Tag: geography

The Wrong Sort of Bees—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?

Answer: Winnie-the-Pooh; AA Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh, a fictional teddy bear created by AA Milne and EH Shepard, first appeared in a 1925 children’s story. The character, inspired by Milne’s son’s toy and a bear at London Zoo, became the subject of several books and was later adapted into a successful Disney franchise.

Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?

Answer: Pacific Ocean; Captain James Cook

The name given to it by Captain Cook as he visited on Christmas Eve was Christmas Island. In Gilbertese, ‘Christmas’ is ‘Kiritimati’, the combination ‘ti’ is pronounced as ‘s’.

Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?

Answer: 1914

The Christmas truce was a series of unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I.

Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?

Answer: Soviet Union

Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, supporting the communist government against anti-communist Muslim guerrillas until February 1989.

Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Answer: The answer is any, or all, of the points listed below

  • Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravitational sphere of influence.
  • It was also the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon.
  • The crew orbited the Moon ten times without landing.
  • The three astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders, were the first humans to see and photograph the far side of the Moon.
  • They also witnessed and photographed an Earthrise (see image).

On Christmas Eve 1968, the Apollo 8 crew, the first humans to orbit the Moon, read from the Book of Genesis during a live television broadcast from lunar orbit. The reading, which was heard by an estimated one billion people worldwide, was a suggestion from Christine Laitin, the wife of one of those working on the project. Mrs Laitin had been a member of the French Resistance during World War II.

The Wrong Sort of Bees

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?

Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?

Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?

Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?

Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Fly the Flag—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions posed in my earlier post.

These questions are all related to today’s date, December 22nd.

Flag of Croatia.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 1990, the country whose flag is shown above put into effect its constitution. What is that country?

Answer: Croatia

The Republic of Croatia’s Constitution was promulgated today in 1990. It grants civil rights, including freedom of speech, religion, information, and association, as well as guaranteeing equality of nationalities.

Two

What gate in Berlin was reopened in 1989, having been obstructed and inaccessible during the Cold War?

Answer: Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate, a Berlin landmark, symbolises both Germany’s division and reunification. Built in the late 18th century, it was closed off during the Berlin Wall era and reopened in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in German history.

Three

In 1965, Doctor Zhivago premiered. Who played Larissa Ameliava Antipova in the film and whose 1957 novel was the film an adaption?

Answers: Julie Christie; Boris Pasternak

Doctor Zhivago, a 1965 American film directed by David Lean, is a sweeping adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel. The film, set against the backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution, follows the love story between physician and poet Yury Zhivago and Larissa Ameliava Antipova, ‘Lara’. Despite mixed reviews, the film became a box-office success, known for its grand scale, cinematography, and Maurice Jarre’s score.
Boris Pasternak’s novel, Doctor Zhivago, although published in 1957, was banned in the Soviet Union until 1987.

Four

In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony, to serve his sentence. Four years later, his case was the subject of a now-famous letter, *J’Accuse…!, *which was published in the French press. Where was Devil’s Island, and who wrote J’Accuse…!?

Answers: French Guiana; Émile Zola

The Devil’s Island penal colony, officially the penal colony of Cayenne, in French Guiana operated from 1852 to 1952. It was notorious for harsh treatment, high mortality rates, and the exile of political prisoners like Captain Dreyfus. Émile Zola’s open letter, J’Accuse…!, published in 1898, accused the French government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus. The letter, published in L’Aurore, sparked international outrage and led to Zola’s prosecution for libel. The letter heightened support for Dreyfus

Five

In 1941, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US president and British prime minister met in Washington DC to discuss World War II. Who were these two men?

Answers: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill

The First Washington Conference, attended by Roosevelt and Churchill, prioritised defeating Germany and established the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Allies committed to the Declaration by United Nations, vowing no separate peace and full resource utilisation.

Corridors of Power—Answers

Today’s five questions are on a government-related theme.

Parliament House, Canberra, Australia.
Image Wikipedia

One

The parliament of what country is pictured above and in what city is it sited?

Answer: Australia; Canberra

Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, is the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia and houses the executive branch. It replaced Old Parliament House and was officially opened on 9 May 1988.

