All of these questions are related to today’s date, 23 January but there is also a bit of a theme bubbling in the background.
One
A decisive battle on this day in 1314 saw Scotland regain independence and established Robert I as king. What was the battle, and of what Royal house was Robert I the first monarch ?
Two
A Canadian Parliamentary Act in 1887 created the country’s first national park which was originally called Rocky Mountains Park. What is the current name of Canada’s first national park?
Three
In 1894, the International Olympic Committee was founded at the Sorbonne in Paris. This was at the initiative of a French noble; who, including his title, was this man?
Four
In a game against the Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox pitcher Ernie Shore retires 26 batters in a row after replacing …, who had been ejected for punching the umpire. — Wikipedia
This Wikipedia quote refers to a game of baseball played on 23 June 1917. The name of the player who had been replaced is missing. Who is this player?
Five
The 2016 United Kingdom European Union membership referendum took place on 23rd June. What is the referendum and its aftermath commonly known as, and what prime minister finalised it on 31 January 2020?
Queen Victoria, Coronation portrait by George Hayter. Image Wikimedia Commons
The first four questions are connected to today’s date, 20 June. The fifth is not date-related but is connected to the post title.
One
In 1789, French Deputies of the Third Estate found themselves locked out of their meeting hall. Nearby, they regrouped indoors and swore an oath promising not to separate until a written constitution was established. This oath, named after their location, became known as the what, and who was the French king at the time?
Answer: Tennis Court Oath; Louis XVI.
‘We swear never to separate and to meet wherever circumstances require until the kingdom’s Constitution is established and grounded on solid foundations.’
This event was a founding act of French democracy and a major contributing factor in the separation of authority and national sovereignty. It gave birth to the National Constituent Assembly, which in August 1789 voted for the abolition of feudalism and the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen. — Palace of Versailles
Two
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1967, this actor made their stage debut in London. They played five different roles in Sir David Hare’s The Blue Room and then transferred the play to New York, where they made their Broadway debut. Also credited as a producer of 2015’s The Family Fang, who is this actor?
Answer: Nicole Kidman.
Nicole Kidman, an American-born Australian actress, is known for her versatility and glamorous looks. She began her career in Australia, gaining recognition in films like Dead Calm and Days of Thunder, and later transitioned to Broadway and Hollywood.
Three
On this date, American racing driver Barney Oldfield achieved the feat of becoming the first driver to cover a mile in a minute. This incredible speed translates to 60 miles per hour or 96.56 kilometres per hour. In what year did Oldfield accomplish this?
Answer: 1903.
Born in Ohio in 1878, Barney Oldfield moved to Toledo in 1889 where he worked various jobs including as a bicycle racer. He met Henry Ford and bought two cars and gained fame by defeating Alexander Winton in the ‘999’ race. Later he became Winton’s professional driver setting speed records and earning the nickname ‘speed king’.
Four
On this day, Victoria became queen of the United Kingdom. Her succession followed the death of her predecessor. Who was her predecessor and what was their relationship to Victoria?
Answer: William IV; Uncle.
William IV, the ‘Sailor King‘, reigned as King of the United Kingdom and Hanover from 1830 to 1837. His reign saw significant reforms, including the Poor Law, child labour restrictions, and the abolition of slavery. Queen Victoria reigned over the United Kingdom from 1837 to 1901, a period known as the Victorian era. She married Prince Albert, had nine children, and became known as the ‘grandmother of Europe’.
Five
The theme song for the The Savage Seven, a 1968 biker film, was performed by what rock group?
Answer: Cream.
Cream guitarist Eric Clapton wrote Anyone for Tennis for the 1968 film The Savage Seven with lyricist Martin Sharp. It was recorded during Wheels of Fire sessions and was released as a single and on The Savage Seven soundtrack. It reached number 64 on the Billboard Hot 100 and number 40 on the UK Singles Chart in 1968. The track is on several Cream compilation albums.
Anyone for Tennis
Today’s post title was supposed to give a hint to the location of question one’s oath-taking; but I suppose I introduced some obfuscation by including question five.
