Quizology.Online

Tag: nature

  • Initial Answers II — Answers

    Here are the answers to today’s questions.

    Nurse shark and Remora.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today the first question relates to today’s date, May 24th. The following questions follow a theme which is explained here but is basically the same as yesterday. 

    Theme

    • The gist of today’s quiz is that the first question results in you having three five-letter words in the answer.
    • One of those words supplies the initial letters for the remaining questions. 
    • After discounting the initial letter which has already been used the remaining four letters supply the initial letters to the answers to the remaining questions but they will not necessarily be in the correct order. 
    • Once you have answered all the questions you should be able to take the initial letters of the five questions, rearrange and have one of the words from the answer to question one.

    One

    Mike … was …; while Cameron was …; and Eddie was a bit of an ass.
    Three five-letter names are missing from the above statement. What are they?

    Answers: Myers; Shrek and Fiona.

    Shrek (2001), an animated fantasy comedy film, follows an ogre’s quest to reclaim his swamp from banished fairy tale creatures. Mike Myers voices Shrek and Cameron Diaz is Princess Fiona. Eddie Murphy was the voice of Donkey. 

    Two

    The nurse shark pictured above is accompanied by a fish of the family Echeneidae. What is the common six-letter name of the smaller fish?

    Answer: Remora.

    Remoras, or suckerfish, are eight species of marine fish known for attaching to larger marine animals and ships using a specialised sucking disk. They typically range from 30 to 90 cm in length and feed on leftovers or parasites.

    Three

    This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is 15 miles (25 km) long by 7 miles (12 km) wide, is one of the world’s remotest places. It is 1,200 miles (1,900 km) from the nearest inhabited island and almost 2,200 miles (3,500 km) from the nearest continent. Where is it?

    Answer: Easter Island.

    Easter Island, a special territory of Chile in the eastern Pacific Ocean, is renowned for its nearly 1,000 moai statues created by the early Rapa Nui people. Originally called Rapa Nui, the island has a mixed population predominantly of Polynesian descent. In 1995, UNESCO named Easter Island a World Heritage Site, with much of the island protected within Rapa Nui National Park.

    Four

    What is the most abundant element in the known universe?

    Answer: Hydrogen.

    Hydrogen is the simplest chemical element, a colourless, odourless, flammable gas. It is the most abundant element in the universe and is used industrially to make ammonia and hydrogenate compounds.

    Five

    The name of which unicameral national legislature means ‘gathering’ or ‘assembly’ in Hebrew?

    Answer: Knesset.

    The Knesset, Israel’s unicarmel parliament, is responsible for passing laws, electing the president and prime minister, approving the cabinet, supervising the government, and electing the state comptroller. It has the authority to waive member immunity, remove officials, dissolve the government or itself, and call elections. Members are elected through proportional representation in Jerusalem. The term Knesset originates from the ancient Knesset HaGdola, or Great Assembly, a group of 120 scribes, sages, and prophets from the end of Biblical prophets to Rabbinic Judaism’s development, around 200 BCE. Despite the name, there is no organisational continuity; the ancient Knesset was unelected and religious.

    Explanation

    Answers

    In full, the first part of question one read ‘Mike Myers was Shrek; while Cameron was Fiona; and Eddie was a bit of an ass.’

    1. Myers; Shrek and Fiona = S
    2. Remora = R
    3. Easter Island = E
    4. Hydrogen = H
    5. Knesset = K
      S R E H K 🔄 SHREK

  • Initial Answers II

    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Today the first question relates to today’s date, May 24th. The following questions follow a theme which is explained here but is basically the same as yesterday. 

    Theme

    • The gist of today’s quiz is that the first question results in you having three five-letter words in the answer.
    • One of those words supplies the initial letters for the remaining questions. 
    • After discounting the initial letter which has already been used the remaining four letters supply the initial letters to the answers to the remaining questions but they will not necessarily be in the correct order. 
    • Once you have answered all the questions you should be able to take the initial letters of the five questions, rearrange and have one of the words from the answer to question one.

