Quizology.Online

Tag: politics

  • Corridors of Power—Answers

    Today’s five questions are on a government-related theme.

    Parliament House, Canberra, Australia.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The parliament of what country is pictured above and in what city is it sited?

    Answer: Australia; Canberra

    Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, is the meeting place of the Parliament of Australia and houses the executive branch. It replaced Old Parliament House and was officially opened on 9 May 1988.

    Two

    How many individuals were president of the United States during the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

    Answer: 18

    This list displays each president and their respective years in office.

    1. William McKinley 1897–1901
    2. Theodore Roosevelt 1901–1909
    3. William Howard Taft 1909–1913
    4. Woodrow Wilson 1913–1921
    5. Warren G. Harding 1921–1923
    6. Calvin Coolidge 1923–1929
    7. Herbert Hoover 1929–1933
    8. Franklin D. Roosevelt 1933–1945
    9. Harry S. Truman 1945–1953
    10. Dwight D. Eisenhower 1953–1961
    11. John F. Kennedy 1961–1963
    12. Lyndon B. Johnson 1963–1969
    13. Richard Nixon 1969–1974
    14. Gerald Ford 1974–1977
    15. Jimmy Carter 1977–1981
    16. Ronald Reagan 1981–1989
    17. George H. W. Bush 1989–1993
    18. Bill Clinton 1993–2001

    Three

    What building is located at 55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France?

    Answer: Élysée Palace

    The Élysée Palace, completed in 1722, is the official residence of the French president. Located on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, its name derives from the Elysian Fields in Greek mythology.

    Four

    How many individuals were prime minister of the United Kingdom during the 20th Century? (The answer is a number.)

    Answer: 20

    1. Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 3rd Marquess of Salisbury 1895–1902
    2. Arthur Balfour 1902–1905
    3. Henry Campbell-Bannerman 1905–1908
    4. H. H. Asquith 1908–1916
    5. David Lloyd George 1916–1922
    6. Andrew Bonar Law 1922–1923
    7. Stanley Baldwin 1923–1924; 1924–1929; 1935–1937
    8. Ramsay MacDonald 1924; 1929–1935
    9. Neville Chamberlain 1937–1940
    10. Winston Churchill 1940–1945; 1951–1955
    11. Clement Attlee 1945–1951
    12. Anthony Eden 1955–1957
    13. Harold Macmillan 1957–1963
    14. Alec Douglas-Home 1963–1964
    15. Harold Wilson 1964–1970; 1974–1976
    16. Edward Heath 1970–1974
    17. James Callaghan 1976–1979
    18. Margaret Thatcher 1979–1990
    19. John Major 1990–1997
    20. Tony Blair 1997–2007

    Five

    The National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power in the People’s Republic of China, convenes annually for how many weeks?

    Answer: Two weeks

    The National People’s Congress (NPC) is the highest organ of state power in China, responsible for amending the Constitution, legislating, and overseeing government operations. It is a unicameral legislature with 2,977 members, elected for a five-year term, and operates under the leadership of the Chinese Communist Party. The NPC meets annually for two weeks, with most power delegated to its Standing Committee.

  • Corridors of Power

    Today’s five questions are on a government-related theme.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    The parliament of what country is pictured above and in what city is it sited?

    Two

    How many presidents served in the United States during the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

    Three

    What building is located at 55, Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré, 75008 Paris, France?

    Four

    How many individuals served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in the 20th century? (The answer is a number.)

    Five

    The National People’s Congress, the highest organ of state power in the People’s Republic of China, convenes annually for how many weeks of the year?

  • Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    All of these questions are related to today’s date, December 10th.

    Lawrence of Arabia (1962).
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    In 1962, David Lean’s Lawrence of Arabia, which went on to became one of the most celebrated epics in the history of cinema, had its world premiere. Who starred as _ _ Lawrence, and what two initials are missing before his surname?

