Wikipedia

    What former Royal Air Force aircraft is pictured?

    Answer: Vulcan (Avro Vulcan)

    The Avro Vulcan, a jet-powered, tailless, delta-wing bomber, was operated by the RAF from 1956 to 1984. It served as the backbone of the UK’s airborne nuclear deterrent during the Cold War and was later adapted for maritime reconnaissance and aerial refuelling.
    Vulcan, the Roman god of fire, volcanoes, deserts, metalworking and the forge, is often depicted with a blacksmith’s hammer. His Greek counterpart is Hephaestus, and his Etruscan counterpart is Sethlans.

    Two

    King Neptune, SpongeBob SquarePants.
    Image Pinterest

    Can you name a powerful, trident-wielding merman from SpongeBob SquarePants?

    Answer: King Neptune

    In SpongeBob SquarePants King Neptune, a powerful merman god, rules the sea from Atlantis with his wife and son. He is portrayed as arrogant and selfish, but is a fan of Patrick Star, releasing the Star family from trespassing charges and moving his ball to their house.
    In mythology, Neptune, the Roman god of freshwater and the sea, is the counterpart of the Greek god Poseidon. He is associated with horses and horse-racing, and his festival, Neptunalia, is celebrated on July 23rd.

    Three

    Ulysses/Bloomsday Map of Dublin.
    Image Pinterest

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed. A yellow dressinggown, ungirdled, was sustained gently behind him on the mild morning air. He held the bowl aloft and intoned:
    —Introibo ad altare Dei.

    The opening words of a novel are quoted above. What is this work that chronicles the events of a single day, the 16 June 1904?

    Answer: Ulysses

    Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners on 16 June 1904. The novel, published in 1922, parallels the Odyssey and explores themes of antisemitism, sexuality, British rule, Catholicism and Irish nationalism. Bloomsday, celebrated annually on 16 June, commemorates the life of Irish writer James Joyce. The day is named after Leopold Bloom, the protagonist Ulysses, and the events of the novel take place on this date.
    Odysseus (Roman Ulysses), the legendary Greek king of Ithaca, is the hero of Homer’s epic poem, the Odyssey. He is known for his cunning and intelligence, and his ten-year journey home after the Trojan War.

    Four

    Pouring liquid mercury (Hg).
    Image Wikipedia


    Quicksilver is connected to this United States human spaceflight programme (1958–1963): Project…

    Answer: (Project) Mercury

    Quicksilver is defined as ‘the liquid metal mercury’.
    Project Mercury, the first US human spaceflight programme, ran from 1958 to 1963. It conducted 26 flights, six with astronauts, and cost $2.76 billion.
    Mercury is a major Roman god, associated with commerce, communication, travellers and thieves. He is the son of Maia and Jupiter, and is often depicted holding the caduceus, a staff with intertwined snakes.

    Five

    Archaeological Museum in Herakleion. Statue of Isis-Persephone holding a sistrum. Temple of the Egyptian gods, Gortyn. Roman period (180-190 C.E.).
    Image Wikipedia

    PRONE SHEEP

    …can be rearranged to give the name of a daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She was abducted by Hades and became the queen of the underworld. Who is she?

    Answer: Persephone

    In Greek mythology, Persephone, the daughter of Zeus and Demeter, became the queen of the underworld after being abducted by her uncle Hades. Her myth symbolises spring and vegetation, representing the eternal cycle of life and death.

  • Ancient Myths continued

    Today, we’ll have a few more questions about ancient Greek and Roman myth, with each answer featuring an ancient mythical figure.

    One

    Image Wikipedia

    What former Royal Air Force aircraft is pictured?

    Two

    Can you name a powerful, trident-wielding merman from SpongeBob SquarePants?

    Three

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed. A yellow dressinggown, ungirdled, was sustained gently behind him on the mild morning air. He held the bowl aloft and intoned:
    —Introibo ad altare Dei.

    The opening words of a novel are quoted above. What is this work that chronicles the events of a single day, June 16th, 1904?

    Four

    Quicksilver is connected to this United States human spaceflight programme (1958–1963): Project…

    Five

    PRONE SHEEP

    …can be rearranged to give the name of a daughter of Zeus and Demeter. She was abducted by Hades and became the queen of the underworld. Who is she?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.