All of these questions are related to today’s date, 13 July.
One
American actor Harrison Ford was born on this day in 1942. In a 1989 film, he played an archaeologist whose father was also an archaeologist. Both were held captive in a castle.
Who played his father?
Which castle and country was it located in?
Two
In 1985, what song featured with an emotional film of starving Ethiopian children during the Live Aid concert, and what group sang it?
Three
One artist performed live at the 1985 Live Aid concert in London and then appeared on stage at the same day’s concert in Philadelphia, USA. He performed solo at both venues but also supported other artists by playing live piano and drums.
Who is this artist?
Who did he play piano for in London?
What band did he play drums for in Philadelphia?
Four
Who became the second woman Prime Minister of the United Kingdom on 13 July 2016, and how long did she hold the office?
Five
In 1939, what singer, backed by trumpeter Harry James, recorded his first single, From the Bottom of My Heart?
Today’s first question is about the date 11 July. The other questions aren’t date-related but share a theme beginning with the first question.
One
At dawn on 11 July 1804, the U.S. vice president took part in a duel which resulted in Alexander Hamilton being fatally wounded.
Who was the vice president involved in this duel
What was Hamilton’s senior role in the U.S. government of George Washington between September 1789 and January 1795?
Answers
Aaron Burr
1st United States Secretary of the Treasury The Burr–Hamilton duel occurred on July 11, 1804, in Weehawken, New Jersey, between U.S. Vice President Aaron Burr and former Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton. Burr fatally shot Hamilton, weakening the Federalist Party and ending Burr’s career. The duel followed a long-standing political rivalry and was near Hamilton’s son’s duel site. Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Broadway musical Hamilton, based on Ron Chernow’s biography, debuted in 2015 and received critical acclaim, winning numerous awards including the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and 11 Tony Awards. The musical’s popularity even influenced the decision to keep Alexander Hamilton on the ten-dollar bill.
Two
The US vice-president referred to in question one was in that role during which president’s first term?
Answer: Thomas Jefferson
Aaron Burr Jr. (1756-1836) was the third US vice president (1801-1805) and a Democratic-Republican. He is remembered for the above duel and his conspiracy to form an independent country.
Three
Who was Richard Nixon’s first Vice President?
Answer: Spiro Agnew.
Spiro Agnew, the 39th U.S. vice president, served from 1969 to 1973 under Nixon. A Republican, he was Maryland’s governor and Baltimore County executive. Agnew resigned amid a tax evasion investigation, unrelated to Watergate. He later wrote a memoir and novel, blaming Zionists for his downfall, and died in 1996.
Four
Which TV crime drama’s theme tune was a Billboard Hot 100 number one for Jan Hammer in 1985?
Answer: Miami Vice, aka Miami Vice Theme.
Miami Vice Theme by Jan Hammer, the theme song for the TV series, topped the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985 and won Grammy Awards in 1986. The music video features Hammer as a fugitive, performing the theme while being chased by the show’s main characters.
Five
What former U.K. Deputy Prime Minister became Facebook’s vice-president of global affairs and communications in 2018?
Answer: Nick Clegg.
Sir Nicholas Clegg, born in 1967, was UK Deputy Prime Minister (2010-2015) and Liberal Democrat leader (2007-2015). Educated at Cambridge, he served as an MEP and MP. Clegg’s coalition with Conservatives led to controversy over tuition fees. Post-politics, he joined Facebook, becoming vice-president for global affairs and communications, a post he left in 2025. In 2026, Clegg joined the board of British AI startup NScale.
Vice Versa
The title originates from Latin and translates to ‘in-turned position’. It doesn’t have any direct relevance to today’s question aside from the word “vice” which appears in each question and answer groupings.
Aerial photo taken over Lake Cote, Costa Rica, by Sergio Loaiza (1971) Image Wikimedia Commons
The first question is related to today’s date, while the remainder are not alienated from question one..
One
On 8 July 1947, U.S. Army Air Force personnel issued a press release regarding a flying disc which had landed on a ranch. The ranch was near what city, and in what state is that city?
Answer: Roswell, New Mexico.
On 8 July, Roswell Army Air Field’s public information officer, Walter Haut, issued a press release.