    Answer: Peter O’Toole (as) T.E. (Lawrence)

    Lawrence of Arabia is a 1962 British historical epic biographical adventure drama film directed by David Lean. It portrays Thomas Edward Lawrence’s experiences in the Ottoman provinces during World War I and his involvement in the Arab National Council. The film, which won seven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, is widely regarded as one of the greatest films ever made. It follows Lawrence’s journey from a military cartographer to a leader of the Arab Revolt against the Turks, and is renowned for its stunning desert landscapes, shot on location in Jordan, Spain and Morocco.

    Two

    Which government officially surrendered on this day in 1932 after a month-long battle against thousands of large flightless birds, and what were the birds?

    Answer: Australian; Emus

    The Emu War was a brief and unsuccessful 1932 military operation in Australia aimed at controlling the emu population, which was damaging crops in Western Australia. Three members of the Royal Australian Artillery were tasked with culling approximately 20,000 emus using machine guns, but the weapons and tactics were ineffective. Despite petitions from local farmers, the campaign, which lasted from November to December, resulted in fewer than 1,000 emus being killed and became a subject of national and international ridicule.

    Portrait of Ada, Countess of Lovelace (Ada Lovelace), c1840.
    Image Wikipedia

    Three

    Ada Lovelace, often regarded as the first computer programmer, was born in Marylebone, London. In which decade was she born, and who was her famous father?

    Answer: 1810s; Lord Byron

    Born in 1815, Ada Lovelace, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, was an English mathematician and writer renowned for her work on Charles Babbage’s Analytical Engine. She recognised its potential beyond mere calculation and developed a vision of computers’ capabilities, leading to her being considered the first computer programmer. Her contributions are celebrated on Ada Lovelace Day.

    Four

    In 1948, the General Assembly of the United Nations adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Which former First Lady of the United States chaired the United Nations Commission on Human Rights that was responsible for the drafting of the document?

    Answer: Eleanor Roosevelt

    The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), adopted by the UN General Assembly in 1948, is a foundational document of international human rights law. Drafted by a team including John Humphrey, Eleanor Roosevelt and René Cassin, it comprises 30 articles outlining civil, political, economic, social, and cultural rights. Although not legally binding, the UDHR has achieved significant moral authority and has influenced numerous international treaties and national constitutions.

    Five

    The first part of the first edition of the Encyclopædia Britannica, the English-language general encyclopaedia, was published and advertised for sale on this day. In what century and in what city did this occur?

    Answer: 18th century; Edinburgh,Scotland, United Kingdom

    The Encyclopædia Britannica, a general-knowledge English-language encyclopaedia, was first published in Edinburgh, Scotland, in 1768 by a group of Scottish gentlemen. Initially released in three volumes, it introduced a “new plan” by combining treatises on arts and sciences with short articles on technical terms, catering to both serious students and those seeking quick reference material. William Smellie, an Edinburgh printer, is credited with devising this plan and writing or compiling many of the articles. The encyclopaedia transitioned from print to digital in 2012 due to strong competition from digital encyclopaedias like Microsoft Encarta and Wikipedia, yet it maintained its reputation for authoritative and scholarly content and is now available exclusively online.

    Utility ought to be the principal intention of every publication.

    The title of today’s post is the first sentence of the preface to the first edition of Encyclopædia Britannica.

    “UTILITY ought to be the principal intention of every publication. Wherever this intention does not plainly appear, neither the books nor their authors have the smallest claim to the approbation of mankind”
    .
    So begins the preface to Britannica’s 1st edition, which began publication 250 years ago this month (on December 10, 1768). Encyclopædia Britannica via Instagram

  • December 6th—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions which were posted earlier.

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

    Answer: Venezuela

    Hugo Chávez was a Venezuelan politician and revolutionary who served as president from 1999 until his death in 2013. He founded the Fifth Republic Movement and later the United Socialist Party of Venezuela, implementing social reforms and nationalising industries as part of the Bolivarian Revolution. While his policies initially improved poverty and social welfare, they also led to economic instability and shortages.

