Quizology.Online

“There is much pleasure to be gained from useless knowledge.”

— Bertrand Russell

Tag: geography

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Flag of Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Answer: Ice skating.

    Swedish skater Ulrich Salchow, born 7 August 1877. The salchow, named the Salchow, an edge jump, after him. It is the easiest figure skating jump. It involves taking off from the back inside edge of one skate, completing one or more full turns, and landing on the back outside edge of the opposite skate. American skater Theresa Weld was reprimanded at the 1920 Olympics for performing a single Salchow jump because her skirt would fly up to her knees, creating an image deemed too risqué.

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Answer: Solomon Islands.

    Guadalcanal Island, the largest island in the Solomon Islands, is situated in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. The Battle of Guadalcanal, occurring from August 1942 to February 1943, involved a series of World War II land and sea engagements between Allied and Japanese forces on and around Guadalcanal, one of the southern Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. Alongside the naval Battle of Midway, the combat on Guadalcanal signified a turning point in favour of the Allies in the Pacific War.

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Answer: Côte d’Ivoire/Ivory Coast.

    Côte d’Ivoire, located on the western coast of Africa, was previously a French colony. Abidjan functions as the de facto capital, while Yamoussoukro has been the administrative capital since 1983. Known as Ivory Coast, this West African nation is the leading cocoa exporter globally and has seen substantial economic growth since 2011. Nonetheless, 46.1% of its population remains in poverty. The economy is predominantly dependent on agriculture, especially smallholder cash-crop production.

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Answer: Six.

    The Kon-Tiki expedition in 1947, led by Thor Heyerdahl, was a raft journey from South America to Polynesia. Named after the Inca god Viracocha, it inspired Heyerdahl’s book and a 1950 Oscar-winning documentary. A 2012 dramatised film was nominated for Best Foreign Language Film.

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Answer: Brooklands.

    Built in 1907 near Weybridge, Surrey, Brooklands was the first purpose-built motor racing venue and one of the UK’s first airfields. The British Grand Prix debuted there on 7 August 1926, won by Robert Sénéchal and Louis Wagner. The second race, on 1 October 1927, was also held there.

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking 
    Was looked on as something shocking

    It is part of the lyrics from Anything Goes from the Cole Porter musical of the same name. It is used here only as an oblique remark about Ms Weld’s risqué performance; see answer one.

    Anything Goes

    By Cole Porter

    [RENO]
    Times have changed,
    And we’ve often rewound the clock,
    Since the Puritans got a shock,
    When they landed on Plymouth Rock.
    If today,
    Any shock they should try to stem,
    ‘Stead of landing on Plymouth Rock,
    Plymouth Rock would land on them. 

    In olden days a glimpse of stocking
    Was looked on as something shocking,
    But now, God knows,
    Anything Goes. 

    Good authors too who once knew better words,
    Now only use four letter words
    Writing prose, Anything Goes. 

    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    When grandmama whose age is eighty
    In night clubs is getting matey with gigolo’s,
    Anything Goes. 

    When mothers pack and leave poor father
    Because they decide they’d rather be tennis pros,
    Anything Goes. 

    If driving fast cars you like,
    If low bars you like,
    If old hymns you like,
    If bare limbs you like,
    If Mae West you like
    Or me undressed you like,
    Why, nobody will oppose!
    When every night,
    The set that’s smart
    Is intruding in nudist parties in studios,
    Anything Goes. 

    [RENO, PASSENGERS & CREW]
    The world has gone mad today
    And good’s bad today,
    And black’s white today,
    And day’s night today,
    When most guys today
    That women prize today
    Are just silly gigolos
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes 

    [RENO]
    If saying your prayers you like,
    If green pears you like
    If old chairs you like,
    If back stairs you like,
    If love affairs you like
    With young bears you like,
    Why nobody will oppose! 

    [ALL]
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    And though I’m not a great romancer
    I know that you’re bound to answer
    When I propose,
    Anything goes…
    Anything goes!
    — All Musicals

  • In olden days a glimpse of stocking / Was looked on as something shocking

    Flag of ?
    See question three.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, 7 August.

    One

    In what sport could a ‘Salchow’ be performed?

    Two

    The six-month-long Battle of Guadalcanal, which began on 7 August 1942, unfolded in which country?

    Three

    In 1960, the country represented by the flag shown above gained independence from France. What country is it?

    Four

    How many persons were onboard Thor Heyerdahl’s balsa wood raft, Kon-Tiki when it reached Raroia in the Tuamotu Islands after sailing 4,300 mile (7,000 km) in 101-days?

    Five

    In 1926, in motor racing the first British Grand Prix was held. Where was the race held? 

    Bonus Question

    The post title is two lines taken from a popular song, what song?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • The Great Vowel Shift — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    See question two. Robinson Crusoe.
    Image Goodreads

    Five questions which follow are not date related but do follow a theme.

