politics – Page 5 – Quizology Online

Why a Duck?—Answers

One

Freddie Mercury, born on 5 September 1946 in Stone Town, the Sultanate of Zanzibar, is best known as the frontman of Queen. Which two Queen albums from the mid-seventies are named after Marx Brothers films?

Answer: A Night at the Opera (1975) and A Day at the Races (1976)

Freddie Mercury, born Farrokh Bulsara in the Sultanate of Zanzibar, was a British rock singer and songwriter known for his flamboyant showmanship and powerful vocals. He joined the band Smile in 1970, renamed it Queen, and became its lead singer. Queen achieved international fame with albums like A Night at the Opera, and Mercury’s solo career included collaborations with Montserrat Caballé.

Gerald R. Ford, presidential portrait.
Image Wikipedia

Two

On 5 September 1975, Lynette ‘Squeaky’ Fromme, a follower of Charles Manson, attempted to assassinate the US president. This was one of two assassination attempts in that month, Who was the president who was targeted?

Answer: Gerald R Ford

Twice in September 1975, Ford was the target of assassination attempts. In the first instance, Secret Service agents intervened before shots were fired; in the second, the would-be assassin fired one shot at Ford but missed by several feet.
— Encyclopædia Britannica

Jim Henson with Miss Piggy and Fozzie Bear in 1979.
Image Wikipedia

Three

The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

Answer: United Kingdom

The Muppet Show, created by Jim Henson, premiered in the UK on 5 September 1976 and ended on 23 May 1981. Five seasons, totalling 120 episodes, were broadcast on ATV and other ITV franchises in the UK and in syndication in the United States from 1976 to 1981. It featured iconic characters like Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy, with its success leading to films, merchandise, and other series. The Muppets were acquired by Disney in 2004.

Four

Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?
Thirties

Answer: Thirties

Houston was elected in 1836.
Samuel Houston was an American general and statesman who played a prominent role in the Texas Revolution. He served as the first and third president of the Republic of Texas, a U.S. Senator, and the governor of both Tennessee and Texas. Houston opposed secession and was forced out of office as Texas governor in 1861.

Five

On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

Answer: Tuvala

Tuvalu, a Polynesian island country in the Pacific Ocean, comprises three reef islands and six atolls. It gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1978 and is a constitutional monarchy. The economy relies on imports, fishing, and remittances, while facing challenges from climate change and sea level rise.

Why Why a Duck?

The title of the post, Why a Duck?, doesn’t directly relate to the content, except for the mention of the Marx Brothers in the first question. However, I’ve always enjoyed the routine it originates from. This routine comes from The Cocoanuts. A bit of an explanation follows.

“Why a Duck?” is a comedy routine featured in the Marx Brothers movie The Cocoanuts (1929). In a scene in which Groucho and Chico are discussing a map, Groucho mentions the presence of a viaduct between the mainland and a peninsula. Chico, who is playing the role of an immigrant with poor English skills, replies “Why a duck?” This leads into a long schtick with Chico responding “Why a no chicken?”, “I catch ona why a horse”, and so forth
— Wikipedia

The routine can be read here at The Marx Brothers.

Why a Duck?

One

Two

Three

The first episode of The Muppet Show aired on 5 September 1976. In which country was it broadcast?

Four

Sam Houston was elected as the first president of the Republic of Texas on 5 September. In which decade of the 19th century did this event occur?

Five

On 5 September 2000, the Pacific island nation whose flag is shown above became the 189th member of the United Nations. Please name that country?

Good luck! The answers will be posted later today.

Mr Standfast—Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, meets HM King Charles III
at Buckingham Palace. LONDON- UK- 5th May 2023.
Photo by Ian Jones via Wikipedia

One

Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?

Answer: John Buchan

John Buchan, a Scottish novelist and politician, served as Governor General of Canada from 1935 until his death in 1940. He promoted Canadian unity and strengthened the country’s sovereignty. Buchan, who was the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir, created the character Richard Hannay.

Two

The title of this post, Mr Standfast, is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?

