Quizology.Online

Tag: flags

  • Out of Africa — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Malawi.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question relates to July 6th. The remainder are not date-related but follow a theme originating with the first.

    One

    On this day in 1964, the country represented by the flag above gained independence. Which country is it, and what nine-letter name was it known by immediately before independence?

    Answer: Nyasaland.

    The British established the Nyasaland Districts Protectorate in 1891, later renamed Nyasaland. Colonial rule prioritised European settlers, neglecting African welfare and agriculture, leading to migration and opposition to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This fuelled nationalism, culminating in independence on 6 July 1964 when it was renamed Malawi. 

    Two

    Rockjumpers are native to southern Africa. What best describes them: bird, mammal, or reptile?

    Answer: Birds.

    Rockjumpers are medium-sized birds endemic to southern Africa, with two species: the Cape rockjumper and the Drakensberg rockjumper. They differ in size and plumage, with non-overlapping ranges. They run and jump among rocks and grass while hunting insects.

    Three

    Which African percussion instrument was the original default ringtone for the iPhone?

    Answer: Marimba.

    The original iPhone Marimba ringtone is a clean line-out recording that is iconic and often used for incoming calls. It is a short sound, lasting about 7 seconds.

    Four

    Who was the Scottish explorer who introduced Europeans to West Africa through his book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: James Bruce, David Livingstone or Mungo Park? 

    Answer: Mungo Park.

    Mungo Park (1771–1806) was a Scottish explorer who pioneered African exploration. He theorised the Niger and Congo rivers merged, though later proven incorrect. Park’s influential book, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa, introduced Europeans to West Africa, setting a standard for future explorers and colonial ambitions. Park died on the Niger River during his second expedition. The Royal Scottish Geographical Society award the Mungo Park medal annually in his honour.

    Five

    The African monkey gets its name from its crescent-shaped browband, which resembles the bow of a Roman goddess. What is it known as?

    Answer: Diana monkey (Cercopithecus Diana).

    The Diana monkey’s crescent-shaped broadband is said to resemble the the shape of the bow carried by the Roman goddess Diana. It is endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting as bushmeat. It can be found in West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Côte d’Ivoire.

  • Out of Africa

    Flag of ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s first question relates to July 6th. The remainder are not date-related but follow a theme originating with the first.

    One

    On this day in 1964, the country represented by the flag above gained independence. Which country is it, and what nine-letter name was it known by immediately before independence?

    Two

    Rockjumpers are native to southern Africa. What best describes them: bird, mammal, or reptile?

    Three

    Which African percussion instrument was the original default ringtone for the iPhone?

    Four

    Who was the Scottish explorer who introduced Europeans to West Africa through his book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: James Bruce, David Livingstone or Mungo Park? 

    Five

    The African monkey gets its name from its crescent-shaped browband, which resembles the bow of a Roman goddess. What is it known as?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Doctor Skaro — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question four. Flag of the Azores.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions follow a theme. The post’s title, which can reveal in part a relevant literary character, serves as a starting point.

    One

    Air Burkina’s primary base is located at the airport of which African capital city?

    Answer: Ouagadougou.

    Air Burkina SA, Burkina Faso’s national airline, operates from Ouagadougou Airport to domestic and regional destinations. It is currently government-owned, with a new investor being sought.

    Two

    Which Thomas Keneally book was adapted into a film that won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director in 1994?

    Answer: Schindler’s Ark.

    Schindler’s Ark is a biographical novel by Thomas Keneally about Oskar Schindler, a Nazi who saved 1,200 Jews. It won the 1982 Booker Prize, gained fame through Steven Spielberg’s Oscar-winning film Schindler’s List, and was featured on the 2022 ‘Big Jubilee Read’ list.

    Three

    What was the name of the balsa-wood raft used by Thor Heyerdahl to cross the Pacific in 1947?

    Answer: Kon-Tiki.

    The Kon-Tiki expedition, led by Thor Heyerdahl in 1947, was a raft journey from South America to Polynesia. Funded by private loans and U.S. Army equipment, Heyerdahl and five companions sailed 6,900 km on a balsa log raft, landing safely at Raroia after 101 days, inspiring a book and films.

    Four

    The flag shown above is from an archipelago of nine major islands, which is an autonomous region of a European country. It is named for the northern goshawk, although it is thought unlikely that the bird nested or hunted there, as there were no prey animals until sheep were introduced. What is the name of the archipelago?

    Answer: Azores.

