Europe – Page 10 – Quizology Online

A Star is Born

Barbra Streisand.
Image Wikipedia

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, 24 April.

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
On this day in 1479 BCE, Thutmose III ascended to the throne of…
- China
- Egypt
- Mesopotamia
Joseph Ratzinger was installed as Pope on 24 April. What papal name did he choose?
- Adrian VI
- Benedict XVI
- Clement X
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
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.

Three Kings | Answers

Here, in bold, are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

April.

Flag of Eritrea.
Image Wikipedia

The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
- Eritrea—Eritrea, located in the Horn of Africa on the Red Sea, gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993 after a nearly 30-year war. It is a multi-ethnic nation with nine recognised ethnic groups, primarily Tigrinya and Tigre, and is one of the least developed countries globally. Eritrea is a unitary one-party presidential republic, and its capital and largest city is Asmara.
  
  Lorraine Motel, Memphis, Tennessee, USA.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
- Memphis, Tennessee—Martin Luther King Jr., a leading civil rights figure, was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, on 4 April 1968, leading to widespread riots. James Earl Ray, a career criminal, initially pleaded guilty to the murder and was sentenced to 99 years in prison but later recanted, alleging a conspiracy. The King family also believes the assassination was part of a government conspiracy.
  
  Battle of Clontarf [1014] by Hugh Frazer, 1826.
  Image Wikipedia
Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
- Ireland—The Battle of Clontarf, fought on 23 April 1014 near Dublin, was a significant conflict between Brian Boru’s Irish forces and a coalition of Leinster, Dublin, and Vikings. Despite heavy casualties on both sides, including the deaths of Brian, his son, and grandson, as well as the opposing leaders, the battle marked a turning point in the decline of Viking power in Ireland and solidified Brian’s legacy as a prominent figure in Irish history.
  
  Drink Coca-Cola 5¢”, an 1890s advertising poster.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
- Coca-Cola—In April 1985, Coca-Cola introduced a new flavour, New Coke, to combat declining market share, following a formula developed through taste tests. Despite initial taste tests showing most consumers preferred New Coke over both the original Coke and Pepsi, the company faced significant public backlash due to nostalgia for the original taste. Consequently, Coca-Cola reverted to the original formula on 10 July 1985, marketing it as Coca-Cola Classic. New Coke continued to be available, was renamed Coke II in 1992, and was eventually discontinued in 2002.
  
  Ethelred the Unready, circa 968-1016. Illuminated manuscript, The Chronicle of Abindon, c.1220. MS Cott. Claude B.VI folio 87, verso, The British Library.
  Image Wikipedia
On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
- Ethelred the Unready—Ethelred II, known as Ethelred the Unready— was King of the English from 978 to 1013 and again from 1014 until his death in 1016. His 37-year reign, the longest of any Anglo-Saxon English king, was marked by conflict with the Danes, including the St Brice’s Day massacre and the Danegeld tribute. As an ineffectual ruler, he failed to prevent Danish invasions, leading to distrust, disloyalty, and failed attempts to buy peace, ultimately resulting in his exile in 1013.

Three Kings

Here are a few questions related to today’s date, 23 April.

Flag of Eritrea.
Image Wikipedia

The flag shown above is from a country where voting began on 23 April 1993, in a UN-monitored referendum to make its independence official. The country is…
- Eritrea
- South Sudan
- Eswatini
On this day in 1998, James Earl Ray, the convicted assassin who had killed Martin Luther King, Jr., died in prison in the United States. Where had he assassinated King?
- Montgomery, Alabama
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Macon, Georgia
Today in 1014, the Battle of Clontarf took place, where the High King Brian Boru defeated Viking invaders but was killed in battle. Brian Boru was the king of…
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
On this day in 1985, a company replaced its tried-and-tested product with a new version. However, in the face of public backlash, they were forced to revert to the original within months. What company?
- Budweiser
- Coca-Cola
- McDonald’s
On 23 April 1016, King Ethelred II of England passed away. What was his epithet?
- Ethelred the Unready
- Ethelred the Unsteady
- Ethelred the Unwieldy