    One

    The 2010 autobiography of whom is titled 9.58?

    Answer: Usain Bolt.

    Usain Bolt, born 21 August 1986, is a retired Jamaican sprinter, considered the greatest ever. An eight-time Olympic gold medallist, he holds world records in the 100m, 200m, and 4x100m relay. Known as ‘Lightning Bolt’, he won multiple World Championships and numerous prestigious awards, retiring in 2017.

    Two

    The location of the uninhabited island where Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked is described as being ‘near the mouth of the great river …’— what river mouth?

    Answer: Oroonoque or Orinoco.

    Either Oroonoque or Orinoco as the spelling varies between editions. Robinson Crusoe, published on 25 April 1719 by Daniel Defoe, is an English adventure novel often credited as the start of realistic fiction. It follows Robinson Kreutznaer’s 28-year survival on a desert island, inspired by real-life castaways. Initially believed non-fiction, it was well-received for its narrative style. By the end of 1719, the book had four editions and became one of history’s most published works. It inspired numerous imitations across literature, film, television, and radio, defining the Robinsonade genre

    Three

    Historically known as Alexandretta, this city featured in a 1984 film starring Sean Connery. What was the film, and by what name is the city now known?

    Answer: İskenderun; Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

    İskenderun, historically known as Alexandretta, is a district in Hatay Province, Turkey, with a population of 251,682 as of 2022. Situated on the Mediterranean coast, it experienced significant damage from the earthquakes in February 2023. The city was likely founded during the Hellenistic period by a successor of Alexander the Great and has since been under the control of the Seleucid, Roman, Abbasid, and Mamluk empires. It became part of the Ottoman Empire until World War I, after which it was a French mandate sanjak until gaining independence in 1938 and officially joining Turkey in 1939. İskenderun appears in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

    Four

    Which song begins:

    Risin’ up, back on the street
    Did my time, took my chances

    Answer: Eye of the Tiger

    “Eye of the Tiger” by Survivor, written for Rocky III, topped charts worldwide and won a Grammy. It was also nominated for an Academy Award.

    Five

    Who played the title role in the 1973 film Serpico?

    Answer: Al Pacino.

    Serpico is a 1973 biographical crime drama film about Frank Serpico, a whistleblower who exposed corruption in the NYPD. The film, directed by Sidney Lumet and starring Al Pacino, was a critical and commercial success, earning several award nominations.

    The Great Vowel Shift

    Today’s title really in this instance only refers to the answers starting with one of the five vowels which have been ‘shifted’ into reverse order, U – O – I – E – A.
    The Great Vowel Shift, occurring between 1400 and 1700, altered the pronunciation of all Middle English long vowels and some consonant sounds. This shift, beginning in southern England, significantly influenced English dialects and contributed to the divergence between English spelling and pronunciation.

  • The Great Vowel Shift

    See question two. Robinson Crusoe.
    Image Goodreads

    Five questions which follow are not date related but do follow a theme.

    One

    The 2010 autobiography of whom is titled 9.58?

    Two

    The location of the uninhabited island where Robinson Crusoe was shipwrecked is described as being ‘near the mouth of the great river …’— what river mouth?

    Three

    Historically known as Alexandretta, this city featured in a 1984 film starring Sean Connery. What was the film, and by what name is the city now known?

    Four

    Which song begins:

    Risin’ up, back on the street
    Did my time, took my chances

    Five

    Who played the title role in the 1973 film Serpico?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Remote Sensing — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
    Image Marine Oceans

    Today’s questions follow a theme, but I don’t have the remotest intention of mentioning it.

    One

    The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station sits on the Antarctic ice at the South Pole. At approximately what elevation above sea level is this base? (The answer can be either feet or metres.)

    Answer: 9,301 feet or 2,835 metres.

    The station, which supports scientific exploration, is isolated in a polar desert with extreme cold with the annual average temperature is −49°C (−56°F), though winter conditions can push readings below −80°C (−112°F). Opened in 1956, named after explorers Roald Amundsen and Robert F. Scott, it was rebuilt in 1975 and expanded in the 1990s. Completed in 2008, it includes 47 buildings, housing offices, laboratories, observatories, accommodation, dining, recreation and medical facilities. The station accommodates up to 150 people a week in the summer but this drops to 42 in the winter.

    Two

    An Antarctic Mystery was a two-volume novel written in 1897 which is a continuation of a novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, written in 1838 by another author. Who were the authors of these novels? 

    Answers: Jules Verne (wrote the 1897 work); Edgar Allan Poe (wrote the 1838 novel).

    Jules Verne’s 1897 two-volume novel An Antarctic Mystery continues Edgar Allan Poe’s 1838 work, following the narrator’s voyage from the Kerguelen Islands aboard Halbrane. 