    One

    Mike … was …; while Cameron was …; and Eddie was a bit of an ass.
    Three five-letter names are missing from the above statement. What are they?

    Two

    The nurse shark pictured above is accompanied by a fish of the family Echeneidae. What is the common six-letter name of the smaller fish?

    Three

    This UNESCO World Heritage Site, which is 15 miles (25 km) long by 7 miles (12 km) wide, is one of the world’s remotest places. It is 1,200 miles (1,900 km) from the nearest inhabited island and almost 2,200 miles (3,500 km) from the nearest continent. Where is it?

    Four

    What is the most abundant element in the known universe?

    Five

    The name of which unicameral national legislature means ‘gathering’ or ‘assembly’ in Hebrew?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Happy Birthday, Mr. President — Answers

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
    Image Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

    Five questions which in some way are connected to today, May 19th.

    One

    The world’s first national park service was established in 1911 in which country?

    Answer: Canada.

    In 1911, Canada established the first national parks service in the world. What began as a cluster of parks in the Rocky Mountains gradually became a national system, fostering tourism and economic growth while upholding conservation ideals. In 1914, the definition of a “Dominion Park” was expanded to include significant historic places, laying the groundwork for a modern system of iconic national parks and national historic sites, which welcome millions of visitors annually, and initiating a tradition of national and international leadership in the management of protected places that continues to this day.
    — Parks Canada

    Two

    Colin Chapman, an English engineer born in 1928, founded which sports car company, and Formula One team?

    Answer: Lotus Cars; Team Lotus.

    Anthony Colin Bruce Chapman, founder of Lotus Cars, was an English design engineer known for his lightweight, high-handling sports cars. Under his direction, Team Lotus achieved significant success in Formula One and the Indianapolis 500.

    Three

    In 1959, the North Vietnamese Army’s Group 559 was established to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam. The supply route to fulfil this brief became known as what? And what countries, other than North and South Vietnam, did the route traverse?

    Answer: Ho Chi Minh trail; Laos and Cambodia.

    The Ho Chi Minh Trail, a logistical network of roads and trails, ran from North to South Vietnam through Laos and Cambodia, supporting the Viet Cong and People’s Army of Vietnam during the Vietnam War. Despite being heavily targeted by air interdiction, the trail effectively supplied troops in the south.

    Four

    Charlotte, the future queen consort of George III, was born in 1744 in the small duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This duchy was part of what empire?

    Answer: Holy Roman Empire.

    Charlotte of Mecklenburg-Strelitz, Queen of Great Britain and Ireland from 1761 to 1818, was the longest-serving queen consort. She was a patron of the arts, introduced the Christmas tree to Britain, and was deeply affected by her husband’s illness and the French Revolution.

    Five

    On this day Marilyn Monroe famously sang Happy Birthday, Mr. President at a gala to mark John F. Kennedy’s birthday. The gala, a Democratic Party fundraiser, was held ten days before the president’s birthday. What age would the president become on that birthday, and where was the gala held?

    Answers: 45 years of age; Madison Square Gardens, NYC.

    Marilyn Monroe sang Happy Birthday to President John F. Kennedy at a 1962 gala, inserting ‘Mr. President‘ for his name and adding a snippet of Thanks for the Memory with new lyrics.

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President

    [Chorus]
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday, Mr President
    Happy birthday to you 

    [Verse]
    Thanks, Mr President, for all the things you’ve done
    The battles that you’ve won
    The way you deal with U.S. Steel and our problems by the ton
    We thank you so much 

    [Outro]
    Everybody, happy birthday

    [Chorus]
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday to you
    Happy birthday, Mr President
    Happy birthday to you 

    [Verse]
    Thanks, Mr President, for all the things you’ve done
    The battles that you’ve won
    The way you deal with U.S. Steel and our problems by the ton
    We thank you so much 

    [Outro]
    Everybody, happy birthday
    — Lyrics from Genius.com

  • Happy Birthday, Mr. President

    Happy Birthday, Mr. President.
    Robert F. Kennedy, Marilyn Monroe and John F. Kennedy.
    Image Wikimedia Commons (cropped)

    Five questions which in some way are connected to today, May 19th.