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Mythical Creatures | Answers

Flag of Wales. Image Wikipedia

The image shown above is the flag of…
- Wales—The flag of Wales features a red dragon on a green and white field, with the colours representing the Tudor family. The Red Dragon, a vexilloid—a flag or standard—possibly invented in Persia, was introduced to Britain during Roman rule and became a symbol for local rulers, including King Arthur and kings of the Wessex Saxons. It was traditionally associated with King Arthur and was officially recognised as the badge of Wales in 1801; the flag was officially recognised in 1959.
  
  Horus. Image Wikipedia
The ancient Egyptian deity, normally depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon’s head, is…
- Horus—an ancient Egyptian deity, was worshipped as the god of kingship, healing, protection, the sun, and the sky. He was depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon head and was associated with the ruling pharaoh
  
  Albrecht Dürer, Saint George Killing the Dragon. Image Wikipedia
What links the royal arms of Aragon, the coat of arms of Moscow, Russia, and the coat of arms of Reggio Calabria, Italy?
- Saint George and the dragon—The legend of Saint George slaying a dragon, originating in Cappadocia, was attributed to him in the 11th century and quickly spread through the Byzantine cultural sphere, reaching Western Christian tradition during the Crusades. This story became a popular subject in literature and art. Saint George, an early Christian martyr, is the patron saint of England and Georgia, depicted as a warrior-saint who famously saved a princess by slaying a dragon.
  
  The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom features two versions. The Scottish version, on the right, has the lion and unicorn swapped, with both crowned. Image Wikipedia
The unicorn is the national symbol of…
- Scotland—The unicorn, a symbol of purity and power in Celtic mythology, has been Scotland’s national animal since the mid-1500s and is depicted as the natural enemy of the lion, representing England. The royal arms of the United Kingdom feature both a unicorn and a lion, with variations highlighting Scottish or English elements. Initially, the Scottish royal coat of arms was supported by two unicorns, but after the Union of the Crowns, one was replaced by a lion. Scottish unicorns in heraldry are shown with gold chains, symbolising the power of Scottish kings.
Finally, from Australia, a drop bear is a…
- Carnivorous marsupial—In a hoax, drop bears are a ravenous species of koala attracted to foreign accents. They drop from trees to pounce on tourists, stunning them with the initial impact.

Koala, not a drop bear. Image Wikipedia

Mythical Creatures

See #1 below. Wikipedia

The image shown above is the flag of…
- Brunei
- Uzbekistan
- Wales
The gods Osiris, Anubis and Horus in the
Tomb of Horemheb (KV57) in the Valley of the Kings.
Wikipedia
The ancient Egyptian deity, normally depicted as a falcon or a man with a falcon’s head, is…
- Anubis
- Horus
- Osiris
What links the royal arms of Aragon, Spain; the coat of arms of Moscow, Russia and the coat of arms of Reggio Calabria, Italy?
- Saint Corbinian and the bear
- Saint George and the dragon
- Saint Jerome and the lion
The unicorn is the national symbol of…
- San Marino
- Scotland
- Spain
Finally, from Australia, a drop bear is a…
- Carnivorous marsupial
- Strangling vine
- Venomous plant

