Quizology.Online

Tag: Europe

  • A Masterly Performance—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

    Pontifical Swiss Guard.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

    Answer: 16th century

    The Pontifical Swiss Guard, established in 1506, protects the Pope and the Vatican. Their duties include accompanying the Pope on journeys, guarding Vatican access points, and protecting the College of Cardinals during the Vacant See.

    Two

    The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

    Answer: Six

    American professional golfer Jack Nicklaus, born in 1940, dominated world golf from the 1960s to the 1980s. He won 18 major championships, including a record six Masters Tournaments between 1963 and 1986, and was named PGA Player of the Year five times. Nicklaus also designed golf courses and authored several books.

    Three

    A French fashion designer born in 1905 became known for annually introducing new lines, for example the Muguet/Lily of the Valley line and H-Line in 1954; and the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955. Who was this designer?

    Answer: Christian Dior

    Christian Dior, a French fashion designer, revolutionised post-war fashion with his New Look style, characterised by feminine, sculpted clothing with rounded shoulders, a cinched waist, and a full skirt. Backed by Marcel Boussac, he founded his fashion house in 1946 and introduced the New Look in 1947. Dior’s influence extended beyond clothing, as he also launched perfumes, shoes, makeup, and accessories, solidifying his status as a leading figure in the fashion industry.

    Four

    A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

    Answer: Luciano Pavarotti, Plácido Domingo and José Carreras

    Plácido Domingo, a Spanish-born singer, conductor, and opera administrator, is renowned for his powerful tenor voice and versatility. He performed over 150 operatic roles, ventured into popular music, and founded the Operalia competition to support young singers. Allegations of sexual misconduct in 2019 led to the cancellation of performances, although Domingo denied any wrongdoing.

    Concorde G-BOAA at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.
    Image National Museum of Flight

    Five

    On 21 January 1976, two Concorde aircraft, one from British Airways and the other from Air France, made their first commercial flights. What were the two routes flown by these Concorde aircraft on that day?

    Answer: (British Airways) London to Bahrain and (Air France) Paris to Rio

    The Concorde, a supersonic passenger jet built by British and French manufacturers, made its first transatlantic flight (non-commercial) in 1973 and inaugurated scheduled commercial supersonic service in 1976. Despite its technological prowess and ability to halve transatlantic flight times, the Concorde was never financially viable due to high operating costs and noise pollution. The programme ended in 2003 after a fatal crash in 2000 and financial losses. British Airways Concorde B-GOAA, which flew the first London-Bahrain flight mentioned in this question, is on display at the National Museum of Scotland’s National Museum of Flight.

    Hopefully, there will be some more trivia for your amusement here tomorrow.

  • A Masterly Performance

    These questions are all related to today’s date, January 21st.

    Pontifical Swiss Guard.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In what century were this corps of soldiers entrusted with the duties of watchmen for the holder of a particular office, and what office was that?

    Two

    The professional golfer Jack Nicklaus was born on this day in 1940. During his professional career, how many Masters Tournaments did he win?

    Three

    A French fashion designer born in 1905 became known for annually introducing new lines, for example the Muguet/Lily of the Valley line and H-Line in 1954; and the A-Line and Y-Line in 1955. Who was this designer?

    Four

    A Spanish singer born in 1941 went on to be one third of the operatic singing trio The Three Tenors. Identify the three singers who comprised The Three Tenors?

    Concorde G-BOAA at the National Museum of Flight, Scotland.
    Image National Museum of Flight

    Five

    On 21 January 1976, two Concorde aircraft, one from British Airways and the other from Air France, made their first commercial flights. What were the two routes flown by these Concorde aircraft on that day?

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

  • Around the World—Answers

    Five geographic questions.

    Confluence of Blue Nile and White Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

    Answer: Chile and Ecuador

    Brazil borders ten South American countries, namely Argentina, Bolivia, Colombia, Guyana, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Uruguay, Venezuela, and French Guiana, which is an overseas region of France.

    Two

    Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

    Answer: Munster

    Munster is the largest province in Ireland, situated in the southwest, with a population of 1,373,346 in 2022. It serves as a provincial subdivision of the state without an official local government function. Münster is a major city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, renowned for its bicycle culture and historical importance, notably the Anabaptist rebellion and the Treaties of Westphalia.