    The Azores, an autonomous region of Portugal, consists of nine volcanic islands in the North Atlantic Ocean. Known for its mild climate, the region’s economy relies on agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism. Mount Pico is Portugal’s highest point. The Azores are seismically active at the Azores triple junction where the Eurasian, Nubian and North American tectonic plates meet.

    Five

    In an Alfred Hitchcock film starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, Stewart’s character is confined to a wheelchair. What is the film?

    Answer: Rear Window.

    Rear Window, shot almost entirely from one room, is considered one of Hitchcock’s best films and one of the greatest ever made. Confined to his apartment, photojournalist Jeff (James Stewart) observes his neighbours, including Thorwald, who he suspects of murdering his wife. Jeff enlists the help of his nurse Stella (Thelma Ritter) and girlfriend Lisa (Grace Kelly) to investigate. It received four Academy Award nominations and was added to the United States National Film Registry.

    Doctor Skaro

    Doctor Skaro is, I confess, a bit misleading. Skaro is the home planet of the Daleks, the highly xenophobic, violent, merciless, and pitiless cyborg aliens from the long-running BBC television programme Doctor Who, but neither the title nor the theme has anything to do with their home planet or the Doctor. Doctor Skaro is cryptic. If you ‘doctor’ the word ‘Skaro’, that is, treat it as an anagram and rearrange the letters, you’ll find ‘in part a relevant literary character’: Oskar from question two, Oskar Schindler. Today’s answers begin with the letters O, S, K, A, R.

  • Doctor Skaro

    See question four. Flag of ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions follow a theme. The post’s title, which can reveal in part a relevant literary character, serves as a starting point.

    One

    Air Burkina’s primary base is located at the airport of which African capital city?

    Two

    Which Thomas Keneally book was adapted into a film that won the Oscars for Best Picture and Best Director in 1994?

    Three

    What was the name of the balsa-wood raft used by Thor Heyerdahl to cross the Pacific in 1947?

    Four

    The flag shown above is from an archipelago of nine major islands, which is an autonomous region of a European country. It is named for the northern goshawk, although it is thought unlikely that the bird nested or hunted there, as there were no prey animals until sheep were introduced. What is the name of the archipelago?

    Five

    In an Alfred Hitchcock film starring James Stewart and Grace Kelly, Stewart’s character is confined to a wheelchair. What is the film?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Independently Minded — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Djibouti.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are connected to today, June 27th.

    One

    The flag above represents a country that gained independence in 1977. Which country is it, and from which did it gain independence?

    Answer: Djibouti; France.

    Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, borders Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. Gaining independence in 1977, it is a multi-ethnic nation with French and Arabic as official languages. Strategically located, it serves as a key refuelling hub and hosts several foreign military bases.

    Two

    Jack Lemmon won two Academy Awards, the first was awarded in 1956 for Best Supporting Actor and the second in 1974 for Best Actor. What was the film title of each of these?

    Answer: Mister Roberts (1955); Save the Tiger (1973).

    Jack Lemmon, who died on 27 June 2001, was a Harvard graduate and World War II Navy veteran. He debuted on Broadway in 1953, signed by Columbia Pictures in 1954, and gained stardom with Mister Roberts (1955). Iconic roles in Some Like It Hot (1959) and The Apartment (1960), and comedies with Walter Matthau such as The Odd Couple (1968), defined his career.

    Three

    The Japanese Yen was first minted towards the end of a decade and adopted as Japan’s official currency two years later. In what two decades did this occur?

    Answer: 1860s and 1870s.

    The yen, Japan’s monetary unit, was first minted in 1869 and adopted in 1871. Initially divided into sen and rin, these were removed in 1954. Despite WWII devastation, Japan’s economic miracle made the yen a leading international currency. Its symbol is ¥, derived from yuan, the ancient term for Chinese round coins.

    Four

    Who, in 2007, after serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years, became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

    Answer: Gordon Brown.

    Gordon Brown, born in Glasgow on February 20, 1951, is a British Labour Party politician. He served as chancellor of the Exchequer (1997–2007) and prime minister (2007–10). Brown focused on NHS reform, public-sector changes, poverty reduction, and a broader approach to combating terrorism. He resigned in May 2010.

    Five

    Flag of Greece.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    In 1917 during World War I, the nation represented by this flag declared war on the Central Powers. Which country’s flag is shown and what comprised the Central Powers?

    Answer: Greece; German Empire, Austria-Hungary, Ottoman Empire and Bulgaria.

