Europe – Page 6 – Quizology Online

Hatches, matches and despatches

A few questions related to people who were born, got married or died on today’s date, June 3.

Born in St Louis, Missouri, on 3 June 1926, this singer and dancer was a resistance member and spy in occupied France during World War II. Who was she?
- Josephine Baker
- Mata Hari
- Edith Cavell
Tennis player Rafael Nadal was born on this day in 1986. He won his first Grand Slam singles title in 2005 at the …
- Australian Open
- French Open
- US Open
On this day in 1937, the Duke of Windsor, formerly King Edward VIII, married Wallis Simpson, the woman for whom he had abdicated the British throne. Where were they married?
- Chapel Royal, Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh, Scotland
- Château de Candé, Tours, France
- Crathie Kirk, Balmoral, Scotland
An actor who died today in 2001 had played the following roles during a long career. In 1961, he was Andrea Stavros in The Guns of Navarone; the same year, he took the title role in Barrabas and the following year, he was the Bedouin sheikh Auda Abu Tayi in Lawrence of Arabia (1962). Who was he?
- Anthony Daniels
- Anthony Perkins
- Anthony Quinn
An author and lawyer who died on this day in 1924 has an adjective named after him. The adjective is defined as ‘characteristic or reminiscent of the oppressive or nightmarish qualities of …’s fictional world’. What name is omitted from this definition?
- Lewis Carroll
- Frank Kafka
- Bram Stoker

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

A trivial pursuit | Answers

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

Alfred Deakin became prime minister for the third time on the 2 June 1909. In what country was he premier?
- Australia—Alfred Deakin, Australia’s second Prime Minister, was a key figure in Federation and early Australian politics. He served three terms, leading the Protectionist Party and later the Liberal Party, and is remembered for his influence on the “Australian settlement” and the establishment of a two-party system.
  
  Coronation portrait of Queen Elizabeth II, June 1953.
  Image Wikipedia
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, today in 1953, took place at…
- Westminster Abbey—The coronation of Elizabeth II as Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms took place on 2 June 1953 at Westminster Abbey. The ceremony, televised for the first time, included an oath, anointing, and crowning.
On this day in 1962, during the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in a match to stop violence between Italian players and those from…
- Chile—The Battle of Santiago, a 1962 FIFA World Cup match between Chile and Italy, was known for its violence, including two red cards, numerous punches, and four police interventions.
  
  Painting of two alleged witches being tried in Salem, Massachusetts as part of the infamous witchhunts.
  Image Wikipedia
Today in 1692, the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem went on trial and was found guilty. Who was she?
- Bridget Bishop—Bridget Bishop was accused of witchcraft by five young women and tried in the first case of the Salem Witchcraft Trials. Multiple witnesses testified against her, claiming she harmed them through apparitions and physical attacks. Despite a jury finding a third nipple on her, Bishop was ultimately convicted of witchcraft based on the sheer number of accusations and her perceived dishonesty in court. She was sentenced to death and hanged.
  
  Surveyor 1.
  Image Wikipedia
On 2 June 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first US spacecraft to soft-land on another world when it touched down in Oceanus Procellarum on…
- Moon—Surveyor 1, the first US lunar soft-lander, successfully landed on the Ocean of Storms (Oceanus Procellarum) on 2 June 1966. It transmitted 11,237 photos of the lunar surface to Earth, providing valuable data for the Apollo Moon landings.

A trivial pursuit

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 2nd.

Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
Image Wikipedia

Alfred Deakin became prime minister for the third time on the 2 June 1909. In what country was he premier?
- Australia
- Barbados
- Canada
Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation, today in 1953, took place at…
- St Paul’s Cathedral
- Westminster Abbey
- Windsor Castle
On this day in 1962, during the FIFA World Cup, police had to intervene multiple times in a match to stop violence between Italian players and those from…
- Australia
- Belgium
- Chile
Today in 1692, the first person to be tried for witchcraft in Salem went on trial and was found guilty. Who was she?
- Abigail Abbott
- Bridget Bishop
- Catherine Chaplain
On 2 June 1966, Surveyor 1 became the first US spacecraft to soft-land on another world when it touched down in Oceanus Procellarum on…
- Mars
- Mercury
- Moon

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Roamin’ in the Gloamin’ | Answers