Queen Victoria, Coronation portrait by George Hayter. Image Wikimedia Commons
The first four questions are connected to today’s date, 20 June. The fifth is not date-related but is connected to the post title.
One
In 1789, French Deputies of the Third Estate found themselves locked out of their meeting hall. Nearby, they regrouped indoors and swore an oath promising not to separate until a written constitution was established. This oath, named after their location, became known as the what, and who was the French king at the time?
Two
Born in Honolulu, Hawaii, in 1967, this actor made their stage debut in London. They played five different roles in Sir David Hare’s The Blue Room and then transferred the play to New York, where they made their Broadway debut. Also credited as a producer of 2015’s The Family Fang, who is this actor?
Three
On this date, American racing driver Barney Oldfield achieved the feat of becoming the first driver to cover a mile in a minute. This incredible speed translates to 60 miles per hour or 96.56 kilometres per hour. In what year did Oldfield accomplish this?
Four
On this day, Victoria became queen of the United Kingdom. Her succession followed the death of her predecessor. Who was her predecessor and what was their relationship to Victoria?
Five
The theme song for the The Savage Seven, a 1968 biker film, was performed by what rock group?
The post title might sound a bit obvious but it is simply a follow-on to yesterday’s, Islands Surrounded by Land. The first question relates to today’s date, 8 June, and also to an island. The other questions are not date related but all are about islands.
One
In 1946, George Orwell left London and moved to Scotland, where he stayed at a remote house called Barnhill on a Hebridean island to finish his novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. What island was Barnhill on, and what chronic illness was Orwell suffering as he wrote the novel?
Answer: Isle of Jura; Tuberculosis.
In May 1946, Orwell retreated to Jura to draft Nineteen Eighty-Four at Barnhill. Despite slow progress and health issues, including lung inflammation and tuberculosis, he completed the first draft on 7 November 1947. Miranda Christen typed a clean version, and Orwell sought medical treatment at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride. Orwell was discharged in summer 1948, returned to Jura, and completed a second draft of Nineteen Eighty-Four by November. Unable to find a typist, he retyped it himself despite illness. He left Barnhill in January 1949, and recovered in a sanatorium in the Cotswolds. On June 8, 1949, Nineteen Eighty-four was published.
Two
In what ocean is the Chagos Archipelago located?
Answer: Indian Ocean.
The Chagos Archipelago, over 60 islands in the Indian Ocean, was under French and then British control. In 1965, the UK expelled its Chagossian population for a US military base. Mauritius claimed the islands, with the ICJ and ITLOS ruling in 2019 and 2021 that the UK must return them. A 2025 treaty transferring sovereignty to Mauritius is on hold due to US, UK, and public opposition, citing UNCLOS Article 298 (b).
Three
What island extending from approximately 76° N to 83° N is world’s largest island entirely within the Arctic Circle?
Answer: Ellesmere Island.
Ellesmere Island, Canada’s northernmost and third largest island, spans 196,236 square kilometres, slightly smaller than Great Britain. Part of the Queen Elizabeth Islands, it features Cape Columbia, Canada’s northernmost point, and the north geomagnetic pole. The Arctic Cordillera dominates its landscape, with over one-fifth designated as Quttinirpaaq National Park. In 2021, its population was 144, residing in Alert, Eureka, and Grise Fiord, within Nunavut’s Qikiqtaaluk Region. Canada’s other northern islands, which are larger than Ellesmere, such as Baffin Island, extend south of the Arctic Circle and therefore do not answer the question.
Four
After the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition ship was trapped by pack ice, a small group in an open boat, the James Caird, attempted an 810-mile winter crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean to organise a rescue. What two islands were the starting and ending points of this epic journey?
Answer: Elephant Island and South Georgia Island.