Answer: (Any of) – The Thirty-Nine Steps, Greenmantle, The Three Hostages, The Island of Sheep

Hannay appears in several novels as a major character, including:

He also appears as a minor character in:

The Runagates Club (1928) short story, ‘The Green Wildebeest’
The Courts of the Morning (1929)
Sick Heart River (1940)

— Wikipedia

Note, Richard Hannay also appears in some works by other authors.

Three

The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.

Answer: Mary Simon

Mary Simon, the first Indigenous Governor General of Canada, was born in Quebec and previously worked as a broadcaster and diplomat. Her appointment was criticised due to her limited French fluency.

Four

The international boundary between Canada and the United States is the world’s longest. Two answers to this question: (1) how many Canadian provinces and territories are on the border, and (2) how many US states are on the border.

Answer: (1) 8 Canadian provinces or territories and (2) 13 US states

Canadian Province or Territory

Ontario 2,727 km (1,682 mi)
British Columbia 2,168 km (1,347 mi)
Yukon 1,244 km (786 mi)
Quebec 813 km (505 mi)
Saskatchewan 632 km (393 mi)
New Brunswick 513 km (318 mi)
Manitoba 497 km (309 mi)
Alberta 298 km (185 mi)

US State

Alaska 2,475 km (1,538 mi)
Michigan 1,160 km (721 mi)
Maine 983 km (611 mi)
Minnesota 880 km (547 mi)
Montana 877 km (545 mi)
New York 716 km (445 mi)
Washington 687 km (427 mi)
North Dakota 499 km (310 mi)
Ohio 499 km (310 mi)
Vermont 145 km (90 mi)
New Hampshire 93 km (58 mi)
Idaho 72 km (45 mi)
Pennsylvania 68 km (42 mi)

— Wikipedia

Alaska, US–Yukon, Canada border.
Image Fine Art America

Five

The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?

Answer: Beaufort Sea

The Canadian territory of Yukon shares its entire western border with the U.S. state of Alaska, beginning at the Beaufort Sea at 69°39′N 141°00′Wand proceeding southwards along the 141st meridian west. At 60°18′N, the border proceeds away from the 141st meridian west in a southeastward direction, following the Saint Elias Mountains. South of the 60th parallel north, the border continues into British Columbia
— Wikipedia

Mr Standfast

Firstly, a question about someone born on August 26th. The rest of the questions are follow-ups to this one.

One

Who, born 25 August 1875, connects these: the 15th Governor General of Canada; Richard Hannay; and the 1st Baron Tweedsmuir?

Two

The title of this post is the name of a novel featuring Richard Hannay, as mentioned in question 1. Can you name another novel by the same author that features Hannay as a major character?

Three

The 15th Governor General of Canada is mentioned above, but who is the current and 30th Governor General of Canada? Notably, this is the first Indigenous person to hold the office.

Four

Five

The northern end of the Yukon, Canada/Alaska, US border at 69°39′N 141°00′W is on the shore of what sea?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

J’Accuse—Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

One

On 22 August 1953, the maximum-security penal colony on Devil’s Island, which had operated for 100 years, was permanently closed. The subject of the front page article from L’Aurore (13 January 1898) was imprisoned on Devil’s Island. Who was the subject of Émile Zola’s J’Accuse and in which country is Devil’s Island located?

Answer: Captain Alfred Dreyfus and French Guiana

The Dreyfus affair was a political scandal in France from 1894 to 1906, centred around the wrongful conviction of Captain Alfred Dreyfus for treason. Despite evidence of his innocence, Dreyfus was convicted and imprisoned, sparking a national debate between Dreyfusards, who supported him, and anti-Dreyfusards, who condemned him. The affair highlighted issues of injustice and antisemitism in France.

Two

Edvard Munch, 1893, *The Scream*, oil, tempera and pastel on cardboard, 91 x 73 cm, National Gallery of Norway.
Image Wikipedia

On this date in 2004, a painting was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. What painting?

Answer: The Scream

Edvard Munch’s 1893 painting The Scream depicts an agonised face and is considered an iconic representation of existential dread. Munch created multiple versions, including two paintings and two pastels, with one pastel version selling for a record price in 2012. The Scream has been stolen twice, in 1994 and 2004. In both cases, the perpetrators were eventually apprehended. The painting was recovered after a few months in 1994 and two years after the 2004 theft.

