Quizology.Online

Tag: nature

  • Roanoke—Answers

    Virginia Dare by Maria Louisa Lander, 1859. Imaginatively portrayed as an adult Indian princess.
    Elizabethan Gardens, Manteo, NC, US.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The person who sent ships and colonists to set up a fort at Roanoke in what is now North Carolina, US is described by Wikipedia as an ‘English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer’. Who is he?

    — Answer: Sir Walter Raleigh

    The Roanoke Colony, established by Sir Walter Raleigh, refers to two attempts to found a permanent English settlement in North America. The first colony, established in 1585, was abandoned due to supply shortages and strained relations with local tribes. The second colony, known as the ‘Lost Colony’, was established in 1587 but found abandoned in 1590, with the word ‘CROATOAN’ carved into a palisade. Virginia Dare was never seen again, and her fate remains unknown.

    Two

    Which Elton John song, released in 1997, remained in the Canadian Singles Charts for three years. What was that song?

    — Answer: Candle in the Wind 1997

    Elton John and Bernie Taupin, who had originally written Candle in the Wind as a tribute to Marilyn Monroe, rewrote it for the 1997 funeral of Diana, Princess of Wales. 

    Three

    Zupaysaurus. Image Wikipedia

    Zupaysaurus, ‘devil lizard’ from the Queshua word supay meaning ‘devil’ and sauros, ‘lizard’, is an early theropod dinosaur. In what country was this discovered?

    — Answer: Argentina

    Zupaysaurus (/ˌzuːpeɪˈsɔːrəs/; “ZOO-pay-SAWR-us”) is an extinct genus of early theropod dinosaurliving during the Norian stage of the Late Triassic in what is now Argentina. Fossils of the dinosaur were found in the Los Colorados Formation of the Ischigualasto-Villa Unión Basin in northwestern Argentina. Although a full skeleton has not yet been discovered, Zupaysaurus can be considered a bipedalpredator, up to 4 metres (13 ft) long. It may have had two parallel crests running the length of its snout.

    —Wikipedia 

    Abel Tasman.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    Tasmania, an island state of Australia, is named after Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman. In 1642, Tasman became the first reported European to sight the island. What name did Tasman give the island?

    — Answer: Anthony van Diemen’s Land

    Tasmania, named after Dutch explorer Abel Tasman, was originally called Anthony van Diemen’s Land after his sponsor. The British shortened it to Van Diemen’s Land, and it was officially renamed Tasmania in 1856.

    Male Alpine ibex (Capra ibex).
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    An ibex is any of several species of wild…

    What is the next word in the above quote from the Wikipedia article on the ibex?

    —Answer: Goat

    Ibex are wild goats with large, recurved horns, found in Eurasia, North and East Africa.

  • Roanoke

    The first question refers to the colony where Virginia Dare, the first child born in the Americas to European parents, was born on 18 August 1587. The other questions are random and have no connection to the date.

    Baptism of Virginia Dare, wood engraving 1880.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The person who sent ships and colonists to set up a fort at Roanoke in what is now North Carolina, US is described by Wikipedia as an ‘English statesman, soldier, writer and explorer’. Who is he?

    Two

    Which Elton John song, released in 1997, remained in the Canadian Singles Charts for three years. What was that song?

    Three

    Zupaysaurus, meaning ‘devil lizard’ from the Queshua word supay meaning ‘devil’ and the Greek sauros meaning ‘lizard’, is an early theropod dinosaur. In which country was it discovered?

    Four

    Tasmania, an island state of Australia, is named after Dutch seafarer and explorer Abel Tasman. In 1642, Tasman became the first reported European to sight the island. What name did Tasman give the island?

    Five

    An ibex is any of several species of wild…

    What is the next word in the above quote from the Wikipedia article on the ibex?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Smorgasbord—Answers

    The Hoof and Horn flag described in Animal Farm has painted on it a ‘hoof and a horn in white’, which resembles the communist hammer and sickle
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.

    The above quote is the opening line of a classic satire published on 17 August 1945. What was the title of this novella?

    — Answer: Animal Farm

    Animal Farm is a satirical allegorical novella by George Orwell, published in 1945. It reflects events leading up to the Russian Revolution and the Stalinist era, criticising Stalin’s dictatorship. The book was initially rejected by several publishers but became a commercial success after World War II.

    Two

    The official name of an Asian capital city is

    krungthepmahanakhonamonrattanakosinmahintharaayuthayamahadilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasathanamonpimanawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit

    What is this city commonly known as in English?

    — Answer: Bangkok

    The 168-letter official name for Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, translates as

    The city of angels, great city of immortals, magnificent city of the Nine Gems, seat of the King, city of royal palaces, home of gods incarnate, erected by Vishvakarman at Indra’s behest.

    Rufus the Harris Hawk.
    Image The Telegraph

    Three

    Rufus took over from Hamish in 2000 to perform a specific duty at The Championships on Wimbledon’s famous grass tennis courts. His social media manager reveals that Rufus has undergone an intensive training process for this role, which includes starting work each day at 5 am. What is Rufus’s two-word job title?