The many rumors regarding the flying disc became a reality yesterday when the intelligence office of the 509th Bomb group of the Eighth Air Force, Roswell Army Air Field, was fortunate enough to gain possession of a disc through the cooperation of one of the local ranchers and the sheriff’s office of Chaves County. The flying object landed on a ranch near Roswell sometime last week. Not having phone facilities, the rancher stored the disc until such time as he was able to contact the sheriff’s office, who in turn notified Maj. Jesse A. Marcel of the 509th Bomb Group Intelligence Office. — Associated Press (July 8, 1947)
The press release was refuted within a day. The official position changed to the debris coming from a weather balloon.
Two
In The X-Files, FBI agent Fox Mulder had a poster featuring a UFO above trees on the wall of his office. What four words were written on the lower part of the poster?
Answer: I Want to Believe.
Mulder acquired multiple versions of the ‘I Want to Believe’ poster, starting with a flat UFO design and evolving to a fatter UFO. The poster, a constant in his office, survived a fire and was swapped out for newer versions over the years. In 2016, a fifth version appeared in his Virginia office, and a similar one was seen in the FBI office, with Scully claiming it as hers.
Three
What fictional spacecraft shares its name with a 1904 Joseph Conrad novel, and in what did this spacecraft first appear?
Answer: Nostromo; Alien.
Joseph Conrad’s 1904 novel, Nostromo, is set in the fictional South American republic of Costaguana. It is considered Conrad’s best work and was ranked 47th on the Modern Library 100 Best Novels list. Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott, is a seminal sci-fi horror film about the Nostromo, named after Conrad’s novel, crew encountering a deadly alien. It won an Academy Award for Best Visual Effects and its iconic design, suspense, and Sigourney Weaver’s performance made it a classic, spawning a successful franchise.
Four
Elvis Presley found working as a bar singer on an alien planet in a novel which is part of a comedy science fiction franchise. What is the title of both the novel and the comedy science fiction franchise?
Answer: Mostly Harmless; The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy.
In the novel Mostly Harmless, Elvis is discovered by Ford Prefect and Arthur Dent working as a bar singer on an alien planet, and owning a large pink spaceship. Ford, having become a huge fan of Elvis while he was stranded on Earth, watched the performance intently for its entire duration. Presley is not actually named, but his identity is easy to determine from the facts that the bar is called ‘The Domain of The King’, the ‘EP’ initials in the pink spaceship which Ford and Arthur buy from him, and the accent in which he sings. He tells Ford that, contrary to popular belief, he was not abducted by aliens; he went with them of his own free will.
Five
‘Na-Nu Na-Nu’ was an alien greeting used in a sitcom which was a Happy Days spin-off. What alien character said ‘Na-Nu Na-Nu’, what planet was he from, and who played him in the sitcom?
Answer: Mork; Ork; Robin Williams.
Mork, played by Robin Williams, first appeared in Happy Days in 1978. The character’s popularity led to the spin-off Mork & Mindy, set in Boulder, Colorado. Mork, an alien from the planet Ork, arrives on Earth to observe human behaviour and befriends Mindy, who helps him adjust to life on Earth, resulting in humorous situations as Mork struggles to understand human customs. The show, which was Robin Williams’s first major acting role, was extremely popular in its first season but later faced declining ratings after being moved to a less favourable time slot.
The Truth is Out There
Was the tagline for the majority of the episode of The X-Files.
Aerial photo taken over Lake Cote, Costa Rica, by Sergio Loaiza (1971) Image Wikimedia Commons
The first question is related to today’s date, while the remainder are not alienated from question one..
One
On 8 July 1947, U.S. Army Air Force personnel issued a press release regarding a flying disc which had landed on a ranch. The ranch was near what city, and in what state is that city?
Two
In The X-Files, FBI agent Fox Mulder had a poster featuring a UFO above trees on the wall of his office. What four words were written on the lower part of the poster?
Three
What fictional spacecraft shares its name with a 1904 Joseph Conrad novel, and in what did this spacecraft first appear?
Four
Elvis Presley found working as a bar singer on an alien planet in a novel which is part of a comedy science fiction franchise. What is the title of both the novel and the comedy science fiction franchise?
Five
‘Na-Nu Na-Nu’ was an alien greeting used in a sitcom which was a Happy Days spin-off. What alien character said ‘Na-Nu Na-Nu’, what planet was he from, and who played him in the sitcom?
Today’s first question relates to July 6th. The remainder are not date-related but follow a theme originating with the first.