Two

How many individuals were president of the United States during the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

Answer: 18

This list displays each president and their respective years in office.

  1. William McKinley 1897–1901
  2. Theodore Roosevelt 1901–1909
  3. William Howard Taft 1909–1913
  4. Woodrow Wilson 1913–1921
  5. Warren G. Harding 1921–1923
  6. Calvin Coolidge 1923–1929
  7. Herbert Hoover 1929–1933
  8. Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933–1945
  9. Harry S. Truman 1945–1953
  10. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953–1961
  11. John F. Kennedy 1961–1963
  12. Lyndon B. Johnson 1963–1969
  13. Richard Nixon 1969–1974
  14. Gerald Ford 1974–1977
  15. Jimmy Carter 1977–1981
  16. Ronald Reagan 1981–1989
  17. George H. W. Bush 1989–1993
  18. Bill Clinton 1993–2001

Three

What building is located at 55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France?

Answer: Élysée Palace

The Élysée Palace, completed in 1722, is the official residence of the French president. Located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, its name derives from the Elysian Fields in Greek mythology.

Four

How many individuals were prime minister of the United Kingdom during the 20th Century? (The answer is a number.)

Answer: 20

  1. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury 1895–1902
  2. Arthur Balfour 1902–1905
  3. Henry Campbell-Bannerman 1905–1908
  4. H. H. Asquith 1908–1916
  5. David Lloyd George 1916–1922
  6. Andrew Bonar Law 1922–1923
  7. Stanley Baldwin 1923–1924; 1924–1929; 1935–1937
  8. Ramsay MacDonald 1924; 1929–1935
  9. Neville Chamberlain 1937–1940
  10. Winston Churchill 1940–1945; 1951–1955
  11. Clement Attlee 1945–1951
  12. Anthony Eden 1955–1957
  13. Harold Macmillan 1957–1963
  14. Alec Douglas-Home 1963–1964
  15. Harold Wilson 1964–1970; 1974–1976
  16. Edward Heath 1970–1974
  17. James Callaghan 1976–1979
  18. Margaret Thatcher 1979–1990
  19. John Major 1990–1997
  20. Tony Blair 1997–2007

Five

The National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power in the People’s Republic of China, convenes annually for how many weeks?

Answer: Two weeks

The National People’s Congress (NPC) is the highest organ of state power in China, responsible for amending the Constitution, legislating, and overseeing government operations. It is a unicameral legislature with 2,977 members, elected for a five-year term, and operates under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The NPC meets annually for two weeks, with most power delegated to its Standing Committee.

Corridors of Power

Today’s five questions are on a government-related theme.

Image Wikipedia

One

The parliament of what country is pictured above and in what city is it sited?

Two

How many presidents served in the United States during the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

Three

What building is located at 55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France?

Four

How many individuals served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

Five

The National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power in the People’s Republic of China, convenes annually for how many weeks of the year?

Are We There Yet?—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

The Great Globe in Guyot Hall, home to the Geosciences Department of Princeton University.
Image Wikipedia

Today you need to solve geographic anagrams. These ANAGRAMS are all written in capitals. For example

Example

WATCHING DONS at Georgetown University
One answer: a capital city

Solution

You would be looking for a capital city and your answer would be an anagram of WATCHING DONS: Washington DC

One

Don’t be in DENIAL about the change to old NICKEL ON TUMMY — a lofty environment in the new world.
Two answers: both the same place with a changed name

Answer: Denali / Mount McKinley

The Koyukon people have long called the mountain ‘Denali’. In 1896, a gold prospector named it ‘Mount McKinley’ in honour of presidential candidate William McKinley, who later became the 25th president. This name was officially recognised by the U.S. federal government from 1917 until 2015. In August 2015, the Obama administration restored the name Denali, aligning with Alaska’s official naming from 1975. However, in January 2025, the Trump administration reverted the official federal name back to Mount McKinley.

Two

JAVA ROSE is the capital of HONING BAZAAR NOSEDIVE
Two answers: the city and the European country it is capital of.

