literature – Page 13 – Quizology Online

Opening Words | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

One

Mr. and Mrs. …, of number four, … Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

What surname and street name are missing from this opening line?

Answer: Dursley and Privet

Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s Stone is the first novel in the Harry Potter series. It follows Harry Potter, a young wizard who discovers his magical heritage and faces Lord Voldemort at Hogwarts.

Two

Physicist Leonardo Vetra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own.

The above quote is the first line of what Dan Brown novel?

Answer: Angels and Demons

Angels & Demons is a 2000 mystery-thriller novel by Dan Brown, introducing Robert Langdon and featuring secret societies, a single-day timeframe, and the Catholic Church. The book heavily references ancient history, architecture, and symbology.

Three

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.

The above quote opens a book written in the UK in 1928 but not published openly in that country until 1960. What book?

Answer: Sonds and Lovers

Lady Chatterley’s Lover, D.H. Lawrence’s final novel, was published privately in 1928 and 1929. The book, known for its explicit content, was banned in several countries and became a landmark obscenity trial in the UK in 1960.

Four

The … were over.

What flower completes this quote from the opening of Richard Adams’ novel, Watership Down?

Answer: Primrose

The primroses were over.

Watership Down is an adventure novel about a group of anthropomorphised rabbits escaping the destruction of their warren and seeking a new home. The novel evokes epic themes as the rabbits face perils and temptations on their journey.

Five

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

This is the first line of what novel and who wrote it?

Answer: Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

Rebecca, a 1938 Gothic novel by Daphne du Maurier, follows an unnamed young woman who marries a wealthy widower haunted by his late first wife, Rebecca. The novel, a bestseller, has been adapted numerous times for stage, screen, and as a musical.

Opening Words

As Harry Potter novelist JK Rowling was born 31 July 1965 today’s question are on books and first lines.

One

Mr. and Mrs. …, of number four, … Drive, were proud to say that they were perfectly normal, thank you very much.

What surname and street name are missing from this opening line?

Two

Physicist Leonardo Vetra smelled burning flesh, and he knew it was his own.

The above quote is the first line of what Dan Brown novel?

Three

Ours is essentially a tragic age, so we refuse to take it tragically.

The above quote opens a book written in the UK in 1928 but not published openly in that country until 1960. What book?

Four

The … were over.

What flower completes this quote from the opening of Richard Adams’ novel, Watership Down?

Five

Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again.

This is the first line of what novel and who wrote it?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Is that a Fact | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

One

True of False: the character Mark Antony only appears in one of Shakespeare’s plays.

Answer: False

Mark Antony is in both Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.

Two

True or false: snooker was first played in Raffles Hotel, Singapore?

Answer: False

Snooker originated in various officers’ mess of the British Army in India during the British Raj in the 1870s. It combined elements of pyramids and black pool, and the first set of rules was finalised in 1882 by Neville Chamberlain.

Three

True or False: There are no mammals which produce venom.

Answer: False

Venomous mammals include several species of shrew, the solenodon, pictured, and the male duck-billed platypus.

Four

True or false: The Arctic Circle passes through eight countries.

Answer: True

The Arctic Circle passes through these eight countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and the United States (Alaska).

Five

Grey reef shark (*Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos*)
Image Wikipedia

True or false: a group of two or three sharks, whether all male or all female, is called a shiver.

Answer: True

Another type of gathering is called a shiver. A shiver of sharks refers to smaller groups, usually composed of only two or three individuals. It’s unclear why these small clusters form, but some believe they could be related to mating behavior. Unlike a school, a shiver of sharks is usually made up of only one gender – either all males or all females.
– Shark Sider

Is that a Fact

A compilation of factual and non-factual statements for your perusal. Simply decide if they are true or false.

One

True or false: the character Mark Antony only appears in one of Shakespeare’s plays.

Two

True or false: snooker was first played in Raffles Hotel, Singapore.

Three

True or false: There are no mammals which produce venom.

Four

True or false: The Arctic Circle passes through eight countries.

Five

True or false: a group of two or three sharks, whether all male or all female, is called a shiver.

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

It Goes to Show | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

One

Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and Clara Bow in *Wings* (1927).
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

The above picture is a still from the 1927 film Wings, the first to win the Academy Award for Best Picture. It features Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and an actress known as the ‘It’ girl. Can you identify who this actress, born 29 July 1905, is?

Answer: Clara Bow

Clara Bow, known as ‘The It Girl’, was a prominent American actress during the silent film era and talkies. She retired from acting in 1933 after marrying and having two children.