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Let’s Dance | Answers

See #3 below. Superman shield. Wikipedia

On 18 April 1980, Elmore City, Oklahoma, held the first dance in the town’s history. The Kevin Bacon film, which was loosely based on this, was…
- Footloose—Footloose is a 1984 American musical drama film about Ren, a Chicago teenager who moves to Bomont, a town with a ban on rock ‘n’ roll and dancing. Ren struggles to fit in and gets into trouble when he falls for Ariel Moore, the preacher’s daughter. To challenge the ban, Ren confronts prejudice and the town’s strict preacher through dance. The film was a box office success, grossing $80 million in North America. It was loosely based on real events in Elmore City, where a ban on public dancing existed before statehood. In the 1979-1980 school year, students lobbied for a school prom with dancing, facing opposition from church leaders. Ultimately, the town mayor supported the students, declaring the prom a non-public event, and the school board authorised it. The controversy gained national attention, inspiring songwriter/screenwriter Dean Pitchford to create the film.
Interior of dome, St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City. Wikipedia
In Vatican City, the cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica was laid on this day in…
- 1506—Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City, a renowned Italian Renaissance church designed by Bramante, Michelangelo and Maderno, is considered one of the holiest Catholic shrines and the largest church in the world by interior measure. Believed to be the burial site of Saint Peter, it was begun in 1506 and completed in 1615. The basilica, designed as a Latin cross with a prominent dome, serves as a major pilgrimage site and the church of the popes. Its construction involved several architects, including Michelangelo, who designed the iconic dome, and Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who designed the elliptical piazza in front of it.
The publication, on 18 April 1938, of Action Comics #1 saw the debut of…
- Superman—Superman, created by Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster, first appeared in Action Comics #1 in 1938. He is the archetypal superhero, fighting crime as a vigilante with extraordinary abilities and popularised the superhero genre.
Flag of Eswatini. Wikipedia
Today in 2018, King Mswati III announced that his country’s name would change to Eswatini. The name it changed from was…
- Swaziland—Eswatini, formerly Swaziland— is a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordered by South Africa and Mozambique. It has a lower-middle income economy, with agriculture and manufacturing as the main employment sectors. The country is an absolute monarchy ruled by King Mswati III since 1986 and faces significant health challenges, including high HIV/AIDS rates. Its capital is Phondvo, while Mbabane serves as the administrative centre.
On 18 April 1942, Pierre Laval became Prime Minister of…
- Vichy France—Vichy France, established in 1940 under Marshal Philippe Pétain, governed the unoccupied zone of France after the Nazi German defeat. Initially collaborating with Germany, the regime shifted towards a corporatist state, emphasising “Work, family, fatherland”. However, after the Allied invasion of North Africa and the German occupation of the entire country, Vichy became increasingly subservient to Germany, ultimately collapsing with the Allied liberation in 1944. They were known as “Vichy France” as that city was the seat of their government.

Marshal Philippe Pétain meeting Hitler in October 1940. Wikipedia

Let’s Dance

Kevin Bacon. Wikipedia

On 18 April 1980, Elmore City, Oklahoma, held the first dance in the town’s history. The Kevin Bacon film, which was loosely based on this, was…
- American Pie
- Footloose
- Prom Night.
In Vatican City, the cornerstone of the current St. Peter’s Basilica was laid on this day in…
- 1506
- 1568
- 1630
The publication, on 18 April 1938, of Action Comics #1 saw the debut of…
- Batman
- Spider-Man
- Superman
Today in 2018, King Mswati III announced that his country’s name would change to Eswatini. The name it changed from was…
- Basutoland
- Nyasaland
- Swaziland
On 18 April 1942, Pierre Laval became Prime Minister of…
- Avignon France
- Lyon France
- Vichy France

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

McDonald’s Medicines and medals | Answers

McDonald’s logo. Wikipedia

On 15 April 1955, Ray Kroc launched McDonald’s Systems, Inc., later known as McDonald’s Corporation, in…
- Des Plaines, Illinois—McDonald’s, founded in 1940, is an American multinational fast food chain. It serves over 69 million customers daily in more than 100 countries.
  
  “Teapot Rock-Famous Teapot Dome”
  “[Salt Creek] Oil District-In Wyoming,”
  Historical postcard, c. 1922. Wikipedia
On this day in 1922, US Senator John B. Kendrick (Wyoming) introduced a resolution calling for an investigation into a secret land deal. This led to the discovery of the…
- Teapot Dome scandal—The Teapot Dome scandal involved the secret leasing of federal oil reserves by Secretary of the Interior Albert Bacon Fall to Harry F. Sinclair and Edward L. Doheny. Fall received bribes from Sinclair and Doheny, leading to his conviction for bribery and imprisonment.
George Cross granted to the Island of Malta in 1942.
National War Museum, Malta. Wikipedia
On this day in 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island fortress of…
- Malta—see quote from handwritten message of King George VI.
  
