Quizology.Online

Tag: politics

  • Binary II — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Logo of the Wimbledon Championships.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all either true or false.

    One

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by …
    — Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that this quote from Wikipedia refers to a character from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels who is unknowingly killed by Mort across several incarnations?

    Answer: False.

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by Arthur Dent.
    — Wikipedia

    Agrajag is repeatedly killed by Arthur Dent, the hapless protagonist of The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy by Douglas Adams. First appearing in Life, the Universe and Everything, Agrajag’s past incarnations include a bowl of petunias, a rabbit, and an old man, all meeting their ends due to Arthur. Agrajag seeks revenge, redirecting Arthur to a Cathedral of Hate, but fails repeatedly. In Mostly Harmless, Arthur inadvertently kills Agrajag again, allowing Arthur to die. Douglas Adams voiced Agrajag in the radio series. In And Another Thing…, cosmic balance shifts, benefiting Arthur. Agrajag also appears in the 2017 TV series Dirk Gently’s Holistic Detective Agency as a dog which suffers the expected consequences.

    Two

    Is it true or false that the 1936 Olympic Summer Games were opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II?

    Answer: False.

    Adolf Hitler, the de facto legal dictator of Germany, opened these games. Wilhelm II, the last German Emperor, reigned from 1888 to 1918, ending the Hohenzollern dynasty’s rule. His erratic foreign policy and naval build-up alienated the rest of Europe, leading to World War I. After Germany’s defeat, he abdicated in 1918, fled to the Netherlands, and died in 1941 during that country’s Nazi occupation.

    Three

    Is it true or false that a filoplume is a type of small crusty specimens of lava?

    Answer: False.

    A filoplume is a feather.

    Filoplumes are hairlike feathers with a few soft barbs near the tip. They are associated with contour feathers and may be sensory or decorative in function. Bristlelike, vaneless feathers occur around the mouth, eyes, and nostrils of birds. They are especially conspicuous around the gape (corners of the mouth) of birds that catch insects in the air.
    — Encyclopædia Britannica 

    Four

    Is it true or false that in 2000 Venus Williams was the first African American woman to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon?

    Answer: False.

    Williams was the first Black and African American woman to win the title since Althea Gibson in 1958. In 1957, Althea Gibson’s year, she became the first Black champion at Wimbledon, defeating Darlene Hard in the singles final. She received the trophy from Queen Elizabeth II, marking a significant milestone. Gibson also won the doubles championship for the second consecutive year, highlighting her exceptional season. Upon returning home, Gibson became the second Black American, after Jesse Owens, to receive a ticker tape parade in NYC. Mayor Wagner awarded her the Bronze Medallion. She won her first US National Championship, reached eight Grand Slam finals in 1957, and won multiple titles, including Wimbledon and US National singles.

    Five

    Is it true or false that mainland China, which is approximately 5,000 km from east to west, has five time zones?

    Answer: False.

    China uses a single official time zone, UTC+08:00, despite spanning five geographical zones, making it the largest country to do so. This standard is known domestically as Beijing Time and internationally as China Standard Time, and it has not observed daylight saving time since 1991. The system applies uniformly across Mainland China, Hong Kong, and Macau. Standardised timekeeping developed from 19th-century Shanghai, where observatory-based time signals evolved into a GMT+8 standard used by coastal ports. Although multiple time zones were proposed in 1918, including five regional standards, the country ultimately adopted a single unified time based on Beijing.

  • Binary II

    Logo of the Wimbledon Championships.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Today’s questions are all either true or false.

    One

    Agrajag is a tragic and piteous creature who is continually reincarnated and subsequently killed, each time unknowingly, by …
    — Wikipedia

    Is it true or false that this quote from Wikipedia refers to a character from Terry Pratchett’s Discworld novels who is unknowingly killed by Mort across several incarnations?

    Two

    Is it true or false that the 1936 Olympic Summer Games were opened by Kaiser Wilhelm II?

    Three

    Is it true or false that a filoplume is a type of small crusty specimens of lava?

    Four

    Is it true or false that in 2000 Venus Williams was the first African American woman to win the ladies singles championship at Wimbledon?

    Five

    Is it true or false that mainland China, which is approximately 5,000 km from east to west, has five time zones?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Who, What, When, Where, Why and How VII — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier questions.

    Six questions on random topics, each beginning with one of these words: Who, What, When (When is the first word of a quote), Where, Why and How.

    Court of the Quirinal Palace in Rome.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Who

    Who currently (April 2026) is the principal occupant of the Quirinal Palace (pictured), and what is that person’s office?

    Answer: Sergio Mattarella, the President of the Italian Republic.

    The Quirinal Palace, the main official residence of the President of the Italian Republic, is located on the Quirinal Hill in Rome. It has served as a residence for popes, kings and presidents. Mattarella was elected on 31 January 2015, and re-elected on 29 January 2022.

