The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Film poster for Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001). Image MovieDB
One
Which Louis de Bernières novel begins with the line, “Dr. Iannis had enjoyed a satisfactory day in which none of his patients had died or deteriorated”?
Answer: Captain Corelli’s Mandolin
Captain Corelli’s Mandolin, released simultaneously in the United States as Corelli’s Mandolin, is a 1994 novel by the British writer Louis de Bernières, set on the Greek island of Cephalonia during the Italian and German occupation of the Second World War. In 2003, the novel was listed at number 19 on the BBC’s survey The Big Read. It has been adapted for radio, t#heatre and film, Captain Corelli’s Mandolin (2001)
The Camels are Coming was the first in the series of Biggles stories by Captain W.E. Johns. Image Wikipedia
Two
Who wrote the Biggles series of novels?
Answer: Captain W.E. Johns
Biggles, a fictional pilot and adventurer, is the hero of the Biggles series of adventure books written by W.E. Johns. The series, which includes nearly a hundred volumes, began in 1932 and continued until Johns’ death in 1968.
Created by US author Dav Pilkey, which superhero is the alter ego of elementary school principal Mr Krupp?
Answer: Captain Underpants
Captain Underpants is a children’s novel series about two fourth graders, George and Harold, who accidentally bring their comic book superhero to life.
Last expedition of Robert Falcon Scott. The image shows Wilson, Scott and Oates (standing); and Bowers and Evans (sitting). Image Wikipedia
Four
Who led the ill-fated Terra Nova expedition to Antarctica in June 1910?
Answer: Captain Robert F. Scott
The Terra Nova Expedition, led by Captain Robert Falcon Scott, aimed to continue scientific research and reach the South Pole. Scott and four companions reached the pole in 1912, only to find they had been beaten by a Norwegian team. All five of the party died on their return journey from the Pole.
Puppets by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson for Thunderbirds and Captain Scarlet at the National Media Museum, Bradford, England. Image Wikipedia
Five
Which 1960s sci-fi TV series featured the international security organisation, Spectrum?
Answer: Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons
Captain Scarlet and the Mysterons is a British science fiction television series created by Gerry and Sylvia Anderson. It was the sixth Anderson series to use Supermarionation puppetry and scale model special effects.
Which Spanish Nobel laureate wrote the novels The Family of Pascual Duarte, The Hive and Christ Versus Arizona?
Camilo José Cela
Mario Vargas Llosa
Patrick Modiano
Answer: Camilo José Cela
Camilo José Cela y Trulock, a Spanish novelist and poet, was awarded the 1989 Nobel Prize in Literature for his prose. He was associated with the Generation of ’36 movement.
National Museum of Cameroon, Yaoundé. Image Wikipedia
Two
Yaoundé is the capital of which French-speaking West African country?
Answer: Cameroon
Yaoundé, the capital of Cameroon, is the second-largest city with a population of over 2.8 million. Founded as a German trading post in 1887, it became the French colonial capital in 1922 and the seat of government for independent Cameroon in 1960.
King George VI and Queen Elizabeth acknowledge the crowds at Toronto City Hall during the 1939 Royal Tour of Canada. Image Wikipedia
Three
Camilla is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III. Who was the last person to be Queen consort of these realms?
Answer: Elizabeth (Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon wife of George VI and later Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother)
Elizabeth Bowes-Lyon married Prince Albert, the second son of King George V and Queen Mary. When King Edward VIII abdicated in 1936, Prince Albert became King George VI, and Elizabeth, as his wife, became Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the British Commonwealth. She was also the last Empress of India. After her husband’s death in 1952, her daughter Elizabeth became queen regnant, or queen in her own right. She reigned as Elizabeth II, and to avoid confusion, her mother was styled as Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
Captain Archibald Haddock, introduced in The Crab with the Golden Claws, is Tintin’s best friend and a seafaring captain. Initially depicted as alcoholic, he becomes more respectable and heroicand quickly evolved into a loyal companion to Tintin. Hergé developed Haddock’s character, giving him a rich ancestry and a home, Marlinspike Hall, to provide a base for future adventures. Haddock’s name was suggested by Hergé’s wife, and his character was based on aspects of Hergé’s friends, adding humour to the Tintin stories.
