Quizology.Online

A Serious Pursuit of the Trivial

  • Cars, boats and telegraphy

    Here are some questions relating to today, 25 April.

    See #1. The first automobile license plate issued in the State of Minnesota, 1903.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. On 25 April 1901, New York became the first US state to mandate license plates with a law ordering automobiles and motorcycles to display “the separate initials of the owner’s name placed upon the back thereof in a conspicuous place.” But where was the first place to legally require a registration or licence plate?
      • Belgium
      • France
      • United Kingdom
    2. Today in 1859, construction of the Suez Canal officially began. How many countries does it pass through?
      • One
      • Two
      • Three
    3. Today in 1959, exactly 100 years after work began on the Suez Canal (see #2 above), the Saint Lawrence Seaway opened, completing the link from the Atlantic Ocean to the Great Lakes and allowing ocean-going ships to reach the westernmost point of Lake Superior. What distance is the westernmost point of Lake Superior from the Atlantic Ocean?
      • 1,230 miles/1,979 km
      • 1,785 miles/2,873 km
      • 2,340 miles/3,766 km
    4. On this day in 1874, a physicist and Nobel Prize laureate (Physics, 1909) was born. He invented a successful system of radio telegraphy. Who was he?
      • Alessandro Volta
      • Enrico Fermi
      • Guglielmo Marconi
    5. On 25 April 1990, Violeta Barrios de Chamorro became Central America’s first female president. What country was she president of?
      • Guatemala
      • Honduras
      • Nicaragua

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • A Star is Born | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below.

    Poster for A Star is Born.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Barbra Streisand, who was born on 24 April 1942, starred in the 1976 iteration of A Star is Born (1976). How often, up to April 2025, has the film been made?
      • Four times—A Star is Born has been made four times. The original film, released in 1937, starred Janet Gaynor and Fredric March and was directed by William A. Wellman. It was followed by a 1954 remake starring Judy Garland and James Mason, directed by George Cukor. Streisand starred with Kris Kristofferson in the 1976 remake, directed by Frank Pierson. The fourth film, released in 2018, starred Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, who also directed it.
        Tuthmosis III basalt statue in Luxor Museum.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. On this day in 1479 BCE, Thutmose III ascended to the throne of…
      • Egypt—Thutmose III, the fifth pharaoh of the 18th Dynasty, ruled Egypt from around 1479 to 1425 BC. Known as the “Napoleon of Egypt,” he led many successful military campaigns, expanding Egypt’s empire, creating its navy and conquering all of Syria. He crossed the Euphrates to defeat the Mitannians and penetrated south along the Nile River to Napata in Sudan. Thutmose III was a skilled warrior who brought the Egyptian empire to its zenith and built numerous temples and monuments to commemorate his achievements.
        Pope Benedict XVI.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Joseph Ratzinger was installed as Pope on 24 April. What papal name did he choose?
      • Benedict XVI—Benedict XVI—born Joseph Ratzinger— served as head of the Catholic Church from 2005 to 2013. During his tenure, he faced challenges such as declining vocations, church attendance and the sexual abuse scandal. A prominent theologian, he advocated for traditional Catholic values and revived several church traditions. Benedict resigned due to age-related health concerns, becoming the first pope to do so since 1415.
        Francis II of France and Mary, Queen of Scots, aged 14 and 15 respectively.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. On April 24, 1558, fifteen-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, was married. Where did the wedding take place?
      • Notre-Dame de Paris, France—Mary, Queen of Scots, married Francis, Dauphin of France, at Notre-Dame de Paris in 1558 in a political alliance between Scotland and France, orchestrated by her mother, Mary of Guise, to strengthen their bond. Mary was sent to France at the age of five to be raised at the court of King Henry II, where she grew up to be a Frenchwoman, excelling in hunting, dancing and languages. At 15, she married Francis, the eldest son of Henry and Catherine, in a political union between France and Scotland.
        Portrait of Anthony Trollope by Samuel Laurence, c.1864
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Born on 24 April 1815, this English novelist, essayist and short story writer is credited with introducing Britain’s ubiquitous pillar box (mail box). Who is he?
      • Anthony Trollope—The first British wayside letter boxes were introduced in the Channel Islands in 1852 to address mail collection issues due to irregular sailing times. Designed by Anthony Trollope, the cast iron pillar boxes were an instant success, though initially, they faced rainwater ingress problems.

  • A Star is Born

    Barbra Streisand.
    Image Wikipedia

    Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 24 April.