    What

    What song gave Tom Jones his first UK number one single and his debut US hit, where it peaked at number ten.

    Answer: It’s Not Unusual.

    Released in 1965, It’s Not Unusual became a chart-topper in the UK, reaching number one on the UK Singles Chart. It also marked his first US hit, peaking at number ten; it further climbed to number three on Billboard’s easy listening chart. Initially rejected by the BBC in the UK due to Jones’ image, the song gained popularity on pirate radio. In the US, Jones performed it three times on The Ed Sullivan Show.

    When

    When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

    The above sentence opens what English classic children’s story and who wrote it?

    Answers: The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett.

    The Secret Garden, a classic English children’s novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett, was first published in 1911. It has been adapted for stage and film.

    Where

    Where are lemurs endemic?

    Answer: Madagascar.

    Lemurs are a diverse group of primates endemic to Madagascar, with around 100 extant species. They are social, nocturnal, and primarily arboreal, exhibiting a range of sizes and diets. Despite their importance for research and conservation efforts, many lemur species are endangered due to habitat loss and hunting.

    Why

    Why was Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, extensively rebuilt twice during the twentieth century? (NB Two answers as it was rebuilt on two separate occasions.)

    Answers: (First rebuild) World War II Japanese air raids; (Second rebuild) Cyclone Tracy.

    On 19 February 1942, 188 Japanese warplanes attacked Darwin, killing at least 243 people and causing significant damage. This was the first of many air raids on Darwin and was the most serious attack on Australia during wartime.
    Cyclone Tracy devastated Darwin on 25 December 1974, killing 71 people and destroying over 70% of the city. The Darwin Reconstruction Commission oversaw the city’s rebuilding with modern materials and techniques.

    How

    How old, according to television’s Smallville, was Lex Luther when he became bald?

    Answer: Nine.

    I’ve been bald since I was nine. I’m used to people judging me before they get to know me.
    — Lex Luther, Pilot episode Smallville

    Lex Luthor, introduced in the pilot as the son of billionaire Lionel Luthor, is sent to Smallville by his father to manage the local fertiliser plant. As a child, he’s caught in the first meteor shower, which leaves him completely bald but also grants him perfect health.

  • Who, What, When, Where, Why and How VII

    Six questions on random topics, each beginning with one of these words: Who, What, When (When is the first word of a quote), Where, Why and How.

    Court of the Quirinal Palace.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    Who

    Who currently (April 2026) is the principal occupant of the Quirinal Palace (pictured), and what is that person’s office?

    What

    What song gave Tom Jones his first UK number one single and his debut US hit, where it peaked at number ten.

    When

    When Mary Lennox was sent to Misselthwaite Manor to live with her uncle everybody said she was the most disagreeable-looking child ever seen.

    The above sentence opens what English classic children’s story and who wrote it?

    Where

    Where are lemurs endemic?

    Why

    Why was Darwin, in Australia’s Northern Territory, extensively rebuilt twice during the twentieth century? (NB Two answers as it was rebuilt on two separate occasions.)

    How

    How old, according to television’s Smallville, was Lex Luther when he became bald?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • The Shot Heard Around the World — Answers

    Here are the answers relating to my earlier post.

    Five random questions today.

    Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, 1863-1914 Archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie, in Sarajevo, Bosnia, 28 June 1914, ©Bianchetti/Leemage.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. Where and when did these shootings occur? 

    Answer: Sarajevo, Bosnia; 28 June 1914.

    Gavrilo Princip, a Bosnian Serb student, assassinated the heir presumptive of the Austro-Hungarian throne, Archduke Franz Ferdinand, and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Hohenberg, in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914, triggering the July Crisis and World War I. Born in 1894, Princip joined Young Bosnia, seeking South Slavic unification. Rejected by the Serbian army, he plotted the assassination with the Black Hand’s help. Arrested and sentenced to 20 years, he died in 1918 from tuberculosis. His legacy is divisive, seen as heroic by some Serbs and a terrorist by others. 

    Two

    At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, which female German athlete won gold in the long jump?

    Answer: Heike Drechsler

    Heike Gabriela Drechsler, born on 16 December 1964, is a renowned German former track and field athlete. Representing East Germany and later Germany, she is one of the greatest long jumpers, holding the third-best legal jump of 7.48 metres in 1988. Her wind-assisted 7.63 metres in 1992 remains the longest jump by a woman. Drechsler won two Olympic golds in long jump (1992, 2000), Olympic medals in 100 and 200 metres (1988), and held the 200 metres world record (21.71 seconds, 1986).

    Three

    Whose single Try Again was Grammy nominated in 2000?

