Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Flying solo

    Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, May 20th.

    Charles Lindbergh’s Spirit of St. Louis airplane, circa late 1920s.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. On 20th May 325, the first council in the history of the Christian church took place. Where did they meet?
      • Constantinople
      • Ephesus
      • Nicaea
    2. Today in 1902, Tomás Estrada Palma became his country’s first President when it gained independence from the United States. Of what country was he president?
      • Aruba
      • Barbados
      • Cuba
    3. On this day in 1498, an explorer’s fleet arrived in India, marking the discovery of a sea route to India from Europe. Who was the explorer?
      • Ferdinand Magellan
      • Fernão do Pó
      • Vasco de Gama

        Two questions with a theme next.

    4. On this day in 1927 Charles Lindbergh took to the skies in the Spirit of St. Loius on the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Where did he take off from?
      • Bar Harbor, Maine
      • Cape Cod, Massachusetts
      • Long Island, New York
    5. Five years after Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart also made history on 20th May 1932. She embarked on the world’s first solo nonstop flight by a female pilot, taking off from Newfoundland, Canada. Where did she land?
      • Derry, Northern Ireland
      • Dumbarton, Scotland
      • Dieppe, France

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • From Paris to Kashyyyk | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    First distribution of the Legion of Honor crosses at the church of Les Invalides on July 14, 1804.
    Jean-Baptiste Debret, Ca. 1812
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
      • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802—The National Order of the Legion of Honour, established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is France’s highest national order of merit, applicable to both military and civil achievements. It is open to all citizens and foreigners, regardless of birth, religion, or rank, and has been maintained by all French governments with minor changes. The order consists of five classes and is led by the President of France as Grand Master. Its insignia includes the head of the Republic and the motto Honour and Country.
        Sam Smith, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
      • Sam Smith—Samuel Smith, an English singer and songwriter, rose to prominence in 2012 with a feature on Disclosure’s Latch. Smith’s song Writing’s on the Wall became the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre, earning Smith a Golden Globe Award and an Academy Award for Best Original Song.
        Map of North America.
        Guillaume Sanson, Rome, 1687.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
      • Northwest Passage—The Northwest Passage (NWP) is a sea lane connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Arctic Ocean. It passes near the northern coast of North America, traversing waterways within the Arctic Archipelago of Canada. Franklin’s search for the Northwest Passage began on May 19, 1845, with two ships, the Erebus and the Terror, carrying 128 men. Last seen in July 1845, their fate remained unknown until 1859 when a search found skeletons and a written account on King William Island. The ships wintered at Beechey Island in 1845-46 and became trapped in ice in Victoria Strait in September 1846. By April 1848, Franklin and 23 others had died, and the remaining 105 survivors deserted the ships, resorting to cannibalism. Postmortems suggested botulism, scurvy and lead poisoning contributed to their decline. In 2014, the Erebus was discovered off King William Island, and in 2016, the Terror was found in Terror Bay, well-preserved and suggesting the crew had prepared for winter before leaving.
        St George’s Chapel, Windsor. St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.
        The Nave is dominated by this Great West Window, often claimed to be the third largest in the UK. The chapel dates from 1475 and is built in the richest Perpendicular Gothic style. The whole building is Cathedral size, at over 315ft (96m) in length.
        Image Jack Pease/Wikipedia
    4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
      • St George’s Chapel—Prince Harry and Meghan Markle married on 19 May 2018 in St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle. The ceremony, officiated by the Archbishop of Canterbury, included elements of African-American culture.
        Peter Mayhew, 2015.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a being from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
      • Peter Mayhew—Peter Mayhew, a British-American actor, is best known for portraying Chewbacca in the Star Wars film series from 1977 to 2015. Born on 19 May 1944 in Barnes, Surrey, Mayhew was diagnosed with gigantism at the age of eight and later developed Marfan syndrome. This genetic tissue disorder caused his peak height to reach 7 feet 3 inches (2.21 m). He was cast as Chewbacca by director George Lucas, who sought a tall actor for the role. He modelled his performance on observing animals at London Zoo and continued working as a hospital orderly during filming.
    Chewbacca.
    Image Star Wars Universe

  • From Paris to Kashyyyk

    Here are a few questions related to today’s date, May 19th.

