Continuing the alphabet theme and all today’s answers begin with the letter… ‘T’.
The Roman bridge at Alcántara, in Extremadura, Spain built between 104 and 106 CE by order of the Roman emperor Trajan. Image Wikipedia
One
The 1,900-year-old Alcantara Bridge spans a river that rises in Spain’s Albarracín Mountains before travelling 626 miles (1,007 km) to empty into the Atlantic Ocean. Can you name the river?
Two
In what sport did Fred Perry become the 1929 World Champion?
Three
Pitti-Sing, Peep-Bo and Yum-Yum are characters in which Gilbert and Sullivan operetta?
Four
Porto Bello Gold (1924) by Arthur D. Howden Smith is a prequel to which 1883 Robert Louis Stevenson novel?
Five
Jordan assumed its present name in 1949, what was it called immediately prior to that?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Quidditch accessories. Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Image Wikipedia
One
The equipment pictured above is for use in…
Answer: Quidditch
Quidditch, a fictional sport from the Harry Potter series, is played on flying broomsticks with the objective of scoring points by throwing a ball through hoops and catching a golden ball. A real-life version of the game exists, where players run with brooms.
Desmond Llewelyn was ‘Q’ in 17 of the James Bond films between 1963 and 1999. Image Wikipedia
Two
The James Bond novels and films feature a recurring character named ‘Q’. However, what word does the ‘Q’ stand for?
Answer: Quartermaster
Q, head of Q Branch in the James Bond series, oversees top-secret field technologies. The character, originally named Major Boothroyd, has been portrayed by Desmond Llewelyn, John Cleese and Ben Whishaw. Q, inspired by Charles Fraser-Smith, has appeared, or been referred to, in most Bond films and novels, with variations in the character’s role and name.
Illustration of Queequeg and his harpoon. (Moby Dick – 1902 edition: Charles Scribner’s Sons, New York.) Image Wikipedia
Three
The name of a character in the novel Moby-Dick links it to Special Agent Dana Scully. What is that name?
Answer:Queequeg
Queequeg, a Polynesian harpooner with facial tattoos, befriends Ishmael in Herman Melville’s Moby-Dick. He serves as Starbuck’s harpooner aboard the Pequod. Dana Scully named her dog Queequeg after the Moby-Dick character. She also used the name as an email handle and password.
Queen Latifah as Matron ‘Mama’ Morton in Chicago (2002). Image Pinterest
Four
In the film Chicago (2002) who portrayed Matron ‘Mama’ Morton?
Answer: Queen Latifah
Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, is an American rapper, singer, and actress. She has received numerous accolades, including a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy and a Golden Globe. Latifah is known for her music, acting and television work, including her role in the sitcom Living Single and her portrayal of Bessie Smith in the HBO film Bessie. In the film Chicago the corrupt Matron ‘Mama’ Morton supervises Murderess’ Row in Cook County jail.
1. Manhattan (New York County) 2. Brooklyn (Kings County) 3. Queens (Queens County) 4. The Bronx (Bronx County) 5. Staten Island (Richmond County). Note: JFK and LGA airports are both located in Queens (marked by brown). Image Wikipedia
Five
What is the largest by area of the five boroughs of New York City?
Answer: Queens
The five boroughs are the Bronx, Brooklyn, Manhattan, Queens and Staten Island. At 108.7 square miles Queens is the largest borough in New York City by area, with Brooklyn being the second largest (69.4) and Manhattan the smallest (22.7). Queens is highly diverse with a population of 2.4 million. It is home to both of New York City’s airports and several notable landmarks, including Flushing Meadows–Corona Park and Citi Field.
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Barbra Streisand and Neil Diamond. Image Madly Odd
One
The writer of You Don’t Brine Me Flowers had a hit duet with it alongside Barbra Streisand. Who is the songwriter?
Answer: Neil Diamond
You Don’t Bring Me Flowers was originally written for a TV sitcom but later expanded into a duet by Neil Diamond and Barbra Streisand, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1978.
Fully defined compass rose displaying 32 points. Image Wikipedia
Two
The compass point found at 22.5° from North is what?
Answer: NNE or north-northeast
The points of the compass are a set of horizontal directions used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose typically consists of four cardinal directions (north, east, south, and west) and four ordinal directions (northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest). A fully defined compass has 32 points.
In The Lord of the Rings how many Nazgûl were there?
Answer: Nine
The Nazgûl, or Ringwraiths, are nine men corrupted by Sauron’s Rings of Power, becoming immortal wraiths bound to his will. Led by the Witch-king of Angmar, they serve as Sauron’s most terrifying servants, using terror and weapons like Morgul-knives to pursue the One Ring. They are also known as The Nine, Úlairi (in Quenya), Black Riders, Fell Riders, and Ringwraiths.
Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory in relation to New South Wales Image Wikipedia
Four
Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within which Australian state?
Answer: New South Wales
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) is an internal territory of Australia, home to the capital city of Canberra. It was established in 1911 as the seat of the Australian government, hosting Parliament House, the High Court, and numerous government agencies. The ACT is governed by a locally elected legislative assembly, though the Commonwealth retains authority over certain areas, including the Parliamentary Triangle. The Jervis Bay Territory is an internal territory of Australia, established in 1915 to provide the federal government with a port near the ACT.
The SI unit of force. It is equal to the force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one metre per second per second, and is equivalent to 100,000 dynes. – Oxford English Dictionary
What word is being defined above?
Answer: Newton
The newton (symbol: N) is the unit of force in the International System of Units. It is defined as the force that accelerates a mass of one kilogram at one metre per second squared, expressed in terms of SI base units. The unit is named after Isaac Newton in recognition of his groundbreaking work in classical mechanics, particularly his second law of motion.
The writer of You Don’t Brine Me Flowers had a hit duet with it alongside Barbra Streisand. Who is the songwriter?
Two
The compass point found at 22.5° from North is what?
Three
In The Lord of the Rings how many Nazgûl were there?
Four
Australian Capital Territory and Jervis Bay Territory are enclaves within which Australian state?
Five
The SI unit of force. It is equal to the force that would give a mass of one kilogram an acceleration of one metre per second per second, and is equivalent to 100,000 dynes. – Oxford English Dictionary
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below.
Title page of first edition of Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. Image Wikipedia
1 Gulliver’s Travels was written by…
Jonathan Swift—an Anglo-Irish writer and satirist, is known for his deadpan and ironic style, particularly in works like A Modest Proposal and Gulliver’s Travels. He is regarded as the greatest satirist of the Georgian era and one of the foremost prose satirists in English literature. The above illustration and the quote from it, below, shows he credited Gulliver’s with the authorship.
By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships
MS Queen Elizabeth at Juneau, Alaska, 2024. Image Wikipedia
2 Can you identify the US state capital being described? Its indigenous name is Dzántik’i Héeni, and it was originally named Harrisburg before becoming Rockwell. Notably, it is the largest state capital by area.
Juneau—the capital of Alaska, is located along the Gastineau Channel and the Alaskan panhandle. It is the second-largest municipality in the United States by area and is not connected to the rest of the state or contiguous United States by road due to its rugged terrain. Juneau is home to the state legislature, governor and lieutenant governor; it experiences a significant influx of visitors during the summer months.
Front cover, first editionof Jaws by Peter Benchley, 1974. Image Wikipedia
3 ‘The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail…’ are the opening words of what 1974 novel?
Jaws—a novel by Peter Benchley, was published in 1974 and tells the story of a great white shark terrorising a resort town. The novel’s success led to a blockbuster film adaptation directed by Steven Spielberg in 1975, which became the highest-grossing film of its time.
Fireworks of 14 July 2017 in Paris. Image Wikipedia
4 The Bastille was stormed by a Parisian crowd in 1789. On what month and date?
July 14—Commonly known in English as Bastille Day, Festival de la Fédération or La fête nationale, is celebrated annually on 14 July, it is France’s national day commemorating the Storming of the Bastille in 1789, a key event in the French Revolution. Officially established in 1880, the holiday includes speeches, military parades, fireworks and public festivities; and is observed in France, its overseas territories, and by Francophiles globally.
Johnnie Walker logo incorporating ‘The Striding Man’. Image Wikipedia
5 The Striding Man logo is used by which Scotch whisky brand?
Johnnie Walker—John Walker, born in 1805, managed a grocery and spirits shop in Kilmarnock, Scotland. After his death in 1857, his son Alexander expanded the business, introducing the signature square bottle and the Striding Man mascot. The company’s success grew under Alexander and his sons, with the introduction of blended whiskies like Johnnie Walker Red and Black Labels.
The alphabet theme continues with some questions where all the answers begin with ‘J’.
Gulliver’s Travels by Jonathan Swift. ISBN 978-5-389-02434-2, 2012. Illustrator Vadim Chelak. Image Pinterest
Gulliver’s Travels was written by…
Can you identify the US state capital being described? Its indigenous name is Dzántik’i Héeni, and it was originally named Harrisburg before becoming Rockwell. Notably, it is the largest state capital by area.
‘The great fish moved silently through the night water, propelled by short sweeps of its crescent tail…’—these are the opening words of what 1974 novel?
The Bastille was stormed by a Parisian crowd in 1789. On what month and date?
