Quizology.Online

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

— Bertrand Russell

Tag: entertainment

  • Presidential Genesis—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

    Answer: Ohio

    Ohio ranks second to Virginia in the number of US presidents born there. These seven presidents hail from Ohio: Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G Harding.

    Two

    Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

    Answer: Weasels or Mustelidae

    The wolverine, the largest member of the Mustelidae family – commonly known as the weasel family – includes other animals like weasels otters martens and badgers. Renowned for their stocky build thick fur and impressive strength relative to their size, wolverines are truly remarkable creatures.

    Petrus Kartner—Father Abraham.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

    Answer: Dutch and Father Abraham

    Dutch musician and record producer Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner (1935-2022), known as Vader Abraham, wrote around 1600 songs. He is best known for his Smurf-themed music, including The Smurf Song, which sold 400,000 copies after a repress and a full album that sold 500,000 copies.

    Four

    In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

    Answer: Libero

    The word originates from Italian and means ‘free’. The libero, is a defensive specialist in volleyball, wearing a different coloured jersey and unable to serve or attack above the net. Libero replacements don’t count against the substitution limit, but can only be made with the original libero.
    Established in 1998, this position is recognised by most volleyball governing bodies and is credited with lengthening rallies.

    Neptune’s Staircase, Caledonian Canal, Scotland, UK.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

    Answer: Caledonian Canal

    Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822 the Caledonian Canal is one of Scotland’s most remarkable engineering achievements — a scenic 60-mile (97 km) waterway that cuts through the Great Glen, connecting the east coast at the Beauly Firth near Inverness with the west coast’s Loch Linnhe at Corpach near Fort William. Some 60 miles (97 km) in length with 22 miles (35 km) of man-made canal while the rest is natural lochs which include Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Neptune’s Staircase is a flight of eight locks near to the Loch Linnhe end of the canal.

  • Presidential Genesis

    Here are five random questions for you to consider.

    Wolverine, see question 2.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

    Two

    Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

    Three

    In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

    Four

    In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

    Five

    What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Numbers—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    One

    Eight nations lie within the Arctic Circle. Can you name them?

    Answer: Canada, Finland, Greenland, Iceland, Norway, Russia, Sweden, United States

    The Arctic Circle, an imaginary line at about 66.5° North latitude, marks the southern edge of the Arctic region. Several countries have land or territories within them. Alphabetically, they are:

    Canada
    Yukon, Northwest Territories, Nunavut, and northern areas of several provinces, plus the islands in Canada’s Arctic Archipelago which is described by Wikipedia as:

    Situated in the northern extremity of North America and covering about 1,424,500 km2 (550,000 sq mi), this group of 36,563 islands, surrounded by the Arctic Ocean, comprises much of Northern Canada, predominately Nunavut and the Northwest Territories. — Wikipedia

    Finland
    The Lapland region.

    Greenland
    Greenland, a vast autonomous territory within the Kingdom of Denmark.

    Iceland
    Despite its name only a small part of Grímsey Island (off the north coast of mainland Iceland) lies within the Arctic Circle.

    Norway
    Northern mainland, for example, Finnmark; and the Svalbard Archipelago. Longyearbyen (Longyear Town) is the world’s northernmost settlement with a population greater than 1,000, and the capital and the largest inhabited area of Svalbard.

    Russia
    Russia has a massive Arctic region, including parts of Siberia, Murmansk Oblast and several Arctic islands. Murmansk is the largest city located above the Arctic Circle

    Sweden
    The northern part of the country, for example, Norrbotten County.

    United States
    The only US territory within the Arctic Circle is the northern part of the state of Alaska.

    Two

    In what 1996 film is Sherman Klump and various others played by the same actor and, who is that actor and how many roles do they play?