The Women’s Lacrosse World Cup has been held eleven times, with the United States winning nine of these championships. The remaining two championships were won by which country?
Australia
Belgium
Canada
Answer: Australia
The World Lacrosse Women’s Championship, held every four years, is the international championship of women’s lacrosse. Sponsored by the Federation of International Lacrosse since 2009, it was previously sponsored by the International Federation of Women’s Lacrosse Associations. Australia’s victory over the United States in two finals means the US has been represented in all eleven championship finals.
Which Spanish Nobel laureate wrote the novels The Family of Pascual Duarte, The Hive and Christ Versus Arizona?
Camilo José Cela
Mario Vargas Llosa
Patrick Modiano
Two
Yaoundé is the capital of which French-speaking West African country?
Three
Camilla is Queen Consort of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as she is the wife of King Charles III. Who was the last person to be Queen consort of these realms?
Four
The picture at the top of the post is of Tintin’s friend, but what is his full name?
Five
The Women’s Lacrosse World Cup has been held eleven times, with the United States winning nine of these championships. The remaining two championships were won by which country?
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
The Marx Brothers. L to R. Groucho, Chico and Harpo. A Night in Casablanca, 1946. Image Wikipedia
One
Out of the three Marx Brothers most commonly seen in films, who was the oldest?
Chico
Groucho
Harpo
Answer: Chico
Chico born March 1887; Harpo, November 1888 and Groucho, October 1890.
Stage names
During a poker game with Art Fisher, the Marx brothers received their stage names. Groucho, Chico and Harpo were all derived from their personalities and interests. Groucho’s notably moody temperament is most commonly attributed to him, while Chico, originally Chicko, gained his reputation for chasing women (or ‘chicks’). Harpo’s name was simply a reference to his harp playing.
Genie in a Bottle, released June 1999, reached No. 1 in record charts in 21 countries for what singer?
Answer Christina Aguilera
Genie in a Bottle is a song by Christina Aguilera, released in 1999 as the lead single from her debut album. The song, which topped charts in 21 countries, explores themes of self-respect and abstinence.
Vitalstatistix is a literary character in what fictional universe?
Answer: Asterix
Chief Vitalstatistix, the Gaulish village chief, is a middle-aged man with a love for food and drink. He is known for his bravery, even-tempered nature, and pride, and is carried on a shield by two unnamed bearers.
James Bond, a fictional character, is an agent of the British Secret Service, also known as MI6. What do the initials MI stand for?
Answer: Military Intelligence
The Secret Intelligence Service (SIS), commonly known as MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6), is the foreign intelligence service of the United Kingdom. Its primary mission is to collect and analyse human intelligence covertly overseas, primarily targeting foreign nationals, to support its Five Eyes partners. SIS is one of the British intelligence agencies, and the Chief of the Secret Intelligence Service (‘C’) is directly accountable to the Foreign Secretary.
Map of the Mackenzie River system in Canada, made using public domain Natural Earth and Atlas of Canada data. Image Wikipedia/Shannon1
Five
Which of these major North American rivers does not flow into the Pacific Ocean or one of its marginal seas?
Columbia River
Mackenzie River
Yukon River
Answer: Mackenzie River
The Mackenzie River, the longest river system in Canada, flows through the Northwest Territories, draining about 20% of the country. Its main stem is 1,738 kilometres long, flowing north-northwest from Great Slave Lake to the Beaufort Sea, a marginal sea of the Arctic Ocean
The Columbia River flows from the Canadian Rockies into the United States, where it discharges into the Pacific Ocean between the states of Washington and Oregon
The Yukon River rises in British Columbia and flows through Yukon Territory, both in Canada, before crossing into the United States and flowing across the width of Alaska before reaching the Bering Sea, a marginal sea of the Pacific Ocean
The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.
