All of the questions relate to today’s date, November 23rd.
One
At Coal Hill School, teachers Ian Chesterton and Barbara Wright have concerns about pupil Susan Foreman, who has an alien outlook on England.
The above quote from the Wikipedia article’s ‘Plot’ section describes the opening episode of which contemporary television series first aired on 23 November 1963?
Two
What 2009 hit single by Miley Cyrus includes the lyric ‘And a Jay-Z song was on’?
Three
In 1935, an American explorer landed at about 79° S, 102° W. He raised the U.S. flag and ‘claimed’ the land between roughly 80° W and 120° W for the United States. On what continent did this occur, and what is this area of land known as today?
Four
Which 1982 novel features characters called The Maidmasher, The Manhugger and The Meatdripper? Secondly, who wrote it?
Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi. Image Wikipedia
Five
The Holy Trinity Cathedral of Tbilisi, the largest religious building in its country, was consecrated in 2004. It is the main cathedral of which autonomous church?
Good luck! As usual the answers will be posted later.
Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.
All of these questions relate to today’s date, November 21st.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn at night, 2012. Image Wikipedia
One
Which two boroughs of New York City were linked by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, pictured above, upon its opening on 21 November 1964?
Answer: Brooklyn and Staten Island
The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn, spans the Narrows and carries 13 lanes of Interstate 278. Designed by Othmar Ammann and others, it opened in 1964 with a central span, 4,260 feet (1,298 m), that was the longest in the world until 1981. The bridge, named after explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, collects tolls in both directions.
Two
The first crewed hot air balloon flight took place on this day in 1783 in a balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers. Which of contemporary Paris’s over 400 public parks was the site of this historic flight?
Answer: Bois de Boulogne
The first untethered manned balloon ascent occurred on 21 November 1783, when two Frenchmen Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, marquis d’Arlandes, travelling from the Château de la Muette across the Bois de Boulogne, Paris. The flight lasted 20 minutes in a hot air balloon designed and built by brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. This historic event was witnessed by Louis XVI, the French Academy of Sciences, and the public, including Benjamin Franklin.
Three
On this date, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presented the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. Which century was this?
Answer: 17th century
In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer announced that an eclipse of Jupiter’s moon would occur ten minutes later than expected, a prediction based on his calculations of the speed of light. Despite this occurring as he predicted, there was initial scepticism from the Paris Académie des Sciences, including his patron, Cassini. Rømer’s claim was eventually confirmed by James Bradley’s discovery of the aberration of light in 1729.
René Magritte shown with one of his works featuring his recurring motif, a bowler hat. Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Four
Who is this Belgian artist, born on 21 November 1898 and pictured above with one of his works?
Answer: René Magritte
René Magritte (1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist renowned for his bizarre and enigmatic paintings that depicted ordinary objects in unsettling, unexpected contexts, challenging perceptions of reality and representation. Influenced by Giorgio de Chirico, Magritte developed a unique style characterised by carefully rendered objects in dreamlike juxtapositions. His work gained international popularity in the 1930s and influenced pop art, minimalist art, and conceptual art, continuing until his death in 1967.
Five
Frankenstein, the classic horror film, was released in the US today in 1931. Who played the monster in this film?
Answer: Boris Karloff
Frankenstein is a 1931 American horror film directed by James Whale, based on Peggy Webling’s 1927 stage play adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. Starring Colin Clive and Boris Karloff, the film follows Dr. Frankenstein’s experiment to create life, resulting in tragic consequences. It was a commercial success, significantly impacting popular culture and spawning sequels and remakes, with its influence still felt today.
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Today’s first question draws on a real-life event from November 20th, which was later adapted into a work of fiction. The rest of the questions also blend fact and fiction to varying degrees.
The 20 November 1820 ramming and sinking of the American ship Essex inspired a climatic scene in what 1851 epic maritime novel?
