Today’s Question 1 concerns the revocation of an award on this date, November 19th. The subsequent questions explore a similar theme, focusing on disqualification, revocation or stripping of awards, medals and other honours.
Grammy Award. Image Recording Academy
One
Which pop duo had their 1989 Grammy Award for Best New Artist revoked on 19 November 1990 after it was revealed they had not actually sung on their album?
Two
Which professional cyclist had all of his Tour de France titles stripped after a major doping investigation, and how many titles were involved?
Three
In 2024, the arrest and subsequent conviction of a multi-BAFTA award winner forced the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) to amend its procedures to include the power to retrospectively strip future award winners should they be convicted of a crime. Whose arrest and conviction led to this change?
Four
Which Canadian sprinter was stripped of his 1988 Olympic gold medal in the 100 metres after testing positive for steroids?
Five
What event in 1966 saw the competitors who finished in the first four places disqualified because of a single filament bulb?
José Saramago, the novelist pictured above, won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his extensive body of work including O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). What nationality was he?
Answer: Portuguese
Born in 1922, Portuguese novelist José Saramago, a Nobel Prize winner, grew up in poverty. He worked various jobs including mechanic journalist and translator before achieving international fame with novels like Memorial do convento (English title Baltasar and Blimunda) and O evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). His subversive perspectives on historic events and critique of institutions like the Catholic Church, often set against historical backdrops, earned him both acclaim and controversy. This led to his self-imposed exile in the Canary Islands after the Portuguese government censored his work.
Two
On this day, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act was signed authorising the construction of a pipeline across Alaska. Which US President signed it and what communities are at either end?
Answer: Richard Nixon; Prudhoe Bay and Valdez
The Trans-Alaska Pipeline, built to transport oil 800 miles from Prudhoe Bay to Valdez, was constructed in response to the 1968 oil discovery on Alaska’s North Slope. Environmental concerns led to design modifications, including elevated sections to prevent permafrost thawing and wildlife crossings. Construction, completed between 1975 and 1977, faced challenges due to extreme cold and permafrost. Despite initial mechanical issues, subsequent oil spills, and incidents of oil leakage, the pipeline remains operational and has shipped over 17 billion barrels of oil since 1977.
Who is this Canadian singer, born on 16 November 1964, as pictured in 2010?
Answer: Diana Krall
Diana Krall, a Canadian jazz pianist and singer, is renowned for her contralto vocals and has sold over 15 million albums worldwide. She holds the record for the most albums debuting at number one on the Billboard Jazz Albums chart and has won numerous awards, including two Grammys and eight Junos.
Four
With NASA’s ___ campaign, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.
The above is taken from a NASA website and describes a program which is named after the twin sister of Apollo. What is this name which has been omitted from the above quote?
Answer: Artemis
Artemis, the Greek goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation, chastity, and childbirth, was the daughter of Zeus and Leto and twin sister of Apollo. Apollo and Artemis were respectively personifications of the Sun and the Moon Her worship varied across regions, reflecting her diverse roles as a huntress, protector of young animals, and goddess of nature and fertility. While poets emphasised her chastity and love for the hunt, Greek sculpture often depicted her in a more gentle and graceful manner. She was also a protector of young children and a patron of healing, particularly among women and children. Widely venerated, her worship spread throughout ancient Greece, with her great temple at Ephesus being one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
Five
On this day in 1855, an explorer became the first European to witness Mosi-oa-Tunya, a now-renowned World Heritage Site. What name did he give it?
Answer: Victoria Falls
The Zambezi River does not gather speed as it nears the drop, the approach being signaled only by the mighty roar and characteristic veil of mist for which the Kalolo-Lozi people named the falls Mosi-oa-Tunya (“The Smoke That Thunders”).
Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls, located on the Zambezi River between Zambia and Zimbabwe, is a spectacular waterfall twice as wide and deep as Niagara Falls. The falls plunge over a sheer precipice into a chasm, creating a dramatic gorge and the Boiling Pot pool. In 1855, British explorer David Livingstone was the first European to see the falls which he named after Great Britain’s Queen Victoria. The surrounding national parks offer diverse wildlife and recreational facilities, and the area was designated a World Heritage site in 1989.
The Smoke That Thunders. Mosi-oa-Tunya / Victoria Falls. Image Wikipedia
José Saramago, the novelist pictured above, won the Nobel Prize for Literature for his extensive body of work including O Evangelho Segundo Jesus Cristo (The Gospel According to Jesus Christ). What nationality was he?