One
On this day in 1964, the country represented by the flag above gained independence. Which country is it, and what nine-letter name was it known by immediately before independence?
Answer: Nyasaland.
The British established the Nyasaland Districts Protectorate in 1891, later renamed Nyasaland. Colonial rule prioritised European settlers, neglecting African welfare and agriculture, leading to migration and opposition to the Federation of Rhodesia and Nyasaland. This fuelled nationalism, culminating in independence on 6 July 1964 when it was renamed Malawi.
Two
Rockjumpers are native to southern Africa. What best describes them: bird, mammal, or reptile?
Answer: Birds.
Rockjumpers are medium-sized birds endemic to southern Africa, with two species: the Cape rockjumper and the Drakensberg rockjumper. They differ in size and plumage, with non-overlapping ranges. They run and jump among rocks and grass while hunting insects.
Three
Which African percussion instrument was the original default ringtone for the iPhone?
Answer: Marimba.
The original iPhone Marimba ringtone is a clean line-out recording that is iconic and often used for incoming calls. It is a short sound, lasting about 7 seconds.
Four
Who was the Scottish explorer who introduced Europeans to West Africa through his book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: James Bruce, David Livingstone or Mungo Park?
Answer: Mungo Park.
Mungo Park (1771–1806) was a Scottish explorer who pioneered African exploration. He theorised the Niger and Congo rivers merged, though later proven incorrect. Park’s influential book, Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa, introduced Europeans to West Africa, setting a standard for future explorers and colonial ambitions. Park died on the Niger River during his second expedition. The Royal Scottish Geographical Society award the Mungo Park medal annually in his honour.
Five
The African monkey gets its name from its crescent-shaped browband, which resembles the bow of a Roman goddess. What is it known as?
Answer: Diana monkey (Cercopithecus Diana).
The Diana monkey’s crescent-shaped broadband is said to resemble the the shape of the bow carried by the Roman goddess Diana. It is endangered due to habitat destruction and hunting as bushmeat. It can be found in West Africa, from Sierra Leone to Côte d’Ivoire.
Today’s first question relates to July 6th. The remainder are not date-related but follow a theme originating with the first.
One
On this day in 1964, the country represented by the flag above gained independence. Which country is it, and what nine-letter name was it known by immediately before independence?
Two
Rockjumpers are native to southern Africa. What best describes them: bird, mammal, or reptile?
Three
Which African percussion instrument was the original default ringtone for the iPhone?
Four
Who was the Scottish explorer who introduced Europeans to West Africa through his book Travels in the Interior Districts of Africa: James Bruce, David Livingstone or Mungo Park?
Five
The African monkey gets its name from its crescent-shaped browband, which resembles the bow of a Roman goddess. What is it known as?
Telly Savalas in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service. Image liveabout.com
Today’s questions are neither date related nor themed.
One
By what two initials is chronic fatigue syndrome commonly known?
Answer: ME.
Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a chronic illness causing severe fatigue, sleep, and memory issues, worsened by activity (PEM). Its cause is unknown, often following infections, with genetic factors. Diagnosis relies on symptoms, as no tests exist. Treatment focuses on symptom relief, with pacing and counselling beneficial. ME/CFS significantly impacts society and the economy, with symptoms causing social isolation. A quarter of sufferers are bedridden or housebound. Stigma in healthcare and controversies over its cause and treatments complicate care. Doctors often lack familiarity due to limited medical school coverage, and research funding is historically inadequate.
Two
What American actor, a television detective and a Bond villain, had a U.K. number one with If in 1975?
Answer: Telly Savalas.
Aristotelis ‘Telly’ Savalas (1922–1994) was an American actor and singer, active from 1950 to 1994, renowned for his bald head and deep voice. He gained fame as Lt. Theo Kojak in Kojak (1973–1978) and as James Bond’s nemesis Ernst Stavro Blofeld in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service (1969). Savalas starred in films like Birdman of Alcatraz, earning an Academy Award nomination. He was married three times, had six children, and served in the U.S. Army. He released a cover of Bread’s If in 1975, which topped the UK charts.
Three
What is the birth name of author Lee Child, and who is the main fictional character he is known for?
Answers: James ‘Jim’ Grant; Jack Reacher.
