Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Mr ? Goes to Washington—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Lyndon B. Johnson, 1915.
    Image Wikipedia
    Lyndon B Johnson, 1972.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?

    Answer: Lyndon B Johnson

    Lyndon B Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, served from 1963 to 1969. He assumed the presidency after John F. Kennedy’s assassination and was later elected in a landslide. Johnson’s presidency is remembered for his Great Society programmes, which aimed to expand civil rights, improve healthcare, and combat poverty, but his legacy is also marred by the Vietnam War.

    Two

    On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?

    Answer: 1930s (1939)

    The jet engine, though conceptually ancient, only became practical in the 20th century. Early attempts, like the Caproni Campini N.1 and Tsu-11, were unsuccessful. The breakthrough came with the gas turbine, leading to the development of the turbojet, with Frank Whittle and Hans von Ohain (He178) playing pivotal roles in its creation.

    Three

    The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last?
    1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
    2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes
    3. Between 960 and 990 minutes

    Answer: Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes

    The war lasted no longer than 40 minutes, making it the shortest war in recorded history.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica

    The conflict lasted between 38 and 45 minutes, marking it as the shortest recorded war in history.
    — Wikipedia

    Four

    The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?

    Answer: Mary Poppins

    Mary Poppins, a 1964 American musical film, features Julie Andrews as a magical nanny who transforms a troubled London household.

    Five

    On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve?
    1. 199.96 mph
    2. 273.13 mph
    3. 345.49 mph

    Answer: 345.49 mph

    Captain George Eyston, a British engineer and racing driver, broke the land speed record three times between 1937 and 1939.

  • But soft, what light through yonder window breaks?

    Today, five different questions with a wee bit of a theme running through some of them, though not all.

    Hogwarts Express at Glenfinnan Viaduct. Image HarryPotter.com

    One

    Which turquoise-blue Ford motor car model is depicted as the flying car in the Harry Potter books and films?

    Two

    Tristan da Cunha, an island in the South Atlantic Ocean, has only one settlement. What is its name?

    Three

    What tourist attraction in Verona, Italy, is a fake as the person allegedly connected to it never existed?

    Four

    What building is the official residence of the British Monarch in Scotland?

    Five

    On 10 December 1768, the first edition of which reference work was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Mr ? Goes to Washington

    All are connected to today’s date, August 27th. Two of the questions are multiple choice the other three are not.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Born on 27 August 1908 in Texas, this boy, pictured above in 1915, went on to become the president of the United States. Who is he?

    Two

    On this date, Ernst Heinkel’s He178 turbojet-powered aircraft achieved the historic first jet flight. In which decade did this event occur?

    Three

    The Anglo-Zanzibar War, the shortest war in history, took place on 27 August 1896. How long did the war last?
    1. Between 30 minutes and 60 minutes
    2. Between 510 minutes and 540 minutes
    3. Between 960 and 990 minutes

    Four

    The world premiere of a film adaptation of a book by PL Travers took place on 27 August 1964 in Los Angeles. Which film?

    Five

    On 27 August 1938, at Bonneville Salt Flats, Utah, USA, Captain George E.T. Eyston set a new land speed record. What speed did he achieve?
    1. 199.96 mph
    2. 273.48 mph
    3. 345.49 mph

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Mr Standfast—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, meets HM King Charles III
    at Buckingham Palace. LONDON- UK- 5th May 2023.
    Photo by Ian Jones via Wikipedia

    One

    Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?

    Answer: John Buchan

    John Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician, served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940. He promoted Canadian unity and strengthened the country’s sovereignty. Buchan, who was the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, created the character Richard Hannay.

    Two

    The title of this post, Mr Standfast, is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?

    Answer: (Any of) – The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep

    Hannay appears in several novels as a major character, including:

    He also appears as a minor character in:

    — Wikipedia

    Note, Richard Hannay also appears in some works by other authors.

    Three

    The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.

    Answer: Mary Simon

    Mary Simon, the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, was born in Quebec and previously worked as a broadcaster and diplomat. Her appointment was criticised due to her limited French fluency.

    Four

    The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.

