Quizology Online

In My Life—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Although spread over several centuries these questions are all related to today’s date, December 8th.

One

John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).

Answer: Here Today

Composed as a heartfelt tribute to John Lennon, this song expresses the emotions Paul felt he couldn’t fully convey to him during their time together. It’s structured as an imagined conversation exploring their affection, regret and complex friendship. McCartney performs it frequently at concerts as a dedicated moment for Lennon. McCartney featured on George Harrison’s tribute song All Those Years Ago (1981) alongside Ringo Starr on drums. McCartney, Linda and Denny Laine provided backing vocals.
The post title In My Life is a Beatles song from their 1965 album Rubber Soul.

Two

The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?

Answer: 1660s (1660)

Margaret Hughes, also known as Peg Hughes, is widely regarded as the first professional actress to appear on the English stage. She made theatre history on 8 December 1660 when she played Desdemona in Othello, a landmark moment that signalled a major shift in Restoration-era drama, as women began performing publicly for the first time. Anne Marshall, another pioneer, is also sometimes credited with being the actress to appear on this date.

Three

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?

Answer: 1540s (1542)

Mary, Queen of Scots, ascended to the throne at six days old. After marrying Francis, Dauphin of France, she became queen consort of France until his death. Returning to Scotland, her reign was marked by religious and political turmoil, culminating in her forced abdication and imprisonment. Seeking refuge in England, she was perceived as a threat to Elizabeth I and executed after being found guilty of plotting against her.

Four

In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?

Answer: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed in 1991 by Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, replacing the USSR. There were eventually twelve former Soviet republics as members, including the Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; and the Transcaucasian republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; and Moldova. Notably, the former Soviet republics in the Baltic area—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—declined to join the CIS.

Five

…an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture

—Encyclopædia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/on-this-day/December-8

Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?

Answer: The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American war drama film about three Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are changed by the Vietnam War. The film, directed by Michael Cimino, received critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

In My Life

Although spread over several centuries these questions are all related to today’s date, December 8th.

One

John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).

Two

The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?

Three

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?

Four

In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?

Five

…an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture

—Encyclopædia Britannica

Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Show the Flag—Answers

Today’s first question concerns an event on December 7th, illustrated by a flag. The rest of the questions follow the flag theme.

One

This image depicts the flag of the first state to ratify the US Constitution on 7 December 1787. Can you identify the state and its capital?

Answer: Delaware and Dover

Delaware, the second-smallest US state, is located in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions. It is bordered by Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Atlantic Ocean. Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, earning it the nickname ‘The First State’.

Two

What is the official three-word English name of this country, and what countries does it border?

Answer: Bhutan, and (bordered by) China and India

Bhutan, a landlocked country in South Asia, is a democratic constitutional monarchy with a population of over 727,145. It is known for its diverse wildlife, including the Himalayan takin and golden langur, and its highest peak, Gangkhar Puensum. Bhutan has a rich history, having never been colonised, and is a founding member of several international organisations.

Three

Which two islands are represented by these three-legged flags and in which seas are they found respectively?

Answer: Isle of Man and Sicily; Irish Sea and Mediterranean Sea

The triskelion, an ancient motif of three spirals or triplicate patterns, has roots in European Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts. It became associated with Sicily in the Hellenistic period and later appeared in heraldry, notably on the flags of Sicily and the Isle of Man.

Four

Flag of Northern Territory, Australia.
Image Wikipedia

What sub-national state or territory does this flag represent, and what is that state or territory’s capital city?

Answer: Northern Territory (Australia), and Darwin

The Northern Territory (NT) is an Australian internal territory located in the central and central-northern regions. It’s sparsely populated with a population of 260,400. Its economy is primarily driven by mining and petroleum. Darwin, the largest population centre, accounts for approximately 52.6% of the Territory’s population.

Five

What is the official four-word English name of the country represented by this flag, and what is its capital city?