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

Positions of North Magnetic Pole of the Earth. Poles shown are dip poles, defined as positions where the direction of the magnetic field is vertical. Red circles mark magnetic north pole positions as determined by direct observation, blue circles mark positions modelled using the GUFM model (1590–1890) and the IGRF-12 model (1900–2020) in 1 year increments. For the years 1890–1900, a smooth interpolation between the two models was performed. The modelled locations after 2015 are projections.
Image Wikipedia

On 1 June 1831, British naval officer James Clark Ross made history as the first person to precisely locate the position of the Earth’s north magnetic pole. Using current locations, where was it discovered?
- Boothia Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada—The north magnetic pole was located on the Boothia Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada—the northernmost portion of mainland Canada and North America—since then it has roamed the Arctic, gradually drifting north-northwest by more than 600 miles (1,100 km).
  
  James Madison.
  Image Wikipedia
Today in 1812, the US President asked Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom. Who was this president?
- James Madison—After failed sanctions and policies, Madison believed war with Britain was necessary. A “war hawk” Congress, elected by an angry public, declared war on 1 June 1812, despite the country’s small, poorly trained military.
  
  Scotch Whisky.
  Image Wikipedia
On this date, a monk recorded the first known batch of Scotch whisky. In which year was this record made?
- 1495—John Cor, a fifteenth-century Scottish friar, is linked to the earliest written record of Scotch whisky. King James IV ordered Cor to use malt to make whisky in 1495, marking the first mention of whisky in a Scottish source.
  
  Jason Donovan.
  Image Wikipedia
All celebrating birthdays today, but who was born the earliest?
- Jason Donovan, actor and singer—the former Neighbours and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat star was born in 1968. Heidi Klum was 1973 and Brandi Carlile, 1981.
On 1 June 1919, as one of its first acts after independence from the Russian Empire, Finland imposed which of these?
- Prohibition (Ban on alcohol)—Finland enacted prohibition in 1919 after independence from Russia, but repealed it in 1932 following a referendum after widespread smuggling and increased crime.

Roamin’ in the Gloamin’

Some questions connected to today’s date, June 1st.

Map of Arctic Circle (shown in blue).
Image Wikipedia

On 1 June 1831, British naval officer James Clark Ross made history as the first person to precisely locate the position of the Earth’s north magnetic pole. Using current locations, where was it discovered?
- Boothia Peninsula, Nunavut, Canada
- Ittoqqortoormiit, Sermersooq, Greenland
- Nuvuk, Murchison Promontory, Alaska, USA
Today in 1812, the US President asked Congress to declare war on the United Kingdom. Who was this president?
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
- James Monroe
On this date, a monk recorded the first known batch of Scotch whisky. In which year was this record made?
- 1009
- 1243
- 1495
All celebrating birthdays today, but who was born the earliest?
- Brandi Carlile, singer-songwriter
- Heidi Klum, model
- Jason Donovan, actor and singer
On 1 June 1919, as one of its first acts after independence from the Russian Empire, Finland imposed which of these?
- Conscription (Military draft)
- Prohibition (Ban on alcohol)
- Women’s suffrage (Right to vote)

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Exploring history | Answers

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

Sunset over the Strait of San Juan de Fuca, as seen from the town of Sekiu, Washington, USA.
Image Wikipedia

Manuel Quimper explored the Strait of Juan de Fuca on this day in 1790. What international boundary runs down the centre of the strait?
- Canada and USA—The Strait of Juan de Fuca, named after Greek navigator Juan de Fuca, is the Salish Sea’s main outlet to the Pacific Ocean. Its existence was confirmed by Charles Barkley in 1787, though John Meares later attempted to claim credit. The strait was further explored between 1789 and 1791 by Spanish explorers including Manuel Quimper.
  
  HMS Warspite and Malaya on 31 May 1916 during the battle of Jutland.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1916, the largest naval battle of the First World War took place. What is it known as?
- Battle of Jutland—The Battle of Jutland, known by the Germans as Skagerrakschlacht (Battle of the Skagerrak), fought between the British and German navies in 1916, was the largest naval battle of World War I. The outcome denied the German surface fleet access to the North Sea and Atlantic for the remainder of the war.
  