    Answer: (1) 8 Canadian provinces or territories and (2) 13 US states

    Canadian Province or Territory

    Ontario 2,727 km (1,682 mi)
    British Columbia 2,168 km (1,347 mi)
    Yukon 1,244 km (786 mi)
    Quebec 813 km (505 mi)
    Saskatchewan 632 km (393 mi)
    New Brunswick 513 km (318 mi)
    Manitoba 497 km (309 mi)
    Alberta 298 km (185 mi)

    US State

    Alaska 2,475 km (1,538 mi)
    Michigan 1,160 km (721 mi)
    Maine 983 km (611 mi)
    Minnesota 880 km (547 mi)
    Montana 877 km (545 mi)
    New York 716 km (445 mi)
    Washington 687 km (427 mi)
    North Dakota 499 km (310 mi)
    Ohio 499 km (310 mi)
    Vermont 145 km (90 mi)
    New Hampshire 93 km (58 mi)
    Idaho 72 km (45 mi)
    Pennsylvania 68 km (42 mi)

    — Wikipedia

    Alaska, US–Yukon, Canada border.
    Image Fine Art America

    Five

    The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?

    Answer: Beaufort Sea

    The Canadian territory of Yukon shares its entire western border with the U.S. state of Alaska, beginning at the Beaufort Sea at 69°39′N 141°00′Wand proceeding southwards along the 141st meridian west. At 60°18′N, the border proceeds away from the 141st meridian west in a southeastward direction, following the Saint Elias Mountains. South of the 60th parallel north, the border continues into British Columbia
    — Wikipedia

  • Mr Standfast

    Firstly, a question about someone born on August 26th. The rest of the questions are follow-ups to this one.

    One

    Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?

    Two

    The title of this post is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?

    Three

    The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.

    Four

    The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.

    Five

    The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Five for Twenty-five—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Never Say Never Again.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    Who was the actor born on 25 August 1930 who played James Bond in a 1980s film directed by Irvin Kershner?
    Sean Connery
    George Lazenby
    Roger Moors

    Answer: Sean Connery

    Irvin Kershner directed the 1983 non-Eon Productions Never Say Never Again, the seventh and final Bond film starring Sean Connery. The film‘s title referenced Connery’s 1971 declaration that he would never play the role again. The storyline follows Bond as he investigates the theft of nuclear weapons by SPECTRE. It is based on Ian Fleming’s 1961 novel Thunderball, which was originally written by Kevin McClory, Jack Whittingham, and Fleming. The novel had previously been adapted into the 1965 film Thunderball.

    Two

    On 25 August 1916, US President Woodrow Wilson signed the … Act, which established the National Park Service. What word completes the name of the act?
    Operational
    Organic
    Oversight

    Answer: Organic Act

    Stephen Mather, worried about the condition of national parks, was instrumental in founding the National Park Service (NPS) with his assistant Horace Albright through the Organic Act of 1916. They consolidated NPS properties, marketed the parks, and facilitated the establishment of many new parks and monuments. The act sought to preserve and enhance the enjoyment of national parks, monuments, and reservations.

    Three

    On 25 August 1530, Ivan IV Vasilyevich, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was born. He became the Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia. Was he the… person to hold this position. What word completes the previous sentence?
    First
    Fifth
    Fourteenth

    Answer: First

    Ivan the Terrible, first Tsar of Russia, transformed Russia into an empire but at a great cost. His later years were marked by paranoia, violence and the massacre of Novgorod, leading to the end of the Rurik dynasty.

    Four

    On this date in 1825, the Thirty-three Orientals, a revolutionary group, began an insurrection against…
    Benin
    Bhutan
    Brazil

    Answer: Brazil

    The Treinta y Tres Orientales, led by Lavalleja and Oribe, fought for the independence of Oriental Province from Brazil in 1825, leading to the foundation of modern Uruguay.

    Neptune image taken by Voyager 2, August 1989.
    Image NASA via Wikipedia

    Five

    On 25 August 1989, the first human-made object to fly by Neptune made its closest approach to the planet. Which spacecraft was it?
    Viking 1 Voyager 2 Vulcan 3

    Answer: Voyager 2

    Voyager 2 is the only spacecraft to visit Uranus and Neptune. The probe is now in interstellar space, the region outside the heliopause, or the bubble of energetic particles and magnetic fields from the Sun.
    — NASA

  • Five for Twenty-five

    All these questions are related to today, August 25th.

