Quizology.Online

Tag: africa

  • Walking on the Moon—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.

    The questions all relate to today, November 14th.

    Alan L Bean prepares to step onto the lunar surface.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Apollo 12, launched on 14 November 1969, became the second mission to land on the Moon. Among the three-man crew, who landed and walked on the lunar surface, was which of these: Mr Bean, Mr Hyde or Mr Spock?

    Answer: Mr. Bean

    Alan L Bean. Apollo 12’s crew consisted of Charles Conrad Jr., Richard F Gordon Jr and Alan L Bean. Alan Bean, an American astronaut, piloted the lunar module during the mission. He made two walks on the lunar surface, totalling eight hours, and later commanded the Skylab 3 mission. After retiring from NASA, Bean became a painter specialising in spaceflight themes.

    Two

    Is it true or false that Hannibal the Great was crowned pharaoh of Egypt today in 332 BCE?

    Answer: False

    It was Alexander the Great who was crowned pharaoh of Egypt today in 332 BCE. In Egypt, Alexander was portrayed as the son of Nectanebo II, the final pharaoh before Persian conquest. His victory over Darius was celebrated as Egypt’s salvation, demonstrating that Egypt remained under Egyptian rule.

    Three

    In Moby-Dick—which was published in the US today in 1851—Captain Ahab offers a gold coin as a reward for spotting the white whale. What real-world coin does he nail to the mast — and from which country does it come?

    Answer: A Spanish gold doubloon from Ecuador.

    The coin is a gold Spanish doubloon, specifically a sixteen-dollar piece from Ecuador. Its design includes symbols of the sun, zodiac signs, and the Andean mountains, which the crew interprets differently—each seeing their own meaning in it. The coin thus mirrors Ahab’s monomania and the novel’s larger theme of how individuals project their own beliefs and destinies onto the same object or event.

    Eugene B. Ely flies his Curtiss pusher airplane from USS Birmingham (Scout Cruiser # 2), in Hampton Roads, Virginia, during the afternoon of Nov. 14 1910.
    Image General Aviation News

    Four

    On this date, Eugene Burton Ely achieved the first aircraft takeoff from a ship. In which decade did this happen?

    Answer: 1910s

    In 1910, Ely took off from a makeshift deck on the USS Birmingham in a Curtiss Pusher aircraft and safely made landfall. A year later he made the first shipboard landing, complete with hooks attached to his Pusher to catch sandbagged ropes to abbreviate the landing roll.

    Five

    In the television series MASH*, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, played by McLean Stevenson, was discharged and sent home in the final episode of Season 3. What shocking event was revealed at the end of that episode?

    Answer: His plane was shot down over the Sea of Japan, with no survivors.

    McLean Stevenson was born on this day in 1927. The twist ending of the episode ‘Abyssinia, Henry’ (1975) was kept secret from most of the cast until filming; their shocked reactions during Radar’s announcement were genuine. It marked one of the most memorable and emotional moments in television history.

  • Walking on the Moon

    The questions all relate to today, November 14th.

    Apollo 12 launch, November 14, 1969.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Apollo 12, launched on 14 November 1969, became the second mission to land on the Moon. Among the three-man crew, who landed and walked on the lunar surface, was which of these: Mr Bean, Mr Hyde or Mr Spock?

    Two

    Is it true or false that Hannibal the Great was crowned pharaoh of Egypt today in 332 BCE?

    Three

    In Moby-Dick—which was published in the US today in 1851—Captain Ahab offers a gold coin as a reward for spotting the white whale. What real-world coin does he nail to the mast — and from which country does it come?

    Four

    On this date, Eugene Burton Ely achieved the first aircraft takeoff from a ship. In which decade did this happen?

    Five

    In the television series MASH*, Lieutenant Colonel Henry Blake, played by McLean Stevenson, was discharged and sent home in the final episode of Season 3. What shocking event was revealed at the end of that episode?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Dr. Livingstone, I presume?—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    The first question concerns today, November 10th, while the others follow a theme related to it.