Answer: Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and Georgetown

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America. It is the only country in mainland South America with English as its official language and is part of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Guyana’s economy has been transforming since the discovery of crude oil in 2015, with its economy growing by 49% in 2020.

Show the Flag

Today’s first question concerns an event on December 7th, illustrated by a flag. The rest of the questions follow the flag theme.

One

This image depicts the flag of the first state to ratify the US Constitution on 7 December 1787. Can you identify the state and its capital?

Two

What is the official three-word English name of this country and what countries does it border?

Three

Which two islands are represented by these three-legged flags and in which seas are they found respectively?

Four

What sub-national state or territory does this flag represent, and what is that state or territory’s capital city?

Five

What is the official four-word English name of the country represented by this flag, and what is its capital city?

Good luck! As usual I will post it answers later.

December 6th—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions which were posted earlier.

All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

One

In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

Answer: Venezuela

Hugo Chávez was a Venezuelan politician and revolutionary who served as president from 1999 until his death in 2013. He founded the Fifth Republic Movement and later the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, implementing social reforms and nationalising industries as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. While his policies initially improved poverty and social welfare, they also led to economic instability and shortages.

1897 Bersey Electrical Cab, British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
Image Wikipedia

Two

In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

Answer: London, United Kingdom

The first of these motorised cabs were electric-powered vehicles, nicknamed ‘Hummingbirds’ due to the quiet sound of their electric motors. A fleet of these cabs, designed by Walter C. Bersey, was introduced on 19 August 1897, and officially licensed by 6 December of the same year. However, London had a system for licensed horse-drawn carriages (known as “hackney carriages”) much earlier, with the first official licences issued in 1662. The 1897 date specifically marks the introduction and licensing of motorised, rather than horse-drawn, cabs.

Three

In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?

Answer: The Rolling Stones

The Altamont Speedway Free Festival in California was a counterculture rock concert intended as a thank-you to fans by The Rolling Stones. However, the event turned deadly when a security guard, a member of the Hell’s Angels, fatally stabbed Meredith Hunter. Marred by violence and three accidental deaths, the festival is often remembered as a dark ending to the 1960s counterculture.

Four

In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

Answer: Nefertiti

Nefertiti, queen of Egypt and wife of King Akhenaton, played a prominent role in the cult of the sun god Aton. She bore six daughters, two of whom became queens, and is depicted in early images accompanying her husband and later usurping kingly privileges in religious rituals. The sculpture later went on display in a Berlin museum, and it became a source of controversy as an alleged plundered artefact.

Five

On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene. Can you name the book and its author?

Answer: Ulysses by James Joyce

Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, parallels Homer’s Odyssey and chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners—Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom and Molly Bloom—on 16 June 1904, representing Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope. Published in Paris in 1922, the novel is considered a classic of modernist literature, known for its experimental style, rich characterisation, and exploration of themes like antisemitism, human sexuality and Irish nationalism.

December 6th

All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

One

In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

Two

In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

Three

Four

In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

Five

On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene. Can you name the book and its author?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Steamboat Willie—Answers

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

These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

Walt Disney’s business envelope featured a self-portrait, c. 1921.
Image Wikipedia

One

Walt Disney was born on December 5, 1901, in Chicago, this visionary American producer created a global entertainment empire that truly began with a mouse. What was that mouse originally going to be called?
A. Maxwell Mouse
B. Meredith Mouse
C. Mortimer Mouse

Answer: C. Mortimer Mouse

The mouse was originally called Mortimer Mouse but Lillian Disney, Walt’s wife, suggested Mickey. Disney received a record 59 Oscar nominations and won 22 competitive Academy Awards – still the most for any individual in history.

The post title Steamboat Willie is a nod to Mickey. It is the title of what was Mickey’s third film, which was the first to be distributed and so considered to be his public debut.

Two

Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
A. Pope Alexander VI
B. Pope Julius II
C. Pope Innocent VIII

Answer: C. Pope Innocent VIII

The bull later helped legitimise Malleus Maleficarum (1487), one of the most notorious witch-hunting manuals of the era.

