Tea for One—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

Today’s questions are a random mix.

Jean-Luc Picard ‘Tea, Earl Grey, hot’.
Image Pinterest (cropped)

One

Jean-Luc Picard, commanding officer of the Federation starship USS Enterprise, is known for this catchphrase ‘tea, … …, hot’. What two words are missing?

Answer: Earl Grey

Earl Grey tea is a black tea blend flavoured with bergamot oil, though many use artificial flavouring. Traditionally made from Chinese keemun, it can also be blended with lapsang souchong or made with green or oolong tea.


Two

The Italian hero Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi, Italian general, revolutionary and republican, was born in what city?

Answer: Nice (France)

Giuseppe Garibaldi was an Italian general, revolutionary, and republican who played a key role in the Unification of Italy. He embraced republican nationalism but allied with the monarchist Cavour for unification. Garibaldi led successful military campaigns, including the Expedition of the Thousand, and became an international figurehead for national independence and republican ideals.


Three

New York’s Central Park is bordered by what four roadways?

Answer: Central Park North, Fifth Avenue, Central Park South and Central Park West

Central Park, a 843-acre urban park in Manhattan, is the most visited urban park in the United States. Designed by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, it opened in 1858 and was completed in 1876. The park features attractions like the Ramble and Lake, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, and Central Park Zoo. It also offers recreational activities such as carriage rides and concerts.


Four

Jennifer Grey plays ‘Baby’ in 1987’s Dirty Dancing but what is the character’s actual name?

Answer: Frances Houseman

Dirty Dancing is a 1987 American romantic drama dance film starring Patrick Swayze and Jennifer Grey. The film, based on screenwriter Eleanor Bergstein’s childhood, was a commercial success, earning over $214 million worldwide and spawning a successful franchise.


Five

In music, what ten-letter noun means ‘a passage marked to be performed very loudly’. What word?

Answer: Fortissimo

Fortissimo, abbreviated ff, is an Italian musical term meaning ‘very loud’. Italian has been the standard language for musical dynamics since the Baroque era. Pipe organs are among the few acoustic instruments capable of sustaining true fortissimo levels for long periods, sometimes producing sound pressures that can be physically felt. Some modern composers and film scores push beyond traditional notation, using ffff or textual instructions to indicate overwhelming or explosive sound effects.

Tea for One

Today’s questions are a random mix.

Jean-Luc Picard ‘Tea, … …, hot’.
Image Pinterest (cropped)

One

Jean-Luc Picard, commanding officer of the Federation starship USS Enterprise, is known for this catchphrase ‘tea, … …, hot’. What two words are missing?


Two

The Italian hero Giuseppe Maria Garibaldi, Italian general, revolutionary and republican, was born in what city?


Three

New York’s Central Park is bordered by what four roadways?


Four

Jennifer Grey plays ‘Baby’ in 1987’s Dirty Dancing but what is the character’s actual name?


Five

In music, what ten-letter noun means ‘a passage marked to be performed very loudly’. What word?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Canterbury Tales—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posed earlier today.

I have five questions about today, December 29th.

The Murder of Thomas Becket.
Image The British Library via Encyclopædia Britannica

One

Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?

Answer: Thomas Becket

St. Thomas Becket, chancellor of England and archbishop of Canterbury, clashed with King Henry II, leading to his murder in 1170. He is venerated as a saint and martyr in the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican Communion.


Two

In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?

Answer: South Dakota; 7th Cavalry Regiment

The Wounded Knee massacre is widely regarded as marking the end of the Indian Wars, a series of conflicts between the United States and Native American tribes that spanned much of the 19th century.


Three

In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?

Answer: Mongolia

The 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu became both the spiritual and temporal leader of the newly independent state, establishing a theocratic government that lasted until Mongolia fell under strong influence from the Soviet Union.


Four

1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete

The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?

Answer: Screw propeller, iron hull and iron armour

HMS Warrior demonstrated that ironclad, steam-powered warships were superior to traditional wooden sailing vessels, prompting navies worldwide to rapidly abandon older ship designs.


Five

According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

Answer: Pocahontas

Pocahontas was the daughter of Wahunsenacawh, the paramount chief of the Powhatan Confederacy, and her dramatic rescue of John Smith is known primarily from Smith’s own later writings—leading historians to debate how literally the event should be interpreted.


Canterbury Tales

I have five questions about today, December 29th.

One

Four knights—Reginald FitzUrse, Hugh de Morville, William de Tracy and Richard le Breton—were responsible for an assassination in England on this date in 1170. Who was the victim of this assassination?


Two

In 1890, the Wounded Knee massacre resulted in 300 Lakota deaths on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Which US state is Wounded Knee located in, and which US regiment was responsible for this massacre?


Three

In 1911, after gaining independence, the 8th Jebtsundamba Khutughtu was enthroned as Khagan. This took place in which country?


Four

1860 – The launch of HMS Warrior, with her combination of …, … and …, renders all previous warships obsolete.

The above quote from Wikipedia is missing the three factors which rendered previous warships obsolete. What were these factors?