    1. Barbra Streisand, who was born on 24 April 1942, starred in the 1976 iteration of A Star is Born (1976). How often, up to April 2025, has the film been made?
      • Twice
      • Three times
      • Four times
    2. On this day in 1479 BCE, Thutmose III ascended to the throne of…
      • China
      • Egypt
      • Mesopotamia
    3. Joseph Ratzinger was installed as Pope on 24 April. What papal name did he choose?
      • Adrian VI
      • Benedict XVI
      • Clement X
    4. On April 24, 1558, fifteen-year-old Mary, Queen of Scots, was married. Where did the wedding take place?
      • Iona Abbey, Isle of Iona, Scotland
      • Notre-Dame de Paris, France
      • St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh, Scotland
        British pillar box.
        West Gate, Warwick, Warwickshire, England. (1856 type).
        Image Wikipedia
    5. Born on 24 April 1815, this English novelist, essayist and short story writer is credited with introducing Britain’s ubiquitous pillar box (mail box). Who is he?
      • Charles Dickens
      • Anthony Trollope
      • Rudyard Kipling

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Three Kings | Answers

    Here, in bold, are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    April.

    Flag of Eritrea.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
      • Eritrea—Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea, gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a nearly 30-year war. It is a multi-ethnic nation with nine recognised ethnic groups, primarily Tigrinya and Tigre, and is one of the least developed countries globally. Eritrea is a unitary one-party presidential republic, and its capital and largest city is Asmara.
        Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
      • Memphis, Tennessee—Martin Luther King Jr., a leading civil rights figure, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968, leading to widespread riots. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, initially pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison but later recanted, alleging a conspiracy. The King family also believes the assassination was part of a government conspiracy.
        Battle of Clontarf [1014] by Hugh Frazer, 1826.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
      • Ireland—The Battle of Clontarf, fought on 23 April 1014 near Dublin, was a significant conflict between Brian Boru’s Irish forces and a coalition of Leinster, Dublin, and Vikings. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, including the deaths of Brian, his son, and grandson, as well as the opposing leaders, the battle marked a turning point in the decline of Viking power in Ireland and solidified Brian’s legacy as a prominent figure in Irish history.

        Drink Coca-Cola 5¢”, an 1890s advertising poster.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
      • Coca-Cola—In April 1985, Coca-Cola introduced a new flavour, New Coke, to combat declining market share, following a formula developed through taste tests. Despite initial taste tests showing most consumers preferred New Coke over both the original Coke and Pepsi, the company faced significant public backlash due to nostalgia for the original taste. Consequently, Coca-Cola reverted to the original formula on 10 July 1985, marketing it as Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke continued to be available, was renamed Coke II in 1992, and was eventually discontinued in 2002.
        Ethelred the Unready, circa 968-1016. Illuminated manuscript, The Chronicle of Abindon, c.1220. MS Cott. Claude B.VI folio 87, verso, The British Library.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
      • Ethelred the Unready—Ethelred II, known as Ethelred the Unready— was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death in 1016. His 37-year reign, the longest of any Anglo-Saxon English king, was marked by conflict with the Danes, including the St Brice’s Day massacre and the Danegeld tribute. As an ineffectual ruler, he failed to prevent Danish invasions, leading to distrust, disloyalty, and failed attempts to buy peace, ultimately resulting in his exile in 1013.

  • Three Kings

    Here are a few questions related to today’s date, 23 April.

    Flag of Eritrea.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
      • Eritrea
      • South Sudan
      • Eswatini
    2. On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
      • Montgomery, Alabama
      • Memphis, Tennessee
      • Macon, Georgia
    3. Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
      • Ireland
      • Scotland
      • Wales
    4. On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
      • Budweiser
      • Coca-Cola
      • McDonald’s
    5. On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
      • Ethelred the Unready
      • Ethelred the Unsteady
      • Ethelred the Unwieldy

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Voyage of Discovery | Answers

    The answers to the questions I posted earlier are shown in bold below.