Two
On this day, the Trans-Alaska Pipeline Authorization Act was signed authorising the construction of a pipeline across Alaska. Which US President signed it and what communities are at either end?
Who is this Canadian singer, born on 16 November 1964, as pictured in 2010?
Four
With NASA’s ___ campaign, we are exploring the Moon for scientific discovery, technology advancement, and to learn how to live and work on another world as we prepare for human missions to Mars. We will collaborate with commercial and international partners and establish the first long-term presence on the Moon.
The above is taken from a NASA website and describes a program which is named after the twin sister of Apollo. What is this name which has been omitted from the above quote?
Five
On this day in 1855, an explorer became the first European to witness Mosi-oa-Tunya, a now-renowned World Heritage Site. What name did he give it?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Today’s questions are simply a random mix.
Two-colour gold, guilloché enamel, brilliant and rose-cut diamonds. It was given to King Edward VII by his favourite mistress, Mrs George Keppel, in 1908. Image Royal Collection Trust
One
‘My great-grandmother was your great-great grandfather’s mistress,’ she is said to have joked. ‘So how about it?’
— Tatler, 11 December 2024
This quote was reportedly made in the second half of the twentieth century by one Briton speaking to another. Who is the person speaking, and who is listening?
Answer: Camilla Shand (later Parker Bowles) and Charles, Prince of Wales (now Queen Camilla and King Charles III)
Alice Keppel, a mistress of King Edward VII, gifted him a Fabergé cigarette case symbolising her love. History has somewhat repeated itself: Alice Keppel’s great-granddaughter is none other than Queen Camilla, who was, of course, in a relationship with Prince Charles when he was married to Princess Diana. Queen Camilla, is married to King Charles III.
Two
Stay With Me___ was a 1979 single by Judie Tzuke. What two words complete the title?
Answer: Till Dawn (Stay With Me Till Dawn)
Her debut album Welcome to the Cruise included the single that peaked at number 8 in Australia and 16 in the UK. It also reached number 47 on the US Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.
Three
The rings of ___, comprising 13 planetary rings, were discovered in 1977. Which body in the Solar System has been omitted from the previous sentence?
Answer: Uranus
Uranus has 13 planetary rings, discovered in 1977. Their complexity is between Saturn’s extensive rings and Jupiter and Neptune’s simpler systems. In 1789, William Herschel reported observing rings. However modern astronomers are divided on whether he could have seen them as they are very dark and faint.
Four
This wall, which began construction in AD 142, served as the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire while garrisoned. What wall is this and in which modern country is this wall located?
Answer: Antonine Wall
The Antonine Wall, a turf fortification built by the Romans in Scotland, spanned 63 kilometres and was the northernmost frontier barrier of the Roman Empire. Constructed under Emperor Antoninus Pius, it was abandoned after eight years and its remains are less evident than Hadrian’s Wall due to weathering. It is now under the care of Historic Environment Scotland and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Five
The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event is the most recent mass extinction and the only one definitively connected to a major asteroid impact. Some ___ percent of all species on the planet, including all nonavian dinosaurs, went extinct.
— National Geographic, September 26, 2019
Complete the quote by selecting one of these percentages: 43, 61 or 76.
Answer: 76
The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event, 66 million years ago, wiped out 76% of species, including all non-avian dinosaurs, due to an asteroid impact near Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula.
Two-colour gold, guilloché enamel, brilliant and rose-cut diamonds. It was given to King Edward VII by his favourite mistress, Mrs George Keppel, in 1908. Image Royal Collection Trust
One
‘My great-grandmother was your great-great grandfather’s mistress,’ she is said to have joked. ‘So how about it?’
— Tatler, 11 December 2024
This quote was reportedly made in the second half of the twentieth century by one Briton speaking to another. Who is the person speaking, and who is listening?
Two
Stay With Me___ was a 1979 single by Judie Tzuke. What two words complete the title?
Three
The rings of ___, comprising 13 planetary rings, were discovered in 1977. Which body in the Solar System has been omitted from the previous sentence?
This wall, which began construction in AD 142, served as the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire while garrisoned. What wall is this and in which modern country is this wall located?
Five
The Cretaceous-Paleogene extinction event is the most recent mass extinction and the only one definitively connected to a major asteroid impact. Some ___ percent of all species on the planet, including all nonavian dinosaurs, went extinct.