Answer: Moby Dick
The Essex, an American whaling ship, was rammed by a sperm whale on November 20, 1820, and subsequently sank. Despite initial survival for all 20 crewmen only eight were rescued after a difficult journey that ultimately led to cannibalism. This sinking inspired the climactic scene in Herman Melville’s Moby Dick (1851).
Two
The series of novels first published in 1980, written by Robert, and the subsequent films first released in 2002 starring Matthew, may have taken their title character’s surname from a 19th-century psychology case involving a patient named Ansel who likely suffered from reversible amnesia.
Answer: Bourne
Robert Ludlum’s character Jason Bourne who first appeared in The Bourne Identity which was published in 1980 may have been named after Ansel Bourne. A.J. Brown, a resident of Norristown, Pennsylvania, woke up in 1887 with no memory of his identity. Physicians diagnosed him with amnesia, but it was later revealed that he was actually Ansel Bourne, a carpenter and pastor from Coventry, Rhode Island, who had no recollection of the past two months. During further study of him he was put under hypnosis where he could be induced to assume the personality of either Bourne or Brown, and neither personality had any knowledge of the other.
Three
The Terror, a 2007 novel by Dan Simmons is a fictionalised account of what failed 1845 expedition of Arctic exploration?
Answer: Franklin Expedition
Franklin’s lost expedition, led by Sir John Franklin, aimed to traverse the Northwest Passage and record magnetic data. The expedition ended in disaster when both ships—HMS Erebus and HMS Terror—became icebound, leading to the abandonment of the vessels and the disappearance of the crew.
James Cameron’s 1997 film Titanic depicts the real-life disaster that occurred in what year? Secondly, Titanic sank approximately 370 miles (600 kilometers) southeast of where?
Answer: 1912; Newfoundland, Canada
Cameron’s film is a mix of fictional and historical fact about the RMS Titanic, a British luxury passenger liner, which sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 southeast of Newfoundland, Canada. See RMS Titanic below for further information.
Five
Every Man for Himself, a 1996 novel which is also set on the Titanic, was a Booker Prize nominee. Who wrote this novel?
Secondly, although not explained in this book or indeed in the film mentioned at question four above, what does the term RMS mean in the name, RMS Titanic?
Answer: Beryl Bainbridge; Royal Mail Ship (RMS)
Like the film above, Every Man for Himself is a combination of fiction and history. It is narrated by Morgan over a period of four days up to the sinking.
RMS Titanic
The RMS Titanic, a British luxury passenger liner, which sank in the early hours of 15 April 1912 during its maiden voyage from Southampton to New York City. About two-and-a-half hours after hitting an iceberg, the ship sank approximately 370 miles (600 km) southeast of Newfoundland in approximately 12,500 feet (3,800 m) of water, tragically resulting in the loss of around 1,500 lives. Despite its advanced safety features and luxurious first-class accommodations, the Titanic only carried enough lifeboats for half its passengers. This catastrophe prompted changes in maritime safety regulations and left an enduring legacy in popular culture.
On 18 November 1959, Ben-Hur had its world premiere. It is quite well known that the film went on to win an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards but how many was it actually nominated for?
Answer: Twelve
Ben-Hur missed out only on Best Adapted Screenplay at the 32nd Academy Awards but still came away with eleven Oscars, surpassing the previous record of nine set by Gigi. Its tally of eleven wins was later equalled by Titanic at the 70th Awards and The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King at the 76th.
Each of the remaining questions have some connection to the Oscars.
Two
The first actor to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor was whom?
Answer: Spencer Tracy
Spencer Tracy won the Best Actor Oscar for his performances in Captains Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938), making him the first to win two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor. Tracy was an American actor known for his natural performing style and versatility. He starred in 75 films, including nine with Katharine Hepburn. Despite personal struggles, including alcoholism and a troubled marriage, Tracy remained a prominent figure in Hollywood until his death in 1967.