    Flag of Brazil.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. On 22 April 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, is credited as the first European to reach…
      • Brazil—Portuguese explorer Pedro Álvares Cabral sighted the mainland of South America near the present-day city of Pôrto Seguro, Brazil.
        Blue Marble photograph taken by the crew of Apollo 17.
        Image NASA/Wikipedia
    2. Earth Day was first celebrated today in…
      • 1970—Earth Day, celebrated annually on 22 April, is a global event that honours environmental achievements and promotes sustainability. It originated in the US in 1970, organised by Gaylord Nelson and Denis Hayes, involving 20 million Americans and leading to significant environmental legislation. Today, it is observed worldwide with various activities addressing environmental concerns like climate change, involving a billion people in over 193 countries, with notable milestones such as the signing of the Paris Agreement in 2016.
        The First German Gas Attack at Ypres by William Roberts.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Where was modern chemical warfare initiated on 22 April 1915?
      • Belgium—Chemical weapons have a long history, dating back to ancient times when warring forces poisoned water supplies. However, they became true weapons of mass destruction during World War I with the introduction of modern chemical warfare by the German army by launching a chlorine attack at Ypres, Belgium, on 22 April 1915, killing 5,000 French and Algerian troops.
        Vladimir Nabokov.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. All of these Americans were born on 22 April, but who was born first?
      • Vladimir Nabokov, author—was born in 1899; Oppenheimer, 1904, and Nicholson, 1937. Vladimir Nabokov, a Russian-born American novelist and critic, wrote in both Russian and English, achieving international acclaim for his English-language works such as Lolita and Pale Fire.
        Hernán Cortés.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. On this day in 1519, a Spanish conquistador established a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico. Who was he?
      • Hernán Cortés—a Spanish conquistador, led an expedition from 1519 to 1521 that overthrew the Aztec Empire in Mexico, bringing much of mainland Mexico under Spanish rule. He strategically allied with local tribes, particularly the Tlaxcaltecs, who resented Aztec dominance, and used a native interpreter to aid his efforts. Despite defying orders from the governor of Cuba, Cortés’s leadership and the Aztecs’ internal conflicts resulted in the conquest of Tenochtitlán in 1521. For his achievements, he was awarded the title of marqués del Valle de Oaxaca.

  • Voyage of Discovery

    Here are a few questions relating to today, 22 April.

    Pedro Álvares Cabral.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. On 22 April 1500, Pedro Álvares Cabral, a Portuguese navigator, is credited as the first European to reach…
      • Brazil
      • Mozambique
      • Sri Lanka
    2. Earth Day was first celebrated today in…
      • 1970
      • 1980
      • 1990
    3. Where was modern chemical warfare initiated on 22 April 1915?
      • Belgium
      • Egypt
      • Syria
    4. All of these Americans were born on 22 April, but who was born first?
      • Vladimir Nabokov, author
      • Jack Nicholson, actor
      • J. Robert Oppenheimer, physicist
    5. On this day in 1519, a Spanish conquistador established a settlement at Veracruz, Mexico. Who was he?
      • Eugenio Cajés
      • Hernán Cortés
      • Antonio Cortis

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Day 111 | Answers

    The answers to the questions posed earlier are in bold below.

    Lupa Capitolina: she-wolf with Romulus and Remus.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Where was traditionally founded on 21 April 753 BCE?
      • Rome—Archaeological evidence indicates that Rome originated from hilltop villages during the Bronze or Iron Age, while Roman myth attributes its founding to Romulus in 753 BC, who, with his twin, Remus, was raised by a she-wolf. Roman historians connected Rome to Troy through a fictional lineage of kings, culminating in Romulus and Remus, who established Rome after a fratricidal conflict. This narrative, a typical Mediterranean folktale, was adapted to account for Rome’s beginnings and tradition holds that April 21st marked the day Romulus began building Rome, making it the city’s dies natalis—birthday.
        John W. Young on the Moon during Apollo 16 mission jumping about 42 Centimeters high. Charles M. Duke Jr. took this picture. The LM Orion is on the left. April 21, 1972.
        Image NASA/Wikipedia
    2. The Lunar Lander Orion landed on the Moon’s surface today in 1972. This, the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, was which of these?
      • Apollo 16—the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, landed in the Descartes Highlands on the Moon. The crew, Commander John Young, Lunar Module Pilot Charles Duke and Command Module Pilot Ken Mattingly. Young and Duke spent 71 hours on the lunar surface, collecting samples and conducting moonwalks.
        Andrea McArdle, Reid Shelton and Sandy, 1977.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. The original Broadway production of Annie opened on this day in 1977. What is the musical based on?
      • Comic strip—is a musical based on the comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered on Broadway in 1977, winning seven Tony Awards and spawning numerous productions worldwide.
        Brasilia. Image Wikipedia
    4. What planned capital city, designed by a team including Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, was inaugurated today in 1960?
      • Brasilia, Brazil—Brasília, Brazil’s federal capital, was founded in 1960 and is known for its modernist architecture and unique urban planning. It was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1987.
        The Surgeon’s Photo
        Image Wikipedia
    5. The Surgeon’s Photograph, published in the in the UK’s Daily Mail on 21 April 1934, is the most famous photo allegedly showing the…
      • Loch Ness monster—The Loch Ness Monster, or Nessie, is a mythical creature said to inhabit Loch Ness in Scotland. Sightings of a large, long-necked creature have been reported since the 6th century, with the most famous account from 1933. Despite numerous alleged sightings and disputed evidence, the scientific community explains these as hoaxes, misidentifications, or wishful thinking.