Answer: Sarajevo; Bosnia and Herzegovina

Sarajevo, the capital and largest city of Bosnia and Herzegovina, is a prominent cultural centre in the Balkans. With a rich history dating back to the 15th century, it hosted the 1984 Winter Olympics and is recognised for its religious and cultural diversity. Despite enduring the longest siege of a capital city during the Bosnian War, Sarajevo is now the fastest-growing city in the country.

Three

BET NUMEROUS eruptions have been seen from this southernmost volcano
One answer: a volcano.

Answer: Mount Erebus

Mount Erebus, the southernmost active volcano on Earth, is located on Ross Island in Antarctica. Named by Captain James Clark Ross in 1841, it has a long-lived lava lake and was the site of the 1979 Air New Zealand Flight 901 crash.

Four

BEACHFRONT BLUNDERING DAFFODILS are the capitals of the four nations that make up this one constitutional monarchy: NOT MINK GUIDED
Five answers: the first anagram hides the four capital cities, while the second reveals a constitutional monarchy.

Answer: London, Edinburgh, Cardiff, Belfast; United Kingdom

London—capital of England and UK. While Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland, Cardiff—capital of Wales and Belfast—capital of Northern Ireland.

Five

ADIOS KARATE NINJA, according to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025 this city is the world’s most populous.
Two answers: one anagram hides the name of the city and the country it is in.

Answer: Jakarta, Indonesia

Population 41,913,860. Jakarta, the capital and largest city of Indonesia, is a major economic, cultural, and political centre. Despite its small area, its metropolitan area is the largest in the world, attracting migrants from across Indonesia. However, Jakarta faces challenges like rapid urban growth, ecological breakdown, and flooding, prompting plans to move the capital to Nusantara.

Are We There Yet?

The Great Globe in Guyot Hall, home to the Geosciences Department of Princeton University.
Image Wikipedia

Today you need to solve geographic anagrams. These ANAGRAMS are all written in capitals. For example

Example

WATCHING DONS at Georgetown University
One answer: a capital city

Solution

You would be looking for a capital city and your answer would be an anagram of WATCHING DONS: Washington DC

One

Don’t be in DENIAL about the change to old NICKEL ON TUMMY — a lofty environment in the new world.
Two answers: both the same place with a changed name

Two

JAVA ROSE is the capital of HONING BAZAAR NOSEDIVE
Two answers: the city and the European country it is capital of.

Three

BET NUMEROUS eruptions have been seen from this southernmost volcano
One answer: a volcano.

Four

BEACHFRONT BLUNDERING DAFFODILS are the capitals of the four nations that make up this one constitutional monarchy: NOT MINK GUIDED
Five answers: the first anagram hides the four capital cities, while the second reveals a constitutional monarchy.

Five

ADIOS KARATE NINJA, according to the United Nations’ World Urbanization Prospects 2025 this city is the world’s most populous.
Two answers: one anagram hides the name of the city and the country it is in.

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

In My Life—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Although spread over several centuries these questions are all related to today’s date, December 8th.

John Lennon, 1974.
Image Wikipedia

One

John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).

Answer: Here Today

Composed as a heartfelt tribute to John Lennon, this song expresses the emotions Paul felt he couldn’t fully convey to him during their time together. It’s structured as an imagined conversation exploring their affection, regret and complex friendship. McCartney performs it frequently at concerts as a dedicated moment for Lennon. McCartney featured on George Harrison’s tribute song All Those Years Ago (1981) alongside Ringo Starr on drums. McCartney, Linda and Denny Laine provided backing vocals.
The post title In My Life is a Beatles song from their 1965 album Rubber Soul.

Two

The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?

Answer: 1660s (1660)

Margaret Hughes, also known as Peg Hughes, is widely regarded as the first professional actress to appear on the English stage. She made theatre history on 8 December 1660 when she played Desdemona in Othello, a landmark moment that signalled a major shift in Restoration-era drama, as women began performing publicly for the first time. Anne Marshall, another pioneer, is also sometimes credited with being the actress to appear on this date.

Three

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?

Answer: 1540s (1542)

Mary, Queen of Scots, ascended to the throne at six days old. After marrying Francis, Dauphin of France, she became queen consort of France until his death. Returning to Scotland, her reign was marked by religious and political turmoil, culminating in her forced abdication and imprisonment. Seeking refuge in England, she was perceived as a threat to Elizabeth I and executed after being found guilty of plotting against her.

