Quizology.Online

Tag: ancient history

  • Why a Duck?—Answers

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

    Five random multiple-choice questions for you today.

    The Marx Brothers, 1931.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Who was the eldest of the Marx Brothers? 

    1. Chico
    2. Groucho
    3. Harpo

    Answer: 1. Chico.

    Chico, born Leonard Joseph Marx in 1887, was the eldest. Harpo, born Adolph Marx in 1888, followed. Groucho, born Julius Henry Marx in 1890, then came Gummo, born Milton Marx in 1893. Finally, Zeppo, born Herbert Manfred Marx in 1901, was the youngest and last of the five Marx brothers. The picture shows them in age order but missing Gummo. From top: Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo.

    Two

    The African polecat is also known as a …

    1. Zimbal
    2. Zorilla 
    3. Zugerro

    Answer: 3. Zorilla.

    The striped polecat, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is a nocturnal, mostly carnivorous mammal with distinctive black and white fur. It uses its long claws to dig for prey and its spray to deter predators. While mostly solitary, females tolerate males during breeding season, and the species is not considered threatened.

    Three

    What movement which flourished in the early twentieth century was also referred to as Style Moderne?

    1. Art Deco
    2. Naturalism
    3. Realism

    Answer: 1. Art Deco.

    Art Deco, a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, emerged in Paris in the 1910s and flourished internationally during the 1920s and 1930s. Influenced by various artistic movements and cultures, it represented luxury and progress, utilising both rare and new materials. While its popularity waned after World War II, Art Deco remains a significant architectural and design style.

    Four

    At what age did Alexander the Great die?

    1. 32 years old
    2. 41 years old
    3. 49 years old

    Answer: 1. 32 years old.

    Alexander the Great, king of Macedon (20/21 July 356 BCE – 10/11 June 323 BCE), created one of the largest empires in history through a decade-long military campaign. He conquered the Persian Empire, invaded India, and founded numerous cities, spreading Greek culture and initiating the Hellenistic period. His legacy includes cultural diffusion, military tactics, and legendary status in both Greek and non-Greek cultures.

    Five

    1. Florida
    2. Louisiana
    3. Texas

    Answer: 3. Texas.

    The latitude of the three cities listed are as follows with the southernmost first…

    • Austin, Texas (30.2672° N)
    • Tallahassee, Florida (30.4383° N)
    • Baton Rouge, Louisiana (30.4571° N)

    Why a Duck? — Post Title

    Why a Duck? is a well-known comedy routine from the Marx Brothers’ movie The Cocoanuts (1929). The scene, features Groucho mentioning an ‘viaduct’ and Chico asking ‘Why a duck?’. This turns into a prolonged routine which is a favourite among fans and has been analysed in Richard Anobile’s book of the same name. The script for the scene is on the Marx Brothers website here.

  • Why a Duck?

    Five random multiple-choice questions for you today.

    The Marx Brothers, 1931.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Who was the eldest of the Marx Brothers? 

    1. Chico
    2. Groucho
    3. Harpo

    Two

    The African polecat is also known as a …

    1. Zimbal
    2. Zorilla 
    3. Zugerro

    Three

    What movement which flourished in the early twentieth century was also referred to as Style Moderne?

    1. Art Deco
    2. Naturalism
    3. Realism

    Four

    At what age did Alexander the Great die?

    1. 32 years old
    2. 41 years old
    3. 49 years old

    Five

    1. Florida
    2. Louisiana
    3. Texas

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Number soup | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

    Aerial view of Iwo Jima, 2014.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. What number is represented by these Roman numerals: MCMLXXV?
      • 75—
    2. The name of the Japanese Island Iwo Jima literally means …
      • Sulfur Island—Iwo Jima, a volcanic island in the Ogasawara Archipelago, is administered by Tokyo despite its 1,200 km distance. The island, known for its strategic importance during World War II, was the site of a pivotal battle and is now home to a Self-Defence Force base. Its area has increased due to ongoing volcanic activity.
        Cate Blanchett, 2024.
        Image Wikipedia
    3. Who is the only actress in Oscar history to be nominated twice for playing the same role in two films?
      • Cate Blanchett—was nominated twice for playing the same role in two films, namely Elizabeth I in Elizabeth (1998) and Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007).
        Khnum.
        Image Wikipedia
    4. The deity Khnum was originally associated with the…
      • Cataracts of the Nile—Khnum, an ancient Egyptian deity, was revered as the creator of human bodies and the life force. He was believed to shape them from clay on a potter’s wheel. Khnum’s worship spanned from the First Dynasty to the Greco-Roman period. He was typically depicted with ram horns, representing fertility and rebirth, and later evolved to feature the down-turned horns of Ammon.
        Gerhard Schroeder, 2005.
        Image Wikipedia
    5. In 2000, Angela Merkel succeeded who as Chancellor of of Germany?
      • Gerhard Schröder—
        Angela Merkel won the CDU/CSU nomination to challenge Chancellor Gerhard Schröder in the 2005 federal elections. After a close election, Merkel formed a grand coalition with the SPD, becoming Chancellor on 22 November 2005, with a focus on reducing unemployment.

  • Number soup

    A five course cornucopia.

    German Chancellor Angela Merkel, 2019.
    Image Wikipedia
    1. What number is represented by these Roman numerals: MCMLXXV?
      • 1565
      • 1975
      • 1885
    2. The name of the Japanese Island Iwo Jima literally means …
      • Seaweed Island
      • Spirit Island
      • Sulfur Island
    3. Who is the only actress in Oscar history to be nominated twice for playing the same role in two films?
      • Annette Bening
      • Anne Hathaway
      • Cate Blanchett
    4. The deity Khnum was originally associated with the…
        • Cataracts of the Nile
        • Confluence of the Tigris and Euphrates
        • Source of the Rhine
      • In 2000, Angela Merkel succeeded who as Chancellor of of Germany?
        • Christian Wulff
        • Helmut Kohl
        • Gerhard Schröder

      Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

    5. 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.

    6. 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.