Tag: geography

  • The Smoke That Thunders—Answers

    Here are the answers to the earlier posed questions.

    All of these questions are related to today, November 16th.

    José Saramago, 2001.
    Image Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images via Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    José Saramago, the novelist pictured above, won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his extensive body of work including O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). What nationality was he?

    Answer: Portuguese

    Born in 1922, Portuguese novelist José Saramago, a Nobel Prize winner, grew up in poverty. He worked various jobs including mechanic journalist and translator before achieving international fame with novels like Memorial do convento (English title Baltasar and Blimunda) and O evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). His subversive perspectives on historic events and critique of institutions like the Catholic Church, often set against historical backdrops, earned him both acclaim and controversy. This led to his self-imposed exile in the Canary Islands after the Portuguese government censored his work.


    Two

    On this day, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act was signed authorising the construction of a pipeline across Alaska. Which US President signed it and what communities are at either end?

    Answer: Richard Nixon; Prudhoe Bay and Valdez

    The Trans-Alaska Pipeline, built to transport oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, was constructed in response to the 1968 oil discovery on Alaska’s North Slope. Environmental concerns led to design modifications, including elevated sections to prevent permafrost thawing and wildlife crossings. Construction, completed between 1975 and 1977, faced challenges due to extreme cold and permafrost. Despite initial mechanical issues, subsequent oil spills, and incidents of oil leakage, the pipeline remains operational and has shipped over 17 billion barrels of oil since 1977.


    Diana Krall, 2010.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Who is this Canadian singer, born on 16 November 1964, as pictured in 2010?

    Answer: Diana Krall

    Diana Krall, a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, is renowned for her contralto vocals and has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. She holds the record for the most albums debuting at number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and has won numerous awards, including two Grammys and eight Junos.


    Four

    With NASA’s ___ campaign, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.

    NASA

    The above is taken from a NASA website and describes a program which is named after the twin sister of Apollo. What is this name which has been omitted from the above quote?

    Answer: Artemis

    Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth, was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. Apollo and Artemis were respectively personifications of the Sun and the Moon Her worship varied across regions, reflecting her diverse roles as a huntress, protector of young animals, and goddess of nature and fertility. While poets emphasised her chastity and love for the hunt, Greek sculpture often depicted her in a more gentle and graceful manner. She was also a protector of young children and a patron of healing, particularly among women and children. Widely venerated, her worship spread throughout ancient Greece, with her great temple at Ephesus being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.


    Five

    On this day in 1855, an explorer became the first European to witness Mosi-oa-Tunya, a now-renowned World Heritage Site. What name did he give it?

    Answer: Victoria Falls

    The Zambezi River does not gather speed as it nears the drop, the approach being signaled only by the mighty roar and characteristic veil of mist for which the Kalolo-Lozi people named the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”).

    Encyclopædia Britannica

    Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is a spectacular waterfall twice as wide and deep as Niagara Falls. The falls plunge over a sheer precipice into a chasm, creating a dramatic gorge and the Boiling Pot pool. In 1855, British explorer David Livingstone was the first European to see the falls which he named after Great Britain’s Queen Victoria. The surrounding national parks offer diverse wildlife and recreational facilities, and the area was designated a World Heritage site in 1989.

    The Smoke That Thunders.
    Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls.
    Image Wikipedia

  • The Smoke That Thunders

    All of these questions are related to today, November 16th.

    José Saramago, 2001.
    Image Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images via Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    José Saramago, the novelist pictured above, won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his extensive body of work including O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). What nationality was he?


    Two

    On this day, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act was signed authorising the construction of a pipeline across Alaska. Which US President signed it and what communities are at either end?


    Diana Krall, 2010.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Who is this Canadian singer, born on 16 November 1964, as pictured in 2010?


    Four

    With NASA’s ___ campaign, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.

    NASA

    The above is taken from a NASA website and describes a program which is named after the twin sister of Apollo. What is this name which has been omitted from the above quote?


    Five

    On this day in 1855, an explorer became the first European to witness Mosi-oa-Tunya, a now-renowned World Heritage Site. What name did he give it?


    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Around the World—Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Today’s questions are about geography from down under to the roof of the world.

    Uluru/Ayers Rock.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The massive sandstone monolith pictured above is sacred to the Aṉangu people. Could you tell me its name and the state or territory it’s located in?

    A: Uluru/Ayers Rock; Northern Territory

    Uluru/Ayers Rock, sighted in 1873 and named after Sir Henry Ayers, was renamed Uluru/Ayers Rock in 1993, reflecting its traditional Pitjantjatjara name which has been in use for thousands of years. The monolith, which appears to change colour dramatically at sunrise and sunset, is 348 metres (1,142 feet) high.


    Two

    What is the largest island in the United States of America?