    HenryMorton Stanley (L) meeting David Livingstone (R) at Ujiji.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    ‘Dr. Livingstone, I presume?’

    On this day in 1871, Henry Stanley uttered the famous words quoted above on meeting explorer and missionary Dr. David Livingstone at Ujiji. In what modern country is the town of Ujiji situated?

    Answer: Tanzania

    David Livingstone was a Scottish missionary, doctor, abolitionist, and explorer who lived in the 1800s. He is known for his expeditions in Africa and his efforts to bring Christianity, commerce, and “civilization” to the continent. 

    Livingstone was born into a poor but religious family in Scotland. At the age of 10, he began working in a cotton mill to help his family. Despite the long hours, he was determined to get an education and studied Latin, Greek, theology, and medicine.

    Livingstone became a missionary and set sail for South Africa in 1840. He believed that Christianity, commerce, and civilization would open up Africa. He wanted to find a route to the Atlantic coast to promote legitimate trade and undermine the slave trade. 

    Livingstone traveled extensively throughout Africa, and was the first European to see Victoria Falls, naming them after Queen Victoria. He also crossed the African continent and explored the Zambezi River regions. Livingstone searched for the source of the Nile River. During this expedition, he reached Lake Mweru and Lake Bangweulu. In 1871, he arrived at Nyangwe on the Lualaba River, further west than any other European had gone.

    Livingstone was found by Henry M. Stanley, a reporter from the New York Herald, in 1871. Stanley greeted him with the famous words, “Dr. Livingstone, I presume?” Livingstone refused to leave Africa with Stanley and continued his mission.

    Encyclopædia Britannica, see David-Livingstone

    Two

    Which Portuguese explorer was the first European to reach India by sea, sailing around the Cape of Good Hope in 1498?

    Answer: Vasco da Gama

    Da Gama’s voyage established the first direct maritime trade route between Europe and Asia, transforming global commerce.

    Roald Amundsen.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Who led the first successful expedition to the South Pole in 1911, beating Robert Falcon Scott’s British team?

    Answer: Roald Amundsen

    The Norwegian explorer used sled dogs and meticulous planning to reach the Pole on 14 December 1911 — a month before Scott’s ill-fated arrival.

    Four

    Which Venetian merchant and explorer travelled along the Silk Road to the court of Kublai Khan in the 13th century, later inspiring generations of explorers with his tales of Asia?

    Answer: Marco Polo

    Polo’s book The Travels of Marco Polo introduced Europeans to the wealth and wonders of the East, though some contemporaries doubted his accounts.

    Five

    What treacherous Arctic sea route, long sought by European explorers, connects the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans through the Canadian Arctic Archipelago?

    Answer: The Northwest Passage

    Many expeditions tried and failed to find it — including Sir John Franklin’s ill-fated 1845 voyage — until Norwegian explorer Roald Amundsen finally navigated it completely in 1906.

  • Our House—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians.  Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).

    Déjà Vu, Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young.
    Image

    One

    Roberta Joan Anderson, who was born at Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on 7 November 1943, wrote Ladies of the Canyon (released 1970), her third studio album while living at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon. Who is Roberta Joan Anderson better known as?

    Answer: Joni Mitchell

    Joni Mitchell’s third studio album, Ladies of the Canyon, was released in 1970 and includes Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock and The Circle Game.

    Two

    A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on and album and as a single in 1970.

    Answer: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young

    Joni Mitchell bought the house in the Laurel Canyon district of Los Angeles in 1968 and met Graham Nash shortly after. Their house became a popular hangout for musicians. Our House featured on Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Déjà Vu album in 1970 and was released as a single the same year.

    Three

    The ‘Last Spike’ ceremony at Craigellachie on 7 November, marked the completion of Canada’s transcontinental railway. In what decade did the ‘Last Spike’ ceremony take place, and in what Canadian province or territory is Craigellachie?