Henry Kissinger, 1982.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Three

On 22 August, a U.S. President named Henry A. Kissinger as Secretary of State. Which president?

Answer: Richard Nixon

Henry Kissinger, national security adviser and secretary of state (from 1973) under Nixon and Ford, significantly shaped US foreign policy from 1969-1976. He advanced détente with the Soviet Union, initiated SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks), opened relations with China, and played a crucial role in Vietnam War peace negotiations.

The *America*, schooner yacht.
Image Wikipedia

Four

In 1851, the yacht America (US) won what is considered the first America’s Cup. Around which island did the race take place?

Answer: Isle of Wight

The America’s Cup, originally the R.Y.S. £100 Cup, was donated to the New York Yacht Club (NYYC) in 1857 and renamed after the winning yacht, America. The NYYC held the trophy for 132 years until 1983. The class of yachts used in the competition has evolved over time, from large yachts to smaller, more affordable classes, and currently features high-tech foiling catamarans.

Richard III, Battle of Bosworth Field.
From *A Chronicle of England, B.C. 55-A.D. 1485* by James E. Doyle, 1864.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

Five

A battle on 22 August 1485 was the last significant battle of England’s Wars of the Roses. What was the battle, and what king died during it?

Answer: Battle of Bosworth Field and King Richard III

The Battle of Bosworth, fought on 22 August 1485, was the decisive battle of the Wars of the Roses. Henry Tudor’s victory over Richard III marked the end of the Plantagenet dynasty and the beginning of the Tudor dynasty. The exact location of the battle is disputed, with memorials erected at different sites.

J’Accuse

All of these questions are related to today, August 22nd.

One

Two

On this date in 2004, a painting was stolen from the Munch Museum in Oslo, Norway. What painting?

Three

On 22 August, a U.S. President named Henry A. Kissinger as Secretary of State. Which president?

Four

In 1851, the yacht America (US) won what is considered the first America’s Cup. Around which island did the race take place?

Five

A battle on 22 August 1485 was the last significant battle of England’s Wars of the Roses. What was the battle, and what king died during it?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

What’s in a Name | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown below.

One

George Wendt as Norm Peterson. Image Cheers Fandom

One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

Answer: Norm (Hilary Norman Peterson)

Norm Peterson, a regular at Cheers, is known for his witty remarks and love of beer. His enormous tab at the bar is a running gag, with jokes about its size and his occasional attempts to pay it off. Despite his unemployment, Norm remains the bar’s best customer, receiving a complimentary beer on his birthday.

Two

George Clinton, Fourth Vice-President of the United States,
Portrait by Ezra Ames, 1814.
Image Wikipedia

Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

Answer: George Clinton

George Clinton was an American soldier, statesman and Democratic-Republican. He served as the fourth vice president, first governor of New York, and holds the record for the second-longest gubernatorial tenure in U.S. history. He was also the first vice-president to die in office, and the first of two to hold office under two consecutive presidents, Thomas Jefferson (1805–1809) and James Madison (1809–1812).

Three

Edmund Hillary and Tenzing Norgay.
Image Wikipedia

Best known for an achievement with Norgay in 1953, he later became New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh, and Ambassador to Nepal. What is his first and last name, and where did the 1953 achievement take place?

Answer: Edmund Hillary, Mount Everest

Sir Edmund Hillary, a New Zealand mountaineer and explorer, who with Sherpa Tenzing Norgay were the first confirmed climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest in 1953. He later served as New Zealand’s High Commissioner to India and Bangladesh and Ambassador to Nepal, and founded the Himalayan Trust to assist the Sherpa people.

Four

Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

Answer: Clint Eastwood (Clinton Eastwood)

Clint Eastwood is an American actor and film director known for his roles in Westerns and action films. He served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California from 1986 to 1988 and has received numerous awards, including four Academy Awards and four Golden Globe Awards.

Five

Hilary Mantel, 2020.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

Answer: Hilary Mantel

Hilary Mantel was a British writer known for historical fiction, personal memoirs, and short stories. She won the Booker Prize twice for the first and second novels in her Cromwell trilogy, Wolf Hall and Bring Up the Bodies, and sold over 5 million copies.