    — Answer: Bird scarer

    Rufus the Harris Hawk, Wimbledon’s official bird scarer, prevents pigeons from disrupting play. Trained to scare birds away, Rufus works from 5am before the gates open, ensuring a bird-free environment for the tournament. His handler, Imogen Davis, manages his training and monitors his weight to ensure optimal performance. Imogen also manages his social media where he has more than 11,000 followers on X (Twitter).

    Don Juan Pond, Wright Valley, Victoria Land, Antarctica.
    Image NASA/Wikipedia

    Four

    The Don Juan Pond, located in Wright Valley, Victoria Land, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. It is situated on which continent?

    —Answer: Antarctica

    Don Juan Pond, located in Victoria Land, Antarctica, is the saltiest lake in the continent with a salinity level of 45.8%. Discovered in 1961, it remains liquid even at temperatures as low as −50 °C (−58 °F).

    School of trumpetfishes (Macroramphosus scolopax), Faial-Pico Channel, Azores Islands, Portugal
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Is it true or false that there are more species of mammals than there are amphibians, birds, fish and reptiles combined?

    — Answer: False

    There are over 33,000 extant species of fish, surpassing the combined total of all amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals. Most fish belong to the class Actinopterygii, which represents about half of all living vertebrates, making fish the largest group of vertebrates by species count.

  • Smorgasbord

    The first question relates to today’s date, August 17th. The rest of the post, apart from being posted today, has no connection to this date.

    One

    Mr. Jones, of the Manor Farm, had locked the hen-houses for the night, but was too drunk to remember to shut the pop-holes.

    The above quote is the opening line of a classic satire published on 17 August 1945. What was the title of this novella?

    Two

    The official name of an Asian capital city is

    krungthepmahanakhonamonrattanakosinmahintharaayuthayamahadilokphopnoppharatratchathaniburiromudomratchaniwetmahasathanamonpimanawatansathitsakkathattiyawitsanukamprasit

    What is this city commonly known as in English?

    Three

    Rufus took over from Hamish in 2000 to perform a specific duty at The Championships on Wimbledon’s famous grass tennis courts. His social media manager reveals that Rufus has undergone an intensive training process for this role, which includes starting work each day at 5 am. What is Rufus’s two-word job title?

    Four

    The Don Juan Pond, located in Wright Valley, Victoria Land, is one of the saltiest bodies of water on Earth. It is situated on which continent?

    Five

    Is it true or false that there are more species of mammals than there are amphibians, birds, fish and reptiles combined?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Q | Answers

    Quagga (Equus quagga quagga), 1870. Now extinct.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    A quagga died in Amsterdam Zoo on 12 August 1883. Native to South Africa, the quagga was a type of…

    Answer: Zebra

    The quagga, a subspecies of plains zebra, was native to South Africa, where it was found in vast herds on the great plains, but is now extinct. It had a reddish-brown body with dark stripes and a white underside.

    Two

    What ‘Q’ links the novelist Herman Melville with Special Agent Dana Scully?

    Answer: Queequeg

    Queequeg, a Polynesian royal with facial tattoos, befriends Ishmael in Moby-Dick and becomes a harpooner on the Pequod. In The X-Files Scully names her dog Queequeg after the Moby-Dick character and used the name as her email handle and home alarm password.

    Three

    In which fictional series does Max Quordlepleen, a comedian and host, appear hosting a show at Milliways?

    Answer: The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy

    ‘Ladies and gentlemen,’ he said, ‘the Universe as we know it has been in existence for over one hundred and seventy thousand million billion years and will be ending in a little over half an hour. So, welcome to Milliways, the Restaurant at the End of the Universe!’

    With a gesture he deftly conjured another round of spontaneous applause. With another gesture he cut it.
    “I am your host for tonight,” he said, “my name is Max Quordlepleen.”
    — The Restaurant at the End of the Universe, The Ultimate Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy (Pan Books).

    Four

    What ‘Q’ is a capital city which sits on the equator and is officially known as San Francisco de …

    Answer: Quito

    Officially known as San Francisco de Quito, the capital of Ecuador, is the highest national capital city in the world. It is the political and cultural centre of Ecuador, with a rich history dating back to its incorporation into the Inca Empire in the late 15th century.

    Five 

    Quirinus Quirrell is a character in the works of which novelist?

    Answer: J.K. Rowling

    In J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter stories, Quirinus Quirrell, Defence Against the Dark Arts professor, is possessed by Voldemort during Harry’s first year at Hogwarts. Harry defeats Quirrell, allowing Dumbledore to arrive and Voldemort to flee, resulting in Quirrell’s death.

    Professor Quirinus Quirrell.
    Image Pinterest

  • Q

    The first question relates to today’s date, August 12th, and contains a word beginning with a ‘Q’. The rest of the questions follow a ‘Q’ theme, either with a ‘Q’ in the question or answer.