    The Central Powers, or Central Empires, were a World War I coalition of Germany, Austria-Hungary, the Ottoman Empire, and Bulgaria, known as the Quadruple Alliance. Originating in 1879, Italy joined the Triple Alliance but later sided with the Allies (Great Britain, France and U.S.). The Central Powers were defeated by the Allies in 1918 and dissolved.

  • Independently Minded

    Flag of ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions are connected to today, June 27th.

    One

    The flag above represents a country that gained independence in 1977. Which country is it, and from which did it gain independence?

    Answer: Djibouti; France.

    Djibouti, in the Horn of Africa, borders Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, the Red Sea, and the Gulf of Aden. Gaining independence in 1977, it is a multi-ethnic nation with French and Arabic as official languages. Strategically located, it serves as a key refuelling hub and hosts several foreign military bases.

    Two

    Jack Lemmon won two Academy Awards, the first was awarded in 1956 for Best Supporting Actor and the second in 1974 for Best Actor. What was the film title of each of these?

    Three

    The Japanese Yen was first minted towards the end of a decade and adopted as Japan’s official currency two years later. In what two decades did this occur?

    Four

    Who, in 2007, after serving as Chancellor of the Exchequer for ten years, became the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom?

    Five

    Flag of ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    In 1917 during World War I, the nation represented by this flag declared war on the Central Powers. Which country’s flag is shown and what comprised the Central Powers?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • First III — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question five. Flag of Greenland.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Going back to the ‘first’ theme, but today’s questions also all relate to 21 June.

    One

    She was the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country.
    — Wikipedia

    Who, born in 1953, is the politician referred to in the above quote?

    Answer: Benazir Bhutto.

    Benazir Bhutto, the daughter of former Pakistani leader Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, became the first female leader of a Muslim nation. She served two terms as Prime Minister of Pakistan, facing challenges including corruption charges and political instability. Bhutto was assassinated in 2007 while campaigning for parliamentary elections.

    Two

    The world’s first Ferris wheel made its debut in 1893 at a World Fair. What was the official title of this World Fair, and what event was the fair commemorating?

    Answer: Answer: World’s Columbian Exposition; 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the New World.

    The World’s Columbian Exposition, held in Chicago in 1893, celebrated the 400th anniversary of Columbus’s arrival in the New World. The fair showcased Nikola Tesla and George Westinghouse’s alternating current system, featured the world’s first Ferris wheel, and attracted over 27 million visitors. Designed in Beaux-Arts style, the exposition left a lasting impact on American architecture and culture.

    Three

    What was the name of the craft which, in 2004, completed the first crewed private spaceflight?

    Answer: SpaceShipOne.

    Piloted by Mike Melvill, SpaceShipOne, an experimental air-launched rocket-powered aircraft, achieved sub-orbital spaceflight in 2004, completing the first crewed private spaceflight and winning the Ansari X Prize. Developed by Mojave Aerospace Ventures, the project, named ‘Tier One’, aimed to take passengers into space with a successor ship.

    Four

    Which team won the very first game in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) history when the league debuted in 1997?

    Answer: New York Liberty.

    The WNBA’s inaugural game was played at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, on 21 June 1997. The New York Liberty defeated the Los Angeles Sparks, marking the beginning of the league’s first season.

    Five

    The country represented by the flag above first became self-governing in 2009; its parliament is the Inatsisartut; and it appears first on list of a specific geographic superlative. What country is this?

    Answer: Greenland.

    Greenland, officially the world’s largest island that is not a continent, is home to 56,000 people. It has its own extensive local government but is also part of the Realm of Denmark. Most of its inhabitants live in the 20% of the country that is not covered by ice and snow. 

  • First III

    See question five. Flag of ….
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Going back to the ‘first’ theme, but today’s questions also all relate to 21 June.

    One

    She was the first woman elected to head a democratic government in a Muslim-majority country.
    — Wikipedia

    Who, born in 1953, is the politician referred to in the above quote?

    Two

    The world’s first Ferris wheel made its debut in 1893 at a World Fair. What was the official title of this World Fair, and what event was the fair commemorating?

    Three

    What was the name of the craft which, in 2004, completed the first crewed private spaceflight?

    Four

    Which team won the very first game in Women’s National Basketball Association (WNBA) history when the league debuted in 1997?

    Five

    The country represented by the flag above first became self-governing in 2009; its parliament is the Inatsisartut; and it appears first on list of a specific geographic superlative. What country is this?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.  

  • Flag Up — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question two. Flag of Isle of Man.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, 14 June. The remainder follow a theme created by the first. 

    One

    On 14 June …, the Continental Congress approved the Flag Resolution, establishing the Stars and Stripes as the first official flag of the United States. In what decade did this take place?

