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

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.


Mixed Up—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Unscramble the capitalised ANAGRAM to find the answer in each of the following questions phrases and clues.

See question four. Fieldfare (Turdus pilaris).
Image Wikipedia

Example

Washington DC is the capital of the ESTATE NUDIST

Answer: United States


One

A quote from the BBC in which the first ANAGRAM is a band name, the second and third are a singer’s name.

When the ITCHY SERUM scored their first global hit in the early 1980s all eyes were on ONLINE ANNEX, the singer whose powerful androgynous look defied the male gaze.

and

The video accompanying the single, in which ONLINE ANNEX appeared with closely cropped orange hair and wearing a man’s business suit, was both striking and surreal. …extraordinary image was at odds with her female contemporaries.

BBC

What is the band (One word) and who is the singer? (First name and surname)

Answer: Eurythmics; Annie Lennox

In 1983, the Eurythmics achieved global chart success, topping the US charts with their hit Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This). Scottish singer-songwriter Annie Lennox achieved international success with Dave Stewart in the Eurythmics in the 1980s. She embarked on a successful solo career in 1992, releasing six studio albums and winning numerous awards, including eight Brit Awards and four Grammy Awards. Lennox is also a prominent political and social activist, raising awareness for HIV/AIDS and women’s empowerment.


Two

This Oxford English Dictionary definition for pewter has what element mixed up: ‘a grey alloy of tin with copper and MY NATION.’ (One word)

Answer: Antimony

Antimony (Sb), a lustrous grey metal or metalloid, is primarily sourced from stibnite (Sb2S3). It is used in alloys, flame retardants, semiconductors, and historically in medicine and cosmetics. Historically, pewter was an alloy of tin with up to 40% lead.


Argentinian tennis player Guillermo Vilas at the 1974 Dutch Open tournament.
Image Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
File:Guillermo Vilas.jpg Created: 14 July 1974

Three

In 1977, this Argentinian tennis player set a record of a 53-match winning streak on clay courts, which stood until it was surpassed by Rafael Nadal in 2006. He will be found in VILLAGE RUM SILO. (First name and surname)

Answer: Guillermo Vilas

Guillermo Vilas is an Argentine former professional tennis player. Argentine Guillermo Vilas, a former professional tennis player, was ranked world No. 1 in the Grand Prix seasons of 1974, 1975 and 1977. He won 62 singles titles, including four majors, and is renowned for his dominance on clay courts, holding the record for most clay court match wins. Despite studies suggesting he should have been ranked No. 1 for seven weeks, the ATP has not officially recognised this.


Four

A species of thrush (see picture at the top of this post): DEAF RIFLE

Answer: Fieldfare

The fieldfare is a migratory thrush found in northern Europe and the Palearctic. It breeds in woodland and scrub, and winters in the UK, Southern Europe, North Africa, and the Middle East.


A sign on the Eyre Highway indicating that an RFDS emergency airstrip is ahead. There are three such strips on the highway.
Image Wikipedia

Five

This sign for a Flying Doctor Service emergency airstrip is on what Australian road which crosses the Nullarbor Plain: GEE HAIRY WHY (two words)

Answer: Eyre Highway

Eyre Highway, a 1,664-kilometre highway, links Western Australia and South Australia via the Nullarbor Plain. Constructed during World War II, it was initially named Forrest Highway before being officially named after explorer Edward John Eyre.


Mixed Up

Unscramble the capitalised ANAGRAM to find the answer in each of the following questions phrases and clues.

See question four.
Image Wikipedia (Attribution link in answer post)

Example

Washington DC is the capital of the ESTATE NUDIST

United States


One

A quote from the BBC in which the first ANAGRAM is a band name, the second and third are a singer’s name.

When the ITCHY SERUM scored their first global hit in the early 1980s all eyes were on ONLINE ANNEX, the singer whose powerful androgynous look defied the male gaze.

and

The video accompanying the single, in which ONLINE ANNEX appeared with closely cropped orange hair and wearing a man’s business suit, was both striking and surreal. …extraordinary image was at odds with her female contemporaries.