    Three

    The Kerguelen Islands, which are a World Heritage Site, part of the French Southern and Austral Lands and Seas, lie in what ocean?

    Answer: Indian Ocean.

    The Kerguelen Islands, also known as the Desolation Islands, are a remote sub-Antarctic archipelago administered by France. The islands, part of the Kerguelen Plateau, have a harsh climate and are home to a permanent French presence of 45 to 100 people.

    Four

    A part of a U.K. overseas territory holds the title of the world’s most remote human settlement. What is this settlement and where it’s located?

    Answers: Tristan da Cunha; South Atlantic Ocean.

    The remotest inhabited island in the world is Tristan da Cunha, discovered in the South Atlantic by Tristao da Cunha, a Portuguese admiral, in March 1506. It has an area of 98km² (38 miles²). After evacuation in 1961 (due to volcanic activity), 198 islanders returned in November 1963. The nearest inhabited land to the group is the island of St Helena, 2,435 km (1,315 nautical miles) to the north-east.

    In The Guardian, 8 August 2005: “Tristan Da Cunha, an overseas territory of the UK which takes six days to reach by boat from Cape Town, was assigned the postcode TDCU 1ZZ when the 276 inhabitants asked the UK’s Royal Mail for help after being unable to shop online without a postcode.”

    — Guinness World Records

    Five

    In 1726, an Anglo-Irish clergyman and writer wrote a satirical novel which contains the word ‘remote’ in its original title. By what title is the novel commonly known today?

    Answer: Gulliver’s Travels.

    The original title of Jonathan Swift’s Gulliver’s Travels is:
    Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World. In Four Parts. By Lemuel Gulliver, First a Surgeon, and then a Captain of Several Ships.

    Remote Sensing

    The theme was simply remoteness.

  • Remote Sensing

    Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station.
    Image Marine Oceans

    Today’s questions follow a theme, but I don’t have the remotest intention of mentioning it.

    One

    The Amundsen–Scott South Pole Station sits on the Antarctic ice at the South Pole. At approximately what elevation above sea level is this base? (The answer can be either feet or metres.)

    Two

    An Antarctic Mystery was a two-volume novel written in 1897 which is a continuation of a novel, The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, written in 1838 by another author. Who were the authors of these novels? 

    Three

    The Kerguelen Islands, which are a World Heritage Site, part of the French Southern and Austral Lands and Seas, lie in what ocean?

    Four

    A part of a U.K. overseas territory holds the title of the world’s most remote human settlement. What is this settlement and where it’s located?

    Five

    In 1726, an Anglo-Irish clergyman and writer wrote a satirical novel which contains the word ‘remote’ in its original title. By what title is the novel commonly known today?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • End of the Line — Answers

    Today’s answers are below.

    Words.
    Image

    These are not date-related but there is a theme at the End of the Line.

    One

    What word means “an explanation of the history of a particular word”?

    Answer: Etymology.

    Etymology is the study of word origins and evolution, tracing their sounds and meanings across time. Etymologists use historical texts and comparative linguistics to reconstruct word histories and trace their roots to shared parent languages.

    Two

    This Skoda compact SUV, named after a cryptozoological creature, was superseded by both the Karoq and the Kamiq?

    Answer: Yeti.

    The Škoda Yeti, a compact crossover SUV, debuted in 2009 and won Top Gear Magazine’s Family Car of the Year.

    Three

    The Kabul River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains and flows 700 kilometres to empty into the …
    What is the watery destination missing from the end of the above statement? 

    Answer: Indus.

    The Kabul River, originating in Afghanistan’s Hindu Kush mountains, flows 435 miles (700 km) to join the Indus in Pakistan. The Indus, a significant waterway in Asia, originates in Tibet and flows through disputed Kashmir, Pakistan, and empties into the Arabian Sea. Spanning 1,976 miles (3,180 km), it supports diverse ecosystems and has a rich historical significance, including the rise of the Indus Valley Civilisation. The river’s course is shaped by geological formations, including the Indus-Yarlung suture zone.

    Four

    This fictional Great Dane first graced our screens in 1969 and continues to be a beloved figure on television and in both live-action and animated films. Who is this remarkable dog?

    Answer: Scooby-Doo.

    Scooby-Doo is an American media franchise created in 1969, featuring four teenagers and their talking Great Dane solving mysteries. The franchise includes numerous shows, films, and specials, with the most recent series, Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?, premiering in 2019.

    Five

    Peter Cullen, Tesshō Genda and others have voiced which character from a media franchise that started with toys in the 1980s and has since spawned at least a dozen films?

    Answer: Optimus Prime.

    Transformers is a highly successful media franchise centred around the Autobots and Decepticons, two alien robot factions. The franchise, which began in 1984, includes toys, animation, comics, video games, and films, generating over ¥2 trillion in revenue. Ownership is split between Hasbro and Takara Tomy.