    Answer: 1770s (1777).

    On 14 June 1777, the Continental Congress passed the Flag Resolution, declaring that the flag of the United States should have thirteen red-and-white stripes and thirteen white stars on a blue field representing a new constellation. The resolution did not specify how the stars should be arranged, so early versions varied. The design is often attributed to Francis Hopkinson, and 14 June is now observed as Flag Day.

    Two

    What ten-letter word describes the badge in the centre of the flag shown at the top of this post, and what self-governing British Crown Dependency does it represent?

    Answer: Triskelion; Isle of Man.

    The Isle of Man, a self-governing British Crown Dependency, has a flag which shows a triskelion of three armoured legs on a red background. The official flag since 1932, its origins are uncertain, with possible connections to the Crovan dynasty, Sicily, or the Germanic Holy Roman Emperor Frederick II. The triskelion was retained after English domination in 1346 and officially adopted between 1928 and 1932.

    Three

    What national flag depicts an assault rifle, agricultural implement and a book described by Wikipedia as ‘a bayonet-equipped AK-47 crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book’?

    Answer: Flag of Mozambique.

    The Mozambican flag, adopted in 1983, features a red triangle with a star, AK-47, hoe, and book. The design, based on FRELIMO’s flag, has faced calls for change since democratisation in 1990.

    Flag of Mozambique
    Image Wikimedia Commons
    Flag of Nepal.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Four

    What national flag is described by Wikipedia as follows:

    The flag of … is a concave pentagonal flag of red, white, and blue colour. It is used as both the state and civil flag of …. It is the only non-rectangular national flag in the world and the only one that is taller than it is wide. The flag’s unique shape is a combination of two single pennants, and is known as a double-pennon. The red colour of the field represents bravery and …’s national flower, the rhododendron, while the blue colour of the border represents peace.

    Answer: Nepal.

    The flag of Nepal is a unique concave pentagonal flag of red, white, and blue, used as both the state and civil flag. It is the only non-rectangular national flag in the world and the only one taller than it is wide, known as a double-pennon, formed by combining two single pennants. Adopted in 1962 with the Nepalese constitution, the flag’s shape emerged from the flags of competing branches of the Rana dynasty. The red field symbolises bravery and Nepal’s national flower, the rhododendron, while the blue border represents peace. The upper triangle, featuring a white silhouette of the moon, symbolises the royal family and its power, and the lower triangle, with the sun symbol, stands for the Rana family and political power. Together, these symbols represent the hope for Nepalese independence to last as long as the sun and moon. The flag’s serrated shape also evokes the peaks of the Himalayas, and the red background indicates energy.

    Five

    Apart from the flag mentioned in question four above, all flags are rectangular, and that includes the two which are square. What two sovereign states have flags which are square?

    Answer: Switzerland; Vatican City.

    The Swiss flag, featuring a white cross on a red background, dates back to the Middle Ages, symbolising Christianity and independence. The red represents Christian martyrs’ blood, while the cross signifies Christianity. Switzerland’s political neutrality is also reflected in the flag. The Vatican flag, with dark yellow and white stripes, includes the papal mitre and keys of St. Peter, symbolising the Pope’s authority. Adopted in 1929, it represents the Roman Catholic Church’s significance.

    Flag of Switzerland, Image Wikimedia Commons and Flag of the Vatican City State, Image Wikimedia Commons

  • Flag Up

    See question two. Flag of ?
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    The first question relates to today’s date, 14 June. The remainder follow a theme created by the first. 

    One

    On 14 June …, the Continental Congress approved the Flag Resolution, establishing the Stars and Stripes as the first official flag of the United States. In what decade did this take place?

    Two

    What ten-letter word describes the badge in the centre of the flag shown at the top of this post, and what self-governing British Crown Dependency does it represent?

    Three

    What national flag depicts an assault rifle, agricultural implement and a book described by Wikipedia as ‘a bayonet-equipped AK-47 crossed by a hoe, superimposed on an open book’?

    Four

    What national flag is described by Wikipedia as follows?

    The flag of … is a concave pentagonal flag of red, white, and blue colour. It is used as both the state and civil flag of …. It is the only non-rectangular national flag in the world and the only one that is taller than it is wide. The flag’s unique shape is a combination of two single pennants, and is known as a double-pennon. The red colour of the field represents bravery and …’s national flower, the rhododendron, while the blue colour of the border represents peace.

    Five

    Apart from the flag mentioned in question four above, all flags are rectangular, and that includes the two which are square. What two sovereign states have flags which are square?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.