Two

Beginning the 25 July 2025, United States President Donald Trump stayed at his Turnberry Resort in South Ayrshire, Scotland. Interestingly, another US President was gifted an apartment in Culzean Castle, just a short drive from Turnberry. Who was this other president?

Answer: Dwight D. Eisenhower

In 1945, the Marquess of Ailsa gifted Culzean Castle to the National Trust for Scotland, offering the top floor to General Eisenhower as a token of appreciation for his role in World War II. Eisenhower visited the castle four times, including once as President, and affectionately called it his ‘Scottish White House’.

Dwight D. Eisenhower played Turnberry in 1959 while still president of the USA. Image BBC

Three

Space shuttle *Atlantis* lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning STS-135, the final mission of the Space Shuttle program.
Image NASA.

On this day in 1958, NASA was established in the United States. What four words are represented by the letters in the NASA abbreviation?

Answer: National Aeronautics and Space Administration

In response to the Soviet Union’s launch of Sputnik 1, President Eisenhower signed legislation in 1958 to establish NASA (National Aeronautics and Space Administration), separating the US military and civil spaceflight programmes. NASA, succeeding NACA (National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics), has led most of America’s space exploration programmes, including the Apollo missions and the Space Shuttle.

Four

The track of the Armada around Britain.
Robert Adams, Augustine Rythe, 1590.
Image National Maritime Museum, London/Wikipedia

On July 29, 1588, the Spanish Armada was sighted off the southern coast of England. Which Spanish monarch dispatched the fleet, and the overthrow of what English monarch was the objective of the Spanish invasion?

Answer: King Philip II (of Spain) and Queen Elizabeth I (of England)

The Spanish Armada, sent by King Philip II in 1588 to invade England and reinstate Catholicism, was commanded by Alonso de Guzmán and sailed from Lisbon. Despite reaching Calais, the Armada was defeated by the English fleet, which relied on artillery and faster ships. The Armada suffered losses from fire ships and the Battle of Gravelines, forcing it to retreat around Scotland and Ireland. The long and treacherous voyage back to Spain resulted in the loss of most of the Armada, with only 60 ships returning.

Five

Gandalf proves that Frodo’s Ring is the One Ring by throwing it into Frodo’s fireplace, revealing the hidden text of the Rhyme of the Rings. *The Fellowship of the Ring*.
Image Wikipedia

On 29 July, the first part of J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings was published. In which decade did this occur?

ANSWER: 1950s (1954)

The Lord of the Rings is a high fantasy novel by J.R.R. Tolkien, set in Middle-earth. The story follows the quest to destroy the One Ring and defeat the Dark Lord Sauron, uniting a diverse group of characters including hobbits, a wizard, men, an elf, and a dwarf. The work, initially published in three volumes between 29 July 1954 and 20 October 1955, has become a literary classic, influencing the fantasy genre and inspiring numerous adaptations.

It Goes to Show

Today’s questions have a link to the 29 July.

One

Charles ‘Buddy’ Rogers and ? in *Wings* (1927).
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Two

Three

On this day in 1958, NASA was established in the United States. What four words are represented by the letters in the NASA abbreviation?

Four

Five

On 29 July, the first part of J.R.R Tolkien’s fantasy epic The Lord of the Rings was published. In which decade did this occur?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

I Hope Someday You’ll Join Us | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

Born in London Bob Hope’s family emigrated to the United States two months before his fifth birthday. Hope was an American comedian, actor and entertainer with a nearly 80-year career spanning vaudeville, radio, television and USO Tours. He starred in over 50 films, including the Road to … series with Bing Crosby, and hosted the Academy Awards a record 19 times. Hope retired in 1999 and died in 2003 at the age of 100.

One

Entertainers Bob Hope and Ann Jillian perform for military personnel at the USO Christmas Tour during Operation Desert Shield.
Image Wikipedia

In the 1995 Bob Hope Classic pro-am golf tournament, three United States presidents participated in a team with Bob Hope and professional golfer Scott Hoch. Who were the three presidents who were involved in this event?

Answer: Bill Clinton, George H.W. Bush and Gerald Ford

This event marked the first time a sitting president – Clinton – had played during a PGA Tour event and perhaps the first time three presidents had ever played together.
The Bob Hope Classic, with its long history and association with golf in the Coachella Valley, has featured celebrities like Frank Sinatra and US presidents Eisenhower, Ford, Bush and Clinton. The tournament’s legacy, including Hope’s name, ensures continued charitable donations.

Two

Which nation launched the Hope probe, an unmanned space exploration probe, on a mission to Mars in 2020?

