Quizology.Online

Tag: geography

  • From Alfa to Echo — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from A to E, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    See question two. Death in the Afternoon.
    Image A Couple Cooks

    One

    Who wrote, produced, and directed Moulin Rouge (2001) and Australia (2008)? 

    Answers: Baz Luhrman.

    Baz Luhrmann is an Australian film director, producer, writer, and actor known for his Red Curtain Trilogy and other films like Australia, The Great Gatsby, and Elvis. He is also involved in opera, theatre, music, and the recording industries, with Grammy-nominated soundtracks and his own record label.

    Two

    An absinthe-Champagne cocktail was invented by an author and shares its name with his 1932 non-fiction book about a sport in a southern European nation. Who is the author, and what is the book and cocktail’s shared name? 

    Answers: Ernest Hemingway; Death in the Afternoon.

    Death in the Afternoon, a 1932 non-fiction book by Ernest Hemingway, explores Spanish bullfighting, fear, and courage. Its namesake, a cocktail invented by Hemingway, is made with absinthe and Champagne. The drink, known for its decadence and high strength, can be made with absinthe alternatives like Absente or Pernod.

    Three

    Which chemical element derives its name from the Latin for ‘coal’?

    Answer: Carbon.

    Carbon, symbol C and atomic number 6, a non-metal which has two main forms, diamond and graphite, and which also occurs in impure form in charcoal, soot and coal. It is the 15th most abundant element in Earth’s crust and the fourth most abundant in the universe.

    Four

    Which small dog breed, which is not a terrier, is sometimes known as the monkey terrier?

    Answer: Affenpinscher.

    The Affenpinscher, a German toy dog breed, originated as a ratter and is now a popular companion worldwide. The breed, whose name is sometimes translated from German as ‘Monkey Terrier’, is believed to be ancestral to the Griffon Bruxellois and Miniature Schnauzer.

    Five

    The Malawian city of Blantyre was named after the Scottish birthplace of which missionary and explorer (1813-73)?

    Answer: David Livingstone

    Blantyre, Malawi’s second-largest city and commercial centre, was founded in 1876 by the Church of Scotland. It grew rapidly due to its role in colonial trade and became a major manufacturing centre. The city’s development was influenced by various factors, including commerce, industry, and administration, and it was merged with Limbe in 1956.

  • From Alfa to Echo

    Five questions with the answers beginning with the letters from A to E, with each letter being used only once, but they are not in alphabetical order.

    See question two.
    Image A Couple Cooks

    One

    Who wrote, produced, and directed Moulin Rouge (2001) and Australia (2008)? 

    Two

    An absinthe-Champagne cocktail was invented by an author and shares its name with his 1932 non-fiction book about a sport in a southern European nation. Who is the author, and what is the book and cocktail’s shared name? 

    Three

    Which chemical element derives its name from the Latin for ‘coal’?

    Four

    Which small dog breed, which is not a terrier, is sometimes known as the monkey terrier?

    Five

    The Malawian city of Blantyre was named after the Scottish birthplace of which missionary and explorer (1813-73)?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Luna Links

    Some more random trivia for your enjoyment.

    Apollo Landing Sites.
    Image NASA.

    One

    What creature is missing from the title of this Nathaniel West novel: The Day of the ——?

    Two

    Also, the oldest, who was the fifth Apollo astronaut to walk on the Moon?

    Three

    200 million years ago all land on Earth was in one landmass, what name do scientists give to this super-continent?

    Four

    Who played Simon Templar in a 1997 film and what was the film?

    Five

    In Judaism hat is the only insect which is considered kosher?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Why a Duck?—Answers

    Here are the answers to my questions which were posted earlier.

    Five random multiple-choice questions for you today.

    The Marx Brothers, 1931.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Who was the eldest of the Marx Brothers? 

    1. Chico
    2. Groucho
    3. Harpo

    Answer: 1. Chico.

    Chico, born Leonard Joseph Marx in 1887, was the eldest. Harpo, born Adolph Marx in 1888, followed. Groucho, born Julius Henry Marx in 1890, then came Gummo, born Milton Marx in 1893. Finally, Zeppo, born Herbert Manfred Marx in 1901, was the youngest and last of the five Marx brothers. The picture shows them in age order but missing Gummo. From top: Chico, Harpo, Groucho and Zeppo.

    Two

    The African polecat is also known as a …

    1. Zimbal
    2. Zorilla 
    3. Zugerro

    Answer: 3. Zorilla.

    The striped polecat, native to sub-Saharan Africa, is a nocturnal, mostly carnivorous mammal with distinctive black and white fur. It uses its long claws to dig for prey and its spray to deter predators. While mostly solitary, females tolerate males during breeding season, and the species is not considered threatened.