    End of Line

    The last letter at the ‘End of the Line’ of the first answer is the initial letter of the next answer and so on. This includes the final answer’s ‘E’ from Prime which starts the first answer, Etymology.

  • End of the Line

    Words.
    Image

    These are not date-related but there is a theme at the End of the Line.

    One

    What word means “an explanation of the history of a particular word”?

    Two

    This Skoda compact SUV, named after a cryptozoological creature, was superseded by both the Karoq and the Kamiq?

    Three

    The Kabul River originates in the Hindu Kush mountains and flows 700 kilometres to empty into the …
    What is the watery destination missing from the end of the above statement? 

    Four

    This fictional Great Dane first graced our screens in 1969 and continues to be a beloved figure on television and in both live-action and animated films. Who is this remarkable dog?

    Five

    Peter Cullen, Tesshō Genda and others have voiced which character from a media franchise that started with toys in the 1980s and has since spawned at least a dozen films?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Aargh — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Tomb of the unknown Soldier under the Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile, Paris.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are not date-related. Hopefully, you’ll be saying ‘aargh’ before it is finished.

    One

    An eternal flame burns in Paris to honour unidentified casualties from both world wars. Where is it located?

    Answer: Arc de Triomphe de l’Étoile (aka Arc de Triomphe).

    Beneath the Arc lies the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier from World War I. Buried on Armistice Day 1920, an eternal flame honours the unidentified dead (now from both world wars). In 1961, U.S. President John F. Kennedy and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy honoured the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier alongside President Charles de Gaulle. Following the 1963 assassination of President Kennedy, Mrs. Kennedy recalled the eternal flame at the Arc de Triomphe and asked for a similar flame beside her husband’s grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia.

    Two

    Jesus and the Apostles are believed to have spoken …
    — Encyclopædia Britannica 

    What language completes the above sentence from Encyclopædia Britannica?

    Answer: Aramaic.

    Aramaic, a Semitic language linked to Hebrew, Syriac and Phoenician, spread from the Aramaeans via Assyrians and Babylonians, becoming the Achaemenian official language before Greek replaced it. It replaced Hebrew among Jews, appears in Daniel, Ezra and the Talmuds, was spoken by Jesus and the Apostles, and lasted until Arabic displaced it around 650 CE.

    Three

    A US group released Blitzkrieg Bop as their first single in 1976, while Baby, I Love You became their most successful UK track. What is the band’s name?

    Answer: Ramones.

    Released in February 1976, Blitzkrieg Bop is the Ramones’ debut single and opening track on their first album. Written by Tommy and Dee Dee Ramone, its chant became a global rallying cry. Baby, I Love You was first recorded by the Ronettes in 1963. Phil Spector produced the Ramones cover version of the song which appeared on their album, End of the Century (1980). The single reached number eight in the UK Singles Chart in 1980, their biggest UK top-ten hit.

    Four

    What 1992 film starring Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon depicts two days in the lives of four real-estate salesmen?

    Answer: Glengarry Glen Ross.

    Directed by James Foley and written by David Mamet, Glengarry Glen Ross follows four salesmen facing dismissal threats from Blake. Critically acclaimed, Jack Lemmon won the Volpi Cup and Al Pacino received award nominations, but the film grossed $10.7 million against a $12.5 million budget.

    Five

    Before the 1947 partition created India and Pakistan, what historic Persian-derived name was commonly used for the Indian subcontinent—especially its northern regions—and is still sometimes used as a poetic or cultural name for India today?

    Answer: Hindustan.

    The name Hindustan comes from the Persian word Hind (India) combined with the suffix -stan, meaning “land.” Although it once referred broadly to much of northern India or the Indian subcontinent, today it is mainly used in historical, literary, and cultural contexts rather than as India’s official name.

    Aargh

    The post title is an exclamation ‘used as an expression of anguish, horror, rage, or other strong emotion, often with humorous intent’. It is used here to provide the initial letters of the answers

  • Aargh

    Eternal Flame, Paris.
    Image Flickr

    Today’s questions are not date-related. Hopefully, you’ll be saying ‘aargh’ before it is finished.

    One

    An eternal flame burns in Paris to honour unidentified casualties from both world wars. Where is it located?

    Two

    Jesus and the Apostles are believed to have spoken …
    — Encyclopædia Britannica 

    What language completes the above sentence from Encyclopædia Britannica?

    Three

    A US group released Blitzkrieg Bop as their first single in 1976, while Baby, I Love You became their most successful UK track. What is the band’s name?

    Four

    What 1992 film starring Al Pacino and Jack Lemmon depicts two days in the lives of four real-estate salesmen?

    Five

    Before the 1947 partition created India and Pakistan, what historic Persian-derived name was commonly used for the Indian subcontinent—especially its northern regions—and is still sometimes used as a poetic or cultural name for India today?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.