  Painting of the Pont Neuf project as approved by King Henry III in 1578. The bridge was completed in 1607 with a less ornate design.
  Image Wikipedia
Today in 1578, France’s King Henry III laid the first stone for what is now Paris’s oldest bridge. What is its name?
- Pont Neuf (New Bridge)—The Pont Neuf, the oldest bridge in Paris, spans the Seine and connects the left and right banks to the Île de la Cité. It was named Pont Neuf, meaning New Bridge, to distinguish it from older bridges lined with houses.
  
  A Japanese Ko-hyoteki class midget submarine, believed to be the vessel known as Midget No. 14, is raised from the bed of Sydney Harbour. The night before the picture was taken, the submarine’s two crew members were part of a raid on shipping in Sydney Harbour. (Photo 1 June 1942)
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia. What was used to in these attacks?
- Midget submarines—Between 31 May and 8 June 1942, three Japanese midget submarines launched a series of attacks on Sydney Harbour. Two submarines were detected and sunk, while the third sank a converted ferry, resulting in the loss of 21 sailors.
  
  Genghis Khan.
  Image Wikipedia
On 31st May 1223, Genghis Khan’s armies emerged victorious at the Battle of the Kalka River. In which modern-day country was this battle fought?
- Ukraine—The Battle of the Kalka River in 1223, on the Kalka River, in present-day Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine, was a decisive Mongol victory against a coalition of Rus’ principalities and Cumans.

Exploring history

A few questions related to today’s date, May 31st.

Manuel Quimper explored the Strait of Juan de Fuca on this day in 1790. What international boundary runs down the centre of the strait? Argentina and Chile—Burma (Myanmar) and Thailand—Canada and USA
On this day in 1916, the largest naval battle of the First World War took place. What is it known as? Battle of the Baltic Sea—Battle of Jutland—Battle of Scapa Flow
Today in 1578, France’s King Henry III laid the first stone for what is now Paris’s oldest bridge. What is its name? Pont Jeanne-d’Arc (Joan of Arc Bridge)—Pont Neuf (New Bridge)—Pont Nord (North Bridge)
On this day in 1942, the Imperial Japanese Navy launched a series of attacks on Sydney, Australia. What was used to in these attacks? Dive bombers—Midget submarines—Ninja sleepers
On 31st May 1223, Genghis Khan’s armies emerged victorious at the Battle of the Kalka River. In which modern-day country was this battle fought? Georgia—Kazakhstan—Ukraine

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.” | Answers

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

George III of Great Britain.
Image Google Art Project/Wikipedia

The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
- George III—George III’s reign (1760–1820) saw the British Empire expand during the Seven Years’ War but shrink with the loss of the American colonies. The Napoleonic Wars solidified Britain’s position as a European power.
  
  Charles De Gaulle, 1942.
  Image Wikipedia
Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
- Charles De Gaulle—Charles de Gaulle was a French general and statesman who led the Free French Forces against Nazi Germany in World War II. He later founded the Fifth Republic, served as its first President, and pursued a policy of “national independence” that included withdrawing from NATO and developing an independent nuclear force. De Gaulle also advocated for a Europe of sovereign nations and opposed US intervention in Vietnam.
  
  Ptolemaic Kingdom in the 3rd–2nd centuries BCE.
  Image Wikipedia
The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
- Alexandria—Alexandria had been founded by Alexander the Great. After Alexander’s death, Ptolemy Lagides took control of Egypt, executed Cleomenes, and declared himself Pharaoh in 305 BC, moving the capital to Alexandria.
  
  Leif Erikson, modern statue, Duluth.
  Image Wikipedia
A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
- Leif Erikson—Leif Erikson, a Norse explorer, is believed to have been the first European to reach continental America, establishing a settlement in Vinland (possibly Newfoundland, Canada). He later became chief of the Greenland settlement after his father’s death.
  