    Three

    What movement which flourished in the early twentieth century was also referred to as Style Moderne?

    1. Art Deco
    2. Naturalism
    3. Realism

    Answer: 1. Art Deco.

    Art Deco, a style of visual arts, architecture, and product design, emerged in Paris in the 1910s and flourished internationally during the 1920s and 1930s. Influenced by various artistic movements and cultures, it represented luxury and progress, utilising both rare and new materials. While its popularity waned after World War II, Art Deco remains a significant architectural and design style.

    Four

    At what age did Alexander the Great die?

    1. 32 years old
    2. 41 years old
    3. 49 years old

    Answer: 1. 32 years old.

    Alexander the Great, king of Macedon (20/21 July 356 BCE – 10/11 June 323 BCE), created one of the largest empires in history through a decade-long military campaign. He conquered the Persian Empire, invaded India, and founded numerous cities, spreading Greek culture and initiating the Hellenistic period. His legacy includes cultural diffusion, military tactics, and legendary status in both Greek and non-Greek cultures.

    Five

    1. Florida
    2. Louisiana
    3. Texas

    Answer: 3. Texas.

    The latitude of the three cities listed are as follows with the southernmost first…

    • Austin, Texas (30.2672° N)
    • Tallahassee, Florida (30.4383° N)
    • Baton Rouge, Louisiana (30.4571° N)

    Why a Duck? — Post Title

    Why a Duck? is a well-known comedy routine from the Marx Brothers’ movie The Cocoanuts (1929). The scene, features Groucho mentioning an ‘viaduct’ and Chico asking ‘Why a duck?’. This turns into a prolonged routine which is a favourite among fans and has been analysed in Richard Anobile’s book of the same name. The script for the scene is on the Marx Brothers website here.

  • Why a Duck?

    Five random multiple-choice questions for you today.

    The Marx Brothers, 1931.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Who was the eldest of the Marx Brothers? 

    1. Chico
    2. Groucho
    3. Harpo

    Two

    The African polecat is also known as a …

    1. Zimbal
    2. Zorilla 
    3. Zugerro

    Three

    What movement which flourished in the early twentieth century was also referred to as Style Moderne?

    1. Art Deco
    2. Naturalism
    3. Realism

    Four

    At what age did Alexander the Great die?

    1. 32 years old
    2. 41 years old
    3. 49 years old

    Five

    1. Florida
    2. Louisiana
    3. Texas

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • A Pear-fect Fit—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Today we have a mixed orchard supplying a variety of questions.

     

    Pear tree.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is the alcoholic drink that is made from the fermented juice of pears?

    Answer: Perry.

    noun (plural perries) [mass noun] an alcoholic drink made from the fermented juice of pears. 
    origin Middle English: from Old French pere, from an alteration of Latin pirum ‘pear’.
    — Oxford English Dictionary 

    Two

    Which Avril Lavigne album cover features her with a red ‘X’ on her sleeve?

    Answer: Under My Skin.

    Avril Lavigne’s second studio album, Under My Skin, was released in 2004 and debuted at number one on the Canadian Albums Chart and US Billboard 200. The album, produced by Raine Maida, Don Gilmore and Butch Walker, received mixed to positive reviews and is considered a classic that defined pop-punk in the early 2000s.

    Three

    —— was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, ‘and what is the use of a book’, thought —— ‘without pictures or conversation?’

    What name is missing twice from, and what book opens with, the above quote?

    Answers: Alice; Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.

    Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, a children’s novel by Lewis Carroll, follows a girl named Alice who falls through a rabbit hole into a fantasy world. The novel, known for its literary nonsense genre, has had a lasting influence on popular culture and literature.

    Four

    List all the countries and their capital cities where that city stands on the River Danube.

    Answers: Vienna, Austria; Bratislava, Slovakia; Budapest, Hungary and Belgrade, Serbia.

    The Danube, Europe’s second-longest river, flows through Central and Southeastern Europe, connecting ten countries and serving as a vital trade route. Flowing from the Black Forest to the Black Sea, it is navigable for 2,415 km and supports various fish species, including carp and sturgeon.

    Five

    How many playing squares does a Scrabble board have?

    Answer: 225.

    Alfred Mosher Butts invented Scrabble in 1931. It is a word game played on a 15×15 grid of 225 squares. It is produced by Hasbro in the US and Canada—Mattel elsewhere—with 150 million sets sold worldwide.

  • A Pear-fect Fit

    Today we have a mixed orchard supplying a variety of questions.

     

    Pear tree.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is the alcoholic drink that is made from the fermented juice of pears?

    Two

    Which Avril Lavigne album cover features her with a red ‘X’ on her sleeve?