    Legion of Honour (Légion d’honneur).
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The Légion d’honneur (Legion of Honour), France’s highest order of merit, was established on May 19. Who was responsible for its establishment?
      • Louis XV in 1745
      • Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802
      • Charles de Gaulle in 1945
    2. Born on 19 May 1992, the singer-songwriter of the theme for the 2015 James Bond film Spectre is…
      • Adele
      • Billie Eilish
      • Sam Smith
    3. On 19 May 1845, British explorer John Franklin set out in command of two ships, the Erebus and Terror, on an ill-fated expedition to find what?
      • Northeast Passage
      • Northwest Passage
      • Southeast Passage
    4. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding took place on May 19, 2018, in the UK. Where did they get married?
      • St George’s Chapel
      • St Paul’s Cathedral
      • Westminster Abbey
    5. Born on 19 May 1944, this actor was chosen by George Lucas to play a character from the planet Kashyyyk. Who is he?
      • Anthony Daniels
      • David Prowse
      • Peter Mayhew

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Down by the river | Answers


    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    Volga Delta.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Europe’s largest river delta, the Volga River delta, is mostly in Russia, but part of it extends into which other country?
      • Kazakhstan—The Volga Delta, Europe’s largest river delta, is located in Russia’s Astrakhan Oblast, draining into the Caspian Sea. It spans the Caspian Depression, with its easternmost part extending into Kazakhstan.
        Mississippi River.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. How many US states does the Mississippi River border or pass through?
      • 10—The Mississippi River, originating in Minnesota, flows south for 2,340 miles through or bordering ten states: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Mississippi and Louisiana. It eventually flows into the Gulf of Mexico. The river’s watershed drains 32 US states and two Canadian provinces.
        The steamships Aymoré and Sucre on the Madeira river.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. What river is the major tributary of the Amazon?
      • Madeira—The Madeira River, a major South American waterway, is the largest tributary of the Amazon, accounting for 15% of its water. It is estimated to be 1,450 km long, with the Madeira-Mamoré tributary extending to 3,250-3,380 km.
        River Nile, Cairo.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. The River Nile is formed when its two major tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, meet. In which country does this meeting occur?
      • Sudan—The Nile River has two major tributaries: the White Nile and the Blue Nile. The White Nile, being the longer river, is traditionally considered the headwaters stream. However, the Blue Nile actually contributes 80% of the water and silt below the confluence of the two rivers. The White Nile’s source is still being disputed d discussed. Traditionally, it rises in the Great Lakes region, beginning at Lake Victoria and flowing through Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile begins at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows into Sudan from the southeast. The two rivers meet at the Sudanese capital of Khartoum.
        Yangtze River.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Where is China’s Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, located?
      • Yangtze River—The Yangtze River, the longest in Eurasia and third longest in the world, flows 6,300 kilometres from the Tibetan Plateau to the East China Sea.  Crucial to China’s history, culture, and economy, the Yangtze Delta generates 20% of China’s GDP. However, the river faces environmental challenges such as pollution, siltation, and habitat loss, impacting its diverse ecosystems and endangered species.  Notably, the Three Gorges Dam in China is the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, generating an impressive average of 95 TWh of electricity annually.

  • Down by the river

    Here are a few questions to do with rivers.

    Three Gorges dam locks and bridge.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Europe’s largest river delta, the Volga River delta, is mostly in Russia, but part of it extends into which other country?
      • Azerbaijan
      • Kazakhstan
      • Turkmenistan
    2. How many US states does the Mississippi River border or pass through?
      • 10
      • 16
      • 21
    3. What river is the major tributary of the Amazon?
      • Madeira
      • Madre de Dios
      • Marañón
    4. The River Nile is formed when its two major tributaries, the Blue Nile and the White Nile, meet. In which country does this meeting occur?
      • Egypt
      • Sudan
      • Uganda
    5. Where is China’s Three Gorges Dam, the world’s largest hydroelectric power station, located?
      • Yangtze River
      • Yellow River
      • Yuan River

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • WYSIWYG part deux | Answers

    “Swalk” written on envelope in 1942.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Often found written on the black of an envelope, what does S.W.A.L.K. mean? Sealed With A Loving Kiss—During World War II, postal acronyms were first used to convey messages between servicemen and their loved ones back home. These acronyms were often written on the back of envelopes.
      Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) Logo.
      Image CND
    2. The initialism CND refers to which British peace organisation? Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament—The Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament advocates for unilateral nuclear disarmament by the UK, international disarmament and stricter arms regulations. It opposes military action involving nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and the construction of nuclear power stations in the UK.
      NATO Logo.
      Image Wikipedia
    3. The acronym NATO refers in full to the… North Atlantic Treaty Organisation—NATO is a military alliance of 32 member states, implementing the North Atlantic Treaty. It operates as a collective security system, defending member states against attacks.
      The original Qantas Office, Longreach, Queensland.
      Vintage photographic print, Sir Hudson Fysh papers, ca.1817-1974.
      Image NSW Gov Archives / Wikipedia
    4. The acronym Qantas derives from the name of a company founded in 1920. What was the company name that Qantas spells out? Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services—’Limited’, which was the final word in that original company name, does not form part of the acronym. Qantas is the flag carrier, the International airline of Australia, and the largest airline in Australia and Oceania; serving all seven continents from its hubs in Sydney, Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane. Founded in 1920, it is the oldest airline in the English-speaking world and operates over 60 domestic destinations.
      A U.S. Navy Sikorsky SH-3H Sea King helicopter from Helicopter Antisubmarine Squadron 15 (HS-15) Red Lions lowers its AN/AQS-13 sonar.
      Image Wikipedia
    5. The acronym SONAR means what? SOund Navigation And Ranging—Sonar, or sound navigation and ranging, uses sound waves to navigate, measure distances and detect objects underwater. It can be passive, listening for sounds, or active, emitting pulses and listening for echoes. The technique has a long history, dating back to Leonardo da Vinci in 1490.