    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab, British Motor Museum, Gaydon.
    Image Wikipedia

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

    Answer: London, United Kingdom

    The first of these motorised cabs were electric-powered vehicles, nicknamed ‘Hummingbirds’ due to the quiet sound of their electric motors. A fleet of these cabs, designed by Walter C. Bersey, was introduced on 19 August 1897, and officially licensed by 6 December of the same year. However, London had a system for licensed horse-drawn carriages (known as “hackney carriages”) much earlier, with the first official licences issued in 1662. The 1897 date specifically marks the introduction and licensing of motorised, rather than horse-drawn, cabs. 

    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?

    Answer: The Rolling Stones

    The Altamont Speedway Free Festival in California was a counterculture rock concert intended as a thank-you to fans by The Rolling Stones. However, the event turned deadly when a security guard, a member of the Hell’s Angels, fatally stabbed Meredith Hunter. Marred by violence and three accidental deaths, the festival is often remembered as a dark ending to the 1960s counterculture.  

    Nefertiti.
    Image Wikipedia

    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

    Answer: Nefertiti

    Nefertiti, queen of Egypt and wife of King Akhenaton, played a prominent role in the cult of the sun god Aton. She bore six daughters, two of whom became queens, and is depicted in early images accompanying her husband and later usurping kingly privileges in religious rituals. The sculpture later went on display in a Berlin museum, and it became a source of controversy as an alleged plundered artefact.

    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Answer: Ulysses by James Joyce

    Ulysses, a modernist novel by James Joyce, parallels Homer’s Odyssey and chronicles the experiences of three Dubliners—Stephen Dedalus, Leopold Bloom and Molly Bloom—on 16 June 1904, representing Telemachus, Odysseus and Penelope. Published in Paris in 1922, the novel is considered a classic of modernist literature, known for its experimental style, rich characterisation, and exploration of themes like antisemitism, human sexuality and Irish nationalism.

  • December 6th

    All of these questions are related to today, December 6th.

    One

    In 1998, Hugo Chávez was victorious in presidential elections in what country?

    1897 Bersey Electrical Cab.

    Two

    In 1897, which capital city became the first in the world to host licensed self-propelled motorised taxicabs?

    Three

    In 1969, the ill-fated Altamont festival, a free one-day rock festival, at the Altamont Speedway, Livermore, California, United States, was put on by an act as a thank-you gesture to their fans? The haphazardly organised festival was put on by what act?

    Four

    In 1912, a bust of a queen of Egypt was discovered during excavations at Tell el-Amarna, Egypt. Who was this queen from the 14th century BCE?

    Five

    On this day in 1933, a US Federal judge declared a book featuring Stephen Dedalus, Leopold and Molly Bloom not obscene.  Can you name the book and its author?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Lies, You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. (Abraham Lincoln)—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions posted earlier.

    The first question relates to today, November 17th.  The others follow a theme connected to it.

    Richard Nixon, President of the United States.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On November 17th, sometime in the 20th century, which US President declared, “I am not a crook”?

    Answer: Richard Nixon

    On 17 November 1973, during a televised press conference at the Contemporary Resort in Walt Disney World, Florida, Richard Nixon famously declared ‘I am not a crook’. This response came amid questions about his personal finances as the Watergate scandal unfolded.

    Two

    In Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, what physical feature of the wooden puppet famously grows longer whenever he tells a lie?

    Answer: His nose

    In Collodi’s original 1883 novel, Pinocchio is far more mischievous than in the later Disney adaptation, and his nose grows several times—not just once—making it a recurring symbol of the moral consequences of dishonesty.

    The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf. An illustration of The Shepherd Boy and the Wolf (also known as The Boy Who Cried Wolf) by Milo Winter, from The Aesop for Children, published by Rand McNally & Company, Chicago, 1919.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    Three

    Which ancient Greek is traditionally credited with moral tales such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a story warning of the consequences of repeated lying?

    Answer: Aesop

    Although Aesop is believed to have lived in ancient Greece around the 6th century BC, there is no firm historical record of his life; many scholars think ‘Aesop’ may represent a tradition of oral storytelling rather than a single individual.

