See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard. Image NASA
One
The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?
Two
Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?
Three
In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?
Four
What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?
Five
In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?
In 1990, the country whose flag is shown above put into effect its constitution. What is that country?
Answer: Croatia
The Republic of Croatia’s Constitution was promulgated today in 1990. It grants civil rights, including freedom of speech, religion, information, and association, as well as guaranteeing equality of nationalities.
Two
What gate in Berlin was reopened in 1989, having been obstructed and inaccessible during the Cold War?
Answer: Brandenburg Gate
The Brandenburg Gate, a Berlin landmark, symbolises both Germany’s division and reunification. Built in the late 18th century, it was closed off during the Berlin Wall era and reopened in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in German history.
Three
In 1965, Doctor Zhivago premiered. Who played Larissa Ameliava Antipova in the film and whose 1957 novel was the film an adaption?
Answers: Julie Christie; Boris Pasternak
Doctor Zhivago, a 1965 American film directed by David Lean, is a sweeping adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel. The film, set against the backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution, follows the love story between physician and poet Yury Zhivago and Larissa Ameliava Antipova, ‘Lara’. Despite mixed reviews, the film became a box-office success, known for its grand scale, cinematography, and Maurice Jarre’s score. Boris Pasternak’s novel, Doctor Zhivago, although published in 1957, was banned in the Soviet Union until 1987.
Four
In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony, to serve his sentence. Four years later, his case was the subject of a now-famous letter, *J’Accuse…!, *which was published in the French press. Where was Devil’s Island, and who wrote J’Accuse…!?
Answers: French Guiana; Émile Zola
The Devil’s Island penal colony, officially the penal colony of Cayenne, in French Guiana operated from 1852 to 1952. It was notorious for harsh treatment, high mortality rates, and the exile of political prisoners like Captain Dreyfus. Émile Zola’s open letter, J’Accuse…!, published in 1898, accused the French government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus. The letter, published in L’Aurore, sparked international outrage and led to Zola’s prosecution for libel. The letter heightened support for Dreyfus
Five
In 1941, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US president and British prime minister met in Washington DC to discuss World War II. Who were these two men?
Answers: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill
The First Washington Conference, attended by Roosevelt and Churchill, prioritised defeating Germany and established the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Allies committed to the Declaration by United Nations, vowing no separate peace and full resource utilisation.
Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.
One
In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?
Answer: 1937
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, a 1937 American animated musical fantasy film, was the first cel-animated feature film. It was a critical and commercial success, becoming the highest-grossing film of 1938 and is widely regarded as one of the greatest and most influential films ever made.
Two
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?
Answer: Brothers Grimm
It was loosely based on Snow White a German fairy tale published by the Brothers Grimm in 1812.
Three
Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?
Answer: Doc
The connection to Doc was Streisand’s 1972 film What’s Up, Doc? with Bugs Bunny’s catchphrase. What’s Up, Doc? is a 1972 screwball comedy film directed by Peter Bogdanovich, starring Barbra Streisand and Ryan O’Neal. It was a success, becoming the third highest-grossing film of 1972 and winning a WGA award for Best Comedy Screenplay.
Four
Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?
Answers: (Mumble is an) Emperor penguin; (the Amigos are) Adélie penguins
Happy Feet is a 2006 animated musical comedy film about a tap-dancing penguin named Mumble. The film was positively received and grossed $384 million worldwide.
Five
The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?
Answers: Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau
Grumpy Old Men is a 1993 American romantic comedy film directed by Donald Petrie. John and Max, neighbours in Wabasha, Minnesota, engage in a feud characterised by ice fishing, insults, and practical jokes. Their rivalry bothers their friends and families.
Today’s first question relates to the date December 21st and the subsequent questions follow a theme established by the initial one.
One
In what year did Walt Disney’s classic animated film Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs premiere?
Two
Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs was loosely based on a story from whose collection of fairy tales?
Three
Which one of the seven dwarfs connects a Barbra Streisand film and Bugs Bunny?
Four
Continuing with the theme of dwarf names, the film Happy Feet featured Mumble, a tap-dancing penguin, and his friends ‘the Amigos’. What species of penguin is Mumble, and what species are ‘the Amigos’?
Five
The 1993 film Grumpy Old Men who starred as the title characters John Gustafson Jr. and Max Goldman?
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.
The Glimmer Twins. See question five. Image Atlas Obscura
Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.
One
How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?
Answer: Three; Andrew Johnson, Bill Clinton and Donald Trump (twice)
On 18 December 2019 Donald Trump became the third US president to be impeached. He was impeached a second time in January 2021. Impeachment is a congressional check on presidential power, requiring a simple majority vote in the House and a two-thirds majority in the Senate for conviction and removal from office. Despite being impeached, none of these presidents were convicted or removed from office. In 1974, in a bid to avoid being impeached Richard Nixon, became the first president to resign.