In August 1914, Shackleton led the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The Endurance was trapped in pack ice, drifting for ten months before being crushed. The crew survived on ice floes for five months, reaching Elephant Island. Shackleton and five others sailed 810 miles (700 nautical miles; 1,300 km) to South Georgia in 17 days aboard the open boat, James Caird. The journey saw Atlantic winter storms, including ‘one of the worst hurricanes any of us had ever experienced‘. After four months and four relief expeditions, Shackleton rescued his crew, with none perishing, showcasing his exceptional leadership and resilience. The James Caird is on display at Dulwich College, London, UK, which is Shackleton’s alms mater.
Five
What is the largest island in the geographic entity of Europe?
Answer: Great Britain.
The designation ‘Great Britain‘ ultimately reflects classical Greek geographic terminology. In the 2nd century CE, Ptolemy referred to the larger island in the British Isles as Megálē Brettanía (‘Great Britain‘), using a descriptive term meaning ‘great‘ or ‘large’. The modern English name developed later from this classical tradition of distinguishing the larger island within the archipelago.
Islands Surrounded by Water
The post title might sound a bit obvious but it is simply a follow-on to yesterday’s, Islands Surrounded by Land. The first question relates to today’s date, 8 June, and also to an island. The other questions are not date related but all are about islands.
The post title might sound a bit obvious but it is simply a follow-on to yesterday’s, Islands Surrounded by Land. The first question relates to today’s date, 8 June, and also to an island. The other questions are not date related but all are about islands.
One
In 1946, George Orwell left London and moved to Scotland, where he stayed at a remote house called Barnhill on a Hebridean island to finish his novel, Nineteen Eighty-Four. What island was Barnhill on, and what chronic illness was Orwell suffering as he wrote the novel?
Two
In what ocean is the Chagos Archipelago located?
Three
What island extending from approximately 76° N to 83° N is world’s largest island entirely within the Arctic Circle?
Four
After the British Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition ship was trapped by pack ice, a small group in an open boat, the James Caird, attempted an 810-mile winter crossing of the South Atlantic Ocean to organise a rescue. What two islands were the starting and ending points of this epic journey?
Five
What is the largest island in the geographic entity of Europe?
The first question relates to today’s date, 7 June, and also to an ‘enclave’. The other questions are not date related but all are about enclaves.
One
What enclave became a sovereign state on this day in 1929 as a result of the Lateran Treaty taking effect?
Answer: Vatican City.
On this day in 1929, the Lateran Treaty came into effect, establishing Vatican City as a sovereign state and the world’s smallest nation. Covering a mere 0.44 square km (0.17 square miles), it’s roughly one-eighth the size of New York City’s Central Park. Completely encircled by Rome, Vatican City is a tiny enclave within the city.
Two
Measuring approximately one mile by one mile, this city dates back to Roman times and can trace its charter back almost a thousand years. It is now an enclave within another (much larger) city. What three words form the name of this city?
Answer: City of London.
Surrounded by Greater London, the City of London, also known as the Square Mile, is a historic and financial centre in England. It is the smallest city in the UK by area, with a population of 8,583, yet it serves as a major employment hub with over 500,000 workers. Its unique government system, rooted in pre-Norman Conquest rights, has influenced parliamentary government. The Court of Husting, established by 1032, was the supreme court of medieval London, with Aldermen playing a key role in municipal authority.
Three
ACT, which became a federal area in 1911, is an enclave of another area (which is not a nation). What is ACT, and what area surrounds it, making it an enclave?
Answer: Australian Capital Territory; New South Wales.
The Australian Capital Territory (ACT), an internal Australian territory, encloses Canberra, the nation’s capital. Established in 1911, it hosts key political institutions like the Parliament and High Court. The ACT, landlocked and mostly comprising Namadgi National Park, includes smaller towns and experiences a dry, continental climate.
Four
Maseru is the capital of this landlocked sovereign state in the southern hemisphere, which is an enclave totally surrounded by another country. What is the name of this enclave, and that of the surrounding country?
Answer: Lesotho; South Africa.
Lesotho, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, is surrounded by South Africa and is the largest sovereign enclave. Formed in 1824, it gained independence in 1966. The Sotho ethnic group dominates, with Sesotho as an official language. Despite socioeconomic challenges, it boasts high literacy and is part of several international organisations.