    Yellowstone Lake showing geyser, Yellowstone National Park.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Who was the actor born on 25 August 1930 who played James Bond in a 1980s film directed by Irvin Kershner?
    Sean Connery
    George Lazenby
    Roger Moore

    Two

    On 25 August 1916, US President Woodrow Wilson signed the … Act, which established the National Park Service. What word completes the name of the act?
    Operational
    Organic
    Oversight

    Three

    On 25 August 1530, Ivan IV Vasilyevich, commonly known as Ivan the Terrible, was born. He became the Tsar and Grand Prince of all Russia. Was he the… person to hold this position. What word completes the previous sentence?
    First
    Fifth
    Fourteenth

    Four

    On this date in 1825, the Thirty-three Orientals, a revolutionary group, began an insurrection against…
    Benin
    Bhutan
    Brazil

    Five

    On 25 August 1989, the first human-made object to fly by Neptune made its closest approach to the planet. Which spacecraft was it?
    Viking 1 Voyager 2 Vulcan 3

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Fire from the Earth—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Krakatoa, East of Java.
    Image The Movie DB

    One

    In 1883, a significant volcanic eruption took place in the Sunda Strait. However, a 1968 Hollywood film title incorrectly located the volcano. Which volcano was it, and what was the film’s title?

    Answer: Krakatoa and Krakatoa, East of Java

    Krakatoa is west of Java not east! Apparently the film’s producers thought ‘West’ was more atmospheric than ‘East’. The eruption in 1883 destroyed over 70% of the island and its surrounding archipelago, collapsing into a caldera. The eruption, heard 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometres) away, caused at least 36,417 deaths and had significant global effects.

    Eruption of Kilauea, Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, Hawaii, 1983.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Two

    Which archipelago contains two active volcanoes, one of which, Kīlauea, is considered one of the most active in the world?

    Answer: Hawaiian Islands

    Kilauea, an active shield volcano on Hawaii’s Big Island, is known for its frequent eruptions, notably the Pu’u ‘Ō’ō eruption, which created new land. Located on the island’s southeastern shore, it is between 210,000 and 280,000 years old and emerged above sea level about 100,000 years ago. Kilauea is the most active of the five volcanoes forming the island and among the most active globally. The most recent eruption began in December 2024, continuing into 2025. Historically, it was thought to be a satellite of Mauna Loa. From 2008 to 2018, Halemaʻumaʻu hosted an active lava lake. Eruptions from 1983 to 2018 caused significant property damage, including the destruction of Kalapana and Kaimū in 1990. Since 2020, eruptions have occurred within the enlarged Halemaʻumaʻu crater and along the southwest and east rift zones. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, established in 1961, houses two active volcanoes, Mauna Loa and Kilauea.

    Mount Fuji from the International Space Station.
    Image NASA/Wikipedia

    Three

    In what century was the last eruption of Japan’s Mount Fuji?

    Answer: 18th century (December 16, 1707)

    Mount Fuji, Japan’s highest mountain and a cultural icon, is an active stratovolcano with a symmetrical cone. Situated in central Honshu, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a prominent feature of Fuji-Hakone-Izu National Park.

    Devil’s Tower, Wyoming.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Geologists agree that a geological feature featured in a 1977 Steven Spielberg film began as magma, or molten rock, buried beneath the Earth’s surface. Please name the Spielberg film and identify the geological feature?

    Answer: Close Encounters of the Third Kind and Devils Tower (National Monument, Wyoming)

    Close Encounters of the Third Kind is a 1977 science fiction film by Steven Spielberg about a man whose life changes after a UFO encounter and a single mother whose son is abducted. The film’s climax is at Devil’s Tower. The film was a critical and financial success, grossing over $300 million worldwide and receiving numerous awards and nominations. It was preserved in the National Film Registry and has been released in multiple editions, including a Director’s Cut.