Two
In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia
Answer: Mariinsky Theatre
The Nutcracker, Tchaikovsky’s final ballet, premiered in December 1892. Despite initial criticism of the choreography, scenery, and performance, it has become the most frequently performed ballet and a popular introduction to classical music. Though initially not as successful as the earlier Nutcracker Suite, it gained popularity and is now performed by many ballet companies, especially in North America.
Three
Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?
Answer: Steven Spielberg; Jaws and Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Steven Spielberg, the highest-grossing director of all time, is renowned for pioneering the modern blockbuster with films like Jaws and Schindler’s List. He co-founded Amblin Entertainment and DreamWorks Pictures, producing numerous successful films and TV series. Spielberg’s filmmaking journey began in childhood, leading to early successes. His breakthrough with Jaws (1975) established him as a leading director and created the summer blockbuster genre. He is also celebrated for diverse works, including Close Encounters of the Third Kind and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
Four
The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966 and was an adaptation of a 1957 children’s book written under a pen name. Could you tell me what that pen name was and what is the author’s real name?
Answer: Dr. Seuss; Theodor Seuss Geisel
Theodor Seuss Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, was an American children’s author and illustrator. He wrote and illustrated over 60 books, including classics like The Cat in the Hat and Green Eggs and Ham, selling over 600 million copies worldwide. His work has been adapted into numerous television specials, films, and a Broadway musical. His birthday, March 2nd, is marked annually as National Read Across America Day
Five
Born on this day in 1943, one half of ‘The Glimmer Twins’. This British musician and guitarist met a singer, his musical and songwriting ‘twin’ at a railway station in 1961. Their chance encounter ultimately led to their becoming key figures in the formation of a legendary rock band. Who was the musician born on this day?
Answer: Keith Richards
Born in Dartford, Kent, in 1943, Keith Richards is a celebrated British musician, guitarist, songwriter and record producer. His innovative chord-heavy playing style, influenced by early blues, has been a key factor in the Rolling Stones’ immense success. He is best known as a founding member and guitarist of the Rolling Stones, with a successful songwriting partnership with Mick Jagger. *Rolling Stones *magazine’s ‘500 Greatest Songs of All Time’ list included fourteen songs written by Richards and Jagger.
The Glimmer Twins
The post title refers to a name used by Keith Richards and Mick Jagger who have produced Stones’ albums under the pseudonym ‘The Glimmer Twins’ starting with It’s Only Rock ‘n’ Roll (1974).
The Glimmer Twins. See question five. Image Atlas Obscura
Today’s questions are all related to events that occurred on December 18th.
One
How many US presidents have been impeached, and who are they?
Two
In 1892, Tchaikovsky’s ballet The Nutcracker was first presented at which theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia
Three
Born on this day in 1946, this director directed Richard Dreyfuss as Matt Hooper in a 1975 film and as Roy Neary in a 1977 one. Who is the director and what are the films?
Four
The TV special How the Grinch Stole Christmas! premiered in 1966 and was an adaptation of a 1957 children’s book written under a pen name. Could you tell me what that pen name was and what is the author’s real name?
Five
Born on this day in 1943, one half of ‘The Glimmer Twins’. This British musician and guitarist met a singer, his musical and songwriting ‘twin’ at a railway station in 1961. Their chance encounter ultimately led to their becoming key figures in the formation of a legendary rock band. Who was the musician born on this day?
The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?
Answer:The Tracey Ullman Show
The Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire, a Christmas special, aired on American television on December 17th, 1989. The show had began as short animated segments on The Tracey Ullman Show before becoming its own half-hour series, eventually growing into the longest-running scripted TV show in US history.
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Two
What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?
Answer: Duff Beer
Duff Beer has become so iconic that real-world novelty versions and theme-park brands have been produced, despite the beer being fictional.
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Three
D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?). Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.
Answer: Laurel and Hardy
Jimmy Finlayson, the moustachioed Scottish actor who starred in 33 Laurel and Hardy films frequently used the expression in their comedies influenced this.
Four
Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?
Answer: The Kwik-E-Mart
The Kwik-E-Mart is first mentioned in the episode, ‘Bart the General’, and quickly became one of the show’s most recognisable locations.
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Five
The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?
Answer:Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars
The Simpsons episode ‘Do Pizza Bots Dream of Electric Guitars’ aired on 14 March 2021. It follows Homer’s attempt to reunite his childhood band, which is thwarted by J. J. Abrams.
The Simpsons first appeared on American television as a full-length series in 1989. On whose television series had they previously appeared in short animated segments?
Two
What is the name of Homer Simpson’s favourite beer?
Three
D’oh. DOH. Doh. D’oooh (with or without either ! or ?). Dan Castellaneta, who voices Homer Simpson, adopted the expression after noticing its frequent use by an actor in films starring what duo.
Four
Which convenience store is frequently visited by Homer Simpson and is run by Apu Nahasapeemapetilon?
Five
The title of the 699th episode of The Simpsons, first aired in 2021, cleverly referenced Philip K. Dick’s novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? What was the episode’s title?
Quizology.Online 