    Three

    —— was beginning to get very tired of sitting by her sister on the bank, and of having nothing to do: once or twice she had peeped into the book her sister was reading, but it had no pictures or conversations in it, ‘and what is the use of a book’, thought —— ‘without pictures or conversation?’

    What name is missing twice from, and what book opens with, the above quote?

    Four

    List all the countries and their capital cities where that city stands on the River Danube.

    Five

    How many playing squares does a Scrabble board have?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry VIII—Answers

    Here are the answers to my questions from earlier.

    Another gallimaufry, a random mix of themeless trivia.

    Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is a zygote?

    • Officer in the Pontifical Swiss Guard
    • Striped opossum
    • Fertilised ovum

    Answer: A fertilised ovum

    A diploid cell resulting from the fusion of two haploid gametes; a fertilized ovum.

    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Two

    What is northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs?

    • Brooklyn
    • Queens
    • The Bronx

    Answer: The Bronx.

    The Bronx, the northernmost borough of New York City, is coextensive with Bronx County. It is bordered by Westchester County to the north, Manhattan to the south and west, and Queens to the south and east. The Bronx is known for its diverse population, historic landmarks like Yankee Stadium, and significant open spaces including the Bronx Zoo and Pelham Bay Park.

    Three

    Which of these is found on the human body?

    • Anthracite rim
    • Vermillion border
    • Zinfandel margin

    Answer: Vermillion border.

    The transition from the colour of your lips to the colour of your normal skin is called the vermilion border and humans are the only creatures on Earth that have it.

    Four

    WhIch vessel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first crewed vessel to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench – the deepest point on Earth’s seabed?

    • Trieste
    • Deepsea Challenger
    • Limiting Factor

    Answer: Trieste

    In January 1960, the Trieste, piloted by Jacques Piccard and USN Lieutenant Don Walsh, descended to the ocean floor in the Challenger Deep, reaching a depth of 10,911 metres. The descent took almost five hours, and they spent twenty minutes on the ocean floor before ascending due to a crack in the outer window.

    Five

    Which of these is a fairy creature from Celtic myth?

    • Children of the Watch
    • Cat-sith
    • Crow jedi

    Answer: Cat-sith

    The cat-sìth, a fairy creature from Celtic mythology, resembles a large black cat with a white spot on its chest. It is said to haunt the Scottish Highlands and may have been inspired by the Scottish wildcat or Kellas cats.

  • Gallimaufry VIII

    Another gallimaufry, a random mix of themeless trivia.

    Leonardo da Vinci’s Vitruvian Man.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    What is a zygote?

    • Officer in the Pontifical Swiss Guard
    • Striped opossum
    • Fertilised ovum

    Two

    What is northernmost of New York City’s five boroughs?

    • Brooklyn
    • Queens
    • The Bronx

    Three

    Which of these is found on the human body?

    • Anthracite rim
    • Vermillion border
    • Zinfandel margin

    Four

    WhIch vessel achieved a historic milestone by becoming the first crewed vessel to reach the bottom of Challenger Deep in the Mariana Trench – the deepest point on Earth’s seabed?

    • Trieste
    • Deepsea Challenger
    • Limiting Factor

    Five

    Which of these is a fairy creature from Celtic myth?

    • Children of the Watch
    • Cat-sith
    • Crow jedi

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • People Like Us—Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    The first question concerns today, March 4th, while the others follow on with a common theme. 

    Chicago.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    On this day in 1837, Chicago was incorporated as a city. To the nearest thousand, what was the population?

    Answer: 4,000.

    Chicago’s population surged dramatically during its early years. At incorporation, the city boasted around 4,000 residents according to the Chicago Historical Society. By 1860, it had grown to 109,000 and reached 1 million by 1890.

    Two

    To the nearest million, what was the population of England at the beginning of Elizabeth I’s reign in 1558?

    Answer: 3 million

    During Elizabethan England, the population grew from approximately 3.2 million in 1558 to about 4.1 million by 1603, marking an increase of over 25%. This rapid growth was significant for the time and contributed to various social changes.

    Three

    In what decade did the world’s population first reach the 3 billion mark?

    Answer: 1960s

    The world’s population reached three billion in 1960.

    Four

    Which country has the fourth highest population with a current figure exceeding 287 million?

    Answer: Indonesia

    Indonesia, which has a population of 287,230,819, has the fourth highest population after India (1.47 billion), China (1.41 billion), and the USA (348.5 million).

    Five

    What two continents have the highest population?

    Answer: Asia and Africa.

    Asia’s population is 4,863,327,397 and Africa’s is 1,584,985,259.

    The figures quoted are from various sources including Encyclopædia Britannica, Chicago Historical Society and Worldometer. The figures were sourced yesterday, 3 March 2026.