Four

In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?

Answer: Russia, Ukraine and Belarus

The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) was formed in 1991 by Russia, Ukraine and Belarus, replacing the USSR. There were eventually twelve former Soviet republics as members, including the Central Asian republics: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan; and the Transcaucasian republics of Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia; and Moldova. Notably, the former Soviet republics in the Baltic area—Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania—declined to join the CIS.

Five

…an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture

—Encyclopædia Britannica https://www.britannica.com/on-this-day/December-8

Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?

Answer: The Deer Hunter

The Deer Hunter is a 1978 American war drama film about three Slavic-American steelworkers whose lives are changed by the Vietnam War. The film, directed by Michael Cimino, received critical acclaim and won five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Director.

In My Life

Although spread over several centuries these questions are all related to today’s date, December 8th.

John Lennon, 1974.
Image Wikipedia

One

John Lennon was murdered in 1980. What song did Paul McCartney write as a tribute to John Lennon after his death. The song was released on his album, Tug of War (1982).

Two

The first woman to appear on a public stage in England did so on this date, in what decade did this occur?

Three

Mary, Queen of Scots, was born on this day, and six days later she became queen of Scotland. In what decade did this occur?

Four

In 1991, after the Soviet Union’s breakup, which three former Soviet republics formed the Commonwealth of Independent States?

Five

…an emotionally shattering look at the effects of the Vietnam War on the young American men sent to fight in it, the movie later won an Oscar for best picture

—Encyclopædia Britannica

Which 1978 Oscar-winning film directed by Michael Cimino is described in the above Encyclopædia Britannica quote?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Show the Flag—Answers

Today’s first question concerns an event on December 7th, illustrated by a flag. The rest of the questions follow the flag theme.

One

Flag of Delaware.
Image Wikipedia

This image depicts the flag of the first state to ratify the US Constitution on 7 December 1787. Can you identify the state and its capital?

Answer: Delaware and Dover

Delaware, the second-smallest US state, is located in the Mid-Atlantic and South Atlantic regions. It is bordered by Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and the Atlantic Ocean. Delaware was the first state to ratify the US Constitution, earning it the nickname ‘The First State’.

Two

Flag of Bhutan.
Image Wikipedia

What is the official three-word English name of this country, and what countries does it border?

Answer: Bhutan, and (bordered by) China and India

Bhutan, a landlocked country in South Asia, is a democratic constitutional monarchy with a population of over 727,145. It is known for its diverse wildlife, including the Himalayan takin and golden langur, and its highest peak, Gangkhar Puensum. Bhutan has a rich history, having never been colonised, and is a founding member of several international organisations.

Three

Flag of Isle of Man.
Image Wikipedia
Flag of Sicily.
Image Wikipedia

Which two islands are represented by these three-legged flags and in which seas are they found respectively?

Answer: Isle of Man and Sicily; Irish Sea and Mediterranean Sea

The triskelion, an ancient motif of three spirals or triplicate patterns, has roots in European Neolithic and Bronze Age artefacts. It became associated with Sicily in the Hellenistic period and later appeared in heraldry, notably on the flags of Sicily and the Isle of Man.

Four

Flag of Northern Territory, Australia.
Image Wikipedia

What sub-national state or territory does this flag represent, and what is that state or territory’s capital city?

Answer: Northern Territory (Australia), and Darwin

The Northern Territory (NT) is an Australian internal territory located in the central and central-northern regions. It’s sparsely populated with a population of 260,400. Its economy is primarily driven by mining and petroleum. Darwin, the largest population centre, accounts for approximately 52.6% of the Territory’s population.

Five

Flag of Guyana.
Image Wikipedia

What is the official four-word English name of the country represented by this flag, and what is its capital city?

Answer: Co-operative Republic of Guyana, and Georgetown

Guyana, officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, is a country on the northern coast of South America. It is the only country in mainland South America with English as its official language and is part of the Commonwealth Caribbean. Guyana’s economy has been transforming since the discovery of crude oil in 2015, with its economy growing by 49% in 2020.