Five
The flag shown at the top of this post is that of yet another enclave; a European sovereign state totally surrounded by another. What country is the enclave mentioned, and what country surrounds it?
Answer: San Marino; Italy.
San Marino, officially the Republic of San Marino, is a landlocked microstate in Southern Europe, surrounded by Italy. It is the fifth-smallest country globally, with a land area of over 61 square kilometres and a population of 34,042 as of 2025. Founded in AD 301, it claims to be the oldest sovereign state and constitutional republic, named after Saint Marinus. It has a unique constitutional structure with two Captains Regent, elected every six months, and the oldest Constitution, dating from 1600.
Islands Surrounded by Land
An enclave is described by Wikipedia as ‘An enclave is a territory that is entirely surrounded by the territory of only one other state or entity’. Like an island totally surrounded by water, an enclave is totally surrounded by land.
See question five. Flag of ? Image Wikimedia Commons
The first question relates to today’s date, 7 June, and also to an ‘enclave’. The other questions are not date related but all are about enclaves.
One
What enclave became a sovereign state on this day in 1929 as a result of the Lateran Treaty taking effect?
Two
Measuring approximately one mile by one mile, this city dates back to Roman times and can trace its charter back almost a thousand years. It is now an enclave within another (much larger) city. What three words form the name of this city?
Three
ACT, which became a federal area in 1911, is an enclave of another area (which is not a nation). What is ACT, and what area surrounds it, making it an enclave?
Four
Maseru is the capital of this landlocked sovereign state in the southern hemisphere, which is an enclave totally surrounded by another country. What is the name of this enclave, and that of the surrounding country?
Five
The flag shown at the top of this post is that of yet another enclave; a European sovereign state totally surrounded by another. What country is the enclave mentioned, and what country surrounds it?
See question two. Napoleon III at the decisive moment of the Battle of Solferino, 1859. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s first question centres around the date 6th June, and the subsequent questions build on a theme established by the first.
One
The YMCA was founded on this day. Which decade and major city was it established in?
Answers: 1840s; London, UK.
The YMCA, founded in London in 1844 by George Williams, is a nonsectarian Christian movement promoting Christian character through activities. It spread globally, reaching North America in 1851. Programs include sports, education, and public affairs. In 2010, the U.S. branch rebranded as ‘the Y’, while some branches retained YMCA.
Two
The aftermath of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, during the Second War of Italian Independence, resulted in the 1863 formation of what organisation?
Answer: International Committee of the Red Cross (aka Red Cross).
Until the mid-19th century, army nursing systems were unorganised. In June 1859, Swiss businessman Jean-Henri Dunant witnessed the aftermath of the Battle of Solferino, where 40,000 soldiers were casualties, and was shocked by the lack of medical care. He organised relief efforts and wrote A Memory of Solferino in 1862, advocating for national and international relief organisations. In 1863, Geneva lawyer Gustave Moynier initiated discussions on Dunant’s ideas, leading to an investigatory commission and plans for an international conference which resulted in the formation of the International Red Cross.
Three
By what name were the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon commonly known by; in what century were they founded and where were their headquarters?
The Knights Templar, founded in 1119 to protect pilgrims in the Holy Land, evolved into a wealthy and powerful religious military order. Endorsed by the Church, they grew rapidly, becoming skilled Crusaders and prominent in finance. With innovative banking techniques, they managed a vast economic network of nearly 1,000 commanderies across Europe and the Holy Land. Their influence bred envy, and as they lost support due to their failure to hold the Holy Land, King Philip IV of France arrested and tortured them in 1307. This led Pope Clement V to disband the order in 1312. Some assets merged into the Portuguese Order of Christ and Spanish Order of Montesa. Accused of heresy, they were brutally suppressed by Philip IV.
Four
What organisation founded in 1945 has major offices in New York City, Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague; and, to the nearest ten, how many of the world’s states are members of it?
Answers: United Nations; 190.