  John Bellingham.
  Image Wikipedia
  
  Charles J. Guiteau.
  Image Wikipedia
  
  Nathuram Godse.
  Image India Today
Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
- John Bellingham (1812), Charles Julius Guiteau (1881) and Nathuram Vinayak Godse (1948)—
  - Bellingham assassinated Spencer Perceval, a British statesman and barrister who served as Prime Minister from 1809 until his assassination in 1812. He is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated.
  - Guiteau assassinated James Garfield, the 20th US president, who served from March to his death in September 1881. Garfield had a diverse background, having served as a preacher, lawyer, Civil War general, and nine terms in the House of Representatives.
  - Godse assassinated Mahatma Gandhi, an Indian lawyer and anti-colonial nationalist, in 1948. Gandhi led India’s independence movement through nonviolent resistance and championed civil rights, religious pluralism, and self-sufficiency, inspiring global movements. Godse, a Hindu nationalist, opposed Gandhi’s support for Muslims and shot him.

“Only one man in a thousand is a leader of men — the other 999 follow women.”

Groucho Marx.
Publicity portrait, 1947.
Image Wikipedia

Today’s post title, a quote by Groucho Marx, is only slightly relevant to these questions about leaders and rulers.

The American colonies gained independence during the reign of which British king?
- George I
- George II
- George III
Who was the Chairman of the French National Committee from June 1940 until June 1944 during World War II?
- Charles De Gaulle
- Félix Gouin
- Philippe Pétain
The Ptolemaic dynasty ruled Ancient Egypt from 305 BC until 30 BC. Where served as the Ptolemy’s capital city?
- Alexandria
- Memphis
- Thebes
A Norse chieftain is thought to have been the first European to set foot on continental America, who is he?
- Leif Erikson
- Erik Thorvaldsson
- Thorstein Eiriksson
Arrange these three assassins in chronological order based on the date of their infamous assassinations (earliest first).
- Charles Julius Guiteau
- John Bellingham
- Nathuram Godse

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Flying solo | Answers

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

Icon from the Mégalo Metéoron Monastery in Greece, representing the First Ecumenical Council of Nikea 325 A.D., with the condemned Arius in the bottom of the icon.
Image Wikipedia

Image

On 20th May 325, the first council in the history of the Christian church took place. Where did they meet?
- Nicaea—The First Council of Nicaea, convened by Emperor Constantine I in 325, addressed the Christological issue of the divine nature of God the Son and his relationship to God the Father. The council also constructed the first part of the Nicene Creed, mandated uniform Easter observance, and promulgated early canon law.
  
  Portrait of Tomás Estrada Palma
  Image Wikipedia
Tomás Estrada Palma became his country’s first President when it gained independence from the United States. Of what country was he president?
- Cuba—Tomás Estrada Palma was a Cuban politician, serving as the first President of Cuba from 1902 to 1906. He improved Cuba’s infrastructure, communication, and public health during his presidency.
  
  Vasco da Gama.
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1498, an explorer’s fleet arrived in India, marking the discovery of a sea route to India from Europe. Who was the explorer?
- Vasco de Gama—Vasco da Gama led a fleet from Lisbon in 1497, successfully sailing to Calicut, India, and returning two years later. This voyage, the first direct European route to India, opened up new trade opportunities and is celebrated in Luís de Camões’ epic poem, Os Lusíadas.
  
  Two questions with a theme next.
  
  Charles Lindbergh with Spirit of St. Louis
  Image Wikipedia
On this day in 1927 Charles Lindbergh took to the skies in the Spirit of St. Louis on the first nonstop solo flight across the Atlantic Ocean. Where did he take off from?
- Long Island, New York—On 20 May 1927, Charles Lindbergh took off from Roosevelt Field on Long Island, New York, in his Spirit of St. Louis aeroplane. After a 33.5-hour flight across the Atlantic, facing challenges like icing and fog, he landed at Le Bourget Aerodrome near Paris, France, on 21 May 1927. His transatlantic flight made him the first person to fly solo across the Atlantic.
  
  Amelia Earhart, 1928.
  Image Wikipedia https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7f/Amelia_Earhart_1928.jpg
Five years after Charles Lindbergh’s historic solo flight across the Atlantic, Amelia Earhart also made history on 20th May 1932. She embarked on the world’s first solo nonstop flight by a female pilot, taking off from Newfoundland, Canada. Where did she land?
- Derry, Northern Ireland—On 20 May 1932, Amelia Earhart flew solo from Newfoundland to Northern Ireland in a Lockheed Vega 5B, facing strong winds, icy conditions, and mechanical problems. After 14 hours and 56 minutes, she landed in a pasture near Derry.