    Answer: Hawaiʻi

    Also known as the Big Island, Hawaiʻi is 4,028 square miles (10,433 km2) in area. The next island in size is Kodiak Island, with an area of 3,588 square miles (9,292 km2).


    The Ross Ice Shelf.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    What is the name of the world’s largest ice shelf, located along the coast of Antarctica?

    Answer: The Ross Ice Shelf

    The Ross Ice Shelf covers an area roughly the size of France, and its floating ice can be up to 750 metres (2,460 feet) thick.


    Four

    The Danube River flows through more countries than any other river in the world. How many countries does it pass through or border?

    Answer: Ten

    The Danube flows through or borders ten countries — Germany, Austria, Slovakia, Hungary, Croatia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Romania, Moldova and Ukraine — before emptying into the Black Sea.


    Five

    Mount Everest sits on the border between Nepal and which autonomous region?

    Answer: Tibet Autonomous Region

    Tibet, since 1951 an autonomous region of China, the highest region on Earth, has an average elevation of 4,380 metres (14,000 feet). Its peak, Mount Everest, stands at 8,848.86 metres (29,031 feet) above sea level, making it Earth’s highest point.

  • Around the World

    Today’s questions are about geography from down under to the roof of the world.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The massive sandstone monolith pictured above is sacred to the Aṉangu people. Could you tell me its name and the state or territory it’s located in?


    Two

    What is the largest island in the United States of America?


    Three

    What is the name of the world’s largest ice shelf, located along the coast of Antarctica?


    Four

    The Danube River flows through more countries than any other river in the world. How many countries does it pass through or border?


    Five

    Mount Everest sits on the border between Nepal and which autonomous region?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later

  • Remember, remember, the fifth of November—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    King James VI of Scotland and James I of England.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?

    Answer: The Gunpowder Plot of 1605

    The failed plot was an attempt by Catholic conspirators to blow up the English Parliament and assassinate King James VI (of Scotland) & I (of England). ‘Remember, remember, the fifth of November’ became a famous rhyme, see below, recording the event.


    Two

    Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?

    Answer: The Mars Orbiter Mission (Mangalyaan)

    Developed by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), Mangalyaan made India the first Asian nation to reach Mars orbit and the first country in the world to do so successfully on its maiden attempt — all on a remarkably low budget.


    Flag of Antigua and Barbuda.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?

    Answer: Antigua and Barbuda

    The twin-island nation remains a member of the Commonwealth, recognizing the British monarch as its head of state, but governs itself independently.


    Four

    November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?

    Answer: V for Vendetta

    The film, based on a graphic novel, turned the Guy Fawkes mask into a global symbol of resistance — later adopted by protest movements such as Anonymous and Occupy Wall Street.


    Five

    On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?

    Answer: 2007

    The Android OS announcement reshaped the mobile landscape — today, Android powers over 70% of the world’s smartphones.


    Remember, remember, the 5th of November

    Remember, remember, the 5th of November,
    Gunpowder, treason and plot.
    I see no reason
    Why gunpowder treason
    Should ever be forgot.
    Guy Fawkes, Guy Fawkes, ’twas his intent
    To blow up the King and the Parliament
    Three score barrels of powder below
    Poor old England to overthrow
    By God’s providence he was catch’d
    With a dark lantern and burning match
    Holler boys, holler boys, let the bells ring
    Holler boys, holler boys
    God save the King!

    The undercroft beneath the House of Lords.
    Image Wikipedia
  • Remember, remember, the fifth of November

    Today’s five questions all relate to the date, November 5th.

    Fireworks display.
    Image msn.com

    One

    What event is commemorated in the United Kingdom on November 5th, when effigies of Guy Fawkes are traditionally burned on bonfires? Also, in what year did it occur?


    Two

    Which spacecraft, launched on 5 November 2013, was India’s first interplanetary mission?


    See question 3.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    On 5 November 1981, a small Caribbean nation achieved independence from the United Kingdom. Its capital is St. John’s. Can you name the country?


    Four

    November 5th is a central date in the storyline of what 2005 film which opens with the line, ‘Remember, remember the fifth of November’?


    Five

    On November 5th, Google introduced its first Android-based mobile operating system, signalling the start of a new era in smartphones. In what year did this occur?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Swimming with Sharks—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions..

    Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier). 
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which shark is pictured? 

    Answer: Tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier)

    The tiger shark, the largest member of the Galeocerdo genus, is a solitary, nocturnal predator found in tropical and temperate waters. It has a diverse diet and is considered near-threatened due to human activities. 


    Two

    What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?

    Answer: Zulu

    Zulu is a 1964 British historical drama film about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. Directed by Cy Endfield, it stars Stanley Baker and Michael Caine, and received critical acclaim for its sets, soundtrack, cinematography, and performances.