Answer: United Arab Emirates

The Emirates Mars Mission, led by the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, successfully sent the Hope probe to Mars in 2021. The mission, involving 200 Emirati scientists and engineers, studies Mars’ weather cycles and atmospheric loss, contributing to the UAE’s knowledge-based economy. The UAE became the first Arab country and fifth country to reach Mars.

Three

Hope (1995), a novel in the Faith, Hope and Charity trilogy, is written by whom?

Answer: Len Deighton

Bernard Samson, a middle-aged SIS officer, is the central character in Len Deighton’s three trilogies. The plot revolves around his wife Fiona’s defection to East Germany, leaving Bernard to question her loyalty and his own. The first trilogy comprises the books Berlin Game, Mexico Set and London Match. The second trilogy comprises Spy Hook, Spy Line and Spy Sinker. The third and final trilogy comprises Faith, Hope and Charity.

Four

In which country was the company that began manufacturing the pictured vehicle in 1952 based?

Answer: Japan

In 1952 the Hope Jidosha Company in Tokyo (Japan) built a 3-wheeler that had a 7cwt carrying capacity. The vehicle was powered by a 350cc twin-piston 2 stroke engine that provided power to the rear wheels. The Hope Star came with a number of body variations and the company also produced 4-wheeler trucks up until 1962.

Five

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

The word ‘hope’ appears in this final verse of a 1971 song. Can you identify the song and the singer-songwriter?

Answer: Imagine – John Lennon

Imagine, a song by John Lennon, encourages listeners to imagine a world of peace without materialism, borders or religion. The song, co-produced by Lennon, Yoko Ono and Phil Spector, has been widely praised and covered by over 200 artists. It remains controversial due to its lyrics, particularly the lyric ‘no religion too’.

Imagine

(from Imagine: John Lennon soundtrack)

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today… Aha-ah…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion, too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world… You…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

– AZ Lyrics

I Hope Someday You’ll Join Us

British-born comic, actor, and entertainer Bob Hope passed away on July 27, 2003, at the age of 100. All today’s questions relate to the word or name ‘Hope’

Bob Hope putting in Oval Office watched by US President Richard Nixon.
Image *Die Welt*

One

Two

Which nation launched the Hope probe, an unmanned space exploration probe, on a mission to Mars in 2020?

Three

Hope (1995), a novel in the Faith, Hope and Charity trilogy, is written by whom?

Four

In which country was the company that began manufacturing the pictured vehicle in 1952 based?

Five

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

The word ‘hope’ appears in this final verse of a 1971 song. Can you identify the song and the singer-songwriter?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

What’s in a Name | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

One

George Wendt as Norm Peterson. Image Cheers Fandom

One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

Answer: Norm (Hilary Norman Peterson)

Norm Peterson, a regular at Cheers, is known for his witty remarks and love of beer. His enormous tab at the bar is a running gag, with jokes about its size and his occasional attempts to pay it off. Despite his unemployment, Norm remains the bar’s best customer, receiving a complimentary beer on his birthday.

Two

George Clinton, Fourth Vice-President of the United States,
Portrait by Ezra Ames, 1814.
Image Wikipedia

Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

Answer: George Clinton

George Clinton was an American soldier, statesman and Democratic-Republican. He served as the fourth vice president, first governor of New York, and holds the record for the second-longest gubernatorial tenure in U.S. history. He was also the first vice-president to die in office, and the first of two to hold office under two consecutive presidents, Thomas Jefferson (1805–1809) and James Madison (1809–1812).

Three

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Image Wikipedia

Best known for an achievement with Norgay in 1953, he later became New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Nepal. What is his first and last name, and where did the 1953 achievement take place?

Answer: Edmund Hillary, Mount Everest

Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. He later served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and Ambassador to Nepal, and founded the Himalayan Trust to assist the Sherpa people.

Four

Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

Answer: Clint Eastwood (Clinton Eastwood)

Clint Eastwood is an American actor and film director known for his roles in Westerns and action films. He served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1986 to 1988 and has received numerous awards, including four Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.

Five

Hilary Mantel, 2020.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

Answer: Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel was a British writer known for historical fiction, personal memoirs, and short stories. She won the Booker Prize twice for the first and second novels in her Cromwell trilogy, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, and sold over 5 million copies.

What’s in a Name

Hilary Clinton, 2003.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

On July 26, 2016, Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. Today’s questions revolve around people named Hillary, Hilary, or Clinton, whether as a first or last name.

One

One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

Two

Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

Three

Four

Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

Five

The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.