— National Geographic, September 26, 2019
Complete the quote by selecting one of these percentages: 43, 61 or 76.
Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians. Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).
Roberta Joan Anderson, who was born at Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on 7 November 1943, wrote Ladies of the Canyon (released 1970), her third studio album while living at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon. Who is Roberta Joan Anderson better known as?
Answer: Joni Mitchell
Joni Mitchell’s third studio album, Ladies of the Canyon, was released in 1970 and includes Big Yellow Taxi, Woodstock and The Circle Game.
Two
A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on and album and as a single in 1970.
Answer: Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young
Joni Mitchell bought the house in the Laurel Canyon district of Los Angeles in 1968 and met Graham Nash shortly after. Their house became a popular hangout for musicians. Our House featured on Crosby, Stills, Nash and Young’s Déjà Vu album in 1970 and was released as a single the same year.
Three
The ‘Last Spike’ ceremony at Craigellachie on 7 November, marked the completion of Canada’s transcontinental railway. In what decade did the ‘Last Spike’ ceremony take place, and in what Canadian province or territory is Craigellachie?
Answer: 1880s (1885) and British Columbia
At 9:22 a.m. on November 7, 1885, the ceremonial final spike was driven into the Canadian Pacific Railway (CPR) at Craigellachie, British Columbia. The honor fell to CPR financier Donald Smith, Baron Strathcona and Mount Royal. This historic moment marked the completion of Canada’s first transcontinental railway, bringing to a close years of struggle marked by natural disasters, financial crises, and even rebellion.
Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016. A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?
Answer: Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen, a celebrated Canadian songwriter, singer, poet and novelist, explored faith, mortality and love in his work. He received numerous accolades, including induction into several halls of fame and the Prince of Asturias Award for literature.
Sergeant Edward Holland’s Victoria Cross, for valour at the Battle of Leliefontein, 7 November 1900. Image Wikipedia
Five
On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?
Answer: Second Boer War
Lieutenant-Colonel François-Louis Lessard led a rearguard action to cover the withdrawal of a larger force. The Royal Canadian Dragoons, supported by artillery and a machine gun, repelled multiple Boer assaults, including a mounted charge. Despite heavy casualties, the Dragoons successfully protected the field guns, earning three of their members—Sergeant Edward Holland, Lieutenant Richard Turner, and Lieutenant Hampden Cockburn—the Victoria Cross for their bravery.
Four of today’s questions concern November 7th and Canada or Canadians. Question two is included because the house mentioned was owned by a Canadian at the time (she is the answer to question one).
Roberta Joan Anderson, who was born at Fort Macleod, Alberta, Canada on 7 November 1943, wrote Ladies of the Canyon (released 1970), her third studio album while living at 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon. Who is Roberta Joan Anderson better known as?
Two
A follow-on from the previous question regarding 8217 Lookout Mountain Avenue, Laurel Canyon where singer-songwriter Graham Nash lived with the lady referred to in question one. The house is the subject of Our House written by Nash and released in 1970. What group, described by Wikipedia as a ‘folk rock supergroup’, released the song on an album and as a single in 1970.
Three
The ‘Last Spike’ ceremony at Craigellachie on 7 November, marked the completion of Canada’s transcontinental railway. In what decade did the ‘Last Spike’ ceremony take place, and in what Canadian province or territory is Craigellachie?
Four
Born in Quebec, this songwriter, singer, poet and novelist passed away at 82 on 7 November 2016. A fifteenth studio album Thanks for the Dance was released three years later. Who is this singer?
Sergeant Edward Holland’s Victoria Cross, for valour at the Battle of Leliefontein, 7 November 1900. Image Wikipedia
Five
On this date in 1900, at The Battle of Leliefontein, the Royal Canadian Dragoons won three Victoria Cross. During what war did this battle take place?
Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.
Following the violent blow delivered by [Soviet Union’s] Valentin Prokopov, Hungarian Ervin Zador bleeds profusely from above his eyebrow. Image Bettmann / Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports
One
The violent Blood in the Water Olympic water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union erupted in the aftermath of the Soviet Union suppressing a Hungarian uprising. During which Olympics—year and host city—did this match take place?
Answer: 1956 Melbourne Olympics
The match became a powerful symbol of Cold War tensions. Hungary went on to win the gold medal, and player Ervin Zádor’s bloodied face was widely photographed, capturing global attention.
Two
On November 6, 2012, a US president was re-elected for a second term. Who were his defeated opponents in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections?