The Striding Man logo is used by which Scotch whisky brand?
Forth Bridge—The Forth Bridge, a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth (estuary of the River Forth) in Scotland, was completed in 1890 and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It was the world’s longest single cantilever bridge span until 1919 and remains the second longest.
Frida Kahlo, by Guillermo Kahlo. Image Wikipedia
Which Mexican painter’s final work, Viva La Vida (1954), depicts a still-life of watermelons?
Frida Kahlo—was a Mexican painter known for her self-portraits and works inspired by Mexican culture. Her paintings, often autobiographical and mixing realism with fantasy gained international recognition in the late 1970s and early 1990s, becoming an icon for Chicanos, feminists and the LGBTQ+ community.
Felix in Oceantics (1930). Image Wikipedia
Which feline has been described as the world’s most popular cartoon star before Mickey Mouse?
Felix the cat—created in 1919, is a cartoon character known for his black body, white eyes, and grin. He starred in animated shorts, a comic strip and merchandise, but his popularity declined with the advent of sound cartoons. Despite a brief revival in the 1930s and television appearances in the 1950s, Felix’s success waned.
Enrico Fermi, 1943. Image Wikipedia
Which synthetic element, atomic No 100, is named after an Italian-born physicist?
Fermium—a synthetic actinide with the symbol Fm and atomic number 100, is the heaviest element produced by neutron bombardment. Discovered in the debris of the first hydrogen bomb explosion in 1952 it is named after Enrico Fermi.
Ray Bradbury. Image Wikipedia
Author Ray Bradbury is best known for what 1953 novel?
Fahrenheit 451—Ray Bradbury was an American author and screenwriter known for his works in fantasy, science fiction, horror, mystery and realistic fiction. His other well-known works include The Martian Chronicles and The Illustrated Man.
The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.
Europa, as imaged by the Juno spacecraft, September 2022. Image Wikipedia
Which moon of Jupiter is pictured?
Europa—Europa, one of Jupiter’s four Galilean moons, is an icy moon with a smooth surface, possibly due to a subsurface ocean. It is believed to have an iron-nickel core and a water-ice shell, with a thin atmosphere composed primarily of oxygen. Europa was discovered by Galileo Galilei in 1610 and named after Europa, a lover of Zeus in Greek mythology.
Discworld supported by four giant elephants on the back of Great A’Tuin, the Giant Star Turtle. Image Pinterest
In Terry Pratchett’s Discworld what are Berilia, Tubul, Great T’Phon and Jerakeen?
Elephants—Great A’Tuin is the Giant Star Turtle (of the fictional species Chelys galactica) who travels through the Discworld universe’s space, carrying four giant elephants, named Berilia, Tubul, Great T’Phon and Jerakeen, who in turn carry the Discworld.
Alligator in a cypress dome, Everglades National Park. Image Wikipedia
The largest remaining subtropical wilderness in the continental USA is which National Park?
Everglades National Park—Established in 1947, Everglades National Park protects 1.5 million acres of wetland, forest, and marine habitats, providing drinking water and recreational opportunities.
Jane Austen. Portrait by Cassandra Austen, c. 1810. Image Wikipedia
Name a Jane Austen novel, published in 1816, which is set in the village of Highbury?
Emma—a novel by Jane Austen, is set in the fictional village of Highbury and explores the relationships of its inhabitants. The story follows Emma Woodhouse, a wealthy and intelligent young woman who meddles in the love lives of others, leading to humorous misadventures.
Which part of a newt is mentioned as a potion ingredient by the second witch in Shakespeare’s Macbeth?
Eye—see quote below from Macbeth Act 4, Scene 1 (line 10)
In the poisones entrails throw. Toad, that under cold stone Days and nights has thirty-one Sweated venom sleeping got, Boil thou first in the charmed pot. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Fillet of a fenny snake, In the cauldron boil and bake; Eye of newt and toe of frog, Wool of bat and tongue of dog, Adder’s fork and blindworm’s sting, Lizard’s leg and howlet’s wing. For charm of powerful trouble, Like a hell-broth boil and bubble. Double, double toil and trouble; Fire burn and couldron bubble.
Scale of dragon,tooth of wolf, Witch’s mummy, maw and gulf Of the ravin’d salt-sea shark, Root of hemlock digg’d in the dark, Liver of blaspheming Jew; Gall of goat; and slips of yew silver’d in the moon’s eclipse; Nose of Turk, and Tartar’s lips; Finger of birth-strangled babe Ditch-deliver’d by the drab,- Make the gruel thick and slab: Add thereto a tiger’s chaudron, For ingredients of our cauldron. Double, double toil and trouble, Fire burn and cauldron bubble.
Quizology.Online 
