There’s a Theme Running Through It—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads.

Answer: Swallowtail

The swallowtail is the largest and most localised butterfly in the UK. Adults emerge from winter chrysalises, drying their wings in reedbeds before displaying their bright colours. Their swallow-like tails and false eye spots confuse predators. Even as caterpillars, they are striking, with bulging horns for defence and orange scent glands that release a pineapple-like odor when threatened.

Two

In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?

Answer: The Eagle Has Landed

Irish Republican Liam Devlin and Joanna Grey, an Afrikaner woman and seasoned Abwehr agent residing in England, team up with German paratroopers to plan and execute the kidnapping of British Prime Minister Winston Churchill.

Three

In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus?

Answer: Alfred Hitchcock

Producer and director Alfred Hitchcock makes his signature cameo, approximately ten minutes into the film, as a bus passenger sitting next to Cary Grant and a caged pair of birds.

Four

What single answer satisfies all of the following: the title of Fleetwood Mac’s only number one hit on the UK Singles Chart; a significant being in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner; and in golf, refers to a score of three strokes under par for a hole?

Answer: Albatross

Albatross is a guitar-based instrumental by Fleetwood Mac, composed by Peter Green. It was released as a single in 1968 and became their only number one single on the UK charts. The albatross that saves the ship by leading the way from the ice in The Rime of the Ancient Mariner and is then shot; and the word used as an alternative to double eagle meaning a score of three strokes under par for a hole.

A nesting pair of Macaroni penguins, Livingston Island, South Shetland Islands.
Image Wikipedia

Five

Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta?

Answer: Macaroni

The macaroni penguin—Eudyptes chrysolophus—is a crested penguin with a distinctive yellow crest, it is the most numerous penguin species, with an estimated 18 million individuals. Despite its abundance, the species is vulnerable due to widespread population declines since the mid-1970s.

Theme

The theme was of course Birds. Question 1. swallow (from swallowtail); 2. Eagle; 3. Caged birds mentioned in the question plus Hitchcock was the director of The Birds; 4. Albatross and 5. penguin.

There’s a Theme Running Through It

Today, a common thread weaves through five seemingly unrelated questions.

One

What is the largest butterfly in the UK? It has a ten-letter name and lives in the Norfolk Broads.

Two

In what 1975 novel does IRA member Liam Devlin take part in a wartime plot to kidnap Winston Churchill?

Three

In the 1955 film, To Catch a Thief (1955), who is seen sitting beside Cary Grant and a pair of caged birds on a bus?

Four

Five

Eudyptes chrysolophus: part of this bird’s name is also a type of pasta. What pasta?

Good luck! The answers will be posted later.

Unsinkable—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Answer: Jack Dawson and Rose DeWitt Bukater

*Titanic* film poster.
Image Original Vintage

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Answer: Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Morocco and Mozambique

Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Answer: Bottlenose dolphin

Bottlenose dolphins.
Image American Oceans

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Answer: Somethin’ Stupid Frank and Nancy Sinatra

This 1967 hit, which was billed as being by ‘Nancy Sinatra and Frank Sinatra’, was the first and only instance of a father-daughter number-one song in America. Nancy Sinatra has said, ‘Some people call (it) the Incest Song, which I think is, well, very sweet!’

Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Answer: Woodrow Wilson and Harold Wilson

Woodrow Wilson, was the 28th President of the United States and was in office from 1913 to 1921.
Harold Wilson, was Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and was in office from 1964 to 1970 and 1974 to 1976.

Unsinkable

Today’s questions are random with no connection between them.

RMS *Titanic*.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

One

In the film Titanic what were Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet’s fictional characters full names?

Two

Name the independent countries in Africa that have names beginning with ‘M’?

Three

What type of animal was Flipper, the star of the sixties American television series?

Four

There’s only been one instance of a father and daughter performing a number one song in America. Can you name the song and the performers?

Five

Name any US presidents and British prime ministers with the same surname?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Presidential Genesis—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

Ulysses S. Grant, the 18th President of the United States.
Image Wikipedia

One

The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

Answer: Ohio

Ohio ranks second to Virginia in the number of US presidents born there. These seven presidents hail from Ohio: Ulysses S Grant, Rutherford B Hayes, James A Garfield, Benjamin Harrison, William McKinley, William Howard Taft and Warren G Harding.