Five

According to his own account, which Native American woman saved the life of English explorer John Smith in 1607 by pleading with her father, the Powhatan leader Wahunsenacawh?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

The Wrong Sort of Bees—Answers

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

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?

Answer: Winnie-the-Pooh; AA Milne

Winnie-the-Pooh, a fictional teddy bear created by AA Milne and EH Shepard, first appeared in a 1925 children’s story. The character, inspired by Milne’s son’s toy and a bear at London Zoo, became the subject of several books and was later adapted into a successful Disney franchise.


Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?

Answer: Pacific Ocean; Captain James Cook

The name given to it by Captain Cook as he visited on Christmas Eve was Christmas Island. In Gilbertese, ‘Christmas’ is ‘Kiritimati’, the combination ‘ti’ is pronounced as ‘s’.


Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?

Answer: 1914

The Christmas truce was a series of unofficial ceasefires along the Western Front during World War I.


Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?

Answer: Soviet Union

Soviet troops invaded Afghanistan in December 1979, supporting the communist government against anti-communist Muslim guerrillas until February 1989.


Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Answer: The answer is any, or all, of the points listed below

  • Apollo 8 was the first crewed spacecraft to leave Earth’s gravitational sphere of influence.
  • It was also the first human spaceflight to reach the Moon.
  • The crew orbited the Moon ten times without landing.
  • The three astronauts, Frank Borman, Jim Lovell, and William Anders, were the first humans to see and photograph the far side of the Moon.
  • They also witnessed and photographed an Earthrise (see image).

On Christmas Eve 1968, the Apollo 8 crew, the first humans to orbit the Moon, read from the Book of Genesis during a live television broadcast from lunar orbit. The reading, which was heard by an estimated one billion people worldwide, was a suggestion from Christine Laitin, the wife of one of those working on the project. Mrs Laitin had been a member of the French Resistance during World War II.


The Wrong Sort of Bees

Today’s questions all relate to December 24th.

See question 5. Taken aboard Apollo 8 by Bill Anders, this iconic picture shows Earth peeking out from beyond the lunar surface as the first crewed spacecraft circumnavigated the Moon, with astronauts Anders, Frank Borman, and Jim Lovell aboard.
Image NASA

One

The Wrong Sort of Bees, published in London’s Evening News on 24 December 1925, introduced a fictional anthropomorphic character to children’s literature and entertainment. Who was this character, and who was the author?


Two

Kiritimati (pronounced Kir-is-Maas) part of the Republic of Kiribati was named by a British naval officer and explorer who visited in 1777. In what ocean is Kiritimati, and who named it?


Three

In which year did the first Christmas truce of World War I occur?


Four

What armed forces invaded Afghanistan on this day in 1979?


Five

In 1968, in a television broadcast from space the crew of Apollo 8 read the first ten verses of the Genesis creation narrative from the King James Bible. What specific feat did the Apollo 8 mission achieve?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Matchmaker—Answers

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

Today’s questions are all connected to December 23rd.

Gwyneth Paltrow (left) and Toni Collette in Emma (1996).
Image © 1996 Miramax Films via Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In 1815, Jane Austen published her fourth novel, which was later adapted into a film in 1996. What was the title of the book?

Answer: Emma

Jane Austen’s 1815 novel, Emma, follows the matchmaking misadventures of Emma Woodhouse in the fictional town of Highbury.


Two

Who, born in 1933, became the 125th emperor of Japan in 1989, and how did his reign end in 2019?

Answer: Akihito; abdication

Akihito, the 125th emperor of Japan, reigned from 1989 to 2019. He abdicated in favour of his son, Crown Prince Naruhito.


Three

In 1888, what two artists were involved in ‘the incident at the Yellow House’, and what injury happened to one of them?

Answers: Vincent Van Gogh and Paul Gauguin; Van Gogh cut off part of his left ear

Vincent van Gogh cut off part of his ear in 1888 after a heated argument with fellow artist Paul Gauguin. The incident, possibly linked to van Gogh’s mental health struggles, led to his hospitalisation and Gauguin’s departure from Arles.


Four

In 2001, which South American nation announced the suspension of payments on its external debt marking the largest debt default in history?

Answer: Argentina

Argentina’s economy experienced a severe recession from 1998 to 2002, culminating in a US$93 billion debt default in 2001. This led to a rapid devaluation of the peso, soaring inflation, and a significant drop in GDP.


Five

Joseph Smith, the founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, was born in 1805. Which US state was his birthplace?

Answer: Vermont

Joseph Smith, founder of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, translated golden plates into the Book of Mormon. His teachings, including revelations and polygamy, were recorded and published.

Fly the Flag—Answers

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

These questions are all related to today’s date, December 22nd.

Flag of Croatia.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 1990, the country whose flag is shown above put into effect its constitution. What is that country?

Answer: Croatia

The Republic of Croatia’s Constitution was promulgated today in 1990. It grants civil rights, including freedom of speech, religion, information, and association, as well as guaranteeing equality of nationalities.


Two

What gate in Berlin was reopened in 1989, having been obstructed and inaccessible during the Cold War?

