Quizology.Online

Tag: africa

  • When—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions i posted earlier.

    These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.


    Cartoon depicting Leopold II and other imperial powers at the Berlin Conference of 1884.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

    Answer: 1880s; Leopold II and Belgium

    Belgian King Leopold II established the Congo Free State in 1885, seizing the land as his personal possession. His brutal reign, characterised by forced labour and widespread atrocities, led to international condemnation and the eventual transfer of control to Belgium in 1908.

    Two

    On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

    Answer: 1971; Alan B. Shepard Jr., Stuart A. Roosa or Edgar D. Mitchell

    Apollo 14, the third lunar landing, successfully landed in the Fra Mauro formation after overcoming malfunctions. Shepard and Mitchell collected Moon rocks and deployed experiments, while Roosa orbited the Moon.

    Three

    On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

    Answer: 1850s; Saint Petersburg

    The New Hermitage Museum, part of the larger Hermitage Museum complex in St. Petersburg, was reconstructed between 1840 and 1852 and opened to the public in 1852. The museum is housed within five interconnected buildings, including the Winter Palace and the Small, Old and New Hermitages. The city was founded by Peter the Great in 1703 and named St. Petersburg, which it stayed until 1914 when it became Petrograd to reflect Russian patriotism during World War I by avoiding the German-sounding ‘Petersburg’. In 1924, the name changed to Leningrad in honour of Vladimir Lenin after his death, which it was until 1991 when the city’s population voted to return to the original name.

    Four

    United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

    Answer: 1910s; Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford, Douglas Fairbanks and D. W. Griffith.

    United Artists, founded in 1919, was established to allow actors more control over their own affairs. It was acquired by MGM in 1981 and later revived as United Artists Releasing in 2019. However, Amazon, MGM’s parent company, folded UAR into MGM in 2023. On 26 July 2024, Amazon MGM Studios announced the company’s revival.

    Five

    The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

    Answer: 1900s; Bakelite

    Leo Hendrik Baekeland, a Belgian chemist, invented Velox photographic paper and Bakelite, a versatile plastic, earning him the title ‘The Father of the Plastics Industry’. Bakelite, developed in 1907, became a commercial success due to its mouldability, heat resistance, and electrical nonconductivity. Its creation revolutionised the chemical industry and inspired the development of other synthetic plastics.

  • When

    These questions all relate to today’s date, February 5th. Each question has a year or decade as the first part of the answer, followed by a supplementary question.

    Contemporary cartoon.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    In what decade did a European monarch establish the Congo Free State in West Africa? Who was the monarch, and what was the European country?

    Two

    On this day in what year did Apollo 14 land on the Moon, and name any one of the three astronauts who flew on that mission or all three if you can?

    Three

    On this day, the New Hermitage Museum opened in Russia. In what decade did it open, and what—at that time—was the name of the city it is located in?

    Four

    United Artists, the American film production company, was founded on this day in what decade? Secondly, name any two of the four founders?

    Five

    The creation of the first synthetic plastic was announced on this date. In what decade was this announcement made, and what was the name of this synthetic plastic?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry IV | Answers

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

    Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Dobby, see question two.
    Image Harry Potter Fandom

    One

    In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

    Answer: Wembley Stadium, London and JFK Stadium, Philadelphia

    Live Aid, a benefit concert held simultaneously at Wembley Stadium in London and JFK Stadium in Philadelphia on July 13, 1985, was organised by Boomtown Rats frontman Bob Geldof and Ultravox vocalist Midge Ure. The event attracted an estimated 1.5 billion television viewers and raised millions of dollars for famine relief in Ethiopia.

    Two

    Dobby, the house-elf from Harry Potter, was in the news a couple of years ago when the National Trust asked fans not to leave memorabilia at the site of his grave at Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. What one item associated with Dobby and Harry Potter have fans been leaving?

    Answer: Sock

    Many fans have been leaving a sock for Dobby, referencing the fact that it was a sock Harry Potter used to trick Lucius Malfoy to set the house-elf free. Freshwater West, a ‘Site of Special Scientific Interest’, is home to large grey seals, harbour porpoises, and some of the world’s largest seabird populations. The National Trust asks visitors to leave no trace – no socks included.

    Three

    What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

    Answer: Centaur

    Centaurs, creatures from Greek mythology with the upper body of a human and the lower body of a horse, were known for their wild nature and inhabited various regions in Thessaly and beyond. They also appear in Roman mythology and medieval bestiaries. In modern fiction, centaurs appear in C.S. Lewis’s Chronicles of Narnia and J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter.