Three
This Scottish actor portrayed various roles including a British MI6 agent seven times between 1962 and 1983. He also played an immortal named Ramirez in 1986, the archaeologist father of an archaeologist in 1989 and the captain of the Soviet Union’s latest nuclear-powered submarine in 1990. His performance as Jimmy in a 1987 film directed by Brian De Palma earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Who is the actor, what was the 1987 film and what was the full name of his character in that film?
Answer: Sean Connery; The Untouchables and Jimmy Malone
Sean Connery was a Scottish actor best known for his portrayal of James Bond in seven films. He also starred in numerous other films, including collaborations with Alfred Hitchcock and John Huston, and received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award and a knighthood.
Walt Disney visited Broadway to watch an actress perform as Queen Guinevere in Camelot. Impressed, he offered her the lead role in her first film. Released in 1964, the film earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Who was the actress and what was her title role?
Answer: Julie Andrews
Dame Julie Andrews, born Julia Elizabeth Wells, is an English actress, singer and author. She is a highly acclaimed performer, having won numerous awards including an Academy Award, three Emmy Awards and seven Golden Globe Awards. Andrews is known for her roles in films like Mary Poppins, The Sound of Music and The Princess Diaries, as well as her collaborations with Carol Burnett and her work as an author.
Five
An actor who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars also starred in two films directed by the same person in 1957 and 1962. In the first, he played Colonel Richardson, the British Commander, and won an Academy Award for his performance. In the second, he portrayed Prince Faisal. Who was the actor and what were the titles of the other two films?
Answer: Alec Guinness; The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) and Lawrence of Arabia (1962)
Alec Guinness, an English actor knighted for his contributions to the arts, starred in numerous films including six Ealing comedies and collaborations with David Lean. He won an Academy Award for his role in The Bridge on the River Kwai. Guinness also portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in the original Star Wars trilogy and George Smiley in the BBC television adaptations of John le Carré’s Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1979) and Smiley’s People(1982).
On 18 November 1959, Ben-Hur had its world premiere. It is quite well known that the film went on to win an unprecedented eleven Academy Awards but how many was it actually nominated for?
Each of the remaining questions have some connection to the Oscars.
Two
The first actor to receive two consecutive Academy Awards for Best Actor was whom?
Three
This Scottish actor portrayed various roles including a British MI6 agent seven times between 1962 and 1983. He also played an immortal named Ramirez in 1986, the archaeologist father of an archaeologist in 1989 and the captain of the Soviet Union’s latest nuclear-powered submarine in 1990. His performance as Jimmy in a 1987 film directed by Brian De Palma earned him an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Who is the actor, what was the 1987 film and what was the full name of his character in that film?
Four
Walt Disney visited Broadway to watch an actress perform as Queen Guinevere in Camelot. Impressed, he offered her the lead role in her first film. Released in 1964, the film earned her an Oscar for Best Actress. Who was the actress and what was her title role?
Five
An actor who portrayed Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars also starred in two films directed by the same person in 1957 and 1962. In the first, he played Colonel Richardson, the British Commander, and won an Academy Award for his performance. In the second, he portrayed Prince Faisal. Who was the actor and what were the titles of the other two films?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
The first question concerns today’s date, November 13th. The subsequent questions follow a theme based on the first.
Guglielmo Marconi, 1908. See question 2. Image Wikipedia
One
On 13 November 1965, which critic reportedly became the first person to say the word ‘f**k’ on British television during a discussion on the BBC-1 show BBC-3?
Answer: Kenneth Tynan
The incident caused a storm of controversy, prompting the BBC to issue a public apology. Although later research indicates the word had been used at least twice before, this event is still widely cited as the first major public controversy over profanity on British TV.
Two
Which pioneering inventor is often credited as the ‘father of radio’ or the ‘father of long-distance radio communication’, and in what decade did he transmit the first transatlantic wireless signal?
Answer: Guglielmo Marconi; 1900s
Marconi successfully transmitted the first transatlantic wireless signal in 1901 from Cornwall, England, to Newfoundland, Canada — a major leap in global communication.