    “If you cause your ship to stop and place the head of a long tube in the water and place the outer extremity to your ear, you will hear ships at a great distance from you.”

    — Leonardo da Vinci, 1490.
    From Sonar in the Sea Services By Lieutenant Commander Thomas J. Cutler, U.S. Navy (Retired), April 2020. U.S. Naval Institute.

  • WYSIWYG part deux


    Here are a few more questions about acronyms and initialisms. You don’t have multiple choices today; you need to provide your own answer. What words decipher these groups of initials?

    “Swalk” written on envelope in 1942.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Often found written on the black of an envelope, what does S.W.A.L.K. mean?
    2. The initialism CND refers to which British peace organisation?
    3. The acronym NATO refers in full to the…
    4. The acronym Qantas derives from the name of a company founded in 1920. What was the company name that Qantas spells out?
    5. The acronym SONAR means what?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • WYSIWYG | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    FLOTUS— First Lady Melania Trump’s Official White House Portrait.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. What seven words in computing does the post title WYSIWYG stand for?
      • What You Sde Is What You Get—the Oxford English Dictionary defines WYSIWYG as “denoting the representation of text on-screen in a form exactly corresponding to its appearance on a printout.”
    2. FLOTUS, seven letters which mean…
      • First Lady of the United States, traditionally the president’s wife, serves as the White House hostess and has evolved to influence politics, social causes, and public opinion. Melania Trump is the current First Lady.
    3. AWOL means…
      • Absent without leave—With regard to military personnel, being absent from where one should be; missing from ones post but with no intention of deserting.
        NASA, official logo.
        Image NASA
    4. NASA is the…
      • National Aeronautics and Space Administration—NASA, established in 1958, is a US federal agency responsible for the country’s civil space programme, aeronautics research and space research. It has led numerous space exploration programmes, including the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle, and currently supports the International Space Station and the Artemis programme.
    5. SCUBA means…
      • Self-Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus—Scuba, originally SCUBA, is any self-contained underwater breathing apparatus. It’s a source of breathing gas used for underwater diving, which the diver carries with them.
    Scuba driver.
    Image Wikipedia

  • WYSIWYG

    Image Pinterest


    Here are a few questions about acronyms and initialisms. You don’t have multiple choices today; you need to provide your own answer. What words decipher these groups of initials?

    1. What seven words in computing does the post title WYSIWYG stand for?
    2. FLOTUS, seven letters which mean…
    3. AWOL means…
    4. NASA is the…
    5. SCUBA means…

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • On top of the world | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

    Baily’s beads. The effect is also called the diamond ring and is a feature of total and annular solar eclipses. As the Moon covers the Sun during a solar eclipse, the rugged topography of the lunar limb allows beads of sunlight to shine through in some places while not in others. Image Wikipedia
    1. On 15 May 1836, Francis Baily observed a phenomenon, now known as Baily’s beads, during what event?
      • Solar eclipse—During a solar eclipse, Baily’s beads, named after Francis Baily who observed them in 1836, occur when sunlight shines through the Moon’s uneven edge, creating a ring of light with beads. The diamond ring effect happens when only one or two beads remain.
    2. On this day nylon stockings first became available for the general public in the United States. In what year did this take this take place?
      • 1940—Nylon stockings were first made available to the general public, and American stores sold out within days.
        Sherpa Tenzing Norgay.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. The mountaineer who conquered Mount Everest with Edmund Hillary was possibly born on 15 May 1914, what was he commonly known as?
      • Sherpa Tenzing—Tenzing Norgay, a Nepali-Indian Sherpa mountaineer, along with Edmund Hillary, was the first to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. He was named one of the 100 most influential people of the 20th century.
        Mickey Mouse Plane Crazy.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. Mickey Mouse’s debut was made today in 1928 with the premiere of what cartoon?
      • Plane Crazy—Plane Crazy, the first Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse film, was originally a silent film released in 1928. After the success of Steamboat Willie, it was officially released as a sound cartoon in 1929. The plot sees Mickey trying to imitate Charles Lindbergh‘s flying achievements.
        Old Mormon Fort.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Las Vegas was founded on 15 May 1905. What historic site stands at the intersection of Las Vegas Boulevard and Washington Avenue?
      • Old Mormon Fort—Old Las Vegas Mormon Fort State Historic Park contains the Old Mormon Fort, the first permanent structure built in Las Vegas. The fort, built in 1855, was a midpoint between Salt Lake City and Los Angeles, later occupied by the U.S. Army and renamed Fort Baker.