    Day 111

    The post title Day 111: 21 April is the 111th day of 2025.

  • Day 111

    See #2. Lunar Module.
    Image Wikipedia

    All of these are questions based on today’s date, 21 April.

    1. Commemorated annually on the 21 April by the festival of the Parilia, where was traditionally founded on this day in 753 BCE?
      • Athens
      • Paris
      • Rome
    2. The Lunar Lander Orion landed on the Moon’s surface today in 1972. This, the tenth crewed US Apollo mission, was which of these?
      • Apollo 14
      • Apollo 15
      • Apollo 16
    3. The original Broadway production of Annie opened on this day in 1977. What is the musical based on?
      • Comic strip
      • Novel
      • German folk tale
    4. What planned capital city, designed by a team including Lúcio Costa and Oscar Niemeyer, was inaugurated today in 1960?
      • Abuja, Nigeria
      • Brasilia, Brazil
      • Canberra, Australia
    5. The Surgeon’s Photograph, published in the UK’s Daily Mail on 21 April 1934, is the most famous photo allegedly showing the…
      • Bigfoot
      • Loch Ness monster
      • Yeti

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Birthdays | Answers

    Supreme Leader Snoke.
    Image Wikipedia
    Andy Serkis.
    Image Wikipedia
    Gollum.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. Born 20 April 1964, this actor, who is best known for motion-capture acting, plays and provides the voice for the computer-generated Supreme Leader Snoke in the Star Wars franchise. Who is he?
      • Andy Serkis—is an English actor and filmmaker renowned for his pioneering work in motion capture, portraying iconic characters such as Gollum, King Kong and Caesar. His performances have earned him critical acclaim, including an Empire Award, two Saturn Awards, nominations for a BAFTA and Golden Globe. In addition to acting, Serkis has directed films like Breathe and Venom: Let There Be Carnage. His portrayal of Gollum in The Lord of the Rings trilogy not only showcased his talent but also significantly influenced the use of motion capture in future films, impacting productions like King Kong and Planet of the Apes.
        Napoleon III, portrait by Xaver Winterhalter.
        Image Wikipedia
    2. Georges-Eugène Haussmann, known as Baron Haussmann, was commissioned in 1853 “to give it air and open space, to connect and unify the different parts of the city into one whole and to make it more beautiful”. Who, born this day in 1808, commissioned Haussmann?
      • Napoleon III—Napoleon III, born Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, was the first president, second emperor and last monarch of France. He seized power in 1851, proclaimed himself Emperor and modernised France through economic reforms, infrastructure development and colonial expansion. His reign ended with his capture by Prussia in 1870.
        Luther Vandross.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Today in 1951, Luther Vandross was born. He was a singer/songwriter who went on to win eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2004 for…
      • Dance With My Father—Luther Vandross, known as the “Velvet Voice”, was an American soul and R&B singer, songwriter and record producer. He achieved eleven consecutive platinum albums and sold over 40 million records worldwide. Vandross won eight Grammy Awards, including Song of the Year in 2004 for Dance With My Father. He died of a heart attack in 2005, aged 54.
        The Hitler birthplace memorial stone, in front of the building where Adolf Hitler was born. The writing on the stone translates as; ” For Peace, Freedom and Democracy. Never Again Fascism. Millions of Dead remind us.”
        Image Wikipedia
    4. Adolf Hitler, the dictator of Nazi Germany from 1933 to 1945, was born on this day in 1889; where was he born?
      • Braunau am Inn—Adolf Hitler, born in Austria-Hungary, led the Nazi Party in Germany and became Chancellor in 1933. His aggressive expansionist policies, including the invasion of Poland and the Soviet Union, led to World War II. Hitler’s regime was responsible for the Holocaust and millions of other deaths, making it the deadliest conflict in history. Hitler championed territorial expansion and racial supremacy.
    5. Who, born on 20 April 1997, is a professional tennis player, the current world No. 3, and the defeated finalist in the 2025 Australian Open?
      • Alexander Zverev—Alexander Zverev is a German professional tennis player, currently ranked world number 3. He has won 23 ATP Tour titles, including a gold medal at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and titles at the 2018 and 2021 ATP Finals.
    Alexander Zverev.
    Image Wikipedia