Two

Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

Answer: Weasels or Mustelidae

The wolverine, the largest member of the Mustelidae family – commonly known as the weasel family – includes other animals like weasels otters martens and badgers. Renowned for their stocky build thick fur and impressive strength relative to their size, wolverines are truly remarkable creatures.

Petrus Kartner—Father Abraham.
Image Wikipedia

Three

In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

Answer: Dutch and Father Abraham

Dutch musician and record producer Petrus Antonius Laurentius Kartner (1935-2022), known as Vader Abraham, wrote around 1600 songs. He is best known for his Smurf-themed music, including The Smurf Song, which sold 400,000 copies after a repress and a full album that sold 500,000 copies.

Four

In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

Answer: Libero

The word originates from Italian and means ‘free’. The libero, is a defensive specialist in volleyball, wearing a different coloured jersey and unable to serve or attack above the net. Libero replacements don’t count against the substitution limit, but can only be made with the original libero.
Established in 1998, this position is recognised by most volleyball governing bodies and is credited with lengthening rallies.

Neptune’s Staircase, Caledonian Canal, Scotland, UK.
Image Wikipedia

Five

What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

Answer: Caledonian Canal

Built by Thomas Telford between 1803 and 1822 the Caledonian Canal is one of Scotland’s most remarkable engineering achievements — a scenic 60-mile (97 km) waterway that cuts through the Great Glen, connecting the east coast at the Beauly Firth near Inverness with the west coast’s Loch Linnhe at Corpach near Fort William. Some 60 miles (97 km) in length with 22 miles (35 km) of man-made canal while the rest is natural lochs which include Loch Dochfour, Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy. Neptune’s Staircase is a flight of eight locks near to the Loch Linnhe end of the canal.

Presidential Genesis

Here are five random questions for you to consider.

Wolverine, see question 2.
Image Wikipedia

One

The US state of Virginia is in pole position with eight US presidents being born there. What state would be in second place?

Two

Which mammal family, common or scientific name, is the wolverine the largest member of?

Three

In 1977 Petrus Kartner was commissioned to compose a promotional song for The Smurfs which became a hit single and album. What nationality was Kartner and under what stage name did he perform?

Four

In volleyball, a defensive specialist who can’t serve or rotate to the front line and wears a different coloured jersey is known as a …. What six-letter word describes this player?

Five

What eventually links Loch Ness to Neptune’s Staircase?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

Space Oddity—Answers

Here are the answers to my earlier post

One

Who was the first astronaut to drive a Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface?

Answer: David Scott

Between July 30 and August 2, 1971, David Scott, commander of Apollo 15, drove the Lunar Roving Vehicle (LRV-1) for 3 hours and 2 minutes. These journeys covered A total of 17.25 miles (27.76 km) across the lunar surface. Apollo 15(LRV-1) 17.25 miles (27.76 km) 3 h 02 min 7.75 miles (12.47 km) 3.1 miles (5.0 km)

Two

What, in Roman numerals, is the sum of LXXXIV and DCCLIX?

Answer: DCCCXLIII

LXXXIV =

L = 50
XXX = 30
IV = 4
→ 50 + 30 + 4 = 84

DCCLIX =

D = 500
CC = 200
L = 50
IX = 9
→ 500 + 200 + 50 + 9 = 759

84 + 759 = 843

Convert 843 to Roman numerals:

800 = DCCC
40 = XL
3 = III

→ 843 = DCCCXLIII

Three

John F. Kennedy had a dog called Dunker. What breed was it?

Answer: Dachshund

The Dachshund is a small, long-bodied dog breed originally developed in Germany to hunt badgers. The name literally means ‘badger dog’—Dachs = badger, Hund = dog. They’re often called ‘sausage dogs’ because of their shape.

Four

Which character in a work by Alexandre Dumas was possibly inspired by the vengeful shoemaker Pierre Picaud of Nîmes?