    Answer: 1880s (1885) and British Columbia

    At 9:22 a.m. on November 7, 1885, the ceremonial final spike was driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) at Craigellachie, British Columbia. The honor fell to CPR financier Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal. This historic moment marked the completion of Canada’s first transcontinental railway, bringing to a close years of struggle marked by natural disasters, financial crises, and even rebellion.

    Leonard Cohen.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016.  A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?

    Answer: Leonard Cohen

    Leonard Cohen, a celebrated Canadian songwriter, singer, poet and novelist, explored faith, mortality and love in his work. He received numerous accolades, including induction into several halls of fame and the Prince of Asturias Award for literature.

    Sergeant Edward Holland’s Victoria Cross, for valour at the Battle of Leliefontein, 7 November 1900.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?

    Answer: Second Boer War

    Lieutenant-Colonel François-Louis Lessard led a rearguard action to cover the withdrawal of a larger force. The Royal Canadian Dragoons, supported by artillery and a machine gun, repelled multiple Boer assaults, including a mounted charge. Despite heavy casualties, the Dragoons successfully protected the field guns, earning three of their members—Sergeant Edward Holland, Lieutenant Richard Turner, and Lieutenant Hampden Cockburn—the Victoria Cross for their bravery.

  • Our House

    Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians.  Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).

    Flag of Canada.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Roberta Joan Anderson, who was born at Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on 7 November 1943, wrote Ladies of the Canyon (released 1970), her third studio album while living at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon. Who is Roberta Joan Anderson better known as?

    Two

    A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with the lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on an album and as a single in 1970.

    Three

    The ‘Last Spike’ ceremony at Craigellachie on 7 November, marked the completion of Canada’s transcontinental railway. In what decade did the ‘Last Spike’ ceremony take place, and in what Canadian province or territory is Craigellachie?

    Four

    Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016.  A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?

    Sergeant Edward Holland’s Victoria Cross, for valour at the Battle of Leliefontein, 7 November 1900.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today

  • The Rumble in the Jungle—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I asked earlier.

    The Rumble in the Jungle.
    Muhammad Ali (standing) and George Foreman (on canvas).
    Image USA Today

    One

    On October 30, 1974, the legendary boxing event The Rumble in the Jungle took place. In which city and country did this event take place? Who were the two boxers involved? And which fighter emerged victorious, reclaiming the world heavyweight title that day?

    Answer: Kinshasa, Zaire (now Democratic Republic of the Congo); Muhammad Ali and George Foreman; and Muhammad Ali (recovered title)

    This fight took place in Kinshasa, Zaire (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo). It drew a massive crowd of 60,000 and was one of the most-watched televised events at the time. Ali emerged victorious by knockout in the eighth round.

    Orson Welles at the press conference after The War of the Worlds broadcast, 1938.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    The 1938 broadcast of a radio drama adaptation caused panic among listeners who thought it was real. What was the title of this drama and who wrote the original novel?

    Answer: The War of the Worlds; (written by) H.G. Wells

    The broadcast presented H.G. Wells’s story in a live news style format and reportedly caused panic by convincing some listeners that Martians were invading.

    Three

    In 1817, who became president of the newly formed Third Republic of Venezuela?

    Answer: Simón Bolívar

    Bolívar played a crucial role in Latin American independence, significantly shaping Venezuela’s early republican era.

    Comparison of Nuclear Explosions.
    Image World of Engineering via Reddit

    Four

    In 1961, the Tsar Bomba test — the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated — was detonated in what archipelago and by which country?

    Answer: Novaya Zemlya (archipelago); Soviet Union (USSR)

    The Tsar Bomba, or AN602, was the most powerful nuclear weapon ever created and tested, designed by Soviet physicists under Andrei Sakharov’s oversight. The bomb’s yield was around 50 megatonnes, and the test took place over the Novaya Zemlya archipelago.

    Five

    In 1905, to quell revolutionary pressure in Russia, a significant concession was made: the establishment of an elected parliament, the Duma, and the guarantee of civil liberties. Who made this concession?

