Tag: literature

Hotchpotch II | Answers

Detail of Zephyrus with Aura
from
Sandro Botticelli’s The Birth of Venus.
Image Wikipedia

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

  1. In which of these national parks are zebra a native breed?
    • Kruger National Park—in South Africa spans 19,623 km2 across Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. Established in 1926, it is South Africa’s first national park and part of the Kruger to Canyons Biosphere. It is home to 25,000 to 35,000 plains zebra (Equus quagga). Cairngorms National Park, Scotland, UK was established in 2003. It is the largest national park in the UK and covers the Cairngorms mountain range and surrounding hills. Goonengerry NP, New South Wales, Australia is within the Nightcap Range Important Bird Area, home to the largest population of Albert’s lyrebirds.
  2. A light or westerly wind which was also a large car (Ford of Britain) replaced by the Granada in 1972 is a…
    • Zephyr—In ancient Greek mythology and religion, the god Zephyrus was the personification of the west wind and the bringer of light spring and early summer breezes.
      Googol.
      Image
  3. How many zeroes follow the digit ‘1’ (one) when writing the number known as a googol?
    • 100—10100 or ten to the power of one hundred or ten duotrigintillion. The largest ‘named’ number, the term ‘Googol’ was coined in 1920 by 9-year-old Milton Sirotta, the nephew of American mathematician Edward Kasner. It’s possible that Sirotta was inspired by the contemporary comic strip character Barney Google.
      Romeo and Juliet.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet how old is Juliet?
    • Thirteren—her mother indicates that she is not fourteen until Lammastide, which is two weeks away.
      1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II Barker Sedanca de Ville
      Image Wikipedia
  5. A 1964 film staring Rex Harrison and Jeanne Moreau was…
    • The Yellow Rolls-Royce—the film follows the story of three very different owners of a yellow 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II. The owners include an English aristocrat, a Miami gangster and a wealthy American widow. The film is set in the years leading up to and including the start of World War II.

Hotchpotch II

A mixture of questions for you to peruse.

Plains zebra (Equus quagga).
Image Wikipedia
  1. In which of these national parks are zebra a native breed?
    • Cairngorm National Park
    • Goonengerry National Park
    • Kruger National Park
  2. A light or westerly wind which was also a large car (Ford of Britain) replaced by the Granada in 1972, is a…
    • Chinook
    • Sirocco
    • Zephyr
  3. How many zeroes follow the digit ‘1’ (one) when writing the number known as a googol?
    • 10
    • 100
    • 1,000
  4. In Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet how old is Juliet?
    • Thirteen
    • Sixteen
    • Nineteen
  5. A 1964 film staring Rex Harrison and Jeanne Moreau was…
    • My Little Red Corvette
    • Ozzy, the Orange VW Camper
    • The Yellow Rolls-Royce