The United Nations (UN), established on 26 June 1945, aims to maintain peace, develop friendly relations, and promote cooperation. Headquartered in New York City, it includes six principal organisations, 193 member states, and two observer states. The UN operates 11 peacekeeping missions and has received both praise and criticism for its efforts.
Five
The British branch of an international organisation founded in 1961 began running charity fundraising shows in 1976 to support the organisation’s wider mission. These shows gained popularity and became known as The Secret Policeman’s Balls. What is the name of the international organisation founded in 1961?
Answer: Amnesty International.
Amnesty International, founded in London in 1961 by Peter Benenson, is a global NGO advocating for human rights, especially freedom of speech and against torture. It campaigns for political prisoners’ release and collaborates internationally. Awarded the 1977 Nobel Peace Prize, it operates in over 150 countries, led by an international executive committee. With over ten million members, it focuses on justice, torture issues, and awareness campaigns.
See question two. Napoleon III at the decisive moment of the Battle of Solferino, 1859. Image Wikimedia Commons
Today’s first question centres around the date 6th June, and the subsequent questions build on a theme established by the first.
One
The YMCA was founded on this day. Which decade and major city was it established in?
Two
The aftermath of the Battle of Solferino on 24 June 1859, during the Second War of Italian Independence, resulted in the 1863 formation of what organisation?
Three
By what name were the Poor Fellow-Soldiers of Christ and of the Temple of Solomon commonly known by; in what century were they founded and where were their headquarters?
Four
What organisation founded in 1945 has major offices in New York City, Geneva, Nairobi, Vienna and The Hague; and, to the nearest ten, how many of the world’s states are members of it?
Five
The British branch of an international organisation founded in 1961 began running charity fundraising shows in 1976 to support the organisation’s wider mission. These shows gained popularity and became known as The Secret Policeman’s Balls. What is the name of the international organisation founded in 1961?
What does the name of the dinosaur Falcarius mean?
Ground scraper
Sickle cutter
Wood driller
Answer: Sickle cutter.
Falcarius, meaning ‘sickle cutter’, is a primitive therizinosaur from the Early Cretaceous in North America. Discovered in the Cedar Mountain Formation, it was a 4 m long bipedal herbivore with a small head, elongated neck, and tail. It is considered a transitional form between theropods and Therizinosauridae.
Three
Spectrophobia, catoptrophobia and eisoptrophobia can all relate to what household item?
Kettle
Linoleum
Mirror
Answer: Mirror.
Catoptrophobia, eisoptrophobia and spectrophobia are terms related to fear of mirrors, but they have distinct meanings. Catoptrophobia is the fear of mirrors themselves, eisoptrophobia is the fear of seeing one’s reflection, and spectrophobia can mean fear of mirrors or ghosts. Etymologically, catoptro– and eisoptron– mean ‘mirror’, whereas spectrum means ‘apparition’, explaining spectrophobia’s dual association.
Four
What word can be added to crow to complete this plants name: crow …?
Foot
Quill
Steps
Answer:
Crowfoot is a herbaceous plant of the genus Ranunculus, related to the buttercups, typically having lobed or divided leaves and white or yellow flowers.
Many kinds are aquatic with flowers held above the water. Crow quill is a quill pen made from a large feather of a crow’s wing and used in fine writing. Crow steps are projections resembling steps on the sloping part of a gable, common in Flemish architecture and in 16th- and 17th-century Scottish buildings. Also called corbie steps. — all three definitions from Oxford English Dictionary.
Five
Which of these words means the 1938 annexation of Austria by Hitler’s Nazi Germany?
Anschluss
Rindereintopf
Schlafwandeln
Answer: Anschluss.
Anschluss /ˈanʃlʊs / ▸ the annexation of Austria by Germany in 1938. Hitler had forced the resignation of the Austrian Chancellor by demanding that he admit Nazis into his cabinet. The new Chancellor, a pro-Nazi, invited German troops to enter the country on the pretext of restoring law and order. – ORIGIN German, from anschliessen ‘to join’. — Oxford English Dictionary
Rindereintopf is a beef stew, and Schlafwandeln is sleepwalking.
Quizology.Online 