    Answer: (film) The Nutty Professor; (actor) Eddie Murphy; (number of roles) Seven

    The Nutty Professor (1996) Eddie Murphy seven roles
    – Professor Sherman Klump ‘The Nutty Professor’
    – Buddy Love
    – Lance Perkins
    – Cletus Klump, Sherman’s father
    – Anna Pearl Jensen-Klump, Sherman’s mother
    – Ida Mae Jensen, Anna’s mother and Sherman’s maternal grandmother
    – Ernie Klump Sr., Sherman’s older brother

    Three

    … days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.

    What number begins the opening line from Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin?

    Answer: Ten

    The Blind Assassin, a historical fiction novel by Margaret Atwood, won the Booker Prize in 2000.

    Four

    In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring was formed at the Council of Elrond with the singular purpose of destroying the One Ring. How many members in total were in the Fellowship, and how was this number distributed among the various races?

    Answer: (total) Nine. (comprising) One Wizard, two Men, one Elf, one Dwarf and four Hobbits

    The Tolkien Gateway describe the members of the Fellowship of the Ring as follows:

    Gandalf — One of the Wizards sent to Middle-earth by the Valar. He was the leader of the Fellowship.
    Aragorn, son of Arathorn — The Chieftain of the Dúnedain and the last heir to the throne of Gondor and Arnor. He led the Fellowship after the loss of Gandalf.
    Boromir, son of Denethor — Captain-general of Gondor and next-in-line to be the Ruling Steward of Gondor.
    Legolas, son of Thranduil of Mirkwood — Emissary of the Elves of Mirkwood.
    Gimli, son of Glóin — A Dwarf of the Lonely Mountain.
    Frodo Baggins — A Hobbit from the Shire, chosen to carry the One Ring.
    Samwise Gamgee — A Hobbit, Frodo’s gardener, servant and close friend.
    Meriadoc “Merry” Brandybuck — A Hobbit and cousin of Frodo, best friends with
    Peregrin “Pippin” Took — A Hobbit and also a cousin of Frodo, youngest of the Fellowship.
    — The Fellowship by Pauline Baynes at The Tolkien Gateway

    Five

    The Hunting of the Snark, a poem by an English writer, is subtitled An Agony, in … Fits. What number is missing from the subtitle and who was the English author?

    Answer: (number) Eight and (author) Lewis Carroll

    The Hunting of the Snark is a nonsense poem by Lewis Carroll, published in 1876. The poem follows a crew’s hunt for the Snark, a creature that may be a dangerous Boojum, and explores themes of existential angst and the pursuit of happiness.

  • Numbers

    Today numbers are either in the questions or answers.

    One

    Eight nations lie within the Arctic Circle. Can you name them?

    Two

    In what 1996 film is Sherman Klump and various others played by the same actor and, who is that actor and how many roles do they play?

    Three

    … days after the war ended, my sister Laura drove a car off a bridge.

    What number begins the opening line from Margaret Atwood’s The Blind Assassin?

    Four

    In Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, the Fellowship of the Ring was formed at the Council of Elrond with the singular purpose of destroying the One Ring. How many members in total were in the Fellowship, and how was this number distributed among the various races?

    Five

    The Hunting of the Snark, a poem by an English writer, is subtitled An Agony, in … Fits. What number is missing from the subtitle and who was the English author?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later.

  • Today’s the Day—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions about October 10th which were posted earlier.

    Giant, film poster, 1956. Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?

    Answer: Giant

    James Dean, a 1950s Hollywood actor, became an influential figure despite a brief career. His three major films, Rebel Without a Cause, East of Eden, and Giant, are preserved in the National Film Registry.

    Two

    In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?

    Answer: (In the Court of the) Crimson King and King Crimson

    King Crimson, an English progressive rock band formed in 1968, is known for its diverse musical influences and significant impact on the progressive rock movement. In the Court of the Crimson King, King Crimson’s debut album, is a pioneering work of progressive rock, blending rock with jazz, classical and symphonic music.

    Three

    In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?

    Answer: Neptune

    William Lassell (18 June 1799 – 5 October 1880) was an English merchant and astronomer.  He’s best known for his improvements to the reflecting telescope which led to his discovery of four planetary satellites.