    Three

    In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

    Answer: Ulaanbaatar

    Mongolia, a landlocked country in East Asia, is the world’s most sparsely populated sovereign state. It has a rich history, having been ruled by various nomadic empires and later becoming a satellite state of the Soviet Union. Today, Mongolia is a democratic country with a nomadic culture and a majority Buddhist population.

    Four

    This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

    The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

    — Wikipedia

    Answer: Darwin

    Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. With a population of 139,902, it serves as a key link to Southeast Asia and has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season.

    Five

    Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

    Answer: White Nile

    The Nile has two major tributaries: the 3,700-kilometre White Nile and the 1,450-kilometre Blue Nile. Traditionally, the longer White Nile is considered the headwaters, but the Blue Nile, which supplies 80% of the water and silt downstream, is actually the main source. The White Nile begins at Lake Victoria and flows through Uganda and South Sudan. The Blue Nile originates at Lake Tana in Ethiopia and flows southeast into Sudan. The two rivers converge in Khartoum, the Sudanese capital.

  • Around the World

    Five geographic questions.

    Confluence of Nile at Khartoum, Sudan.
    Image Pinterest

    One

    On mainland South America what countries do NOT border Brazil?

    Two

    Europe: what seven-letter word gives a name to both an Irish province and a city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany?

    Three

    In Asia, what is the capital of Mongolia?

    Four

    This quote from Wikipedia refers to what Australian city?

    The city has been almost entirely rebuilt four times, following devastation caused by a cyclone in 1897, another one in 1937, Japanese air raids during World War II, and Cyclone Tracy in 1974

    — Wikipedia

    Five

    Of the two major tributaries of Africa’s River Nile, which is the longer?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II—Answers

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose, see question eight.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

    Answer: Graham Chapman—John Cleese—Terry Gilliam—Eric Idle—Terry Jones—Michael Palin

    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

    Answer: Philosopher’s Stone—Chamber of Secrets—Prisoner of Azkaban—Goblet of Fire,—Order of the Phoenix—Half-Blood Prince—Deathly Hallows

    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

    Answer: North—Northeast—East—Southeast—South—Southwest—West—Northwest.

    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

    Answer: Gandalf—Legolas—Gimli—Aragorn—Boromir—Frodo Baggins—Samwise Gamgee—Merry Brandybuck—Pippin Took.

    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia—Dhaka, Bangladesh—Tokyo, Japan—Delhi, India—Shanghai, China—Guangzhou, China—Cairo, Egypt — Manila, Philippines — Kolkata, India—Seoul, South Korea

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part II

    Second of two parts. Questions one to five were posted in Part I yesterday.

    Compass Rose.
    Image Clipartbest.com

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Continuing from yesterday with questions six to ten.

    Six

    For SIX points, name the members of the comedy troupe, Monty Python.

    Seven

    For SEVEN points, list the Harry Potter novels. No need to put Harry Potter and…

    Eight

    For EIGHT points, starting from 0 degrees and moving clockwise, list the compass points formed by dividing a compass rose into eight segments. (in clockwise order)

    Nine

    For NINE points. In J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Lord of the Rings, a group of nine, known as the Company of the Ring or the Fellowship of the Ring, embarked on a mission to destroy the ring. Who were they?

    Ten

    For TEN points, list the world’s ten most populous cities as listed by the UN 2025 Population Estimates.

    Good luck! As usual I’ll post the answers later.

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I—Answers

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

    Answer: Hungary

    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

    Answer: Raven—Dove

    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

    Answer: Athos—Porthos—Aramis

    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

    Answer: Andrew—George—David—Patrick

    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Answer: The Bronx—Brooklyn—Manhattan—Queens—Staten Island

    Part II follows tomorrow

  • One to Ten equals 55, Part I

    Noah’s Ark, question two.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Something a bit different today. You can earn a total of 55 points by answering all the questions completely. The first question is worth one point and has only one correct answer. The second question is worth two points for two correct answers and so on… until the tenth question which is worth ten points for ten correct answers.

    Posted in two parts with the second part following tomorrow.

    One

    For ONE point, in what country was the composer Franz Liszt born

    Two

    For TWO points. According to the Bible story, Noah released two birds from the ark to determine whether the flood had abated; what birds?

    Three

    For THREE points. In Alexandre Dumas’ novel, The Three Musketeers, the title characters meet and befriend d’Artagnan; what are their names?

    Four

    For FOUR points, list the patron saints of Scotland, England, Wales and Ireland.

    Five

    For FIVE points, list the five boroughs of New York City.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later and part II follows tomorrow.