What’s in a Name

Hilary Clinton, 2003.
Image Encyclopædia Britannica

On July 26, 2016, Hillary Clinton was officially nominated as the Democratic presidential candidate. Today’s questions revolve around people named Hillary, Hilary, or Clinton, whether as a first or last name.

One

One of the regular characters in the television series Cheers has the first name Hilary. Who is that?

Two

Born on 26 July 1739, the fourth vice president of the United States and the first governor of New York was…

Three

Four

Elected in 1986, this well-known entertainment figure served as the mayor of Carmel-by-the-Sea, California, for a two-year term. Can you identify this individual?

Five

The author of the historical novel The Mirror & the Light, the concluding instalment in a trilogy and the author’s final novel published during their lifetime, is who?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.

Last to First | Answers

The answers to my earlier post are shown highlighted below.

Space shuttle *Atlantis* (STS-135) touches down at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, completing the final flight of the Space Shuttle Program.
July 21, 2011, Cape Canaveral, Florida.
Image (NASA/Bill Ingalls)/Wikipedia

One

On July 21, 2011, the Space Shuttle program concluded with the landing of a shuttle at NASA’s Cape Canaveral. Which shuttle made this landing, marking the end of the Space Shuttle program?

Answer: Atlantis

From the first launch on April 12, 1981 to the final landing on July 21, 2011, NASA’s space shuttle fleet flew 135 missions, helped construct the International Space Station and inspired generations.
NASA’s space shuttle fleet began setting records with its first launch on April 12, 1981 and continued to set high marks of achievement and endurance through 30 years of missions. Starting with Columbia and continuing with Challenger, Discovery, Atlantis and Endeavour, the spacecraft has carried people into orbit repeatedly, launched, recovered and repaired satellites, conducted cutting-edge research and built the largest structure in space, the International Space Station. The final space shuttle mission, STS-135, ended July 21, 2011 when Atlantis rolled to a stop at its home port, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida.
– NASA

Lyndon B. Johnson at the LBJ ranch, 1972.
Image LBJ Library

Two

On this date in 2024, President Joe Biden announced his decision to withdraw from the presidential election. Prior to this announcement, who was the most recent sitting United States president to decline to seek reelection?

Answer: Lyndon B. Johnson

On March 31, 1968, President Johnson delivered a national address that made three significant announcements: he had recently ordered substantial reductions in the bombing campaign against North Vietnam, he was requesting peace negotiations, and he would neither seek nor accept his party’s nomination for re-election.

Three

What was the title of the final book in the Harry Potter series, released on July 21, 2007?

Answer: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

Harry Potter, a fictional boy wizard created by British author J.K. Rowling, is the subject of seven immensely popular novels (1997–2007) and eight films (2001–11). His coming-of-age exploits were further adapted into a play and a book of its script in 2016.

Four

Today in 1954, the Geneva Accords divided what country along the 17th parallel?

Answer: Vietnam

The Geneva Accords, signed in 1954, divided Vietnam along the 17th parallel, establishing a cease-fire and calling for troop withdrawals. The Accords also stipulated all-Vietnamese elections by 1956 to reunify the country, though the U.S. and South Vietnam withheld approval.

Five

On 21 July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history as the world’s first female prime minister in which country?

Answer: Ceylon (now Sri Lanka)

Sirimavo Bandaranaike, the world’s first female prime minister, served three terms in Sri Lanka. She carried on her assassinated husband’s socialist policies, promoting Buddhism and Sinhalese culture. However, she encountered economic crisis and defeat in 1965. She subsequently returned to serve two more terms as prime minister (1970–77, 1994–2000).

Last to First

Five questions today, each requiring a single answer without multiple choices or additional hints.

A space shuttle lifts off from Launch Pad 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida, beginning the final mission of the Space Shuttle program.
Image NASA.

One

On July 21, 2011, the Space Shuttle program concluded with the landing of a shuttle at NASA’s Cape Canaveral. Which shuttle made this landing, marking the end of the Space Shuttle program?

Two

Three

What was the title of the final book in the Harry Potter series, released on July 21, 2007?

Four

Today in 1954 the Geneva Accords divided what country along the 17th parallel?

Five

On 21 July 1960, Sirimavo Bandaranaike made history as the world’s first female prime minister in which country?

Good luck! I will post the answers later today.