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Hotchpotch | Answers

The Carpenters.
Image Wikipedia

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

  1. Since 2011, Algeria has been the largest country in Africa by area. What is the second largest?
    • Democratic Republic of Congo—is a Central African country, the second largest in Africa and the most populous Francophone country in the world. It is bordered by several countries and the South Atlantic Ocean, with terrain ranging from dense rainforests to mountains.
  2. Which Carpenters song begins by asking: “Why do birds suddenly appear/Every time you are near?”?
    • (They Long to Be) Close to You—The Carpenters, an American vocal and instrumental duo consisting of siblings Karen and Richard Carpenter, achieved major success with hit singles like (They Long to Be) Close to You and We’ve Only Just Begun. Their melodic pop produced a record-breaking run of hit recordings on the American Top 40 and Adult Contemporary charts. Karen’s death from heart failure in 1983, due to complications from anorexia, ended the duo.
      A page from Thomas Blount’s Glossographia (publ. 1661)
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Thomas Blount’s Glossographia, published in 1656, was what?
    • English Dictionary—Blount’s Glossographia, published in 1656, was the largest English dictionary of its time, defining 11,000 hard words. It was the first dictionary to include illustrations, etymologies, and source citations, and many of its words were not included in later dictionaries.
  4. Prior to colliding with the ice berg, where had been RMS Titanic’s last port of call?
    • Queenstown, Ireland—Titanic’s maiden voyage began on 10 April 1912, with passengers boarding in Southampton, Cherbourg and Queenstown, Ireland from where the ship set sail for New York City. It was carrying a total of 2,224 passengers and crew of which some 1,500 died.
      Dan Brown.
      Image Wikipedia
  5. What 1998 thriller was the first to carry Dan Brown’s name?
    • Digital Fortress—was published in 1998. (Angels & Demons, 2000 and Deception Point, 2001) and is a techno-thriller novel by Dan Brown, exploring government surveillance and its ethical implications. The story follows the NSA’s struggle to crack a revolutionary code, Digital Fortress, created by Ensei Tankado, who died mysteriously. Amidst a web of deceit and murder, the NSA’s head cryptographer, Susan Fletcher, uncovers the truth behind Tankado’s death and the code’s creator, ultimately preventing a catastrophic data breach.

Hotchpotch

Today’s questions are a hotchpotch.

RMS Titanic departing Southampton on 10 April 1912.
Image Wikipedia
  1. Since 2011, Algeria has been the largest country in Africa by area. What is the second largest?
    • Democratic Republic of Congo
    • State of Libya
    • Republic of the Sudan
  2. Which Carpenters song begins by asking: “Why do birds suddenly appear/Every time you are near?”?
    • Bless the Beasts and Children
    • The Rainbow Connection—
    • (They Long to Be) Close to You
  3. Thomas Blount’s Glossographia, published in 1656, was what?
    • Atlas in colour
    • Bible in English
    • English Dictionary
  4. Prior to colliding with the ice berg, where had been RMS Titanic’s last port of call?
    • Cherbourg, France
    • Queenstown, Ireland
    • Southampton, England
  5. What 1998 thriller was the first to carry Dan Brown’s name?
    • Angels & Demons
    • Deception Point
    • Digital Fortress

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Americana | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the questions simply for your information.

Jacques Cartier by Theophile Hamel, 1844.
Image Wikipedia
  1. The first European to describe and map North America’s Saint Lawrence River was Jacques Cartier. He sailed into the river for the first time on 9 June 1534. Who was he?
    • Jacques Cartier—Jacques Cartier, commissioned by King Francis I of France, sailed into the St. Lawrence River in 1534 in search of gold, spices and a northern passage to Asia. He made contact with the Iroquois nation on Prince Edward Island and believed he had discovered a new seaway to Asia.
      Michael J. Fox, 2020.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. Michael J. Fox was born 9 June 1961, what role did he play in Spin City?
    • Mike Flaherty—Michael J. Fox, a Canadian-American actor and activist, rose to fame in the 1980s and 1990s through roles in Family Ties, Back to the Future and Spin City. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991, he became an advocate for finding a cure, founding The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2000. Fox officially retired from acting in 2020 due to declining health.
      Lyndon. B Johnson, 1964.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. On this date, a US President declared a national day of mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Which US president made this decision?
    • Lyndon B. Johnson—On 5 June 1968, Robert F. Kennedy, a US senator and presidential candidate, was shot and fatally wounded by Sirhan Sirhan at the Ambassador Hotel in Los Angeles. Kennedy died on 6 June. Sirhan, a Palestinian Christian with anti-Zionist beliefs, was convicted and sentenced to death, later commuted to life in prison.
      Patricia Cornwall, 2016
      Image Wikipedia
  4. Best known for her Kay Scarpetta novels, which author was born today in 1956?
    • Patricia Cornwell—Kay Scarpetta, a fictional character inspired by Marcella Farinelli Fierro, is the protagonist in Patricia Cornwell’s crime novels. The name Scarpetta means ‘Little Shoe’ and is a pun on Caligula, meaning ‘Little Boot’.
      The US Navy ballistic missile submarine USS George Washington (SSBN-598) underway, circa in the 1970s. Image Wikipedia
  5. On 9 June 1959, the world’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was launched. Which of these was it?
    • USS George Washington (United States)—The world’s first functioning nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine (SSBN) was the USS George Washington, armed with 16 Polaris A-1 missiles. The Soviets, although having several SSBs, followed suit as part of the arms race, in developing a Soviet SSBN.

