Quizology.Online

“There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.”

— Bertrand Russell

Tag: americas

  • 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.

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II—Answers

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose, see question eight.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

    Answer: Graham Chapman—John Cleese—Terry Gilliam—Eric Idle—Terry Jones—Michael Palin

    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

    Answer: Philosopher’s Stone—Chamber of Secrets—Prisoner of Azkaban—Goblet of Fire,—Order of the Phoenix—Half-Blood Prince—Deathly Hallows

    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

    Answer: North—Northeast—East—Southeast—South—Southwest—West—Northwest.

    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

    Answer: Gandalf—Legolas—Gimli—Aragorn—Boromir—Frodo Baggins—Samwise Gamgee—Merry Brandybuck—Pippin Took.

    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia—Dhaka, Bangladesh—Tokyo, Japan—Delhi, India—Shanghai, China—Guangzhou, China—Cairo, Egypt — Manila, Philippines — Kolkata, India—Seoul, South Korea

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Good luck! As usual I’ll post the answers later.

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I—Answers

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

    Answer: Hungary

    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

    Answer: Raven—Dove

    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

    Answer: Athos—Porthos—Aramis

    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

    Answer: Andrew—George—David—Patrick

    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Answer: The Bronx—Brooklyn—Manhattan—Queens—Staten Island

    Part II follows tomorrow

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later and part II follows tomorrow.

  • Canterbury Tales—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posed earlier today.

    I have five questions about today, December 29th.

    The Murder of Thomas Becket.
    Image The British Library via Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?

    Answer: Thomas Becket

    St. Thomas Becket, chancellor of England and archbishop of Canterbury, clashed with King Henry II, leading to his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.

    Two

    In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?

    Answer: South Dakota; 7th Cavalry Regiment

    The Wounded Knee massacre is widely regarded as marking the end of the Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between the United States and Native American tribes that spanned much of the 19th century.

    Three

    In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?

    Answer: Mongolia

    The 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu became both the spiritual and temporal leader of the newly independent state, establishing a theocratic government that lasted until Mongolia fell under strong influence from the Soviet Union.

    Four

    1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete

    The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?

    Answer: Screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour

    HMS Warrior demonstrated that ironclad, steam-powered warships were superior to traditional wooden sailing vessels, prompting navies worldwide to rapidly abandon older ship designs.

    Five

    According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

    Answer: Pocahontas

    Pocahontas was the daughter of Wahunsenacawh, the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, and her dramatic rescue of John Smith is known primarily from Smith’s own later writings—leading historians to debate how literally the event should be interpreted.

  • Canterbury Tales

    I have five questions about today, December 29th.

    One

    Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?

    Two

    In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?

    Three

    In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?

    Four

    1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete.

    The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?

    Five

    According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Matchmaker—Answers

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

    Today’s questions are all connected to December 23rd.

    Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Toni Collette in Emma (1996).
    Image © 1996 Miramax Films via Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In 1815, Jane Austen published her fourth novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1996. What was the title of the book?

    Answer: Emma

    Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma, follows the matchmaking misadventures of Emma Woodhouse in the fictional town of Highbury.

    Two

    Who, born in 1933, became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989, and how did his reign end in 2019?

    Answer: Akihito; abdication

    Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, reigned from 1989 to 2019. He abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.

    Three

    In 1888, what two artists were involved in ‘the incident at the Yellow House’, and what injury happened to one of them?

    Answers: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin; Van Gogh cut off part of his left ear

    Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear in 1888 after a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The incident, possibly linked to van Gogh’s mental health struggles, led to his hospitalisation and Gauguin’s departure from Arles.

    Four

    In 2001, which South American nation announced the suspension of payments on its external debt marking the largest debt default in history?

    Answer: Argentina

    Argentina’s economy experienced a severe recession from 1998 to 2002, culminating in a US$93 billion debt default in 2001. This led to a rapid devaluation of the peso, soaring inflation, and a significant drop in GDP.

    Five

    Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in 1805. Which US state was his birthplace?

    Answer: Vermont

    Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon. His teachings, including revelations and polygamy, were recorded and published.

  • 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.