Three
Which European country launched the world’s first regular television service in 1935?
Answer: Germany
Fernsehsender Paul Nipkow, operated by the Nazi regime, was broadcast from Berlin and featured newsreels and cultural programming shown in ‘television rooms’ for public viewing.
ABBA after winning the 1974 Eurovision Song Contest with the song Waterloo. Image Wikipedia
Four
Could you identify this annual television broadcast? First aired in the 1950s, it’s not a sporting event but a cultural one. It now attracts over 160 million viewers annually. What is it?
Answer: The Eurovision Song Contest
First held in 1956, Eurovision now reaches an audience of over 160 million worldwide and has launched international careers — notably that of ABBA and Celine Dion.
Five
RCA introduced the first mass produced colour television set for sale to the American public. What did the initials RCA stand for, and in what decade did this occur?
Answer: Radio Corporation of America; 1950s
This occurred in 1954 when the RCA CT-100 colour TV cost $1,000 — equivalent to about $11,000 today — and few could afford it, delaying widespread adoption of colour broadcasting.
The first question concerns today’s date, November 13th. The subsequent questions follow a theme based on the first.
Who is this pioneering inventor? See question 2.
One
On 13 November 1965, which critic reportedly became the first person to say the word ‘f**k’ on British television during a discussion on the BBC-1 show BBC-3?
Two
Which pioneering inventor is often credited as the ‘father of radio’ or the ‘father of long-distance radio communication’, and in what decade did he transmit the first transatlantic wireless signal?
Three
Which European country launched the world’s first regular television service in 1935?
Four
Could you identify this annual television broadcast? First aired in the 1950s, it’s not a sporting event but a cultural one. It now attracts over 160 million viewers annually. What is it?
Five
RCA introduced the first mass produced colour television set for sale to the American public. What did the initials RCA stand for, and in what decade did this occur?
Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.
All of these questions are related to today, November 12th.
Grace Kelly and Marlon Brando, 1955. Academy Awards. Image Wikipedia
One
Born on 12 November 1929, this actress won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1954 film The Country Girl. Who is she?
Answer: Grace Kelly
Grace Kelly, an American actress, achieved stardom in Hollywood films before marrying Prince Rainier III of Monaco in 1956. As Princess of Monaco, she focused on charity work, particularly for children and the arts. Kelly passed away at the age of 52 due to injuries from a car crash.
Two
Today in 1990, Emperor Akihito was enthroned in Japan. Tradition dictates that he is the 125th direct descendant of Japan’s legendary first emperor. Who was this legendary first emperor?
Answer: Jimmu
Emperor Jimmu, the legendary first emperor of Japan, is said to have ascended the throne in 660 BC. While his existence is debated, his legendary journey from Hyūga to Yamato is celebrated on National Foundation Day.
Three
On this date in 1990, a computer scientist published a formal proposal for the World Wide Web. Who was this scientist and what organisation did they work for at the time?
Answer: Tim Berners-Lee; CERN (European Organisation for Nuclear Research)
The World Wide Web was invented by Tim Berners-Lee at CERN to address document storage and sharing challenges. He developed a decentralised system with hyperlinks, released it in 1991, and CERN made it royalty-free in 1993. The Web’s popularity surged with the release of graphical browsers like Mosaic and Netscape Navigator, leading to the dot-com bubble and the browser wars.
Four
Born in 1961, this gymnast became the first to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics. Who is this person and in which year’s Summer Olympics did this remarkable feat occur?
Answer: Nadia Comăneci; 1976 (Montreal)
Nadia Comăneci, a retired Romanian gymnast, is the first gymnast to achieve a perfect score of 10.0 at the Olympics. At the 1976 Summer Olympics in Montreal, she secured six more perfect 10s, leading to three gold medals. In Moscow, during the 1980 Summer Olympics, she won two more golds and achieved two more perfect 10s. Throughout her career, Comăneci amassed nine Olympic medals—including five gold—and four World Artistic Gymnastics Championship medals. Widely regarded as one of the greatest gymnasts of all time, she has lived in the United States since 1989.