Americana

Here are a few questions which are related to today’s date, June 9th.

Grande Hermine with cameos of Jacques Cartier & Francis I, King of France in margins.
Image US Library of Congress
  1. The first European to describe and map North America’s Saint Lawrence River sailed into the river for the first time on 9 June 1534. Who was he?
    • Jacques Cartier
    • Jacques Chirac
    • Jacques Cousteau
  2. Michael J. Fox was born 9 June 1961, what role did he play in Spin City?
    • Frank Bannister
    • Mike Flaherty
    • Ben Stone
  3. On this date, a US President declared a national day of mourning following the assassination of Senator Robert F. Kennedy. Which US president made this decision?
    • Gerald Ford
    • Lyndon B. Johnson
    • Richard Nixon
  4. Best known for her Kay Scarpetta novels, which author was born today in 1956?
    • Jane Adams
    • Patricia Cornwell
    • Sandra Brown
  5. On 9 June 1959, the world’s first nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine was launched. Which of these was it?
    • K-19 (Soviet Union)
    • HMS Resolution (United Kingdom)
    • USS George Washington (United States)

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Golden II | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

Perspective view looking southwest over the Golden Gate Bridge toward the Pacific Ocean.
Image Wikipedia
  1. The Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are connected by what strait?
    • Golden Gate—The Golden Gate is a strait connecting San Francisco Bay to the Pacific Ocean. It is spanned by the Golden Gate Bridge. The entire shoreline and adjacent waters throughout the strait are managed by the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.
      The Tremeloes, Silence is Golden.
      Image obriens.no
  2. In 1967, what British group had number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the US charts with Silence is Golden?
    • The Tremeloes—Silence Is Golden was originally recorded by The Four Seasons in 1964 and later covered by The Tremeloes in 1967. The Tremeloes’ version reached number one on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the US charts. Selling one million records globally earned it a Gold Disc.
      Golden Snitch.
      Image The Making of Harry Potter/Wikipedia
  3. In Quidditch, the Seeker needs to capture what to end the game?
    • Golden Snitch–Quidditch, a fictional sport from the Harry Potter series, is played on flying broomsticks. The objective is to score points by throwing a ball through hoops, while avoiding Bludgers and catching the Golden Snitch.
      Vegas Golden Knights logo.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights made their debut in which sports league?
    • National Hockey League (or NHL)—The Vegas Golden Knights, founded in 2017, are a professional ice hockey team based in Las Vegas. They compete in the NHL’s Western Conference and won their first Stanley Cup championship in 2023.
      Mrs Coulter, The Golden Compass, 2007.
      Image Pinterest.
  5. Nicole Kidman’s character in The Golden Compass (2007) was who?
    • Mrs Coulter (or Marisa Coulter)—Mrs. Coulter, a powerful and ruthless character in Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy and its adaptions. She and Lord Asriel are Lyra Belacqua’s parents. Initially, she is portrayed as elegant and sophisticated. However, she is revealed to be calculating and power-hungry. She manipulates events to dominate the armoured bears and later betrays the Church to save Lyra. Ultimately, she sacrifices herself alongside Asriel to defeat Metatron, demonstrating her complex character and love for her daughter.

Golden II

This is a second outing for a theme based on the title. The word ‘golden’ appears in either the question or the answer, so there’s no multiple-choice.