    One

    A quagga died in Amsterdam Zoo on 12 August 1883. Native to South Africa, the quagga was a type of…

    Two

    What ‘Q’ links the novelist Herman Melville with Special Agent Dana Scully?

    Three

    In which fictional series does Max Quordlepleen, a comedian, appear hosting a show at Milliways?

    Four

    What ‘Q’ is a capital city which sits on the equator and is officially known as San Francisco de …

    Five 

    Quirinus Quirrell is a character in the works of which novelist?

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Heads or Tails | Answers

    Velociraptor.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    Is it true or false that velociraptors were only about the size of turkeys?

    Answer: True

    Velociraptor, commonly known as “raptor,” is one of the dinosaur genera most familiar to the general public. This is largely due to its prominent role in the Jurassic Park films. However, in reality, Velociraptor was roughly the size of a turkey, considerably smaller than the approximately 2 metres (6.6 feet) tall and 90 kilograms (200 pounds) reptiles depicted in the novels and films. These depictions were based on members of the related genus Deinonychus. 

    – Wikipedia

    Two

    Is it true or false that P.T. Barnum started his career as a showman by publicly displaying an elderly African slave he claimed was George Washington’s 161-year-old former nursemaid?  

    Answer: True

    In 1834 he moved to New York City, where he found his vocation as a showman one year later when he successfully presented Joice Heth, a wizened Black woman whom he advertised as the 161-year-old nurse to Gen. George Washington. On her death, however, the story was exposed as a hoax.

    – Encyclopædia Britannica  

    Three

    Is it true or false that if broccoli is left unharvested, each green bud usually produces a flower with four yellow petals?   

    Answer: True

    Broccoli, a nutritious vegetable from the mustard family, is high in fibre and vitamins. It can be eaten fresh or cooked and should be dark green with firm stalks. If left unharvested, those buds produce yellow flowers with four petals and dry capsule fruits called siliques. 

    Four

    Is it true or false that elephants can communicate with each other using ambisonic calls?  

    Answer: False

    Elephants can communicate with each other using infrasonic calls that are below the range of human hearing. They also stomp messages on the ground that can be felt and understood by other elephants miles away.

    Five 

    Is it true or false that on Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east? 

    Answer: True

    Venus is unusual because it spins the opposite direction of Earth and most other planets…

    …And because Venus rotates backwards, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east.

    – NASA

  • Heads or Tails

    A simple choice of either true or false today.

    Velociraptor skeleton. Image Wikipedia

    One

    Is it true or false that velociraptors were about the size of turkeys?

    Two

    Is it true or false that P.T. Barnum started his career as a showman by publicly displaying an elderly African slave he claimed was George Washington’s 161-year-old former nursemaid?  

    Three

    Is it true or false that if broccoli is left unharvested, each green bud usually produces a flower with four yellow petals?  

    Four

    Is it true or false that elephants can communicate with each other using ambisonic calls? 

    Five 

    Is it true or false that on Venus, the Sun rises in the west and sets in the east? 

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

  • Is that a Fact | Answers

    The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

    One

    Mark Antony.
    Image Wikipedia

    True of False: the character Mark Antony only appears in one of Shakespeare’s plays.

    Answer: False

    Mark Antony is in both Julius Caesar and Antony and Cleopatra.

    Two

    Mark Selby practicing.
    Image Wikipedia

    True or false: snooker was first played in Raffles Hotel, Singapore?

    Answer: False

    Snooker originated in various officers’ mess of the British Army in India during the British Raj in the 1870s. It combined elements of pyramids and black pool, and the first set of rules was finalised in 1882 by Neville Chamberlain.

    Three

    Solenodon.
    Image Wikipedia

    True or False: There are no mammals which produce venom.

    Answer: False

    Venomous mammals include several species of shrew, the solenodon, pictured, and the male duck-billed platypus.

    Four

    Arctic Circle.
    Image Wikipedia

    True or false: The Arctic Circle passes through eight countries.

    Answer: True

    The Arctic Circle passes through these eight countries: Russia, Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland, Greenland, Canada, and the United States (Alaska).

    Five

    Grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos)
    Image Wikipedia

    True or false: a group of two or three sharks, whether all male or all female, is called a shiver.

    Answer: True

    Another type of gathering is called a shiver. A shiver of sharks refers to smaller groups, usually composed of only two or three individuals. It’s unclear why these small clusters form, but some believe they could be related to mating behavior. Unlike a school, a shiver of sharks is usually made up of only one gender – either all males or all females.
    – Shark Sider

  • Is that a Fact

    A compilation of factual and non-factual statements for your perusal. Simply decide if they are true or false.

    One

    Mark Antony.
    Image Wikipedia

    True or false: the character Mark Antony only appears in one of Shakespeare’s plays.

    Two

    True or false: snooker was first played in Raffles Hotel, Singapore.

    Three

    True or false: There are no mammals which produce venom.

    Four

    True or false: The Arctic Circle passes through eight countries.

    Five

    True or false: a group of two or three sharks, whether all male or all female, is called a shiver.

    Good luck! I will post the answers later today.