    Answer: Aaliyah

    Try Again by Aaliyah, from Romeo Must Die (2000), blends R&B, electro, and dance-pop. Written by Static Major and Timbaland, it topped the Billboard Hot 100 solely on airplay. Critically acclaimed for its futuristic production, it earned a Grammy nomination. The music video, directed by Wayne Isham, won multiple awards.

    Four

    What words describes each of these: a creature which is active in the daytime; one which is active at night; and a creature which is active at dawn or dusk?

    Answer: Diurnal; Nocturnal; Crepuscular.

    Animals exhibit different activity patterns based on the time of day. Diurnal animals are active during daylight hours, while nocturnal animals, such as bats, are active at night, taking of advantage conditions like reduced predation, cooler temperatures, and higher humidity. Crepuscular animals, including some caprimulgiform birds like nightjars, are most active during twilight periods at dawn and dusk, though they may also be active at night if there is enough moonlight.

    Five

    What is the largest public park in New York City, and in which borough is it located?

    Answer:Pelham Bay Park; The Bronx.

    Pelham Bay Park, located in the Bronx, is New York City’s largest park at 2,772 acres. It features peninsulas, a lagoon, Eastchester Bay, Orchard Beach, golf courses and nature trails. Historical sites include the Bartow-Pell Mansion and Bronx Victory Column. Established in 1888, it was inspired by John Mullaly.

    The Shot Heard Around the World

    The phrase ‘shot heard around the world’ is associated with the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand in Sarajevo on 28 June 1914 in that it was one of the precursors to World War I.

  • The Shot Heard Around the World

    Five random questions today.

    Assassination of Franz Ferdinand, 1863-1914 Archduke of Austria, and his wife Sophie. ©Bianchetti/Leemage.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Gavrilo Princip assassinated Archduke Franz Ferdinand and his wife Sophie. Where and when did these shootings occur? 

    Two

    At the 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, which female German athlete won gold in the long jump?

    Three

    Whose single Try Again was Grammy nominated in 2000?

    Four

    What words describes each of these: a creature which is active in the daytime; one which is active at night; and a creature which is active at dawn or dusk?

    Five

    What is the largest public park in New York City, and in which borough is it located?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • The Royal Guardsmen — Answers

    Here are the answers to my earlier post.
    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?

    Answer: 71 years.

    Elizabeth II, born on 21 April 1926, was Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death in 2022 — 70 years and 214 days — the longest reign of any British monarch. She was queen regnant of 32 states and monarch of 15 at her death. Educated privately, she served in World War II and married Philip Mountbatten in 1947. Her reign saw significant political changes and historic visits. Despite challenges, her popularity remained high. She died at 96, succeeded by Charles III.

    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?

    Answer: The Royal Guardsmen.

    Snoopy vs. the Red Baron is a 1966 novelty song by The Royal Guardsmen, peaking at No.2 on the Hot 100 and No.1 in Australia and Canada. It sold nearly three million copies. The band released other Snoopy-themed songs, including The Return of the Red Baron and Snoopy’s Christmas.

    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?

    Answer: Little Orphan Annie; Newspaper comic strip.

    Annie is a musical with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin, and a book by Thomas Meehan, based on the 1924 comic strip Little Orphan Annie. It premiered in 1977, ran for nearly six years, won seven Tony Awards, and features popular songs like ‘Tomorrow‘ and ‘It’s the Hard Knock Life‘.

    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?

    Answer: Haile Selassie.

    In 1966, the Ethiopian emperor Haile Selassie I, believed by many Rastas to be the Second Coming of Christ, arrived in Jamaica for a visit. This event is now celebrated annually in the Rastafari movement as Grounation Day, specifically on April 21.

    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?

    Answer: 8th Century BCE

    Ancient Rome, spanning from 753 BCE to 476 CE, evolved from a small Italic settlement into a dominant Mediterranean power. It encompassed the Roman Kingdom, Republic, and Empire, controlling vast territories including North Africa, Egypt, and much of Europe. At its peak in CE 117, it covered 5 million square kilometres with 50-90 million people. Rome’s influence on language, law, architecture, and governance persists, inspiring modern republics and achieving remarkable technological feats like aqueducts and roads. In Ancient Rome, its founding by Romulus was celebrated annually on April 21st.

    The Royal Guardsmen

    The post title had nothing to do with question one, but everything to do with question two.

  • The Royal Guardsmen

    All of today’s questions relate to the date, April 21st.

    Queen Elizabeth II, 1959.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    One

    Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was born on 21 April 1926. To the nearest year how long did she reign?

    Two

    On this day In 1918, the Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen, Germany’s top World War I flying ace, was shot down and killed near Amiens, France. What act had a novelty song Snoopy vs. The Red Baron in the 1966 charts?

    Three

    What was the musical Annie based on, and what type of work was it?

    Four

    Whose visit to a Caribbean Island nation in 1966 led to the annual celebration of April 21st as Grounation Day?