Quidditch arena.
Image Pinterest
  1. The Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay are connected by what strait?
  2. In 1967, what British group had number 1 on the UK Singles Chart and number 11 on the US charts with Silence is Golden?
  3. In Quidditch, the Seeker needs to capture what to end the game?
  4. In 2017, the Vegas Golden Knights made their debut in which sports league?
  5. Nicole Kidman’s character in The Golden Compass (2007) was who?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Golden | Answers

The Golden Girls.
Image BBC

The answers to my earlier post are shown in bold below. I have included the question simply for your information.

  1. The Golden Girls, which first aired in 1985, was set in which US city?
    • Miami—The Golden Girls is an American sitcom about four older women sharing a home in Miami. The show aired on NBC for seven seasons, spanning 180 episodes receiving critical acclaim, winning multiple awards including Emmys and Golden Globes. The series ranked among the top ten in Nielsen ratings for six seasons and is still popular today.
      Goldeneye, Jamaica.
      Image Wikipedia
  2. English author Ian Fleming’s Caribbean estate was named…
    • Goldeneye—is the name of Ian Fleming’s estate in Jamaica, built in 1946 on a cliff overlooking a private beach. The estate, featuring a three-bedroom house and swimming pool, hosted celebrities and filmmakers. It is now a hotel and resort.
      Jack Nicklaus, Augusta National Golf Club, 2006.
      Image Wikipedia
  3. Who is the ‘Golden Bear’, a winner of over 70 events on the PGA Tour?
    • Jack Nicklaus—nicknamed “the Golden Bear”, is an American retired professional golfer and golf course designer. He won 117 professional tournaments, including a record 18 major championships, and is widely regarded as one of the greatest golfers of all time. Nicklaus also holds records for the most top three finishes in PGA Tour history and the most major tournament appearances.
      Golden Horn, Bosphorus and Sea of Marmara.
      Image Wikipedia
  4. What body of water do the Halic Bridge and Ataturk Bridge cross? (Two word answer)
    • Golden Horn—is an inlet of the Bosphorus in Istanbul near to where the Bosphorus meets the Sea of Marmara. A natural inlet the Golden Horn separates the old historic heart of Istanbul from the remainder of the city.
      William Wordsworth.
      Image National Trust/Wikipedia
  5. Wordsworth’s poem, which includes the following quoted lines, has what multiple-word title?
    • I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud—the full poem is shown below. I Wandered Lonely as a Cloud is a popular lyric poem by William Wordsworth, inspired by a walk with his sister in 1802. First published in 1807 and revised in 1815 It is sometimes called Daffodils.Wordsworth’s poem, which includes the following quoted lines, has what multiple-word title?

I Wondered Lonely as a Cloud

By William Wordsmith

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host, of golden daffodils;
Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Continuous as the stars that shine
And twinkle on the milky way,
They stretched in never-ending line
Along the margin of a bay:
Ten thousand saw I at a glance,
Tossing their heads in sprightly dance.

The waves beside them danced; but they
Out-did the sparkling waves in glee:
A poet could not but be gay,
In such a jocund company:
I gazed—and gazed—but little thought
What wealth the show to me had brought:

For oft, when on my couch I lie
In vacant or in pensive mood,
They flash upon that inward eye
Which is the bliss of solitude;
And then my heart with pleasure fills,
And dances with the daffodils

Golden

Today’s post, 6 June 2025, has a theme based on the post title. The word ‘golden’ is contained in either the question or the answer consequently, there is no multiple-choice.

The Golden Girls.
Image BBC
  1. The Golden Girls, which first aired in 1985, was set in which US city?
  2. English author Ian Fleming’s Caribbean estate was named…
  3. Who is the ‘Golden Bear’, a winner of over 70 events on the PGA Tour?
  4. What body of water do the Halic Bridge and Ataturk Bridge cross? (Two word answer)
  5. Wordsworth’s poem, which includes the following quoted lines, has what multiple-word title? 
    When all at once I saw a crowd,
    A host, of golden daffodils;
    Beside the lake, beneath the trees,
    Fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.