The pictured facility, which ceased to operate today in 1954, is located on what island?
Answer: Ellis Island
The US government established its first federal immigration station on Ellis Island in 1892, replacing the mismanaged Castle Clinton. Initially a wooden station, it processed over 1.5 million immigrants before a fire in 1897 destroyed it. A new fireproof station designed by Edward Lippincott Tilton and William A. Boring opened in 1900 but quickly faced overcrowding necessitating further expansions and improvements. Construction also began on a third island for a contagious diseases ward. However, after the Immigration Act of 1924, the island’s role shifted, leading to its downgrade to a detention centre and eventual closure in 1954 due to declining immigration and high upkeep costs.
All of these questions are related to today, November 12th.
1955 Academy Awards. Image Wikipedia
One
Born on 12 November 1929, this actress won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in the 1954 film The Country Girl. Who is she?
Two
Today in 1990, Emperor Akihito was enthroned in Japan. Tradition dictates that he is the 125th direct descendant of Japan’s legendary first emperor. Who was this legendary first emperor?
Three
On this date in 1990, a computer scientist published a formal proposal for the World Wide Web. Who was this scientist and what organisation did they work for at the time?
Four
Born in 1961, this gymnast became the first to score a perfect 10 at the Olympics. Who is this person and in which year’s Summer Olympics did this remarkable feat occur?
Image Encyclopædia Britannica
Five
The pictured facility, which ceased to operate today in 1954, is located on what island?
Born in 1922, this American singer and actress made history as the first African-American woman nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Carmen Jones (1954). Who is she?
Answer: Dorothy Dandridge
Dorothy Dandridge, the first African-American nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress, faced racial barriers in Hollywood despite her success in Carmen Jones. Her career declined in the 1960s, leading to financial difficulties and her death at age 42.
Two
The last of the ‘canonical five’, victims of Jack the Ripper was found on 9 November. In what decade did these five murders take place?
Answer: 1880s (1888)
Between 31 August and 9 November 1888, an unidentified serial killer known as Jack the Ripper terrorised Whitechapel, London. His brutal murders of five women, dubbed the ‘canonical five’, remain unsolved alongside several other women’s deaths over the next three years. This enduring public fascination and speculation continues to captivate people.
Three
Apollo 4, an unmanned test spacecraft, was launched from Cape Kennedy on this day in 1967. The spacecraft was on top of what rocket’s first flight?
Answer: Saturn V
Apollo 4, the first uncrewed test flight of the Saturn V rocket, launched from Kennedy Space Centre on 9 November 1967. The mission, a complete success, demonstrated the functionality of all rocket stages and key spacecraft revisions, paving the way for future lunar missions.
Four
What was the name given to the violent anti-Jewish pogrom that took place across Nazi Germany on the nights of 9–10 November 1938, during which Jewish homes, businesses, and synagogues were destroyed in an event often seen as the start of the Holocaust?
Answer: Kristallnacht (also known as the Night of Broken Glass)
The name Kristallnacht refers to the shattered glass that covered the streets after Jewish-owned properties were vandalized. Around 30,000 Jewish men were arrested and sent to concentration camps, and the event marked a turning point from discrimination to open, state-sanctioned violence against Jews.
Five
Born today in 1923, Alice Coachman became the first African-American woman to win an Olympic gold medal. In what event did she achieve this?
Answer: High jump
Alice Coachman, born in 1923 in Albany, Georgia, overcame racial and gender barriers to become a celebrated athlete. She dominated the AAU outdoor high jump championship from 1939 to 1948 and won an Olympic gold medal in 1948, becoming the first black woman to achieve this feat. After her athletic career, she dedicated her life to education and the Job Corps.
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