Tibetan Yak or Sarlyk, as they say in Altai. Image Wikipedia
One
Remembering the theme, the animal pictured is a…
Answer: Yak
The yak, a long-haired domesticated cattle species, inhabits the Himalayan region, Tibetan Plateau, and parts of Central Asia. It is descended from the wild yak.
Located on the island of Honshu, what is Japan’s second-largest city in terms of population?
Answer: Yokohama
Yokohama, the second-largest city in Japan, is the capital of Kanagawa Prefecture and a major economic, cultural, and commercial hub. It is home to many of Japan’s firsts, including the first foreign trading port and Chinatown, and is a prominent port city.
The lyrics of this 1972 song by Carly Simon describe a self-absorbed lover, whose identity has long been a matter of speculation. What is the song?
Answer: You’re So Vain
In 2015, the Los Angeles Times published some more information about Carly Simon’s 1972 hit You’re So Vain—
Carly Simon has confirmed the answer — at least in part — to one of the most puzzling questions in recent history: Who is the song “You’re So Vain” really about?
“I have confirmed that the second verse is Warren,” the 70-year-old told People magazine. That’d be Warren Beatty, long suspected of being the vain one. The other verses (“You walked into the party … “ and “I hear you went up to Saratoga …”) are about other men, she said. – Los Angeles Times
Susanna Clarke’s novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell begins,
‘Some years ago there was in the city of … a society of magicians. They met upon the third Wednesday of every month and read each other long, dull papers upon the history of English magic.’
What city is missing from this quote?
Answer: York
In 1806, during the Napoleonic Wars, the reclusive magician Mr Norrell emerges, captivating England with his displays of magic. However, his cautious nature is challenged by the brilliant novice Jonathan Strange, leading to a dangerous battle between the two magicians.
What colour links these? – Cross on the flag of Sweden – A ball with a value of two points snooker
Answer: Yellow
The Swedish flag features a yellow Nordic cross on a light blue field, inspired by the 1442 coat of arms. Blue and yellow have been used in Swedish heraldry since 1275. The yellow ball has a value of two points in the game of snooker.
A snooker table, drawn exactly to scale. Image Wikipedia
Continuing the alphabet theme with all of today’s answers beginning with the letter ‘Y’.
This is known as a Sarlyk in Altai, see question one. Image Wikipedia
One
Remembering the theme, the animal pictured is a…
Two
Located on the island of Honshu, what is Japan’s second-largest city in terms of population?
Three
The lyrics of this 1972 song by Carly Simon describe a self-absorbed lover, whose identity has long been a matter of speculation. What is the song?
Four
Susanna Clarke’s novel Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell begins,
‘Some years ago there was in the city of … a society of magicians. They met upon the third Wednesday of every month and read each other long, dull papers upon the history of English magic.’
What city is missing from this quote?
Five
What colour links these? – The cross on the flag of Sweden – A ball with a value of two points snooker
The unstriped ground squirrel is which of these? – Xandra Neramanius – Xerus rutilus – Xantia citroenus
Answer: Xerus rutilus
The unstriped ground squirrel is a rodent species found in dry savannas and shrublands across East Africa. The distractors provided were made-up terms: Xandra Neramani (us) is a character in Marvel comics, while Xantia citroen (us) refers to the Citroën Xantia, a French car manufactured between 1992 and 2001.
Founded in Rochester, New York in 1906 the Haloid Photographic Company is better known today as…
Answer: Xerox
Xerox, founded in 1906 as Haloid Photographic Company, commercialised Chester Carlson’s xerography process in 1951. Joseph C. Wilson, who took over Haloid, led the company’s development of xerography and renamed it Xerox Corporation in 1961. In 2019, it became Xerox Holdings Corporation.
Cover of the first edition of The Thirty-nine Steps. Image Wikipedia
Three
Calculate the sum of the number of steps from the title of John Buchan’s 1915 novel plus the title of the 1979 Blake Edwards romantic comedy film starring Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews and Bo Derek. Please express your answer in Roman numerals.