    Five

    According to legend Rome was founded in what century?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • As Clear As Day — Answers

    Here are today’s answers.

    Danica Patrick at the 2008 Indy Japan 300.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of the questions today relate to the date, April 20th. 

    One

    In 1968, Pierre Trudeau became prime minister of Canada. What political party did he represent?

    Answer: Liberal Party.

    Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919–2000) was Canada’s prime minister from 1968 to 1979 and again from 1980 to 1984. A charismatic Liberal leader, he established diplomatic ties with China, improved relations with France, and opposed Quebec separatism. Trudeau’s tenure saw Canada achieve constitutional independence from Britain with a new constitution and a Charter of Rights and Freedoms. He previously practised law and taught at the University of Montreal before entering politics. He led Canada through economic challenges, minority governments, and the October Crisis of 1970. Trudeau resigned in 1984, leaving a legacy of constitutional reform and progressive social policies.

    Two

    In 2008, the IndyCar Japan race was won by a female driver, the first time a woman had won an IndyCar event. Who was this driver?

    Answer: Danica Patrick.

    At the time of writing (April 2026), Danica Patrick is the only woman to have won in IndyCar. Danica Patrick was born on 25 March 1982 in Beloit, Wisconsin. She is a pioneering American former racing driver known for her achievements in both the IndyCar Series and the NASCAR Cup Series. She began karting at age 10, winning the World Karting Association Grand National Championship three times, and left high school at 16 to race in the UK, where she placed second in the 2000 Formula Ford festival. Returning to the United States in 2002, she competed in the Toyota Formula Atlantic. Patrick made history in 2005 by becoming the first woman to lead the Indianapolis 500 and the first woman to win an IndyCar championship event. Her career highlights include being Rookie of the Year in 2005, achieving a third-place finish at the 2009 Indianapolis 500, and setting a pole position at the 2013 Daytona 500. She competed in the IndyCar Series from 2005 to 2011 and the NASCAR Cup Series from 2012 to 2018, retiring after the 2018 Indy 500. Patrick is the most successful woman in American open-wheel racing, with her 2008 Indy Japan 300 win being the only victory by a woman in IndyCar.

    Three

    In 1968, the Conservative Member of Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Enoch Powell, made a speech which was about immigration. He referred to it as his ‘Birmingham Speech’, but it came to be known by what three words?

    Answer: Rivers of Blood.

    Enoch Powell’s ‘Rivers of Blood’ speech, delivered on 20 April 1968 in Birmingham, criticised post-WWII Commonwealth immigration to the UK and opposed the Race Relations Bill, which became the Race Relations Act 1968. Named after a prophecy from Virgil’s Aeneid, the speech was controversial, showcasing Powell’s classical scholarship. It expressed foreboding about the future, using the Roman prophecy of the River Tiber flowing with blood to symbolise impending doom and significant conflict, highlighting Powell’s deep concern.

    Four

    Who, on 20 April 1534, sailed from France with a Royal Commission to find a western passage to India?

    Answer: Jacques Cartier.

    On 20 April 1534, Cartier set sail under a royal commission to find a western passage to the East Indies. After a 20-day ocean crossing, he explored Newfoundland, the Strait of Belle Isle, Labrador, and the Gulf of St. Lawrence. He returned to France in September 1534, believing he had reached Asia.

    Five

    In 1152, after an eight-year conflict, Baldwin III of … won sole control of the Kingdom of … from his mother Melisandre. What one word fills both the gaps in the preceding sentence? 

    Answer: Jerusalem.

    Baldwin III, born in 1130, was King of Jerusalem from 1143 to 1163, succeeding his parents, Fulk and Melisende. Initially co-ruling with Melisende until 1152, he asserted his authority through military campaigns, notably conquering Ascalon in 1153. Baldwin expanded the kingdom’s borders, managed the Principality of Antioch, and allied with Emperor Manuel I Komnenos, marrying his niece Theodora. He died in 1163, succeeded by his brother Amalric, without leaving children.

  • As Clear As Day

    2008 Indy Japan 300.
    Image Wikimedia Commons

    All of the questions today relate to the date, April 20th. 

    One

    In 1968, Pierre Trudeau became prime minister of Canada. What political party did he represent?

    Two

    In 2008, the IndyCar Japan race was won by a female driver, the first time a woman had won an IndyCar event. Who was this driver?

    Three

    In 1968, the Conservative Member of Parliament and Shadow Secretary of State for Defence, Enoch Powell, made a speech which was about immigration. He referred to it as his ‘Birmingham Speech’, but it came to be known by what three words?

    Four

    Who, on 20 April 1534, sailed from France with a Royal Commission to find a western passage to India?

    Five

    In 1152, after an eight-year conflict, Baldwin III of … won sole control of the Kingdom of … from his mother Melisandre. What one word fills both the gaps in the preceding sentence? 

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.