Answer: John McCain (2008) and Mitt Romney (2012)
Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was the first African American to hold the office. He served two terms, from 2009 to 2017, during which he implemented significant domestic and foreign policies, including healthcare reform, economic stimulus and the end of the Iraq War. Obama left office with high approval ratings and remains politically active.
Three
A composer died on November 6, 1893. One of his symphonies, Symphony No. 6 in B minor, which premiered just nine days earlier, became known as his Pathétique. Who was the composer?
Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
The Pathétique is often interpreted as an emotional farewell, blending passion and tragedy in what became Tchaikovsky’s final completed work.
Four
Switzerland officially abolished the death penalty on 6 November. Which decade was this?
Answer: 1990s (1992)
Though executions had already ceased decades earlier, the 1992 constitutional amendment made abolition permanent, aligning Switzerland with wider European human rights standards.
On 6 November 1966, NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 2 was launched with a primary mission objective of photographing specifically what on the Moon’s surface?
Answer: Potential landing sites on the Moon
The Lunar Orbiter 2 spacecraft was designed primarily to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missions.
Lunar Orbiter 2 transmitted over 800 high-resolution images, including the first detailed close-ups of the Moon’s surface. These images were crucial in selecting the Apollo 11 landing site.
Here are five questions related to today, November 6th.
Following the violent blow delivered by [Soviet Union’s] Valentin Prokopov, Hungarian Ervin Zador bleeds profusely from above his eyebrow. Image Bettmann / Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports
One
The violent Blood in the Water Olympic water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union erupted in the aftermath of the Soviet Union suppressing a Hungarian uprising. During which Olympics—year and host city—did this match take place?
Two
On November 6, 2012, a US president was re-elected for a second term. Who were his defeated opponents in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections?
Three
A composer died on November 6, 1893. One of his symphonies, Symphony No. 6 in B minor, which premiered just nine days earlier, became known as his Pathétique. Who was the composer?
Four
Switzerland officially abolished the death penalty on 6 November. Which decade was this?
Five
On 6 November 1966, NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 2 was launched with a primary mission objective of photographing specifically what on the Moon’s surface?
The tiger shark, the largest member of the Galeocerdo genus, is a solitary, nocturnal predator found in tropical and temperate waters. It has a diverse diet and is considered near-threatened due to human activities.
Two
What 1964 film starring Stanley Baker and Michael Cain depicts the 1879 Battle of Rorke’s Drift?
Answer: Zulu
Zulu is a 1964 British historical drama film about the Battle of Rorke’s Drift during the Anglo-Zulu War. Directed by Cy Endfield, it stars Stanley Baker and Michael Caine, and received critical acclaim for its sets, soundtrack, cinematography, and performances.
Three
Complete the title of this short story by Alan Sillitoe which was published in 1959: The Loneliness of the…?
Answer: Long-Distance Runner(The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner)
Alan Sillitoe’s 1959 short story The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Runner follows Smith, a Nottingham teenager who finds solace in running.
Four
Which state or territorial capital of mainland Australia is the only one north of the Tropic of Capricorn?
Answer: Darwin (Northern Territory)
Darwin, the capital of Australia’s Northern Territory, is the smallest, wettest, and most northerly capital city. It has a tropical climate with a wet and dry season, and its proximity to Southeast Asia makes it a key link between Australia and countries like Indonesia and Timor-Leste. The city has been rebuilt four times due to cyclones and WWII air raids.
Chumbawamba’s 2008 album The Boy Bands Have Won holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title. Can you tell me how many words are in the full title? A decade (a group of ten) is acceptable. For example, if the answer is 104 then 101-110 is fine.
Answer: 156 (151-160 acceptable)
Its full title contains 156 words, or 865 characters, and holds the Guinness World Record for the longest album title. In full, it is…
The boy bands have won, and all the copyists and the tribute bands and the TV talent show producers have won, if we allow our culture to be shaped by mimicry, whether from lack of ideas or from exaggerated respect. You should never try to freeze culture. What you can do is recycle that culture. Take your older brother’s hand-me-down jacket and re-style it, re-fashion it to the point where it becomes your own. But don’t just regurgitate creative history, or hold art and music and literature as fixed, untouchable and kept under glass. The people who try to ‘guard’ any particular form of music are, like the copyists and manufactured bands, doing it the worst disservice, because the only thing that you can do to music that will damage it is not change it, not make it your own. Because then it dies, then it’s over, then it’s done, and the boy bands have won.
Quizology Online 