    One

    The world’s first national park service was established in 1911 in which country?

    Two

    Colin Chapman, an English engineer born in 1928, founded which sports car company, and Formula One team?

    Three

    In 1959, the North Vietnamese Army’s Group 559 was established to determine how to maintain supply lines to South Vietnam. The supply route to fulfil this brief became known as what? And what countries, other than North and South Vietnam, did the route traverse?

    Four

    Charlotte, the future queen consort of George III, was born in 1744 in the small duchy of Mecklenburg-Strelitz. This duchy was part of what empire?

    Five

    On this day Marilyn Monroe famously sang Happy Birthday, Mr. President at a gala to mark John F. Kennedy’s birthday. The gala, a Democratic Party fundraiser, was held ten days before the president’s birthday. What age would the president become on that birthday, and where was the gala held?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Gallimaufry IX — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    No theme today, just five general knowledge questions.

    Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of Switzerland, Bern.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The image shown is that of ‘Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of …’. What country finishes the previous statement, and in what city is the Federal Palace located?

    Answers: Switzerland; Bern.

    Helvetia, the national personification of Switzerland, is depicted with flowing clothing, with the Swiss flag, braided hair, and often with shield and a wreath. The name derives from the Helvetii, a Gaulish tribe.

    Two

    The …, or boreal forest, is the world’s largest land biome. In North America, it covers most of inland Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern contiguous United States. In Eurasia, it covers most of Sweden, Finland, much of Russia from Karelia in the west to the Pacific Ocean (including much of Siberia), much of Norway and, some of the Scottish Highlands, some lowland/coastal areas of Iceland, and areas of northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia, and northern Japan (on the island of Hokkaido).

    The above quote from Wikipedia describes a biome whose name has been omitted. What is that missing name?

    Answer: Taiga.

    taiga /ˈtʌɪɡə /
    ▸ (the taiga) noun [mass noun] the swampy coniferous forest of high northern latitudes, especially that between the tundra and steppes of Siberia: the coniferous forest of the taiga.

    – ORIGIN late 19th century: from Russian taĭga, from Mongolian.
    — Oxford English Dictionary

    Three

    What word completes the title of this 1957 sci-fi novel: The Midwich …; and who wrote it?

    Answers: Cuckoos; John Wyndham.

    The Midwich Cuckoos, a 1957 sci-fi novel by John Wyndham, explores moral ambiguities in an English village where women become pregnant by aliens.

    Four

    What calendar was replaced in England by the Gregorian in 1752?

    Answer: Julian.

    The Julian calendar, proposed by Julius Caesar in 46 BC, is a solar calendar with a leap year every four years. It gained one day every 128 years compared to the solar year, leading to a drift against the solar year. The Gregorian calendar, introduced in 1582, corrected this by eliminating occasional leap days, reducing the average year length to 365.2425 days. Although introduced in 1582 it took a lot longer to be adopted by individual nations. As stated in the question England adopted it in 1752 but Greece and turkey did not adopt until the 1920s and Saudi Arabia’s adoption of it was not until 2016.

    Five

    Who played the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk television series which originally aired between 1978 and 1982?

    Answer: Lou Ferrigno.

    The Incredible Hulk is a CBS series starring Bill Bixby as Dr. David Banner and Lou Ferrigno as the Hulk. Banner, a scientist transformed by gamma radiation, travels the U.S. helping others while pursued by reporter Jack McGee. The series aired 80 episodes from 1978 to 1982, starting with a pilot on November 4, 1977. In 1988, New World Television acquired filming rights from MCA/Universal for TV movies to conclude The Incredible Hulk series, with NBC broadcasting. They produced three films: The Incredible Hulk Returns, The Trial of the Incredible Hulk, and The Death of the Incredible Hulk, directed by Nicholas J. Corea and Bill Bixby.