BBC

What is the band (One word) and who is the singer? (First name and surname)


Two

This Oxford English Dictionary definition for pewter has what element mixed up: ‘a grey alloy of tin with copper and MY NATION.’ (One word)


Argentinian tennis player VILLAGE RUM SILO at the 1974 Dutch Open tournament.
Image Wikipedia CC BY-SA 3.0 nl
(Attribution links in answer post)

Three

In 1977, this Argentinian tennis player set a record of a 53-match winning streak on clay courts, which stood until it was surpassed by Rafael Nadal in 2006. He will be found in VILLAGE RUM SILO. (First name and surname)


Four

A species of thrush (see picture at the top of this post): DEAF RIFLE


A sign on the GEE HAIRY WHY indicating that an RFDS emergency airstrip is ahead. There are three such strips on the highway.
Image Wikipedia (Attribution link in answer post)

Five

This sign for a Flying Doctor Service emergency airstrip is on what Australian road which crosses the Nullarbor Plain: GEE HAIRY WHY (two words)

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Pleading the Belly—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post.

These questions all relate to today’s date, November 28th.

Anne Bonny and Mary Read, pirates. Life-size bronze statues. Image CN Statue https://www.cnstatue.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/Anne-Bonny-and-Mary-Read-statue.jpg

One

Mary Read and Anne Bonny were put on trial in Jamaica in 1720. For what were they tried, convicted, and sentenced to death?

Answer: Piracy

In 1720, Read and her crew commandeered a sloop, leading the Bahamas governor to declare them enemies of the Crown. Captured, they faced trial in Jamaica, where they were found guilty and sentenced to death. All the male crew members were executed by hanging, but Read and Bonny claimed pregnancy—pleading the belly, which granted them a stay of execution. Read eventually died in prison, likely from a fever, and Bonny was eventually freed.


Two

Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, the first in a series of movies based on J.R.R. Tolkien’s book, had its world premiere in what country?

Answer: New Zealand

The film premiered in Wellington, New Zealand—the capital of Middle-earth—on 28 November 2012. An Unexpected Journey, set in Middle-earth sixty years before The Lord of the Rings, follows Bilbo Baggins on a quest to reclaim the Lonely Mountain. The film, released in 2012, received mixed reviews but grossed $1.017 billion and was nominated for three Academy Awards.


Flag of Albania.
Image Wikipedia

Three

The Vlorë proclamation, issued on this day in 1912, declared independence for ____. Which country is missing from this statement?

Answer: Albania

Independent Albania was declared a parliamentary state in Vlorë on 28 November 1912 during the First Balkan War. Despite seeking international recognition based on ethnic rights, the London Conference of 1913 partitioned much of the claimed Albanian lands, leaving only a central region as an independent territory under Great Power protection. This led to the establishment of the Principality of Albania as a constitutional monarchy in August 1913.


Four

In 1582, Anne Hathaway, who was pregnant at the time, married whom in the Diocese of Worcester, England?

Answer: William Shakespeare

Aged 18, William Shakespeare married 26-year-old Anne Hathaway and had three children: Susanna—six months after their marriage—and twins Hamnet and Judith. After the twins’ birth, he disappeared from historical records until 1592, leading to speculation about his ‘lost years’, including deer poaching, horse minding, and school teaching.


Five

In World War II, the first conference of the ‘Big Three’—Winston Churchill (United Kingdom), Franklin Delano Roosevelt (United States), and Joseph Stalin (Soviet Union)—began on this day in 1943. Which of these was the location: Tehran, Iran; or Yalta, Crimea, Soviet Union?

Answer: Tehran, Iran

The Tehran Conference, held from 28 November to 1 December 1943, was the first meeting of the ‘Big Three’ Allied leaders during World War II. The main outcome was a commitment to open a second front against Nazi Germany by 1 June 1944. The conference also addressed relations with Turkey and Iran, operations in Yugoslavia and against Japan, and the envisioned post-war settlement.