    Four

    In which Shakespeare play does the villain Iago manipulate Othello through lies and insinuations, ultimately leading to tragedy?

    Answer: Othello

    Iago actually speaks more lines than Othello, making him one of Shakespeare’s most verbally dominant villains—a fitting trait for a character whose destructive power lies almost entirely in persuasion and deceit.

    Five

    What 18th-century literary character, created by Rudolf Erich Raspe, is famous for outrageous tall tales such as riding on a cannonball and escaping a swamp by pulling himself up by his own hair?

    Answer: Baron Munchausen

    The fictional Baron was loosely inspired by a real nobleman, Hieronymus Karl Friedrich von Münchhausen, who entertained guests with wildly exaggerated stories about his life—though nowhere near as fantastical as those in the book.

  • Lies, You can fool some of the people all of the time, and all of the people some of the time, but you can not fool all of the people all of the time. (Abraham Lincoln)

    The first question relates to today, November 17th.  The others follow a theme connected to it.

    See question 3.
    Image Encyclopædia Britannica

    One

    On November 17th, sometime in the 20th century, which US President declared, “I am not a crook”?

    Two

    In Carlo Collodi’s The Adventures of Pinocchio, what physical feature of the wooden puppet famously grows longer whenever he tells a lie?

    Three

    Which ancient Greek is traditionally credited with moral tales such as The Boy Who Cried Wolf, a story warning of the consequences of repeated lying?

    Four

    In which Shakespeare play does the villain Iago manipulate Othello through lies and insinuations, ultimately leading to tragedy?

    Five

    What 18th-century literary character, created by Rudolf Erich Raspe, is famous for outrageous tall tales such as riding on a cannonball and escaping a swamp by pulling himself up by his own hair?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Time Will Tell—Answers

    Here are the answers to the earlier posted questions.

    The first question relates to today, November 8th. The remainder are not date specific but follow a loose theme.

    John F. Kennedy and Richard Nixon taken prior to their first debate at WBBM-TV in Chicago in 1960.
    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States, as a result of defeating whom in the presidential election?

    Answer: Richard Nixon

    John F. Kennedy, the 35th president of the United States, served from 1961 until his assassination in 1963. His presidency of 1,037 days was marked by Cold War tensions, including the Cuban Missile Crisis, and domestic challenges, such as civil rights legislation. Kennedy’s legacy includes the Peace Corps, the Space Race, and a focus on economic growth.

    Two

    John F. Kennedy’s term ended tragically when he was assassinated in Dallas. This makes him one of four US presidents killed while in office. Who is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated?

    Answer: Spencer Perceval

    Spencer Perceval served as prime minister from 4 October 1809 until his assassination on 11 May 1812. He remains the only British prime minister to have been assassinated. The shooting occurred in the lobby of the House of Commons and was carried out by John Bellingham. Bellingham was convicted of murder and executed.

    Three

    President Kennedy’s 1,037 days in office are certainly not the shortest. Which US president served the shortest term? Secondly, how long (or short) was the shortest term: 31 days, 51 days or 71 days?

    Answer: William Henry Harrison; true (31 days)

    William Henry Harrison served as President of the United States for just 31 days from 4 March 1841, to 4 April 1841. This makes him the shortest-serving president in US history. Tragically, he died of pneumonia just a month after catching a chill at his inauguration which quickly developed into pneumonia.

    Four

    Liz Truss’s 49 days in 2022 is by far the shortest term of any UK prime minister. Which prime minister from the first third of the 19th century served this shortest term? Secondly, how long was this second shortest premiership: 99 days, 119 days or 139 days?

    Answer: George Canning; 119 days

    George Canning, a British Tory statesman, held various senior cabinet positions, including two terms as foreign secretary. He became Prime Minister of the United Kingdom in April 1827 but died just 119 days later. Canning’s foreign policies, particularly his support for the independence of American colonies and the Monroe Doctrine, were highly regarded. His death in office meant that his tenure was the shortest of any prime minister until eclipsed by Truss in 2022.