  • Gallimaufry IX

    No theme today, just five general knowledge questions.

    Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of ….
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    The image shown is that of ‘Statue of Helvetia on the Federal Palace of …’. What country finishes the previous statement, and in what city is the Federal Palace located?

    Two

    The …, or boreal forest, is the world’s largest land biome. In North America, it covers most of inland Canada, Alaska, and parts of the northern contiguous United States. In Eurasia, it covers most of Sweden, Finland, much of Russia from Karelia in the west to the Pacific Ocean (including much of Siberia), much of Norway and, some of the Scottish Highlands, some lowland/coastal areas of Iceland, and areas of northern Kazakhstan, northern Mongolia, and northern Japan (on the island of Hokkaido).

    The above quote from Wikipedia describes a biome whose name has been omitted. What is that missing name?

    Three

    What word completes the title of this 1957 sci-fi novel: The Midwich …; and who wrote it?

    Four

    What calendar was replaced in England by the Gregorian in 1752?

    Five

    Who played the Hulk in The Incredible Hulk television series which originally aired between 1978 and 1982?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Take Your Pick — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Charles Darwin, c.1868.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are multiple-choice and don’t have a specific theme.

    One

    … was one of the names commonly used for evolutionary ideas in the 19th century before Charles Darwin published On The Origin of Species (1859).
    — Wikipedia

    Which of these words is missing from the beginning of this quote from Wikipedia?

    1. Transactional
    2. Transmutation
    3. Transubstantiation

    Answer: 2. Transmutation.

    Transmutation, a term used for evolutionary ideas before Darwin, was coined by Joseph Gottlieb Kölreuter to describe species changes through hybridisation. The term ‘evolution’ gained widespread use in the 1860s.

    Two

    Who was an American Formula 1 driver?

    1. Mario Andretti
    2. Mario Puzo
    3. Mario Lanza

    Answer: 1. Mario Andretti.

    Mario Andretti, an American former racing driver, competed in Formula One from 1968 to 1982 and IndyCar from 1964 to 1994. He won the Formula One World Drivers’ Championship in 1978 and achieved numerous victories in various racing disciplines, including the Indianapolis 500 and Daytona 500. Andretti’s legacy as a racing icon is cemented by his 111 official victories and his induction into the International Motorsports Hall of Fame. Mario Puzo, an American author, wrote The Godfather. Mario Lanza was an American tenor and actor.

    Three

    Which of these is a World Heritage Site described as ‘an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns’?

    1. Skara Brae
    2. Giant’s Causeway
    3. Macgillycuddy’s Reeks

    Answer: 2. Giant’s Causeway.

    The Giant’s Causeway, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in County Antrim, Northern Ireland, features 40,000 interlocking basalt columns formed by an ancient volcanic eruption. Owned by the National Trust, it is a popular tourist attraction, receiving nearly one million visitors annually.

    Four

    What noun means ‘a herd of wild swine’?

    1. Blunder 
    2. Pounder
    3. Sounder

    Answer: 3. Sounder.

    Sounder’s origin is described by the Oxford English Dictionary as

    – ORIGIN late Middle English: from Old French sundre, sonre, of Germanic origin. — Oxford English Dictionary 

    Five

    What Hollywood actress was born with the surname FitzSimons, in Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland on 17 August 1920.

    1. Carole Lombard 
    2. Maureen O’Hara 
    3. Rita Hayworth

    Answer: 2. Maureen O’Hara.

    Maureen O’Hara was an Irish-American actress known for her roles in Westerns and adventure films, particularly her collaborations with John Ford and John Wayne. She was nicknamed “the Queen of Technicolour” and starred in numerous successful films throughout the 1940s to 1960s. O’Hara retired in 1971 but returned to acting in 1991 and received an Honorary Academy Award in 2014.

  • Take Your Pick

    Charles Darwin, c.1868.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are multiple-choice and don’t have a specific theme.