Answer: XLIX
John Buchan’s steps are The Thirty-nine Steps and Blake Edward’s film is 10. Therefore, 39 + 10 = 49, which is written as XLIX in Roman numerals.
A Catholic missionary who was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, and
The fictional Professor X from the Marvel universe.
Answer: Xavier
Francis Xavier, a cleric and missionary, co-founded the Society of Jesus and led the first Christian mission to Japan. He is venerated as a saint and known as the ‘Apostle of the Indies’ for his extensive missionary work in Asia, particularly in India and Japan.
In the Marvel universe, Professor Charles Francis Xavier, known as Professor X, is a powerful telepath and mutant. As the founder of the X-Men, Professor X runs a school for mutants in New York. The character has been portrayed by Patrick Stewart and James McAvoy in the X-Men film series.
Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich, January 1967. From left: John Dymond (Beaky), Ian Amey (Tich), Trevor Ward-Davies (Dozy), Mick Wilson (Mick) and Dave Dee. Image Wikipedia
Five
One word links the following?
A word in the first line of an 1816 poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem
A 1968 by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
A 1980 song by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra
Answer: Xanadu
The poem is Kubla Khan, shown in full below. The Legend of Xanadu was by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich and Olivia Newton-John and ELO’s song was Xanadu.
Kubla Khan
Samuel Taylor Coleridge
In Xanadu did Kubla Khan A stately pleasure-dome decree: Where Alph, the sacred river, ran Through caverns measureless to man Down to a sunless sea.
So twice five miles of fertile ground With walls and towers were girdled round: And there were gardens bright with sinuous rills, Where blossomed many an incense-bearing tree; And here were forests ancient as the hills, Enfolding sunny spots of greenery.
But oh! that deep romantic chasm which slanted Down the green hill athwart a cedarn cover! A savage place! as holy and enchanted As e’er beneath a waning moon was haunted By woman wailing for her demon-lover! And from this chasm, with ceaseless turmoil seething, As if this earth in fast thick pants were breathing, A mighty fountain momently was forced: Amid whose swift half-intermitted burst Huge fragments vaulted like rebounding hail, Or chaffy grain beneath the thresher’s flail: And ‘mid these dancing rocks at once and ever It flung up momently the sacred river. Five miles meandering with a mazy motion Through wood and dale the sacred river ran, Then reached the caverns measureless to man, And sank in tumult to a lifeless ocean: And ‘mid this tumult Kubla heard from far Ancestral voices prophesying war!
The shadow of the dome of pleasure Floated midway on the waves; Where was heard the mingled measure From the fountain and the caves. It was a miracle of rare device, A sunny pleasure-dome with caves of ice!
A damsel with a dulcimer In a vision once I saw: It was an Abyssinian maid, And on her dulcimer she played, Singing of Mount Abora. Could I revive within me Her symphony and song, To such a deep delight ‘twould win me That with music loud and long I would build that dome in air, That sunny dome! those caves of ice! And all who heard should see them there, And all should cry, Beware! Beware! His flashing eyes, his floating hair! Weave a circle round him thrice, And close your eyes with holy dread, For he on honey-dew hath fed And drunk the milk of Paradise.
The unstriped ground squirrel is which of these? – Xandra Neramanius – Xerus rutilus – Xantia citroenus
Two
Founded in Rochester, New York in 1906 the Haloid Photographic Company is better known today as…
Three
Calculate the sum of the number of steps from the title of John Buchan’s 1915 novel, plus the title of the 1979 Blake Edwards romantic comedy film starring Dudley Moore, Julie Andrews and Bo Derek. Please express your answer in Roman numerals.
Four
What surname links these?
A Catholic missionary who was a co-founder of the Society of Jesus, and
The fictional Professor X from the Marvel universe.
Five
One word links the following
A word found in the first line of an 1816 poem by Samuel Taylor Coleridge poem
A 1968 song by Dave Dee, Dozy, Beaky, Mick & Tich
A 1980 song by Olivia Newton-John and Electric Light Orchestra What is the word that links the above?
Quizology Online 