    Four

    What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

    Answer: Suspicious Minds

    Mark James’s 1968 song Suspicious Minds initially failed to chart, but Elvis Presley later recorded it, transforming it into a number one hit and earning it a Grammy Hall of Fame induction.

    Five

    An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

    Answer: Idi Amin; Uganda

    Idi Amin, a Ugandan military officer, ruled as a dictator from 1971 to 1979 after overthrowing President Milton Obote. His regime was marked by human rights abuses, economic collapse, and international isolation. Amin, who had become known as ‘The Butcher of Uganda’, was ousted by Tanzanian forces in 1979 and lived in exile until his death in 2003.

  • Gallimaufry IV

    Today, more gallimaufry — ‘a confused jumble or medley of things’.

    Dobby, see question two.
    Image Harry Potter Fandom

    One

    In July 1985, Live Aid was held simultaneously at two venues on either side of the Atlantic. What were the venues?

    Two

    Dobby, the house-elf from Harry Potter, was in the news a couple of years ago when the National Trust asked fans not to leave memorabilia at the site of his grave at Freshwater West Beach, Pembrokeshire, Wales. What one item associated with Dobby and Harry Potter have fans been leaving?

    Three

    What creature, from Greek mythology, is being described here: ‘a creature with the head, arms, and torso of a man and the body and legs of a horse’?

    Four

    What song opens ‘We’re caught in a trap, I can’t walk out’?

    Five

    An African dictator who was in office as the President between January 1971 and April 1979 declared himself the uncrowned King of Scotland. Who was this dictator, and what country did he rule?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Around the World—Answers

    Five geographic questions.

    Confluence of Blue Nile and White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

    Answer: Chile and Ecuador

    Brazil borders ten South American countries, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana, which is an overseas region of France.

    Two

    Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

    Answer: Munster

    Munster is the largest province in Ireland, situated in the southwest, with a population of 1,373,346 in 2022. It serves as a provincial subdivision of the state without an official local government function. Münster is a major city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, renowned for its bicycle culture and historical importance, notably the Anabaptist rebellion and the Treaties of Westphalia.

    Three

    In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

    Answer: Ulaanbaatar

    Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia, is the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state. It has a rich history, having been ruled by various nomadic empires and later becoming a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Today, Mongolia is a democratic country with a nomadic culture and a majority Buddhist population.

    Four

    This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

    The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

    — Wikipedia

    Answer: Darwin

    Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. With a population of 139,902, it serves as a key link to Southeast Asia and has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.

    Five

    Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

    Answer: White Nile

    The Nile has two major tributaries: the 3,700-kilometre White Nile and the 1,450-kilometre Blue Nile. Traditionally, the longer White Nile is considered the headwaters, but the Blue Nile, which supplies 80% of the water and silt downstream, is actually the main source. The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria and flows through Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows southeast into Sudan. The two rivers converge in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

  • Around the World

    Five geographic questions.

    Confluence of Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

    Two

    Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

    Three

    In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

    Four

    This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

    The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

    — Wikipedia

    Five

    Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • First—Answers

    All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

    See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    ((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

    (Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

    (Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

    (Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

    (Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

    (Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

    (Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

    (Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

    The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

    Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life

    It’s a Wonderful Life, a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Initially a box office disappointment, the film later became a Christmas classic and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.

    Two

    The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

    Answer: Brothers Grimm

    German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, significantly contributed to folklore study and popularised classic tales. Jacob also made notable contributions to historical linguistics and Germanic philology.

    Three

    On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

    Answer: South Carolina

    South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860, joining the Confederacy and sparking the Civil War. After the war, Reconstruction brought military occupation and disenfranchisement, leading to the rise of Wade Hampton and the ‘Bourbon era’. The conflict between the Up Country and Low Country culminated in the election of Benjamin R. Tillman, who championed agrarian reform, white supremacy, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.

    Four

    In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

    Answer: 1970s

    On 20 December 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian army officer, overthrew the monarchy and established a communist regime. He ruled with an iron fist, implementing the ‘Red Terror Campaign’ and facing armed rebellions, droughts and famines. Facing mounting challenges and dwindling support, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991.

    Five

    In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

    Answers: Wes Craven; Neve Campbell

    Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film, which satirises slasher genre clichés, was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $173 million worldwide. It revitalised Craven’s and Drew Barrymore’s careers and spawned a successful franchise.

  • First

    All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

    See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    ((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

    (Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

    (Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

    (Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

    (Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

    (Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

    (Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

    (Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

    The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

    Two

    The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

    Three

    On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

    Four

    In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

    Five

    In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

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

  • 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.  

    Nefertiti.
    Image Wikipedia

    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?

    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab.

    Two

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

    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?

    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.