The Jack Reacher series by Lee Child (Jim Grant) includes 30 books and a short story collection as of November 2025. It follows Jack Reacher, a former major in the U.S. Army Military Police Corps turned drifter, solving dangerous situations across the U.S. and internationally. The series has been adapted into films and a TV series.
Four
…▸ noun an edible bivalve mollusc with a ribbed fan-shaped shell. …s swim by rapidly opening and closing the shell valves
— Oxford English Dictionary
Which word, appearing twice in the definition above, has been removed?
Answer: Scallop.
scallop ▸ noun an edible bivalve mollusc with a ribbed fan-shaped shell. Scallops swim by rapidly opening and closing the shell valves. Family Pectinidae: Chlamys, Pecten, and other genera.
▪ short for scallop shell ▪ a small pan or dish shaped like a scallop shell and used for baking or serving food.
— Oxford English Dictionary
Five
The lightest halogen, which is a pale yellow gas with the atomic number 9, is a highly reactive chemical element?
Answer: Fluorine.
Fluorine, atomic number 9, is a reactive, pale yellow gas, first isolated in 1886. It’s used in uranium enrichment, steelmaking, pharmaceuticals, with global sales over $15 billion annually. Fluorocarbon gases, with global-warming potentials 100 to 23,500 times that of CO2, persist environmentally due to strong bonds. Organofluorine compounds are toxic, produced by some plants and marine sponges.
If a face could launch a thousand ships
The post title is a line from If the song referred to in question two. If is a 1971 song written by David Gates and popularised by his band Bread.
The first question relates to three events related to today’s date, 26 June, in different years. The remaining questions do not relate to today’s date but do follow a similar format.
One
Listed alphabetically, these three events all occurred on this day in the 1970s. Arrange them chronologically starting with the earliest.
CN Tower opened
Elvis Presley last public concert
Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing
Answer
CN Tower opened
Elvis Presley last public concert
Muhammad Ali announced his retirement from boxing
CN Tower opened in 1976 becoming the world’s tallest building until the the Burj Khalifa opened in Dubai, UAE in 2007. Market Square Arena in Indianapolis became Elvis Presley’s last public concert when he performed there in 1977. In 1979, after nearly two decades of professional boxing, heavyweight champion Muhammad Ali announced his retirement.
While the remaining questions are not related to today’s date they share a similar format.
Two
These three films each won the Best Picture Academy Award in the 1990s. Listed alphabetically, arrange them chronologically by the year they won the Oscar.
Braveheart
Titanic
Unforgiven
Answer
Unforgiven
Braveheart
Titanic
Unforgiven is a 1992 American Western film directed by Clint Eastwood, who also stars as an ageing outlaw. Braveheart is a 1995 American epic historical war drama film directed by and starring Mel Gibson as William Wallace. The film was inspired by Blind Harry’s 15th century epic poem. Titanic is a 1997 American epic historical romance film about the sinking of the RMS Titanic. The film, written and directed by James Cameron, stars Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet as lovers from different social classes.
Three
These tennis professionals all won the Ladies Singles Championships at Wimbledon in the 1990s. Listed here alphabetically, place them in chronological order of their championship wins.
Jana Novotná
Lindsay Davenport
Martina Hingis
Answer
Martina Hingis
Jana Novotná
Lindsay Davenport
Martina Hingis won the title in 1997, beating Jana Novotná in the final. Novotná won the following year with a final victory over Nathalie Tauziat, and Lindsay Davenport’s win came in 1999 when she defeated Steffi Graf to claim the title.
Four
Yet again listed alphabetically, these three artists topped the Billboard Hot 100 in the 2010s. Arrange the three answers by the correct chronological year from that decade.
Adele — Someone Like You
Katy Perry — Teenage Dream
Taylor Swift — We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Answer
Katy Perry — Teenage Dream
Adele — Someone Like You
Taylor Swift — We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together
Katy Perry’s Teenage Dream first topped the charts on 18 September 2010. Adele’s Someone Like You followed a year later on 17 September 2011 and Taylor Swift’s We Are Never Ever Getting Back Together topped the charts on 1 September 2012.
Five
The Hugo Award for Best Novel is awarded for the best science fiction or fantasy novel from the previous year. Listed alphabetically are three winners from the early 21st century. Rearrange and list them in their chronological order.
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer
Answer
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling
American Gods by Neil Gaiman
Hominids by Robert J. Sawyer
These three novels and their authors won the 2001, 2002 and 2003 awards respectively.