    Matt Monro, publicity picture for the single, Born Free, 1966.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?

    Answer: Matt Monro

    If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them.
    — Frank Sinatra

    Born on December 1, 1930, Terence Edward Parsons, known as Matt Monro on stage, was an English singer renowned as ’The Man with the Golden Voice’. The former London bus driver, performed internationally for 30 years and sold 23 million records. AllMusic called him ‘one of the most underrated pop vocalists of the ‘60s’, praising his ‘easiest, most perfect baritone’. Monro, a heavy smoker and drinker, died of liver cancer in 1985 after which ‘Frank Sinatra said of him, ‘If I had to choose three of the finest male vocalists, Matt would be one of them.’
    Monro’s recordings include UK top 10 hits Portrait of My Love, My Kind of Girl, Softly As I Leave You, Walk Away and a cover of the Beatles’ Yesterday. He also recorded film themes such as From Russia with Love, Born Free, and On Days Like These.

    Five

    In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?

    Answer: George Gershwin

    Porgy and Bess is an English-language opera by George Gershwin, based on a novel and play by DuBose and Dorothy Heyward. It premiered in 1935 and is now one of the most frequently performed operas, known for its story of Porgy’s attempts to rescue Bess from her violent lover and drug dealer.

  • Today’s the Day

    These five questions are about events that all happened on October 10th.

    James Dean, c. 1953.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1956, an American film premiered and became particularly notable as the final film featuring James Dean, who died in a car crash shortly after filming concluded. Which film was it?

    Two

    In 1969, the album In the Court of the … was released by a band which included Greg Lake. What words complete the album title and what was the band called?

    Three

    In 1846, English astronomer William Lassell discovered Triton, a moon of which planet?

    Four

    In 1963, the second film in the official James Bond franchise, From Russia with Love, premiered. Which Englishman sang the title song in the film?

    Five

    In 1935, Porgy and Bess opened on Broadway. Who composed this opera?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

  • In a Hole in the Ground—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.

    Hobbit village.
    Image ArtStation.com

    One

    In a hole in the ground there lived a Hobbit. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a Hobbit-hole, and that means comfort.

    What one word has been omitted from the above opening lines which were first published in 1937?

    Answer: Hobbit

    The openings words from J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit (1937).

    Two

    The story so far: in the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

    The second book of an unusual trilogy begins with the above lines. What is the title of this book? How many books did the creator of this work write in the ‘trilogy’?

    Answer: The Restaurant at the End of the Universe. Five (books)

    The Restaurant at the End of the Universe is the second book in The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, a ‘trilogy of five books’ by Douglas Adams with a sixth book written by Eoin Colfer.

    Three

    It was a pleasure to …

    In Ray Bradbury’ Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, the protagonist, was responsible for the opening sentence. What four-letter word completes it?

    Answer: Burn

    Montag is a fireman. In the world depicted in Fahrenheit 451 firemen are employed to burn books which are illegal to own. Disillusioned with his role as a censor and destroyer of knowledge, Montag eventually quits his job and dedicates himself to preserving literary and cultural writings.

    Four

    Stately, plump Buck Mulligan came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.

    Who was the subject of this opening sentence (the name has been removed from the above quote) from Ulysses by James Joyce?

    Answer: Buck Mulligan

    Ulysses by James Joyce, follows the lives of three Dubliners over a single day, 16 June 1904, now celebrated annually as Bloomsday by its fans.

    The Martian.
    Image Disney

    Five

    LOG ENTRY: SOL 6
    I’m pretty much fucked.
    That’s my considered opinion.
    Fucked.
    — The Martian by Andy Weir

    The opening lines of The Martian are displayed above. Who was the American astronaut writing this log entry?

    Answer: Mark Watney

    Andy Weir’s 2011 science fiction debut, ‘The Martian’, began as a serialised blog post before Crown Publishing Group acquired and re-released it in 2014. The novel follows Mark Watney, an American astronaut stranded alone on Mars in 2035, who must use his ingenuity to survive. Ridley Scott’s 2015 film adaptation, starring Matt Damon, is based on the novel. Drew Goddard wrote the screenplay, and 20th Century Fox distributed it. Both the novel and film depict the astronaut’s struggle for survival and NASA’s rescue mission.

