Quizology.Online

Tag: geography

  • 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

    Flag of Isle of Man.
    Image Wikipedia
    Flag of Sicily.
    Image Wikipedia

    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.

  • Pleading the Belly

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

    One

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

    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?

    Flag of ____
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

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

    Four

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

    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?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Water Under the Bridge—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posed in my earlier post.

    All of these questions relate to today’s date, November 21st.

    Verrazano-Narrows Bridge from Brooklyn at night, 2012.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Which two boroughs of New York City were linked by the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, pictured above, upon its opening on 21 November 1964?

    Answer: Brooklyn and Staten Island

    The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, a suspension bridge connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn, spans the Narrows and carries 13 lanes of Interstate 278. Designed by Othmar Ammann and others, it opened in 1964 with a central span, 4,260 feet (1,298 m), that was the longest in the world until 1981. The bridge, named after explorer Giovanni da Verrazzano, collects tolls in both directions.

    Two

    The first crewed hot air balloon flight took place on this day in 1783 in a balloon constructed by the Montgolfier brothers. Which of contemporary Paris’s over 400 public parks was the site of this historic flight?

    Answer: Bois de Boulogne

    The first untethered manned balloon ascent occurred on 21 November 1783, when two Frenchmen Jean-François Pilâtre de Rozier and François Laurent, marquis d’Arlandes, travelling from the Château de la Muette across the Bois
    de Boulogne, Paris. The flight lasted 20 minutes in a hot air balloon designed and built by brothers Joseph-Michel and Jacques-Étienne Montgolfier. This historic event was witnessed by Louis XVI, the French Academy of Sciences, and the public, including Benjamin Franklin.

    Three

    On this date, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer presented the first quantitative measurements of the speed of light. Which century was this?

    Answer: 17th century

    In 1676, Danish astronomer Ole Rømer announced that an eclipse of Jupiter’s moon would occur ten minutes later than expected, a prediction based on his calculations of the speed of light. Despite this occurring as he predicted, there was initial scepticism from the Paris Académie des Sciences, including his patron, Cassini. Rømer’s claim was eventually confirmed by James Bradley’s discovery of the aberration of light in 1729.

    René Magritte shown with one of his works featuring his recurring motif, a bowler hat.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Four

    Who is this Belgian artist, born on 21 November 1898 and pictured above with one of his works?

    Answer: René Magritte

    René Magritte (1898 – 15 August 1967) was a Belgian surrealist artist renowned for his bizarre and enigmatic paintings that depicted ordinary objects in unsettling, unexpected contexts, challenging perceptions of reality and representation. Influenced by Giorgio de Chirico, Magritte developed a unique style characterised by carefully rendered objects in dreamlike juxtapositions. His work gained international popularity in the 1930s and influenced pop art, minimalist art, and conceptual art, continuing until his death in 1967.

    Five

    Frankenstein, the classic horror film, was released in the US today in 1931. Who played the monster in this film?

    Answer: Boris Karloff

    Frankenstein is a 1931 American horror film directed by James Whale, based on Peggy Webling’s 1927 stage play adaptation of Mary Shelley’s novel. Starring Colin Clive and Boris Karloff, the film follows Dr. Frankenstein’s experiment to create life, resulting in tragic consequences. It was a commercial success, significantly impacting popular culture and spawning sequels and remakes, with its influence still felt today.