  “To honour her brave people I award the George Cross to the Island Fortress of Malta to bear witness to a heroism and devotion that will long be famous in history.“
Today in 1923, ___ became generally available for use by people with diabetes. The missing word is…
- Insulin—a pancreatic hormone, regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating glucose uptake into cells. Insulin deficiency leads to diabetes mellitus, requiring insulin injections
On 15 April 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris in France was seriously damaged by a large fire. This Paris cathedral is located on the…
- Île de la Cité—a 22.5-hectare (55.5 acres) island in the Seine, is the historical heart of Paris. It features iconic landmarks like Notre-Dame Cathedral, Sainte-Chapelle and the Pont Neuf, and underwent significant transformations in the 19th century under Haussmann’s urban renewal project.

Île de la Cité, Paris. Wikipedia

McDonald’s, Medicines and medals

Notre Dame De Paris. Wikipedia

On 15 April 1955, Ray Kroc launched McDonald’s Systems, Inc., later known as McDonald’s Corporation, in…
- Des Lacs, North Dakota
- Des Moines, Iowa
- Des Plaines, Illinois
On this day in 1922, US Senator John B. Kendrick (Wyoming) introduced a resolution calling for an investigation into a secret land deal. This led to the discovery of the…
- Milk Jug scandal
- Sugar Bowl scandal
- Teapot Dome scandal
On this day in 1942, King George VI awarded the George Cross to the island fortress of…
- Jersey
- Malta
- St Helena.
Today in 1923, ___ became generally available for use by people with diabetes. The missing word is…
- Formalin
- Insulin
- Mandolin.
On 15 April 2019, the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Paris in France was seriously damaged by a large fire. This Paris cathedral is located on the…
- Île de la Cité
- Île-Saint-Denis
- Île Saint-Louis.

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Number Crunching

See #2 below. RMS Titanic departing Southampton on 10 April 1912. Wikipedia

Today’s post is all about today’s date, 14 April, and all the answers are numbers.

What two words are missing from this text regarding an April 14, 1881 gunfight: The ___ Dead in ___ Seconds Gunfight?
- Four and five
- Five and ten
- Six and fifteen.
In 1912, the British passenger liner RMS Titanic struck an iceberg in the North Atlantic, causing it to begin sinking. Where was it when it struck the iceberg?
- 220 miles (350 km) south of Iceland
- 370 miles (600 km) southeast of Newfoundland
- 590 miles (950 km) northwest of the Azores.
  
  William Grover-Williams at the 1929 Monaco Grand Prix. Wikipedia
In motor racing, the inaugural Monaco Grand Prix took place on this date when a number of invited participants started the race. In what year did this inaugural race take place and how many drivers participated?
- 1923 and 10 drivers
- 1929 and 16 drivers
- 1934 and 12 drivers.
On 14 April 1865, Abraham Lincoln, the President of the United States, was shot by John Wilkes Booth at Ford’s Theatre in Washington, DC. What number President was Lincoln and how many days later was his assassin killed?
- 14th President and 17 days
- 15th President and 9 days
- 16th President and 12 days.
Today in 1986, the heaviest hailstones ever recorded fell on the Gopalganj district of Bangladesh, resulting in fatalities. How heavy were the individual hailstones and how many people died?
- 0.5 kg (1.1 lb) and 47 persons
- 0.75 kg (1.65 lb) and 64 persons
- 1 kg (2.2 lb) and 92 persons.
On this day, Mark Antony was defeated at the Battle of Forum Gallorum. This was some 13 years before his death, so when was the battle?
- 43 BCE
- 3CE
- 43 CE

Good luck! As usual, I will post answers later today.