    One

    … was one of the names commonly used for evolutionary ideas in the 19th century before Charles Darwin published On The Origin of Species (1859).
    — Wikipedia

    Which of these words is missing from the beginning of this quote from Wikipedia?

    1. Transactional
    2. Transmutation
    3. Transubstantiation

    Two

    Who was an American Formula 1 driver?

    1. Mario Andretti
    2. Mario Puzo
    3. Mario Lanza

    Three

    Which of these is a World Heritage Site described as ‘an area of approximately 40,000 interlocking basalt columns’?

    1. Skara Brae
    2. Giant’s Causeway
    3. Macgillycuddy’s Reeks

    Four

    What noun means ‘a herd of wild swine’?

    1. Blunder 
    2. Pounder
    3. Sounder

    Five

    What Hollywood actress was born with the surname FitzSimons, in Ranelagh, Dublin, Ireland on 17 August 1920.

    1. Carole Lombard 
    2. Maureen O’Hara 
    3. Rita Hayworth

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Binary Choice — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Walrus pup.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all answered as either true or false. 

    One

    Is it true or false that adult male walruses are heavier than adult male polar bears.

    Answer: True.

    Male Pacific walruses weigh about 800 to 1,700 kg (1,764-3,748 lb.) while polar bear boars weigh about 350 to more than 650 kg (772-1,433 lb.). 

    Two

    Is it true or false that Olga Korbut was the first gymnast to achieve a ‘perfect ten’ at the Olympics?

    Answer: False.

    Nadia Comăneci, born November 12, 1961, is a retired Romanian gymnast and five-time Olympic gold medallist. At 14, she became the first gymnast to score a perfect 10.0 at the Olympics — Montreal, 1976, where she achieved seven perfect 10s: four on the uneven bars and three on the beam. Comăneci won nine Olympic medals and four World Championships. She defected to the U.S. in 1989 and married Bart Conner.

    Three

    Is it true or false that a genipap is a small fish related to the trout?

    Answer: False.

    It is a fruit. Genipa americana (genip tree) is a species of trees in the family Rubiaceae which is cultivated for its edible fruits. In English, the tree is known as the genip and the fruit as genipap. It is native to the tropical forests of North and South America, as well as the Caribbean. The fruits are eaten in preserves or made into drinks, jelly or ice cream. The unripe fruit yields a liquid used as a deep purple dye for tattoos, skin painting, insect repellent and food.

    Four

    Is it true or false that the 1975 novel Shōgun was written by James Clavell?

    Answer: True.

    Shōgun, a 1975 novel by James Clavell, depicts the transition from Japan’s Azuchi-Momoyama to Edo period. It explores European influences and internal Japanese conflicts leading to the Shogunate restoration, drawing loosely on historical events and figures. By 1980, Shōgun sold six million copies globally. It inspired two TV series (1980, 2024), a musical, a board game, and three video games. Despite its historical setting, it is the third book in Clavell’s Asian Saga series, with six books in total.

    Five

    Is it true or false that Agent Orange, widely used by the US military in the Vietnam War, had an early form of digitalised artificial intelligence?

    Answer: False.

    Agent Orange, a herbicide used in the Vietnam War, caused severe health and environmental damage. It exposed millions, leading to illnesses and birth defects. It is estimated that The U.S. military used 19 million US gallons (72,000 m3) of defoliants and herbicides in Operation Ranch Hand from 1962-1971. Legal actions followed, but its classification as a chemical weapon remains debated.

  • Binary Choice

    Walrus pup.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all answered as either true or false. 

    One

    Is it true or false that adult male walruses are heavier than adult male polar bears.

    Two

    Is it true or false that Olga Korbut was the first gymnast to achieve a ‘perfect ten’ at the Olympics?

    Three

    Is it true or false that a genipap is a small fish related to the trout?

    Four

    Is it true or false that the 1975 novel Shōgun was written by James Clavell?

    Five

    Is it true or false that Agent Orange, widely used by the US military in the Vietnam War, had an early form of digitalised artificial intelligence?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.