    Hekla and an Icelandic horse.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Known to medieval Europeans as the ‘Gateway to Hell’, Hekla has erupted more than 20 times. In what country is Hekla?

    Answer: Iceland

    Hekla, Iceland’s most active volcano, is characterised by a 3.4-mile-long fissure and has erupted over 20 times since 1104. Its eruptions, including a major one in 1766, have caused significant damage and loss of life.

  • Fire from the Earth

    Mount Vesuvius rising above the ruins of Pompeii.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    August 24th is traditionally believed to be the date of the catastrophic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 CE, which destroyed Pompeii and Herculaneum. Pliny the Younger witnessed and wrote about the eruption, while his uncle, Pliny the Elder, tragically died while on a seaborne rescue effort. Today’s questions are all connected to volcanic activity,

    One

    In 1883, a significant volcanic eruption took place in the Sunda Strait. However, a 1968 Hollywood film title incorrectly located the volcano. Which volcano was it, and what was the film’s title?

    Two

    Which archipelago contains two active volcanoes, one of which, Kīlauea, is considered one of the most active in the world?

    Three

    In what century was the last eruption of Japan’s Mount Fuji?

    Four

    Geologists agree that a geological feature featured in a 1977 Steven Spielberg film began as magma, or molten rock, buried beneath the Earth’s surface. Please name the Spielberg film and identify the geological feature?

    Five

    Known to medieval Europeans as the ‘Gateway to Hell’, Hekla has erupted more than 20 times. In what country is Hekla?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Animal Magic—Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    Hippopotimus cow and calf.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Is it true or false that in 1910, the US Congress debated importing hippopotami as a solution to a national meat crisis?

    Answer: True

    In 1910, the US Congress considered importing hippopotamuses from Africa to address a national meat crisis caused by corporate beef monopolies and rising prices. The proposal, which involved free-ranging hippos in Louisiana, was ultimately rejected.

    Asian palm civet, which is the source of Kopi luwak.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    Kopi luwak, the most expensive coffee in the world, is made by feeding coffee beans to small mammals called lemurs. These lemurs then excrete the undigested beans, which are collected and processed to make the coffee. Is this true or false?

    Answer: False

    Kopi luwak, or civet coffee, is made from coffee cherries eaten and defecated by Asian palm civets in Southeast Asia, particularly Indonesia. However, lemurs are endemic to Madagascar.
    Civets have been subjected to intensive farming, where cages and battery farming methods, including force feeding, have been used.

    Camels in Texas, by Thomas Lovell, courtesy of the Abell-Hanger Foundation and the Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Library and Hall of Fame of Midland, Texas.
    Image The Army Historical Foundation

    Three

    Is it true or false that the US Army used camels in the American West during the mid-19th century?

    Answer: True

    In the 1830s, the US Army struggled with westward expansion due to challenging terrain. In 1855, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis funded an experiment to import camels for military use, led by Major Henry C. Wayne. The expedition brought 33 camels from the Mediterranean to Texas, where they demonstrated superior carrying capacity, speed, and endurance over horses and mules. Despite initial skepticism about their temperament and odour, camels adapted well to the Southwest’s harsh conditions. Although successful, Congress denied further funding, and the Civil War ended the experiment. The camels were sold at auction, eventually being released into the wild.

    Dung beetle rolls the ball of dung with its hind legs.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    African dung beetles can navigate and orient themselves using only the stars in the Milky Way. Is this true or false?

    Answer: True

    African dung beetles can orient themselves to the bright stripe of light generated by our galaxy, and move in a line relative to it. This was witnessed during experiments in South Africa.

    A raft of sea otters.
    Chillin’ by Ray Bulson.
    Image Pinterest

    Five

    Is it true or false that sea otters gather and socialise in groups called rafts?

    Answer: True

    Sea otters, once hunted extensively for their fur, saw their population drop to 1,000–2,000 individuals. Conservation efforts, including an international hunting ban and reintroduction programs, have helped their numbers rebound, allowing them to occupy about two-thirds of their former range. Despite these successes, sea otters remain endangered due to recent regional declines. They often gather in large groups called rafts while resting on their backs.