Three

Which modern television series featured the Great Smog of London as the central focus of a Season 1 episode, portraying the political and social impact of the 1952 crisis?
A. Downton Abbey
B. The Crown
C. Call the Midwife

Answer: B. The Crown

The Great Smog has also inspired satirical and fictional treatments—including a Goon Show episode in 1954 and the Doctor Who audio drama The Creeping Death, both of which use the choking fog as a dramatic backdrop.

Four

Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
A. F.W. Murnau
B. Sergei Eisenstein
C. Fritz Lang

Answer: C. Fritz Lang

Lang fled Nazi Germany the same day he was offered a high-ranking propaganda role, later becoming influential in shaping American film noir.

Five

On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
A. Sitiveni Rabuka
B. Frank Bainimarama
C. Epeli Nailatikau

Answer: B. Frank Bainimarama

Bainimarama later served as Fiji’s elected prime minister from 2014 to 2022, overseeing the country’s return to democratic elections.

Steamboat Willie

These questions all relate to today’s date, December 5th.

One

Two

Which pope issued the 1484 papal bull Summis desiderantes affectibus, condemning witchcraft and empowering inquisitors in Germany?
A. Pope Alexander VI
B. Pope Julius II
C. Pope Innocent VIII

Three

Four

Born in Vienna, which director known for visually striking films such as Metropolis and M became one of the major figures in early cinema?
A. F.W. Murnau
B. Sergei Eisenstein
C. Fritz Lang

Five

On December 5, 2006, which military commander declared himself acting president of Fiji after leading a coup?
A. Sitiveni Rabuka
B. Frank Bainimarama
C. Epeli Nailatikau

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

All at Sea—Answers

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

Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

One

When the Mary Celeste was found drifting and abandoned on 4 December 1872, which everyday object—left untouched—helped show the ship had not been ransacked by pirates?
A. The ship’s telegraph terminal
B. A basketball
C. A sewing machine

Answer: A. The ship’s sewing machine

Its presence in perfect condition suggested the crew left suddenly rather than under attack, since pirates would never have ignored valuable portable items.

Two

After HMS Resolute was abandoned in Arctic ice in 1854, how did the United States symbolically return the vessel to Britain after it was recovered?
A. By selling it back to Britain at auction
B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria
C. By towing it to Canada and scuttling it ceremonially

Answer: B. By sailing it back and gifting it to Queen Victoria

Timbers from the ship were later made into the Resolute desk, used by many U.S. Presidents—an enduring symbol of Anglo-American friendship.

Three

What key items were missing when the abandoned Carroll A. Deering was found aground on Diamond Shoals in 1921?
A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment
B. All cargo and provisions
C. The entire foremast

Answer: A. The ship’s logbook and navigation equipment

The loss of these items intensified the mystery, especially because the vessel was otherwise intact in the dangerous waters of the ‘Graveyard of the Atlantic’.

Four

Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
A. Australia
B. Belize
C. Canada

Answer: A. Australia

The yacht which was travelling from Queensland to Perth, Western Australia via the north of Australia was found with food set out and the engine running, sparking comparisons to the Mary Celeste because no sign of struggle or storm damage was present.

Five

SS Baychimo became a ‘wandering ghost’ of the Arctic, remaining adrift and being seen numerous times after being abandoned in 1931. For how many years did sightings continue?
A. 18 years
B. 28 years
C. 38 years

Answer: C. 38 years

Sighted intermittently for almost four decades, the Baychimo was finally lost to history—its last confirmed appearance occurring in 1969 when frozen in ice.

All at Sea

Today’s questions focus on abandoned boats and ships. The first question centres on the Mary Celeste, discovered abandoned on December 4th, 1872.

One

Two

Three

Four

Which country was the ghost yacht Kaz II navigating around when it departed from Airlie Beach before its three-man crew mysteriously disappeared in 2007?
A. Australia
B. Belize
C. Canada

Five

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