  • In a Hole in the Ground

    Here are five questions about the opening lines of books.

    One

    In a hole in the ground there lived a …. Not a nasty, dirty, wet hole, filled with the ends of worms and an oozy smell, nor yet a dry, bare, sandy hole with nothing in it to sit down on or to eat: it was a …-hole, and that means comfort.

    What one word has been omitted from the above opening lines which were first published in 1937?

    Two

    The story so far: in the beginning, the universe was created. This has made a lot of people very angry and been widely regarded as a bad move.

    The second book of an unusual trilogy begins with the above lines. What is the title of this book? How many books did the creator of this work write in the ‘trilogy’?

    Three

    It was a pleasure to …

    In Ray Bradbury’ Fahrenheit 451, Guy Montag, the protagonist, was responsible for the opening sentence. What four-letter word completes it?

    Four

    Stately, plump … came from the stairhead, bearing a bowl of lather on which a mirror and a razor lay crossed.

    Who was the subject of this opening sentence (the name has been removed from the above quote) from Ulysses by James Joyce?

    Five

    LOG ENTRY: SOL 6
    I’m pretty much fucked.
    That’s my considered opinion.
    Fucked.
    — The Martian by Andy Weir

    The opening lines of The Martian are displayed above. Who was the American astronaut writing this log entry?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Bits and Pieces

    Here are five unrelated questions.

    Poker Night.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    Thomas Hart Benton’s 1948 painting Poker Night depicts a scene from which Tennessee Williams play?

    Two

    What skill can be called funambulism?

    Three

    A ribauldequin was a type of musical instrument. Is this true or false?

    Four

    The Taj Mahal is located on the south bank of what river?

    Five

    Who is the world’s best-selling fiction writer?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Lists—Answers

    Today there are five questions relating to various lists.

    Taylor Swift Eras Tour – Arlington Texas, US.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Here’s a chronological list of studio albums released since 2017: Reputation, Lover, … Evermore. Who released these and which album is missing?

    Answer: Taylor Swift and Folklore

    Swift released the studio album Folklore in 2020.

    Two

    …, Aconcagua, Denali. This is the second and third items in a list of seven. What’s the first?

    Answer: Everest

    It is a list of the highest peaks the on seven continents: Everest, Aconcagua, Denali, Kilimanjaro, Vinson, Elbrus, Mount Wilhelm. There are variations to this list depending on definition used but the first five peaks remain the same regardless of definition.

    Three

    Which film follows in this list from an ‘official’ film series: Thunderball, You Only Live Twice? Secondly, who played the main protagonist in this film?

    Answer: On Her Majesty’s Secret Service and George Lazenby

    This was Lazenby’s only outing as Bond.

    Four

    Out of the 193 member states of the United Nations, nine follow Oman and precede Qatar in alphabetical order. Can you name as many of these nine as you can?

    Answer: Pakistan, Palau, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland and Portugal

    — Wikipedia

    The Rolling Stones in July 1963.
    From left: Charlie Watts, Bill Wyman, Mick Jagger, Brian Jones, Keith Richards.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    The Encyclopædia Britannica and Wikipedia agree on the first stable lineup of this group. Listed alphabetically by surname, they are Mick Jagger, …, Keith Richards, Charlie Watts and Bill Wyman. Who is missing from second place in this list?

    Answer: Brian Jones

    Formed in London as an alliance between Jagger, Richards, and multi-instrumentalist Brian Jones along with Watts and bassist Bill Wyman, the Stones began as a grubby conclave of students and bohemians playing a then-esoteric music based on Chicago blues in pubs and clubs in and around West London. Their potential for mass-market success seemed negligible at first, but by 1965 they were second to the Beatles in the collective affection of teenage Britain. — Encyclopædia Britannica