    Pope John Paul I during the Angelus Address from his study’s window to pilgrims at St. Peter’s Square, 1978.
    Image Wikipedia

    Five

    Albino Luciani served in which office for 33 days in the second half of the 20th century?

    Answer: Pope

    Pope John Paul I, born Albino Luciani, served as head of the Catholic Church for 33 days in 1978, making his reign one of the shortest in papal history. He was the first pope in history to adopt a double name which he did in honour of his two predecessors, John XXIII and Paul VI.

  • Time Will Tell

    The first question relates to today, November 8th. The remainder are not date specific but follow a loose theme.

    Image Wikipedia

    One

    On this day in 1960, John F. Kennedy was elected President of the United States, as a result of defeating whom in the presidential election?

    Two

    John F. Kennedy’s term ended tragically when he was assassinated in Dallas. This makes him one of four US presidents killed while in office. Who is the only British prime minister to have been assassinated?

    Three

    President Kennedy’s 1,037 days in office are certainly not the shortest. Which US president served the shortest term? Secondly, how long (or short) was the shortest term: 31 days, 51 days or 71 days?

    Four

    Liz Truss’s 49 days in 2022 is by far the shortest term of any UK prime minister. Which prime minister from the first third of the 19th century served this shortest term? Secondly, how long was this second shortest premiership: 99 days, 119 days or 139 days?

    Five

    Albino Luciani served in which office for 33 days in the second half of the 20th century?

    Good luck! I’ll post the answers later.

  • Blood in the Water—Answers

    Here are the answers to the questions I posted earlier.

    Following the violent blow delivered by [Soviet Union’s] Valentin Prokopov, Hungarian Ervin Zador bleeds profusely from above his eyebrow.
    Image Bettmann / Getty Images via Yahoo! Sports

    One

    The violent Blood in the Water Olympic water polo match between Hungary and the Soviet Union erupted in the aftermath of the Soviet Union suppressing a Hungarian uprising. During which Olympics—year and host city—did this match take place?

    Answer: 1956 Melbourne Olympics

    The match became a powerful symbol of Cold War tensions. Hungary went on to win the gold medal, and player Ervin Zádor’s bloodied face was widely photographed, capturing global attention.

    Two

    On November 6, 2012, a US president was re-elected for a second term. Who were his defeated opponents in both the 2008 and 2012 presidential elections?

    Answer: John McCain (2008) and Mitt Romney (2012)

    Barack Obama, the 44th President of the United States, was the first African American to hold the office. He served two terms, from 2009 to 2017, during which he implemented significant domestic and foreign policies, including healthcare reform, economic stimulus and the end of the Iraq War. Obama left office with high approval ratings and remains politically active.

    Three

    A composer died on November 6, 1893. One of his symphonies, Symphony No. 6 in B minor, which premiered just nine days earlier, became known as his Pathétique. Who was the composer?

    Answer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky

    The Pathétique is often interpreted as an emotional farewell, blending passion and tragedy in what became Tchaikovsky’s final completed work.

    Four

    Switzerland officially abolished the death penalty on 6 November. Which decade was this?

    Answer: 1990s (1992)

    Though executions had already ceased decades earlier, the 1992 constitutional amendment made abolition permanent, aligning Switzerland with wider European human rights standards.

    Luner Orbiter 2.
    Image NASA via Wikipedia

    Five

    On 6 November 1966, NASA’s Lunar Orbiter 2 was launched with a primary mission objective of photographing specifically what on the Moon’s surface?

    Answer: Potential landing sites on the Moon

    The Lunar Orbiter 2 spacecraft was designed primarily to photograph smooth areas of the lunar surface for selection and verification of safe landing sites for the Surveyor and Apollo missions.

    — NASA

    Lunar Orbiter 2 transmitted over 800 high-resolution images, including the first detailed close-ups of the Moon’s surface. These images were crucial in selecting the Apollo 11 landing site.