Answer: Brandenburg Gate

The Brandenburg Gate, a Berlin landmark, symbolises both Germany’s division and reunification. Built in the late 18th century, it was closed off during the Berlin Wall era and reopened in 1989, marking a pivotal moment in German history.


Three

In 1965, Doctor Zhivago premiered. Who played Larissa Ameliava Antipova in the film and whose 1957 novel was the film an adaption?

Answers: Julie Christie; Boris Pasternak

Doctor Zhivago, a 1965 American film directed by David Lean, is a sweeping adaptation of Boris Pasternak’s novel. The film, set against the backdrop of World War I and the Russian Revolution, follows the love story between physician and poet Yury Zhivago and Larissa Ameliava Antipova, ‘Lara’. Despite mixed reviews, the film became a box-office success, known for its grand scale, cinematography, and Maurice Jarre’s score.
Boris Pasternak’s novel, Doctor Zhivago, although published in 1957, was banned in the Soviet Union until 1987.


Four

In 1894, Alfred Dreyfus, a French army officer, was sentenced to life imprisonment for treason and sent to Devil’s Island, a remote penal colony, to serve his sentence. Four years later, his case was the subject of a now-famous letter, *J’Accuse…!, *which was published in the French press. Where was Devil’s Island, and who wrote J’Accuse…!?

Answers: French Guiana; Émile Zola

The Devil’s Island penal colony, officially the penal colony of Cayenne, in French Guiana operated from 1852 to 1952. It was notorious for harsh treatment, high mortality rates, and the exile of political prisoners like Captain Dreyfus. Émile Zola’s open letter, J’Accuse…!, published in 1898, accused the French government of antisemitism and the unlawful jailing of Alfred Dreyfus. The letter, published in L’Aurore, sparked international outrage and led to Zola’s prosecution for libel. The letter heightened support for Dreyfus


Five

In 1941, two weeks after Pearl Harbor, the US president and British prime minister met in Washington DC to discuss World War II. Who were these two men?

Answers: Franklin D. Roosevelt and Winston Churchill

The First Washington Conference, attended by Roosevelt and Churchill, prioritised defeating Germany and established the Combined Chiefs of Staff. Allies committed to the Declaration by United Nations, vowing no separate peace and full resource utilisation.

First—Answers

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
Image Wikipedia

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?

Answer: It’s a Wonderful Life

It’s a Wonderful Life, a 1946 Christmas film directed by Frank Capra, stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Initially a box office disappointment, the film later became a Christmas classic and is now considered one of the greatest films of all time.


Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?

Answer: Brothers Grimm

German folklorists Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm, known for Grimm’s Fairy Tales, significantly contributed to folklore study and popularised classic tales. Jacob also made notable contributions to historical linguistics and Germanic philology.


Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?

Answer: South Carolina

South Carolina seceded from the Union in 1860, joining the Confederacy and sparking the Civil War. After the war, Reconstruction brought military occupation and disenfranchisement, leading to the rise of Wade Hampton and the ‘Bourbon era’. The conflict between the Up Country and Low Country culminated in the election of Benjamin R. Tillman, who championed agrarian reform, white supremacy, and the disenfranchisement of African Americans.


Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?

Answer: 1970s

On 20 December 1974, Mengistu Haile Mariam, an Ethiopian army officer, overthrew the monarchy and established a communist regime. He ruled with an iron fist, implementing the ‘Red Terror Campaign’ and facing armed rebellions, droughts and famines. Facing mounting challenges and dwindling support, Mengistu fled to Zimbabwe in 1991.


Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

Answers: Wes Craven; Neve Campbell

Scream is a 1996 American slasher film directed by Wes Craven and written by Kevin Williamson. The film, which satirises slasher genre clichés, was a critical and commercial success, grossing approximately $173 million worldwide. It revitalised Craven’s and Drew Barrymore’s careers and spawned a successful franchise.


First

All of these questions are connected to today, December 20th, and all contain the word ‘first’.

See question 3. Abraham Lincoln, 1863.
Image Wikipedia

One

((First voice) I owe everything to George Bailey. Help him, dear Father.

(Second voice) Joseph, Jesus and Mary. Help my friend Mr. Bailey.

(Third voice) Help my son George tonight.

(Fourth voice) He never thinks about himself, God; that’s why he’s in trouble.

(Fifth voice) George is a good guy. Give him a break, God.

(Sixth voice) I love him, dear Lord. Watch over him tonight.

(Seventh voice) Please, God. Something’s the matter with Daddy.

(Eighth voice) Please bring Daddy back.

The individuals quoted praying above form the first lines in a classic film which premiered today in 1946. What was the film?


Two

The first tale in an 1812 collection of fairy tales was The Golden Bird. Who published this collection?


Three

On this date in 1860, following Abraham Lincoln’s election as US president, which state became the first to secede from the Union?


Four

In what decade was Ethiopia first declared a socialist state under the leadership of Mengistu Haile Mariam?


Five

In 1996, the horror classic Scream was first released in the United States. Who was the director, and who played the role of Sidney Prescott?

Good Luck! I’ll post the answers later today.