    Answer: Tsar Nicholas II

    This was part of the aftermath of the 1905 Russian Revolution and marked the beginning of attempts at constitutional government in Russia, with Tsar Nicholas II issuing the October Manifesto in 1905, promising civil rights and an elected parliament, the Duma, after being pressured by Sergei Witte and Grand Duke Nicholas.

  • The Rumble in the Jungle

    Here are five questions related to today, October 30th.

    Orson Welles, 1937. See question 2.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On October 30, 1974, the legendary boxing event The Rumble in the Jungle took place. In which city and country did this event take place? Who were the two boxers involved? And which fighter emerged victorious, reclaiming the world heavyweight title that day?

    Two

    The 1938 broadcast of a radio drama adaptation by Orson Welles caused panic among listeners who thought it was real. What was the title of this drama and who wrote the original novel?

    Three

    In 1817, who became president of the newly formed Third Republic of Venezuela?

    Tsar Bomba

    Four

    In 1961, the Tsar Bomba test — the largest nuclear weapon ever detonated — was detonated in what archipelago and by which country?

    Five

    In 1905, to quell revolutionary pressure in Russia, a significant concession was made: the establishment of an elected parliament, the Duma, and the guarantee of civil liberties. Who made this concession?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • On This Day: October 20th—Answers

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

    Sydney Opera House.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 October 1973, which Australian landmark officially opened to the public?  
    Sydney Opera House
    The Sydney Opera House, which was opened by Queen Elizabeth II, was named a UNESCO World Heritage Site, whose citation is

    Inaugurated in 1973, the Sydney Opera House is a great architectural work of the 20th century that brings together multiple strands of creativity and innovation in both architectural form and structural design. A great urban sculpture set in a remarkable waterscape, at the tip of a peninsula projecting into Sydney Harbour, the building has had an enduring influence on architecture. The Sydney Opera House comprises three groups of interlocking vaulted ‘shells’ which roof two main performance halls and a restaurant. These shell-structures are set upon a vast platform and are surrounded by terrace areas that function as pedestrian concourses. In 1957, when the project of the Sydney Opera House was awarded by an international jury to Danish architect Jørn Utzon, it marked a radically new approach to construction.
    — UNESCO World Heritage Convention

    Two

    The Battle of Valdivia, part of the Chilean War of Independence, took place in which decade?  
    1820s
    This battle saw Chilean forces secure the southern stronghold from Spanish royalists, aiding in the country’s independence.

    The Traveling Wilburys—top: 1. Jeff Lynne, 2. Tom Petty;
    bottom: 3. Roy Orbison, 4. Bob Dylan, 5. George Harrison

    Three

    Which iconic rock musician gave his final live performance with his band, the Traveling Wilburys, on this day in 1990?  
    Roy Orbison
    Roy Orbison, part of the supergroup with George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Jeff Lynne and Tom Petty, passed away later that year.

    Muammar Gaddafi.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    On 20 October 2011, which long-time Libyan leader was captured and killed during the civil conflict?  
    Muammar Gaddafi
    Muammar Gaddafi had ruled Libya for 42 years before being overthrown during the Arab Spring uprisings. His death, which ended one of Africa’s longest dictatorships, lead to years of instability in Libya.

    Five

    Which U.S. President signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on 20 October 1803?  
    Thomas Jefferson
    The Louisiana Purchase doubled the size of the United States, adding roughly 828,000 square miles of territory.

  • On This Day: October 20th

    Some trivia about today, October 20th.


    Flag of the United States (1795–1818).
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On 20 October 1973, which Australian landmark officially opened to the public?  
    Sydney Opera House

    Two

    The Battle of Valdivia, part of the Chilean War of Independence, took place in which decade?  
    1820s

    Three

    Which iconic rock musician gave his final live performance with his band, the Traveling Wilburys, on this day in 1990?

    Four

    On 20 October 2011, which long-time Libyan leader was captured and killed during the civil conflict?

    Five

    Which U.S. President signed the Louisiana Purchase Treaty on 20 October 1803?  
    Thomas Jefferson

    Good luck! I’ll Post the answers later.

  • 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.