    Three

    Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?

    Answer: Long-Distance Runner (The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner)

    Alan Sillitoe’s 1959 short story The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner follows Smith, a Nottingham teenager who finds solace in running.


    Four

    Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?

    Answer: Darwin (Northern Territory)

    Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. It has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season, and its proximity to Southeast Asia makes it a key link between Australia and countries like Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The city has been rebuilt four times due to cyclones and WWII air raids.


    Chumbawamba’s The Boy Bands Have Won
    Image The Independent

    Five

    Chumbawamba’s 2008 album The Boy Bands Have Won holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title.  Can you tell me how many words are in the full title?  A decade (a group of ten) is acceptable. For example, if the answer is 104 then 101-110 is fine.

    Answer: 156 (151-160 acceptable)

    Its full title contains 156 words, or 865 characters, and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title. In full, it is…

    The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, whether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.

  • Swimming with Sharks

    Today’s five questions are random with no connection.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which shark is pictured? 


    Two

    What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?


    Three

    Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?


    Four

    Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?


    Five

    Chumbawamba’s 2008 album The Boy Bands Have Won holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title.  Can you tell me how many words are in the full title?  A decade (a group of ten) is acceptable. For example, if the answer is 104 then 101-110 is fine.

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • 2025-10-29 Bridge to Somewhere—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posed earlier.

    The Öresund Bridge, which features in the Nordic noir television drama series The Bridge, carries European Route E20, see question 1.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The European Route E20 stretches approximately 1,168 miles (1,880 km) from a river estuary airport in the west to the northernmost city of over a million people in the east. Which airport and city are these?

    Answer: Shannon Airport, Republic of Ireland and Saint Petersburg, Russia.

    The European route E20 is part of the United Nations International E-road network and runs roughly west-east through Ireland, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Sweden, Estonia and finally Russia. The road is not continuous and, at three points, a ferry must be used to continue along its length; although at one of those there is no ferry! The Øresund Bridge, which is known for featuring in the Nordic noir television series The Bridge, carries European Route E20.


    Two

    A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

    Answer: St Elsewhere

    St. Elsewhere, a medical drama series, aired on NBC from 1982 to 1988. Although it never ranked higher than 47th in Nielsen ratings, it gained a loyal following and critical acclaim, winning 13 Emmy Awards. Set at the fictional St. Eligius Hospital in Boston, the show was known for its realistic portrayal of the medical profession and featured a large ensemble cast. It tackled contemporary issues like breast cancer, AIDS, and addiction, while also incorporating humour and inside jokes.


    Three

    In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

    Answer: Bleak House

    Bleak House, a Dickens novel, satirises the legal system through the long-running case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce. The novel, partly narrated by Esther Summerson, is set in London and is credited with introducing urban fog to Gothic literature.


    Four

    The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

    Answer: Copper (smelted copper)

    The Chalcolithic, or Copper Age, was a period characterised by the increasing use of smelted copper, following the Neolithic (latter part of the Stone Age) and preceding the Bronze Age. It occurred at different times in different regions, with the earliest evidence of copper smelting dating back to around 5,000 BC in Serbia. In Britain, the Chalcolithic was a short period between 2,500 and 2,200 BC, marked by the arrival of Beaker culture people and the introduction of copper and gold objects.


    Pope Leo XIV and King Charles III in the Sistine Chapel, October 2025.
    Image thedialog.org

    Five

    In October 2025, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England prayed with Robert Francis Prevost on the Apennine Peninsula. Who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who is Robert Francis Prevost known as?

    Answer: King Charles III and Pope Leo XIV

    The reigning British monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England, currently King Charles III. Pope Leo XIV, born Robert Francis Prevost in Chicago, is the first American pope. King Charles and Pope Leo met at the Vatican to pray together in the Sistine Chapel. It was the first occasion that the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and the Pope had prayed together since the reformation 500 years ago.

  • Bridge to Somewhere

    Today we have five unrelated and unconnected questions.

    The Öresund Bridge, which features in the Nordic noir television drama series The Bridge, carries European Route E20, see question 1.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The European Route E20 stretches approximately 1,168 miles (1,880 km) from a river estuary airport in the west to the northernmost city of over a million people in the east. Which airport and city are these?

    Two

    A television medical drama that ran from October 1982 to May 1988 was set in St Elegius Hospital, Boston. What was its title?

    Three

    In what novel by Charles Dickens does Esther Summerson tell her own story in the past tense?

    Four

    The Chalcolithic period, an archaeological era, was primarily defined by a rise in the use of what specific material?

    Five

    In October 2025, the Supreme Governor of the Church of England prayed with Robert Francis Prevost on the Apennine Peninsula. Who is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England and who is Robert Francis Prevost known as?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.