  • Famous Family—Answers

    These questions all relate to today, January 8th.

    Flag of Monaco.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On this day in 1997, what family commemorated 700 years of ruling the place represented by the flag shown above? Who are the family and where do they rule?

    1. Borgia, Republic of San Marino
    2. Grimaldi family, Principality of Monaco
    3. Medici family, Vatican City State

    Answer: 2. Grimaldi family, Principality of Monaco.

    Monaco, a sovereign city-state on the French Riviera, is the second smallest sovereign state in the world. It is a semi-constitutional monarchy with Prince Albert II as head of state. Monaco is known for its wealth, casinos, and as a tax haven, attracting a high percentage of millionaires.

    Two

    What year and state complete the following sentence? In …, Elvis Presley was born in …

    1. 1933; Alabama
    2. 1935; Mississippi
    3. 1937; Tennessee

    Answer: 2. 1935; Mississippi.

    Elvis Presley, the King of Rock and Roll, was a highly influential American singer and actor. Born on 8 January 1935 in Tupelo, Mississippi, he rose to fame in the 1950s with his unique blend of country and rhythm and blues, becoming a cultural icon despite initial controversy. Presley’s successful music career spanned multiple genres, and he remains one of the best-selling music artists of all time.

    Three

    On this day, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as president of France’s …

    1. First Republic
    2. Fourth Republic
    3. Fifth Republic

    Answer: 3. Fifth Republic.

    Charles de Gaulle, a pivotal figure in French history, led the Free French forces during WWII, became the provisional president, and was instrumental in establishing the Fifth Republic. As President from 1959 to 1969, he navigated challenges like the Algerian War, strengthened France’s economy and international position, and aimed to increase France’s global influence.

    __

    Four

    Born on this day, Stephen Hawking, a British theoretical physicist and cosmologist, who suffered from motor neurone disease did NOT take part in which one of these?

    1. Have I Got News for You
    2. Monty Python
    3. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series

    Answer: 1. Have I Got News for You.

    Stephen Hawking was an English theoretical physicist and cosmologist, known for his work on black holes and cosmology. He was diagnosed with motor neurone disease at age 21, but continued his work and achieved commercial success with his book A Brief History of Time. He featured at the Monty Python Live (Mostly) show in 2014. He was shown to sing an extended version of the Galaxy Song, after running down Brian Cox with his wheelchair, in a pre-recorded video. In 2018, Hawking was the voice of The Book Mark II on The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series

    Five

    Queen Mary
    Image Wikimedia Commons
    Queen Mary 2
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The ocean liners RMS Queen Mary 2 and her namesake Queen Mary are both named after the same person. Who?

    1. Mary I
    2. Mary, Queen of Scots
    3. Mary of Teck

    Answer: 3. Mary of Teck.

    Queen Mary, now berthed permanently at Long Beach, California, United States, was launched in 1934 when she was named after, and by, Queen Mary, the consort of Britain’s King George V. On 8 January 2004, Queen Mary’s granddaughter, Elizabeth II, named Queen Mary 2 after her grandmother, the same Queen Mary who was born Mary of Teck. Cunard legend has it that the 1934 ship was to be named after Queen Victoria, and following protocol, they advised the king, ‘We have decided to name our new ship after England’s greatest queen.’ George V allegedly responded, ‘My wife [Queen Mary] will be delighted that you are naming the ship after her.’

  • Famous Family

    These questions all relate to today, January 8th.

    Flag details with answers.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On this day in 1997, what family commemorated 700 years of ruling the place represented by the flag shown above? Who are the family and where do they rule?

    1. Borgia, Republic of San Marino
    2. Grimaldi family, Principality of Monaco
    3. Medici family, Vatican City State

    Two

    What year and state complete the following sentence? In …, Elvis Presley was born in …

    1. 1933; Alabama
    2. 1935; Mississippi
    3. 1937; Tennessee

    Three

    On this day, Charles de Gaulle was inaugurated as president of France’s …

    1. First Republic
    2. Fourth Republic
    3. Fifth Republic

    __

    Four

    Born on this day, Stephen Hawking, a British theoretical physicist and cosmologist, who suffered from motor neurone disease did NOT take part in which one of these?

    1. Have I Got News for You
    2. Monty Python
    3. The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy radio series

    Five

    The ocean liners RMS Queen Mary 2 and her namesake Queen Mary are both named after the same person. Who?

    1. Mary I
    2. Mary, Queen of Scots
    3. Mary of Teck

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.