Answer: Edmond Dantes, The Count of Monte Cristo

Pierre Picaud, a shoemaker from Nîmes, is believed to have inspired Edmond Dantès, the protagonist of The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas.
Picaud’s story is strikingly similar to that of Dantès. In the early 19th century, Picaud was wrongfully imprisoned due to the betrayal of his friends and his fiancée. During his imprisonment in the Château d’If, he met an old man who shared with him knowledge of treasure hidden on the island of Monte Cristo. Upon his release, Picaud used this treasure to exact revenge on those who had wronged him, much like Edmond Dantès does in Dumas’ novel.
This story of Picaud’s life—his unjust imprisonment, subsequent escape, and thirst for vengeance—closely mirrors the narrative of The Count of Monte Cristo.

Five

Please list the US states whose names start with the letter ‘M’?

Answer: Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri and Montana

Space Oddity

Today’s questions are random and unrelated.

One

Who was the first astronaut to drive a Lunar Rover on the Moon’s surface?

Two

What, in Roman numerals, is the sum of LXXXIV and DCCLIX?

Three

John F. Kennedy had a dog called Dunker. What breed was it?

Four

Which character in a work by Alexandre Dumas was possibly inspired by the vengeful shoemaker Pierre Picaud of Nîmes?

Five

Please list the US states whose names start with the letter ‘M’?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.

Initially FIVES—Answers

Here are the answers to the questions from my earlier post.

Enable and Frankie Dettori at the 2018 Breeders’ Cup.
Image Wikipedia

One

In 2018, which jockey won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year in a row riding Enable?

Frankie Dettori

Italian jockey Lanfranco ‘Frankie’ Dettori, based in England for over 35 years, achieved significant success, including riding all seven winners at Ascot on 28 September 1996. He was British flat racing Champion Jockey three times and rode 287 Group 1 race winners. After a long career with Godolphin Racing and Al Shaqab Racing, he announced his retirement from professional riding in 2023.

Two

What ‘I’ are animals that have no backbones?

Answer: Invertebrates

Invertebrates are animals that lack a backbone, or spine. They include arthropods (such as insects and spiders), molluscs (like snails and clams), annelids (e.g. earthworms), echinoderms (like starfish and sea urchins), flatworms, cnidarians (such as jellyfish and corals), and sponges.

Three

Which Hogarth Press co-founder published their third novel, Jacob’s Room, in 1922?

Answer: Virginia Woolf

Virginia Woolf’s third novel, Jacob’s Room, centres on the life of Jacob Flanders, presented through the impressions of other characters. The novel explores themes of emptiness and absence, portraying Jacob as a series of perceptions rather than a concrete reality.

Four

The writer of the song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is described by Wikipedia as a ‘actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright’. Who is he?

Answer: Eric Idle

Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is a comedy song by Eric Idle, featured in Monty Python’s Life of Brian. It became a popular singalong and reached No. 3 on the UK singles chart in 1991. In 2014, it was shown to be the most popular song choice for Britons to have played at their funerals.

Scapa Flow during World War II, 1942.
Image Wikipedia

Five

The Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet was based at which anchorage in the Orkney Islands during the First World War?

Answer: Scapa Flow

Scapa Flow, a sheltered body of water in the Orkney Islands, Scotland, has been significant for travel, trade and conflict throughout history. It served as the UK’s chief naval base during both World Wars before closing in 1956. On 21 June 1919, the interned Imperial German Navy’s High Seas Fleet was scuttled by its sailors in Scapa Flow with 52 of the 74 vessels sank.

FIVES

The post-title FIVES provided the initial letters F-I-V-E-S for each answer in order, with a prompt at number 2—What ‘I’—to hopefully help you on the road.

Initially FIVES

Here are five random questions today, unrelated to the date, but with a clue in the title.

One

In 2018, which jockey won the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe for the second year in a row riding Enable?

Two

What ‘I’ are animals that have no backbones?

Three

Which Hogarth Press co-founder published a third novel, Jacob’s Room, in 1922?

Four

The writer of the song Always Look on the Bright Side of Life is described by Wikipedia as an ‘actor, comedian, songwriter, musician, screenwriter and playwright’. Who is he?

Five

The Royal Navy’s Grand Fleet was based at which anchorage in the Orkney Islands during the First World War?

Good luck! I’ll post the answers later today.